This article is about how everything will work out in the end…but really it’s about planning your day with the end in mind first.

Planning your day with the end in mind first is the best way to plan your day. By starting with the end in mind, you can focus on what’s most important. Let’s do a thought exercise. Focus on the feeling of how you end your days — is it something you can hang your hat on or is there something left to be desired? Would you say you are more empty or contented?

The satisfaction you get from having a full day is such a wonderful natural high. You can rest your keppy knowing that you did well that day. You can carry those feelings and thoughts into dreamland and be proud of yourself. Knowing that you accomplished something of value can really do wonders for your self-esteem, confidence, and well-being.

Your day and daily activities can be seen as a microcosm of your life. It is 1 bit of information that is now a memory. What kinds of memories do you wish to create here? Which do you wish you could forget and delete? I’m not saying that everything needs to be all rainbows, narwhals, unicorns, and puppy doges. What I’m really getting at is just being proud of yourself and the character you are playing in this life. Is what you’re doing enough, or are you playing it too safe and too small?

With that said, I do feel like it’s good to not be so harsh on yourself and to not act so drill sergeant-y about it. I don’t really favor that approach, but for some things, it could be useful. I don’t want to act like the only reason you are here is to check more things off of your tick list. There are big rocks you can move that will move you along in the ways you’d like. Big picture stuff is important while the smaller stuff is still significant too. In the stream, there are big rocks, yet pebbles too.

Starting off Right

The best way to start your day is with exercise. You want to start your day early af to reap the mental and physical benefits that carry you through your day. The best exercise is cardio — 45 minutes at least. I have been starting at ~5:15/5:30a the past couple of mornings. I am not at the 45-minute mark yet because I am starting small and working my way up. I have been averaging ~10–15 minutes of yogging I’d say, with the rest just walking.

The less thinking the better here — just fucking go. Seriously, thinking of reasons to weasel your way out of exercise is the exact opposite of what you are looking for. The ironic thing is that if you exercise, your mind will thank you for it later. And like anything else, once you get going, it’s really not that bad and you will actually start to enjoy it. If you feel you are getting too caught up in your mind and struggling to even get out of bed, I recommend using the 5-second rule. The 5-second rule simply is just counting backward in your mind 5–4–3–2–1-BOOM! On “BOOM!” you rip the covers off and get out of bed immediately. Or if it’s the getting out the door to go for a run, try the same method. It really works because you don’t get caught in your back-and-forth line of thinking. Try it on for size and see how you like it ;)

One Thing

One thing per day is a nice approach. What is that one thing per day that will give you that sense of accomplishment by the end of the day? For example, that would simply be me writing, editing, and publishing this article. Writing feels good because it helps me focus on what’s important in my life. Just knowing I got one article done gives me a great boost that I can really call my own and feel so good about. It’s something personal and creative and gets my mind going while also challenging me — as long as I maintain the habit, I’m golden.

Getting Out of Your Head

One of the struggles I have with my days is the ability to get out of my head. If you spend too much time alone, indoors, and behind a screen then you can resonate with this I’m sure. Being an introvert, I love being by myself and collecting my thoughts. I love expressing them as I am here now through writing or another creative medium. I enjoy the rhythm of it and how I connect with who I am and who I want to become. The struggle I have is by relying too heavily on these solo activities and not stepping outside of that comfort zone enough. This has a negative effect and comes at a cost. It leaves you with this disconnected feeling and the opposite of calm.

When I am in my head too much it is not good for my mental health. I think it’s sort of about finding the right balance here — especially being an introvert. I think the big thing to remember here is to use your voice. You have a voice for a reason. Yes, being creative and sharing something online is one form of communication. This way feels most comfortable to me because I can be alone with my thoughts and type things on a computer screen and share. But, there is another part of me that is longing to wake up more — even if it hurts sometimes or makes me feel not as confident.

I really don’t need much socialization to make me feel somewhat whole though. There are ways to connect, even in small ways. For example, making a phone call is a simple act that does wonders for your mental state. Another is just taking a walk to clear your mind. Walking alone is okay, but I prefer it with headphones. Walking while chatting with someone is better.

Another thing to note with socializing is to just remember by sitting on the sidelines you rob people of getting to know you. And in turn, this robs you of getting to know yourself. Is it really something to cry about if a social gathering is awkward, uncomfortable, difficult, or doesn’t meet your expectations. It’s best to just take it in stride and learn from it. You are always free to leave. The part that has tripped me up is varying communication styles and not feeling safe. It’s important to remember what feels good to you. If something doesn’t feel right, it might be wrong. For me, it comes down to safety. Do you generally feel safe connecting with others so you can be yourself with room to grow, or does it feel like you are people-pleasing a bit here? When you find your tribe, you’ll know. They will be your cheerleaders who want what’s best for you and want you to succeed. Your social circle really is very important — so choose wisely. This will open you up and you will begin to feel more connected as well.

Here are some ideas for getting out your head:

- Use your voice

- Phone calls (Significant Other, Friends, Family)

- Voice messages

- FaceTime

- Being with others

- Record a podcast (even if you have to do it alone)

- Talk to yourself

- Talk to reality/the Universe/Controller/God

- Read a book

- Listen to an audiobook or podcast

- Listen to music

- Watch a movie or show

- Cardio

Don’t Be so Hard on Yourself

Be gentle with yourself. It’s important to grow, but it’s even more important to not guilt trip yourself and/or beat yourself up in the process. The thing to do is to find the right chord here. If you are moving the needle forward, that is great — but life is a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes you just want to check out from the race entirely for a while, which is also just apart of the process anyway, so are you ever really out? — no. Just enjoy and be kind to yourself as you would others. If you are really feeling down, stare in the mirror, and tell yourself “I love you.”

Wanting More

The thing you feel when you know you left more on the table that day is wanting more. The thing is though — when is enough enough? There will always be more to achieve, no matter what. That is an exciting and fun thought! We get to learn and grow while we are here on Earth. The point here is to do the best you can and be open and vulnerable to the World. You may even surprise yourself 😊