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Better Business, Better Life – Issue 112
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Where does the time go? It’s hard to believe it’s been a fortnight since the last newsletter!
In this newsletter, I write about & share articles, tips & tools on managing & maximising your energy as an entrepreneur.
BUSINESS TOOLS & REAL-LIFE LESSONS
Unlocking the Power of Routines: Stress Relief in Surprising Places
Is it possible that incorporating routines into your daily life can act as a stress-reliever?
At first glance, the idea of adhering to set-in-stone tasks each day or week might appear confining & stress-inducing. However, the surprising reality is quite the opposite, as I have found.
Embracing routines has the potential to significantly diminish stress by cutting down on the constant need for decision-making. The magic lies in carrying out specific tasks on autopilot, giving your mind the space it needs to function more efficiently. By eliminating the burden of mundane choices, routines pave the way for creativity to flourish. And maybe time for more spontaneity?? (see below).
It’s not just me that is saying this – scientific evidence supports the positive impact of routines on cognitive function & creativity.
Research indicates that establishing regular work processes enables individuals to expend less cognitive energy on repetitive tasks, ultimately enhancing focus & creativity when faced with more intricate challenges.
Scientists propose that habits emerge as the brain seeks ways to conserve effort. The brain tends to turn almost any routine into a habit, as habits allow the mind to take a breather more frequently, promoting efficiency.
It’s important to distinguish between routines & habits.
While both involve regular & repeated actions, habits occur with minimal conscious thought, whereas routines demand a higher degree of intention & effort. Over time, routines can evolve into habits, but the key lies in enough repetitions to establish that habitual loop.
In our links section, we’ve compiled various articles & podcasts that delve into the scientific foundations of routines. These resources offer insights to help you unlock the potential of routines for a more stress-free & creative life.
In the meantime, here are my routines for morning & night. I hope they give you some ideas. They are based on best practices & working with circadian rhythms/lights.
They may look like a lot, but they’re not too onerous.
Some of them are now more like habits & I try to habit-stack them (see Atomic Habits – James Clear), but some are still a work in progress… I suspect some will never become true habits.
And for those of you who are thinking… Where’s the spontaneity???
Well, routines give me more planned spare time, so bucketloads of time to be spontaneous. 😁
MORNING
☀️ Wake up to a peaceful alarm (soft, gentle sound that increases until it wakes you up – much better than that jolting alarm… Also, I NEVER hit snooze – that’s another whole article!)
☀️ 3 days a week, weights & functional fitness with PT & short walk & 4 days per week, no gym but long dog walk (I don’t formally meditate, I use the walk in nature to do my form of meditation – no electronics & no talking)
☀️ Take supplements
☀️ Eat breakfast & drink freshly squeezed vegetable juice (made up on Sunday evening for Monday – Friday drinking)
☀️ Complete journal – morning (Gratitude, affirmation, focus & excitement)
☀️ Grab pre-prepared lunch & travel to work – listen to a podcast or audible book (Not as productive for me as I am only in the car for 7 minutes!)
☀️ Get into the office & help the team to feed their monkeys (See Sally Duxfield’s book & One Minute Manager Meets the monkey)
☀️ Set up times in the day to do furious focus (maximum 45 minutes)
☀️ Wear my tiara to keep people from disturbing me, along with my finish time clearly displayed for the furious focus.
☀️ Start the important work – either client sessions or Q2 Priorities / Rocks
NIGHT
⭐️ Help the team to feed their monkeys before leaving the office.
⭐️ Drive home – filling up with petrol if needed (although I have a hybrid car, so this isn’t too often – for those driving a fully electric car, I guess you would make sure to plug it in if you need it)
⭐️ Eat dinner at least 2-3 hours before bed (We plan our meals out each Sunday so that we know what we’re having & we have all the ingredients we need, but we do take 1 day off to have restaurant food or takeaway)
⭐️ Prepare lunches for tomorrow
⭐️ Take dogs for night-time walks – get some of that sun as it begins to set
⭐️ Turn off all overhead lights (after 7 pm) – this helps prepare the body for sleep
⭐️ Read for half an hour to an hour – I do this in the lounge with a reading lamp, as the bedroom really should only be for the 2 S’s
⭐️ Bathroom routine (also using a non-overhead light)
⭐️ Go to bed & take supplements
⭐️ Last check of my phone for any important messages & to see what is on the agenda for tomorrow (using blue blocker glasses or the blue blocking function on my iPhone)
⭐️ Journal & plan for the next day (Recognise what worked & what didn’t in the day & then get those thoughts & worries out of my head for a good night’s sleep)
⭐️ Lights off & sleep for 7-8 hours (We try to maintain a regular bedtime – asleep by 9.30 am at the latest, no matter what the day, so that we can get up at 5.15 am each day)
If you’d like a copy of my Journal page, either as a template for your Remarkable or in its original Excel format, so that you can make changes, then please reply to this email.
PS: Thanks to Steve Chantry-Taylor for creating the Excel template for me!
LINKS TO USEFUL STUFF
This section gives you quick access to 9 links - to articles, blogs, podcasts & stuff that will help you to create a better business & lead a better life.
Better Business Articles
The Work Routines of 40 Successful Business Leaders
OnDeck analysed the work routines of 40 big business leaders to see how they achieved superhuman feats without burning out.
