Staying motivated enough to work toward our goals can be tough. The minutia of life can get in the way of our lofty dreams – which is where the non-zero method comes in. The idea is simple: Do just one thing every day that help you move toward what you want to achieve. Even if that’s just performing one sit up or drinking a glass of water, at least you’ll have made some progress.
Here are some low-effort ways you can have a non-zero day:
- Eating healthier: Choose one meal in your day to be primarily made up of vegetables.
- Working out: Do five push ups or crunches or jumping jacks or stretches.
- Mental health: Spend one minute practising mindfulness meditation or breathing exercises.
- Relationships: Send one text, email, or make a quick phone call to someone you care about.
This is similar to the “Don’t break the chain” method. In addition to committing to do one thing a day towards your goals, the non-zero method also focuses on creating a positive relationship with yourself. The non-zero subreddit explains:
Be Grateful To The Three ‘You’s
Past Self: Thank your past self for the favours they did for you
Present Self: Do your future self a favour — they deserve it!
Future Self: Your absolute best friend, and a great person.
This approach helps you forgive yourself if you slip up or make mistakes in the past so that you can focus on the present and future rather than waste time feeling guilty. Don’t let past zero days get you down, in other words. Focus on making today a non-zero day.
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