Category Archives: Self-Improvement
Foreword to My Book on Self-Improvement
Aside from the values of faith and self-belief my mother instilled in me, one key element of personal growth and development that was embedded in me long before I joined the self-improvement bandwagon was lifelong learning. My parents taught my siblings and me the value of education, the importance of learning new things and skills, and the need to always strive to be the best and strongest we could be to fulfill our dreams and ambitions.
I believed them to the point that when I had already acquired the degrees I wanted, I looked for a new jar of knowledge where I could dip my fingers. I pushed it further when I realized I had been doing much to improve my health and acquire new skills. I decided to focus on personal growth and development.
At first, my affair with self-improvement was just a fling. I thought it was enough that I read self-help books. However, I was not satisfied. I thought adding positive thinking to my faith, self-belief, and lifelong learning was enough. I was wrong. I wanted more.
Then, the unexpected happened. My romance with self-improvement took a serious turn after I watched a film entitled “The Secret.” I saw the movie’s DVD by accident. The store owner mixed it with other genres of film. When I bought it, I had no idea what it was. There was no synopsis or a brief note explaining anything about it. That was it. Everything was what the title suggests—SECRET.
I wondered whether it was a mystery-thriller or a sci-fi movie. When I played it, I discovered it was a “self-help” film—technically a documentary.
I must admit that I initially considered the ideas presented to be preposterous. Things
from the beginning of the film, what I saw and heard seemed lifted straight from the pages of a science fiction book, but they also tickled my curiosity, perhaps because I love science fiction.
I continued watching, tried to be open-minded, and considered the information in the film as tips for personality development. I have always considered anything that advocates positive change worth my time and effort. I watched it a second time and rewatched some interesting segments a few more. After that, I began applying the valuable tips I had learned from the movie. I even shared the ideas I discovered with my students whenever I saw a connection to the topic’s content.
Then I decided to do an Internet search for one of the speakers, the one who spoke first in the movie – Bob Proctor. That Internet search led me to his motivational videos on YouTube and links to information and videos of other motivational speakers such as Jim Rohn, Wayne Dyer, Les Brown, Joe Dispenza, John Assaraf, Brendon Burchard, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Simon Sinek, Tom Bilyeu, John Maxwell, Jordan Peterson, Jay Shetty, Andrew Huberman and Mel Robbins. I heard them mention Napoleon Hill, Earl Nightingale, and Earl Shoaff, which led me to find them online.
They were all my professors at VU (Virtual University). I religiously watched the videos they posted on their social media platforms, and they taught me well. I consider them my mentors in personal growth and development. Through them, I learned much about constructs related to self-improvement and Positive Psychology—goal-setting, planning, decision-making, time management, well-being, mindset, personal accountability, lifelong learning, good thinking, positive thinking, self-discipline, and more.
I consider them my mentors. They taught me valuable lessons I never learned in school. Thanks to them, I realized that in striving to be the best I can be, as my parents instructed, there are attitudes and beliefs I must pursue and possess, skills and abilities I must learn and acquire, and practices
and activities I must carry out and perform. I realized how essential they are for achieving one’s full potential and becoming the best.
Seeing how personal growth and development have benefited me personally and professionally, and recognizing that, as a teacher, I can help my students and influence my loved ones and dear friends to experience the same, I have embraced self-improvement as an act of advocacy. I am committed to promoting it. There may be those my mentors from VU could not reach, but whom I may be able to. I strive to do so in my humble ways.
To the best of my ability, I aim to plant seeds of motivation and inspiration in others, encouraging them to recognize their potential and embrace the transformative power of self-improvement. I believe that each interaction, no matter how small, has the potential to spark a profound change in someone’s life. Whether through teaching, writing, or engaging in meaningful conversations, I see every opportunity as a chance to leave a positive imprint on those I encounter.
In doing so, I am trying to carry forward the legacy of my mentors, whose wisdom and guidance have shaped my journey. Their influence reminds me that advocacy is not confined to grand gestures but is often reflected in our quiet, consistent efforts to uplift those around us.
My mission is to reach individuals who may feel unseen or undervalued and empower them to believe in their capacity to grow and succeed.
