4-quarters mind hack 🕑

Starting my day with a good run? Oh, that's my jam! 🏃🏻‍♀️ But, let's be real, there are days when the snooze button wins, and I end up sleeping in. A sluggish start somehow feels like an omen of doom, like the universe is conspiring to turn the whole day into a dud.

And here's the kicker: it's not just about missing my morning run. Nope, sometimes, all it takes is a dash of bad news served up with my morning coffee, and bam! My spirits nosedive and I'm convinced that it’s going to be a ‘bad’ day ☹️.

Picture this: a terrible meeting at work, a client dropping us like a hot potato, or the occasional heated argument with my spouse. Any of these can make me want to throw in the towel and declare the day a complete disaster. Can you relate?

If you're anything like me, you've probably experienced this too—letting one bad moment cast a shadow over your entire day. Our minds are quick to label a day as a 'bad day' with just a little nudge from negativity.

But wait, there's hope! I recently stumbled upon a mind hack that feels promising—The 4 Quarters Method. I'm excited to share it with you because, let's face it, we all have those days when we need a reset button.

Here's how it works: Imagine your day as a basketball game with four quarters, and don't forget the halftime break (sleep). If you sleep for 8 hours from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., that leaves you with 16 wakeful hours, which you can split into four quarters:

• Quarter 1: 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

• Quarter 2: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• Quarter 3: 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Quarter 4: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Even if you've had a lousy first quarter, remember that it's just the beginning. You've got three more quarters to turn things around. For instance, let's say you had a rough start like me arguing with my teenage kid in the morning during Quarter 1. Instead of surrendering to the idea of a "bad day," I tell myself, "That's just one quarter down." At 10:00 a.m., it's like the start of a fresh game. I get another chance to win.

There's more. We can take this mind hack a step further by assigning key tasks and activities to each quarter based on your personal rhythms and priorities.

For example:

• Quarter 1 can be all about physical activity and deep work sessions when you're most energetic.

• Quarter 2 can handle those administrative tasks and meetings.

• Quarter 3 is your secret weapon for those top-priority projects, and

• Quarter 4? Well, that's when you shift gears into spending quality time with loved ones, some self-reflection, or maybe even a hobby you adore.

By breaking the day into quarters, we're not just hitting the reset button; we're structuring our time effectively. It's like creating time blocks for productivity, self-care, and relaxation. It's about organizing our day so we can tackle anything that comes our way, and turn every quarter into a win.

So, here's my challenge to you: the next time life throws a curveball your way, remember, it's just one quarter. You've got three more to make it a victory. And as you assign tasks to each quarter, you'll find that even the toughest days can turn into well-rounded successes.

Keep winning those quarters 🙌