I consider myself to be a person who is structured and routined in my daily design. I make sure that my work, family, and free time are all planned out and put on the calendar. I created this type of schedule so I could feel in control of my day and allow certain days/times that deep work can flow smoothly. Through this type of setup, I have learned how to get ahead in my work and efforts to achieve my goals. I know many people have to battle each day to get up and go to work, the gym, deal with family, etc. In this blog, I want to share how I regulate my day and how you can avoid all of that hassle by creating habits and schedules and working on the five areas I will share with you. The five areas that I work on are:

1. Work/ Career

2. Money

3. Health

4. Family/Relationship

5. Spiritual

These five areas are in no specific order, but you can put them in any order of importance to you. These areas help me to learn/produce so that I can remain focused on the next steps toward my goals. The magic of these five areas is how you approach developing each of them. The balance can differ significantly from person to person. I want you to use this Tune-Up Series more as a guide than a set of directions. How you approach each area will have a massive impact on the daily/future growth in your life.

Work/ Career

The area of work and career growth is something I use to identify what I need in the next steps of my working life. For example, if I am starting a new program or creating a new product, I have to devote a certain amount of time to learning and completing that goal. The time can vary from project to project, but what I want you to do is not worry so much about the task at hand but rather the time you will devote to it. We all have 24 hours a day to get all the things we need to get done. This can include how many hours a week we choose to work. The norm for many people is a typical 9 am-5 pm job. This means that you are working at least 40 hours per week. This might be plenty for some to get all they need out of their job/career, but then there are the people who would not dare to work that much or that little.

The hours you define to work each day/week will determine the progress you will make in the area. No matter how much money you have (or don’t), you can create a situation for growth to occur. Me, I work a large number of hours each week. This is not because I need the money but rather because I have a huge career goal set out for me. I have a place I want to be, and it requires me to work harder than the day before. I have to continually challenge myself to be productive and make progress that will help me reach certain goals by the time frame I set forth. This leads to the question: How can we be productive workers each day?

To be an effective worker each day, you must have definitive goals you want to reach each day/week/year. Once that is in place, you will have to look at what can be done and what needs time to be done. If you are lacking in any area, then you must bolster your skills/knowledge so that you can be equipped to handle the tasks. You do not want to have to wait for something or someone because it will slow down progress. If something is at a halt and there is nothing you can do, then it is crucial that you pivot to another area of work that also needs your attention. Make sure you have constant movement and progress toward your work goals. You might have to spend some of this time in the office, working with clients, researching, emails, etc. The list can go on, but it is essential that each day you label your working hours and make sure you take time to learn/plan out the next phases of your career.

Money

Money is different than working and a career because it is something that must be learned. Though the work you complete each day can help you attain large amounts of money, it does not teach you about money as a whole. If you are a savvy person, then your goal might be to have your money work for you instead of it being the other way around. Whether you invest, gamble, or save/spend, it is crucial to understand how money is used and made in society. I read many books and listen to podcasts on finance. The best way I learn is that if I am unsure of something, I do my research and learn the skill. I will say that you should have an interest in what you are looking for to make your work more enjoyable.

Finance, accounting, and math have always been areas that I enjoyed. My brain does well with these types of subjects because it is structured and formulated. Though, some things cannot be as simple for me because numbers are a passion of mine. I chose this as one of my areas of abundance because money has been something I was strangely attracted to at an early age. Perhaps since I didn’t grow up with an abundance of it now, I am on a mission to have more than I can ever spend. The “money” area I set up is far from greed in the sense that the money I earn will not buy me fancy cars and big homes. In our society, it can be challenging not to be materialistic in some form, but I do my best not to let worldly possessions get in the way of my true money goal.

Though I know I cannot take or spend it all in my lifetime; I want to have an abundance in this area to be able to give. I have plans for the money that I accrue in my working life to help lift other people to the same level as me, or even better, if possible. Money allows you to do the things you want to do in your life, but it also always you to help more people. That is what I want to do with the money I get. This comes from the idea of making sure your cup is overflowing before you start filling up other people’s cups. In order for me to get to that point, I have to keep going with no days off. I have to learn and develop new skills often so that I can create a position for myself that will benefit the rest of the world.

Health

Health is an area that many people avoid or find difficult to upkeep in their daily life. This is because it has become easier to be unhealthy than to be healthy. In my schedule, I have allotted gym time, meal prep time, and research time that all aid me in being more healthy. The saying, “We are what we put in our body,” holds true even today. We have to understand that the healthier we are, allow we to do more things in a day. Now, this doesn’t mean a healthy person will be active and an unhealthy person will not. However, if we look at the energy levels between the two, then a healthy person has the capability to get more done.

