The sun has set, kids are in bed, dishes are washed. I take a deep breath. This is a moment of calm, a moment of pause, and a time to reset for many of us.
It can be habitual to get back on our devices and distract ourselves from the need to rest and recuperate in preparation for the day ahead.
However, the most helpful thing we can do it actually quite the opposite: take time to prepare for tomorrow.
When I started writing in my journal for three minutes every evening, my life changed. I began feeling so much more calm during the day. I was clear on my vision for the day and was able to ride the waves of life’s changes without feeling thrown off course.
Three minutes doesn’t seem like a very long time, but it has a huge impact. Behavior science explains that, when we set ourselves up for the day to come, our brain follows suit.
Our thoughts align with our vision for the day and life flows through us with more ease.
It may sound counter-intuitive, but the more we plan, the less likely we are to feel stressed when things don’t go according to plan.
Try this. Commit for three days. Write in a notebook or journal for the next three days before you go to bed. Write for three minutes when you would normally be reading evening news or looking at a device.
Use this prompt. My three goals for tomorrow are … Make a list and let other thoughts flow from there.
Here’s an example from my journal. My three goals for tomorrow are:
- Have a consultation with a new client
- Make lunch for my family
- Take one deep breath after every time I use the bathroom
After that, I start to write about the client and my vision for their wellness. I brainstorm lunch ideas and create multiple meal plans that I end up using throughout the week. I reflect on the power of having a trigger (using the bathroom) for doing something that helps reduce my stress (one deep breath).
I often end up writing for more than three minutes. I don’t limit myself. Sometimes, I keep things short: I only make the list of three things and then close the journal. That’s the beauty of developing a habit. It can flex to meet your needs based on your energy level and mood in the moment.
How are you going to feel after writing down your three goals every evening?
Do you have a vision of how you would like to feel in your body, mind, and spirit?
To enhance your vision, you can start by using my manifestation list. Click here to download it.
