I turned 40 last month! Last year around my birthday I published a list of life truths that I had learned (mostly the hard way). Over the past year, I’ve taken note of a few more (starting with #20). Here’s my updated list:
- Whenever you think, “I’ll remember that,” write it down.
- Make your rest ethic as strong as your work ethic.
- If your hands are full and there is liquid and technology involved, reconsider your strategy.
- Always dress warmly or bring a sweater to the dentist or doctor’s office.
- A 12-minute mile is the same distance as an 8-minute mile.
- Bad habits are hard to break, but so are good ones.
- If you’re traveling for work, then traveling is work.
- If you get the nachos stuck together, that’s one nacho.
- Spending money on gear that makes your hobbies more comfortable and/or safer is a good investment.
- If you can, arrange your days so that you can leverage when you’re at your best. (And do fewer hard things when you’re struggling.)
- Do not make big decisions or purchases (including final sale purchases or things where measuring is involved) when in a hurry, overtired, or sick/have a fever.
- Use/wear/eat/drink your nice things. They will bring you joy and elevate the mundane. Exception: if you’re saving something specific to motivate you to reach a certain milestone or accomplishment.
- Learn how to do a VLOOKUP in Excel.
- When putting together a document (memo, spreadsheet, slide deck), even a rough draft, use your company’s brand font. It automatically makes it seem more polished and like you know what you’re doing.
- Adopting an animal and making them part of your family brings so much joy into your life.
- Never count on in-flight WiFi.
- Don’t throw out (all of) your old towels.
- PTO is part of your total compensation. If you don’t take it, you’re making less money per hour than you could be.
- Not making a decision is making a decision.
- In the absence of facts, a plan to gather facts is the next best thing. (credit: former Meetup colleague, Annyce Davis)
- Take good care of your body (and mind, which, yes, is part of your body). As McGruff The Crime Dog says in his hit song, Make Your Body Last, “Just think: in all the world, there’s only one you. And anything you ever do will be done in your body.”
- Pack a nice set of pajamas when you travel. It feels luxurious and gives you something to lounge in.
- Use up your rewards points/dollars. You never know when *they* will cancel the program.
Here’s to learning more lessons at 40!