Sunday, January 7, 2024

Maybe scan through these good suggestions...

While I'm nurturing a coal of anger in order to make changes happen that will help continue Democracy in the USA, and perhaps also to address Women's Rights, and hopefully to make some political strides toward gun control measures...

here's yet another list (I know, groan) about how to change habits. I subscribe to Postanly Weekly

Here are some past posts:

3 Ideas on Better Living

Wendell Berry on the value of stillness

“When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”

Source: The Peace of Wild Things

Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer on the importance of reflection

“You may accumulate a vast amount of knowledge but it will be of far less value to you than a much smaller amount if you have not thought it over for yourself; because only through ordering what you know by comparing every truth with every other truth can you take complete possession of your knowledge and get it into your power.”

Source: Essays and Aphorisms

Ralph Waldo Emerson on the importance of trial and error as a way of living

“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse, and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice. Up again, you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.”

Source: The Heart of Emerson's Journals

This week:

Short habits for life’s common problems, project-based learning and more

"Your present life is a reflection of your past habits. To change your future, change what you do daily.

We accelerate or delay our success by our habits.

There’s no formula for a better or good life, but there are common but productive habits you can slowly add to your routine to change the trajectory of your life.

Start with these short habits — they can solve many of your problems.

Don’t aim to make big changes. Tiny improvements can still have a meaningful and powerful impact on your life.

Anything you want to fix or solve starts on the mind. Be prepared to change your mind. Make change a learning process.
To improve your personal growth, become a lifelong learner: consume high-quality content from different sources: books, podcasts, courses, and newsletters.
If you struggle to start work, focus on easy high-priority tasks that will take you less time to complete. It’s a massive motivator.
When you feel low, try a quick exercise: the body releases happy hormones that suppress stress hormones when you get moving.
To improve mental clarity, take a solitude walk — a brisk walk in nature works best: try forest baths once or twice a week.
Energy is usually at its peak during the first part of your day, which means you should be completing habits that inspire or excite you about the day ahead. — S. J. Scott
When you hit a creative wall, take a break away from work and go for a walk in nature or anything you enjoy outside work.
If your productivity slows down in the afternoon, try a productive distraction: listen to upbeat music or a podcast.
To get a break from your desk, plan desk exercises into your day. You can do neck stretches, stand to work, shake your hands and legs, and chair squats to reduce tension in your body.
If you struggle to sleep, start a ready-for-bed routine to calm your brain before bed: read a book or use a journal for introspection.
If you are not developing professionally in your current job, rethink your role or position. Recommend learning opportunities to your employer.
Overthinking is bad for your mental health: use journaling to distract your mind. Write down your frustrations, thoughts and worries and list solutions to those in your control.
In any conversation, listen more than you speak: it improves engagement and stops you from constantly thinking about what to say.
Have a lot to do in a single workday? List them in order of importance, get the first three done — the rest can wait.
If you have a busy day tomorrow, write down the one task that feels heaviest on your shoulder: get it done first thing in the morning.
When your ego or anger gets in the way of your best self, think about your humble beginnings or remind yourself of the worse consequences in the future.
You are likely to get bored of your daily routine at some point: switch things up at least once a month to reduce boredom.
If you tend to waste a lot of time on social media, hide the apps in a folder on your phone. Make it hard to get to and replace the space with reading apps.
If you are worried about your health, start a new routine to start improving it: get moving first thing in the morning, add a healthy option to your dinner and walk more.
Everyone needs a retirement plan. If you don’t have one, start investing aggressively for your future self. I use index funds for retirement.
Do you have life goals? If you don’t, think about what matters to you in life and organise your to-do list based on them.
To get anything done or boost your productivity, start your day on purpose. Be deliberate about how you spend your time.
Defend your time by saying no more often. When in doubt, say no without regrets. Don’t say yes to anything that will become a burden.
If you are worried about forgetting what you learn, teach what you know.Sharing in public improves retention.
Spend your money based on what brings you happiness: focus more on meaningful experiences instead of things. It reduces stress.
To reduce decision fatigue in the morning, limit the number of decisions you make before lunchtime. It saves energy for high-value work.
Endorphins are the brain’s painkiller. You can stimulate them by exercising, eating dark chocolate or watching comedy.
If you want to improve your energy in the morning, stay away from sugary breakfasts. What you need are protein, fibre and healthy fats. You can find them in eggs, whole-grain cereals, fruits and nuts.
Dopamine controls how we feel. To increase dopamine levels and boost your mode, listen to your favourite music, get better sleep or seek new and exciting experiences.
Declutter your tech every month: reduce notifications, unsubscribe from newsletters you don’t actually read and delete apps you don’t use.
People like offers and opportunities. Instead of requesting things, frame them as opportunities. It improves your chances of getting what you want.
To prevent and reduce disappointments in life, limit your expectations. Some people have zero expectations when they try something new and enjoy themselves.
Think about solutions for every problem you face, not the problem itself. Ask yourself: what can I do now to minimise the outcome I fear?
You can quickly reduce stress by spending more time with the people in your life who make you feel good about yourself.
By developing and practising good habits each day, you affirm that you do have control over the very core of your life in the midst of the chaos. — Stephen Guise
Awkward silences make networking challenges. To change it, ask questions that encourage the other person to talk more about themselves.
Weekends set you up for a better week. Create a weekend ritual to boost your mode and reduce stress. Add reading, extra-long walks, a conversation with an old friend or passion project work to your routine.
Your inner circle of friends influence your happiness more than you think. Choose who to spend quality with wisely.
You can solve many of your health problems by eating healthy foods, exercising a few times every week, drinking more water instead of coffee, getting enough sleep and spending time with people who make you laugh.
You shouldn’t be challenging yourself to change a habit for just a short period of time. The point of habits is change behavior over the long term. — Richard D. Rawlings