Would You Be Interested in À la carte or a Buffet?

A lot of choices are not bad, but they might help you become a better version of yourself.

Imagine yourself on a vacation — visit the dining area of the luxury resort you are staying in — now head towards the a la carte menu and then take a round of the all-you-can-eat on offer.

Invariably the variety of food available in the buffet section pulls you.

Whether you relish just a few of these dishes is not the point, the point is “Choice.”

When you have choices, they attract us.

I was going through an article on BBC on motivation during the pandemic and why people are finding it tough to keep themselves motivated. With a limited place at home, away from friends & family, bored of binge-watching, life got tough for most of us.

The article triggered a question —

“How am I keeping myself motivated the majority of this time?”

(It looks like I am bragging, but let me come to the point)

That’s when it struck me that maybe a buffet of activities and hobbies is making all the difference.

I might not be proficient in any one of them, but when I need the motivation, my mind race pasts these available choices and finds at least one tool to work with. (Imagine moving past the buffet table, and surely one of the sections is what you need to excite the taste buds)

I write, I read, I journal, I run, I make podcasts, I make YouTube videos, I like doing house chores, I like family time, I like walking in the open air, I like 9 to 5 job, I like to work on my “Be Better Bit-By-Bit” platform, I like to stare out of the window for several minutes, I like to stand and do calf-raises, I like to promote my first book, and I like to work on my next book. Phhhheewwwww!!!!!

Am I a jack of all trades and king of none? Incorrect question.

The question that needs to be answered —

“Does a multi-habit lifestyle allow us to skip the hour of confusion?”

My answer is — YES!

Make it easy for your mind.

Is it overwhelming to keep such a large buffet of habits? (yet another question, but please bear with me!)

It looks like it, but it is not.

For me, all of these things go in parallel. I don’t multi-task. But because I have options, I stack them over one another to move swiftly whenever my mind asks me to do that.

I see myself in a 5-star restaurant. Given a choice, I will always go for the buffet because I can jump from one dish to another.

Similarly, why not have multiple choices to keep yourself motivated?

Remember — When I say “keep” multiple choices, you should have all the tools and things required to do that stuff and not just a decision.

• If you want to write, be ready with a notebook or a laptop.
• If you want to read, you should have the books close to you.
• If you want to exercise, be ready with your gear.
• If you want to learn a new language, be ready to invest.
• Keep a few colors and paintbrushes always handy.
• Keep a notebook with you.
• Work on a side-hustle.
• Work on your finances.

When one thing is not able to motivate you, jump on the other one.

We all have choices, but a concrete set-up should back up these choices, and then only the “multi-habit” lifestyle will give you an edge.

Yes, there will be times when you will not feel like eating even after having everything on the platter. Then, savor the sight of the food. If nothing motivates you, leave everything and get ready to feel boredom. Just do nothing, let your mind see far away, and think. That’s a pure ME time. Let your mind rest.

Don’t engage in social media or television time.

Don’t block your mind’s ME time.

Do boring stuff.

I can’t establish one habit, and you are asking me to go for multiple ones?

Yes.

Go for multiple small habits.

Micro habits as they are called.

When your mind is searching for options to fill the space, offer something. It’s looking for some excitement. If you don’t have these micro habits in place, invariably, you will fall into the trap of social media or Netflix or YouTube or binge shopping.

Similar is the situation when you are approaching the end of your working day. When it’s time to wrap up, we start feeling short of excitement. Mental tiredness grips us. That’s completely natural. But, why not look forward to activities that will energize you rather than jumping towards your smartphone and the TV remote?

• Standing while working is a micro habit.
• Taking a short walk after every 20–25 minutes of screen time is a micro habit.
• Keeping a bottle full of water always with you is a micro habit.
• Not going out without a book close to you is a micro habit.
• Giving a smile and expressing a Thank you is a micro habit.
• Closing your eyes once in a while for 5–10 seconds is a micro habit.
• Noticing your fellow commuters while on the way to home and office is a micro habit.
• Writing down short poems is a micro habit.

Notice the kind of micro-investment these micro habits ask from you.

When your mind is aware that such micro habits are readily available to its perusal, it lets you pick one of them instead of your smartphone.

In addition to this, enjoy boredom. It’s not just for the Monks sitting in the Himalayas. It’s for everyone. Learn to welcome the silence of boredom.

Fill rest everything with micro habits.

Fill the DEAD time with ALIVE time. Have more choices of ALIVE time.

Points to Ponder

• Buffet lets you eat smaller quantities, more variety, and enjoy more.
• Moving from one dish to the other is completely your preference.
• You need not follow a chronology while eating the buffet.
• A buffet is not the best quality, but that doesn’t mean it's low quality.
• You always have a choice to splurge on the desserts!

Consider these points while you consider inculcating a “multi-habit” lifestyle.

Nishith is a Marathoner, an avid reader, author, YouTuber, Podcaster, a diarist, a personal transformation coach, and creator of a unique self-transformation platform — “Be Better Bit-By-Bit.”

Nishith’s debut book — Be Better Bit-By-Bit, available on Amazon (Paperback and e-book). Listen to his podcasts Be Better Bit-By-Bit and 10 Bullets — 100 Words Book Summary.