I’ve experimented quite successfully with habit tracker apps in the past such as Good Habits, then drifted away from them either because I just couldn’t get on board (lights out by 11pm) or the habit became so ingrained that I no longer needed to track it (meditation). As of January 1st, I seem to be making good use of an old fashioned paper calendar to track workouts.

"I don't need time. What I need is a deadline.” 
- Duke Ellington

Thanks, Duke. When I saw this quote in Tim Ferriss’ newsletter recently, I silently screamed, “AMEN!”

If we’re not already making an effort to practice positive thinking, we certainly are aware of the benefits.  I’m not here to go into the depths of why this works, or to explain how feelings create actions that create results, but rather to show specifically how to apply this to living a beautiful life.

One change I’ve made since reading The Organized Mind is that I do different tasks in different places, using geography to train my brain to focus on a specific task.  When you try to do everything on one computer screen in one chair, nothing gets done.  Now, mindless surfing and emails happen at the dining table. 

Recently, this quote on Instagram jumped out at me:

Everything you have will one day be given. - Kahlil Gibran

In searching for it on the web later, I couldn’t find it.  Left to wonder about Gibran’s intended meaning and context, I assigned a literal meaning.

Joshua Millburn, half of the famous duo, "The Minimalists" guest posted A Day in the Life of a Minimalist on Leo Baubata's Zen Habits blog. You’ll agree that Joshua has absolutely earned the label “minimalist,” not just by buying less, but also scouring his days for superfluities, thus, finding true breathing space in his life. This is one of the most unique and inspiring “day in the life” posts I have ever read, stressing habits over routines.