Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Done is Better Than Perfect

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creativity, Genius, Goals, ideas, Monday, motivation, Muse, Scott Allen, Writing

For anyone that writes a blog, you know that some days you just don’t have any idea what to write. For me, I just have a way of coming up with something to offer here that is meaningful to me and others.

Ideas for writing are the same as ideas for goals and projects. Some folks are overwhelmed because they have too many ideas. Others are on the other side of that spectrum–they have no idea. This can lead to being paralyzed, not knowing where to go, what to do, or what to write.

Scott Allen is known for the quote: “Done is better than perfect.” Perfectionism is paralyzing. It is one of the leading causes of procrastination. Keeping in alignment with Scott’s quote, it is better to do something, rather than nothing.

I like writing every day because it builds a habit. It also gives me the opportunity to get that great article now and then. Think about all the great work you missed out on because you either had too many choices or not enough. So, toss aside that perfectionist inside of you. You’ll give yourself the opportunity to do something great, even if you have days where you didn’t hit that mark. The key is to do something–anything, so you don’t miss out on those opportunities when the stars align, and you tap into your inner genius or muse.

Well, I’ll end here for now. I hope all of you have a great Monday. Remember: “Done is better than perfect.”

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Checklists

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Checklists, daily progression, Goals, Monday, motivation, Small Steps, To-do Lists

My daily routine is nothing more than a checklist that constantly repeats. It basically allows me to knock out all my important tasks each day on “autopilot”. I don’t think. I don’t worry. I don’t forget. I knock out my tasks and when I’m done, I do what I want. It’s a great system, because it doesn’t require motivation once I’ve worked through it for a few days.

Each year, I evaluate what I did during the year. What worked? What didn’t work? What do I want to accomplish this year? What did I want to accomplish last year that didn’t get done? Then I go about putting down daily tasks that will help me achieve what I want to get done.

For those of you who have goals you want to achieve, try setting up a checklist for all of your goals. The key is to do one or more things each day that build momentum toward your goal. If you’re writing a book, you probably want to put that as a checklist item each day, right? The same goes for exercise, journaling, and all the rest.

Once you start your first day, do everything on your list. When you’re done, you get an award, like watching movies, playing games, or whatever you enjoy. This is how I operate every day and boy, you can get a lot done in a year, if you do something each day consistently.

Well, that’s all I have for now. I hope each of you has a terrific Monday! Try checklists out. They really are easy to do, once you put together your list.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Health

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Diet, Exercise, health, mental health, motivation, Sleep, water consumption

Happy Monday, all. Today, I’d like to talk health. If your gym is extra busy, here’s why? New Year’s resolutions. Yep. Your gym will be busy for the first three months of the year, and then, it will drop back to normal levels. I’ve watched this every year I’ve been active in the gym and it is almost like clockwork.

The reason I bring up health is because you can’t be motivated if you feel like crap. Each of us is unique. We are all the same in some respects, but our tastes in food and our ability to eat various foods all boils down to our uniqueness. Some folks are allergic to gluten. Some are allergic to dairy products. Some are allergic to both.

Exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym. You can get a good amount of exercise shoveling your driveway or raking leaves or doing chores around the house, particularly if you have stairs. How many times do you walk up and down stairs while you do your laundry?

Diet is very individual. Many folks, however, don’t catch what foods make them feel good and what foods cause an adverse reaction. My sister cannot drink protein shakes. She breaks out in hives immediately after drinking any type of bottled protein. Protein powder is fine, but whatever they put into the bottled version causes her to break out.

If you really want to know what is up with your body, go to a allergist and have them run a battery of tests that will tell you exactly what you are allergic to and what you are not allergic to. You may find out that something you’ve been eating for years is just not good for you and your unique makeup.

Some folks can’t go to a gym. They can’t afford it or they don’t have one within a reasonable driving distance. There are solutions to that. You can either just do calisthenics, yoga, or some other non-machine type workout. Walking is another terrific way to exercise. It is non-stressful, it works the heart, and it is a great time to get caught up on music you want to listen to, you can call one of your friends and talk to them while you walk, or you can get caught up on that audiobook or podcast you want to listen to.

Health is an important aspect of our lives. If you’re young, you’ll recognize that your preferences change as you age. You’ll find foods that used to be good for you, are not anymore. You’ll also find that you may have to change a workout routine from time to time. The key is to keep yourself in the best health you can.

Well, that’s all I have for now. I hope all of you have a great Monday.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Exercise

Tags

Big Things, Consistency, Exercise, Flexibility, improved immune response, mental clarity, motivation, Routine, Small things, TedEd

For about 50% of the population, exercise is one of the New Year’s resolutions people commit to. Unfortunately, many start, but few achieve their goals. To add a little incentive, watch this video to see how exercise improves so many things without much effort. There is an entire cascade of events that occur within the body when we exercise consistently.

