Analytical thinking and planning is required to measurably change any of our autopilot habits ( how we choose our food ) or response patterns ( how we respond to frustration while driving ).
Triggering cognitive thinking in time to make better choices is a fundamental skill . For example , if you can feel your emotions starting to take over , you have a limited window of time in which you can ask yourself strategic questions and make better choices about how to best respond to the situation .
What habits do you wish you had ? How do you wish you could respond in challenging situations ? What would a perfect day entail and what would you eliminate ? Take five minutes now to write up short wish lists with what you would want in each category .
Start a gratitude journal or a ' satisfaction index ' in your diary as a useful way to keep track of your goals . Make a short list of what you are grateful for in your life within these categories . Regularly quantify your current status within each of the categories / aspects by asking yourself : where are the smallest and largest gaps ?
Research to help you on your journey . There is a wide range of online sources as well as formal coaching and educational courses . Ask yourself - what have you done in the past to help bridge those gaps ? What have others done ?
Brainstorm your list of specific goals that , if successfully completed , would help you eliminate the gaps in your quality of life . You should be very clear about your essential human needs . You can improve the quality of your life by giving yourself what you truly need to support and enhance life .
SMART is a helpful guideline to be able to make your goals easier to achieve . Specific , Measurable , Attainable , Relevant , Time-bound .