Ripples #952: Make Your Bed!
Aug 21, 2017
PEBBLE
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must, but take a step. -Naeem Callaway
BOULDER
Sitting up is better than laying down.
Standing is better than sitting.
Walking is better than standing;
Running is my therapy!
This is literally the mental game I play whenever I want to make time for stress relief in my busy life: ANYTHING is better than NOTHING!
-Tracy Gillson
written and shared by Tracy in Santa Clara, CA
PONDER
During a recent chat with my friend and colleague, Toby, we discussed the concept of “key habits” that set you up for a successful day. For example, I’ve known for years that one of the most important things I can do in the morning to ensure a successful day is to MAKE MY BED. It gives me an immediate sense of accomplishment, it contributes a sense of order and calm that I can sense each time I enter my bedroom throughout the day; finally, and perhaps most importantly, it virtually guarantees I won’t be tempted to crawl back into bed and further delay the start of my day.
My plan to share this concept in this week’s Ripples was serendipitously confirmed when I saw an inspiring video that several friends had posted on social media over the past few days. It’s a clip from a commencement address given by U.S. Navy Admiral’s William H. McRaven to the Class of 2014 at University of Texas-Austin. It starts with this line, “If you want to change the world, start off my making your bed.” Nothing like finding a Navy Admiral to back up my strategy!
[The six minute clip is here; you can also watch the entire 19 minute speech here.]
I dare you to make time to ponder your current routines and habits to see if you can identify a simple chore or task that would set you up for a more successful day. If you find one, the follow up dare is to commit yourself to doing that task every single morning for 90 days (or a month or even a week if 90 days seems like too long). If you find that task does indeed ensure a more successful start to the day, you’ll already be well on your way to making it a more engrained habit. If it turns out to be not as useful as you thought it would, set that one aside and then try using a different small task as your day-starter. Try it, and let me know how it goes!
Peace,
Paul
The Ripples Guy
