One Day, One Lesson
It's a new year. By now, you’re probably starting to get back to work while the excitement from the holidays moves further away. It’s normal to feel depressed at this time, so please be kind to yourself.
Hopefully you’ve had the chance to reflect on the previous year and set new goals. Whatever your goals are, all you can do is your best. Don’t be too hard on yourself. By the end of this year, if all you do is become a better version of yourself then you should be proud, even if you don’t achieve your goals. Progress is an accomplishment no matter how small and you should celebrate this.
Image by Engin Akyurt
We say this because when it’s time for a fresh start, it’s common to hyper-focus on your goals. Aiming for perfection, only to crash and burn within weeks. We recommend that you aim for consistency, rather than perfection. In our fast-paced world, we often feel the pressure to achieve big milestones and make significant changes overnight. But growth doesn't always come from huge leaps, it's the small consistent steps that lead to the most profound transformations. Break your goals down into smaller tasks and spread them out over days, weeks, months, and you will see consistent growth over time. Even if you fail at your goal, use this as a learning opportunity and ask yourself: “what did I learn from this?”
Learning is a process that never ends. On a day-to-day basis it might not seem like much changes, but when we reflect on our past years everything is different. You probably learn something new every day, even on the days you think you wasted. This means that you will constantly acquire new knowledge without even trying. This year, we challenge you to try to take something away from each day. At the end of every day, ask yourself the question, "what did I learn today?"
Case Study: Matt
Let’s say that Matt has a goal of one day completing a marathon, so he decides to start training by running 3 km/day. After four days, his knees start to hurt. Matt’s doctor advises him to slow down or he may be at risk of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). His two options are either to take more time to complete his goal or quit altogether. Upset, Matt is now forced to rethink his goals based on something new that he learned about his body, so he researches a similar activity. Matt decides to pursue swimming instead, which is still a way to train his cardiovascular endurance and puts less pressure on his knees. The information that he learned was not only a healthier choice for his body in the long-run (pun intended) but allowed him to research, learn and select a new goal. This applies to many things in life. We will constantly learn new information, even if it’s undesirable. Many times what we learn is there to redirect us to a goal that is an overall a better fit for us.
Image by Pedro Forester Da Silva
Why Learning Daily Matters
There are endless reasons why you should learn, but we want to emphasize that you should specially take something valuable away from every day. It can be something as simple as discovering a new movie genre you enjoy, or as complex as a new professional strategy at work. We encourage you to end each day by asking yourself the question: “what did I learn today?” and we recommend that you write it down somewhere. Keeping a log of what you take away from each day is a gift to yourself you can reflect on later. Every day is a gift, and each day matters.
How to Actively Learn Daily
Start Small: You don’t need to spend hours each day learning. A few minutes of reading, listening to a podcast, or watching an educational video can be enough to pick up something new. Pick topics that you are genuinely interested in.
Be Curious: Approach your day with curiosity. Ask questions, explore new topics, and be open to discovering new information in unexpected places.
Practice: Try a new skill or hobby, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day.
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Each day, show up and complete your responsibilities. Do your best, and try not to focus on the disappointment of what you did not accomplish. End each day by reflecting on what you learned, no matter how simple it’s progress. It means that it's one additional thing that you did not know yesterday. Over time, you will be surprised at how many small things you've learned over time. There is no such thing as acquiring too much knowledge or knowing everything. It’s a habit that can enrich your life, enhance your skills, and boost your confidence. You will constantly learn new things about your work, the people around you, or yourself.
So, what will you learn today? Start with something small, and watch how it transforms your life over time. Every day is an opportunity to do better.
Until next time, stay balanced!