The Journey of a Thousand Mistakes

CHALLENGE: Take a break for a week.

OUTCOME: I relaxed and thought things through.

TAKEAWAYS: Breaks are necessary for self-evaluation. It’s time for me to try something new.

CONCLUSION: Embrace your fears.

CHALLENGE: Try being left-handed for a week.

OUTCOME: It was awkward. Precision activities (writing, brushing your teeth, eating with a fork/spoon, etc.) were incredibly difficult in the beginning, but I grew most accustomed as the week went on.

TAKEAWAYS: Doing difficult/awkward things is good for you. Not only does it exercise your brain, but it gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finally master it.

CONCLUSION: I recommend this exercise to everyone, even if for just a day.

CHALLENGE: Spend 2 hours each day doing nothing.

OUTCOME: I thought I’d be bored out of my mind, but it turns out doing nothing is pretty fun. In fact, I almost prefer it to watching TV. Almost.

TAKEAWAYS: Boredom isn’t as bad as most people think. Not only is it a great way to relax, but it allows you to think of things you usually wouldn’t, review your life and the choices you’ve made, and let your creativity run wild.

CONCLUSION: Boredom is AWESOME!

CHALLENGE: Take full responsibility for EVERYTHING in my life for 5 days.

OUTCOME: I failed miserably because I didn’t define triggers to identify the moments where I wasn’t taking ownership of my life and my action.

TAKEAWAYS: I must clearly define the rules of my future challenges. Making mistakes is part of life. Messing up isn’t so bad.

CONCLUSION: You will ALWAYS make mistakes. Accept it.

REASON 1: It boosts your confidence and can, at times, make you feel like a badass.

REASON 2: It makes you happier by interrupting the monotony of everyday life.

REASON 3: It reminds you that you’re not perfect—yes, that's a good thing.

CHALLENGE: Improvise for one hour each day.

OUTCOME: I did a bunch of random things and had loads of fun.

TAKEAWAYS: Life is unpredictable. Improvisation is fun and boosts your confidence. You never know what will happen, so stop trying to control everything.

CONCLUSION: Do random things, and don’t be afraid to look silly.

CHALLENGE: Practice holding my breath and try for a new personal best of 5 minutes.

OUTCOME: I pushed myself as hard as I could and, on the final attempt, I managed to hold my breath for 5 minutes.

TAKEAWAYS: You never know what you can accomplish until you try. Your limits are self-imposed. Try—really try—to push yourself, and you’ll be amazed by what you manage to accomplish.

CONCLUSION: Human potential is nearly limitless. You but need to try.

CHALLENGE: Avoid setting expectations for 5 days.

OUTCOME: Determining success or failure is difficult as most of the expectations we set for ourselves and the ones around us are subconscious, but I’m really happy with the results of this challenge.

TAKEAWAYS: Achievements and hard work are important for success but freeing yourself from expectations is incredibly liberating. It relieves the burden of guilt and lets you remain centered.

CONCLUSION: Expectations are neither good nor bad. It’s all about balance. How much should you expect while avoiding the sense of disappointment that comes from failing to achieve the level of success you expected? Only you can answer that question.

TIP 1: Schedule your day. It will keep you from getting distracted. 

TIP 2: Use Deep Work and Block Time to remain focused during your periods of work. 

TIP 3: Have fun. Do something you enjoy EACH DAY for at least ONE HOUR. 

TIP 4: Do less. You don’t have to always be super productive. It’s okay to take a break and enjoy life. 

TIP 5: You choose. Deep down, we all know what we should and shouldn’t do, so pick something you know will improve your life and DO IT. 

CHALLENGE: Read for one hour each day.

OUTCOME: I read an average of one hundred pages each day.

TAKEAWAYS: Reading doesn’t strain the eyes; it relaxes them. Mental fatigue is NOT a valid excuse to skip your reading session. And, finally, reading is SUPER FUN!

CONCLUSION: You MUST do something you enjoy EACH DAY.

CHALLENGE: Run for 30 minutes each day.

OUTCOME: I ran. It was awesome… and it also kind of sucked (like most things in life.)

TAKEAWAYS: I was reminded of how freeing running can be. I also realized simple challenges that have a direct impact on my life are better than difficult challenges that bring me nothing. 

