16 Micro-Actions to Love Your Last Day on Earth
Because I had a brain glitch and thought it was the end
I still don’t know what happened. My brain wasn’t connecting my words and thoughts, and I lost the ability to communicate, which, for anyone, is extreme and hazardous. It turned out it was potentially life-threatening and a precursor to something ominous, and I had to rush to the ER.
I did not have a stroke, thank God. It wasn’t a brain tumor either (which is what I secretly feared). Luckily, all other tests also came back negative. I am so grateful and blessed I’m in the clear for now. Though, it was scary as hell.
All I kept thinking through this neurological event was…
1 / What happens if I’ve really lost my mind and can’t’ get it back?
2 / What could I have done differently to prevent this?
3 / What should I be doing now if it is severe?
4 / What would I do tomorrow, and the next day if this is the start of my last days on earth?
My wish for you is that you never have to live through this type of episode EVER. But now that I have lived through it, my life has shifted ever so slightly.
This health scare inspired me to make micro-changes in my living routine. It got me thinking about all the stupid stuff we do or don’t do for our bodies, like how we never floss or always forget to take our vitamins or feed it junk or how we lose sleep in favor of binge-watching TV. It got me thinking about all the little changes I would make if I got another chance.
What would you do differently to support your body and keep it in optimal health as long as possible? What would you change in your life if your life depended on it?
It sounds daunting when you think of all the possibilities. And, I know I’m being dramatic and maybe even morbid, but I’m also evolving closer towards middle age.
So I started a list — a list of priorities that I could practice religiously to ensure that I do not fail my human existence on purpose, or at least, not until later when it’s time.
I hope that these small efforts will add up and lead to a happier, healthier life daily. So far, it has been a month, and it’s all helping me be more aware and more focused and more content.
Here are the micro-actions (with estimated times) that are creating more peace with my life and acceptance of the sun setting on another day:
Prioritize your health
For obvious reasons, this is on top of my list. Because of my ailment, I had to cut out alcohol and reduce caffeine down to one cup. I cried when the doctor told me this. “Does he not understand that we are in a pandemic?” I thought. Coffee and tequila had become requirements to quarantine, just as much as getting on Zoom for work meetings.
The first few weeks were trying, but then it became a routine. Anything you set your heart on is possible. Getting through the hard part takes courage.
Like they say, “if you are going through hell, keep going.”
Micro-actions:
1. Sleep 8–10 hours a night
2. Cut down caffeine and alcohol (0 mins)
3. Exercise daily (10 mins)
4. Take vitamins every day (2 mins)
Do more of what you love
What you love will be unique for you and easy to personalize and list out. Think of the things that you get lost in, the actions that bring you the most joy, the times when you are most excited, and filled to the brim with brightness.
If this doesn’t help, ponder on what you would do if you could only pick one thing to do forever. I know I would be stuck in an endless library stocked to the brim with exciting books or maybe on my private island where I could dance in the light of the sunset. What do you love doing?
Micro-actions:
5. Read a new book a week (30 mins daily)
6. Write every day (1 hour)
7. Dance alone or with my family every day (15–20 mins)
8. Go to the beach often (4 hours every other week)
Connect with yourself
Pay attention to the signs your body is giving you. I had recurring migraines for a few weeks and ignored them. The day the neurological event happened, I kept pushing through the signals. I should have canceled that conference call and lay down; instead, I dismissed my body, and it rebelled against me (as it should).
If you don’t listen to the whispers of your body trying to get your attention, you will get yelled at.
Micro-actions:
9. Morning gratitude (5 mins)
10. Manifestation meditation nightly (15 mins)
11. Maximize quiet time in your day (a much as possible)
12. Listen to your body regularly (1–2 mins every few hours)
Show up and show love
Be present with the people you care about most. Even if they are thousands of miles away, you can still connect often using technology, an old-fashioned phone call, or even snail mail. If they are right next to you, make sure to be right next to them (not on your phone or computer). Make time to pay attention to the intricacies of the humans that you love in your life.
There is no higher act of respect or love like really listening to someone else.
Micro-actions:
13. Connect with powerful women weekly (1–2 hours)
14. Check-in with family members once a week (1–2 hours)
15. Send thank you cards for any reason (5 mins)
16. Kiss and hug more daily (10 mins)
Recap
No need for a near-death or near-health experience to give you a new perspective. Take my notes and use them to live your life better — to love your life.
/ Prioritize your health
/ Do more of what you love
/ Connect with yourself
/ Show up and show love
These micro-actions might not change your health directly or immediately, but they will change your mood and ensure you have fewer regrets in the end.
Your life is longish until it flashes before you in the blink of an eye. There is no ultimate motivation, like thinking about your day as it were your last.
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” — Mae West
Do everything possible, every damn day, to make your heart sing, and others smile. There are a million tiny habits you can start today to maximize your happiness and make you love every minute of your existence.
What will you add to your living regimen to love your final day?
