Life Hacking as a Coaching Metaphor and an Online Tool That Helps Create New Habits
Coaching Tool of the Month
Though hacking is a word mostly used in the programming world, life hacking is a term that now refers to almost anything that solves an everyday problem in a clever or non-obvious way. As I chatted with Marc Sachnoff of SoundWiseOnline recently (SoundWise itself is an example of a great life hack), I realized there hasn’t been enough talk about this not-so-little subculture and how it might apply within the coaching world.
What I enjoy most is how playful and curious life hackers are towards life and how to improve it. I’ve also found the lexicon of how to hack your life a very useful metaphor for coaching clients who are overwhelmed, or live in the duality of ‘I can’t have it all.’
So in addition to inviting you to learn more about it, here’s a favorite actual hack that I personally use, particularly in highly creative seasons like the one I’m in. (Four new funnels of products and services to launch – say no more.) This simple online tool that supports the creation of new habits is called ‘Don’t Break the Chain’ and was inspired by something Jerry Seinfeld said. Here is the short version of how it works:
- Pick a goal. For example, ‘Write every day.’ ‘Meditate for 5 minutes first thing in the morning.’ Or ‘Be sure to leave work no later than 30 minutes past 5pm.’
- Mark off the days on which you achieved the goal.
- Don’t break the chain. Use the increasingly long chain of marked off days as a motivator to continue creating your new habit.
Go here to try it for yourself. Be forewarned that the software does have a cheeky tone – it (kindly) berates you when you haven’t met your goal. “You’ve dropped the ball for 2 straight days.” 
As no-fee tools go, I highly recommend it. Set it up as your home page, install it on your blog for added public accountability or even use the tool in a group e-learning environment for multiple participants. Who knows, you might start a chain that encourages you to try a new life hack every day for the next 2 weeks! Enjoy.
