In the latest Evolve Journal we decided to add an 'Advice For Future You' prompt on the daily pages. The purpose behind this was to encourage ourselves to take the time to really reflect on our day and record tips we could refer back to to propel us on our journey of self-awareness.

I won't pretend that I fill out this prompt every day, and that's alright. There's no point forcing something that isn't there. But I am conscious of not missing it two days in a row because, once I fall out of the habit, it's harder to pick up again. 

So, let's delve into the inner workings of my mind...

1. Take a break when you're too tired to concentrate and come back stronger. Don't spend an hour on something that could take 10 minutes. 

^ I also really like sardines! 

2. Thank yesterday, Love today, Create tomorrow. 

3. Keep the process going. Positive mental attitude.

4. Don't spread yourself too thin. Focus on something and do it all in. 4 focuses is too many. 

Reflecting upon what I've been writing - the advice is just as relevant at the time of writing as it will be in the future. 

You get the benefit from writing it in the moment and again a second time when you read it back. (It's also nice to see the weirder stuff that makes it in there like my apparent affinity for sardines).

Taking advice from other people can be difficult. Taking your own can be even harder. If we're able to do it though it can be incredibly rewarding. 

To understand the power of this exercise - try this. The next time you catch yourself engaged in any sort of negative self talk, ask yourself - would I speak to a friend like that? 

Your 'Advice to future you' journal prompt is a simple way to practice speaking to yourself like you would a friend.

Email us at hello@evolvejourney.co.uk with any advice you would like to share. 

Stay friendly x 

A blank canvas can be quite intimidating. When you sit down to paint, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Perhaps it’s a block of creativity or imposter syndrome creeping in. Either way, there’s a very good reason why masterpieces don’t occur accidentally. It’s because they are bloody hard work.

Recently I attended a painting course at the remote Burgh Island Hotel in Devon with the brilliant artist, Emma Carter Bromfield. Burgh Island is a special place, 200m off mainland England, only accessible by a narrow strip of sand which disappears at high tide, leaving only a sea tractor or helicopter as remaining options, the latter being more common than you’d think. The dramatic waves and textured coastline made it the perfect place to get inspired and try to learn something new.

Pictured: Burgh Island on a much calmer day

Below are some lessons I took from it that were more than just brush techniques and could be applied more generally to make for a better life.

In no particular order:

• Do the basics well and consistently. Throughout the day, Emma kept reminding us of something simple she wished she knew when she first started painting over 20 years ago: correct setup and regular maintenance of your area. If you don't have your house in order and the basics sorted, everything else is more difficult; those moments of doubt, panic, and when it all goes wrong are going to be exacerbated. Keep paints on the right side of your canvas if you're right-handed, give yourself plenty of space to move freely, make sure nothing is touching your canvas and clear your space regularly. If your house isn't in order, you will end up with a muddy mess through either silly mistakes or lack of order and separation.

• Lower your expectations. If you think you’re going to magically skip the thousands of hours it takes for mastery, you’re mistaken. Instead, lower your expectations and be happy with your progress, big or small. In the early days of pursuits, disconnecting from the end outcome can be helpful and instead focus on the benefits of the process itself. Be okay with the fact that it is all growth, mistakes are retrievable and often make for a completely new horizon. Quite often for the best, and if not, there's certainly a lesson to be had. Adopt a learning growth mindset, appreciating that the mistakes are just lessons.

• Embrace artistic license. Don’t be afraid to embellish with artistic license to let your creativity flow. Don’t let preconceived notions and fixated ideals halt your progress and frustrate you. The end result may be far away from what you first imagined, but it may still be an awesome outcome.

• Know when to stop. Perfectionism could make things better, or you could end up overworking it and never having any output.

• Learning from someone else's mastery is a tremendous shortcut. Being able to leverage someone else's techniques, ways of working, and advice they’ve picked up from thousands of hours working on something fast-forwards the learning process and is a shortcut to improvement. That's exactly why we are so fond of journaling and are fascinated by the human lessons that have stood the test of time. They have survived because they are so relevant, even today. 

• Everyone has to start somewhere. Don’t let fear of being a novice stop you from trying. Before the course, my own insecurities made me worry that I would be out of place in a room full of talented artists, that I would be mocked for my stickmen. Far from it, everyone was at different stages but super supportive. Taking action might at first feel daunting, but what you can achieve in the long term will be staggering. Don’t regret never starting.

