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How To Reset For This Coming Year. DEF Reset PSA.

By Jocko DEFCOR Network

In this episode of the Jocko Podcast, former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink introduces the Def Reset program, designed to instill discipline and healthy habits through a regimen of 9 daily practices. The program revolves around guided workouts, nutrition, and accountability within a supportive group.

Willink emphasizes the power of consistent small steps and the "daily grind" in creating lasting change. The episode explores strategies for developing discipline across all areas of life—from waking early and prioritizing tasks to fostering gratitude and challenging oneself physically. With practical advice and an emphasis on accountability through the program's mobile app, Willink aims to help participants forge new positive habits and achieve their goals through incremental progress.

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How To Reset For This Coming Year. DEF Reset PSA.

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How To Reset For This Coming Year. DEF Reset PSA.

1-Page Summary

The Def Reset Program

Former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink introduces the Def Reset, a program designed to help individuals develop discipline and improve health through a regimen of 9 daily habits. As Willink explains, the program provides guided workouts, nutritional guidance, and progress tracking via a mobile app.

Daily Disciplines

The 9 core habits aim to instill lifestyle changes like waking early, exercising daily, prioritizing tasks, hydrating properly, eating clean, reading and writing regularly, expressing gratitude, and challenging oneself physically.

Preparation and Accountability

Willink advises participants to prepare their environment by decluttering temptations and obtaining necessary equipment. He emphasizes the program's group dynamic, highlighting the importance of supporting teammates and leveraging the app's task reporting features to foster accountability.

The Power of Small Steps

Jocko stresses that lasting change comes not from overnight miracles, but the "daily grind" of consistent small actions. Echo Charles recommends simple habits like standing breaks, prioritized to-do lists, and hydration targets.

According to Ashley Freeman, eating whole foods from the grocery perimeter and avoiding processed items promotes a clean diet. Guided workouts, mental training, and an app for tracking progress further support participants in developing discipline.

Willink aims for the Def Reset to help participants practice daily discipline across all aspects of their lives. As he notes, the previous year saw participants getting stronger, faster, and taking up new pursuits like jiu-jitsu through the program.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • The program's emphasis on waking early may not be suitable for everyone, as some research suggests that different people have different chronotypes, and forcing a morning routine on a night owl could be counterproductive.
  • Daily intense physical challenges may not be appropriate for all individuals, especially those with pre-existing health conditions or those who are new to exercise, and could lead to injury or burnout.
  • The focus on clean eating and avoiding processed foods might be overly restrictive and difficult for some individuals to maintain long-term, potentially leading to feelings of guilt or failure if they cannot adhere strictly to the guidelines.
  • The requirement to declutter temptations and purchase equipment could be financially burdensome or impractical for some participants.
  • The group dynamic and accountability through an app might not appeal to individuals who prefer a more private or self-directed approach to personal development.
  • The program's reliance on an app for progress tracking assumes that participants have access to and are comfortable with using technology, which may not be the case for everyone.
  • The claim that participants have gotten stronger and faster could be anecdotal and may not be representative of all participants' experiences, as individual results can vary widely.
  • The program may not address deeper psychological issues that can affect discipline and health, such as stress management, emotional eating, or other mental health concerns.
  • The program's structure may not be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected life events or changes in routine, which can disrupt the ability to maintain the prescribed daily habits.

Actionables

  • You can create a "Discipline Jar" where you add a set amount of money every time you complete all your daily habits, then use the money to reward yourself with something that aligns with your goals, like new workout gear or books.
    • This strategy turns your daily discipline into a tangible reward system, reinforcing your commitment to the habits. For example, if you complete all nine habits in a day, you might add $5 to the jar. Over time, this not only helps solidify the habits but also gives you a visual representation of your consistency and progress.
  • Develop a mini-challenge with a friend where you both pick a new skill or hobby to learn over a month, sharing progress weekly to foster a sense of camaraderie and accountability.
    • This could be anything from learning to play a new instrument, speaking a new language, or even gardening. The key is to choose something that requires daily practice, mirroring the discipline you're cultivating with your habits. Sharing your progress with a friend keeps you accountable and makes the process more enjoyable.
  • Implement a "No Excuses" day once a week where you intentionally add an unexpected challenge to your routine, like taking a cold shower or volunteering for a task outside your comfort zone.
    • This strategy is about embracing discomfort and building mental resilience. For instance, if you dread public speaking, you might choose to lead a meeting at work or give a toast at a social event. The idea is to regularly step into situations that test your discipline in new ways, strengthening your ability to handle life's curveballs.