CONCLUSION: Running is fun.

CHALLENGE: Do something creative for 30 minutes each day.

OUTCOME: I drew. It was awesome!

TAKEAWAYS: I doddle almost every day, but I never thought of myself as an artist. This challenge reminded me of the importance of creativity and allowed me to get in touch with my inner artist.

CONCLUSION: Creativity is SUPER IMPORTANT!

CHALLENGE: Sleeping on the floor for 5 days.

OUTCOME: The first night was difficult. I kept waking up and was exhausted the next day. I eventually grew accustomed to it, but I wasn’t as productive as I normally am.

TAKEAWAYS: I NEED proper rest in order to be productive, happy, and fulfilled. Sleeping on the floor isn’t as good for your back as people assume it is (at least not without proper lumbar support.)

CONCLUSION: Proper sleep is ESSENTIAL!

This is what my weekday schedule looks like as of this writing. I’m constantly tweaking it to maximize productivity and life enjoyment, but this should give you a good idea of how I structure my days. Keep in mind this is MY preferred way of spending my work time, and it doesn’t mean other methods are wrong. Follow your gut and create a schedule that fits your lifestyle.

7:00 AM: Wake up

7:00-8:00 AM: Morning Routine

8:00-8:45 AM: Writing

8:45-9:00 AM: Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

9:00-9:45 AM: Writing

9:45-10:00 AM: Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

10:00-10:30 AM: Walk

10:30-10:45 AM: Email

10:45-11:00 AM: Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

11:00-11:45 AM: Business Growth

11:45-12:00 PM:Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

12:00-12:45 PM: Business Growth

12:45-1:00 PM:Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

1:00-1:45 PM: Walk

1:30-1:45 PM: Social Media

1:45-2:00 PM:Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

2:00-2:45 PM: Editing

2:45-3:00 PM: Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

3:00-3:45 PM: Skill Development (Business)

3:45-4:00 PM: Exercise/Reading (Non-Fiction)

4:00-5:00 PM: Reading (Fiction)

5:00-9:00 PM: Free Time

9:00-10:00 PM: Evening Routine

10:00 PM: Sleep

I perform certain work-related tasks during the weekend, but I don’t have a predefined schedule. It usually takes me three hours to complete my work duties on Saturday, and less than an hour on Sunday. I also review my week and plan out the next one.

CHALLENGE: Schedule EVERYTHING for a week, then schedule NOTHING for a week.

OUTCOME: As expected, I was WAY more productive when I meticulously scheduled my day. Surprisingly, I wasn’t happier when I went with the flow and planned nothing.

TAKEAWAYS: Scheduling my time allows me to be SUPER productive, makes me happier, and gives me a greater sense of accomplishment. Scheduling nothing, on the other hand, makes me unproductive, less happy, and diminishes my sense of accomplishment.

CONCLUSION: I’m the type of person who thrives in a structured environment. I need it to be happy.

To learn how I structure my days, please listen to the "How to Structure Your Day” bonus episode.

TIP 1: Don’t panic. It only makes things worse.

TIP 2: Connect with your friends and family. If you can’t do it in person, reach out via phone, email, or video conferencing.

TIP 3: Seek solitude. Much like connection, solitude is necessary for emotional balance. Schedule 10-15 minutes of alone time EACH DAY.

TIP 4: Feed your mind. Learn something new every day.

TIP 5: Have fun. Life is so much better when you do.

BONUS: Watch the video to find out ;).

CHALLENGE: Write a letter of appreciation to someone who positively impacted my life each day for 5 days.

OUTCOME: The process of writing the letters was enriching and brought me closer to everyone who received them.

TAKEAWAYS: Expressing gratitude brings positivity into your life and joy to those who receive it. It also increases the closeness and depths of your relationship.

CONCLUSION: Gratitude RULES!

CHALLENGE: Don’t talk for 5 days.

OUTCOME: I messed up four times on the first day, but kept going and ended up getting to four and a half days without speaking a single word.

TAKEAWAYS: I talk WAY too much, lol. Silence allows you to be more present and helps you stay focused and happy. It’s also a great way to get better at charades, lol.

