Write That Down.
How many times have we had an “idea” that stayed that way? It remained an idea in our heads until we forgot about it, or moved on to something else. Or we wanted to do something, maybe it was a new task that would help us become a better person and we kept thinking about it but never acted on it. Or every year, we set out to accomplish something and think through of what we needed to get it done, but it never materialized into something that was long lasting? Regardless of what is was, we were probably really bought into it for a while too, however over time it just faded away into a distance memory. This happens because it is easy to ignore something that is just an idea. So we need to write it down. Once we do this, it becomes harder to ignore because it is no longer just an idea. It becomes real.
Something else happens too. we become much more inclined to actually do whatever it is we set out to do. Especially if we take the time (and effort) to articulate it into words rather than just the thought of it floating in our heads. This is due to the “Written Commitment Effect”. This is a principle that has emerged from observations and studies related to human behavior, motivation, and cognitive processes. This psychological phenomenon demonstrates that we are more likely to follow through with goals, intentions, or commitments when we write them down. Simply putting goals or a plan into written form increases both our intrinsic motivation and accountability, leading to a higher likelihood of actually putting in the work to accomplish it. This because the act of writing it down makes it more concrete and tangible. We are able to pick up our plan, hold it, and see it. Which of course we can’t do if we just keep in in our heads. It also helps to clarify thoughts and solidify our intentions. Writing things down gives us clarity on it, because sometimes something looks great in our heads but not so much on paper. Additionally, the act of writing (especially with pen and paper over typing) engages cognitive processes that enhance memory and cognitive consistency, making us more likely to act in accordance with written commitments. So when we write down our plan and say “I will commit to do this every week” we are significantly more likely to actually do so.
For some reason, we resist this simple and effective way to hold ourselves accountable. Some of us might feel like we shouldn’t need to write it down and have a reminder of it. That we should be able to just remember to do it. But why does that even matter? If that was the case then we shouldn’t use alarm clocks or kitchen timers either, or save important dates in our phone’s calendars. Writing it down just ensures we will actually remember it. That we will see it day in and day out, so we will actually end up doing it, rather than expecting we will just remember to do it.
There are numerous ways we can make this idea work for us. We might find that a simple notebook is the most effective way for us to craft our plan, or maybe a white board adhered to the wall that allows us to check off the steps as we go along. Or color coordinated sticky notes across our desk that we pick up and move with every task we accomplish. Whether it is in step-by-step instructions, a bullet list or a hundred sticky notes around our home, it needs to meet our specific needs. It has to be done in a way we won’t be able to easily ignore or forget. Otherwise we run the risk of it becoming just another idea in our heads, one that we were once incredibly excited for, until we forgot about it completely.
