You heard of (and used) the expression “take it one day at a time”.
But today, I’d like you to consider what “taking it one day at a time” really means, with respect to the larger picture of your life and what you want to achieve.
Regardless of where you are in your current development, you will always have to take it “one day at a time”.
So, if your goal is to advance ten levels in your current career, you will still have to take it “one day at a time”.
Because that’s how everything gets done. Apple became a $600+ billion-dollar company, Bill Gates became one of the richest people in the world and Muhammad Ali became the greatest of all time. And they did it by realizing the power that a single day holds.
Within each day lies the opportunity to create unimaginably powerful change in your life. With each daily action you take to advance towards your goals, you are setting into motion powerful forces that will guide and drive you to your destination.
Long story short – what you do each day matters. A lot. So, if we are to create a life filled with achievement, freedom and happiness, it behooves us to add some good things to each day. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some things you can do to make each day more awesome.
- Start your day with a cold shower.
Waking up at 6 AM and getting under a freezing cold shower first thing in the morning might sound like a proposition that only masochistic folk might be interested in… until you actually try it.
Apart from the health benefits of taking cold showers, and there are many (improved cognition, healthier skin and hair, improved immune function, stress reduction), there’s another important benefit to taking a cold shower in the morning. Because right there, within minutes of waking up, you’ve proven to yourself that you are capable of doing things that your mind tells you are scary.
- Eat something healthy.
Changing your diet overnight is a surefire strategy for failure. To put it simply, to be healthier you have to eat healthy food. And, you have to transition towards your healthy diet in a way that gradually allows you to incorporate healthy eating into your lifestyle.
So, if you’re not in a position to change your meals today because you’re busy or whatever else, here’s something you can do…
Try to eat something healthy today. When you’re having your regular lunch, get an extra cup of greens. Eat an apple when you have those mid-day hunger cravings. This is completely within your control. Choose to eat something that’s good for you today that you wouldn’t have eaten otherwise.
- Take a month off something you do normally.
Proving to yourself that you can go an entire month without something you’re used to is a great way to gain insights into your behavior. When you decide that you’re not going to have sugar or coffee for example, for an entire month, something interesting starts to happen…Your mind starts coming up with reasons why you shouldn’t be taking a month off. You might notice physical or mental unrest that comes from your brain and your body trying to adapt to an unfamiliar routine. There are times when your resolve will be tested. But, if you come through the other end, you will have proven to yourself that you have control over your decisions, and the benefits of cutting something that doesn’t really serve you are a nice bonus.
- Take a month doing something you wouldn’t do normally.
Adding things to your routine can be as tough as removing things from it. But, 30 days isn’t that big of a period psychologically, and its almost enough time to form a new habit. So, set some time aside daily for a new, beneficial activity. You might want to take up yoga, or reading, or learning a new language. The options are endless. Pick something you’re interested in, and do it every single for a month. No off days, if possible.
- Take more walks.
A disproportionate amount of us spend too much of our day sitting. We sit at desks, in our cars, and at restaurants. We’re sitting all the time, and research shows that extended periods of sitting are very harmful for your health.
So, take a walk around your office or outside for a few minutes every now and then. Walk around your desk for a couple of minutes every hour. Walk to places that are nearby, but you usually drive to. Your body was meant to move, and your health and your cognition suffers if you just sit in one place.
Walking also gets your creative juices flowing. On my nightly walks is where my husband and I come up with the best ideas and solutions to problem. Plus if you have kiddos, it is a nice time for everyone to relax and unwind.
- Call someone you would normally text.
We’re busier now than we’ve ever been, and the magic of instant messengers has made it possible for us to communicate in real-time, irrespective of geographic location. But at the end of the day, we’re still people and we need real, human interaction. Hearing someone’s voice as you’re talking to them makes the conversation much more fulfilling, even if you’re only on the phone for a minute. So the next time you look at your contact list and find that one person you text back and forth with, give them a call. Say hello, and ask them about their day. That’s not too much to ask, right?
- Play around with your limitations.
Try to write down on a piece of paper every single thing you believe is a limitation that you possess. For example, you may currently think that you’re only capable of earning what you earn now and that earning twice as much is a ludicrous idea. You may believe that you’re not a good salesman, businessman or parent. It doesn’t matter.
Write it down.
Once you have your “limitations manifesto” in front of your eyes, use it as data. Do something every day that challenges one of your limitations. If you think you can only do 10 pushups, do 11. If you think you can’t land a new client, send 10 pitches out every day. Do it enough, and you’ll notice that your sphere of possibilities begins to shift, to expand. You begin to realize that what you thought were your limitations were really just stumbling blocks. You CAN do it.
- Say yes to things that make you uncomfortable.
If you want to be successful, you have to make peace with being uncomfortable. Success comes through discomfort. Embrace things that make you uncomfortable. Thank the universe for putting these markers in your way because they’re guiding you towards what you want and making you stronger in the process.
Afraid of meeting new people? Go to a random event from your Facebook feed. Scared of taking a trip? Book your tickets today. You’re concerned that you aren’t getting paid enough? Have that talk with your boss you’ve been wanting to have for months.
Embrace discomfort. Love it. Relish it. Discomfort is your best friend.