Is there anything you're excited to try or learn? What lessons, coaching or extra help would help you? You'd be surprised how inexpensive and widely available these are in almost anything. 

When you ask people how they are how often do we get back the answer ‘busy’?

Initially in my quest for a more productive life I was convinced if I could increase my output and achieve my goals I would get to the end of the rainbow and there waiting for me would be the pot of gold and internal happiness.

Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. Sure I learnt a ton and got some marginal gains from hacks like the Pomodoro technique and the Eisenhower matrix. But my productivity was almost a mask. I remember furiously adding tasks to my list, feeling almost proud of my busyness, wearing it like a badge of honour, using the small hits of dopamine I’d get from closing off a task as fuel.

Years later and after thousands of tests and iterations of the Evolve Journal™ I now have a different, more nuanced understanding of what it means to be productive.

The Evolve Journal™ offers a blend of Stoic philosophy and actionable strategies. It's not just about doing more but about being intentional with what we choose to do. Using journaling we can escape our daily grind into a meaningful journey towards fulfilment.

What’s the point in more productivity if it makes you miserable?

A trap that many fall into is valuing the destination more than the journey. This is a surefire way have some terrible times and also be quite disappointed when you do actually achieve your goals. 

“There is a strange feeling that one is not yet in real life. For the time being, one is doing this or that… [but] there is always the fantasy that sometime in the future the real thing will come about." Marie-Louise von Franz 

A guide to using journaling for meaningful productivity

Integrating journaling into your morning and evening routines means you can begin and end your day on a note of thankfulness and appreciation. The Evolve Journal™ encourages reflecting on simple joys and successes, setting a positive tone for the day. This act of gratitude aligns your mindset with productivity, ensuring you tackle tasks with a positive outlook. 

Each day you are prompted to answer the simple question ‘Why I’m smiling’ this is a friction-free way of encouraging you to think of the positives in life. Even in your darkest hours to search for a silver lining. After a while, this will train your perspective and shift it to be more positive.

Daily productivity hack - Eat the Frog

Inspired by Mark Twain's wisdom, The Evolve Journal™ has a daily section entitled ‘Eat the Frog’ which emphasises the importance of tackling the most daunting task first. This practice clears the path for enhanced focus and productivity throughout the day, turning challenges into triumphs.

Habit Tracking for Marginal Gains

The power of habit cannot be understated. The journal provides a structured way to monitor daily habits, ensuring you're consistently moving towards your goals. This visual accountability motivates progress and fosters a disciplined approach to personal and professional growth.

Focus on The Domino

Identify the one goal or task that, once accomplished, will set off a chain reaction of success. The Evolve Journal™ guides you in creating this domino in the discovery course. Then its daily structure encourages a laser-focused approach to your objectives. It simplifies decision-making and amplifies impact, driving you closer to your aspirations with each passing day.

Since I started my daily journaling, writing down my domino and reflecting on what I have done that day to move myself closer to knocking it down it has been very motivating. It has helped with decision fatigue as now it is easy if something doesn’t align with the main mission, with the domino, then its easily ignored.

Reflect and Evolve Weekly 

Beyond daily tasks, the journal prompts weekly reflections to assess progress, realign goals, and celebrate victories. This habit of introspection ensures you're not just busy but productive and aligned with your long-term vision.

The Promise of Journaling for Productivity 

Using a guided journaling system like the Evolve Journal™ is more than a productivity tool or hack; it's a lifestyle companion that marries the stoic pursuit of inner peace with the pragmatic approach to daily productivity.

For instance, when faced with a daunting task list, Stoicism teaches us to approach each task with equanimity and focus, transforming overwhelming challenges into manageable actions. This approach not only enhances our productivity but also our satisfaction with our work, as we learn to value the quality of our actions over the quantity. 

By embedding Stoic principles into our daily routines with The Evolve Journal™, we cultivate a mindset that sees beyond immediate obstacles, focusing instead on long-term growth and resilience. This connection between Stoicism and productivity cultivates inner peace, clarity, and purpose in our endeavours, aligning our daily actions with our highest values.

Embedding ancient wisdom into modern life crafts a path to a fulfilling, balanced, and productive life. It aims to avoid the busy for busy sake trap allowing you to focus on what really matters most.

Embrace journaling and start a journey of self-improvement and purposeful productivity.