The Tidbit (April 7, 2021)

The Power of Tomorrow

The Mental Arts Tidbit

Current Musing

I was watching a course about procrastination when this little gem of advice popped out from one of the modules. The quiz question asked me to identify what was the best course of action when you’ve felt like you’ve had a “blah” of a day in terms of productivity. The answer? To make a list of things that you want to do tomorrow.

I thought that this was pretty good advice, not only for bouncing back from a bad day at work where nothing seems to get done, but also in jiu jitsu. When I take notes in my journal after class, I take the time to write out my impressions of how training went generally. Was I perplexed at how to retain my guard against a certain partner? Did I feel directionless when trying ot pass a specific kind of guard? Where was I make recurring mistakes, in a certain sweep attempt or a submission defense?

These questions are what I designate as places for “further learning.” I don’t see them as mistakes (even if they were mistakes), or things that are “bad” for training. To me, they are simply little nuggets of data and exciting opportunities for me to research more. It makes me excited to write a journal of how my training went — instead of atoning for my sins, I’m actually just reflecting on what can make me even better. I’m learning how my notes can be used as a resource to help me, as opposed to a burdensome chore.

Try This Tidbit

If you find yourself having a bad day, ask yourself what you can do differently tomorrow. How does this shift your mindset and mood?