In my classes, I actively seek opportunities to instill the value of striving to improve. I do the same in informal discussions with friends, loved ones, and sometimes strangers. Whenever I have the chance to discuss self-improvement, I seize it without hesitation.
My approach is grounded in the belief that the desire to grow and evolve is universal, and all it often takes is a spark—a meaningful word, a shared experience, or a heartfelt conversation—to ignite that desire in someone.
It reminds me of how those simple compliments from a couple of teachers in high school inspired me to study harder.
I also write essays on personal growth and development, which I post on my websites and social media accounts. When I realized how much I had already written on the subject, the idea of writing a self-improvement book emerged. I decided to compile and interconnect everything I had written about personal growth and development into a book.
My motivation for writing this book is clear: I want to offer a guide that could help readers like you achieve their full potential, be the best and strongest version of themselves, and attain fulfillment by achieving what they desire. I also had my students in mind when I began working on this book. I hope they and other young people like them will read this book like you.
It is not luck or chance that gets you to the fulfillment of dreams and desires—it is learning the right strategies and applying the focus, determination, and passion you need to pursue your personal and professional endeavors. The future is yours to take.
My book is divided into three parts, each focusing on different aspects of self-improvement. In Part I, I discuss beliefs and attitudes; in Part II, I cover skills and abilities; and in Part III, I examine practices and activities.
I collectively refer to beliefs and attitudes as a value system, skills and abilities as a competence framework, and practices and activities as a habit scheme.
The world needs people willing to rise to their full potential, lead purposefully, and contribute to something greater. I believe you are one of those people.
As you read through the following pages, I hope you will find the encouragement, insight, and tools you need to take the next step in your journey. My goal is to inspire you to view your personal and professional goals not as impossible dreams, but as inevitable outcomes that await your dogged determination to succeed.
This book is both a reflection of my journey and an invitation to join me on the path to unlocking the greatness within you. I do not feel like I am already the best version of myself. Thus, my journey towards unlocking my full potential has not ended yet. If you have not started with yours, now is the time to begin.
—–
This foreword is only the beginning. If you wish to go deeper into the ideas shared here, my book on self-improvement is available on Amazon. May it serve as a companion in your own journey.
Having More Time Than We Think
A dilemma confronting expatriates like me as we work and live in another country is what to do with our free time. We must decide how to spend the extra hours at our disposal, whether to use them effectively or squander them. Free time can either be an opportunity or a temptation. It presents a chance to be productive, doing something worthwhile that contributes to achieving our personal and professional goals, or it can lead us astray, luring us into mindless distractions or unfulfilling pursuits.
Understandably, the hours we spend not working are moments when homesickness or boredom could set in. Those not equipped with a coping mechanism against boredom and that intense yearning for home and beloved ones, resort to anything that can help them relax and overcome loneliness and emptiness. They find solace in entertainment, socializing, or, sometimes (and unfortunately), vices. More often than not, resorting to vices to overcome homesickness leads to more problems.
Finding a way to be productive with our extra hours is a protection against temptation and homesickness. Admittedly, that isn’t easy to do. Neuroscience and evolutionary psychology reveal that our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Thus, it is much more convenient for some to go out with friends and have a good time during non-working hours. The mind’s circuitry gravitates towards rewarding tasks instead of exerting more effort to do something else.
Being productive means looking for ways to use the time when we’re not working for worthwhile endeavors. Some of us use them to find a second job to earn extra income, while others use them to pursue a rewarding hobby. There are also those of us who utilize our free time for self-improvement. Of course, some expatriates also seek gratification when they are off duty. Let me clarify that using our free time constructively doesn’t mean depriving ourselves of enjoyment. We are entitled to a day off from time to time to breathe fresh air. For our overall well-being as expatriates, we need to strike a balance between work and life. But we need to draw the line between having fun and going wild.
Expatriates have different ways of using their free time effectively and efficiently, either for productivity’s sake, to protect themselves against temptations, or to overcome homesickness. Based on what I have gathered, most of my colleagues would flock to the capital city for socialization. During long weekends, a few of them would travel. Those with their families with them, of course, would spend their free time with their loved ones. But I would lie if I said that none of us unnecessarily indulged in some forms of vices, particularly gambling and drinking.