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How To Reset For This Coming Year. DEF Reset PSA.

The Def Reset program and its key components

Public speaker and former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink introduces the "Def Reset," a comprehensive program designed to help individuals kickstart their new year by steering their lives back towards health, discipline, and productivity.

Program Incentives and Resources

Through the partnership of Echelon Front, Train Hard, and Jocko Fuel, the Def Reset provides an array of supportive resources to guide participants.

Resource Availability and Tracking

The program includes easy access to a variety of materials through a dedicated mobile app. This app delivers guided workouts and nutritional guidance, offering a convenient way for enrollees to track their progress in daily habits and overall growth. Willink endorses the program's efficiency and urges those interested to download the app from defreset.com for detailed guidance and support.

Daily Habits and Disciplines

At the heart of the Def Reset program lies a structured regimen of 9 daily habits that aims to instill discipline and foster improvements in health and leadership skills.

Nine Pillars of Daily Discipline

These core habits focus on lifestyle adjustments that include waking up early, participating in daily physical exercise, prioritizing essential tasks, ensuring proper hydration, engaging in clean eating, regularly dedicating time to reading and writing, expressing gratitude, and incorporating a challenging physical ex ...

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The Def Reset program and its key components

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Counterarguments

  • The program's reliance on a mobile app might not be suitable for everyone, especially those who prefer less screen time or are not tech-savvy.
  • The structured regimen of 9 daily habits may be too rigid for some individuals, who might benefit from a more flexible approach tailored to their unique circumstances.
  • The emphasis on physical exercise and waking up early might not take into account individual differences in physical abilities and circadian rhythms.
  • The program's partnership with commercial entities like Jocko Fuel could be seen as a potential conflict of interest, where the program's advice might inadvertently promote certain products.
  • The preparatory step of decluttering one's home and equipping it with workout gear could be financially or logistically challenging for some participants.
  • The focus on discipline and military-style routines may not resonate with or be effective for everyone, particularly those who thrive in ...

Actionables

  • Create a "habit anchor" by pairing new habits with existing routines to reinforce the nine core habits. For example, if you already have a morning coffee ritual, use that time immediately after to engage in your daily physical exercise or reading and writing. This method leverages the power of habit stacking, making it easier to adopt new behaviors by attaching them to established ones.
  • Designate a "growth corner" in your living space dedicated to your Def Reset activities. This could be a corner with your workout mat, water bottles, healthy snacks, books, and a journal. Having a physical space set aside for your growth activities can serve as a visual reminder and a motivational space, making it more likely that you'll engage in the habits daily.
  • Implement a weekly "habit audit" with a friend or fa ...

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How To Reset For This Coming Year. DEF Reset PSA.

The importance of accountability, support, and teamwork

The Def Reset program, as described by Willink and Echo Charles, highlights the critical elements of accountability, support, and teamwork in achieving personal goals, particularly in fitness and self-improvement.

The Def Reset is designed to be a group effort, with participants supporting and motivating each other throughout the process.

Willink underscores the significant advantage of having a workout partner and being part of a collective effort aimed at self-improvement. He talks about the necessity of preparing to support others and to be supported by them in the program. Participants are not alone in their journey; they are assembled into a team that is designed to help each member achieve their individual goals.

Having workout partners and accountability check-ins can make a big difference in sticking to the program and achieving one's goals.

Jocko emphasizes the power of group dynamics in maintaining discipline and motivation. He explains the benefit of pushing one another, checking in on one another, and ensuring that everyone stays committed. It’s not about going it alone; rather, it’s about leveraging the strength of the team to persist and advance towards shared objectives.

The app includes features that allow participants to report on whether they've completed the daily tasks, fostering a sense of shared commitment.

Echo Charles introduces a new feature of the app that broadcasts tasks to participants, who then must acknowledge whether they have co ...

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The importance of accountability, support, and teamwork

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Counterarguments

  • While accountability, support, and teamwork are beneficial, some individuals may thrive with a more autonomous approach to personal goals, finding that self-motivation and personal discipline work better for them.
  • Group efforts can sometimes lead to social loafing, where individuals contribute less effort than they would if working alone, potentially undermining the effectiveness of the program.
  • The pressure of public reporting and accountability check-ins might increase anxiety or stress for some participants, which could be counterproductive to their personal growth and well-being.
  • The app's feature that broadcasts tasks and requires public acknowledgment could lead to a sense of surveillance or lack of privacy, which might not be comfortable for all users.
  • Group dynamics can sometimes lead to groupthink, where the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.
  • The emphasis on teamwork might inadvertently create a competitive environment, which could be discouraging for those who are not progressing at the same rate as others.
  • Relying on others for motivation ...

