This afternoon, I found myself lying on my bed for almost four hours. Just scrolling, thinking, staring at the ceiling. We’ve all been there — when motivation feels like it has taken the day off.
But then I remembered something I had read the day before in the SoG letter about daily habits. The struggle of keeping habits alive every single day. And in that moment, I realized: they were right. Habits are hard.
Still, even on a sluggish day like this, I managed to stitch together five videos. That’s my craft. Tailor hu, videos mai cut lagata hu. That’s me.
And maintaining that consistency, even on a lazy day, gave me a strange sense of hope. A feeling of control. Like I was telling myself: yes, I own my life.
That’s when the thought struck me. Habits are like Netflix’s TUDUM.
Why You Never Skip Netflix’s “TUDUM”
Let’s be honest. When you open Netflix and hear that iconic TUDUM sound, you don’t skip it. It’s short. It’s punchy. It has become a cultural cue.
That sound tells your brain: something exciting is about to begin.
Now compare that with Amazon Prime’s intro. How many times have you skipped it? Probably most of the time. It doesn’t hit the same way.
That’s the difference between something that’s just routine… and something that gives you a kick.
Habits as Our Personal “TUDUM”
And that’s how I started thinking about habits. They’re not just boxes to tick off a checklist. The right habits act as signals. They’re our own “TUDUM” moments that tell us: you’re in motion, something interesting is about to start.
When I stitched those five videos today, it wasn’t just about the edits. It was about building that cue into my day. It was about creating a small spark that reminded me: I’m not just lying here; I’m moving forward.
The Power of Micro-Habits
The thing is, most of us think of habits in big terms. Go to the gym. Read for an hour. Wake up at 5 AM.
But in reality, it’s often the smallest habits that create the biggest shifts. The micro-habits.
- Writing one paragraph.
- Editing one clip.
- Meditating for five minutes.
These may look small on paper, but they create momentum. They are little victories that stack up. And when they repeat every day, they become your kick.
Just like Netflix’s intro doesn’t take up much time, but it sets the tone for the entire experience.
My Three “TUDUM” Habits
When I think about it, my daily “kick” comes down to three things:
1. Creating — no matter how small.
Even on my lowest-energy days, if I can create one thing, I feel alive. Editing a short reel, stitching a scene, writing a single idea down — it all counts. Creating is my TUDUM. It tells me I’m doing what I was meant to do.
2. Staying consistent — especially when it’s hard.
Five videos in a day might not sound like much, but it adds up. Consistency is what builds confidence. Each edit reminds me that I showed up, even when I didn’t feel like it. And showing up is half the battle.
3. Finding the kick — chasing the spark.
It’s not just about discipline. Habits are also about feeling. That energy boost you get when you finish a workout, or when you see a clean timeline after hours of editing — that’s the kick. That’s the reason you come back again tomorrow.
Why This Matters
You see, habits aren’t just about self-improvement. They’re about identity.
When you build habits, you’re not just doing tasks. You’re telling yourself: this is who I am.
- When I edit daily, I tell myself I’m an editor.
- When I create consistently, I tell myself I’m a creator.
- When I write, I tell myself I’m a storyteller.
And that identity creates belief. And belief creates action. It’s a loop.
Just like Netflix doesn’t need to remind you what TUDUM means anymore — you already know. Your brain is wired to get excited the moment you hear it.
Our habits can have the same effect. They wire us to act.
Wrapping Up
Today, as I lay in bed for hours, I realized something important. Habits aren’t about perfection. They’re about cues. Triggers. The little things that tell us: you’re moving, you’re alive, something interesting is about to happen.
That’s the Netflix effect. That’s TUDUM.
So the next time you feel lazy, or stuck, or unmotivated, don’t force yourself into a massive routine. Find your own TUDUM. That little habit that gives you the kick.
Because if you can build that into your life every day, even on the lazy ones, you’ll always know something exciting is about to begin.
PS: Mira is cutes assistant I had! She saves my grammer every time 😉
naman@samvan.in
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