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Learn > Lifestyle > Stress

profile avatar Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Founder

Identify Your Keystone Habits To Create Fulfilling Days

By Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT - Updated 7/14/2022
Updated 7/14/2022

What’s the one habit in your life that creates a domino effect leading to other positive habits?

Is it planning your day?

Or maybe doing a morning workout?

Or maybe some meditation?

That’s a keystone habit, which is a concept introduced in “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be just one. It can also be something small like setting your gym clothes out the night before.

If I had to choose one keystone habit, that one big domino that knocks down all the others, it’s getting up early.

I can tap into the best part of myself that is committed to my vision & goals, which spring from my values. What’s truly important to me.

It also allows for a solid hour to complete my morning routine, the primary purpose of which is to cultivate a positive mindset. I program myself to be who I want to be and achieve what I want to achieve.

I have certainly flowed from day to day without any planning or typical habits whatsoever. Just guided by intuition, or sometimes living a life of reaction where it’s like I’m living in a tornado.

There certainly is no perfect way to live your life!

With that said, there are foundational habits that are like roots that keep me grounded, while I trust my intuition fully as life unfolds.

The keystone habits are the strongest and thickest roots of them all.

So what’s your #1 keystone habit? Leave a comment below!

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23 Comments

  1. profile avatar
    Ben Mar 27, 2021 - 08:07 #

    My Top 3 Keystone Habits
    – prayer
    – remembering/forcing myself to smile through all situations
    – controlled diaphragm breathing

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 27, 2021 - 11:32 #

      Thanks for sharing, Ben! Those are all strong roots to stay grounded.

  2. profile avatar
    KB Mar 27, 2021 - 08:50 #

    An early morning question I try to ask myself each day is “What did yesterday teach me?” – identifying positive experiences that I hope to keep having, and negatives that I hope to avoid – always looking deeper than surface feelings, because what felt good may not have had lasting value and what felt bad may be rich in true and lasting value for myself and others.

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 27, 2021 - 11:35 #

      Well said, thanks for sharing. Three questions I ask regularly (1) what am I grateful for today, (2) how do I cultivate a positive mindset and (3) what would make today great? Always a silver lining in “negative” events or experiences.

  3. profile avatar
    Vanessa Mar 27, 2021 - 08:55 #

    Mentally committing to a run the next day before I go to bed. Setting out my clothes helps, but for whatever reason, going to bed with a resolute “I will” seems to work best. I will note that the tactic only succeeds for exercise, not chores. 😉

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 27, 2021 - 11:38 #

      Nice! That’s powerful. It’s like you’re training your subconscious mind right before bed to make sure when you wake up, you do what you said you will do.

  4. profile avatar
    J Mar 27, 2021 - 09:03 #

    Reading the Bible, praying and releasing the day to God, who is walking with me as I journey the day with a thankful heart.

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 27, 2021 - 11:38 #

      Fantastic, thanks for sharing.

  5. profile avatar
    Michael Flores Mar 27, 2021 - 09:23 #

    Reading the Bible when I first get up. Then, head out to the gym.

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 27, 2021 - 11:39 #

      Nice, thanks for sharing, Michael.

  6. profile avatar
    carlos Mar 27, 2021 - 09:23 #

    good night sleep

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 27, 2021 - 11:40 #

      A good night sleep can work wonders. I wonder what are your keystone habit(s) that lead you to having a good night sleep?

  7. profile avatar
    Derek Hussey Mar 27, 2021 - 17:13 #

    I get up at a designated time for work days and train kettle bells and cycling every other day. I also get up at a designated time for weekend days to train first thing before family life kicks in. Time and training..

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 28, 2021 - 11:33 #

      Nice, consistent exercise makes a huge difference

  8. profile avatar
    Della Butler Mar 27, 2021 - 17:58 #

    Hi Marc, I get up before sunrise, drive to a park not far from my home, and walk 5 to 6 miles by myself. I love it and on the rare days I have to miss I feel out of sorts and not as happy and energetic. Thanks for asking, Della

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 28, 2021 - 11:33 #

      That’s a great daily routine, Della! Thanks for sharing

  9. profile avatar
    Barrie Street Mar 27, 2021 - 21:41 #

    I wake up at 6:30 and invariably I begin to plan my blogging for the day. I am passionate about encouraging fitness via my website Over50andfit.ca. Once I have orchestrated this, I am motivated for the day.

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 28, 2021 - 11:34 #

      Sounds great, Barrie.

  10. profile avatar
    Jalen Mar 30, 2021 - 16:37 #

    Getting up at 5am is definitely my #1 Keystone Habit – this wasn’t always the case – i use to roll outta bed anywhere from 6am-6:30am…I never dreamed, at that time, of me getting up at 5am and now I’ve been for the past 7 months! I’m also adding new habits, like prepping my pre and post workout supplements before i go to bed and now i’m going to make the habit of setting my gym clothes out the night before – thanks for the tip! Getting up at 5am has been a life changing experience – I have more energy, courage and optimism that i never thought possible…as Motivational Speaker Mat Wilson said best – if you win the morning, you win the day.

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Mar 31, 2021 - 12:22 #

      Nice, Jalen! Thanks for sharing and that’s good to hear you’ve experienced solid benefits. I’m not sure anything compares to building confidence like getting up early consistently. The only thing I’ve found that even compares is regular strength training.

  11. profile avatar
    Bill Mar 31, 2021 - 17:31 #

    Am seeing some commonalities here from others:
    -Read Bible
    -Prayer
    -Hot shower
    These help setup my day.

  12. profile avatar
    Manon Apr 17, 2021 - 13:50 #

    My keystone habit is i wake up very early and 5 times a week i exercise either first thing in the morning or at the latest mid morning. I eat lean and balanced meal that i prepare mysefl from wholefood. i was 127 lbs for 5’3 and i am now 117lbs after 13 weeks . I’d like to take a break from dieting now. But how do i transition from fat loss to maintaining my gain. I hear reversed dieting when i progressively add calories back is a good way to do it, is this right?

    1. profile avatar
      Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT Apr 18, 2021 - 14:25 #

      Thanks for sharing your comment and congrats on your results! Striving to transform your body is certainly different from sustaining results as you know. One tactic that has worked with a lot of guys is to follow the 80 / 20 rule. 80% unprocessed foods / 20% processed foods. Another way to think about it is 80% of the time you eat great goods, 20% may not be as great, but you still aren’t flying off the rails so-to-speak. If you want to get more particular and specific, reverse dieting by adding calories back in slowly if you’ve been tracking may allow you to get a more granular understanding of what works best for you for maintenance.

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