I can’t remember exactly when I first came up with the Mind Pilot concept, but I think it was some time in 2006. The exact routine has changed slightly since then, but the basic principle stays the same, namely to run each day as if it were a flight. I’m still a long way from getting this perfect — in fact since I started, I don’t think I’ve ever given myself a tick for every single box, but here’s to trying:
The main grid has seven focus points for each of the seven days a week, giving a potential score of 49. A bonus of two is then added for having a complete score either vertically (for the day) or horizontally (for the activity), potentially giving another 28 points, and two more are added for getting the ‘full house’ of 49. Added to this are seven weekly tasks which do not change (one point each), and seven variable tasks, which must be set before the start of each week (two points each). This gives a potential total of 100 points:
Daily Mind Pilot routine:
- Check-in — where are we going? Decide what the priorities are for the day (should really be done the night before).
- Fuel — eat a healthy breakfast (plenty of fruit), lunch and early evening meal. Drink no more than four units of alcohol.
- Maintenance — keep body and mind in good shape by engaging in vigourous exercise (at least 20 minutes running, 45 minutes cycling, 30 lengths swimming etc) at least five times each week. It makes sense to do this every day during the working week, and make it part of the daily routine. Mornings are better, as the positive effects can then be felt throughout the day, and exercising later on is not supposed to be so good for inducing sleep.
- Take off — get up at a sensible time (this sounds easy if you have an office to go to, it is much harder when self-employed and subject to low energy and mood swings) — current aim is to at least be out of bed at nine. Switch on computer and clear first 1000 words of good quality web content.
- Cruise — concentrate through the workday, staying off-line where necessary, respond to issues as they arise and continue with content, site updates etc.
- In-flight entertainment — even if the day starts late, or the workload seems massive, always find time for something enjoyable each day. This should change for one day to the next — watching TV or DVD might be fine for one-day, but it isn’t acceptable on two consecutive days. Solitary exercise doesn’t count either, but the game a five aside football would fulfil the criteria for this and for ‘maintenance’.
- Land — wind down at the end of each day. Anyone running a home based business knows how easy it is to work late in the evening, especially when everybody else has gone to bed, but it is still essential to allow a gap between finishing work and going to bed, otherwise your head will just be full of work-related thoughts. Ideally, I think this gap should be at least an hour, but I am a frequent offender here. For people to take medication which affects their sleeping patterns, then it is best to take this at the same time each day, and perhaps to start winding down from this time.
Weekly activities:
- Task list update — doublecheck that the most urgent and important tasks have been completed properly.
- Clear out e-mail.
- Financial update — file receipts, etc.
- Wash clothes and make sure they are dried properly, ironed if necessary and put away.
- Tidy bedroom.
- Tidy office.
- Tidy kitchen and take out rubbish on Wednesday morning.