Desire paths, habits and the power of observation

I can’t remember where I first heard about desire paths.

Landscapers are apparently the people who know the most about this phenomenon in modern life. But we all see it – the worn footpath next to the sidewalk bit that didn’t quite curve enough or the improvised bike path next to the stairs in a grocery parking lot. People find their own way.

There’s a critical new skill people are developing around quantified self. And I think that skill set lies at the intersection of desire paths, habit formation and self-observation.
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Thinking like BJ Fogg

So, I participated in BJ Fogg’s 3 Tiny Habits program last week. And now I’m running every day.

This isn’t a huge stretch for me – I ran cross country in high school, was a runner all through my 20s, and only in the last couple years have I sort of just let the running slide.

So, last month I decided I should start running again. Friends of mine are running and encouraging me to sign up for races. But, I just couldn’t do it. It was too dark, or my running clothes weren’t ready, or … I made up every kind of excuse.
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