1. Stop
consuming caffeine
Although people think they perform
better on caffeine, the truth is, they
really don’t. Actually, we’ve become so dependent on caffeine that we use
it to simply get back to our status-quo. When we’re off it, we underperform and
become incapable.
Isn’t this absurd?
With healthy eating, sleeping, and
exercise, your body will naturally produce far more and better energy than
caffeine could ever provide. Give it up and see what happens. You will probably
get withdrawal headaches. But after a few days, you’ll feel amazing.
2. Pray or
meditate morning, mid-day, and night
In a recent interview at the Genius
Network mastermind event, Joe Polish asked Tony Robbins what he does to get
focused. “Do you meditate? What do you do?” Joe asked.
“I don’t know that I meditate. I don’t
know that I want to meditate and think about nothing,” Tony responded, “My goal
is clarity.”
Instead of full-on meditation, Tony
has a morning routine that includes several breathing exercises and
visualization techniques that get him to a state of clarity and focus. For me,
I use prayer and pondering (my version of meditation) as the same vehicle.
Whatever your approach, the goal should
be clarity and focus. What do you want to be about today?
What few things matter most during the
next 24 hours?
I’ve gotten the best results as my
morning prayer and meditation are motivational; my afternoon prayer and
meditation are strategic; and my evening prayer and meditation are evaluative
and educational.
3. Read 1 book
per week
Ordinary people seek entertainment.
Extraordinary people seek education and learning. It is common for the
world’s most successful people to read at least one book per week. They are
constantly learning.
I can easily get through one audiobook
per week by just listening during my commute to school and while walking on
campus. Taking even 15–30 minutes every morning to read uplifting and
instructive information changes you. It puts you in the zone to perform at your
highest.
Over a long enough period of time, you
will have read hundreds of books. You’ll be knowledgeable on several topics.
You’ll think and see the world differently. You’ll be able to make more
connections between different topics.
Reference #19 on this list if you feel
you’re “too busy” to read one book per week. There are methods to make this
task extremely easy.
4. Write in your
journal 5 minutes per day
This habit will
change your life. Your journal will:
- Clear
your emotions serving as your personal therapist
- Detail
your personal history
- Enhance
your creativity
- Ingrain
and enhance your learning
- Help
you get clarity on the future you want to create
- Accelerate
your ability to manifest your goals
- Increase your
gratitude
- Improve
your writing skills
- Lots more…
Five minutes per day is more than
enough. Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, recommends writing far
less than you want to — only a few sentences or paragraphs at most. This will
help you avoid burnout.
