METHOD 1

When I didn't pay attention to my inner voice, I used to try to do everything on my to do list everyday. I tried to feel good by ticking items off my to do list everyday. I tried to convince myself that I had achieved a lot when in reality some of the tasks should have been postponed or canceled for one reason or another as new thoughts entered my head during the day.

What I should have done was to slow down and pay attention to my inner voice.

If you are like me, your controlling side will want to get things done according to that perfect plan in your head (e.g. "Since I am going that way, I should pick up that brochure on the way so that I don't have to make another trip along that route next week.")

Then another voice inside you tells you to forget about the whole trip and go home and have a rest now.

One part (the controlling part) of you wants to make the trip now because you are closer to that route than you have ever been and you figure that it makes logical sense to make that trip now because it is going to save you some time in the future not to make the same trip next week and because of a whole lot of other reasons that seem to mean saving time and money . Another part (the inner voice) of you says just go home or somewhere else now and forget about the whole trip and what this inner voice tells you just does not seem to make any logical sense.

If you were like me of one year ago, you would choose to make the trip. But the better thing to do is stop and listen to yourself and go home and rest.

You must always remember when you listen to your inner voice and go home or do something else and slow down and relax, you shall be in a better position to think and see the bigger picture.

So my point is resist the temptation to do too much even if it means, at the time, saving time and money. The best time to plan is when you have had a break and are refreshed mentally.

This is the real reason why we are taught in school to go to bed early and not stay up late for no good reason.

I used to stay up late to party or read even if I was very tired physically and mentally and went to bed in the wee hours of the morning. This is bad for two reasons. One reason has already been mentioned above. Another reason is I failed to learn the self-discipline that is needed to do other things that mattered to me.