Are Rules Better Than "Most of The Time"? (020)

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Are Rules Better Than “Most of The Time”?

When was the last time you made a rule for yourself?

Not the sometimes, the occasional, or the maybe… but the strict rule of I will do this. Tim Ferriss shared this idea that it is easier to follow a rule than it is to sometimes do something. For example, the difference between I don’t eat dessert and I am going to try to eat dessert less.

I don’t eat dessert becomes black and white. No budging. No sweets. (Take it easy this is an example, not an attack.)

I am trying to eat less dessert gives your mind space and a reason to bend your willpower. You eat the dessert that time with the thought “Oh I just won’t eat dessert the rest of the week” but we all do the same thing. We still fall to our cravings and crush dessert later in the week.

The other fact that Tim Ferriss points out is people respect a rule.

I don’t drink vs. I am trying to drink less. The I am trying to drink less response gets the “Oh come on man you can have a drink with us tonight!”

Okay, so what am I getting at here? What is the lesson here for you?

During 2020 and the first few months of COVID there were a lot of rules in Portland. I’m not listing them all but you already know what I mean. THERE WERE A LOT OF RULES.

Life slowed down in some ways when everything was closed and Portland lucked out with some sunny spring weather. Then out of nowhere, I made a rule for myself. I committed to running a minimum of 5 miles every day.

Why? I don’t know. To see if I could I guess. Get fit, soak up some sun, and see how many days I could string together.

Well, I did it for 140 days in a row.

Portland locals know the spot! Run from St Johns, past Cathedral Coffee, down Willamette Blvd, and back was the route the majority of the time. It was easier to make a rule, do it every day no matter what, and adjust the pace depending on how I was recovering compared to doing it “most days”.

Two big moments that I remember were my birthday road trip I ran 5 miles as quick as I could so Mike Rich and I could get on the road to drive to the coast. I remember being in a HURRY and dropping 5 sub-7-minute miles in a row (Strava proof below)! Then on the road trip down the Oregon coast still got in a 5-mile loop in a parking lot rest stop while Mike Rich took a nap.

The second memorable moment was after a hike and a few beers at Lake Chelan with Devin, Zenka, Chase, and the squad. The rule stayed strong. Still hit a quick 5 in 45-ish minutes at Golden Hour when everyone was chilling at our Airbnb.

There wasn’t some big like a championship, award, or external reason for doing it. This is one core memory of doing something solely for me. To see if I could and for how long. It opened my eyes to being a lot more capable than I thought on the fitness front.

The best part is I remember the final day and what closed out the rule for the summer of 2020. Chase, Drew, and I summited Mt. Adams in one day. It was about 17 miles and +6500 elevation gain in one day. I did it on about 2 hours of sleep (because I couldn’t fall asleep the night before). That incredible experience is what closed out the 144 days in a row. Fun fact the cover photo for my podcast is the top of Mt Adams 12,276 ft.

Commitments commitments commitments. It is easier to make the rule and do it every day than just say you will do it most of the time. So what’s your daily deposit? What rule will help get you closer to the person you want to become? Is there something worth committing to doing every day instead of most of the time?

Thank you so much for checking out another drop of the Daily Deposit Newsletter. My goal is to continue to share quick-hitting impactful stories and ideas around “Daily Deposits Can Change Your Life”. Reply from where you are reading (Ex: Portland, Oregon) and make sure you are subscribed!

Keep killin it, stacking those daily deposits, and making every day the best day of the year until tomorrow…

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