Eliminate human error

We may not be able to completely eliminate human error, but where it counts, we can certainly minimize it.

I woke up this morning and realized I hadn’t written a blog yesterday.

I was bummed. I had broken my streak. 

I started writing daily on October 1st, 2020 and have completed 131 blogs in a row. 

Although writing daily wasn’t a public commitment, it was a commitment to myself – until it no longer felt right.

Unfortunately I didn’t have things in place to ensure the task got completed, so I had to take an L.

I did get up and write a blog this morning as soon as I recognized my error, but it’s not the same.

Initially I backdated the post so that it reflected yesterday’s date, but then I felt out of integrity – and it felt like I was allowing that perfectionist side to creep in again, instead of accepting what is.

So here we are with 2 posts in one day.

I was annoyed with myself that I let that happen – that I took my eye off of something so easy to do. 

“Easy to do – and easy not to do” as Jim Rohn always said.

I could have set up a reminder. I could have had a post it note. I could have created a system in which included that as part of my daily plan.

All of those ideas work, and I’ve implemented them in the past, but I got cheeky thinking it was a habit and that I could rely on my memory – but clearly I couldn’t.

Despite writing 131 days in a row, it still got missed.

This is why systems are so important. This is why checklists are a saviour.

I wouldn’t run to the grocery store without a list – I’d for sure forget something – so I always rely on a trusty list.

Having a checklist eliminates human error especially when emotions are high or when you’re tired or busy – or just not feeling yourself. 

I love checklists and systems so that I don’t have to remember the simple stuff, which frees up mental capacity for what really matters.

Hopefully I’ve learned the lesson and the next streak will go beyond 131 days. 

Back to day 1.