"Thoughts become words; words become actions; actions become routines; and routines become your character ... which defines who you are..." - Lao Tzu
Daily Routine
(DRAFT)
A good daily routine might look like this:
Wake up (~ 6 am): out of bed before birdsong and sunrise
Use bathroom: take a warm > cold shower; brush hair & teeth; drink water ...
Prep time: dress in seasonal, comfortable, simple attire; review "To Do" list & prepare for the day ahead ...
Breakfast (~ 7 am): have a cup of green tea; fruit with granola & nut milk ... avoid meat or dairy
Exercise: go for walk / run around neighborhood; yoga or tai chi; then do some sit-ups, push-ups, or other calisthenics; cool down stretch; drink water ....
Commute: walk, bike or take transit to work - avoid driving solo to work
AM Work (~ 8-12 pm): do something you care about - preferably an industry that everyone benefits from (e.g. food, clothing, shelter, health) - AM focus on internal priorities & budget - avoid sitting at desk all day ...
Lunch (~ noon): garden salad w/ tofu; soup & sandwich; preferably share meal with friends, co-workers, or other people
PM Work (~ 1-5 pm): do something you care about - preferably in an industry that everyone benefits from (e.g. food, clothing, shelter, health) - PM focus on external projects & goals - avoid sitting at desk all day ...
Commute: walk, bike, or take transit back home - avoid driving solo from work
Exercise: go for walk or run around neighborhood (break a sweat); lift comfortable weights (until muscle fatigue); cool down stretch; drink water ...
Supper (~7 pm): big garden salad w/ healthy grilled meats or fish; - preferably share meal with family or friends - avoid heavy foods (reserve for monthly holidays - see below)
Wind down: be home before sunset; clean up living space; spend time with family; make "To Do List" & work on plans (short- & long-term) ...
Use bathroom: take a warm > cold shower; brush hair & teeth; drink water ...
Bedtime (~ 10 pm): be thankful for the good things in life & go to sleep imagining everything working out the way you've planned ...
Positive Mindset
(AI DRAFT)
Mindset and habits
Goal-oriented: High performers set clear, achievable goals and maintain a strong sense of purpose, linking daily tasks to their larger "why".
Productive routines: They design powerful routines, especially morning ones, to focus on important tasks without getting pulled into urgent, but less important, matters. They also use evening routines to plan and review their day.
Strategic focus: They work smarter by applying the 80/20 principle to focus on the 20% of activities that yield 80% of the results.
Resilience: They maintain a positive mindset, stay resilient, and learn from setbacks rather than being defeated by them.
Continuous learning: They seek new knowledge, embrace feedback, and see mistakes as learning opportunities.
Self-motivation and purpose: They are driven by a clear purpose and are proactive in seeking opportunities.
Communication and team dynamics
Clear communication: They are direct, speak clearly, and are good listeners, which helps in building trust and setting clear expectations.
Self-awareness: They know their own strengths and weaknesses, and they focus their energy on what they do best, often delegating the rest to build a supportive team.
Kindness and empathy: They are kind to themselves and others, which fosters empathy and is a key driver of team performance.
High-trust environment: They help build high-trust teams where individuals feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and admit mistakes without fear of reprisal.
Weekly Routine
(DRAFT)
Sunday:
work on self-development
cook seasonal meal (from Global Foods 🙂) for family
draft Weekly Meal Plan & go grocery shopping
Monday:
lift weights >>> see 7-day workout plan HERE
Tuesday:
go for run or bike ride
Wednesday:
lift weights
Thursday:
go for run or bike ride
Friday:
lift weights
Saturday: (traditional Sabbath / day of rest)
fasting cleanse (water & greens only)
go for run or bike ride
meditation
reading
journaling / writing friends
Monthly Routine
Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4
Global Holidays List (+ birthdays)
January - New Year's Day (Jan 1), Epiphany (Jan 6)
February - Chinese New Year (Feb 10); Shrove Tuesday (Feb 13); Ash Wednesday (Lent) / Valentine's Day (Feb 14); Pisces (Feb 19)
March - Ramadan ( Mar 11); St Patrick's Day (March 17); Vernal Equinox / Aries (Mar 20); Palm Sunday (Mar 24); Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; Easter (Mar 31)
April - Taurus (Apr 19); Pesach / Jewish Passover (Apr 23);
May - Intl Labor Day (May 1); Ascension (May 9); Pentecost (May 19); Gemini (May 20)
June - Dragon Boat Festival (June 10); Shavuot (Jun 12); Cancer (Jun 20); Summer Solstice (Jun 20)
July - Islamic New Year (July 7); Leo (July 22);
August - Assumption (Aug 15); Virgo (Aug 22)
September - Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (Sep 17); Autumn Equinox (Sep 22); Libra (Sep 22)
October - Rosh Hashanah / Jewish New Year (Oct 3); Yom Kippur (Oct 12); Sukkot (Oct 17); Scorpio (Oct 22); Halloween (Oct 31)
November - All Saints Day (Nov 1); All Souls Day (Nov 2); Sagitarrius (Nov 21); Thanksgiving (Nov 28)
December - Advent begins (Dec 1); Immaculate Conception (Dec 8); Capricorn (Dec 21); Winter Solstice (Dec 21); Christmas (Dec 25); Boxing Day / St Stephen's Day (Dec 26); New Year's Eve (Dec 31)
Annual Routine
Winter - Spring - Summer - Fall
every New Year -
plan your garden ( / farm)
plan your budget ( / business)
plan your year ( / life)
work your plan!
Summary
I've learned that time can be fleeting - but I've also learned a way to slow it down.
Whatever your life goals are, a good motto to follow is: "Plan the work, and then work the plan".
But the secret is two-fold:
First, when planning your goals, make good goals (i.e. beneficial to you and to the world in general). * remember that good stuff is considered good because it works - and bad stuff is considered bad because it doesn't work.
Second, just planning stuff out is obviously not going to make anything happen - you also then need to TRY to accomplish your goals. And the secret to slowing down time is that if you are going to try to do something good, you might as well try HARD!
The good news is that if you are trying hard at something that matters, it slows down or condenses time (sort of like when you are trying to carry something really heavy upstairs - it can seem like it takes FOREVER!) Well, trying hard yields the same effect. If you're doing nothing, time just slips away; but if you are trying really hard - time slows down for you and the collective moments of your life are more densely filled - which makes for a more fulfilling life - and this is a good thing!
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." - Colossians 3:23