If there’s anything I’ve learned about life, it’s that the little things add up in a big way.
Often, the best way to improve things is to make little changes that are easy and straightforward and, over time, let those benefits grow. And by eliminating things before you add more, you remove what limits you so you can enjoy more freedom, opportunities, and bandwidth for better things.
Of all the little things I’ve dropped from my life, I want to share nine tiny, yet powerful ones. These are all things you can cut out in just a few minutes (some of them take no work to do) and will enhance everything from your mental health to your physical health, productivity, and peace of mind. Enjoy.
Morning Meetings
I’m not always able to do this, but as a consultant, I always try to push meetings into the afternoon. Why?
It’s because of what Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, calls a “maker’s schedule” and a “manager’s schedule:” One allows for flow and creativity while the other chops the day into hours.
When you’re operating on the maker’s schedule, meetings are a disaster. A single meeting can blow a whole afternoon, by breaking it into two pieces each too small to do anything hard in… It doesn’t merely cause you to switch from one task to another; it changes the mode in which you work.
I like to use my mornings to get into a flow and concentrate on my work rather than making it a “stop-start” ordeal where I switch tasks, lose focus, and waste time. ( A 30-minute meeting can steal far more than 30 minutes of productivity.) That way, I can get at least several hours of good work and accomplish my priorities before my meetings even start.
Drinking Soda, Juices, Etc.
I used to drink two cans of Coke a day as a kid. (Maybe that’s why I grew up to be so short, lol.) But after I cut it cold turkey, I never looked back.
In one fell swoop, I eliminated a whopping amount of sugar and artificial ingredients that affect the structure and function of your brain and sabotage your mood and energy. Sugary beverages also cause the dreaded “sugar crash” (and fruit juices aren’t much better).
My recommendation: Go cold turkey. (Soda is so unhealthy, there’s no point in “tapering down.”) Go to your fridge or cabinet and throw out all your sugary beverages; it might suck for the first few days, but once you get over the hump, you’ll never look back.
And your body will thank you.
Saying “Need”
I learned this from Wayne Elise. We say “need” a lot in daily conversation. “I need to do _____. I need to finish _____.”
But saying “need” implies that we have no control over the situation and that something else is forcing our hand. Instead, it’s better to say “I want” or “I’d like to,” which shows you’re making a conscious choice and taking control.
Don’t overlook the power of the words you use. It may seem small, but it adds up in a big way.
Following Everyone On Social Media
On social media, I’ve unfollowed or muted a huge percentage of people. We’re still “friends,” connections, etc., but this way, I don’t have to see their posts.
The reason is simple: There are a ton of people who use their social media as a sounding board for their self-righteous rants or for sharing controversial, inflammatory content. And frankly, it’s not something that I want to see (or care to see).
Rather than checking social media and feeling far worse afterward than before I checked, I’m able to log in, scroll through, and still keep my peace of mind. Also, it only takes me a few minutes a week to catch up with everyone’s posts.
Increasing My Wardrobe
I have one simple rule with my clothes: Every time I buy something, I get rid of something. That way, I have to be deliberate with each purchase and make sure it’s something I really want and will wear, not something superfluous.
Also, it prevents my wardrobe from ballooning in size and avoids clutter. Too often, my possessions possess me, not the other way around. Reducing my attachment to possessions reminds me that I don’t need much to be content.
Publicizing My Altruism
I will never tell anyone if I give money, volunteer for something, or help others. I don’t want to let my “good deed” get to my head or make me think that I’m a better person (than someone who doesn’t). I also don’t want to be motivated by the wrong reasons (pride, publicity, self-serving motivations, etc.).
Give because it’s the right thing to do or because you believe in the cause, not because you’ll “feel good” by doing it (and subsequently telling everyone else you’ve done it). After all, is a good deed still good if no one else knows?
Taking Advice From The Wrong People
The right feedback from the right person can transform your success. But how do you know the advice you receive is good advice? Simple:
Never ask advice of someone with whom you wouldn’t want to trade places.
— Darren Hardy
If they’re not doing what you want to do, how would they know? Instead, ask people who’ve done it (or have coached people how to do it). Then, imagine trading places with them so you can also assess their character and integrity. Some people might be a great success in their industry, but if their personality is questionable, their advice might be too.
Also, this way, you can ignore criticism from the wrong people. As Eric Thomas said, “I do not take constructive criticism from people who have never constructed anything.”
Listening To Random Songs While Working
This is a great productivity hack that surprisingly works. I know it sounds crazy (because I thought it was crazy too) but I gave it a shot and I never looked back.
Here’s why it’s so effective: Rather than constantly hearing different songs, which encourages you to listen to the lyrics or music, by listening to the same one, you melt into the song, stop focusing on the words, and just feed off the energy.
It’s actually far less distracting than constantly changing songs every few minutes and gives you more fire when you work.
Writing “Good” Emails
In today’s world, to get what you want, you often need to write a good email. Years ago, I would write well-thought-out emails with good grammar, correct capitalization and punctuation, etc.
Now? After doing email marketing projects and sending hundreds of my own emails to businesses and personalities, I don’t follow any of those rules.
Most of my emails are extremely short and rarely use correct grammar or punctuation. And the crazy thing is, the loftiest (and most successful) people I’ve ever connected with all write emails the same way — and it gets results.
As Oren Klaff, a billion-dollar investment banker, once explained, writing “good” emails doesn’t get responses. Busy people don’t have time to write or read ornate emails so focus on writing concise ones that get to the point (and look like they were written by a real human, not a robot).
I’m confident you’ll have a much better chance of getting through.
Good luck.
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