I hope you enjoyed the video and will start your own exercise routine. You don’t have to do much to gain the benefits of exercise. A little goes a long way, as long as you are consistent. Crushing yourself in the gym for a few days and then letting that new gym membership go to waste doesn’t produce the results you may be looking for. Consistency and continuous efforts are what win the day. Remember, your health goals are not a race–they are a marathon. Make them a daily habit, and you’ll feel better in a short amount of time.

Have a great Monday, folks! Get out there and get moving. Take it slow and easy, but consistently and you’ll see improvements in your immune system, your sleep, and even your ability to think.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Happy 2023!

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December, Happy New Year, Monday, motivation, Relax, Time off

All, it was a great December! I had a great time during the holidays, got in plenty of gaming, spent time with friends and family, and just enjoyed the hell out of my month off.

For those of you who recently followed me, each year I take December off. I started this last year, and I will continue this going forward. It’s so nice to just not have to do anything. It is a great way to start your new year, because after a month of doing what you want, you are really anxious to get back at it.

I missed all of you. I got caught up on my comments just now, so if you wondered what the heck I was doing, that’s what I was doing. Nothing, but what I wanted to.

I wish all of you a terrific 2023! I have so many things to do this year. It’s going to be great!

Well, I’ll keep this short, because I have a lot to get done today. Here’s to 2023!

I wish all of you great success, happiness, good health, and the time to do the things you enjoy.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Holidays

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Christmas, December Off, Holidays, motivation, New Year's, Relaxation, Thanksgiving

Well, folks, we are fast approaching the end of the year. As a reminder, I started a tradition last year that I will continue this year. I will be shutting down Daily Ramblings at the end of this week. For those of you who are new, December is the month I shut down everything. I literally take the whole month off to do what I want to do. I sleep in, I read for hours, I game, I hang out with family and friends that visit this time of year, pretty much no schedule, no obligations, nothing. It’s a great way for me personally to come into the new year strong. It also gives me time to think through what I want to accomplish in the new year as well.

Many of you are preparing for Thanksgiving (US) and many other holidays that are celebrated specifically in your country. There are too many to keep track of and recognize here. That being said, holidays are truly motivational because of their recuperating characteristics.

I know most of you do not have the ability to take an entire month off. I get it. But you do have the opportunity to take some time for yourself a few times this month. When I worked, we always got a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving with a half-day the day before. For Christmas and New Year’s, we always got a half-day before the holiday and depending on when it fell on the calendar, we’d get a three or four-day weekend. Some folks, save their paid time off (PTO) to capitalize on these holidays and string Christmas and New Year’s Day together.

I’ll remind you again when I shut this down for the year but wanted all of you to know in advance. I look forward to this month and toward the end of this month, I am really looking forward to getting back to my work schedule.

Well, that’s it for today, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Drivers

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driver, Enjoyment, habit, Hobby, Joy, Monday, motivation, motivator, self-preservation

I was reading a few days ago about what drives people to do what they do. For some a drive comes from serious loss or pain. For others they are inspired by someone. There is no way to categorize or analyze this because there are just too many reasons for people to do what they do. So, it’s best to stick with learning about what drives you.

What drives you to do what you do? Do you like to exercise? Do you like your hobby? Do you enjoy your work? Do you enjoy companionship? General Grant, who had throat cancer late in life, wrote his memoir to support his family when he was gone. His driver was family and responsibility.

One of my drivers is competence. I like to know how to do things. I like to learn new things. Then, I like to apply those things to what I am doing every day. If there’s a new technology or app I can use to make my life easier or more efficient–I’m there. One of the things I’ve learned over time is how much better it is to know where something is, rather than memorize it. There is so much information out there. If you can’t remember how to do something, simply know where to learn how to do it.

Drivers are what get us up in the morning. Hobbies, responsibilities, passions, whatever you label them, drivers are very motivating. Sometimes we need to take a little time and really think through what drives us. Once I discovered my true drivers, it made it easier for me to find the motivation to do the things I wanted to do and the ones I needed to do.

Have a great Monday, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Making Choices

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Choices, decisions, Energy, Evaluating, Responsbilities, time, Time allotments, Video Games

We only have 24 hours a day. We have to make choices. As many of you know, one of my hobbies is playing video games. I played Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 over the weekend and dabbled in the multiplayer a bit. I had a great time but realized I don’t have the time to add yet another video game to my day. Couple that with my Dad’s situation, and it just isn’t viable.

To learn how to play a video game, like Call of Duty for the console (Xbox), it takes a lot of game play. About 5-6 hours a day. Like other Call of Duty games, there are weapons to level up, your character needs to level up, and you need to learn how all the new systems work. It takes a lot of research, reading, watching YouTube videos and all the rest. So, Call of Duty MW2 will not be part of my game play, maybe on the weekends, but not during my week.

The reason I bring this up, is because we all have choices to make, when it comes to our schedule. We only have so much time, and we need to determine what is in our best interest. For me, exercise, reading, writing, interacting on social media, my spiritual practices, and of course my video game play are all the choices I made about my day.

