On Small Habits and Consistency

Habits determine your “new normal.”

It’s funny how consistency can quietly change what we consider “normal.”

Running races on the weekend has become my baseline now—so much so that in 2024, I only missed five weekends.

It’s no longer a question of whether I’ll run… it’s just what I do.

I’m not sharing this to brag (I’m not exactly fast). For me, it’s about showing up and sticking with a habit that’s become a meaningful part of my life.

And honestly, this habit has done more than I expected. It’s improved my health, boosted my energy, and helped me keep up with my two very active sons. It’s also expanded my network, connecting me with some amazing people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. And through running, I’ve had the chance to experience beautiful places I might never have seen—like Washington, Arizona, British Columbia, Utah, Colorado, Italy, France, and the
UK.

These days, the routine is almost automatic:

I plan races a few weeks in advance, get clothes and essentials ready the night before, wake up early for coffee, make sure there’s time to stretch, and, of course, celebrate afterward with a chocolate milkshake (with protein powder and ice cream).

I even pick a topic to think about on each run, whether it’s a work challenge, a personal goal, or what to get my wife for her birthday 😉

The lesson for me has been that you don’t need to be the best at something to make it a lasting part of your life.

Small, consistent actions really do add up, and before you know it, they’re reshaping what you consider “normal” in the best way.

What new habits have been helping you redefine your “normal”?

Let me know in the Comments section below.