What about me? How do I spend my free time? Imagine this: I have 168 hours a week. As I sleep an average of 6 hours a night (42 hours a week), I am awake for 126 hours. My contract requires me to work 19 hours a week, spread over 4 weekdays. Let me add 3 hours to evaluate and assess my student’s performance. That still leaves me a little more than 100 hours a week. If I spend 3 hours daily on meals and snacks, that’s only 14 hours a week. Which means I still have a lot of free time. What Laura Vanderkam said in her book “168 Hours” is true: “You have more time than you think.”
I have more time than I thought. So, what do I do with it? If I am not communicating with my loved ones in my country of origin, I am either in the gym working out or outside walking. I spend an average of one hour a day connecting with my family, with longer sessions during weekends and holidays. On the other hand, I engage in all the physical activities I mentioned five times a week, each lasting at least an hour.
After doing all the other things I must, I figured I have an average of 50-60 hours a week of free time, sometimes more. Additionally, I have more free time during winter and summer breaks when the university does not require me to work, except for attending two-hour meetings at the end of a semester or when one begins. We are also required to attend graduation ceremonies two weeks before the start of each semester.
There came a time when I faced the dilemma of determining how to spend those excess hours. It wasn’t a question of whether to use them effectively or squander them. I know that I must walk the path of productivity during my free time and ensure that I don’t succumb to the enticement of a good life. That’s my mindset. I consider my extra hours an opportunity for growth, not an invitation to waste my resources and self-destruct. Expatriates, particularly those who don’t have their families with them like me, are prone to different kinds of temptations and vices.
And how specifically do I spend my free time?
Spending nights in the bar, particularly during weekends, is not my thing. I don’t enjoy wine and beer. I consider it illogical to drink a lot and then suffer from a hangover the following day. Besides, I know how much damage alcohol inflicts on human cells. I need to stay healthy, for it is difficult for expatriates like me to get sick and be hospitalized. So, I would rather stay home, read books, listen to audiobooks, or watch movies. That lifestyle appears boring, but with the many things that I could do, I have no time to be bored. No, I am not allergic to interaction. Quite the contrary, I love mingling with people, discussing anything under the sun with them. I am what psychologists refer to as an ambivert. I can switch any of my personality’s introvert and extrovert buttons as needed. I do socialize occasionally, but only with a few friends. We go out for dinner and coffee. I go to a noraebang with the same group on special occasions. But there are times when I need to switch to lonewolf mode.
I spend the majority of my free time pursuing my passion for writing. There is no better way to be productive with my extra hours than writing.
Writing has become a sanctuary for me, not just a way to pass the time, but a space where I can thrive emotionally, intellectually, and creatively. It is a refuge that protects me from the challenges of working and living abroad, allowing me to grow and reflect. In the pages of my writing, I have found peace, a workshop for my mind, and a shelter from the storms of life. Those pages shelter me from external and internal noise and help me find clarity.
There were times when writing protected me from my internal struggles. Through it, I could confront my demons and fears and transform them into meaningful and constructive expressions. I release my pain, anger, disagreement, and disappointments by writing about them. Whatever emotions boil within me, I express them creatively, through prose and poetry.
Making writing my sanctuary has not only fueled my productivity and creativity but also become a source of additional income.
Ultimately, how we choose to spend our free time plays a significant role in shaping who we are and how we grow, especially as expatriates navigating the complexities of life away from home. The hours we have at our disposal are a precious resource, allowing us to either build our lives or let them slip unnoticed.
For me, writing has become a powerful tool for personal development, a sanctuary that provides both protection and growth. But regardless of the path we choose—whether through physical activity, self-improvement, or connecting with others—the key is to make the most of every moment. We have more time than we think; with that time, we can either invest in our future or squander it. The choice is ours, and it is up to us to ensure that we walk the path of productivity, growth, and purpose, rather than succumb to temptations that may lead us astray and broke.
The Self-Improvement Paradigm
This video explains my proposed self-improvement paradigm. This conceptual model served as my guide in writing the book “A Paradigm For Self-Improvement.”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT4RGQ9H
BOOK: “A Paradigm For Self-Improvement”
My book, “A Paradigm For Self-Improvement: Unleashing Your Strongest Self,” is available at Amazon-KDP in paperback and e-book formats. If you have a Kindle account, you can read it for free.