Things like focus, dedication, and habits can have a huge impact on your health and energy. The reason why this is an area I apply to be abundant in is that I understand the benefit I get when I invest time in this area. When I do not follow those healthy habits like eating well and going to the gym, I feel more prone to a “just enough” mentality. Though my mind wants to do more, my body has a hard time keeping up. I know for a fact that I am more productive when I am in shape than when I am not. I learned that initially in high school, and it holds true to this day. That is why I set aside time each week that will help promote better health.

There are many things you can do to be healthy, but what you do must be able to be sustained. You do not want to start running 20 miles and expect to keep up that paste. You want to be realistic in how you approach your health learning/schedule. You want to have a schedule that you can build on and grow into. If you start for the top, then you might be able to sustain that energy/intensity, but from my experience, it fades due to burnout. Instead of rushing to the end result, you would be best off keeping “the end in mind” (Steven Covey). Notice the benefits you get from following those healthy habits. Whether you decide to get a trainer, or dietitian, read, or watch more videos on being more healthy, then the time invested will pay dividends quickly if that healthy lifestyle can be maintained.

Family/Relationship 

This area is as straightforward as it can be. This area is used for how I designate time in my relationship investments. I do separate this from work because a personal life is needed to disengage from working and having a burnout. What I try to attain in this area is a wholesome type of relationship. If I am unsure about a particular situation, then I will read a book or article to give me a deeper insight into what I am experiencing. I think many people would benefit from adding this type of learning to their routine because it helps to cultivate more meaningful relationships. I think people not working on a person-to-person interaction have lost the skill to be good neighbors. We are living in a society where everyone has their own opinion, and regardless of what they believe, it is the only correct answer.

I remember when I was young, I wanted to have as many Myspace (social media website from the early 2000s) friends as I could. Though I may have only spoken to a handful of the people on my friend list, I wanted to increase the number of people who were on my friend list. Growing up, I learned that it is not the number of friends that matters but rather the quality. I will go as far as to say that if you have one quality person in your life, then you are extremely blessed. In this area, to seek abundance, you should try to strengthen the bond between that one person. Be it your spouse, sibling, parent, or friend. Whomever it is you choose to invest in, then you must learn how to create and sustain a meaningful relationship.

What you can gain from that relationship can be worth more than any bank account. We are social creatures, and we need to interact with others. Each day we depend on another person, whether it be the food we eat or the clothes we wear. We all have a part to play, but we have to learn how to cultivate those meaningful relationships. We have to learn how to be as one people under one sky. We have to keep the people in our life that bolster us to be better people. I think having that type of abundance can heal the world from the hate and injustice that occurs. This area I am 100% in control of, and I do not just let anyone walk into this area of my life. Remember, quality over quantity, and you will see a huge difference in all you are.

Spiritual

If you are a religious or spiritual person, then this area will always be present in your weekly, if not daily, schedule. You might set some time in the morning for prayer or meditation. Perhaps you plan an entire day of the week to relax/keep the day sacred/holy. Regardless of how you celebrate or express this belief, it should be done with the intent to fill you up. This area should have energizing properties that will give you more strength, focus, and motivation to continue to make meaningful choices and efforts in life. What you believe and what you think is the foundation for everything that is you. If you are a person with no beliefs and dreams, then it can be difficult to progress because there is no incentive. That incentive might be to be in a position where you can help others out.

No matter what belief you have or don’t, you can reach a point of understanding. This point is called many different things around the world. The Buddhists call it enlightenment, and Christian religions might call it something along the lines of “Holy revelation.” Whether you believe in a deity as this person or yourself, you must realize the power it brings. You have the power to do great good in this world. You can be someone’s miracle today, and you do not even have to try. Your character will show who you truly are. When I look around at nature, I see the circle of life and balance in effect. That is what you should seek within yourself too. You should feel balanced and at peace. There is no need to worry or doubt yourself. You were born to be great and share your wealth of you with the world.

So, after speaking on these different areas, how can they create a life filled with abundance? How can designating five areas in your life and working toward them help you to create the wealth you seek in your life? The five areas that I chose can be modified to fit your lifestyle and needs. The reason why I want you to choose five is so that you can mix things up and make constant progress in multiple areas of your life. Now, the areas are yours to decide, but the five you choose should embellish your life. If you wanted to have less or more than five, then you can do that, but you run the risk of spreading too thin or being overburdened. Now, if you do not want to worry about relationships, money, health, and spiritual growth, then that is fine. I know many scientists who devote their whole life to working. Remember, the areas you choose (if different than my five) should help you be a better person each day. You have to decide what you want out of your life and then create and reinforce the areas that will help you live/feel abundant.

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts