Tag: #SelfImprovement

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The Art of Ritualistic Routines: How Mental Tricks Add Value to Daily Tasks

A Mental trick I use to help me take all of the decided-upon steps of a routine is to think of it as a ritual. This is aided by the inclusion of additional behaviors that are primarily superficial. 

While creating these rituals may make some tasks more complicated than necessary, I find that when I complete a routine precisely as intended, I feel more of a sense of accomplishment. As I said, this is purely a mental trick I use and, aside from the additional feelings of accomplishment, adds very little of use to the routine, but it also costs extremely little.

An example of this is my drying off routine when I finish showering. It begins with turning my left foot toward the shower head and drying off my face, then I turn my right foot, dry my hair, and mentally count 1. Each step involves rotating a foot, 1/8th of a turn, and counting upward. Next, I dry my arms. Left inside, then outside, Right inside and out. I dry my back on the 5th count/ foot rotation, and the 6th is my buttocks. 7th, I dry my left leg and then my right leg. On counts 9 and 10, I pat dry my face and hair a final time before hanging my towel up on count 11. On count 12, I step out of the shower and dress myself. My counting continues through this process, and if I do it right, it ends at 20 when I step into my right slipper.  

I know that facing specific directions and counting is unnecessary, but it feels right to do it that way. It also ensures that I complete all steps, which could be annoying, even though it’s not very likely to happen. Most of my rituals come naturally after I notice that I do things in a certain way. Only after thinking about the process do I decide if that’s the best way to do things. Sometimes, a budding ritual might need to be tweaked a little to make it fit with a count better or to align with something else.

You might fall into rituals as you form longer routines, and I encourage you to adopt them intentionally. They cost exceptionally little and may add some additional satisfaction to their completion.

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The Power of Small Steps: How Breaking Down Goals Leads to Big Wins

One lesson I continually learn in my journey of habit formation is the power of small, consistent goals. Achieving startling results can sometimes require herculean efforts. For example, last year, I ran over 1,000 miles. It might sound like a lot, if I only intended to run it in a month. Instead, I broke it down into smaller, more manageable distances. This approach allowed me to hit that considerable number over time.

I’m naturally inclined to try and accomplish goals in one giant leap, but this often leads to failure. For instance, I recently committed to better caring for our front yard. My first task was to weed the planter areas. Initially, it seemed like an overwhelming job. However, by dedicating just 20 minutes a day to it, I found it more manageable. I expect to finish the tendering of our front yard sometime this week without being subjected to a back-breaking, all-day endeavor.

If you need help to achieve your goals or even to get started, consider breaking them down into smaller tasks. The temptation to tackle everything all at once is strong but only sometimes effective. Intellectually, I understand this. Yet, the urge to “do it all now” still pops up.

When setting my goals, I make it a point to remind myself to break them into smaller tasks. I plan to work on these smaller tasks over a more extended period. Starting earlier and extending the timeline can be a safer and more effective approach for various activities.

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Busy Schedule, Exciting Plans for 2023 2nd Half 

Every year, I have the most free time from June to December. 

One problem is that We’ve been working a lot since our team is small – just five of us in our office, and I’m the only one handling the money matters. Considering we make more than $4M in monthly sales, you can guess how hectic it is. I’ve made a schedule to manage my time better based on what’s most important to me.

 My daytime job is like being the captain of a ship in unpredictable weather. As we operate our company with so few members, anything can impact all of us. If you’ve ever worked as an accountant, you might know what I mean – sometimes there’s too much work, and other times, not enough.

To smooth out my workload, I update our templates, do projects to automate some of the tasks, or create queries every month. I also ensure we follow the right rules to stay in line with SOX (a kind of business law). I mostly prepare for our yearly SOX audit, which takes place in July, April, and mid-May, until we start with a quarterly audit, budget, and consolidation report. This keeps me busy all year round, but I get a break from July to December. I will be tied up with Year End and preparing corporate tax returns between January to April. 

During this time, I’m always excited about planning how to spend my time till December, when I get swamped again. Here’s what I want to do this year:

    1. Travel: We decided to visit the Grand Canyon in October for about 4-5 days.
    2. Learn about Greek and Roman Literature: I want to do this from July to October.
    3. Earn more credits for my accounting designation by continuing my education from July to December.
    4. Keep November to December open: I might study Greek and Roman Literature or learn about King Arthur.