This book offers a transformative personal growth and development framework, blending timeless wisdom with actionable strategies. This book helps unlock the attitudes, beliefs, skills, abilities, practices, and activities needed to unleash your full potential.
This comprehensive guide, which covers topics ranging from building self-belief and mastering time management to conquering self-doubt and cultivating lifelong learning, empowers you to take control of your journey. Each chapter is thoughtfully crafted to inspire reflection and action, helping you overcome challenges and achieve your goals. This book also includes a self-assessment designed to determine the extent of your adherence to self-improvement principles.
Whether seeking clarity in a chaotic world, resilience in the face of adversity, or the discipline to pursue your dreams and ambitions, this book provides the tools and insights to help you achieve success, health, and happiness.
Discover the paradigm shift that will unlock your strongest self and guide you toward the life you’ve always envisioned.
Take the first step toward unleashing your full potential—buy A Paradigm for Self-Improvement today and start your transformative journey toward success and fulfillment!
A Paradigm For Self-Improvement: Unleashing Your Strongest Self
This is my book, which has been officially published by Amazon. Please check it out. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT4RGQ9H
To GOD be the GLORY!
__________
FOREWORD
Aside from the values of faith and self-belief that my mother effectively inculcated in me, one key element of personal growth and development embedded into my system even long before I joined the self-improvement bandwagon was lifelong learning. My parents kept telling my siblings and me the value of education, the need to learn new things and skills, and the importance of always striving to be the best and strongest we could be to fulfill our dreams and ambitions.
I believed them to the point that when I had already acquired the degrees I wanted, I looked for a new jar of knowledge where I could dip my fingers. I pushed it further when I realized I had been doing much related to improving my health and acquiring new skills. I decided to focus on personal growth and development.
At first, my affair with self-improvement was just a fling. I thought it was enough that I read self-help books. However, I was not satisfied. I thought adding positive thinking to my faith, self-belief, and lifelong learning was enough. I was wrong. I wanted more.
Then, the unexpected happened. My romance with self-improvement took a serious turn after I watched a film entitled “The Secret.” I saw the DVD of the movie only by accident. The store owner mixed it with other genres of film. When I bought it, I had no idea what it was. There was no synopsis or a brief note explaining anything about it. That was it… everything was what the title suggests—SECRET.
I wondered if it was a mystery thriller or a sci-fi movie. When I played it, I discovered it was a “self-help” film—technically a documentary. I must admit that I first considered the ideas presented preposterous. From the beginning of the film, what I saw and heard appeared as if lifted straight from the pages of a science fiction book, but they also tickled my curiosity, perhaps because I love science fiction.
I continued watching, tried to be open-minded, and thought of the information in the film as tips for personality development. I have always considered anything that advocates positive change worth my time and effort. I watched it a second time, and some exciting segments were a few more. After that, I started using valuable tips I learned from the movie. I even shared the ideas I discovered with my students whenever I saw a connection to the contents of our topic.
Then I decided to do an Internet search for one of the speakers, the one who spoke first in the movie – Bob Proctor. That Internet search led me to his motivational videos on YouTube and links to information and videos of other motivational speakers such as Jim Rohn, Wayne Dyer, Les Brown, Joe Dispenza, John Assaraf, Brendon Burchard, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Simon Sinek, Tom Bilyeu, John Maxwell, and Mel Robbins. I heard them mention Napoleon Hill, Earl Nightingale, and Earl Shoaff, which led me to find them online.
They were all my professors at VU (Virtual University). I religiously watched the videos they posted on their social media platforms, and they taught me well. I consider them my mentors in the field of personal growth and development. Through them, I learned much about constructs related to self-improvement and Positive Psychology—goal-setting, planning, decision-making, time management, well-being, mindset, personal accountability, lifelong learning, good thinking, positive thinking, self-discipline, and more.
I consider them my mentors. They taught me valuable lessons I never learned in school. Thanks to them, I realized that in striving to be the best I can be, as my parents instructed, there are attitudes and beliefs I must pursue and possess, skills and abilities I must learn and acquire, and practices and activities I must carry out and perform. I realized how essential they are for achieving one’s full potential and becoming the best.
