This is going to sound like a bit of an oddball tip, but bear with me: if you want to get better every day, do less. That’s right, do 10% less than what you’re currently doing.
Why?
Because most of us are already pushing ourselves pretty hard.
And when we try to do more on top of that, we just end up getting burned out like a frog slowly boiling in water.
But if we can back off ever so slightly and give ourselves some breathing room, we’ll be able to sustain our efforts for much longer.
Plus, we’ll be happier and healthier for it! So next time you’re feeling stuck,
Remember: do less and watch yourself soar.
Go to bed later than everyone else
Every day it seems the world insists on following the same monotonous routine —
- Go to bed early,
- Get up in time for work,
- Repeat ad nauseam.
We are told how important good sleep hygiene is to live our lives at maximum efficiency.
But what if I told you there is a better way?
By going to bed later than everyone else (Got Kids?) you can unlock a secret world of opportunities unavailable to those tied down by strict schedules.
You can read books into the wee hours of the morning, watch classic movies online until your eyelids refuse to stay open any longer, or finally organize all those photos stored dutifully in your hard drive.
It’s often said that those who rise early will prevail –
And while this may be true when it comes to beating traffic jams and rising through the corporate ranks –
I believe it’s also true for those brave enough to start their days late and take advantage of late-night adventures!
If you’d like more energy during your day, forgo traditional sleep patterns: try going to bed later than everyone else and open yourself up to a new era of productivity and excitement.
Read a lot
Nowadays, everyone seems to be telling you to “read a lot!” –
As if reading is some magical cure for all of life’s ills.
Perhaps you should read more, then, because how can books possibly harm us?
Well, let me tell you why I think reading too much can be dangerous: first, it could cause your eyeballs to fall out!
Second, reading too much can overload your brain and shrink it like a raisin.
Third, if you believe everything you read in books, then the world could become one giant delusion (which we already may be living in –
But reading isn’t helping).
Fourth, there won’t be anything else left to do at night besides sitting around and engaging in battle after battle with imaginary dragons (with no respite!)
Finally, it might even cause your teeth to become crooked from smiling over all the delightful stories that have come out of the book pages and into your life.
So be careful about what and how much you read – or else nothing will remain but ruin! Indeed if ever there was a need for moderation in any activity it is reading.
While this may feel counter-intuitive coming from someone who loves books so much, trust me when I say that sometimes less can indeed be more!
Be discerning when choosing which volumes to expand your horizons with sensible deliberation and balance; appreciate the ancient wisdom contained within book spines and know that all good things must come in moderation…
Especially reading!
Because this will help you if you…
Write a lot
Writing a lot—it’s easier said than done. Everyone tells you to write daily and keep going at it.
Still, to be honest that kind of advice only works if you’re motivated enough to take your own medicine.
Unfortunately, most of us are like broken clocks, getting two minutes of inspirational drive followed by 22 hours of procrastination.
That makes writing a huge chore:
Sitting down, coming up with something creative out of thin air, and actually getting started…
It can seem impossible some days!
But the truth is that figuring out how to write requires some good old-fashioned discipline.
Don’t wait until the moment strikes—
Get yourself in the mood by getting fresh air or having some fun writing games around a topic—
And training yourself to churn words as slowly but steadily as you can.
If you do it long enough and find your groove, you’ll surprise even yourself with what your pen can create! So don’t write when you feel like it; make yourself feel like it.
When in doubt: write a lot!
One word leads to another; before you know it, stories will flow like never before.
Good luck! But think about…
Take a lot of naps
So, you want to take lots of naps? Hmm, not sure that I’m sold on this idea.
Sure, it sounds great in theory – after all, who doesn’t like the luxury of lying down and taking a quick snooze?
Unfortunately, while it might feel good at the moment, there are some serious risks you should consider.
First, getting too much sleep during the day is linked to disrupted nighttime sleep cycles; this can lead to fatigue and even health issues.
Secondly, excessive napping can interfere with productivity; how many projects have been put off because someone spent all morning lounging under their favorite comforter?
Finally, extended nap sessions can make waking up on time for work or school incredibly difficult!
If you do decide to take a few naps here and there – Go ahead… enjoy yourself.
Just remember that too much sleeping during the day isn’t always beneficial.
Happy napping! But what about…
Workout everyday
Let’s face it – working out every day is a lot like having one of those New Year’s resolutions that you never quite get around to keeping.
Sure, it seems really promising when you commit to doing it, and at the beginning, you might even be able to stick with it for a while –
But after a few weeks have passed and all of the novelty has worn off, getting yourself to the gym starts to feel a bit like pulling teeth.
The truth is that making exercise part of your daily routine doesn’t have to mean overwhelming effort or tedious repetition; in fact, there are plenty of enjoyable exercises out there that can make achieving your fitness goals actually fun!
With some creativity and experimentation, you’ll be able to find activities that will help keep you motivated from day-to-day so that working out won’t just be something on your long-term list of hopes and dreams –
It’ll actually happen for real!
So don’t feel like dragging yourself kicking and screaming into the gym everyday is necessary for staying fit – but do make sure that whatever activities you choose keep finding their way into your regular schedule.
That way, when next New Year’s rolls around again, you’ll have achieved something tangible with all those fateful resolutions!
Now get out there and break some sweat – laughing all the while! 😉
They don’t call it “working out” for nothing – work hard, play hard!
That can be our motto. 🙂 Good luck!
If you want to be successful, it’s time to break all of the rules.
At least, that’s what I’ve found works for me.
And according to a study by willpower researcher Roy Baumeister and his team, the people who are most successful in life also tend to break many rules.
So if you want to achieve more success, maybe it’s time to start doing things differently than everyone else.
Check out this resource below that has helped me to learn how to be a better person every day- maybe it can help you too!
