An alternative to a New Year’s resolution?
Collect data to begin the journey of increased self-awareness.
I want to share a quick thought with you as we wrap up 2018. There is likely a temptation to make a resolution to change a behavior in 2019. But I invite you to try something different instead. Collect some data.
I tried all sorts of new things in 2018, and one of the most impactful was journaling. I’d read about the importance of reflection and journaling, but quite honestly, I didn’t know where to start among the many kinds of journaling and different types of journals. Gratitude journals, productivity journals, activity journals, bullet journals, etc. Sometimes the challenge isn’t how to journal, but where to journal. On your phone? In a guided journal? Or in a beautiful hardcover book with a great new pen?
If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend 2 questions. In the morning, list 3-4 answers to this question: What will make today a great day?
You can use your phone, an old notebook, a spreadsheet, whatever. Just start listing those items each morning. Set a goal to do this for a finite amount of time, like 30 days.
And then, at the end of each day, list 3-4 answers to this question: What made today great?
Again, keep it simple. A word or a short sentence is all you need.
Then, at the end of that 30-day timeframe, review your list. Are there any patterns to your data? Is anything repeated multiple times?
When I looked back at my data, I noticed that each of my “great” days always contained the following:
- Gratitude
- Laughter
- Productivity
- Connections
Regardless of the events that were going on or planned, when the day contained those elements, it was a great day. Knowing this, I’m intentional about making these a part of my day, every single day.
You don’t have to wait until January 1 to collect data!
What makes a day great for you?
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