Seeing how personal growth and development have benefited me personally and professionally and recognizing that as a teacher, I can help my students and influence my loved ones and dear friends to experience the same, I have embraced self-improvement as an advocacy. I am committed to promoting it. There may be those my mentors from VU could not reach but whom I may be able to. I strive to do so in my humble ways.
To the best of my ability, I aim to plant seeds of motivation and inspiration in others, encouraging them to recognize their potential and embrace the transformative power of self-improvement. I believe that each interaction, no matter how small, has the potential to spark a profound change in someone’s life. Whether through teaching, writing, or engaging in meaningful conversations, I see every opportunity as a chance to leave a positive imprint on those I encounter.
In doing so, I am trying to carry forward the legacy of my mentors, whose wisdom and guidance have shaped my journey. Their influence reminds me that advocacy is not confined to grand gestures but is often reflected in our quiet, consistent efforts to uplift those around us.
My mission is to reach individuals who may feel unseen or undervalued, empowering them to believe in their capacity to grow and succeed.
In my classes, I actively seek opportunities to instill the value of striving to improve. I do the same in informal discussions with friends, loved ones, and sometimes strangers. Whenever I have the chance to discuss something related to self-improvement, I seize it without hesitation.
My approach is grounded in the belief that the desire to grow and evolve is universal, and all it often takes is a spark—a meaningful word, a shared experience, or a heartfelt conversation—to ignite that desire in someone.
It reminds me of how those simple compliments from a couple of teachers in high school inspired me to study harder.
I also write essays on personal growth and development, which I post on my websites and social media accounts. When I realized how much I had already written on the subject, the idea of writing a book on self-improvement emerged. I decided to compile and interconnect everything I had written about personal growth and development into a book.
My motivation for writing this book is clear: I want to offer a guide that could help readers like you achieve their full potential, be the best and strongest version of themselves, and attain fulfillment by achieving what they desire. When I began working on this book, I also had my students in mind. I hope they and other young people like them will read this book like you.
You have dreams and ambitions, but uncertainty can sometimes keep you stuck. You doubt your ability to achieve them. Sometimes, your challenges feel larger than life, your dreams out of reach, and self-doubt gets the best of you. However, I still believe that you have the power to become the highest version of yourself, manifest your dreams, and flourish into becoming the best you.
It is not luck or chance that gets you to the fulfillment of dreams and desires—it is learning the right strategies and applying the focus, determination, and passion you need to pursue your personal and professional endeavors. The future is yours to take.
This book is divided into three parts, each focusing on different aspects of self-improvement. In Part I, we will discuss beliefs and attitudes; in Part II, skills and abilities; and in Part III, practices and activities.
Henceforth, I will collectively refer to beliefs and attitudes as a value system, skills and abilities as a competence framework, and practices and activities as a habit scheme.
The world needs people willing to rise to their full potential, lead purposefully, and contribute to something greater. I believe you are one of those people.
As you read through the following pages, I hope you will find the encouragement, insight, and tools you need to take the next step in your journey. My goal is to inspire you to look at your personal and professional goals not as impossible dreams but as inevitable outcomes that await your dogged determination to succeed.
This book is both a reflection of my journey and an invitation to join me on the path to unlocking the greatness within you. I do not feel like I am already the best version of myself. Thus, my journey towards unlocking my full potential has not ended yet. If you have not started with yours, now is the time to begin.
Why A Daily Routine Matters
“Win the morning, and you win the day.”
~ Aries Spears ~
Whether you believe it or not, the things you habitually do or do not do every day, consciously or unconsciously, will determine how healthy, successful, and happy you will be. That’s how powerful routines and habits are. It would help if you were mindful of the activities you engage with every day. Reflect and ask the following questions: “Are there things you’re supposed to do but have not done?” and “Are there things you did that should not have?” This discourse deals with the distinctions between routine and habit and how adhering to a consistent routine and good habits can unlock your full potential.
~~~~~~~~~~
A person who consciously sets routines can be likened to a pigeon with a keen homing instinct that can navigate its way back home no matter how far away from its loft you release it. Conversely, anyone who does not have specific daily routines and does things on autopilot is like driftwood floating in a river. Without intention or direction, the driftwood is subject to the forces around it, carried by the current without control over where it goes or when it stops.
