Following my previous post about productivity and mental strength, which was my own personal philosophy, many have asked for a post in the same style.
I’ve thought about it a bit, and here are a few things I try to use in daily life to become just a little bit “better.”
I am neither a coach nor a psychologist — everything I write here is based solely on my own experiences.
1. Be grateful
Man, how much I can complain (excuse my language). I’ve caught myself doing it — and I want to change that. So I try every day to be grateful for the small things in my life.
The problem is that nowadays — especially because of social media (no, I don’t hate it) — you can feel like everyone else’s life is better — but it’s not! It’s just that we almost always only share the positive things and not the negative. I see Instagram profiles daily filled with cafe visits, travels, and who knows what else, but remember: the grass is always greener on the other side…
You can always be jealous — there will always be someone prettier or smarter than you (depending on what parameters you compare yourself on). We are world champions at finding flaws in ourselves, and it hasn’t gotten any better since social media arrived.
“We are born original and die copies” — Søren Kierkegaard
Challenge
During the next week, mention at least one thing each day you are grateful for. It can be family, friends, your partner, work, exercise, the ability to do something, or just being alive — you name it!
2. Calculate what you will pay at checkout
This may sound basic and a little silly — I know!
I read about this dad from the US who asked his kids to figure out what they would pay at the checkout when shopping. What a brilliant way to teach math! Much more tangible — at least for me. Honestly, I never understood much when our math teacher at business school lectured about calculus and “all that stuff”…
Challenge
Next time you go shopping, try to guess what the total amount will be. At first, I struggled to remember prices, but now I only miss by a few kroner. Don’t write it down — that would be cheating 😉
3. Drink water
It’s crazy how few of us drink enough water during the day. It’s so important to stay hydrated for our bodies to function optimally — and if you don’t drink enough water, you actually get hungry faster. A 2% drop in hydration reduces productivity by 20-30%.
Challenge
Put a yellow sticker on your screen, set a reminder in your calendar, or add a top note on your to-do list every day saying “Remember to drink water.” Fill a jug with water each day and keep it at your workspace.
4. Do one thing daily that makes you uncomfortable
Man, there are so many things I hate — but fewer than a few years ago.
It can be calling a bank advisor (especially back when I was younger and had overdrafts after a wild night out).
It can be admitting mistakes to family, friends, or your partner.
It can be cooking if you don’t like it (definitely one of my weak spots).
It can be going for a run or hitting the gym.
We all have some kind of anxiety — for some it’s worse than for others. For some, being in a crowded shopping mall can be a battle — and that battle is one you need to take, for your own sake.
5. Cold shower
No, you don’t have to take a cold shower every day. But it’s proven that cold showers can help the body relax more and make us less stressed — there are actually many benefits. If you are a winter swimmer — thumbs up! I haven’t gotten there myself yet!
Challenge
End your shower by alternating between warm and cold water for about 20 seconds.
6. Dress comfortably
I don’t buy into the Mark Zuckerberg same-clothes-everyday thing. Maybe it’s easier when you’re a billionaire.
You shouldn’t live beyond your means, but ASOS and many other cheap websites have made it possible to always feel well dressed for little money.
Feeling well dressed improves your expression and attitude. What well dressed means is totally up to you — it’s about you feeling comfortable.
7. Give honest compliments
It’s crazy how bad we humans are at praising each other.
Challenge
Give one honest compliment a day for the next 30 days — it can be to a colleague doing a good job, a friend who just dyed their hair — the little things count.
8. Fuck yes!
When I meet new people, I’m very open minded — there’s room for everyone, no matter where they come from.
Do I want to spend a lot of time with them?
That’s another matter. I have a principle — I want to be with people I think “Fuck yes” about, not “If.”
Fuck yes: people who I feel truly wish me the best, and whom I also wish the best.
If / maybe: people I’m not sure where I stand with. People I don’t fully trust, or who seem not to be 100% interested in me. Life is too short.
I used to be way too good at pleasing everyone — luckily that has improved.
9. What do you use the golden hours for?
Many people see their day as 8 to 4 or 9 to 5 — but there are actually many hours outside these fixed work hours in Denmark.
I call these the golden hours — that’s when you can shape your future.
When do you get up? Do you get up just before the bus leaves, or early enough to avoid traffic on the drive?
Do you watch reality TV like Paradise Hotel when you get home from work?
I’m not saying there is right or wrong — it’s about action and consequence.
If you’re aware of what you get out of your actions and you’re happy with that, then keep it up.
For me, the problem is when people get jealous of those who work a lot.
It might be a cliché, but if you want something you haven’t had before, you have to do something you haven’t done before.
Challenge
Skip TV for the next month and read at least 10 pages in a book or your favorite blog. Or use that time for a run — think about how a small change can make a huge difference for you, unless watching Paradise Hotel is really important to you — then keep watching.
10. Accept that things change
In many religions, acceptance of the world’s constant change is one of the most important foundations.
The problem arises when we either refuse to change ourselves or consciously choose not to accept that the world around us changes.
This can happen when we get older but continue living like young people without taking responsibility. The same applies in business. If you’re open to change, the chance of it surprising you is much smaller.
Change is actually one of life’s joys. It’s what separates us from animals — we don’t just wake up and wait to be eaten or to eat. We can change behavior, location, and habits — if we want to.
Extra tip #11: Personal finances
One extra tip — I know personal finance is a sensitive topic. When I was younger, I was bad at managing income and expenses. Then I read some books on finance that gave me ideas.
Challenge
What I do now is pull a list every month of all movements on my bank account — I then categorize them (fixed expenses, dining out, grocery budget, etc.) — banks have functions in their online banking that can do this for you. I like doing it in Excel. That way I know if I’m living beyond my means or not, instead of guessing.
As I said, I am neither a psychologist, coach, nor personal advisor — I wrote this post because things have sometimes gone off course for me, and maybe some of these things can help you. I hope you got something out of this post. What helps make your everyday better?
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