Look around. Is this how you want to live your life? Are things untidy? Perhaps they are even out of kilter.
Spend two hours today tidying an area up completely. Make it happen in a drawer or on a counter, in a bathroom or the spare room.
Don’t leave it to slowly, almost imperceptibly, get worse. Take a small area and make it ideal. Then find another area and do the same. Keep doing small but noticeable beautifying projects.
Not a generally fun topic. However, it is one we all will encounter in our lives. It will be either the death of other people or our own.
Preparing for it 20 years ahead may take the sting out of the discussion. It may also allow you some time to get things in order properly.
It’s not an hysterically fun topic but it can be approached light-heartedly. It does need to be done to improve the lives of your heirs and allow you to rest your mind.
Start today. Progress towards completing your will, any trusts, funeral arrangements and Power of Attorney, and getting the rest of your documents in order.
Yes it might mean postponing a few favourite tv shows now and then but having this completed makes you the super star of your family. Dead and still ahead one day. Sort it now!
Do you truly spend your time how you would want to? Not just your work time, which some of you may not be crazy about, but free time too.
Are you with the people you would most like to be with? Are you doing things that improve your life? Do you spend 20% of your time on fun, rejuvenation and enjoyment? Or are you more of an 80% enjoy and try not to really improve anything?
Spending time is something you should plan. If you just go by feelings, you may find yourself in an awful spot three years from now.
A rejuvenating nap can be just the thing you need in the afternoon or early evening. It can clear things up for you and give you hours more of alert and enjoyable time.
I wouldn’t leave it too late though. Napping after nine pm and you may as well have gone to bed! Stay away from this plan unless you’re up due to a pressing deadline that must be met.
Starting projects can be quite easy. You’re usually full of enthusiasm and optimism and up for something refreshingly new.
However do make sure you limit the number of projects you start and make sure you’re fully finishing these projects too.
Many people struggle to succeed because they keep adding projects that dilute their time and energy. Then they leave the open loops unfinished and on their mind. Better to start fewer projects and complete more so a higher percentage is completed. 100% would be quite extraordinary!
While you stick to your convictions, you should also get quite curious as to why people are challenging them.
Don’t just blindly follow your convictions when others are challenging them with considered arguments. Listen to what they are saying. See if any, some or all of what they say could be right. Then investigate it further to test the ideas even more.
The movie The Big Short is an excellent example of this. The bankers that thought Michael Burry was nuts, should have gotten curious, instead of dismissive and aloof, and gone and done some harsh research. Their lives might have turned out quite differently.
You will move faster, and do more, if you have the right tools for the job. Once you have the right tools you can begin upgrading to the best “right” tools.
Don’t delay in getting those tools though. It is very important to use things that will help you progress further and faster.
Taking a position is easy enough. You can simply run with your feelings without any thought and justify your position with points that feel good.
What happens though, if later you change your mind? How do you gracefully switch sides? Is it possible?
How will the people who agreed with your earlier position feel now? What about those you opposed?
It can be a challenging time. Embrace the change though. You owe it to yourself.
Mostly people react to things. They can do this quickly based on feelings. Try to move from react to respond to thoughtful engagement.
Try to notice bias and see if it makes a difference once you shift from feelings based to critical thinking based considerations.
If you commit and quit, your self esteem will drop. You can’t trust perself or count on yourself. Be realistic. Only commit to those things and timeframes you are actually going to do. Don’t let yourself and other people down.
