The year before Covid I took 56 flights – so if you asked me then what a regular day looked like, I don’t think I could have given you an answer because no two days were the same. Some days, I would get up at 5 am. Fly to New York to train a team for 10 am. Hit Manhattan for a meeting at noon. Get back to the airport to be home by 3 pm to get my son to hockey practice at 4 pm. Only to get home at 7 pm to get to an event for 8 pm, to get up to do something like that all over again the next day!

During this time, I was also managing my concussion and physical pain debris from my car accident. The tank was more than empty, the gas tank (I am sure!) was dragging along the road. It’s interesting what you can accomplish when you are in survival mode. It’s also interesting what you can accomplish when you are calm and still. Now, almost 2 years later and a bunch of days at home in a row (thank you Covid), I have had some time to breathe, reflect and recalibrate. 

Present days look like this: morning coffee, get the kids off to school, walking, meditating, rehab, meetings, train (all online from home), get groceries, make dinner, have a glass of wine, Netflix, and in bed by 830pm. Ironically, I’ve been more productive with the latter framework.

So, what’s better? I think this comes down to where you are at in your life and what you think you need out of each day. Before Covid, I had only known hustle and hustle more. With that mindset comes great rewards: new experiences, opportunities, meeting new people, seeing new places, sleeping in a bed that you don’t have to make, eating food that you don’t have to cook … it’s almost like I was addicted to the unpredictability of it all and the thrill of jet setting around the world. These days I can barely leave my neighbourhood. 

The only thread between my pre-Covid days and how I operate today, is my daily habits, that no matter what environment I’m in, keep me focused and in productive mode. First, it’s my commitment to setting goals. I have done this since I was 17 years old. I set yearly, monthly, and daily goals. Every morning I write down or input into notes on my phone what needs to be achieved. And I usually won’t go to bed until everything on that list is complete. 

Lists are good! 

Daily intention – I always set an intention for the day, it’s unplanned. I just close my eyes and depending on where I am, or what my mindset is, I make that intention. I practice gratitude every day. I remind myself daily how lucky I am to be alive and on this earth. I drink coffee every day – it makes me so happy that I go to bed excited about my cup of coffee in the morning. 

I call my mom and dad every day because I can. My blessing in my life is my family, and I do not take this for granted ever. I drink water whenever I can – I always have a water bottle beside me.  I eat a salad every day. Eating salad also makes me happy, and I feel like it’s a gift to all my organs – like a ‘thank you for working so hard every day processing all of the other crap we ingest (consciously or not ). 

I try to offer a compliment to someone every day or at least smile at someone every day. If I have learnt anything over the last few years, it’s that we may look ok, but we can still be suffering on the inside. I move every day for at least an hour, movement is my medicine. I take care of my skin. I never go to bed with makeup on. I tell my son that I love him every day – he’s my angel. Oh, one last thing. I eat a piece of pepperoni every day – I know it’s strange.