[For those of you who didn’t see my Week 1 article, my “GNAR Quest” is inspired by Steven Kotler, who developed a science-based approach for Peak Performance Aging (PPA) and staying “gnarly” at any age. My own GNAR Quest is to get back in shape for my seventh Ironman race, and each week I’ll share how things are going.]
One of the practices that we are encouraged to implement in a GNAR Quest is to establish clear routines to start and end our day; they’re called “Set-Up” and “Set-Down” routines. These get our day set up for success and give us the opportunity to reflect at the end of the day on how well we’ve managed our time.
Remember, as part of this Quest, we are focusing on making the most of the time we have. That’s why it’s critical to keep track of how well we are achieving our goals each day.
My “Set-Up” routine includes a 2-mile, pre-dawn walk to the beach. That gives me valuable time to reflect and plan for the day—while I also get some physical activity, some fresh air, and some time to spend with my dogs, Nilla and Posey.
My evening “Set-Down” routine includes reflecting and journaling on the day, setting my KDP (Key Daily Priorities) for the next day, and inventorying how I did on hitting the key elements of PPA (Peak Performance Aging).
This may sound like a lot, but really it takes me only 10-15 minutes to set up and set down my day. I admit that I don’t always complete both routines. (I’m human!) But I make an effort every day, because I know they are an investment that will establish the discipline I’ll need to achieve my ultimate GNAR Quest.
I’d love to know—what are your morning and evening routines? Please share in the comments below.
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Want to get caught up? Read Week 1 of My Gnar Quest: Growing Old, Staying Rad.
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