1. Start with a blank canvas
Only a few things in life truly match the feeling of waking up after a good night’s sleep. Waking up to be reminded that you still have a job to finish or a messy room can have a huge impact on your mental wellbeing. When you wake up each morning, make sure it is to a clean slate. Avoid leaving tasks halfway done and try to plan your day the night before. Waking up to a clear schedule and a clean environment prevents you from feeling overwhelmed and helps you manage your activities better.
2. Indulge in your passion first thing
It could be reading, painting, exercising, going for a walk or even watching an episode of your current TV show but doing your hobby first thing in the morning not only reinforces a skill, but can also set the tone for your entire day. Practicing activities that we enjoy increase our levels of concentration, relaxation and mindfulness. By starting your day with such energy, you become more confident and motivated to fulfill tasks that could otherwise seem daunting or boring.
3. Read. Just read.
Read the newspaper. Read a magazine. Read your favorite book (again). Reading is a great activity to keep your mind sharp. The action itself increases your levels of comprehension and enhances grammar and spelling skills, which are more important than they appear. There is something to learn from every single thing you read – no matter the genre or topic.
4. Always have something to write on.
Keeping a notebook or a deck of post-its nearby is the best antidote against lost brilliant ideas or forgotten appointments. Our brain produces 60,000 thoughts per day, which means that, as much a we rely on our memory, sometimes it’s better to just write things down. By having our ideas constantly present in a visual manner, it is easy to revisit them when we finally have the time to do so.
5. Find people that share your ambition but not your vision.
When entering a new venture, it is not uncommon to join forces with someone that has the same goals as you do. Having a partner gives strength and structure to a project, but draws unclear limits regarding personal relationships. Your partner must be strong enough to stay by your side when things do go as planned, but also when they don’t. Surround yourself with people who share your drive, your will to accomplish goals and dreams but not necessarily those who would rather compete with you.
6. Don’t rely on other people’s opinions.
We often ask other people for their opinions for validation. The weight we put on external opinions can often be obscene. These opinions can make or break our personal stance on something, but we must not forget: people are subjective by nature. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but never let opinions inflate or deflate your ego and motivation.
7. Reflect upon your day.
Wisdom and temperance can be exercised through daily introspections into your life. Was there something that made you particularly happy or sad? Do you feel satisfied with your performance today? What about your behaviour and how you reacted to problems? A simple acknowledgement of the rights and wrongs in your day can help you work towards the best version of yourself and get the life you want.
Awesome secrets. I really love this one “Don’t rely on other people’s opinions”. The influence of other people’s opinion is very important to most of us, sometimes even more than has to be.
Thank you! Figuring out the worth of other people’s opinions in your personal life can potentially change your view in a lot of different aspects.