The past couple of days were rather successful in terms of improving my efficiency. I implemented the little tweak in my phone settings to reduce my time on it in the morning, and as expected, everything else was more efficient rolling downhill. A good start to the day can truly foster a much better rest of the day!
There are a couple of days' worth of checklists this time, so let's go through them...
Monday's checklist:
- Stay on my phone for <1 hour
- Exercise ✓
- Stretch ✓
- Meditate ✓
- Walk outside
- Draw
- Get off the internet by 8:00 p.m. ✓
- Go to sleep by 1:00 a.m.
- Watch a TV show or movie with my family ✓
This was the day that I decided to change my phone habits, so naturally I had not yet implemented the solution. It also ended up being sort of late to go outside, so that didn't happen. It also ended up being sort of late to draw, but I instead read an art history book - so that was absolutely fine! I ended up going to bed at around 1:30 a.m. instead of 1 a.m., so that was a bit off. However, it took me a while to fall asleep.
On to Tuesday, which was probably my most successful day...
- Stay on my phone for <1 hour ✓
- Appointment ✓
- Exercise ✓
- Stretch ✓
- Meditate ✓
- Walk outside ✓
- Draw or read an art history book ✓
- Get off the internet by 8:00 p.m. ✓
- Go to sleep by 1:00 a.m.
- Watch a TV show or movie with my family ✓
Yesterday I only spent 30 minutes on my phone (except using a subway map to get to my appointment). This is probably the least time I've spent on my phone in months! Now this is progress.
Thus, I was able to have a very productive morning - even solving an issue over the phone prior to my appointment. Alas, I spent a bit long on the phone and got to my appointment a bit late. Life happens... I'll do better in the future.
Subsequently, as I went to the appointment with a family member, we went to some stores that she wanted to go to and walked outside for a little while. It was calming, and it made her happy. She was not happy that I decided against having an unhealthy lunch, but I have no regrets there lol!
I meditated, stretched, and exercised, watched a movie with my family member, and went to bed a bit late - around 1:30 a.m. However, I fell asleep rather quickly and thus was wider awake the following morning (well, this morning) at 9 a.m. than I have been in a while.
Now, I wasn't quite as efficient today, but that's ok. I'm gradually accepting that I don't have to be a machine all the time. So, let's see what checklist I have cooked up for today:
- Stay on my phone for <1 hour
- Stretch
- Meditate
- Walk outside or search for new glasses
- Draw or read an art history book
- Get off the internet by 4:00 p.m.
- Go to sleep by 1:00 a.m.
- Watch a TV show or movie with my family
A reasonable list, and this time I'm giving the option to search for new glasses or walk outside, as it might be getting a little bit late for the former today. As long as I step foot outside, it's a success. I'm already doing great with the phone time, so that's a win.
A small aside: I did wake up this morning feeling very lonely, which was not great. I ended up lying in bed for a while contemplating the loneliness, just wondering whether anybody would truly miss me if I were to disappear from existence at that very instant. Certainly my closest family members would notice and miss me dearly - and that is something for which I am very grateful.
However, it was once again a reminder that outside of my immediate family, it would be unlikely that anybody would even notice my absence for a truly extended period of time.
Quite saddening, but also a source of fuel for to keep improving myself so that I can make a bigger impact in life. Everyone wants to matter. How will we accomplish this?