Five Things You Should Do For Yourself Everyday

1. Read 20 minutes.

   Reading not only makes you focus on one thing (the book), but it promotes different skills than listening to a book. Your mind sees words differently than you hear them. It also gives you time to sit and relax where you’re not doing something else all the time. You can read for pleasure or for learning, but either way, you still learn something new!

2. Write down a positive affirmation or quote.

   Again, the physical act of writing (instead of pressing a keyboard on a computer or phone) hits different neurons and makes you learn differently. I think it’s a lot more intentional; more thought-provoking. The act of thinking of something positive helps rewire your brain into having happier thoughts throughout the day as well. Make it a mantra and repeat it during your day, or if you have more time, write twenty positive affirmations for yourself before you start your day. Even simply finding a quote that is positive or that resonates with you will provoke your brain power and you will get more out of your day.

3. Get enough sleep.

Whenever people tell me I need more sleep, I always tell them you can sleep when you’re dead. All jokes aside, in order to function properly, you need at least eight hours of sleep. I say that lightly because I average six because I work my butt off during the week and then sleep in on the weekends for eight hours. So in this instance, do what I say and not what I do! A good healthy sleep (no caffeine before bed!) can make you feel so much better in the morning. Your body heals faster while you’re sleeping too, so you’re body will thank you as well.

4. Drink plenty of water.

Don’t ever make the excuse to yourself that you get enough water from your food and your coffee. It’s entirely not true. You need at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water (that’s two and a half standard water bottle’s (750ml) of water per day). You need that extra water in addition to whatever else you drink because caffeine is a diuretic. That means it pulls water out of your system and dehydrates you. The salt in your food does the same thing, and makes you retain water instead of making you hydrated. (For years, I suffered from edema, and it really sucks). If you drink enough water per day to flush the toxins from your system, you shouldn’t be suffering from things like edema. Water also makes you feel more awake. It can fill you up so you eat less food, and it keeps your neurons working at full capacity so you can focus and stay productive throughout your day.

5. Watch a YouTube video or listen to a podcast on something you’re interested in or something that you want to learn. (Or read a personal development book!)

This should be a no-brainer. If you want to learn, and progress your mind, you need to have a source of new information. If you want to do even more, join a masterclass, go get a second degree, or join a class that you can watch from home. Then you can do the work in your down-time. I personally write my notes in my commonplace book. It’s a notebook that I write down ideas, inspiration, quotes, you name it. Basically anything that I find interesting or something that I don’t want to forget. You would be surprised at the inspiration you can gain from that notebook, even coming back to it months later. (Especially if you write, or are looking for ideas for a project).

Thanks for reading today’s blog and we’ll see you again next week!

Sandra 💙