By Daniel Bobinski
In this final installment of my series on Stephen Covey’s book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” I want to offer suggestions for what one might do to “sharpen the saw” in the four key areas identified by Covey. By way of review, the four areas Covey identifies for personal renewal are physical, social, mental and spiritual.
In no way is what follows an exhaustive list of ideas. It doesn’t even come close. If nothing listed here sounds appealing, I encourage you to identify other renewal activities that are agreeable to you.
Let’s start with a few ways to undertake personal renewal in the physical arena.
- Sleep. It sounds basic, but it’s a necessary fundamental. The reason I mention it is 35% of Americans miss the mark when it comes to getting the recommended 7 hours of nightly sleep.
- Get some type of exercise. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense activity each week. Yes, even walking counts.
- Pay attention to food choices. America’s supermarkets do not contain the same high-quality food we enjoyed 60-70 years ago. Choosing organic foods that don’t have pesticides or seed oils is a good start.
Here are some thoughts on sharpening your saw in the area of social renewal:
- Spend time with friends and family. Plan barbecues or family nights that don’t include mobile phones. Give yourself bonus points by focusing on what’s going on in your family and friends’ lives, not your own.
- Join a club or volunteer organization that aligns with your interests.
- Attend concerts or plays or sporting events. Or, just stop at a park to watch a random Little League or soccer game.
And here are some ideas for mental renewal:
- Read or listen to books on topics that interest you. You could even start a book club.
- Learn a new skill or hobby. It’s not only stimulating, it also boosts your creativity.
- Start a journal or a blog. The act of articulating your thoughts and feelings on various topics helps you articulate your position better and also aids in memory retention.
Finally, some thoughts on spiritual renewal:
- Find ways to express gratitude. Studies show this actually decreases stress hormones. Done over time it also improves sleep and overall mood. The same is true about practicing forgiveness and showing compassion to others. (Note – it’s best to start by forgiving yourself.)
- Spend time each day connecting with your spirituality. Even five minutes of quiet contemplation on the direction of your life and the principles by which you live brings a sense of peace.
- Attend religious or spiritual services that align with your principles.
Renewal activities increase our production capability. Driving a car 30,000 miles without doing any maintenance results in a less reliable car. Similarly, to remain effective in what we do, we need personal renewal.
Let me close this series by recommending Stephen Covey’s book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” even if you’ve already read it before. Putting its concepts into practice helps us be more effective in both our personal and professional lives.
Daniel Bobinski is a best-selling author and a popular speaker at conferences and retreats. For more than 30 years he’s been working with teams and individuals (1:1 coaching) to help them achieve excellence. He was also teaching Emotional Intelligence since before it was a thing. Reach Daniel by email at danielbobinski@protonmail.com or his office: (208) 375-7606.
