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Category: Thinking Clearly

Time-Set Your Desired Mind-Set

Published on February 14, 2023
  • At 8am: “Every day I exercise is a great day.”
  • At 9am: “I become what I consume.”
  • At 1pm: “Daily writing is one of the best things I’ve ever done for my mental health.”
  • At 4pm: “Teach like it’s the most important class you’ll ever teach—for someone, it might be.”
  • At 11pm: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.”

It’s easy to get lost in the busyness of the day.

Setting a timer on your phone to ring when you’re supposed to be doing a high-priority task—and making the title of the timer a reminder of the “why” that stands behind the task—can help you cut through the noise and refocus your energy, in the moment, on what’s important.

Better that than laying your head down on the pillow at the end of the day, only to realize that it was all a blur and you were barely conscious for anything that happened since you left the pillow earlier that morning. Why rush so quickly through this already short enough life?!

Imagine waking up to a timer in the morning that said: “If I died yesterday, this would be the greatest gift imaginable.” Maybe that would reframe how you went about your day. Because here’s the thing: some did die yesterday. And here you are.

Why not do everything you could to fully embrace the moments bundled inside this gift you’ve been fortunate enough to receive?

P.s. Here are 25 way daily writing improved my life.

The Tasks That Touch Deep Work

Published on February 7, 2023

One of my most important daily tasks is writing.

Like most deep work tasks, writing is best done in longer, uninterrupted blocks of time vs smaller, interspersed blocks. 1 hour of uninterrupted writing, in my opinion, is NOT the same as four, 15 minute chunks of writing.

That said, one adjustment I’ve made to increase my writing time block is reschedule some of the tasks that touch my writing block.

During a typical 2 hour afternoon time block, for example, I would spend 40 minutes curating content ideas at the outset and 20 minutes meditating at the end—leaving 1 hour of writing time sandwiched in between (on a perfect, uninterrupted, no curve-balls kind of day).

Now I’m working to move my 40 minutes of curating into my morning routine and the meditation into my evening routine so that I can effectively have 2 hours of uninterrupted writing time in the afternoon.

Even if I don’t get this done perfectly, the big takeaway is this: if I move 10 minutes of curating to the morning and 10 minutes of meditating to the evening, that’s 20 minutes of writing—my top priority task each day—back that I otherwise would’ve lost and *wouldn’t* have been able to make up in the morning or evening.

Because, worth saying again, writing in a single 10 or 20 minute block of time is NOT the same as writing in a long block that’s extended by 10 or 20 minutes instead.

Whereas the other tasks I moved—curating and meditating—can be done just as well at any point throughout the day.

Worth considering for the deep work tasks in your day as well.

Happy IS Productive

Published on February 5, 2023

An indicator of productivity that isn’t discussed enough: happiness.

Did the day make you happy? Then it was productive—regardless of how few “productive tasks” you finished.

Did the day make you miserable? Then it wasn’t productive—regardless of how many “productive tasks” you finished.

P.s. I also published 9 Timeless Lessons from Tuesdays With Morrie.

No Refunds; No Exchanges; No Do-Overs

Published on February 3, 2023

Dear busy person,

You won’t get this day back again. Ever. How you choose to busily spend your time today will be forever stamped inside the legacy of your life. No refunds; no exchanges; no do-overs. That said, did any hesitations come up? Second thoughts? Did any of the tasks you’ve devoted precious time to in the day ahead come into question? Give yourself some space and time to notice—really notice. Because those who do—and make the proper adjustments along the way—get more out of life. This one and only life we each have to live. Days spent with no regrets are what lead to a life spent with no regrets—my hope is that you start taking it to heart, today.

Sincerely,

Your inner work person

The Analog Strategy

Published on February 1, 2023

One of the downfalls of digital: it’s easy to hide and ignore…

Those habit tracker apps? Can easily get lost in the million other notifications coming at you from your phone.

And the same is true for whatever else you might be trying to productively get done via screen.

A physical calendar on your fridge that has BIG “X’s” on it for days you successfully completed your task?

…Is much harder to ignore, swipe-hide, or pretend not to see.

Digital is great. But, sometimes, analog is better. Worth considering.

P.s. Something like this. With big “X’s” on it for every day you complete the task. Placed strategically where the task is supposed to happen each day. For me? By my bed. So that every day I get out of bed before a certain time, I can “X” that puppy and get a streak going.

Rare Character Titles

Published on January 30, 2023
  • Wise
  • Loyal
  • Humble
  • Generous
  • Admirable
  • Respectful
  • Dependable

…Aren’t character traits you can give yourself.

They can only ever be gifted to you by others—regardless of how much you believe it, say it, or fight for it (them).

Some things can only ever be proven through action.

Side note: there is an argument to be made for the situation when you’re surrounded by people who simply don’t give gifts of any kind. People who are so consumed in their own worlds that they don’t have the capacity or capability to gift these rare character titles to others. And if that’s the case, remember, getting the rare character titles gifted to you isn’t the point. The point is to embody the rare character traits because of the innate goodness that doing so provides in value for you and your life. Getting the title should never be the expectation; only the rare, unexpected (and greatly appreciated) gift.

…If you want to get the rare character title of appreciative, that is.

P.s. January 26th was the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death. I wrote a piece honoring his legacy here.

Mental Sweat Required

Published on January 29, 2023

You become what you study; study what you want to become.

You become who you speak with; speak with who you want to become.

You become what you think carefully about; think carefully about what (and who) you want to become.*

*Thinking carefully implies deliberate conscious effort, not what happens unconsciously throughout the day. We’re talking about the kind of thinking that happens when you ask and mentally sweat over tough questions. Questions that challenge your limiting beliefs, comfort zones, life path, ingrained habits, close relationships, identity, vision, beliefs, and so on. Yes, this is the kind of thinking that shapes who you will ultimately become.

P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.