For the past two years I’ve been using a habit tracker. It consists of 20 individual items rated at half a point each to achieve a utopian maximum score of 10. To start with, I was very very strict with it and really paid close attention to getting as high a score as possible.
Why? Well, I found this system I created, really worked well for me. Almost like an in-built form of accountability. But two things happened – I started to slack on it a bit and some of it became slightly irrelevant. Makes it all sound point LESS – right? No! In fact, the opposite is true. The reason for my slacking was simply because the items on that list – for example ‘Stretching’ (10 mins of it every morning before breakfast became a wired-in habit that I now just DO. Whilst other stuff like – Meditate, I was hardly ever ticking off because its not really for me. And so this list has evolved and become more pinpointed onto more precise traits and habits I’d like to implement daily instead of some wifty-wafty non specific items.
One of the more recent additions is this – No Screens for 120 mins. That’s no laptop or phone or any device. For a solid 2 hours straight. Not ten minutes here. 15 there, Two hours – clarity time. Note that I didn’t mention TV there. I don’t watch TV. Havent done so in eight years now
Today was a day of feeling a little under the weather. No surprise really after two trips to North America in the last 4 weeks and then a weekend of three pizzas events and a park run all out in cold, stormy weather. Think its all just hit me. But – Tuesday is Fell Walk Tuesday. I just couldn’t face a big walk today. Instead I decided to head to Penrith for shopping but get my ‘fix’ by taking a walk up the wooded track that leads to the top of Beacon Hill. At the summit stands an 18th century, sandstone tower which overlooks the town below. With the phone left at home. I perked up as soon as I set off on my short walk. I was gifted with clear, blue skies, no wind and it was an utter joy to be outside. Far cry from the windy deluge of Saturday and Sunday.
Wherever I go, phone or no phone, its rare that I don’t take a small Field Notes notebook and pen with me. For the past few years, I’ve had a very nerdy, almost unhealthy obsession with these little notebooks. Friends have mocked and laughed at me. That is, until I show them my current edition I’m using, as FN produce all manner of fancy designs and quirky little features. Nerd. Heaven! Then I offer them a book and its often snatched out of my paws with great satisfaction. Ha! Who’s the nerd NOW?
Anyways, its these walks in nature, the still, the quiet. With no interuptions, no people and absolutely NO bloody phones or screens, that unlock something pretty special.
Your Brain.
Yes – by moving away from all the noise and distractions, even for just 30 mins, the creative right side of your brain, runs riot. All the ideas and thoughts just pour out of you. Taking a notebook with you, means you can scribble down every inspirational thought and idea that comes up before its lost and gone – usually forever. OK – we’ll not talk about a few days later when you look at these same, said notes and you can not, for the life of you, fathom out what the hell they MEAN!!! Plus there’s all the other things you suddenly remember – birthdays, that person you forgot to get back to, and other little to-do items etc
Today was one of those days. Not only did I come up with ideas for my ‘Make 2025 Your Best Year Ever’ Call Im hosting on Tues 17th December. But I also came up with a little 3 point system for how to approach your goals. Something I’ve never seen used by anyone else before. I’m going to call it the ‘Triple A’ method.
But in order to find out more, then you’ll have to tune in to next weeks free Zoom call. But more on that later
Go try it for yourself. Get outside, either a walk along the beach, the local park or if you’re lucky enough to live in the countryside – get out there! No phones. Thats critical. Just you, your thoughts and a notebook – tell us what thoughts and ideas you come up with, in the comments below.
And if you’re interested in next weeks call – drop me a line at hello@12minutesdaily.com
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