How Morning Activities and a Note Habit Starting at 52 Changed Me from Someone Who Couldn't Keep Anything Up

I'll do my best starting today.

Have you made that resolution, only to procrastinate again today?

I used to live exactly that kind of life.

Until 2024, I would look for reasons why I couldn't do things, make excuses to myself, and just drift through my days.

Every day was spent mindlessly scrolling through my smartphone on the commuter train. When I got home from work, I'd use being tired as an excuse to lounge on the sofa and watch TV.

I can't go on like this.

While I felt a vague sense of anxiety and impatience, I just couldn't take that first step.

Since the beginning of this year, I've made a firm resolution to update my note every day and have consistently kept up with reading during my morning activities.Now, the hurdle for continuing things and taking action has lowered a little.

Taking action first. I feel that is very important.

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■ The magic of 'taking action now' to change your life

In the midst of this, I read a newsletter from a business expert yesterday that really shook me.

According to that expert, if there are 10,000 people who want to succeed, only 100 will actually take action. And of those, only 1% will be able to continue that action.

If you do the math, only one in 10,000 people will ultimately reach success.

When I saw those numbers, a chill ran down my spine.

There are people who decide at a late-night convenience store to start exercising tomorrow and buy a huge amount of protein. But much of that protein ends up sleeping in the back of a closet until it expires. Or the sight of expensive English conversation materials that were bought but never opened, just gathering dust on a bookshelf.

Haven't you seen that somewhere before?

■ What are the concrete steps to take action?

The author of the newsletter also explained in detail the concrete steps for taking action.

First, it is important to clarify your purpose.

Clarify the fundamental aspect of 'why you are taking action' apparently.

For example, when aiming for automation or building business systems.

The author of the newsletter shared from their own experience that they had the goal of 'wanting time freedom.' As a writer, they were earning 300,000 to 500,000 yen a month working about four hours in the morning, but they wanted to cut even those four hours. They love writing itself, but wanted to avoid being chased by work just to earn a living. They wanted to write with more mental ease.

That was the thought behind it.

Once the purpose is set like this, the next step is to set specific numerical goals apparently.

In the case of the newsletter author, they set a specific goal of 'aiming for 300,000 yen in automated income per month to gain time freedom.' Then, they broke down the work required to achieve that goal into small, specific daily tasks.

I personally gained a major realization by learning this step-by-step goal-setting method.

Instead of vaguely thinking 'I'll start something,' first clarify the purpose, set specific numerical goals from there, and break them down into daily actions.

This way of thinking can be applied to the note updates and morning activities I am currently continuing. In fact, starting yesterday, I immediately wrote down my own purpose and goals.

■ Creating a sure path to achieving goals

The newsletter author emphasized as an important point for achieving goals that you should never include 'luck factors' in your plan.

This is because if luck factors are included, it creates an escape route of 'it was just bad luck' when you fail.

Instead, they explained that it is important to break down the plan specifically to the level where 'if I do this and that, theoretically I can achieve the goal 100%' .

What was even more interesting was that the newsletter author also touched on their own private goal setting.

'When I die, I want at least a few people to grieve for me. And I want to die with a smile.' They said they have this long-term goal.

To achieve this goal, they said they are starting by cherishing their relationships with the people close to them.

For example, if their partner is working outside, they finish the housework, prepare meals, or go to pick them up with an umbrella on rainy days; they say that by accumulating these small daily actions, they can surely get closer to their goal.

Even actions that seem trivial at first glance can surely lead to achieving the purpose if they are continued every day.

Reading this newsletter made me think deeply.

When I started updating my notes and morning activities, I started with just a vague thought of 'I want to change something,' but perhaps I actually needed to re-examine the true purpose behind it.

Now, I feel like I can gradually see the concrete goals that lie beyond consistency.

■ Turning Life Around Starting with Small Steps

The author of the newsletter presented a very interesting perspective on concrete actions toward achieving goals.

It is the idea of gradually expanding the circle starting from one's immediate surroundings.

First, start by cherishing the 0-meter range around you—that is, your closest family and partners—and from there, gradually expand the circle of relationships to friends and colleagues.

I felt that this approach could be applied to any goal.

I started updating my note and doing morning activities in January of this year, but instead of setting big goals from the start, I began by organizing my daily habits.

Waking up at 4:00 AM to read for 30 minutes. Writing on note after returning home. I realize that the accumulation of small actions is gradually changing my life.

The newsletter also contained a powerful message: "You can turn your life around right now."

Have the image of turning your life around, even if it's just by one millimeter more than yesterday. If you start acting today, your life tomorrow will be a little better, and if you act tomorrow too, your life the day after will be even better.

The author says that such a daily accumulation will eventually lead to a brilliant and rich life.

I felt greatly encouraged by these words. As someone working at a Type A continuous employment support office while dealing with chronic illnesses, I sometimes feel anxious about moving forward.

But if I start with what I can do in this very moment, a path will surely open up. Believing that, I want to move forward one step at a time.

■ Certain Life Changes Starting from This Very Moment

In the final part of the newsletter, the author left an impressive message.

Any dream or goal is surprisingly within reach if you clarify the means to achieve it.At first glance, even goals that seem impossible to achieve can be broken down into concrete steps, and a path to reaching them will surely appear. that is what they said.

Upon encountering these words, I couldn't help but relate them to my own experience.

Even now at 52, while dealing with various chronic illnesses such as arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, my desire to learn knows no bounds.

Because of lower back pain, it is difficult to sit and study for long periods, and I spend my days consulting with my physical condition. Even so, I have continued reading during my morning activities and writing on note at night without fail for half a year.

As the newsletter author says, the path to achieving goals might be surprisingly close.

However, that is something that only becomes visible once you take the action of 'doing what you can right now'.

Small daily steps eventually create big changes. Believing in that, I want to continue moving forward steadily, one step at a time.

Why not make today the first step toward turning your life around?

Let's start together with what you can do in this very moment. Surely, you will see a slightly different view tomorrow morning.

Thank you for reading until the end.

Your likes, follows, and comments would be the greatest encouragement.

I hope to continue helping you with your growth.

As companions who can grow together, I look forward to our continued journey.