Foundational Vs. Regular Habits

A foundation is a universal practice that helps support a good life.

Foundations are universal, which means they matter for (almost) everyone. Whether or not you have any particular talent or interest in them, your foundations shape your life in ways big and small.

In that sense, we can easily contrast foundations with the things that make you unique, like your professional specialty or hobbies you enjoy. Being a good programmer, for instance, is not a foundation. A person doesn’t need to write code to live well. But fitness is a foundation because, whether you’re a jock or not, regular exercise is good for your health and energy levels.

Foundations are practices, which means they’re something you do, not simply something you know or believe. But there is often a gap between our ideals and our behavior. We know we should exercise more, sleep better, read books and maintain our friendships, but we often struggle to be consistent.

Why Work on Foundations?

Foundations cannot be delegated or ignored. This means that, contrary to much self-help advice, it’s your weakest foundations — not your strongest — that…