As an entrepreneur, executive or even a student that has hopes and dreams of one day being successful, we find ourselves coming face to face with the reality of the challenges to attaining success. Being an individual that certainly strays away from the beaten path of achieving success can make the journey even a bit more challenging, however, very rewarding once accomplishments have been achieved. So what pushes those of us that pursue this lifestyle of being one of the exceptional individuals that create opportunities for others? If you’re not able to answer that question then you may not have the fuel to keep driving the vehicle of your dreams to far.
Fuel Up.
The point of fueling up is quite simple. It relates to simply watching your habits and routines that effect both your mental and physical health. As we all know, in order to effectively function you must receive the appropriate amount of rest, as well as an effective and healthy diet. The saying, “you are what you eat” holds true in every aspect of that phrase. It is important to stay conscious of the amount of time in which you take to rest. On the same token, it’s key to pay attention to the meals that you consume throughout your day so that you are able to think clearly and process your thoughts accordingly. So let’s begin.
The research that has been put behind appropriate amounts of sleep that individuals should receive in order to function accordingly is hundreds, possibly thousands of pages long. Some articles give advice of having longer hours of rest, while others suggest shorter or spurts of hours resting. They all have their facts that back their claims as to why one practice is better than the next. So what should you actually do? It’s key to first off, listen to your body. It will tell you what’s too much or not enough rest. That is a major key to making sure you function accordingly in whatever you do. Your body knows best and you just need to listen to it.
What about your diet? Well, I’m glad you asked. A well balanced diet is key. Making sure you are able to function throughout your day with the appropriate amount of fuel will assist in you completing your tasks and goals. There’s an old saying that states you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. This not only will help you fuel yourself in the beginning of your day appropriately so that you may have clarity of thought and energy but also, help, those that are looking to monitor their food intake, by consuming food in a balanced way. So now that we’ve spoken on how to fuel ourselves for our day effectively let’s move on to mapping it out.
Map it out.
So you should never start your day without having a plan. Once you have that plan you should make sure you have it mapped out accordingly. One of the best ways to do his is by making a list of objectives and tasks that you would like to complete within the day. Some personally like to begin with the very beginning of their day which may consist of their meditations and exercise routines, while others prefer to start the mapping process post meditation and exercise. Whichever you prefer, just be sure that you have thought it through and that it is balanced and not over bearing, because that’s just adding anxiety to your day.
Where should you begin with planning your day? Well, that could be a ton of places. It may be best to start the night before when it comes to thinking about how you can make the most of your next day. Here are are some pointers:
- Plan out what an ideal day would look like for you
- Work for 20-25 mins focused on your task and then take a 3-5 minute break
- Write out your ideal day on a calendar or on a notepad (digital or physical). This will make it easier to follow.
- Stick to your scheduled appointments. Following your agenda will make your life so much easier.
- Stop once you have completed your tasked or you have ended your scheduled workday. What not finished can always wait until the next day.
Take the drive.
So we fueled up and we mapped it all out, now what? Let’s take the drive. Taking the drive is simply executing on the plan that we actually set forth and mapped out. You’ve eaten a great breakfast after you’ve meditated and exercised. You’ve mapped out your plan of execution for the day, however, for that to be effective we must complete these task.
Place a “loose” time limit on how long you will allow yourself to complete each task. In addition, find a work space that provides motivation to you for completing all of the task that you have set out to accomplish. The reason for making the time limit “loose” is so that you don’t create anxiety and allow yourself some flexibility. Be sure to provide yourself with the resources and avenues that allow for an ease of tasks completion. Then, execute. It’s that simple.
Bring it home.
How do we bring it home? Well, simply put, we wind down our day. At the stopping point that you’ve set for yourself, you take a moment and you step back and review what tasks you had set for yourself and what all you’ve accomplished. Mark those and also take account for those that were not completed. Now, don’t let the incomplete tasks get to you because if you mapped things out and planned accordingly, then these task should be the ones that are able to be carried over to the next day. Once you have reviewed your days success, then prepare to wind down. Shut down that part of your brain that is focused on work and do something that is relaxing and enjoyable to you.
For instance, a brisk walk through a park or going to the gym and having a nice workout to unwind. Take yourself or you and your significant out for a nice meal or simply unplug and read a book or watch one of your favorite television shows. Do something, anything that isn’t work related. You’ll thank yourself later.
Hopefully this has allowed you to see how you may be able to accomplish a successful workday and still have the capacity to function after that day has ended. How are you driving to accomplish your dream?