Productivityist

Define Your Days | Filter Your Focus | Make Every Moment Matter

  • Start Here
  • Read The Blog
  • Listen to The Podcast
  • Join TimeCrafting Trust Premium

STOP TRYING TO MANAGE YOUR TIME. START CRAFTING IT.

This guide gives you the simplest and fastest way to start crafting your time.

Get The TimeCrafting Starter Kit for FREE now!

A Different Take on Boxing Day

by Mike Vardy

Today is Boxing Day in Canada.
It’s a day where many Canadians hit the malls and box stores searching for bargain prices for the gifts that they either failed to get other in time (read: non-productivityists) or failed to get themselves. I am not likely to take part in the traditional practices of Boxing Day, mainly because I have my own ritual that I undertake: I start to reflect on the year gone by – and the boxes I checked off during the past year – so I can make sure I can check off the right boxes in the year to come.

This kind of practice is different than establishing new year resolutions – because I simply start to reflect – I don’t establish any resolutions per se. If anything, I begin to shape the year to come by starting my January a little bit earlier than most. I don’t start my year in January. I’d say I use it as a transitional month instead. I don’t take on new massive projects. I don’t set goals for the entire year. I don’t do anything of the sort.

I simply recharge.

Today I’ll be looking back at the boxes I checked off and I’ll see how much further they have taken me. I’ll also see – if applicable – how much they have set me back. Then I’ll adjust accordingly. I’ve got the time and space to do so – and I’ve set myself up in such a way that I’ve got clarity because I’m not looking to set anything else up over the next 30-odd days – I’m setting things aside instead.

Remember when we were kids and we spent this day reveling in what we had? And I’m not saying it’s what we just received, either. I’m saying what we received and what we already had received in the days, months, and years prior. I can recall playing with all of the great new Star Wars toys I had just received in tandem with the ones I’d already added to my collection in the past – and the experience wouldn’t have been the same with either one of those ingredients missing.

Enjoy what you have and where you are. Look back to what got you there and where you were. Without doing both, you won’t have the bigger picture in mind…which is exactly what you need to make marked progress.

So instead of braving the malls and shopping, be brave and start reflecting. You’ll get far more value for your time – not just today, but for the days, months, and years to come.

About Mike Vardy

Mike Vardy is a writer, speaker, productivity strategist, and founder of Productivityist. He is the author of The Front Nine: How to Start the Year You Want Anytime You Want and The Productivityist Playbook.

Categories: Intention and Attention

  • Apps
  • Articles
  • Best of
  • Books
  • Gear
  • Intention and Attention
  • Mode-Based Work
  • Routines
  • The Podcast
  • Time Theming

Categories

Productive Conversations

Most Popular Posts

How to Make Monday Work for You

3 Things You Should Put On Your Calendar

The One Email Trick That Keeps My Inbox In Shape

Using Energy Levels as Contexts

The One Email You Must Send Before You Go on Vacation

As Seen In

As Seen In

Copyright © 2023 · Expert Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Derivative Works Policy
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube