The phrase make every day count is thrown around often but is it a standard any of us can maintain? Some days are memorable, but most aren’t, and that’s OK, but making every day count is possible with some help.
A big birthday celebration with all the family might be a day that matters, but the day you went out to pick out a gift or plan the party matters just as much.
While not every day can be a day you’ll never forget, they can all work toward the important days.
Morning Routine
A morning routine is something everyone should have. It doesn’t need to be boring, repetitive, or the same every day. You can create a morning routine that suits you and makes every day count.
- Start with your favorite breakfast
- Prayer, meditation, journaling, or practicing gratitude to engage your higher self
- Spend active time with your family, talking to them, playing games, or reading to them
- Plan your day to make the rest of your day worthwhile
- Read, network, write or do something that moves you closer to your goals
Change it Up
You probably don’t remember a Tuesday in march last year or last week, but you remember the day you went to that new restaurant in town, bought a different type of coffee, or a colleague started at work.
Novelty sticks out in our minds. So try something new today
- Order something different for lunch
- Go another route home
- Play a new radio station
- Try a different show
- Do a new workout
Do Something Hard
We all remember the days we achieved something challenging or completed one big task. I will never forget reaching Everest Basecamp, for example.
You make the day matter when you do something few people will ever do. So what could you do today?
- Run 5k
- Set a PR in the gym
- Start the keto diet
- Start a 30-day challenge
- Give up alcohol
What could you do this year?
- Learn a new language
- Travel
- Become a digital nomad
- Scale a mountain
- Start a business
Plan Something Important
You might not be able to do something monumental today, but you can put the plans in place so that that day comes soon.
- Events like birthdays and anniversaries
- Work projects and presentations
- Side hustles
- Something creative or artistic you want to do
A little thought and planning could make these projects successful or achievable sooner.
Is there something you need to buy, order, or delegate to someone to take the next step? Make those few minutes count today to ensure success in the future.
Check-in on Your Goals
Do you have a list of goals? If not, make one. It’s a simple list of things you want to achieve in the next few years.
Look down your list and ask yourself, “what can I do today to take me one step closer to that goal?”
Spend Time with People You Love
When asked what people wish they did more, spending time with family and friends is always one of the top answers, it’s the people we surround ourselves with that ultimately make the day matter.
You might not be able to meet daily, but you can video call or send a picture or message. Seeing a message from someone you love can significantly affect how your day plays out.
- Regular family meal
- Extended family BBQ
- Family holiday
- Family chat group
Do Something You Love to Do
Do you have a hobby that you love? Wish you had more time for it? Then, make time for it today.
One of my hobbies is juggling; sometimes, I say I wish I had more time to practice. The truth is, however, that I do have time. I just need to do it.
If you like making lists (like me,) why not make a “Things I love to do” list? Add all your favorite activities, hobbies, and pastimes. Then you can always pull it out when you want to make your day a little more meaningful.
Here are some everyday things that people love:
- Baking
- Walking in nature
- Watching a sunrise/sunset
- Play with your pets
- Rewatch a favorite film
Eat Something Your Enjoy
Eating is a pleasure that all people share. Of course, we all have our preferences, but there’s nothing like enjoying a meal you love.
Despite us all knowing that few of us eat the foods we love most regularly, why? Because we get into routines and take the path of least resistance.
When I was young, my Mom made a roast dinner every Sunday, which was one of my favorite things to eat. Roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings. I’m drooling just thinking about it. But I haven’t made a roast dinner since last Christmas.
It’s easier to cook another steak quickly and stir-fry some veggies, but I won’t remember that meal. So it won’t make the day count.
Did your house smell of baking cookies on Saturday mornings? Or is there a desert you secretly still love? Make it today. You won’t regret it.
Get Yourself a Gift
In The Happiness Equation, Neil Pasricha makes the case that we all have a natural level of happiness, and though we may have ups and downs, we always come back to our default happiness level.
Lottery winners prove this. After the initial excitement and shock of winning, they return to their original happiness level after a few weeks.
You may have noticed this, the excitement of buying a new phone is fun, but after you’ve set it up, you feel just like you always do.
The answer is not to give yourself substantial short-lived boosts of happiness but small bursts of joy with a little gift.
- A cup of coffee from your favorite cafe
- A pastry on the way to work
- A new phone case
- A video game you want
These gifts don’t cost much but might improve your day.
