You wake up one morning and it’s gone…
You know what I’m talkin about.
Your MOJO.
Your Drive.
Your Ambition.
What happened?
You used to jump out of bed excited to meet the day…
…now you’re hitting snooze 5 times dreading what’s to come.
Why?
This article is going to attempt to reawaken your drive you and give you easy ways to upgrade your lifestyle.
Now you’re going to find many of these actions are ones you heard before.
But in this video and article, I share with you my processes.
- How do I consistently wake up at 5AM? (even when going to bed late)
- How do I eat healthy? (despite living in a state with high obesity levels)
- How do I consistently go to the gym? (despite having no love for working out)
I spill a lot of my secrets in this video & article!
1. Wake Up Earlier
Did anyone ever tell you the early bird catches the worm? I will gladly vouch for that. It’s true without a doubt.
Rise and shine earlier. Which time is ideal? It depends on your own schedule and needs. I like waking up at 5 a.m. on weekdays. And I make it happen through a system of habits. I go to bed early.
I meet with my accountability partner (commitment buddy) at 5:30. I allow myself as much coffee as I want until 10 a.m. – something I look forward to. The whole set-up works like a charm.
Having significant time to get a head start makes the day more productive. You’ll get to eat a good breakfast, read the paper, take your time and avoid juggling a hundred thoughts in nanoseconds.
How do you warm up for a marathon? You stretch and move around – but there's no running yet! So apply that principle to getting your mind ready for the day.
2. Reward Yourself
I’m a believer in acknowledgment. Anyone’s success should be given due recognition. And that includes me, myself and I.
So I like to reward myself for a good job every now and then. I could buy something nice and inexpensive. Or I might treat the whole family to a pig out at my favorite bistro. Or maybe I’d chill out for a while in my hot tub. Whatever the case I make sure it’s a justified prize.
What’s the benefit to this? It allows me to cherish the moment. I nailed it! Congratulations to me! I get to recall everything it took to reach that moment. It’s like patting myself on the back. It’s being familiar with the feeling of success – which makes me want to push harder in every challenge.
3. Try Something New
New things happen every day. So I believe in trying out what’s new and available. You can never tell what good can come out of it. I might pick up a different hobby or develop a skill. Or I might discover something that works better than all the previous stuff.
One of the new things I got to try was this amazing grooming kit that had everything a guy like me would need and more.
4. Read Books
I know this is 2016. And you're reading this from some sort of device. You might think there's no time to just sit and read a book nowadays. Trust me – there’s always time but not enough will.
If you could find a way to go technology-free at home for a couple of hours, please try. Put all the focus on reading and learning from a good book. It’s precious time you’ll never get back so you better be selective.
Research on highly recommended books. Non-fictions include professional “How To” types or autobiographies of successful people. Choose relevant stories or advice that you can apply in your life.
Douglas Adams said it best when he compared books to sharks. Books do last. They’ve been around since the beginning and will stick around till the end. There’s a reason why books are still relevant these days. Knowledge is power. Learning is wisdom. Imagination is freedom. And a book is one of mans greatest weapons.
5. Eat Healthier
I will keep this one simple: be strict about food. Don’t eat anything received through your car window. Or anything with ingredients you can’t pronounce. You know what I’m talking about. Don't think it can be an every-now-then kind of rule. Let never be your mindset.
I like making money. We all need money. But I have to stress something that we can all agree on: you can’t spend and earn – or do many other things – in poor health.
Junk/processed food only worsens your long-term health. It steals away years of potential memories and experiences. It cuts life short. And aren’t we here to live long and prosper?
6. Learn Something New
I like this one because it's a fun way to make the day productive. Remember why we enjoyed our early years in school?
There were always new and exciting lessons. You want to keep “educating” yourself even after the degree. Learning never stops.
Try something you've never done before. You can start at home. I've taught myself how to change out the toilet one time – and can proudly say it's one new skill I have. But it doesn't have to be dirty or physical.
Why not write a poem? Try it out and don't worry if it's not impressive. It's art. Kurt Vonnegut said it best about creating art – it's “a way to make your soul grow.”
7. Get A Simple Alarm Clock
I have a rule in which my phone is banned from the bedroom. You guessed it – I use a normal clock with a normal sounding alarm. There’s no snoozing, no emails or text messages to bombard me once I've stopped the alarm. And I suggest you do the same.
That’s not to say those messages aren't worth your time. I’m talking about compartmentalizing: doing things step by step. This goes in line with the benefits of getting up early.
The last thing you need in the very minute you’re awake is any reason to rush or feel anxious. So deal with your phone later. Handle all priority tasks first. Let the work stuff bother you when it's really time.
8. Exercise Daily
Let me remind you that eating right isn’t enough. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand. Fit cardio into your daily routine – it doesn’t have to be an hour long. Thirty minutes of running or yoga is all it takes. The key is consistency.
I’m a happy guy – you can tell with the way I am on YouTube 😉 I get that happiness from my family, my work and of course from staying in shape.
Regular exercise releases endorphins that make you feel happier and energized for the rest of the day. Vogue’s Anna Wintour knows that – she starts each day with an hour of tennis. It’s safe to say that must help her cope with the hustle and bustle of being editor-in-chief .
9. Call Your Loved Ones
I want you to make this a priority on weekends. Discuss with your parents a time and day when you can all sit by the phone and chat.
If that's not your style, send them a text/email every now and then and ask when's a good time to talk. Don't be ashamed.
Good relationships matter – especially with family. You may not see family members that often but that doesn't mean you can't remain close. Reach out to them. Be honest and share your feelings. Ask for their advice.
It might seem awkward at first but you'll feel way better in the end. You'll end up getting those people in your corner supporting you – and that's the best feeling. It makes life less daunting.
10. Make Saving & Earning Money A Game
I like games as much as you probably do. So let’s make use of this final tip to challenge yourself in fun ways.
Remember what I said about rewards? Here I propose that you set a target amount to have in your savings at the end of every month. If you reach it – reap a small reward!
Increase this amount a little more each month to make it harder. Whenever you don’t – face a reasonable penalty that you've “contracted” yourself to take. Print all these details in some form of a contract. Let your friends sign it as witnesses.
It's even more exciting to get your buddies on board! Make it a friendly competition with one another on who can earn or save the most in a month. You can get the winner a six-pack of beer and make the loser pay for it. Be playful and creative here – just make sure it's clean fun!
