The Increments

Human beings are creatures of habit, but the extent to which they are can differ between age groups. The life of a child is going to look drastically different than the life of a mature adult due to the amount of habits they have developed.   This is because the younger you are, the more neuroplasticity you have.  Neuroplasticity is the ability for one's brain to change, for one to literally rewire their brain.  Yes, this can be done.  For example, you were not born with the intuition to brush your teeth every day.  The reason it has become second nature is because you have done so repeatedly.  Now, your neurons are expecting that activity.  This means that you have successfully rewired them.  The same holds true for all habits, good or bad, which is why it is absolutely vital to develop a few, fundamental habits.   Consequently, our Sticky Note System is topped off with the "The Vitalities List".  Every item on this list needs...

The Sticky Note System is holistically important, but some sticky notes hold more prominence than others. The Personal Development List is by far the most foundational, the ultimate prerequisite.  Essentially, it is a list of the biggest issues in your life that warrant attention.  This list will be divided into two tiers.  Items categorized under practice-based personal development fall under the first tier.  This can include spending time in solitude and/or meditating, memorizing scripture, eating healthier, etc.  The second tier lists mindset-based areas of personal development.  Examples of this are humility, respect for parents, and contentment. This part of the Sticky Note System is incredibly simple.  Look at this list every day and choose one or two things to work on (ideally one from each tier).  Then work on them.  

  Weekly e-mails, zoom calls, and more.  If there's anything humans are prone to forget, these are it.  Here's the problem with this.  Improving yourself and taking on leadership positions inherently includes these responsibilities.  For example, as the president of my local National Homeschool Honor Society chapter, I sometimes have to send emails on specific days.  In addition, there are a lot of random, unscheduled tasks that fall on me to be completed.  And this principles apply to all the other leadership positions I hold.  However, it's hard to balance all of these things that are scheduled or even unscheduled with a to-do list.  The solution I've found is the third part of the series, "The Sticky Note System".  It's called the responsibilities list.   Here's how it works: Create a simple list of the responsibilities you have outside of school.  This isn't a list of all the chores you have to do because of your posit...

  I remember when I filled the gas tank with my parents' car for the first time.  It was shocking.  I mean, people had already told me that it was going to be expensive.  But actually seeing the price per gallon add up and then realizing that this was a routine payment was quite the experience.  People are willing to pay a lot of money for fuel.  Why?  Well, it gets them places.  This story begs the question, how often do you think about the ways that you fill your fuel tank of motivation?  For most people, the answer is not often, or even never.  Here's a way you can change that.  It's the second part of my beloved Sticky Note System: The Fuel List  The Fuel List is something that a good friend of mine introduced me to.  It's really simple.  You keep a list of names on a sticky note.  These names belong to hard-working peers who either compete with you on the daily or are going into the same career path as you....

  I still don't know how my grandparents did it.  They lived most of their lives without sticky notes.   It doesn't make logical sense to me, and it never will.   My grandparents must be superhumans to have survived like this.  If you aren't a superhuman, then we are in the same boat.  We must have sticky notes to function, which is why this is the first article of a 5-part series entitled, "The Sticky Note System".  Throughout this series, I will guide you in developing your very own comprehensive system of 5 different sticky notes.   Unfortunately, the first sticky note you need on your desk is relatively rudimentary and boring.  Nevertheless, it is vital to your work life.  So, without further ado, let's discuss the to-do list.   The to-do list should be a sticky note containing all of your tasks for the day.  I recommend a three-tier system.  The first tier details anything you need to get done that...