A Habit a Day Keeps the Lazy Away: A Way to Practice the 7 Habits and Kind of Have Fun with It

Each day for the next 7 days do something to put into action at least one of the 7 Habits.

Not sure what those are?

• Read "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey
• Also, here's a straightforward list:

1. Personal Responsibility
2. Personal Vision
3. Personal Management
4. Mutual Benefit
5. Empathic Communication
6. Creative Cooperation
7. Daily Self-Renewal

1. Personal Responsibility

Do something that is not your responsibility.

2. Personal Vision

Write down your personal vision. What do you want to happen in your life in the next 3-5 years? What steps can you take to make it happen?

3. Personal Management

What are some things you can delegate or eliminate from your life so you have more time for things that are important to you.

4. Mutual Benefit

Call someone who you haven't spoken to in awhile and have a 1-1 conversation about how they are doing, what's going on in their lives, what they would like from a relationship with you. Don't try to sell them anything, just listen and be interested.

5. Empathetic Communication

Have a difficult conversation with someone where there might be conflict or tension. Listen first, then express yourself clearly, then ask if they feel heard by saying "I'm sorry" if they don't feel heard (and if they don't feel heard, why not), then repeat.

6. Creative Cooperation

Find an area of interest that someone else has and find ways to collaborate with them on it. For instance, I love chess and would love to work with anyone who wants to make a great mobile app for learning how to play chess. I also love writing so I'd love to write articles about how people are using the habits in their own lives. Find out what interests others and find ways to help them pursue those interests even if it's not related directly to your interests.

7. Daily Self-Renewal

Take care of yourself physically, emotionally, spiritually so that all these other habits will be easier when done within this context of taking care of yourself first.