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Some publish these for others to learn from.</p> <p>Three great examples:</p> <ul> <li>Benjamin Franklin’s <a href="http://www.thirteenvirtues.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thirteen Virtues</a>: concise, overarching</li> <li>Marcus Aurelius’ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Meditations</a>: reflective account of lessons learned</li> <li>Ray Dalio’s <a href="http://www.bwater.com/Uploads/FileManager/Principles/Bridgewater-Associates-Ray-Dalio-Principles.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Principles</a>: longer, explores reasons for having principles and outlines his</li> </ul> <p>Ray says “<em>I want you to think for yourself – to decide what you want, what is true and what to do about it</em>“, highlighting the importance of reading such documents as <strong>informational </strong>rather than <strong>instructional</strong>.</p> <p>I.e., don’t look to them to dictate to you how to lead your life, instead take guidance from them in an attempt to arrive at your own.</p> <p>If the term ‘principles’ is off-putting, remember these aren’t intended as concrete rules you can never deviate from. Just guidelines that influence your behaviour and thought processes, informed by previous experiences and analyses.</p> <p>A few things I’d add to my list:</p> <ul> <li>Go outside first thing in the morning and breathe some fresh air</li> <li>No screens before breakfast</li> <li>Drink a pint of water with breakfast (before coffee / tea)</li> <li>Tidy for 5-10 minutes each morning to set a productive tone for the day</li> </ul> </div> </div>