I’ve already crossed through every.single.day. in my planner for January.
I can’t believe we are into February!
How have you been? Whatcha’ been up to?
Miss you long time xoxo
SUPER busy over here, I tell ya. Finished up 2016 with a bang and felt like I’d crossed SO MUCH off my life to do list. It was amazing!
One of my goals for 2016 was to really dig deep every morning and settle into a (productive) routine.
Here’s what it looks like:
Wake Up- usually around 5:30.
Make Coffee.
Settle into my comfy chair in my office with: my coffee, a blanket, my journal, and whatever ‘learn something’ book I’m currently reading.
Open journal. Here is what my daily entry looks like:
“GRATITUDE“ – list the first 4-5 things that pop into my head that I am thankful for.
Stare at that list and let it sink in. Some days I’m thankful for my coffee (let’s be real, every day). Some days I’m especially thankful for certain people in my life. A lot of days I’m thankful for how I feel, how I slept, how the sun is warm on my face.
Every day I’m thankful for my loves and that they are happy and healthy.
*If you’re not currently practicing gratitude- try it. It’s a game changer!*
“PRAY” – this is where I list the things I’d like to specifically pray for.
Sometimes it’s a sick friend or family member of a friend. Sometimes it’s a friend struggling with some aspect of their life. Sometimes it’s something I’m working on or need a little help with or just to get something off my chest. Sometimes I pray for people I don’t know, people I see that look a little lost or I know are hurting.
A lot of times I just pray for clarity 🙂
“TO DO” – this is usually one to three things I can quickly do in 10 minutes or less during the day.
This is not work related, but home or family related. For days on end, it was to put up a curtain rod in the bonus room. I’m not up there a lot and it just fell to the wayside.
Eventually I crossed it off the list, but it was on there for what seemed like weeks. Finally I got tired of writing it down every day and just sucked it up and did it.
CHECK CHECK CHECK. That felt so good once it was done!!
“WORK TO DO” – these are a few things that MUST be done for work.
I start with the biggest fish first and work my way down. I do keep a separate work journal for daily tasks. I just LOVE crossing things off that bad boy.
So after I’ve journaled and reviewed my GRATITUDE list and followed through on my PRAY list, I read one chapter or 15-20 minutes from my ‘learn something’ book. There are days I want to read more, and I do. But I try not to read any less. I also save my fun reading for night time, so this is time for my self help- self love- continuing education reading.
Right now I’m reading “Tools of Titans” by Tim Ferriss (he’s also the author of The Four Hour Work Week and the Four Hour Body AND has a popular podcast)
Let me tell you- Once I got this routine down, I have savored it. I became 300% more productive and felt accomplished at the end of the day. I am focused and know what needs to be done. It’s like anything in life, you need a plan to accomplish a goal and I chose to break my goal down to daily tasks.
It works!
How was your 2016? What did you mark off of your life “To Do” list?
Coming next….exactly what I crossed off my list in 2016…
XOXO
Leslie