Mindfulness Practice

We all have big dreams, right? Maybe you want to start a business, write a book, run a marathon, or just wake up before your alarm for once. But here’s the thing—dreams don’t magically come true just because we really, really want them to. (Trust me, I’ve tried.) Nope. They need action. And action needs habits. And habits? Well… habits need discipline. Ugh. Why Motivation is a Liar We love motivation—it’s exciting, energising, and makes us feel like we can conquer the world! But motivation is also flaky. One day it’s got us meal-prepping like a health guru, and the next, we’re eating biscuits straight out of the packet while binge-watching Netflix. The real game-changer? Discipline. The unsexy, often annoying ability to do the thing even when we don’t feel like it. Want to write a book? That means writing when you’d rather scroll social media. Want to get fit? That means working out when your couch whispers sweet nothings to you. Want to save money? That means resisting ye...

I have a morning routine that, on paper, sounds like a productivity dream. I wake up, drink a glass of water, make myself a cup of coffee, do a quick 15-minute workout, journal for a bit, and then dive into lesson planning or writing while my mind is still fresh—all before 6 a.m. when I officially start my day. Sounds great, right? A structured, disciplined start to the morning, setting the tone for the rest of the day. But here’s the reality of how today went: I woke up and had my glass of water—so far, so good. But then, I felt too sore and tired to work out. I made my coffee but added milk (at least I skipped the sugar, so small victories?). I’m supposed to be fasting until 8 a.m., which means no milk or sugar, but today, I just couldn’t bring myself to care. Then came journaling. I opened my notebook, pen in hand, ready to reflect, plan, or pour out my thoughts. And all I could think was: Blah. I’m tired. Not exactly the profound insight I was hoping for. So, I jotted down some...

Raise your hand if you've ever spent 45 minutes formatting a document that should’ve taken five. Or if you've agonised over crafting the perfect email, only to hit send and realise, oops, typo. Welcome to the club—you might be a perfectionist. And while that drive for flawlessness sounds admirable, it’s productivity’s ultimate buzzkill. The Oil and Water Dilemma Picture this: productivity is water, fluid and adaptable. Perfectionism is oil, thick and unyielding. Together? A recipe for stagnation. When perfectionism takes the reins, it convinces you that unless you have the perfect plan, you shouldn’t start. Productivity, meanwhile, just wants to get things done. The result? Your to-do list is stuck at square one while you’re obsessing over whether your bullet points should be circles instead. The Myth of Perfect Here’s the thing: perfection doesn’t exist. It’s like chasing a unicorn—you can dream about it, but you’ll never actually catch it. And while you’re busy hunting for my...