Firstly last week was a bank holiday and I had my in-laws in town. So I just sacked off writing something.
It’s the last day of May and summer is doing it’s best to become a thing in the UK. As my mind turns to holidays and longer evenings I also thought about how some of us started off so well intentioned back in the dark days of January. Maybe it was having a dry Jan or a new health kick or something else. Maybe it’s stuck and maybe it hasn’t.
I was listening to the Wisdom from the top podcast with Guy Raz this morning and his guest was Dr. BJ Fogg. Fogg is the author of the book ‘Tiny Habits’ and founder of Stanford's Behavior Design Lab.
As I listened I was reminded of a list that the Guardian publish in January each year ‘100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying’
So in that spirit here are 20 small ways you might slightly improve the next 214 days of the year.
Curate you calendar
You don’t want a zebra stripes calendar. If you have several 1:1s, have these all on the same day so you can do your prep work ahead of all of them. Can you trim time from meetings to give yourself some more room? Or just stop attending meetings where you don’t think you’re adding value.If you can reply then do
If you see an email come in and you have the time to respond, just do it, if you don’t you’ll either forget or replying will come at a less opportune moment.Have a good old clear out
Not a euphemism for something else! But channeling your inner Marie Kondo. Clear out that drawers or cupboards that are full of potentially working batteries, mini hotel soaps, random usb wires or the instruction manuals for the blender that broke 18 months agoEisenhower Matrix for Prioritisation
I forget who showed me this but going through your work and evaluating how much time you spend in each quadrant. Try and spend more time in the important and not urgent box.A month long streak
Want to get better at something? Try doing it every day for a month, be consistent and show up - tell people about it and be held accountable72hr pause
Before any decent sized purchase wait for 72 hrs and see how you feel about it afterwards. Avoid the TKMaxx effect!Get multiples
But if you find an item of clothing you really like and find yourself always wearing it, by multiple. If they stop making it you’ll kick yourselfSay Good morning (and mean it!)
Everyday. Say it to your partner or kids. Start your team meetings with it (and ask how their evening or weekend was.) Or say it to a stranger on the street.Don’t run for public transport & Always take the stairs
Always be willing to miss the next train or bus, it’s not worth getting on it sweaty or stressing about it in the grand scheme of things. And the stairs are often quicker than waiting for the lift…Arrive Early
Getting to a meeting, a gym class or catchup with friends will be much more enjoyable if you’re not power walking your way there or thinking of creative excuses to message the group.Wear one pair of socks
Find a pair of socks you like and buy them in multiples, you never have to worry about pairing or missing socks again. I DO NOT MEAN ONLY OWN ONE SINGLE PAIR OF SOCKS. That would be gross.Smart Grocery Shopping
Take your own bags and scan your shopping as you go - bonus if you have kids it’s like a low rent laser quest. Plus it’s much quicker and more enjoyableDon’t bother arguing (life’s too short)
People can spend so much time and brain power on arguing points with friends, family, colleagues or random strangers on the internet. In the end it doesn’t really matter, focus that time on the things that do.Show of Appreciation
Tell people in your life something you appreciate about them often. A small gesture that builds a strong bond.Automate Finances
Setup direct debits and automate finances as much as possible. You have enough going on in your life. Your brainpower and mental load has more important things to concern itself withSay No… or Yes
If you're tempted to say yes because you think you'll have more time later, just say no. Future you will thank you. If you actually want the thing someone is offering but are being too polite. Think again. Have the last slice of cake!Be OoO
Holidays are round the corner (Finally!) delete Slack and sign out of your work email. You’ve worked hard to be on that holiday so enjoy it. If the work isn’t getting done without you, there’s a bigger problemA home for you Keys and wallet
Get a nice container and find somewhere convenient to keep your keys and wallet and put it in the same place all the time.Walk or cycle
If you’re going less than a mile or Google maps says public transport is the same as walking. Then walk or cycle. Half of car journeys are under two miles, yet these create more pollutionVoice Notes and Videos
Send a voice note or a video instead of a text or meeting. They are more fun to receive, more convenient and creates something to refer back to