Delegate to Elevate & find time for other passions
Why do so many leaders find themselves struggling to delegate? And what can you do about it?
Routines vs habits – which is easier?
Habit and routines are not interchangeable. To turn a behaviour into a habit, it first needs to become a routine.
Podcasts to Listen to
At the Table with Patrick Lencioni
Real conversations and practical advice for everyday leaders. I am a big Patrick Lencioni fangirl!
The Science of Success - Matt Bodnar
The Science of Success is #1 The Evidence Based Growth Podcast.
High Performance – Jack Humphrey & Prof Damian Hughes
We turn the lived experiences of the planet’s high performers into your life lessons.
Better Life Articles
Huberman Lab Podcasts
Regularly ranked as the #1 health podcast in the world, Dr. Huberman discusses science and science-based tools for everyday life.
The Science of Gratitude
A white paper prepared for the John Templeton Foundation by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.
The Power of Routines
Routines can support creativity, boost health and provide meaningful activities and opportunities.
MEET OUR TEAM
In this section, I will be introducing the team & our Trusted Partners.
This week, I am introducing Neshan Paul, who has been working with me as an intern over the last few weeks.
I liked Neshan from the moment I met him – he’s not your typical or usual student doing a Bachelor of Business – he’s 31 years old & has been a truck driver, an actor, a Harvey Norman Salesperson, a mechanic & a Real Estate Agent… to name a few!
He came here to complete his internship during Summer School so that he could get his 3-year degree in 2½ years.
And after he’s finished… I think the world is his oyster & I look forward to seeing where it takes him next.
How do you help people?
I help people by listening to and understanding what they want to achieve. Once I understand their goals, I work with them to create a plan tailored to their needs, helping them get where they want to be. I also take a close look at their current plan and methods to make sure they’re working well and fix anything that might be causing potential challenges, ensuring an optimal and efficient approach in supporting each individual’s journey towards success.
Why did you get into what you are doing?
The reason I decided to study International Business and Strategy is because of one of my lecturers. After completing the 4 core papers, I was confused as to which path I wanted to take. I went to a course information day and chatted with a few lecturers about the various majors, and when I heard about the subjects we cover and what real-world applications it can be used for, I was sold on it.
What do you love about it?
What I love about it is that it teaches you to look at everything with an open mind. There’s more than one way to do something. It teaches me to be a problem solver and use innovation, modern solutions, and some old-school methods to achieve the best results.
What do you do in your spare time, pursuing other passions?
In my spare time, I am researching some business ideas that I have and am planning to start, but I’ll keep these hush-hush for now; apart from that, I enjoy riding & racing motorcycles and spending quality time with friends and family.
Tell us something that very few people know about you
Something few people know about me is my avid interest in all forms of mythology and ancient civilisations. This spans from the more well known myths of major cultures to the lesser-known myths woven into the fabric of ancient civilisations. From mythical creatures to symbolic tales, I find myself captivated by the diverse richness and cultural significance embedded in these traditions. It’s a journey that not only engages my intellect but also serves as a profound connection to the cultural and historical roots that have shaped our collective understanding of the world.
FIND OF THE WEEK
This week, I released the podcast that I did with Dr. Vanessa Ingraham late last year.
Dr V specialises in Integrative solutions for change makers – i.e., Entrepreneurs like you & me!
As Dr V likes to say, “Passion Can Lead to Burnout If We Don’t Support Our Biology….”
I first encountered Vanessa when we were both involved with the Entrepreneurs Organization in Auckland. I’ve kept in contact ever since & regularly call on her when I need help.
We’ve nailed sleep (I get 7-8 hours of sleep each night that is regularly scored as >90% efficiency & ‘Optimal’ 👑 by my Oura ring) & so this year, we are working on my physical body.
I fell off the wagon big time last year with food & drink, exacerbated by Menopause & the changes that it is having on my body. (PS: I know most of my readers are men, but for you, please note that menopause symptoms are a real thing & they play havoc on our bodies!)
Throw in a good dose of travel & a lot of my ‘routines’ went out of the window & bad habits crept back in.
So we’re currently working on nutrition, supplements & managing Menopause so that I can keep myself 100% mentally & physically well for the work that I do. I don’t want anything to slow me down. 😊
She has many tools in her toolkit that will help you to fine-tune your biology to optimise performance & minimise stress, including tools for:
- Biohacking Peak Performance
- Stress & Sleep Support
- Eliminating Decision Fatigue
In the podcast, you can get a taste of what working with Dr V is like.
You can find out more about working with her over at her website – www.drvanessa.life
I highly recommend talking to her if you’re a high performer with big dreams!
We are here to help you live a better life by creating a better business. We are real-life business owners with years of experience & a strong desire to make a huge difference to the lives of entrepreneurs.
If anything here resonates with you or you would like our help, then please get in contact. Just reply to this newsletter & let us know who you would like to speak to…. Or visit our webpage & contact any of our team from their own pages.
If you know someone who would benefit from reading this, then please forward it onto them. 💖
NEED HELP?
If you’d like to learn more about any of these tools or would like to find out how I can help you achieve a better life through creating a better business, then book a free Discovery Call with me.
We’ll talk about what you want to get from your business & your life & come up with a plan to do that!
Debra Chantry-Taylor
Certified EOS Implementer | Accredited Family Business Advisor | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Speaker & Workshop Facilitator