This one goes without saying. Maintaining a nightly regimen for your body (and beauty!) includes basic activities such as washing, brushing, flossing, removing makeup, applying moisturizer, cleaning contact lenses, and so on.
There’s a reason why Steve Jobs chose to put on the same type of outfit each day; it’s called decision fatigue. Our brainpower is not an unlimited resource and it weakens with every choice we make such as what to eat, what to buy, where to go, what to say, how to conduct ourselves, and so on. It just makes sense to spend this precious asset on more important work instead of thinking of what to wear.
Now, I’m not suggesting you buy a bunch of black turtlenecks, jeans, and sneakers. But it will help to prepare what you’ll be wearing tonight instead of in the morning when you most need to save time and brainpower.
Being mindful means having a heightened sense of awareness of our present thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. This is especially beneficial after a long day hard at work because it’s during this time that it’s easiest to forget why we do what we do and for whom.
Take note that meditation, while extremely effective in achieving this, is not the only way to practice mindfulness. You can also try eating slowly and with intention, paying attention to your senses or your body parts, or focusing on the positive side of circumstances.
Oftentimes everything becomes so automatic that we fail to remember what’s essential: our relationships with our loved ones.
Ending the day connecting with your loved ones—your spouse, children, relatives, friends—by engaging in meaningful conversations with them or even hugging them will remind you of your purpose and keep you grounded on what’s important.
Reading is one powerful habit to develop whether in the morning, at work, or at night. Just ask Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, two of the richest and most intelligent people in the world, who are reported to read more than one book a week.
Reading not only stimulates your mind and expands your vocabulary but it also improves your memory and helps develop your focus. When practiced in the evening, it can serve as a restful activity, a technique for “shutting down” the body. Just try to avoid reading through a screen and instead opt for a paperback copy.
This step isn’t absolutely necessary but there are still certain benefits. Putting your alarm across the room forces you to physically get up and get out of bed as soon as it rings in the morning.
Do you hit the snooze button and go back to sleep for 30 minutes each day? If you calculate how long that is in one year, that’s the equivalent of one whole week!