The best way to determine what you can do with the time you have, particularly if you work on top of all the things you need to do to take care of yourself, is to list out all the things you’d like to do.

Here’s an example:

Exercise (30 minutes)

Reading (1 hour)

Writing (2 hours)

Social Media (30 minutes)

Spiritual Disciplines (1 hour)

Chores (1 hour)

Hygiene (1 hour)

Learning (1 hour)

Gaming (3 hours)

Then we add all this up. The above times total out to be 11 hours. For me, since I am usually awake for about 16-18 hours a day, it works. I still have 7 hours for sleep and all these times are estimates. Some days, I’ll spend more time on writing and reading than I normally do. Some days, depending on the game, I’ll spend more than 3 hours jamming on challenges or something else. The point I’m making here is to determine what you want to do; estimate what type of time investment you’ll need to make for that task and then analyzing whether you need to adjust. For example, if I was still working, there would be no way, the above schedule would work. I’d have to make some adjustments.

I hope this makes sense. Think about what is most important to you. What do you value? Then schedule some time to do it each day. Maybe you only have about 1-2 hours a day to work on something that is important to you. If you have multiple interests, perhaps you will only be able to dedicate 30 minutes each day to that hobby or thing you want to do with yourself. It’s all up to you.

Well, that’s it for today, folks. Have a great Monday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Happy Halloween

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Eerie, Focus timers, Focused work, Games, Halloween, motivation, Music, Naps, Pomodoro, Scary

There’s nothing more motivating than a holiday. Halloween has been fun this year, because I used the entire month to celebrate by watching scary movies, concentrated my posts on scary topics, and had a great time playing my favorite mobile video games that have all added Halloween themes to their game experience.

Holidays are nice because they give us the freedom to choose what we will do and what we won’t. It’s a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the normal work week. Employers are having potlucks, employee dress ups, and even cutting folks loose early so they can get their kids out for their trick or treating.

Today, since yesterday was my “do nothing day”, I was ready to go. I was up at 3 am, writing, learning, reading, and so on. These little breaks can really add to your motivation to get back at it.

Speaking of breaks. Here are a few ways to maintain your motivation throughout the day:

1. Use a focus timer like Pomodoro, which will have you work in a specific time-frame and then take a break. The default setup for this is 20 minutes, followed by 5-minutes, but most of these apps are highly customizable. I typically like working for 25 minutes, then take 5 minutes so I have a 30-minute work-break session.
2. Plan rewarding times for yourself after each big chunk of activity. If you go to a gym, hit your favorite coffee shop on the way home. If you are working at your desk, perhaps you are a video game advocate like I am. Get in a session after you’ve knocked out some work.
3. Naps are also a great reward, particularly if you work from home. Plan in a nap after lunch, before dinner, or whenever your schedule allows. Keep it to around 20 minutes so you don’t get too groggy to go back to work.
4. Listen to some music, meditate, or do some creative planning for something you would like to do on the weekend.

These are just some ideas for you to start with. You know what you enjoy. Sprinkle in this fun throughout your day, in and around your work schedule, and you’ll find that each day will be much more satisfying and the work you do will be more motivating because you know there is some fun and relaxation waiting for you after each session of work.

I hope you have a great Monday and enjoy Halloween. We’ll be passing out candy to all the folks who come around for tricks and treats.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Intuition

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habits, ideas, insight, Intuition, Monday, motivation, Nudge, Prompting, schedules, To-dos

Have you ever gotten an inner prompting to change things in your schedule? I get these all the time. I finally came upon a really cool way to run through the things I need to do each day by using mini-days and categories of tasks so I can concentrate on one facet of my day at a time, 4 times a day. Let me explain.

I learn, read, write, exercise, and do a whole lot of other things each day. To be more efficient, I came up with the idea of using mini-days so I could do more activities in each of my high-priority tasks each day by doing something in each category 4 times a day instead of just once. Subsequently, I read 4 x each day, exercise my body 4 x each day, work on multiple writing projects each day, and so on.

You may have a different insight. This is one of the things I’ve discovered during my productivity journey. How we do things is staggeringly individual. We may get our ideas from various self-help books, but in the end, it is really about what works for each of us. So pay attention to your intuition–those inner nudges you get from time-to-time. They are usually great ideas. I’ve discovered that the more I listen to the inner promptings, the more I get. Take action on those promptings that make sense. You’ll discover as I have that your intuition can be worked out just like your body. Over time, your inner nudges will become better, and you’ll be able to trust them more. You will learn to discriminate better so you make better choices amongst all the inner prompts you receive.

Well, that’s it for today, folks. If something isn’t right, contemplate it. Think about it. You’ll start getting ideas on how to improve your current situation. They won’t come all at once. They’ll trickle in. When you get one, try it out. If it doesn’t work, wait for the next one. At some point, you’ll get the exact solution you need to improve the way you organize yourself and knock out your daily tasks, whatever they are.

Have a great Monday, folks!

Until next time…

Dave