"Habits often initiate routines. So for example, you might have a habit of answering an e-mail for an hour each day. And while you're answering e-mails, you're not totally on auto-pilot," James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, talks about habits in the Minimalists podcast. "You're thinking carefully about how to respond the message and so on. But it's often the habit. The automatic non-consciousness action of pulling your phone out of your pocket. That initiates the routine of responding the e-mail." Clear also adds in podcast episode: "A habit must be established before it can be approved. And so the very first thing to do is to master the art of showing up. It's not to worry about the performance. It's not to worry about what the writing looks like." I like to nap and sleep. Because my body needs to rest, recover, and recharge in order to function and perform. I'm left with 14 hours in a day. I mentioned it in my previous blog entry, Priorities. I start my day by making my bed every morning. "It will give you a small sense of pride. And it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day. That one task completed will have turned into mini-task completed," Navy Seal Admiral McRaven gave a commencement speech about making your bed every morning at University of Texas, Austin. "Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you'll never be able to do the big things right. And if by any chance, you have a miserable day. You will come home to a bed that is made that you made. And a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. So if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed." I met a 75-year-old man at gym's sauna. He has a fit body for his age. And he looks like Morgan Freeman. (He said he gets it all the time.) "Life is a lesson. Pay attention," he shared me a quote from his grandfather. "Because there will be a test." For instance, I was scheduled to lift weights at 10am with friend. My dad knew. He still called me to help him in changing gym membership. My dad believed he can make changes to it. Since he is paying for my gym membership. Apparently the gym workers needed me too in order to process it. One of my lifestyle habits is to lift weights. My schedule was pushed back. I was 45 minutes late to see my friend. A conflict occurred. It was a test. My dad could have done it another time. Because I already had a planned schedule. My friend waited for me. And we started our gym routine at 10:45am. My young-self would have complained, sweared, and yelled at my dad. I felt frustrated and disappointed. I'm human. I have feelings. I realized it would not have gone anywhere. Because we would be getting mad at each other until someone gives up and walks away. I learned a lesson. It's understanding who people are. And making adjustments. After I make my bed, I drink a cup of black coffee with a bowl of oatmeal. I take the time to be grateful and thankful for the breakfast. I single-task. I ignore my phone or any other technology. I only focus on my meal. Then I choose to read a book or listen to a podcast for an hour or two. I review and study for my realtor state exam. Because I failed last month. And I'll retake the exam by mid-July. I take a mid-afternoon nap for about 1-2 hours. I wake up from nap to blog and journal for about 2 hours. I need to write. Because it's my therapy. I hit the gym. I meetup with a friend. I'm always early. Because I want to stretch my body before he arrives. We lift together 4 days a week. (Tuesday is chest day, Wednesday is back day, Thursday is shoulder day, and Saturday is leg day.) The days would switch up sometimes. After I hit the weights, I would use a foam roller to loosen the muscles. Then, I would relax the muscles at a sauna for 20 minutes. I'm not getting any younger. And I enjoy taking the time to take care of my body. I used to masturbate before I sleep. It was a bad habit. Now, I have replaced its habit from meditating for 5 minutes every night before I sleep. I sit down with my legs crossed as my hands touch knees. Meditating has relaxed my mind to process and relax. And it's also my therapy. I still masturbate here and there. But I have limited my time from it. I used to be a porn addict. (I'll talk more about it in one of my upcoming blog entries.) Throughout my day, I engage in a conversation with anyone. I like to talk. For instance, the man from sauna also told me about communication. It's having the sense of talking to anyone despite their age, gender, and color. He was surprised I was able to initiate and engage in a conversation with him. We had a great pleasure in meeting each other. Some people wouldn't want to talk. I can read their body language. That's fine. I can't force them. I respect their space. "Humans need to bond. It is one of our most primal urges. So if we can't bond with other people, we will find a behavior to bond with, whether it's watching pornography or smoking crack or gambling," Johann Hari writes in his book, Chasing the Scream: The Opposite of Addiction is Connection. If the only bond you can find that gives you relief or meaning is with splayed women on a computer screen or bags of crystal or a roulette wheel, you will return to that bond obsessively." Other lifestyle habits throughout my day: I message my buyers on FB Marketplace. Because I sell used material goods from decluttering my room, or taking free stuff from neighborhood. I play tennis twice a week with Avi on Tuesday, and Ken on Thursday. I warm up. And I play a match against them. I play basketball once or twice a week. I would either shoot around alone or play a game of pickup basketball. I like to compete in matches and games. It trains the mind to strategize on how to beat and study the opponent. And to overcome a comeback whenever I am down. If I'm not competing, I will only learn and accumulate the knowledge in mind. And the body is not being able to apply, execute, and perform on the court. Competition practices the body and mind altogether. I win. I lose. At the end of the day, I'm alive. And breathing. Same goes to tennis and basketball. I mentioned it earlier in lifting weights. I also go to a sauna for 20 minutes after I finish playing tennis or basketball. I clean my teeth 3 times a day, or before I go out. I floss and brush my teeth. And I end it with a mouthwash. I used to skip flossing teeth. Because I was lazy. I have lost a lot of gum from it. I shower once a day, or once every 2 days. I get dandruff. It must stay moisturized. I declutter at least one item in my room almost every day. "The average household has 300,000 items," Michelle Schroeder-Gardner writes in her article, 14 Shocking Statistics about the Things We Spend Money On. I eat healthy. Because I do not take multi-vitamins anymore. I focus on eating less carbs, more greens, and more protein. I avoid eating salty foods. I hate salt. My only sugar I prefer to eat is fruits. I like to label my lifestyle habits. Because it acknowledges either my progression or regression. And it helps me to become a better person every day.
Some days are good. And other days are bad. It's being able to trust the process every day. I used to see habits as goals before. It was unhealthy. Once I ever reached a goal, it became a finish line. And my motivation ended. Then I went back to my old habits. "A calm mind, a fit body, and a house full of love. These things cannot be bought. They must be earned," Naval talks in his podcast. "Even if you have all the money in the world. You can't have those 3 things." I continue to be consistent on my lifestyle habits as I work on becoming a realtor. And looking for clients to declutter their homes. The mind talks. And the body decides. |
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