Day 3,537

Journaling has helped me yet again, this time in a very unexpected way! By spending time answering a few questions on my personal scorecard each night I’m finding more and more insights into how my mind works.

For instance, Tuesdays are typically the least joyful days of my week (lower joy, decreased sleep, less physical activity). Mondays are usually my days of most intentional eating. Days with time spent outdoors rank more joyful than days without.

One of the biggest shockers was in the analysis of my response to the daily question “if I only had 10 years to live, what would I stop doing?”

In those results I found a slowly compounding reservoir of wisdom, of themes repeated, of lessons to remember. Consolidated I was able to create my personal 2025 Stop Doing Manifesto:

✋ My 2025 Stop Doing Manifesto

“I give myself permission to stop…”

🧠 Mental Noise & Overthinking

Obsessing over things I cannot control.

Worrying about what others think or whether I’m doing “enough.”

Running from discomfort by filling space with screens, snacks, or scrolls.

Letting the urgent crowd out the important.

🧹 Emotional Clutter

Comparing myself to others or my past self.

Letting guilt, obligation, or resentment steer my decisions.

Carrying stress instead of naming it, sharing it, or releasing it.

Ignoring moments that need closure, clarity, or courage.

🕹 Busywork & Distraction

Saying yes to everything and wondering why I’m burned out.

Keeping time-wasting apps or defaulting to entertainment instead of creativity.

Chasing productivity when I really need rest or stillness.

Doing everything myself when I could ask for help or delegate.

🏃‍♂️ Overdoing

Overcommitting, overscheduling, and under-resting.

Thinking one more meeting, message, or task will finally bring peace.

Sacrificing my presence in the pursuit of more progress.

Mistaking motion for meaning.

🌱 Growth-Limiting Patterns

Avoiding honest conversations to preserve comfort.

Doubting my instincts and dimming my clarity.

Dismissing nature, movement, and rest as luxuries instead of lifelines.

Living by drift rather than by design.

🔁 Instead, I will:

Choose clarity over clutter.

Allow joy to be enough.

Use presence as my metric of success.

Create space to breathe, connect, and be.

Thanks!!!