Retire as early as you can, some people say. Others say never retire at all. Who do you believe? Often both sides will have good points.
Live for the moment versus have a 50 year plan, is another conflicting message.
Write out the pros and cons and see which idea works best for you while limiting the downside. Then follow that route while frequently testing that it is still the best route.
You work hard all day so be sure to enjoy your nights.
Whether it is with your spouse, child, parent or friends, make sure to carve out time each week to spend some time together.
Do fun things, silly things and also have important chats. Build those relationships deeply.
You have only one life to do it in and it goes quick. Make sure you put 10-20 minutes in daily and at least weekly (in busier times).
Look at what you have and how you’re going to use it. Spend some, save some, invest some and give some away to those less fortunate at the time.
If you do budget well, your wealth will grow and you’ll do well with that discipline. Train your brain to set and stick to a budget. It’s a rare but very useful skill.
Relax. A million years have passed without your input or navigation. Perhaps letting things play out would be a good idea. The idea that your very limited experience in all things in the world and ability to coordinate 8 billion lives, or even one more than yours, will be better than all those that went before you, might be a bit of a stretch.
Unless you can predict, second, third and fourth order consequences for your own life with exceptional accuracy, then it is probably time to let things play out for everyone else. Besides, you might find all that relaxing rather enjoyable.
There will be tough moments, times and even weeks. Regardless, stick with it. Work on things. Everything can get better.
Aim to get three big things done each day. Build these three things into your calendar. Actually assess the amount of time it will take to do the thing. Then book that amount of time in your calendar, including timed breaks.
Then when that time comes up, do the thing you’re supposed to do, exclusively. Do not multi-task. Do not answer calls or look at notifications. Just get the work done so you never have to do it again.
That’s it. It’s that simple.
Each time we start something we are best to finish it or cancel it. We need to close the open loop.
You see, when you start a conversation, a project, a task or even an idea in your head, you open a loop. Your mind will keep coming back to this loop until it is closed in some way – completed, cancelled, accepted.
This revisiting of these open loops can drain you of energy and decision making power. That is not good. It leaves less energy for current important things. So every time you can, Close an open loop. You’ll feel lighter and be more effective.
Phone a friend. Help someone cross the street. Help lift a baby carriage or pram. Fill a car with petrol. Give a compliment. Send them a message or write them a card. Send flowers.
It doesn’t need to cost anything or much but it could mean the world to that person. Practice kindness every day.
