Theory of Wagonomics

This is something I have been thinking about for a while. It is something I have learned about how I learn and adopt something. I think this is a crucial life skill and I want to document it. Maybe this works for other people. But it has worked for me.

There are many habits one may want to pick up: being more organized (this is a habit), going to the gym, running, etc. There are numerous apps out there to help you. There is also the old adage of “just be more disciplined”. Sure. But those things didnt work for me in particular. And through some trial and error, going back 15 years, I think I have figured some of these things out.

Building a habit is like getting on a train. When the habit is working fine, it feels natural and flawless. I don’t require a lot of cognitive overhead to keep that habit going. It is a flow state I guess.

I like to use the imagery of a wagon. Once you are on the wagon, things are going great. But there are many ways in which you fall off of the wagon. It is important to understand this whole dynamic.

Some critical questions are:

• How do you get on the wagon
• What makes you stay on the wagon
• What makes you fall off?
• And how do you get back on?

I am currently on the wagon. And I am liking it.

Lindy Effect: The longer you stay on the wagon, the more robust you are

Getting on the Wagon

• The 0 to 1 process
• Reduce activation energy as much as you can
  • The gym clothes being ready
  • The todolist stuff being easy to do

Staying on the Wagon

• Building momentum
• Gamification
• Feedback loop
• The past reinforcing the future

Why fall?

• This blog is a great collection of failures.
  • I have articles on this blog describe that SPIRAL INTO THE DEPTHS OF HELL
  • I started to try to reduce the tail events that could trigger a spiral. I think I am getting better.
• Work causes decline
  • I get busy with work, and I am unable to keep the momentum going.
• Travel, family
  • This is another one. I get obligations which start to impede on stuff.
  • I just need time and space to secure the momentum.

Getting back on the Wagon

• Bootstrap with action
  • I build bootstrap process for getting back on the wagon.
  • Simple actions that I could take
• Action is the answer to laziness

How does it feel to be on the wagon

• I am currently on the wagon for many things. The todolist stuff is going fine. Running is going okay. Weight lifting is starting to ram pup.
• It feels like a glove

Examples:

• GTD Framework
• Gym attempts at college, before then getting on it in 2012
• Running attempts, until Jan 2023