Welcome to my blog if this is your first time here and to this new experiment of mine, where I share my “lessons learnt” from the books I read. I’m starting out with Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, which I’ve just finished reading for the second time. The full title is Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life. The author is successful blogger and entrepreneur Crystal Paine. It’s a great read if you’re feeling unmotivated or a bit lost with how to sort your life out.
Below is a snapshot of my main takeaways, organised by chapter. Bear in mind that this is my second go at reading it, so there are probably quite a few things that I learnt the first time that aren’t here. Also, everyone’s situation is different and so are our takeaways from reading the same book. Anyhoo, I hope you find this new type of post enjoyable – please tell me what you think in the comments below!
(Please note that some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. This means that if you buy something that I recommend, I might get a small commission, which supports my work at no cost to you.)
Stop trying to do it all
- If I want to prioritise getting up in the morning, I could let go of staying up late.
- Practice cutting out Internet time, namely scrolling through Instagram and watching YouTube videos.
- Practice not automatically saying yes to things.
- Play with taking three things off my daily to-do list.
Say yes to the best
Do at least one thing towards my goals every workday, even if it’s only for 25 minutes. It all adds up!
If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time
Working towards a goal creates momentum and enthusiasm.
Discipline is not a bad word
- “We are what we repeatedly do, excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” (Aristotle).
- “Eat the frog” to create momentum for the rest of the day.
- “One consistent habit change can slowly lead to amazing transformation in many areas of [my] life” (Crystal Paine).
- By waking up at a consistent time, I can set the wheels in motion for everything else to flow more smoothly.
Manage the home front
When things seem overwhelming, create a list of five or six simple things to accomplish that day (like taking a shower).
When you feel like a failure
- “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop” (Confucius).
- “Do not let fear of failure keep you from taking a step in the direction of success” (Crystal Paine).
- Focus on progress.
Yes, you can make a difference
- Lead by example.
- Embrace being a shelter: intentionally being kind and hospitable.
Sometimes it is about you
Take the first step: extend invitations to others.
Kick-start your success
- Doing the little things (like going to bed at a reasonable time) helps build the big things.
- Prioritise taking care of my health every day.
- Work on my priorities every day when I get up and feel satisfied and relaxed later.
- Break big goals into tasks that can be done in one setting (e.g. 25 minutes).
- All the little things add up to change our life.
Have you read Say Goodbye to Survival Mode? What were your takeaways? If not, please share what you’re enjoying reading in the comments below!
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