Actionables

  • Create a goal-setting buddy system with friends where you meet weekly to discuss progress and setbacks. By pairing up with a friend who has similar goals, you can create a personalized accountability structure. For example, if you're both trying to exercise more, set a weekly check-in to discuss the workouts you've completed and encourage each other to keep going.
  • Start a mini-competition with your social circle or colleagues to complete daily tasks, with a small reward for the weekly winner. This taps into the group dynamic and shared commitment. For instance, if your goal is to drink more water, track your intake and compare with others at the end of the week, with the winner getting a healthy treat from the group.
  • Use a shared digital calendar with a group of peers to mark milestones and task ...

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How To Reset For This Coming Year. DEF Reset PSA.

Practical steps and habits for improving health, fitness, and discipline

Practical habits and consistent, small actions are the keys to making significant progress in health, fitness, and discipline, as recommended by experts. Here are some steps and habits that can lead to beneficial changes over time.

Consistent, small actions like daily exercise, reading, and water intake can lead to significant progress over time.

Jocko Willink cautions against expecting overnight miracles and highlights the importance of the daily grind, reinforcing that disciplined, consistent effort is what leads to real, lasting change. Whether it’s through physical activity or intellectual pursuits, the key is to stick with these activities regularly to see transformative results.

For example, getting up early enough in the morning to engage in physical activity, such as 20 minutes of stretching or cardio. This can improve mobility and dexterity, set a positive tone for the day, and contribute to long-term well-being. Jocko Willink himself shares his experience with doing burpees for an extended period and learning how to turn off his mind and just perform the task, which illustrates the importance of daily practice in improving discipline and mental fortitude.

Developing habits like prioritizing tasks, avoiding junk food, and expressing gratitude can have a positive ripple effect on various areas of one's life.

Echo Charles recommends taking breaks from sitting for extended periods by standing up to stretch, do jumping jacks, or burpees, even if it's just for a few minutes. These short bursts of activity can alleviate the physical issues associated with prolonged sitting and contribute to overall fitness.

To cultivate discipline and organization, one should prioritize tasks by writing down what needs to be accomplished the next day before going to bed, and then work on completing those tasks.

Hydration is another cornerstone of health. Drinking water before meals and consistently throughout the day is essential, with a guideline of half your body weight in ounces as a daily target.

In terms of nutrition, Ashley Freeman from Jocko Fuel advises eating clean by choosing foods from t ...

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Practical steps and habits for improving health, fitness, and discipline

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • While consistent, small actions are beneficial, some individuals may require more significant lifestyle changes to see progress due to various health conditions or personal circumstances.
  • Disciplined, consistent effort is important, but flexibility and adaptability are also necessary to respond to life's unpredictable challenges and to prevent burnout.
  • Getting up early for physical activity can be beneficial, but it's not suitable for everyone, especially night owls or those with sleep disorders; personalized routines should be considered.
  • Regular practice is key to improvement, but it's also important to vary exercises to prevent overuse injuries and to maintain motivation by keeping workouts interesting.
  • Taking breaks from sitting is good advice, but the type of activity done during these breaks should be tailored to individual fitness levels and work environments.
  • Prioritizing tasks is helpful, but this approach may not work for everyone, especially those who thrive under less structured or more creative workflows.
  • The guideline for hydration needs to be personalized as it can vary greatly depending on individual factors like climate, activity level, and health status.
  • Eating clean with whole foods is ideal, but it may not be accessible or affordable for everyone, and dietary needs c ...

Actionables

  • Create a habit tracker in a notebook to visually monitor your daily small actions, like a checkbox for each glass of water you drink or page you read. This tangible record can serve as a motivator and a visual reminder of your progress, helping you to stay disciplined. For example, draw a simple grid with dates and activities, and enjoy the satisfaction of checking off each completed task.
  • Set a recurring 30-minute calendar event for midday movement, where you stand up from your desk and engage in a mini-workout, such as stretching, stair climbing, or yoga poses. By scheduling this into your day, you're more likely to commit to it, and it can help break the sedentary habit while contributing to your overall fitness.
  • Use a water bot ...

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