What were the choices you made today, deliberately and <em>by default</em>? What if you kept a running list for the next three days of your choices - to get a decent cross section of your choices.
This could be a baseline of your midweek approach to your life during a random and seemingly insignificant week of the year…
What if you made those same types of choices for the next year?
This is something we are going to play with this week – daily choices and the compound effect of those choices.
Here is a roster of choices many likely make each day or at least once in the next three days – take a peek at this rundown of choices, and note the ones you made in the next three days. We can do a few things with this baseline as you develop it in the next few days. I may even post out a few of my choices a little later this week too. Here’s a sample to give you a sense of the choices I’m talking about:
- Checked in for ‘a few minutes’ on Facebook?
- Scanned Instagram for ‘a few minutes?’
- Checked in for a few minutes on LinkedIn, Twitter, etc?
- Spent at least 15 minutes reading/watching/listening to the news?
- Got up at 5am or earlier?
- Got up prior to 6am?
- Got up after 6am?
- Checked your email at least 9 times today at work?
- Checked your personal email at least 5 times today?
- Sent over 20 texts today?
- Researched a new topic of interest for over 30 minutes?
- Spent 30 minutes planning the remainder of your week? or of the remainder of October?
- Purchased something online that really is not crucial/a necessity?
- Practiced mindfulness or meditation for at least 15 minutes?
- Took a nap?
- Kissed someone close to you?
- Calling a close friend or family member to just listen to them?
- Going for a walk for 20 minutes – even if the weather is ugly?
- Committed to doing that ‘one thing for you’ and then followed through on it?
- Cooked at home?
- Ate all healthy meals today?
- Listened or viewed a positive piece of self improvement content?
- Drank enough water – say 128 ounces?
- Had 2 or more drinks of alcohol?
- Ate something after 8PM at night?
- Stepped away for a few minutes during your lunch to recharge?
- Getting less than 7 hours of sleep?
- Getting at least 7 hours of sleep?
- Getting 8 or more hours of sleep?
- Brushing your teeth twice today?
- Flossing at least once today?
- Drive the speed limit?
- Speed down the road?
- Texting while driving?
- Using your phone/screen for anything while driving or behind the wheel – even when stopped?
- Doing some stretching for at least 15 minutes today?
- Doing some light cardio today?
- Doing some hard cardio today?
- Doing a heavy lift at the gym today?
- Doing a light lift at the gym today?
- Journal/writing for at least 20 minutes today?
- Doing 5 minutes of mindful breathing?
- Take a super hot shower?
- Take a very cold shower?
- Listen to some uplifting / energizing music?
- Go out for a photo walk – taking photos of things you notice or even a selfie walk?
- Pray as best you can from the heart?
- Walk your dogs?
- Walk someone else’s dog? (I have been tempted recently…)
- Take the first step on something you have been putting off for too long?
- Empty your head of your to do’s for the day?
- Empty your head of the to did not’s for the day – for processing later?
- Avoid doing something that you know is not good for you?
- Read an inspiring quote and then write a couple of sentences or bullet points on how it is helpful to you?
- Connect with a mentor that you have lost touch with?
- Make a list of perfect vacation spots?
- Schedule the doctor appointment that you have been pushing off?
- Read for 10 minutes – for pleasure?
- Read a bedtime story to someone you love – even over the phone or FaceTime?
- Did you show up on time?
- Did you set aside and schedule some family time for at least 20 minutes?
- Did you set aside and schedule some ‘me time’ for at least 20 minutes?
- Focus on doing ‘good enough’ for today without self judgement?
- Did you celebrate a win today?
- Did you practice gratitude by writing down 3 things you are happy to have in your life this morning?
- Did you practice gratitude by writing down 3 things you are happy to have in your life when you were going to bed?
- Did you plan your day’s schedule prior to the day truly starting?
- Did you cook/meal prep for the next day for at least one meal?
- Did you Netflix or binge watch something today – this can include sports for those of you that love this time of year…
- Did you have an extra piece of candy or three today?
- Did you call everyone back that you said you would, today?
- Did you make your bed?
- Did you give someone a random compliment?
- Did you pay it forward somehow today? (like buying the coffee for the person behind you in line, or letting the person behind you in line go in front of you – so many ways to do this)
- Did you help someone in an unexpected manner without any expectation from your perspective?
- Did you complain?
- Did you actively listen while in a conversation?
- Did you partially ignore someone while in a conversation?
- Did you multi-task?
- Did you completely focus on the task at hand?
- Did you turn off your email/work collaboration systems, for more than an hour?
- Did you you get that ‘one big thing’ / Eat The Frog done, today?
- Did you take a half hour for a ‘digital detox’ with no screens, no music, no TV, no media being on or in your immediate presence?
Okay, so there are a few examples of choices we all make or fail to make each and every day. Your situation is unique, I am sure of that – this list is provided to get you going.
Can you take the next three days and write down at least 10 choices you have made each day – for the next three days? You can pick off of the list above to start with, and we’ll see where this takes us…
More to come.
