The Dead Simple Habit That Helps Me Get Things Done With Less Stress
It's true, I'm a fitness and lifestyle professional who's built my life around the optimization of these two factors in my own life and helping others do the same.
However, I have and continue to deal with the real stressors of life, as you do. I don't wake up every morning, stress-free with no worries and just function at 100% without using certain tools and strategies to help me out.
Every time stress piles up in my life, I know it's because I'm not doing what I know I need to do. And when this thought hits me, I always ask myself this dead simple question...
"What are the 3 things that, if I completed tomorrow, I'd have a better day and week ahead of me?"
I call this Preparing Tomorrow Today and here is how answering this question can make you more productive AND less stressful.
1. It's A Brain Dump (Reducing Mental Stress)
I write my 3 things down on paper at night, and I do this for a valuable reason.
Writing something down has this magical property of making it smaller, more approachable, and more actionable. It's also a brain dump which sends a message to your subconscious that this is for another time, not now.
This leads to more relaxing and restful sleep and helps you start your day with a clearer vision.
2. It Throws Yourself An Alley-oop
If you consider the relationship between your present and future self, you''ll soon realize that no one holds a more important intimate position upon which to impact your future self, than your current self.
It's a relationship of friendship, and you are the friend who can place all the seeds to secure your future self's happiness.
By making it clear what matters to you the night before, you're helping future you deal with less chaos tomorrow. This ends up feeling like a slam dunk when you follow through.
3. It Eliminates Friction
Waking up to a bullet point list allows you to enter into a flow early in the day, avoiding overwhelm.
This makes it easier to build momentum, moving from one task in the day to another with ease and a feeling of gathering greater energy (rather than losing it).
So how might this look when you're trying to optimize your fitness and lifestyle? It can start out very simple, such as:
1. Show up to the gym
2. Go for one 10 minute walk outside
3. Reducing drinking to Friday night with the guys/ladies
4. Clean the car/office
5. Schedule that next appointment
Finally, if you complete these by the end of the night - give them a big cross out (I enjoy using a black sharpie). It feels amazing to do this, and even on half-won days, there is a felt sense of progress and self-accomplishment.
Also, if a task continues to be on the list but is not getting crossed out - that's something you need to do because THAT'S what's causing you stress.
Stop putting it off. Start preparing tomorrow, today.