Happy Saturday, friend!

We’re back again with another edition of Productivity + Habits + Fun

😃 Fun Fact of the Week

Big Ben’s clock stopped at 10:07 p.m. on May 27, 2005.

It was an unusually hot day (31.8C / 89F), so it’s speculated that the clock stopped due to the heat.

🐦 Tweet of the Week

Well hello there, Discipline.

Really, that’s just life - there will always be speedbumps and things we’d rather avoid.

The funny thing is that the things we really want are usually on the other side of that discomfort. Things like:

• a fit body

• a new degree or certification

• a new relationship

None of those things just fall into your lap.

They are the result of consistent actions towards those worthy goals.

In other words, we need discipline to make the things we want ours.

If you need a little help, be sure to refer to my content on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Let’s connect!

💪 Featured Productivity Tool

The Do Not Do List.

I’m sure you remember me talking unendingly about the to-do list.

I make them every day, and I love accomplishing my tasks…

But this idea hit me recently:

What do I do about distractions or unimportant things that I should not focus on now?

If I don’t write them down, they’ll keep buzzing around my head and distracting me anyways.

But if I write them down, I feel like I need to do them.

The solution?

Write them down on a very specific list for another time.

You’ll still have your daily to-do list of your top, most important tasks, but we need a holder for the little ones that have to wait.

Examples may be:

• fold and put away the laundry

• buy groceries for the week and prep tomorrow’s lunch

• catch up on emails and DMs

These things aren’t going to move you forward in a major way, but they do need to be done.

Assuming you’re going to do these things yourself, schedule time outside of your critical morning hours to get these little things accomplished.

By sequestering them away from the big tasks and scheduling a time for them, your mind can focus on the important things.

You’ll feel better by getting things done by order of importance.

📈 The 20 Most Common Investing Mistakes

Do any of you have any really good resources for understanding investing?

I’d really like to have a better understanding.

🌎️ Why Do People Immigrate To The US?

Interesting stats from this article:

• about 27% of the US is from immigrants and their US-born children (87.7M people)

• about 23% of Canada’s population is from immigrants and their Canadian-born children

• in 2020, immigrants accounted for 75% of Qatar’s population and 88% of the UAE’s population

🤔 Decision-making Idea

Reactance: The tendency to rebel and do the opposite of what we’re told to do

Example: While walking through a city, you notice that there is a lane specifically for bicycles. You choose to walk in it.

Personal example: When I was just getting into my teen years, my mom took me to the doctor for a routine check-up. In discussing acne, the doctor specifically told me not to touch my face so that the pores wouldn’t clog. AS SOON as he turned his back, I ran my hands ALL OVER my face.

I think this is something wired in our being.

We want to explore, and sometimes that means going against what we’re told.

Let’s just be sure to take advice and directions seriously before we decide to buck them. 😉 

🧠 Quote of the Week

What I think:

I’ve got to hand it to Walt: he’s not mincing his words!

There is real pleasure in planning to do something.

We get a dose of dopamine in that creative, imaginative phase, and it can be difficult to get away from.

Part of that difficulty is that we know the work to make the plan happen isn’t as fun.

It could even be boring.

In that friction, procrastination shines through.

Procrastination can seduce you into doing nothing, and in doing nothing, you accomplish nothing.

Special Message

January is off to a great start!

I just want to remind you that you can reach me on X, Instagram, and now LinkedIn!

Links below!

Thank you so much for spending some of you precious time with me. 🙂

I’m always looking to improve, so hit “reply” and let me know what you think!

Have an awesome week.

Sincerely,

Steven Sanders

PS - I hope to see you on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn!