For the past months, I was not able to submit my articles, and I think because I veered away from my usual routine. So I had been procrastinating and missed the schedule set for us each week. In my readings last week, I came upon an article in New York Times which inspired me to do this article.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” (Aristotle)
Chris Winfield (The Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self: Build Your daily Routine by Optimizing Your Mind, Body & Spirit) wrote: “Aristotle is credited for this quote. And for most of my life, I did not believe him.”
One day, Winfield decided to take a different path…that is, he listened to Aristotle, and worked on establishing excellence in his life by having a positive daily routine (and he called it his best day ever).
What benefits can you get from creating a routine? Winfield cites the following: it is a self-investment and a way to do your best for the rest of the world; it gives you structure, building forward moving habits, and creating momentum that will sustain you on some days when you do not have the strength to carry the load alone. Furthermore, it can help you establish priorities, limit procrastination, keep track of goals, and even make you healthier. The key is to create regular and consistent daily patterns, that will take you where you want to go in life, help you maximize yourself on every level possible.
Here are valuable tips from Winfield:
Optimize your mind: Get positive: 1) Start the day with a mantra like “Today is going to be the best day ever!” The Mayo Clinic claims that positive thinking helps manage stress and even improves health;
2) Be proactive: Don’t check your email first which puts you in a reactive, instead of proactive mode. Jocelyn Glei (Manage Your-Day-to-Day) writes, “…the trouble with this approach is it means spending the best part of the day on other people’s priorities.” Winfield advises: Start your day focused on YOU and you will be in a much better state-of-mind to help others and get more accomplished all day;
3) Mentally prepare: Visualize your success. Jack Canfield, (co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series) advises: “Practice visualization for 10 minutes a day to harness the power of your subconscious mind.” Your subconscious mind tends to believe what you tell it to do (good or bad and will turn those commands into reality;
4) Read a book (even if it’s just a page). Reading books can boost your intelligence, it reduces your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by more than double and also increases your brainpower;
5) Have a mentor;
6) Write: Prime yourself for creativity. Setting aside time to write everyday helps you to become a better communicator, improves your ability to recall important things and optimizes your creativity.
7) Make a daily to-do-list;
8) Take regular breaks throughout the day;
9) Break your day into chunks; and
10) Theme your day. This means setting aside different tasks for different days of the week.
Optimize your body: 1) Aside from eating a well-balanced diet, exercising, drinking more water — nine cups for women and 13 cups for men daily (Mayo clinic);
2) Have some tea: Polyphenols benefit the body. You may want to drink tea instead of water. Polyphenols in tea are anti-inflammatory and provide antioxidant-like benefits (Harvard Medical School). Best teas to drink and the reasons why: Green tea is positive anti-cancer effects, good for your circulatory system and your brain; black tea promotes healthy lungs; white tea is strong cancer preventative effects; Oolong tea lowers bad cholesterol; and Pu-erh tea helps with weight gain and lowering bad cholesterol.
I take three sips of hot tea (green and chamomile tea at night) twice a day to improve my sense of well being.
Optimize your spirit:
1) Get quiet: Try meditation;
2) Find a well of inspiration;
3) Practice gratitude: Write what you’re thankful for. I set aside November of each year and write three things that I am thankful for each day for the past three years in my Facebook. It has made me become more positive, mindful and happier;
4) Learn something new everyday;
5) Spend less time with people who do not lift you up and
6) Give to others.
Can you do most of the above-mentioned tips? I have adopted some and have been practicing most of them and have been enjoying the results.
Each day upon waking up, say this: “Today is going to be the best day ever!” And it will happen.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
