How To Get Better Perspective (In Just 90 Seconds)

“We consume; we don’t experience. We settle; we don’t savour. All of this means that we “do” productive.

We should “be” productive.”

In order to make this happen, you need to be aware and have focus. (What’s even more interesting is that you need to be aware to have full focus and you need to have focus in order to be fully aware.)

I’d like to offer a 90 second exercise to help you get better perspective, become aware, and find a small measure of focus.

1. After you’re done reading this piece, just stop and do nothing for 30 seconds. It may help to focus on your breath and close your eyes while doing so. But do this no longer than 30 seconds today.
2. Once you’re done with the 30 seconds, grab a piece of paper and a pen/pencil and write down everything you think you need to do, ought to do, or want to do over the course of 30 seconds. You should time this. Stop once the 30 seconds is up.
3. Take a final 30 seconds to choose one of those things to work on today. Commit to working on it so that you can honestly say you have made progress on it before day’s end.

That’s it. That’s all I want you to do. By doing this, you’re being aware. And by working on just one thing intentionally, you’re exercising focus.

“I am a human being, not a human doing.” – Kurt Vonnegut