CONCLUSION: You don’t always need to talk. Sometimes, what you need is time to be alone with your thoughts.

Grab your journal and review the goal you picked yesterday. Go through the five steps, then break down the first one into sub-steps. The goal is to complete one small task each day so that you’re ALWAYS moving toward your goal. Start today. Then, reach out to your loved ones and tell them what you’re doing. This will keep you accountable and encourage them to better themselves. Also, and this is SUPER important, take this opportunity to tell them how much they mean to you.

Grab your journal and go through yesterday’s list of goals. Pick two positive ones (new skills, positive habits, etc.) and one negative one (things/people you want to remove from your life.) Then, select the one you want to focus on first and list the five major steps you’ll need to accomplish to complete it. Once done, you can enjoy the rest of your day.

Grab your journal and review yesterday’s list of successes, failures, and missed opportunities. Then, find a quiet spot and spend 10-15 minutes brainstorming what you want your post-coronavirus life to be like. Make a list of all the things you want to add to your life (new skills, positive habits, etc.) and another list with all the things you want to remove from your life (bad habits, negative people, etc.) Once you’re done, set it aside and enjoy the rest of your day.

Grab a journal, find a quiet spot, and take thirty minutes to review your life. What have you done in the past few months? Make a list of all the things that helped you and those around you. Make another list with all the things you did that brought no value or impacted you or your loved ones negatively. Then, make a list of all the things you should have done but didn’t. It possible include the reason why you failed to do it. All right. You’re done. Enjoy the rest of your day.

The world is in chaos, and everyone is freaking out. But what if you chose to ignore the pandemonium? What if you chose to lead rather than follow the herd? What if you chose to grow rather than cower in fear? This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, the moment when you finally get to overcome your limitations and become who you were always meant to be. It’s time to show the world what you’re made of.

CHALLENGE: Remove expectations and stress from my life for 5 days.

OUTCOME: I stopped feeling bad for not accomplishing the things I wanted to accomplish.

TAKEAWAYS: Perception is everything. Feeling guilty accomplishes nothing. Neither does stressing about things I can’t change.

CONCLUSION: Stress and guilt are pointless. They only make you miserable.

CHALLENGES: Talk to 3 girls/day for 5 days & Strategize.

OUTCOME: I fell ill and only talked to 3 girls. I also tried to figure out my next move, but I have yet to find a suitable solution. Sigh.

TAKEAWAYS: Life is uncertain. Sometimes, you just have to make the best of a bad situation and hope things will get better.

CONCLUSION: It’s better to have doubts than to blindly march forward.

CHALLENGE: Talk to 3-5 strangers each day for 30 days.

OUTCOME: I didn’t skip a single challenge, and ended up talking to 118 people.

TAKEAWAYS: Talking to strangers is WAY easier than I thought. Most people are kind, though I did run into a few antisocials. Overall, it was an AMAZING experience.

CONCLUSION: Talking to people is easy… and fun.

CHALLENGE: Don’t procrastinate for 5 days.

OUTCOME: I procrastinated. A LOT! But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

TAKEAWAYS: Focused work is important but trying to maximize every second of every day is a recipe for disaster. You need time to relax and enjoy life (AKA procrastinate).

CONCLUSION: You WILL procrastinate. Just minimize it during work hours.

CHALLENGE: Pretending I’m going to die.

OUTCOME: I told my loved ones how much I cared about them and had short—but meaningful—conversations with them. It was awesome!

TAKEAWAYS: I stress WAY too much. I need to relax more and enjoy life.

CONCLUSION: Life is short. Why spend it stressing about things that don’t matter?

CHALLENGE: Meditate one hour each day.

OUTCOME: It was easy… and incredibly boring. I counted the seconds until the timer went off and nearly fell asleep countless times.

TAKEAWAYS: Prolonged meditation isn’t for me. Still, the mind needs time to rest and process things.

CONCLUSION: 10-15 minutes of meditation twice per way is enough.

CHALLENGE: Wake up at 5:00 AM.

OUTCOME: I barely slept, woke up at 5:00 AM, and felt exhausted the entire time.

TAKEAWAYS: Sleep is SUPER important! Life is so much more fun when you’re not tired.

CONCLUSION: Getting up at 5:00 AM SUCKS when you’re not used to it.

