The internet is overloaded with life advice and strategies. When it comes down to it, though, life is pretty simple. If you want to have a good life, you can focus on having good days. If you want to have a good day, try incorporating the following simple elements.
Set Up a Daily Flow
Design a simple flow to each day. For example, you may start your day with a focus on spiritual practice, reading or journaling, physical exercise, and a healthy breakfast—feeding your mind, body, and spirit first each day. Then you might make the most of clarity of mind in the morning by tackling your most mentally demanding work early. Next, you might eat a nutritious lunch and go for a walk. Then, you might spend time tidying, organizing, planning, and running errands. You might then prepare dinner and your home for the next day. Finally, you might enjoy quality time with your family and a peaceful wind-down ritual.
Each of these five sections of the day takes into account energy levels, digital influences, and fundamental health and well-being. Choose a flow that works for you. Having a flexible but predictable flow to each day reduces decision fatigue and stress and makes room for the many facets of life.
Delay the Digital
What’s the latest you can wait to pick up your phone or turn to your computer? Delay the introduction of the digital world into your day for as long as possible each morning. When you direct your focus to a screen, suddenly the priorities and ideas of the external world begin to drain your energy and attention and you find yourself in reaction mode. Maintain control of your focus for as long as you can to ensure that you’re able to give your energy to your own highest priorities each day.
Feed Your Mind
Just as it’s important to feed your body with healthy, nutritious foods, it’s important to feed your mind with good, positive, useful, and enlightening information and steer clear of bad, negative, useless, and degenerate inputs. Stand guard at the door of your mind. The lasting influence of what we watch, read, and hear is easy to underestimate. We are what we contain—that goes for body and mind.
Move Your Body
Make movement a priority every day. You don’t have to work out intensely for two hours every day, but adding in simple habits such as going for a walk, lifting weights for even 10 or 20 minutes, or enjoying a sport or other fun physical activity counts as movement. Movement improves mood, energy, and long-term health. Make it a part of each day.
Eat Well
Of course, it’s important to enjoy nourishing, healthy foods every day. If you forego processed foods as much as possible and eat a colorful array of real, whole foods, while drinking plenty of water, you’ll have the fuel needed for a great day.
Sleep Well
A truly great day starts the night before. Mastering sleep is an unlock for every aspect of your well-being. Some strategies to consider include: setting a bedtime alarm, keeping digital devices out of the bedroom, refraining from eating an hour or more before bedtime, keeping your bedroom temperature cool, and winding down with a calm activity such as reading a book. A great night’s sleep is the first step toward ensuring a great day ahead.
