Thoughts on VII… Health, Results, Productivity, People

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Joonas

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Once every few months, I go through all my notes I’ve written down and do a roundup post of what has been going through my head. Thoughts and quotes from books and actions that I’ve found helpful. It gives me the opportunity to reflect back before starting taking notes again on a “clean slate”.

This installment is a bit more on the philosophical side of things which sounds about right considering my recent reading list, and interests. I apologize that I am unable to credit all the quotes to a certain person. Maybe I need to improve my note taking skills.

On Movement, Eating and Results

Have a daily 5 minute movement flow to go though all the movement patterns. Incorporate this into warm up.

Intensity has to match the work.

When you desire to eat something, learn to sit with the feeling for a while. What’s the feeling that you’re trying to fill?

I don’t care if you do it tomorrow or the day after. I care if you will be doing it in 20 years time.

Better health = better mood = better decisions. It’s a self-amplifying circle.

Having lifestyle, values and goals aligned = where magic happens.

I have found few things in life that are made better by adding Instant in front of the word. Instant coffee, instant oatmeal and instant results are all worth the time you put in. – Dan John

There is no trigger points without the nervous system. To release a trigger point –> attack the nervous system.

Tone is resting tension in the muscle.

Quantification offers the illusion of control. – Dr Will Davis

Self-discipline is patience. Patience is self-discipline.

If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started I was desperately wishing to be where I am now.” – Unknown

Become your own critical thinker, and allow ‘experts’ to guide you, but not to dictate. It would be wrong to say you are an experiment of one, because we (researchers) are not fumbling about blindly in a post-modern world where everyone obeys their own laws. But you must respect science and Bannister’s complexity, and seek to find your own individual optimal plan. – ?

On Getting Shit Done

Do more with less. – Unknown

Stop using Facebook. More realistic: don’t check Facebook or Twitter before 3pm. And, as I am doing already, never on Sundays. Adjust the habit loop.

How to read more books: read in-depth books in the mornings or when fully focused. When the focus fades in the afternoons and evenings have a lighter book that requires less thinking, such as a biography or fiction. When you would normally open Facebook, email or Twitter, open the lighter book instead.

Write down 5-10 ideas every day. Even if utopistic or downright bizarre.

Sometimes you have to bring your passion to a job that you are not passionate about.

Weekly planning of four different sections: Business, Self-care, Awesome stuff, Personal errands.

Walking work. Go for a 20 minute walk with an idea in mind and spend the whole time fully immersed working in the idea in your head. As in meditation, if your mind wonders bring it back to the idea.

The next time you find yourself daydreaming, tell yourself it’s okay, but don’t leave the room or turn on any media or start new work such answering an e-mail. Just sit with your drifting thoughts. When your mind wanders, follow; don’t lead. Examples: appreciate a piece of art or music, clean the desk.

Write about the issues that are important to me.

Focus on what’s important and zoom in instead diluting your impact. Every 30 minutes ask yourself, “what is important?” Finish each day by asking “what’s the most important thing?” (Can, and should be used in personal life as well)

If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been. – Robert Schuller

While we are postponing, life speeds by. – Seneca

Where can I go swap boards to see the lines of water differently?

What can you bring to the table that no one else can?

Express yourself more in everything you do.

On People

Make a connection with what touches the heart instead of the head.

Everyone has a story, and good stories always involve some imbalance. – Thomas Mayers

Would you follow you?

Never waste a minute thinking about people you don’t like. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

In an argument try to reach a point of understanding instead of victory.

When facing physical confrontation ask, “If I back off and get my ego hit, is any of this going to matter in three days?” 99 out of 100 the answer is a resounding no.

Invest in your value to others. – The Last Safe Investment

A smile makes a difference. Compare the smiling bus driver in the morning to the usual grumpy ones.

Find the balance between exploring what is exciting and knowing to slow down when you’ve found something worth sticking around for.” – Sebastian Junger

99.9% of success is listening. You can make the biggest impact with the lightest touch.

Don’t praise the outcome praise action (with kids too!) Ask, “How can we practice this to get better?”

A day without laughter is a day wasted. – Charlie Chaplin

On The Mind

What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly. –  Lao Tzu

The biggest thing you are gaining now is awareness.

Every bit of criticism has a touch of truth in it. – Jocko Willink

Why  first. Then what.

Emotions don’t cause problems. The way that they are dealt with does.

Learn to hold a paradox.

Create space for deloading. At least once a week do something with no agenda. Sit, think, have a coffee.

Notes I took while reading Mindfulness in Plain English:

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