Here’s what my priority list looks like:

    1. Work: I mostly work from home except for Mondays. During my break, I won’t be working extra unless it’s really, really important.
    2. House chores: I spend about 0.5 to 1 hour on this. We usually clean the house on Saturday mornings unless we’re having a family get-together.
    3. Family gatherings: We don’t have them every day, but when we do, they’re usually on Saturday afternoons till early evenings.
    4. Exercise: I work out for about 0.75 hours each day.
    5. Piano: I practice for about 0.75 hours each day.
    6. Professional education: I dedicate an hour to this every day except Saturdays and Sundays.
    7. Greek & Roman Literature: I spend an hour reading up on this.

Time Schedule for 2023 2nd Half 

Last modified on Jun 25, 2023

I’ve blocked out my time for all these activities. 

    • Red blocks are for sleep – I will only change these if it’s a real emergency.
    • Green blocks are for other tasks. I’ll shuffle these around if something urgent arises based on my priorities.
    • Yellow blocks are for free time, which I usually spend reading or writing.

I’ve left some time open for writing because I’ve noticed that I struggle when I set aside time for it – it’s just a mental block. Instead, I’ll spend most of my free time writing or reading. I’ll probably use this time to write blog posts or read.

Every Sunday, I’ve blocked out an hour to review my schedule. If it seems too packed, I’ll tweak it. The hardest part for me is to stick to when I sleep and find enough time to read. I’m such a big fan of reading that I feel weird when I don’t get to do it. Whenever I feel stressed, reading is my go-to way to chill out.

I’ve left some wiggle room in my schedule, so I’ll manage just fine.

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Greek Literature Exploration

Upon concluding the captivating narrative of “The Secret History,” I found myself intrigued and yearning to thoroughly explore the timeless wisdom housed within Greek and Roman mythology and literature. Yet, with utmost humility, if one were to measure the expertise in this field on a scale from 1 to 10, I would find myself hovering around one squarely in the domain of a novice. My comprehension of these ancient civilizations and their literary richness remains quite elementary.

I am, however, not completely uninitiated. My dear husband, an alumnus of an esteemed, single-gender liberal arts university, had chosen to minor in classics during his collegiate years. His academic pursuits in this field have considerably influenced my understanding of the subject, albeit at a rudimentary level. In my prime twenties, a wave of curiosity stirred me, igniting a desire to uncover the treasures in this timeless literature. I gravitated towards two insightful works, “Apology” and “Crito.” Their wisdom and depth had a profound impact on me. I also appreciated grandiose tales, namely the legendary Trojan War and the adventurous saga of Odysseus. Regrettably, my familiarity with these themes lacks the depth that a well-versed scholar might possess, as my knowledge has been acquired without the requisite deep contemplation and rigorous study.

While devouring the pages of “The Secret History,” a realization dawned upon me. A richer understanding of the tale likely came from a more profound acquaintance with Greek literature. Recognizing the gaps in my knowledge, I saw a perfect opportunity to deepen my exploration into this fascinating realm. A crucial tool in my upcoming academic voyage is a book, a thoughtful Christmas present from my mother, titled “Ancient Greek Philosophers,” penned by the esteemed scholar Ken Mondschein, Ph.D.

While this resource doesn’t encompass all philosophers from the ancient Greek era, it presents a comprehensive study of Plato, whose influence transcends time. Although I had skimmed through the book the previous winter, an exhaustive comprehension of its contents would demand a dedicated investment of time and attention. I foresee a two-to-three-month reading expedition to appreciate the nuances of this enlightening work truly.

I’ve charted a course I intend to follow to structure my exploration systematically. My itinerary for the literary journey reads as follows:

    • In July, I will sail with Homer’s legendary epics, “Iliad” and “Odyssey.”
    • August will be reserved for Virgil’s masterpiece, “The Aeneid.”
    • Between July and October, my voyage will be accompanied by “Ancient Greek Philosophers” by Ken Mondschein, Ph.D.

My understanding and appreciation of Greek literature will flourish upon reaching these reading milestones. As to how I will document my journey, the details still need to be decided. Nonetheless, I am keen on sharing my experiences and insights gained from reading these classic works. I am mindful of the challenge ahead. The journey may be lengthy and require steadfast commitment, but the promise of the knowledge that awaits at the end fills me with anticipation and excitement. In the spirit of these timeless narratives, I embark on this adventure, eager to delve into the past and bring its wisdom to the present.