You may pause for a while and reflect. With which could you be likened – to a pigeon or driftwood? Do you have specific daily routines that you perform religiously or start and end a day singing to the tune of “Que sera, sera”?
The word “routine” describes activities regularly performed. Routines can be personal or work-related and are done at the day’s beginning, during, and end. A routine may include behavior as typical as “waking up at the same time every morning” or as important as “going to work as scheduled.”
It can be argued that something you do repeatedly every day eventually becomes a habit, and thus, it ceases to be part of your routine.
At this juncture, clarifying the difference between routine and habit is necessary. The two are related but distinct concepts. Eyal (2014) argued that people want to turn everything into a habit without understanding the fundamental difference between a habit and a routine. He explained that habit is the impulse to do a behavior with little or no conscious thought, while routine is a series of behaviors frequently repeated [intentionally].
Eyal pointed out that most things people want to turn into habits will never become habits. Some routines can eventually become habits, but not every routine can become a habit.
The things you do daily can be deliberately set as parts of your daily routine or are habits you perform on autopilot. Those activities you intentionally or unknowingly do can benefit or harm your well-being. The ones you do routinely (and not habitually) are the ones that will move your SH2W needle.
Duncan (2022) explained that a daily routine is simply a collection of habits you do daily. He added that you likely have a series of daily routines you aren’t fully aware of—for example, things you do automatically when getting ready in the morning, starting your workday, or winding down in the evenings. He argues that making activities intentional means shutting off autopilot and consciously creating daily habits that increase productivity and generate happiness. Making routine intentional is also eliminating the habits that stand in our way.
A habit is an automatic behavior triggered by specific cues and usually performed without much conscious thought. Milkman (2021) explains that habits are like shortcuts—they’re things we can do quickly and without thinking because we’ve done them so often that they’ve become automatic. Routine, on the other hand, refers to a sequence of actions regularly followed, usually intentionally designed for specific times of the day. Routines are typically more deliberate and involve conscious planning.
As Milkman pointed out, a cue or trigger is often needed to remind us to start our habitual actions. For example, if you habitually brush your teeth after meals, you’ll likely do so automatically after finishing a meal. By contrast, a routine behavior is not connected to a specific cue. Following a routine, like going to the gym for a workout, requires conscious and deliberate effort—even discipline.
Habits form automatically over time, whether beneficial or detrimental, shaping your behavior often without conscious thought. There are good and bad habits. You must strive to retain positive habits and break negative ones. Self-awareness and discipline are crucial in helping you reinforce beneficial habits while working to eliminate harmful ones.
In contrast, a routine is generally designed to be beneficial, as it involves intentional planning and structure. People rarely, if not never, schedule activities that harm their well-being. You can incorporate positive habits into your routines to form a framework of beneficial behaviors that support pursuing your goals and overall quality of life.
As articulated in this discourse, a daily routine is a set of specific activities (including positive habits) scheduled at certain times of the day and performed in pursuit of one’s goals.
Your routines embody your goals and plans and are fueled by your whys. The things you do every day are supposedly tied to the goals you have set. Every move you make during your waking hours should be part of the plan you established to pursue those goals.
Setting routines indicates that you are controlling your destiny, unwilling to be dictated by the currents of fate—floating without a purpose, at the mercy of circumstances like driftwood. Establishing a daily routine is an effective way of managing time. It ensures that you do your daily activities as scheduled.
Organizing your activities sets clear intentions and indicates your seriousness about pursuing your dreams and ambitions. It is a hallmark of being purpose-driven. When we begin a day, we cannot afford to stay adrift, moving from task to task without any true purpose.
Routines are indeed driven by a purpose. We include an activity in our daily activities for specific reasons. We also add to our daily routine habits that we deem beneficial, which would contribute to attaining our goals.
Routines are beneficial in many ways. Csikszentmihalyi (2008) states, “When you establish a routine, your body and mind start to adapt, making it easier to slip into a deeply focused state known as ‘flow.’ Establishing a routine creates familiar cues that signal your brain to prepare for deep focus, enabling you to immerse yourself completely in an activity. Over time, this consistency allows you to transition smoothly into productivity without forcing it.
