Men’s Health sets forth 52 ways to “Jumpstart Your Life.” Steve Calechman’s list includes (excerpt):
1. Let go of all the things you keep saying you’re going to do.
The unwritten book, the unfinished chair, the dusty French-language tapes. If you can’t devote 15 minutes a day, drop it, says Neil Fiore, Ph.D., author of The Now Habit: Overcoming Procrastination with Guilt-Free Play. You don’t have time for everything. Use your time for things that you can commit to starting today. There. You’re free.
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5. This week at the office, arrive 45 minutes early and stay 15 minutes late.
Use the 45 to knock one big thing off your daily agenda, and the 15 to plan out tomorrow. It’s 1 extra hour a day, 5 hours a week–and if you keep it up, nearly 1 extra month of work a year. You’ll undergo your own productivity boost by tapping into your best morning energy, and end the day with a burst of organization. Workers are most productive in the early hours of the day, according to a survey of more than 1,000 wage slaves. Increase your a.m. effectiveness now and use the drive home to start planning how you’ll spend the raise you get. For instance . . .
6. Plan vacations for the next 3 years.
If you’re lacking inspiration, visit travelzoo.com; and under “Vacation Specials,” click “Exotic & Fantasy.” Sydney in ’05. Bora Bora in ’06. Albany in ’07. A study by the State University of New York found that men who took a yearly vacation reduced their risk of dying of cardiovascular disease.
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11. Update your resume.
Even if you’re not looking for a job. You’ll remember what you like and what you’re missing, and it’ll make you consider: Is this still the place for me, or is it time to move on? One study found that men who use this kind of “research therapy” have more confidence in their work and in future career decision making.
12. Get all that crap off your desk.
Most men are drowning in paper and good intentions. Create a tray for reading material and limit the quantity to whatever fits inside. If you haven’t read it in a week, toss it. (Exception: original copies of the Declaration of Independence.) “No one will ever read as much information as they’re interested in,” says Julie Morgenstern, author of Organizing from the Inside Out. Then block off a realistic period of time each day to read, and stick to it.
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19. Fire up your relationship with your old man.
But not over a latte. Meet him at his place and time. And realize that the Big Talk may never happen, says Amy Bassell Crowe, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Menlo Park, California. As for what to do, focus on something that he gave you. If he taught you how to drive, rent a car from his era and pick him up. It takes more than one spin in a ’57 Chevy to bond permanently, but just let him know there’s room for him in your life.
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25. Send an e-mail to someone you’re estranged from.
Getting in touch will short-circuit the anxiety and defuse the buildup of cortisol in your brain, which negatively impacts mental health, Love says. You don’t have to make amends. Just say hi. Research also shows that heart-attack patients who forgive their trespassers reduce their odds of dying of heart disease.
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31. Take your kids on a bike ride.
You win: Intensify your workout by challenging your kids to mini races–from tree to mailbox. They win: A study by the American Dietetic Association shows that parents have the greatest potential to influence children to make good health choices. Lead by example.
32. Reread five books you read in college.
No, the Madden ’94 instruction manual doesn’t count. Challenging books help protect against future memory decline, according to a study done in New York City. Reading old texts might also reintroduce you to your revolutionary, visionary, college self and remind you of what you really wanted to be when you grew up.
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37. Change the way you walk into a room.
Know as much as you can about who’s in the room, and enter it appropriately and with purpose, says Tracy Penticuff, a senior consultant at The Professional Image in Atlanta. And then seal the connections. Shake hands, acknowledge each person, and hold eye contact long enough to know someone’s eye color. You’ll create connections and be remembered.
38. When you’re waiting to cross the street, in line for coffee, or in a crowd waiting for the train, talk to somebody.
Even if you think you just want some peace and quiet, striking up a conversation will leave you feeling better. A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that acting extroverted–being talkative, adventurous, and assertive–has a positive effect on mood, even if you’re not gregarious by nature.
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40. Volunteer 2 hours a week.
Yeah, you’ll be helping others, yada yada yada. More important: You’ll meet people who aren’t like you. According to research at the University of Toronto, making new contacts leads to a healthier, more successful life, thanks to exposure to new ideas and networks.
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43. Go on a date with your wife.
But not just to the local sushi hut. Find a quiet place with a big view; it encourages a larger perspective, says Peter Pearson, Ph.D., director of the Couples Institute in Menlo Park, California. Discuss what you want to create together. It’s like a brainstorming meeting with no bad ideas. The only off-limits question: How are you gonna do that? There’ll come a time for critical or analytical thinking, but not during this conversation. After everything’s come out, let it sit for a week or two, then revisit and see what’s still exciting. Do this once a year and take notes. Look at it as goal setting for the relationship.
44. Take a 3-day weekend.
Research at Michigan State University showed that workers who could keep their professional and private lives separate were more successful in both areas. So sleep in, eat out, and act lackadaisical. And do absolutely nothing work-related for at least 72 hours, says Brian Tracy, author of Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. No computer, no e-mail, no phone. Even 5 minutes of work brings stress. It’s like leaving a car’s interior light on–that little bulb drains the battery. Commit to relaxing and you’ll be recharged when you return to work.
45. Yank your teenage son out of bed early and get him into the car before he has time to think.
Go have breakfast or watch the sunrise–just get out of town so he can’t play the resistant boy. While his outside may say he doesn’t want to be around Dad, his inside really does, says Crowe. Ask him about his life. And don’t try to empathize by saying, “I know what that’s like.” It’ll make him feel as if his troubles are commonplace, and you may, in fact, not know what it’s like for him at all. Share your experiences and let him make the connections.
46. Spend 15 minutes a day wasting your coworkers’ time.
Talk about the ball game, ask about their kids, make plans for lunch. It may seem as if you’re slacking, but in reality, you’re becoming a better worker. Studies show that people with friends at work are better communicators (which is good for productivity, which is good for the boss, which is good for your career).
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49. Play Zelda with your kids.
Not only will this augment bonding time and increase your cool points, but one study found that playing action video games improves your ability to pay attention to detail. As a result, you’re more likely to notice the little details in life.
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52. Climb up that ladder.
Climb back down. Climb up again, with your wife holding on firmly at the bottom, until you’re no longer afraid to get to the top. Whatever your irrational fear, face it again and again until you’re no longer afraid. A study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health found that when rats were repeatedly placed in a frightening situation with no negative effects, their brains overwrote the fear.