15 things you should do over the next two weeks

I’m going to be taking a two week hiatus from this blog, so I thought I’d leave you guys with some things to consider that have been kicking around my head for a while. Some are serious, some are kinda sappy and some are just for fun. If you happen to do any of these things, I’d love to hear about it!

1. Start a blog

It is incredibly easy to start a blog these days. Tools like Tumblr and Posterous make it a 5 minute process to get a blog up and rolling. So given that the tech requirements are no longer a road block, the next question is, why should you blog? Here are a few reasons:

• It’ll make you smarter. Forcing yourself to sit back and reflect on your life, your industry, or your passions, is a great mental exercise and usually, turns out, you’ve got some thoughts in there.
• Blogging can be therapeutic. You’ve got something to say, you just don’t have an outlet to say it. Well now you do. Getting things off your chest can help you move on. Like this post about not letting the bastards get you down. Made me feel better to get that off my chest :)
• You’ll become a better writer.

2. Pay it forward a little.

Write a thoughtful note about someone at your company that you think is doing a great job and send it to their boss.

3. Write down everything you eat and send the daily list to someone.

Trust me, you’ll lose weight, guaranteed. You’ll eat healthier and feel better about yourself. Pick someone like your spouse or best friend. Just tell them you’re going to send them a list each day of everything you ate. Use your phone so you can jot it down throughout the day. It’s super easy and it works.

4. Pay it backwards a little.

Think back in your life about someone that helped you. Could be your mom, or a mentor, or a teacher, or your first boss… Find a way to thank them and let them know you appreciate them after all these years. Give them a call, send them a card, or even write a blog about them (like this).

5. Evaluate your career and where you work.

Think long and hard about what you want to be doing. Do you LOVE going to work every day, or do you dread it? Are Monday mornings exciting or an excuse for that 4th cup of coffee. Figure out if you are where you should be. And then…

6. Get passionate about it.

7. Learn to tie your shoes the right way.

I’m not kidding, you’re not tying your shoes the right way. Here’s how to tie your shoes properly, as only a TED conference can explain.

8. Do something completely random.

I’m working with a startup that hopes to inspire people to live a fuller life and do things they normally wouldn’t. Like when I recently went fencing with @ryanptuttle. No I’m not proud of that, but it was a ton of fun and something I’d never normally think to do.

9. Watch a TV series beginning to end.

This is something I think has become much easier in the “Netflix era”. There’s something about watching a TV series, season after season, in a short period of time. There’s nothing else that compares to it. I’m not saying its better than a good movie or a good book…well, I’m kinda saying that. I watched The Sopranos over a 4 month period and it was epic. You get so into the characters and the storyline. A few of my friends have done the same thing with Lost and I’m so jealous because I watched it in real time and can only imagine how much better it is watching it one after another. Try it if you haven’t. A few series I’d recommend: The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Entourage.

10. If you drink coffee, try a french press. Seriously, it will change the way you appreciate coffee. It’s the little things :)

11. Attempt inbox zero.

12. If you’re an app junkie, make a second screen strategy so you don’t become an app hoarder.

13. Vow to be a more positive person.

This list isn’t in any kind of order, but if I was writing it again I’d make this the first thing on the list. Being positive is simply a mindset. Yeah crap happens and its a bummer, but things could be worse, and why not try to look at the bright side instead? Life is so much better if you see the glass as half full.

14. Try to make meetings you have in the next two weeks suck less.

We’re all in meetings and usually, they kinda suck. Here are a few of my tips on how to make meetings suck less. Here’s a better list by a bunch of people on Quora.

15. Add one thing to this list that you think people should do over the next two weeks.