CHALLENGE: No Sugar for 30 Days.

OUTCOME: I stopped eating sugar for a month. Halfway through, I accidentally ate a handful of gummy bears—I didn’t realize it until AFTER I’d eaten them—but I didn’t let that stop me. I got back on track and finished the challenge.

TAKEAWAYS: Habits are a powerful thing. Quitting sugar for a month is easy. Desserts taste WAY sweeter (too sweet, in fact) after 30 days of not eating sugar.

CONCLUSION: Sugar is overrated.

CHALLENGE: Keep Track of EVERYTHING!

OUTCOME: I tracked everything I did for 5 days. Most of my time is spent on things I value, but I should focus on maximizing my productivity so I can have more free time.

TAKEAWAYS: I watch too much TV. Exercising takes less time than I thought. I spend a lot of time working on my books.

CONCLUSION: Keeping track of how you spend your time is a good way to identify where you’re being productive and where you are wasting time.

CHALLENGE: Quitting TV for a Week (5 days.)

OUTCOME: Honestly, quitting TV (yes, that includes Netflix and YouTube) wasn’t that hard. It gave me WAY more free time to do the things I really enjoy and allowed me to be bored, something I feel we can all benefit from. It also showed me that I can be just as happy not watching TV as I am watching it.

TAKEAWAYS: Life without TV is actually fun. Crazy, right? Not only do you have more time to do the things you’re truly passionate about, but it forces you to find more creative ways to spend your time. I’m not saying you should NEVER watch TV. I’m just saying you should be mindful of how much time you dedicate to it.

CONCLUSION: TV is overrated.

BONUS: Did you know the average North American watches four hours of television per day? That means you’re wasting a quarter of your waking life (13 years of total consumption over a lifetime) on mindless entertainment.

CHALLENGE: Take cold showers for a week (5 days.)

OUTCOME: I took 5 cold showers, starting at one minute and working my way up to five minutes. The first minute or so was pretty intense, but then my body got used to the cold, and the next two minutes weren’t so bad. But the last two were a real beast. By the end of the five minutes, my body had gone numb, and I was shivering uncontrollably. But I did it, and I felt like a badass.

TAKEAWAYS: Taking cold showers—or doing anything else that’s physically unpleasant—makes you more resilient and mentally tough. It also gives you a boost of adrenaline that makes you feel invulnerable. Good mood and positivity usually ensue. Basically, cold showers are great, though I found my sweet spot is between two and three minutes.

CONCLUSION: Cold showers are AWESOME!

Challenge: Plan the most epic year ever.

Outcome: The planning portion of this challenge took just over an hour, but I spent days trying to figure out what I wanted to accomplish this year. I tend to overestimate what I can accomplish, so I kept things simple and quantifiable.

Takeaways: Planning is great, and I’m glad I did it, but the real breakthrough came from the freewriting exercise I did. I closed all the lights, listened to relaxing music, and walked around. Whenever a thought popped into my head, I wrote it down. Some were uplifting. Others were somewhat painful. All were incredibly honest, and the mere act of writing them down was incredibly liberating. I suggest everyone do this exercise at least once—I plan on repeating it each week for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion: Plan for your future, but don’t overreach or you’ll get discouraged and quit. Do the freewriting exercise described above. It’s AWESOME!

Goal: Fast for 7 days.

Outcome: The first two days were great, but I had a massive headache throughout the third day, and I ended up eating just after the third day ended. I took a full day off but decided to end the week strong by doing another three-day fast. On the second day, I pushed myself in my workout and even went for a run (my first in three months). After that, I felt I’d proven all I wanted to myself, so I decided to stop one day early.

Takeaways: I learned a lot during this challenge. Not only did I prove to myself that my limitations are self-imposed, but I realized fasting isn’t that hard. The hunger comes and goes, but the cravings don’t usually last very long. The worst part was the headache. Not only did it make it nearly impossible for me to focus, but I felt sluggish, weak, and tired. In order to function at my best and live the type of life I want, I must eat at least once a day.

Conclusion: I’m super happy I did this challenge, but I think I’ll stick with intermittent fasting, which is what I’ve been doing for most of my life. I’m looking forward to my next challenge.