Getting momentum, tools for contentment

After a week or two of looking at list after list, I've finally concluded with a list of tools that can help me in my journey to live a life which is simpler and hopefully more fulfilling.

It took a while to sort through the different types of rules that would finally bee the tools I need for a slower life. I managed to land on three broad categories to get myself going. They are, To-do, Static and progressive.

The To-dos are designed to get you going, it allows you to start off with some momentum and includes things that, once done, are done for good (until you re-accumulate items, emails etc.) The Static rules are those that need to be done periodically like using cash to pay for food and fun expenses. The progressive rules are similar, however, the idea is to get better and progress to the new level. For example, Level one means you read one book every six months, level two is a book every three months and level three is read a book every months with a 50/50 fiction to non fiction split.

The types of things these tools focus on are minimizing, budget, hobbies, character development, exercise, nutrition and life admin. I did have one for technology and as I began to work on it I realised it was a redundant idea. I thought of all the different types of hobbies that require screen time, using phones, computers etc and decided that having such a category was going to add a lot of confusion. Actually, technology isn't a bad thing at all! Like most things, it's not the platform we utilize, but the content/activity we involve ourselves in that makes the difference between living a life of contentment versus that of short term pleasure which inevitably wastes away to become regret.

Below is the list that I have created. It may have things in there that may not interest you like reading and writing, but I reckon that writing in a journal and expanding your intellectual horizon is something that is universally beneficial. Reading, for instance is merely the mode of information/perspective addition that allows you to better explore your passion and curiosity. So don't think writing and reading are for emotionally aware yuppies. great men who built nations and empires wrote to themselves often. If you aren't sure of the benefits of journaling, pick up a book from someone you might admire. Just google them and see what kind of words they have left behind as a compliment to their legacy of action.

Hope it helps you on your path to a more content life.

Sean

To Do List

Before starting the list below, check off ten of the fifteen below. Do as many as you can now and try to do the remaining over time

1) 90/90 – have I used it in the last 90 days, if not, will I use it in the next 90 then sell.

2) One car

3) Sell your stuff and use the proceeds for a holiday, big stuff first as it will make the goal much closer quicker and you will have more room sooner in your home.

4) Outside of work clothes

a) 5 collared shirts

b) 5 t shirts

c) 2 shorts dress

d) 2 shorts everyday

e) 2 shorts active

f) 3 pants

g) 2 jumper/jackets

h) 4 shoes – runners, dress, thongs, general

5) Savings must have $1000, personal credit card

6) Set up a direct debit into savings as soon as you get paid.

7) No more rooms than people in your house

8) Prioritise your hobbies

9) Find friends/family who share your favourite hobby and get socially involved

10) Unsubscribe from email lists

11) Automate everything you can

12) Use the cloud to store your digital files

13) Create a follow up email folder, leaving you with three choices, delete, archive and follow up

14) Buy ten meal size Tupperware container. Get the lids that seal well

15) Delete social media apps on your phone

Minimize

Progressive

1) Level One

a) Chuck one non garbage item away each day for one month

2) Level Two

a) Chuck one non garbage item away each day for three months

3) Level Three

a) Chuck one non garbage item away each day for one year

Buying stuff and budgeting

Progressive Rules

1) Level One

a) No spend streak of three days

2) Level Two

a) No spend streak of five days

3) Level Three

a) No spend streak of seven days

Static Rules

1) Don’t spend more than $100 on one thing unless it is one of my top three hobbies

2) Eat less meat 200 grams a serve is enough for lunch and dinner.

3) Buy used before buying new.

4) Don’t go to the shops without a list and budget

5) Stick to a budget adjusted to your pay cycle. Use this as a guide 50% living, 30% lifestyle and 20% savings

6) Pay any bills that will arise as soon as you get paid

7) Use cash for fun and food expenditure

Hobbies

Progressive Rules

1) Level One

a) Reduce your hobbies to ten (looking after the kids is not a hobby)

2) Level Two

a) Reduce your hobbies to seven

3) Level Three

a) Reduce your hobbies to five

Static Rules

1) Spend at least half your time and money on your favourite hobby

2) Before making a hobby purchase, look at your priority list. Are you sinking money into your least favourite hobby?

3) Focus on one small aspect of your favourite hobby and be an expert at it.

4) Contribute to your hobby by sharing your findings

Exercise

Progressive Rules

1) Level One

a) 3 x 10 situps and ten minutes cardio

b) 3 x 10 push ups

c) 3 x 10 sit ups

d) 3 x 20 lunges

2) Level Two

a) 3x 15 sit ups and 20 minutes cardio

b) Upper body – break - lower body - break

3) Level Three

a) 3x20 situps and 30 minutes cardio

b) Weights (3 x 6 or 12) rest as needed, don’t go to the gym sore.

i) Chest & Tris (3 and 3)

ii) Back and Bis (3 and 3)

iii) Shoulders and forearms (3 and 3)

iv) Legs and calves (3 and 3)

Nutrition

Progressive Rules

1) Level One

a) Breakfast four eggs with spices only

2) Level Two

a) Breakfast four eggs and lunch pre made with equal size meat, veg and carb

3) Level Three

a) Breakfast four eggs, lunch pre made with equal size meat, veg and carb and post workout shake

Static Rules

1) Carry a water bottle

2) Always have two bags of mixed frozen veggies in the freezer

3) Slow cooked meals Thursday night with leftovers

4) Sandwich lunches non work days

5) Stick to this for five days and get healthy take out on the 6th day

6) Scatter trail mix bags everywhere

Life Admin

Progressive Rules

1) Level One

a) Clean for ten minutes every day

b) Write down one goal and book in 20 hours over the next three months to do it.

1) Level Two

a) Clean for 20 minutes every day

b) Book in 10 hours each month to achieve your goal

2) Level Three

a) Clean for 30 minutes every day (split into two if needed)

b) Book in five hours over the next week to achieve your quarterly goal

Static Rules

1) Book appointments for yourself and stick to them. Put a dollar into savings every time you kept an appointment to yourself. Spend it on whatever you like once a year

2) If you can do it in 20 minutes, do it now.

3) Remove desk clutter

4) Take photos of your physical photos and records in paper that you hold on to

5) Roll your clothes in the drawer

6) Wear the same work clothes every day (not the EXACT same clothes)

Building character

Progressive Rules

1) Level One

a) Eat slower

b) Write down one character trait at the start of each month and do your best to emulate it

c) Journal once a month

d) Enjoy the outdoors for 1 hour every week. Yes, consecutively. Be in a NATURAL environment, the more you game the rules, the more opportunities you loose to be the Best Bloke you want to be.

e) Read a book every six months

2) Level Two

a) Eat and speak slower

b) Every week write down why your monthly character trait is important to you

c) Journal once a fortnight

d) Get outside for 3 hours every week (can be broken into hourly chunks)

e) Read one book every three months, one non fiction

3) Level Three

a) Eat and speak slower, pause before speaking

b) Every week describe how you will emulate the character trait this week

c) Journal once a week

d) Get outside 6 hours per week (broken down into 2 hourly chunks)

e) Read one book a month, 50/50 fiction and non-fiction

Static Rules

1) Have one conversation a week where you do 5% of the talking

2) Volunteer once a month