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This 2-minute daily thought exercise will change your world.
15 lessons learned that will help you live a happier life:
15 lessons learned that will help you live a happier life:
For the past 660 days, I blocked out 2 minutes at the end of each day.
In those 2 mins, I reflected and wrote down one thing that made me happy that day.
2 minutes per day.
~2 years of notes collected.
I recently went through those notes.
And the results were eye-opening.
In those 2 mins, I reflected and wrote down one thing that made me happy that day.
2 minutes per day.
~2 years of notes collected.
I recently went through those notes.
And the results were eye-opening.
The first thing I did was assign some categories to these journal entries.
One category for CONTEXT:
⢠What is the main bucket this note falls under (Health, Relationship, etc)?
One for SOCIAL:
⢠Was this a solo activity, or did it involve other people?
Here are the results:
One category for CONTEXT:
⢠What is the main bucket this note falls under (Health, Relationship, etc)?
One for SOCIAL:
⢠Was this a solo activity, or did it involve other people?
Here are the results:
Happiness Stats 
CONTEXT:
22.9% = Relationship
18.8% = Friends
17.1% = Sports
10.0% = Passion Projects
9.7% = Work
8.5% = Health
7.3% = Family
5.8% = Downtime
SOCIAL:
59.8% = With Others
40.2% = Solo
Let's dive into a breakdown of each and what we can learn from them:
CONTEXT:
22.9% = Relationship
18.8% = Friends
17.1% = Sports
10.0% = Passion Projects
9.7% = Work
8.5% = Health
7.3% = Family
5.8% = Downtime
SOCIAL:
59.8% = With Others
40.2% = Solo
Let's dive into a breakdown of each and what we can learn from them:
RELATIONSHIPS (22.9%)
Not much of a surprise.
I spend more time with my girlfriend than anybody else for a reason.
Lesson:
1) The person you date will most likely have the biggest impact on your life. Find someone that makes you happier than anything else. Don't settle.
Not much of a surprise.
I spend more time with my girlfriend than anybody else for a reason.
Lesson:
1) The person you date will most likely have the biggest impact on your life. Find someone that makes you happier than anything else. Don't settle.
FRIENDS (18.8%)
These entries included a lot of dinners, drinks, and other group activities.
Lessons:
2) Be very deliberate with who you choose to spend time with. Don't waste time with surface-level friends.
3) True friends show up consistently.
These entries included a lot of dinners, drinks, and other group activities.
Lessons:
2) Be very deliberate with who you choose to spend time with. Don't waste time with surface-level friends.
3) True friends show up consistently.
SPORTS (17.1%)
This category includes:
⢠Watching sports w/ friends
⢠Playing golf, softball, basketball
⢠Sports gambling + fantasy sports
Big part of my life. But obviously won't be for everyone.
Lesson:
4) Make time for hobbies and activities you enjoy.
This category includes:
⢠Watching sports w/ friends
⢠Playing golf, softball, basketball
⢠Sports gambling + fantasy sports
Big part of my life. But obviously won't be for everyone.
Lesson:
4) Make time for hobbies and activities you enjoy.
PASSION PROJECTS (10%)
What would you spend your time working on if you had no other obligations?
That's what this category is all about.
Lesson:
5) Follow your passion. Find your Zone of Genius. Time flies when working in this state.
What would you spend your time working on if you had no other obligations?
That's what this category is all about.
Lesson:
5) Follow your passion. Find your Zone of Genius. Time flies when working in this state.
WORK (9.7%)
Owning equity changed everything for this category.
Before I had equity at my job â almost 0 journal entries.
After getting equity â I was much more motivated and proud to do good work.
Lesson:
6) Get skin in the game.
Owning equity changed everything for this category.
Before I had equity at my job â almost 0 journal entries.
After getting equity â I was much more motivated and proud to do good work.
Lesson:
6) Get skin in the game.
HEALTH (8.5%)
I suffered a few injuries that required months of physical therapy.
Normal day-to-day activities hurt.
Lessons:
7) Take care of your body. You only have one. The older you get, the more important this becomes.
8) Be grateful when you are at full strength.
I suffered a few injuries that required months of physical therapy.
Normal day-to-day activities hurt.
Lessons:
7) Take care of your body. You only have one. The older you get, the more important this becomes.
8) Be grateful when you are at full strength.
FAMILY (7.3%)
If you remember nothing else from this thread, remember this section.
I see my family ~10 times per year.
Average 2 days per visit.
That's 20 days per year.
If they live 20 more years, that's 400 days left with them.
A little more than a year...
If you remember nothing else from this thread, remember this section.I see my family ~10 times per year.
Average 2 days per visit.
That's 20 days per year.
If they live 20 more years, that's 400 days left with them.
A little more than a year...
Lessons:
9) Call your family often.
10) Make more time for your family.
11) When you're with your family. Be present. Not on your phone or distracted by something else. Stay in the moment.
12) It's so easy to get annoyed with parents and siblings. It's not worth it.
9) Call your family often.
10) Make more time for your family.
11) When you're with your family. Be present. Not on your phone or distracted by something else. Stay in the moment.
12) It's so easy to get annoyed with parents and siblings. It's not worth it.
DOWNTIME (5.8%)
A great reminder that you need to give your mind and body time to rest and recover.
This included TV shows, movies, lazy days, or sleeping in my own bed after a long trip.
Lesson:
13) Proper rest and relaxation are necessities for a happier life.
A great reminder that you need to give your mind and body time to rest and recover.
This included TV shows, movies, lazy days, or sleeping in my own bed after a long trip.
Lesson:
13) Proper rest and relaxation are necessities for a happier life.
SOCIAL
59.8% = With Others
40.2% = Solo
The "With Others" % would undoubtedly be higher if it wasn't for the pandemic.
Lessons:
14) You have to figure out how to motivate and entertain yourself.
15) But you should spend more of your time interacting with others.
59.8% = With Others
40.2% = Solo
The "With Others" % would undoubtedly be higher if it wasn't for the pandemic.
Lessons:
14) You have to figure out how to motivate and entertain yourself.
15) But you should spend more of your time interacting with others.
ONE FINAL THOUGHT
Your stats will be unique to you.
Some of these lessons probably resonated with you more than others.
But I can guarantee this:
Take 2 min per day to write what makes you happy, and you will be:
⢠Happier + grateful
⢠More appreciative of the small things
Your stats will be unique to you.
Some of these lessons probably resonated with you more than others.
But I can guarantee this:
Take 2 min per day to write what makes you happy, and you will be:
⢠Happier + grateful
⢠More appreciative of the small things
That's all for this one!
If you enjoyed this thread, give it a retweet to share with others.
And follow me @joe_portsmouth
I write 1-2 threads weekly on sports, marketing, and personal growth.
Here's another thread you'll love: https://twitter.com/joe_portsmouth/status/1462438153797525505
If you enjoyed this thread, give it a retweet to share with others.
And follow me @joe_portsmouth
I write 1-2 threads weekly on sports, marketing, and personal growth.
Here's another thread you'll love: https://twitter.com/joe_portsmouth/status/1462438153797525505
SUMMARY
15 lessons that will help you live a happier life:
15 lessons that will help you live a happier life:
