Take the Day

Not every day needs to be about what comes next.

We spend an awful lot of our lives looking ahead: the next project, the next client, the next goal, the next event, the next deadline, and the next "thing" on the seemingly never-ending list of things we convince ourselves that absolutely must get done.

Today, don't.

It's Labor Day, and while the holiday gives us a much-needed break from the constant pressure to "do," maybe it can also give us a moment to appreciate the work we've already done. So, before the alarm on your phone wakes you up tomorrow and we're all back at it as we push to the end of the year, take a few minutes today to:

• Think about something you created this year that didn't exist before.

• Remember a problem you solved that once felt overwhelming.

• Consider someone whose life or business is a little better because of something you did.

• Acknowledge something you're better at today than you were a year ago.

• Remember a mistake that taught you something you needed to learn.

• Celebrate something you're genuinely proud of, even if nobody else noticed.

Then stop.

There's no need to turn reflection into another item on your to-do list. In other words, avoid the urge to immediately start thinking about what you should accomplish next. Just take the day.

We've become incredibly good at measuring the distance between where we are and where we want to be. As a species, we're not nearly as good at turning around occasionally to appreciate how far we've already traveled. Trust me, there will be plenty of time to get back to the grind tomorrow.

Today, take the day.