Win your mind, win your day
18 daily habits to help manage your mind
The thing with your mind is this: it’s not really you, and you’re not really it…
The mind, as many will experience on an on-going basis, has a ‘mind’ of it’s own. As much as we might think we’re in control of our thoughts, we don’t really have any say about what pop’s into our head in any given moment. And if you’re anything like me, most of that stuff is negative (up to 80% of our thoughts are, according to the National Science Foundation).
No, we can’t ‘control’ our mind.
But we can manage it.
And so much of what we do to ‘manage’ our minds comes down to daily habits; little interventions inside our control that individually, and especially collectively, help us cultivate thoughts, emotions and mindsets that help us ‘win the mind’.
Over time I’ve worked out what these interventions are for me. Through experimentation and trial/error I’ve curated a list of practical, simple activities that, when applied, serve my wellbeing - physical, mental, spiritual - extremely effectively. I called this list ‘Win the Day’ and I keep it handy on my phone. Here’s what it looks like:
Physical wins (managing the body)
cold water exposure
drink 2l of water
engage in a ‘wellness’ activity
enjoy a nutritious meal
prioritise quality sleep
movement (run/walk/cycle)
yoga practice
Mental wins (managing the mind)
get out of your comfort zone
early rising by 05:00
read for 20 minutes
social media blackout
sow the seeds of tomorrow
today’s most important task
Spiritual wins (managing the soul)
connect with your people
connect with your places
meditate for 20 minutes
spend time with nature
write/say something meaningful
Each and every one of these activities is beneficial in the moment and thereafter. But it’s the compound effect of doing them consistently that makes the real, noticeable difference to our overall sense of wellbeing.
In the spirit of full transparency, I almost never complete this list every day. And some, like the 5 a.m. one, remain aspirational to say the least. But that’s not the point. Taking a look first thing in the morning and chalking-off whatever I’ve achieved throughout the day gives a very meaningful sense of accomplishment. And, despite what I said earlier, a strong sense of control.
This sense of control - or agency - is the kicker here, agency being one of the most important factors in maintaining our wellbeing and managing our minds. Without agency we feel at the mercy of the world around us. With it, we shape the world around us.
As the MYM Journal matures I’ll go into more depth across each area, talk about the intentional use of language, and give guidance on how to build your own list (subscriber only).
Until then, subscribe if you can, share this with anyone you think might benefit, and always feel welcome to drop me a line with any thoughts, questions or suggestions of your own.
You’re always welcome here.
JR