25 Directives at 25

Telling myself what to do.

25 Directives at 25

I’m turning 25 tomorrow.

So if I’m really lucky, my life is ¼ done.

Here are 25 of the daily directives, or orders, I give myself that make me me.

1. Don’t drink coffee past noon.

2. Eat lots of protein in every meal.

3. Finish showers on cold. Don’t fight it.

4. Stretch and do yoga after every workout.

5. Always make the final decision for yourself.

6. Prioritize the people you love above all else.

7. Bring something to read everywhere you go.

8. Chug a bunch of water right after waking up.

9. Slow down. Never rush unless absolutely necessary.

10. Don’t check your phone for the first hour of every day.

11. Avoid gossipers and people who are bitter or negative.

12. Instead of resting between sets, do a knees over toes exercise.

13. “If that’s the worst thing that happened to me today, I’m doing pretty good.”

14. Eat your frog. Always complete your hardest most daunting work first.

15. Walk 10,000 steps per day. Ideally in nature. Leave your phone at home.

16. If something sucks and I can’t change it, have a positive attitude towards it.

17. Make eye contact, smile, and say “hi” to the people you pass walking and running.

18. Run long distances. Swing kettlebells hard and fast and powerfully. Do pull-ups and push-ups.

19. Start each morning by journaling. Transfer anything that’s weighing on your mind to the page.

20. To feel good at the end of the day, do something challenging with your brain and uncomfortable with your body.

21. Love yours. There is an endless supply of things to be jealous, envious, or insecure about. Don’t play the comparison game.

22. When you don’t feel like it, just start by taking the first small step. Put on your shorts, lace up your shoes, open the laptop.

23. Always try. Always ask. You might fail. You might get a “no.” But in great attempts, it is glorious even to fail ¹. And there’s always something to be learned.

24. In a flood of overwhelm when you feel like you need to do everything, you really need to do nothing. Step away, reset, come back later. Allow empty space to figure out what the next most important thing is.

25. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong.

Do I successfully implement these every day? Absolutely not. But I try. 

Here’s to three more quarter centuries! (hopefully)

Lots of love,

Jack

At the bottom of the world in Ushuaia, Argentina. November 2023.

1. Attributed to Cassius Longinus, a Roman senator and general known for leading the assassination of Julius Caesar.