Marita Kassis: Political Analyst & Media Specialist
We Start the New Year with a Bang
We all start our new year with so many resolutions and such a bang that we definitely become in awe of ourselves when we review them. But honestly speaking, we are one month down from 2020. How are you coping with that list? Is it still as realistic as you predicted? Are you truly finding the time to fulfill all the punched-in items?
Let Me Bring You Some Inspiration
With the hope of bringing you some inspiration and A LOT of energy, I just want to have a chat with you. Let’s explore the possible ways to go about your day and ensure it’s as productive and enjoyable as possible. Grab a coffee or tea. I’ll give you a second. Ready?
The Key Word Is “Breathable”
The key word that I want you to keep in mind here is “breathable.” That’s how any day should feel. Busy hustling, juggling between work, family, and social life… but make sure you actually breathe. In parallel, you should also remember to guard your thoughts and control your chaos. This might read a bit weird here, but bear with me for a minute.
List
Transition from Thinking to Organizing
You need to transition from thinking and visualizing to actually pouring down and organizing your thoughts. We all have a few tasks, to say the least, that we need to complete each day. Losing track of one or two can truly set off your mood. To keep your emotions at bay and truly track your progress, you need an accountability list, also known as a to-do list.
Why an Accountability List?
Why do I call it an accountability list? Because your to-do list represents the expectations you set for yourself. You are the one who will hold yourself accountable for not finishing your list. As I’m sure you know, you are your worst critic.
Be Realistic and Considerate
To avoid over-criticizing yourself and create a safe self-awareness space, you need to remain realistic about the goal. You also need to stay considerate about the time. Be mindful of how long a task might take. Make sure you allocate the right time. Don’t squeeze your tasks to fit an unrealistic schedule and then feel disappointed that you didn’t make your day.
Time-Blocking
Break Down Your Tasks
As you go about your list, break down your tasks into smaller ones. This way, you can tick them off your list once done. This allows you to see and track your progress, which feels gratifying and energizing at the same time.
Compartmentalize Under Categories
Make sure to compartmentalize your tasks under categories, each filled with tiny tasks. Let’s say you need 4 hours of editing. Within that block, you could list the titles or languages so you can go over each one separately. This way, you would have broken down both the task and the time.
Appreciation
Tasks Are More Than Just Errands
Your tasks are not just errands that you need to do. They form part of your day and your habits. Besides helping you track them, this system will also nurture a sense of appreciation in you. Appreciation of your abilities, of your strength, soul, and spirit.
Approach the World Positively
This system will make you approach the world positively. This lens through which you start considering situations will shed a brighter light on every event. It will also shine sunlight on your accomplishments.
Let Me Get More Coffee…
It’s Really About Emotional Intelligence
So, we started this as what seems like a productivity entry. But it’s really about emotional intelligence. See, you are definitely NOT what you do in a day. However, what you do is part of you. It does affect you BIG TIME, no matter how much you think it doesn’t.
Bullet-Journaling Improves Mental Health
Bullet-journaling your day helps improve your lifestyle and, believe it or not, your mental health. Your mental health faces deep testing, particularly in the ongoing challenging political and economic environments.
Satisfaction Leads to Awareness and Gratitude
The more satisfied you feel with yourself, the deeper your level of awareness and gratitude. All of this brings us home to controlling our state of mind and emotions. It also propagates more positivity and ease.
Food and Body
Meet the Internal Process with a Physical One
To balance this internal process, we need to meet it with a physical one. Train, exercise, and eat healthy. No matter how smooth your days end up, a level of stress will always need your attention. Never overlook it. Take care of it with the appropriate amount and quality of nutrients.
Think of Cooking and Exercising as “Me-Time”
My one suggestion is to think about the cooking and exercising parts of your day as “me-time.” These are truly your sanctuary. You can go as creative as you want with your cooking and as intense as you need in your training. The results belong to you, and the accomplishments feel tangible. The mental and physical rewards, again, place you on your own personal pedestal. That feeling is unbeatable.
Get It Right
Build Confidence in Your Abilities
Rounding up your day to include what you should do and what you love to do ensures you build confidence in your abilities. That, in and of itself, serves as an inspiration to those around you and further inspiration to yourself.
It’s Okay to Be Vulnerable
Brace your day with a smile. Communicate. Help. Inspire. Support. But most of all, throughout all of your journeys, remember that it’s okay to be vulnerable too. It’s actually a sign of strength. Realizing your state of mind helps you open an honest channel of communication with yourself. You can then confront reality head-on. Once you do this, recalibrate your thoughts and emotions, have a chit-chat, and move forward.
Checks and Balances
Setbacks and Delays Are Okay
Setbacks, delays, and some procrastination are all okay. They can also help you create an internal process of checks and balances. They clarify where you are and where you actually want to be.
Create a Year at a Glance
For this, you can also create a year at a glance. Map out your whole year, goals, vacations, and big plans. This will motivate you throughout your days and keep you on the right track.
Emotions Come from Motion
Remember, emotions come from motion. Everything that moves in front of you will have a repercussion on you. Everything you do will definitely have an impact on you. If you can at least organize some parts of your life, then a lot can shift. You would then let in the unexpected and unaccounted for with more ease and openness. You would still keep your eyes on your map to guide you through.
2020 List
Golden Rules for the Year
To wrap things up, take along 2020 a few GOLDEN rules. Here’s another list that might come in handy:
Drink Water – tons of it.
Sleep Well – create a pattern and stick to it.
Exercise Daily – at least 30 minutes.
Vacate Regularly – go on vacation, vacate your mind, and unplug.
Communicate Everything – share your thoughts and emotions.
Create Lists – pour down your thoughts.
Brain Dump – write your ideas and creativity as often as possible.
Smile – often and a lot.
Be Grateful – about everything.
Find Purpose – it can be a different one every day.
Read – set your mind free.
Respect the environment – go as digital as you can and as plastic-free as possible.
Take Great Care of Yourself
Take great care of yourself and look out for each other! M.
By, Marita Kassis, Political Analyst & Media Specialist
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