Hello and welcome to 4-Minute Friday where I share, in four minutes or less, the latest things I’m doing to enhance my health, save money, and make day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable.
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Prepping for 2025:
As wild as it sounds, 2024 is quickly coming to a resolve and 2025 peeking its head over the horizon.
While it’s really just another day – Tuesday turning into Wednesday to be precise – it’s also a built-in reminder to check in with ourselves.
And while many poke fun at New Year’s resolutions because of their high rate of failure, I truly believe taking this time to reflect is incredibly valuable.
Which is where I think many people go off course.
Instead of just opening your notes app and writing down a few actions you plan to take (e.g., I will go to the gym three times per week this year), a more worthy use of your time is to give 2024 an in-depth review.
Podcaster Chris Williamson created a review template that I’ll be using this year to make this more organized.
Here are three questions on this review that I’ve been pondering extra hard:
What are the least valuable ways I am spending my time?
What would I do this year if I wanted to make 85-year-old me miserable?
Who do I need to become for next year’s chapter of my life story to turn out the way I would write it?
Find the full link to the yearly review here if you’d like a template to use!
Mindset I’m Embracing:
As I read back through some old podcast notes this week, I stumbled upon a gem that I thought was important to share.
I believe the attribution here belongs to Morgan Housel, but I’d be lying if I said I was certain.
Here’s what I wrote:
Three things money can’t buy that truly bring you fulfillment: a peaceful mind, a healthy body, and quality relationships. They must be worked for. This is why rich people often go crazy – they may have none of these and start to realize the void it’s left them with.
As I’ve started my yearly review, I’ve realized the best moments of 2024 were simple times surrounded by people I enjoy and not grandiose experiences.
And the more I learn about the most outwardly successful people, I realize that money and external accolades can’t fill the deepest of human needs.
Which are a peaceful mind, a healthy body, and quality relationships.
No matter how much money a person has, obtaining these three necessities takes time, effort, discomfort, and vulnerability.
Not more zeros in a bank account.
Productivity Habit I’m Developing:
As I’m sure many of you can relate, I’m a person of routine and structure.
For better or worse, I require a regimented and organized schedule to function at my best.
And while the M-F workweek inherently provides this, weekends and holidays leave an opening for ambiguity that often doesn’t bode well for me.
And while it sounds somewhat crazy to need a schedule even on days where most are lounging and watching the Home Alone trilogy, this doesn’t mean you can’t chill out and unwind.
Even if it includes a few hours in the day/evening to watch a movie and go into full lounge mode, I’ve found it in my best interest to have somewhat of a structured day planned out prior to going to bed the night prior.
So instead of waking up and trying to figure out what’s on the agenda, I have already cultivated an idea of what my ideal day is going to look like.
This doesn’t mean every half hour needs to be tagged and organized but just having a couple activities as guideposts has led to positive outcomes.
What else?
If you’ve had a few too many holiday cocktails or are just up for a challenge, consider joining the millions who participate in Dry January. No alcohol, 31 days. Can you do it?
Let 2025 be the year you start taking your own advice.
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DISCLAIMER
This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.