Choosing and sticking to your daily activities shapes your mood, shaping who you are (Murray et al., 2020). The activities you select each day influence your mood by setting the tone for how you feel and approach the world. Consistently engaging in positive, purposeful actions can foster a stable, uplifting mood, gradually shaping your habits, attitudes, and identity.
Daily routines also help you take control of your day and, subsequently, your life. They allow you to start your day, make better decisions, sleep better, enjoy quality time with loved ones, and have more time for activities you love (“Why Routines Are Good,” n.d.).
Having a daily routine will help you improve your focus and productivity. A list of specific activities at specific times of the day will allow you to concentrate on doing things one at a time and deliver the best possible results. Knowing what should be accomplished eliminates unwanted stress. Neuroscientists claim that when you set to do something, you are preparing your subconscious mind for the job, and doing it will no longer cause you to feel stressed.
The success, happiness, health, and wealth you want to achieve will not emerge from a stroke of luck or just sporadic bursts of effort. They will result from intentional daily routines—those small, often unnoticed actions that accumulate and compound over time. Take the example of daily reading in your field of expertise; it’s like a drop of water on a rock. Ovid once said, “Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.” The benefits of consistent reading—or any other habit you cultivate and include as activities in your daily routine—are impossible to predict now, but over time, they add up in ways you might never have imagined. Your daily routine shapes your life’s course when repeated with discipline and purpose.
Daily routines are usually divided into three parts – activities we do in the morning before performing our chosen profession/vocation, during the time that we perform that profession/vocation, and in the evening when we return home and before sleeping.
People have different morning rituals. Jim Kwik (2020) recommends his ideal morning routine – recall your dreams, make the bed, drink water and take supplements, breathe, meditate, move [exercise], take a cold shower, nourish your brain, journal, create a to-do list, a to-be-list, and a to-feel list, read, make a brain smoothie, do brain training, and start with your most difficult and most important task.
Which ones of Jim Kwik’s recommendation are you actually doing?
Bokhari (n.d.) argued that a healthy morning routine has four core components: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. He considers those four as the sources of energy that each of us is born with. You must unleash your physical energy and activate your body to prime it for a successful day. Learning something new or doing at least one thing each morning is essential to sharpen your mind. He suggests addressing your emotional and social needs by checking in with yourself, connecting with people you care about, and unleashing your spiritual energy by doing something that allows you to reconnect to your purpose, faith, or WHY.
During the day, your work or business takes a considerable chunk of your daily routine. A daily work routine is a set of behaviors aimed at achieving and accomplishing tasks most efficiently when practiced daily. A pattern of habits, activities, and behaviors governs how an individual plans a task schedule and decides which task should be done at what time (“Five Steps in Daily Work Routine,” n.d.)
Experts recommend taking breaks during work hours to boost productivity, maintain high levels of focus, and prevent burnout. The “Pomodoro Technique” is an effective way of doing this. The technique requires work intervals (e.g., 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break).
The pursuit of your evening routine commences when you go home from work (or when you stop working). An ideal evening routine helps you wind down, reflect on the day, and prepare for the next one. The goal is to relax your body, declutter your mind, and prepare for a restful sleep.
Studies conducted on daily routine recommend the following to-do list for an evening routine: unplug and disconnect, reflect on the day and practice gratitude, plan and set intentions for tomorrow, engage in relaxing activities, practice personal hygiene and self-care, set up a sleep-friendly environment, and practice relaxation techniques or visualization.
Instead of spending long hours using gadgets, you might consider dedicating time to other activities, such as reading, journaling, or meditating.
A carefully planned daily routine is required to live a purposive life. It makes every action you take intentional and geared towards achieving your goals. Starting your day with morning rituals that will invigorate you the whole day ensures that you will work productively and get your desired results. Ending the days right is just as important. Thus, your evening rituals should not only be spent for further self-improvement but must allow you to recharge and get ready for the next day. Consciously choosing the activities for your daily routine is a manifestation of purposiveness. It indicates the desire not to live your life on autopilot. Establishing an organized set of activities is veering away from merely going through the motions of life.
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M.A.D. LIGAYA
M.A.D. L I G A Y A 