[The Sunday Spark] 🎂 20 Rules from 40 Years!

The Sunday Spark!

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Dear friends,

Yesterday, I celebrated my 40th birthday 🥳, a truly special milestone! I wore the tiara you see below all day long (right after opening the order that arrived just in time!). I definitely plan to keep the celebrations going.

As a gift to you, I’m sharing something close to my heart: my manifesto. You know I’ve been obsessed with them lately. A manifesto is a set of life rules. I’ve written more than what I’m sharing today, but some are still simmering.

So, in no particular order… 🥁🥁🥁

Here are 20 rules from 40 years ✨

Fix the Friction: Solve whatever gets in the way of your habits and goals. Always ask what’s making the habit hard or unenjoyable and solve that problem. Buying extras of mobile chargers is an example, leave one at home and one at the office.
Set the ideal morning and evening routines then decide the minimum: The minimum version is your non-negotiable habit for busy exhausting days, commit to that and anything else is an extra win.
Track what’s important: If you say it’s important show me your habit trackers, Habit trackers remind you and keep you in check. If you are not doing your habits, go to point 1.
Always ask: What is this season about? Give that your energy, time and attention.
A thoughtful planning session for the season ahead will set you up for remarkable success
Your phone is your camera; that’s why it’s on you most of the time, not to check it. Leave it behind whenever you can.
Taking a walk is often the answer to many questions and the solvent of inner storms.
Unwritten goals = Undone goals. Write them, post them everywhere, and engage with them at least once a week.
Be like Hansel & Gretel. Leave yourself lots of breadcrumb trails when you leave an excel sheet, when you leave work, when you leave for vacation, even if it’s just the weekend, and whenever you leave a season.
Decluttering your home is a lifetime habit, not a once-a-year project. As long as you are alive you will keep bringing things into your home, so why would you assume you’d be done decluttering someday?
Self-care is not a mani-pedi appointment, it’s asking for help, it’s saying no, it’s creating a buffer in your schedule to reflect and plan, it’s having a moment to just stare out of the window and have your coffee hot.
Invest in tools that will make your work easier. Buying that LCD screen that can make your work experience more pleasant is an example. Visual timers are my best productivity hack. Noise-canceling headphones are my companions. Social media blocking apps are God-sent.
Weekly Reviews hold the fort of your life down. Always look back to learn and reflect. Always look ahead and remember your calendar is your friend. Ask, as Jon Acuff taught, what’s happening in 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months?
When stuck on a goal, recruit outside help like a WhatsApp group, a friend, or manufacture a deadline with your boss to get going.
Relationships take work. They will not magically work because you are blood-related, contract-related, or school-related. If you care about a relationship, show it in your actions. Call, text, and get together. Every time you meet, set the time for the next meeting.
Having a budget does not mean deprivation. Knowing what you’re spending on clarifies your priorities and adjusts your behavior. Track your expenses as a habit and have planning sessions every quarter or so. Apps are great, but good old Google Sheets or Excel work wonders. Find the way you are most comfortable to use.
Don't let online orders ruin your plans; order early. All it takes is a session in front of your laptop or with your phone. What would your personal assistant do? Do it for yourself!
If you look good, you will feel good. Protect those beauty appointments; every time you leave your nail salon, book the next appointment. Changing an appointment is easier than booking an appointment. Enjoy these outings by bringing your favorite book and grabbing your favorite coffee on the way.
How you look at home matters. Even if you're staying home alone all day, take the time to put on some makeup for yourself and dress up to smile when you catch your reflection in the mirror. If spontaneous outings arise, you will be more inclined to say yes.
Deciding what to wear the day before will help you look smarter by allowing time to match new items and select the right accessories, such as the perfect earrings or scarf. Choosing your outfit the same day means you will pick what’s right in front of you; probably the outfit you wore last week.

What are your life rules?

Please reply to me here or on Instagram: What was most helpful to you today?

Let's inspire each other!

P.S. Let’s chat if you are considering hiring me to guide you towards your goals and positive habits in 1-1 sessions (July is booked! limited spots available for the month of August) or talk to your team about the science of goal setting, building habits, mastering focus to improve performance and time management, or beating burnout. Reply to this email, and we can start from there.

Snapshot from my week: I'm fooooorty!

Here is your weekly dose of The Sunday Spark ⚡️a newsletter listing 3 sparks that I thought were worth starting your week with. It's the quotes edition; 3 quotes from 3 books I read and loved. Notice a certain theme? hahaha

1. 🎂 "What if each day felt like a gift and each year progressively got better? If you’re in your twenties, what if that could be your favorite decade, followed by your thirties, which was even more fun, and then your forties, which somehow managed to top those two? That would be the best."

— Jon Acuff, All It Takes Is a Goal

2. 🥳 "The people I admire most are people who take celebration and memory making seriously. At my best, that’s who I am: a moment maker, a noticer, a person who celebrates the tiny goodnesses of our lives."

— Shauna Niequist, I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet

3. 🎉 "When you skip asking yourself what the purpose of your birthday party is in this specific year, for where you are at this present moment in your life, for example, you forsake an opportunity for your gathering to be a source of growth, support, guidance, and inspiration tailored to the time in which you and others find yourselves. You squander a chance for your gathering to help, and not just amuse, you and others."

— Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering

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