#22: Diet & Gym - The routine that overhauled my mindset
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23 June 2017
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Diet & Gym - The routine that overhauled my mindset
They say we have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé, Bill Gates and Ronaldo. However, these three insanely successful megastars owe it all to their incredible work ethic, dedication and motivation. I can’t promise you will become super rich and famous, but these top tips might just give you that extra grit to get more done.
5. Plan ahead
We all live on our smartphones so currently we have no excuse to be late and forgetful. We all have an email address and of which the clear majority come accompanied by a calendar service (Outlook, Hotmail, MSN, Gmail etc.) This calendar service can be easily synced to your mobile devices, laptops and tablets no matter where you are. I currently use outlook and have my personal calendar, professional calendar, and my two work calendars all synced to my devices using the iCloud plugin for outlook desktop.
This allows me to see at a glance my appointments, whether it be doctors or dentists. My gym routine, so which sessions are to be done on which days. My meetings and appointments at work, whether it be a new client meeting or just a follow up phone call for a sale. The most important factor with synced calendars is the reminder function. The reminder function sends a push notification to your device prompting you when you are due to commence a task. This personally helps my time management and thus has kept me on top of all my ‘adult’ responsibilities (Zzzz…). Click here to see my tutorial and how to set up and get the most out of Outlook, tasks, reminders and calendars.
4. Go to bed earlier!
If it’s after 22:30 and you’re still reading this, GET TO BED. What are you an owl!? Kidding…maybe. Being able to sleep earlier and wake up earlier gives you more time to get your mind and body into the right state to prepare for the day ahead. If you often sleep late, wake up late and end up at work late with your tie half done, breakfast missed, and your dad’s Y fronts on… you need to stop. It looks bad on you. There aren’t no two ways about it, you are perceived unreliable, unprepared and subconsciously, the chances of being overlooked for added responsibility are increased dramatically. “I don’t want added responsibility” you might ask, then you are either in the wrong job or you hate being paid more which in turn makes you weird, weirdo.
One of the latest features on the iPhone is the bedtime app. It allows you to plan how much sleep you need to wake up at a specific time. I set my alarm for 22:30 which allows me to rise and 06:30 and get a solid 8-hour sleep. I can then get dressed in my gym gear and take my bag and work clothes which I had prepared the night before and go straight to the gym to kick-start my mind and body. When I get to work I’ve already set in motion a chain of productivity whilst all your colleagues are still slumping and pulling themselves around. It’s a fantastic yet simple way to position yourself as a highly-valued member of staff.
3. Eat more healthily
This may sound crazy but a 20 McChicken nugget share box or a large meat feast Dominos aren’t good for you (Abuse and foul language are encouraged in the comments section below.) That feeling you get on your stomach after eating fast food can be described as a lead weight both metaphorically and physically. How are you meant to get up and be proactive and productive if the food baby in your belly is telling you it’s time for a lie down and Netflix. Going back to point 5, if you plan some time to go out and food shop on a Sunday afternoon, and then prepare some freshly cooked meals for the week ahead, you will not only improve your health, but you will save money and feel so much better in your mind. So, it’s a buy one get one free really.
Who doesn’t want to save money and feel better about themselves both physically and mentally? When you’ve cooked off five batches just simply pop them in the fridge along with portions of fruit and when you get up bright and early all refreshed on Monday morning, pack your bag and put Monday in a headlock. SMASH.
2. Distance yourself from Social Media
I can’t stress this point enough. Our generation spends more time complaining about what they don’t have on social media than the time they commit doing anything about getting what they don’t have. Obsessing or complaining about what somebody else has won’t make it any easier for you to get it. Please, please, please remember that Social media is a fabrication of what others want you to think their life is about and don’t ever compare yourself to it.
The time you spend on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram over the course of a month could easily convert into the reading of many inspirational books, the writing of a business plan for a venture you’ve always wanted to start, creation of a blog on a topic you are passionate about and even spending more time with people you shouldn’t take for granted. Please learn, and learn quick, that you don’t need validation from strangers and that your life is yours to pursue whatever you want.
1. Stop the “I’m only having a few”
Alcohol in my opinion has got to be the most productivity destroying activity there is. Not only does it redirect your time from building towards your goals, it completely puts you out of action for the next day AT LEAST. It drains your hard-earned cash and if you consume excessively it can really f*ck your body up. There is a fine line between enjoying your youth and destroying your future. The hangover can also negatively affect tip number 2, 3, 4 and 5 resulting in alcohol taking the crown for top tip.
I have been alcohol free for over three months now and I’ve never looked back. I no longer fear missing out. I am saving money which I plan to invest in ideas and ventures I have always wanted to pursue, one being the blog you are reading this very second and I also manage to keep to my healthy diet whilst regularly attending the gym. A lot of people are very good at justifying their dreams but it takes a lot to make the sacrifices required to go out and try and make them happen. Having the will power to cut out alcohol is a massive turning point in your life and will kick-start your motivation to achieve.
Signing off…
I hope you found these quick tips useful. Please do share your views both positive and negative as there is never a right or wrong way to live your life which I completely understand. I can only vouch and state that these tips have helped me massively in fast tracking me towards my aims. A quick share of this article would also be hugely appreciated.
Jason West
A Modern Professional
A Modern Professional
