A few weeks back I started tracking a list of daily goals. These are separate from any to-do items I might have, and unrelated to anything on my calendar. They’re simply a list of things I’d like to accomplish every day.
As of today, it’s a list of four main goals with five sub-goals in various areas. Here’s what they look like, along with some quick notes on each:
- Publish blog: Publish a blog post daily, like this one
- Work out: This can be checked off after both of the sub-tasks are done.
- Pushups: Do some number of push-ups each day, typically a few dozen.
- Walk or Run: Walk or run some distance; usually outside, if not on the treadmill.
- Clarity break: Take time for a clarity break at some point, as I detailed in my post yesterday.
- Reading: This can be checked off based on the three sub-tasks.
- Pocket: Read at least one of my saved articles from Pocket.
- Blinkist: Read at least one book from Blinkist, going through the process I described here.
- Reading beyond Blinkist: Do some degree of reading beyond Blinkist. I’m usually working on a few books in my Kindle, so at least open it and read a bit.
Growth Without Goals
I’m constantly adjusting my list, and Patrick O’Shaughnessy’s “Growth Without Goals” article was a big help. Patrick’s has a somewhat similar list that looks like this:
- No complaining
- 100 push ups
- Run
- No sugar
- Write 500 words
- Read
- Don’t eat until noon (intermittent fasting)
- Floss
- Spend time in the woods (running or hiking)
- Family Time
- Level Up
There’s plenty more to be added, but it’s already a difficult list to hit every day. While my plan is to finish them all daily, it’s fairly rare that I get to everything.
For more about how I manage this list each day, I’ve included a few sections in my Roam Research course that you may find helpful. Check it out.
Do you have a similar list? If so, leave a comment below and share with us.
