Motivational Calendar Experiment
I wrote a previous article about how you can create a Seinfeld calendar to reach your goals. Now, I've decided to test out this motivational calendar and see how it effects my daily routine.
I was inspired to do this after listening to the The Art Of Exceptional Living where Jim Rohn talks about looking at what you are going and asking yourself, if you continue on this current path, are you headed towards disaster or prosperity?
He gives the classic example of eating an apple a day versus a Hershey bar. Eating one or the other today won't make much difference on your health. But over the course of 5 years, it will make a huge difference.
Well my friends, I was on the Hershey bar plan in my work life. I'm the type of person that isn't afraid to start a little early and work a little bit late. But I've been so busy, I haven't put any time in on myself.
Don't ever forget, "work harder on yourself than you do on your job." Another great Jim Rohn quote! :-)
What I decided to do is post a calendar on my desk where I can see it every day. Then, any day that I spent at least 20 minutes working on my Web sites, I would mark an X for that day.
Now, 20 minutes isn't that much I realize. But 20 minutes every day certainly adds up to a whole lot more than the current 0 minutes a day I had been doing previously.
The Hershey bar plan was 0 minutes a day. The 20-minutes-a-day plan was at least taking a bit out of an apple. I knew that once I started getting in this habit, I could always up the requirements later to earn my X for the day.
So here's how I did from Dec. 2nd through Dec. 24th...
As you can see, I missed some days. And for no particular reason, Monday was a very unproductive day for me!
*Sidenote* To be completely honest, I just now realized this as I'm writing this article! I obviously have had a "case of the Mondays" lately. :-) (watch the movie Office Space if you don't get it)
Should You Be Like Seinfeld?
After giving this motivational calendar an experiment for 22 days, I can definitely say that this will be a must for the entire year of 2010. Besides being very motivating, I've noticed a few other things...
1) It can be beneficial to notice patterns in your work. I'll have to take a look at what I do on Monday's and see if I can improve upon it. This is what Analytics people call "actionable insights."
2) It's fun to reflect on. I can't wait until this time next year and see how I've done. It will be a quick picture of how my year went. Provided a use a one page yearly calendar (do a Google search to find a free one).
3) This would work great for other things as well. I might put up another calendar where I put an X for days that I exercise. You can try this with all sorts of things. Perhaps a motivational calendar for when you eat healthy? Eat 5 meals? Compliment your spouse? The options are endless.
Let's get back to the motivation part...
In a short 21 days time, I've managed to go from hardly doing anything site-related to doing something almost every day. I've been able to write several pages over that time despite the "20 minute minimum" rule.
What I like about the motivational calendar is it gets me out of my comfort zone. I look at that calendar often times with regret until I've done something to fill that X for the day.
I also had a few days where normally I would go to bed, but I saw that I didn't have an X yet and I decided I could put something together quickly so I could earn my X and go to bed more satisfied.
It's really a great, simple tool you can use to get yourself motivated and on the right path. I highly recommend you give it a 21-day trial of your own.
Like what you read? You can receive
updated and exclusive information about the site in my
Ultimate Personal Development Newsletter.
It's free to join and you can unsubscribe at
any time...
Return to Personal Development Experiments
Return
from Motivational Calendar to Ultimate Guide To
Personal Development home
