Over the last week, I've had the opportunity to be with myself for most of the day. When the break first started, I couldn't figure out what to do with myself, and threw myself into my coaching side gig--to a point that I became stressed over the weirdest stuff. Then a care package came in the mail in the middle of the week containing a lovely card, some products, a pack of hilighters, and a book entitled The Slight Edge. When I first saw the book, I was definitely excited but a little intimidated. It was thick and looked like an "adult book." The chapters seemed fairly long, the topic complex, and it looked like a book for a business person, not for me. A 22 (almost 23) year-old, working at an almost minimum-wage job, trying to figure out what they wanted to do, and in no way "successful" or the owner of a business. It was, in fact, for the business person, for myself, and for anyone else who wants to pick it up.
I don't know about you, but I've definitely succumbed to the "fast-track" mindset that our society has given into. I expect my Amazon packages to get to me immediately after I order them, I'm always wishing I had something more than I have in front of me, and I get frustrated when I don't see results fast enough. On top of that, I give into negativity easily, see the glass half-empty most of the time, expect a negative outcome for the efforts of my day (so that I'm pleasantly surprised when there's a positive one), and tend to blame others when I end up having a bad attitude or a bad day...it's really not healthy. Whenever I pick up a self-help book, go on a retreat, or start a new program, I'm empowered and invigorated for about 1-2 weeks. I want to do better, be better, and implement everything that I've learned--quickly and ferociously. That's not what this book is about. The Slight Edge is about taking it slowly and putting effort into the little daily activities we engage in. It's the complete opposite strategy I find myself and so many other people in this world trying to implement. When I first opened it, I was alone for most of the day, and had the opportunity to implement these strategies one step at a time. My time with other people besides my loving fiancé has been limited this week, so I really got to work on myself first, then branch out to my relationship with Dylan, then to a couple of friends and people at the grocery store, then next week I get to take it out into my place of work. Over the course of the last week or so, I've gone from going 100mph to going 50 to going 30. I still have my ambitions and my goals, but the expectation that I'll be ready instantly and should receive the fruits of my labor now has subsided. I've implemented small daily practices that are sustainable and that I intend to make habits (here's what they look like): Morning: Read 1-2 chapters of The Slight Edge with my coffee. Reflect on what I've learned and proceed to journal for a few minutes. Write down 3 things I'm grateful for while journaling. Watch some YouTube and hang out with Dylan for a while. Eat something healthy and tasty because my body deserves it. Look at all of the positive things about my day. Afternoon: Do some work for an hour or so. Reach out to at least 5 people and make positive connections. Encourage others. Eat something healthy and tasty because my body deserves it. Chat with Dylan, maybe hang out with a friend. Look at the positive things about my day. Late Afternoon: Go to the gym, work out for 40 minutes (because my body deserves it). Study for personal training exam for an hour or so (April 6, here we come!). Eat something healthy and tasty because my body deserves it. Spend ample time with Dylan away from technology, maybe hang out with a friend. Look at the positive things about my day. All of these efforts have decreased my stress. I'm still working toward my goals, fueling myself, spending time with myself, and focusing on building a healthy relationship with my partner and my social circle, but I'm not doing it at lightning speed and hoping to get immediate results. Those 40 minutes at the gym (5 days a week) result in 200 extra active minutes per week. By the end of the week, I've spent 7 *productive* hours studying for my exam (30+ by the end of the month), have connected with at least 35 new people in some way, and have been a positive light even if it has been dark and gloomy. Next week I get the added opportunity to take my positive efforts out into my place of work. While this is going to be different, it is possible to keep these small habits going. At the end of the day, it's your choice to lean into the negative or positive. It's your choice to stick with your healthy habits or to give them up. But if you think about going negative in any aspect (food, work, attitude, relationships, etc.), think about this: will it make you better off? Will it make your day easier? I hope that you're able to pick up this book if you haven't--no matter how young or old you are. Here's a link to make it easy :) Have a happy, healthy, and positive week! ~E
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