12 Rules I Actually Live By
#1. Take advice from people whose life (or specific area of life) you would want to live yourself.
You wouldn’t take financial advice from a friend who gets a big paycheck but never saves and spends to impress others.
With the internet, your friends, your coworkers, your family, there’s not a shortage of tips and opinions on how you should be living your life.
Everyone likes to critique.
Everyone likes to pretend they’re a coach or a mentor and tell you what you should be doing with your life.
You need to look for proof.
Learn how to discern where the advice is coming from and be selective on what you listen to and use in your own life.
People’s actions and lifestyle will speak louder than what they preach.
#2. Where you spend your money = What you value.
Whether you are consciously aware of this, where you put your money is what you value.
I find with a lot of people say they value relationships but they flake for every coffee catchup or dinner and instead spend money on shoes and clothes.
#3. Connect with people on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn after you’ve met them and had a meaningful conversation.
Considering how fast the world is moving, it’s worth to stay connected to strangers you meet. You never know where you might see each other again or you can potentially help one another in the future.
Meet someone, connect, and stay connected.
I love dropping a personal message after I meet someone new because I’m always grateful that I have. I love people.
#4. Finish the last 30 seconds of every shower with the coldest temperature water.
You won’t die from cold water. You won’t even get sick from the cold water.
You are putting your body in a stressed, uncomfortable state. The more you do this, the better you get at handling uncomfortable situations (ie. a tough workout).
Practicing this everyday strengthens your mental state and it feels invigorating.
You’ll be very awake and it’s like your skin, under the skin, has woken up.
The key here is consistency. You need to do it every day.
#5. REDUCE SOLID FOOD INTAKE BEFORE 12PM, except for fruiTS AND vegetables.
There is no scientific research to prove that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Or that it should be the biggest meal of the day.
I think that it’s all a marketing tactic, for us to buy more breakfast foods or order large American portions at the local diner, eat unhealthier and then spend lots of money on healthcare.
For the past 3 months, I have kept my breakfasts as almond protein smoothies, a banana, and coffee. Sometimes, I’ll skip the smoothie.
It takes your body more energy to metabolize your breakfast when you could use that extra energy in the morning for your work or your writing or your art, etc.
By keeping my morning food intake light to none, I experience a heightened clarity and focus in my work.
#6. Work on yourself for the first 90 minutes of your day.
Or the last 90 minutes, incase you’re a night owl.
Point being— the majority of the working population wakes up, gets ready, and goes straight into work, giving all their attention and focus to a company, or a boss, or a customer.
You wake up and you’re helping build someone else’s dream first.
NO.
You need to wake up and work on building your dream or your life.
It’s cool to work for a great company, love the vision, and breathe the mission. But you need to work on your physical health (go workout), mental health (meditate), or psychological health (journal, play with your kids, etc).
Put you first. No one else will.
#7. If you’re feeling under the weather, take 2 raw ginger shots with lemon and cayenne pepper.
You can find these at Whole Foods, Juice Pressed, or any other fresh juice shop.
Instead of relying on drug store medicines that have crap ton of chemicals, go the all natural route first. The ginger will clear you up fast!
Then, have a deep sleep that night. The liquid foods will help flush out the cold and then lots of rest. This will help you feel better.
#8. Sweat everyday.
Go for a run, take a HIIT class, whatever it has to be, make sure you sweat.
Getting your heart beat racing, work the body, and break a real sweat.
It’s a perfect cleanse your body of toxins and great way to boost energy.
Juice detoxes or cleanses are total bullshit. Your kidneys are doing it all already.
It’s your job to get your body moving.
#9. When you meet someone, repeat their name back.
“Hi Kaila, I’m Gerald.”
Me: “Hey Gerald, Kaila.”
Why?
One, people love hearing their own name.
Two, it helps you remember that person’s name as you say it and make eye contact with them.
Three, it confirms you got the pronunciation down correctly.
It all happens in a matter of seconds but it’s a great tactic to use when you’re networking.
#10. Stop complaining.
Complaining is unproductive.
It magnifies the negative situation instead of solving it all while attracting MORE negative energy into your life.
I get it. Life can absolutely SUCK.
Big time.
Feel the pain, maybe go for a workout, and then make a plan on how you’re going to tackle this.
#11. When you have the opportunity to wash your hands, do it.
Especially if you’re in New York City.
Public bathroom, friend’s apartment, wherever, just wash your hands.
The city and all its subway poles, entrance doors, shaking other people’s hands.
Just.. wash your hands.
#12. Have a concrete definition of what “success” means to you.
And be okay with this changing over time.
Because it will and it should.
You’re changing.
Why wouldn’t your personal standards and goals change with you?
What I’m saying is that— “I want to be a successful writer” isn’t concrete. I want you to ask yourself:
What does success mean to you?
What are the signs that will show when you’re a successful writer?
Why is success important to you as a writer? As a person?
What are the near future steps you’re taking toward being successful?
I can go on…
I like inspiring people to elevate themselves.
But before I can do this, I first challenge people to look inwards and ask themselves the harder questions.
Self-awareness is key.