Question to align intention with action:

If someone observed your actions for a week, what would they say your priorities are?

There are often two sets of priorities in life:

1. The priorities you think you have
2. The priorities your actions show you have

We've all been there: We have a set of priorities that we hold firmly in hand, but the vagaries of life enter, and our actions begin to stray from those priorities.

This question forces a reset:

If an unbiased third party were to observe you for a week, what would they say your priorities are?

Would your actions reveal alignment or dislocation?

What areas and priorities do you seem to be cutting corners on?

Living life as the main character means we have a difficult time holding ourselves to the fire. This question creates a zoomed out view that provides a healthy touch of perspective.

The ultimate goal is alignment of intention and action. You can achieve it—this question can help.

So, be the unbiased observer in the week ahead:

What do your actions say about your priorities? What changes do you need to make?

Quote on the power of action:

"It’s your road, and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you." - Rumi

Everything good in life is a byproduct of action.

Those who have a bias for action will always find their way.

When in doubt, just start moving.

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Framework to improve performance and recovery:

The Power Down Ritual

A Power Down Ritual is a fixed set of actions and behaviors that mentally and physically mark the end of your professional day.

I first saw the idea in a blog by Cal Newport over a decade ago, though I didn't implement one until early 2023, when I started to feel that the constant connectivity of my job was eating into my time with my wife and son.

An example of my fixed sequence might look something like this:

• Check email for any final requests requiring action.
• Check calendar and task lists for the following day.
• Do 15 minutes of prep for priority tasks of the next morning.
• Close down all applications and technology for the night.

The benefits of having a Power Down Ritual that I have observed:

1. Clear Boundaries: The ritual creates a clear set of boundaries that separate professional and personal activities. We become more present on each side of the boundary.
2. Fight Urgency: One of the biggest concerns I had with implementing this was that I would miss some urgent request that would hurt my performance. After five months of doing it, I can say that what I have actually realized is that there is very little in life that is truly urgent.
3. Enhanced Morning Productivity: By including a bit of prep for the following morning as part of my ritual, I have noticed a clear boost in my productivity on the first task of the following day. I'm ready to hit the ground running.
4. Improved Mental Health: I feel so much better in the evenings after I have had the power down. I'm more present with my wife and son, I'm not worried about the random notifications that are hitting, and I'm able to fall asleep faster.

To create your own, incorporate these three key elements:

1. Complete Final Tasks: What are the final checks that you need to perform in order to close out the tasks of the day and confirm that there is nothing remaining for you to complete? For most people, this will involve checking email and Slack with a quick scan, plus a sweep of any open projects.
2. Prepare for Tomorrow: What are the focus priorities for tomorrow? What is the first task you want to make progress on when you start work tomorrow? Do 10-15 minutes of prep work to set yourself up to hit the ground running on that priority task.
3. Initiate Power Down: Create a mental trigger for the completion of the Power Down Ritual. Cal Newport had his magic phrase ("schedule shutdown, complete"), but you can create your own less-nerdy version if you'd like.

Using those three elements, sketch out what a Power Down Ritual would look like for you. As with everything, initial action builds momentum. Try it this week and see what happens.

Tweet of healthy, fast recipes:

It doesn't need to be hard to eat well. This was a good breakdown of some simple, delicious recipes that you can pull together fast.

Efficient + Effective = Win

Short list of good advice from parent to child:

​My Dad Once Told Me "By Age 35 You Should Be Smart Enough to Realize This"​

This was a neat Quora post sent to me by my wonderful aunt.

A few favorites from the list:

• Stay silent. Not everything needs to be said.
• Most people drift through life. They have no purpose, no direction, and zero intent. Learn their needs and lead them.
• No one will ever come save you. Your life is 100% your responsibility.

Very quick read, worth your time.