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Checklist for A Perfect Day

How does one start a good habit?  Particularly the habit of having a perfect day?

I admit that a checklist for anything, particularly a perfect day, might sound too unspontaneous to be a spiritual undertaking.

But to accomplish anything, we have to be intentional, and really work at it.  And work takes time without interruptions, which means being organized.  And checklists help with that!

This is my checklist for a perfect day [work day; days off are not so scheduled].  I am a person who finds routine productive and comforting.  If you are, too, you may find this checklist helpful.  By doing them in order, it guarantees they get done.

Change it to accommodate your lifestyle.

A tip:

If you have a commute to work, put commute time on your schedule.  And I highly recommend doing something peaceful or productive during that commute.  Listen to a motivating CD, do breathing exercises, or, if you’re a passenger, meditate.  Commute time doesn’t have to be wasted time.

The Perfect Day Checklist

Wake up with a smile 15 minutes earlier than usual.

Before getting out of bed, think of at least one thing you’re grateful for

Before getting out of bed, do some stretching exercises

Actually get out of bed 15 minutes before you usually do.  [I have a strong tendency to want to lie there].

Go to the bathroom

Clean the litter box or let the dog out.

Have a drink of warm water with lemon.  It aids in digestion and cleanses the liver.

Sit down at your altar for spiritual practice:

Prayer

Breathing exercises

Meditation

Do more stretching exercises while you listen to an informative/inspiring talk on www.TED.com or YouTube [Tony Robbins and Abraham are favorites of mine]

Exercise for at least 60 minutes

Feed pets

Have a nutritious breakfast

Shower and dress

Write for an hour

Check email

Have a cup of green tea and/or a piece of fruit

Work

Have a nutritious lunch

Check email

Work

Piece of fruit

Work

At the end of the work period create a to do list for tomorrow.

Perhaps a nap

6 pm:  check email for the last time

Have a nutritious dinner

Relax for the evening by either watching favorite TV shows only [no channel surfing] or read a book or play games with friends or _____________.

Go to bed [same time every night]

Before falling asleep, express five things I’m grateful for this day.

Please note I only check email three times during the day. Don’t let email interrupt you. You’re in charge of your time: check email, Facebook, etc at your convenience, not at the convenience of others.

A lot of TV time and facebook/email time is wasted time.  Schedule it.  I have a few TV shows I like to watch and I plan my week around watching them.  If there’s nothing on, don’t channel surf.  Use the time doing something you love!

Life’s too short to waste on mindless activity.

I’ve provided a model of what I consider a productive day; change it to whatever is appropriate for your situation.

I highly recommend doing whatever it takes to exercise, work without interruption and eat well.  You’ll be the better for it.

The truth is, I don’t put all these things on a list anymore, because I’ve been doing them so long they’ve become habits.  Which is the whole point.

Now you may wonder why a blog on ancient Wisdom is talking about lists.  Did the Ancients make lists?  Probably not.  But neither did they have all the distractions that surround us.  And their survival depended upon being disciplined and productive each day.

Remember: sow a habit …. reap a destiny!

 

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