In no order of importance:

1) I now have magnetic whiteboards EVERYWHERE, of all sizes. Some are fixed on the wall, but now I keep a bunch of them just lying around so that they can suddenly appear in a spot I can’t miss. (I finally realized you need to put magnets on the markers or they’ll go to the same place socks and pens wander off to)

2) Like you, I also read books for at least 2 hours each day. To make this easier, I keep about a dozen books scattered across 4 canvas book bags, and I *always* have at least 1 book bag in the car. I read at every spare moment, and am NEVER without a book when I’m waiting in line. If I’m trying to learn/memorize something new, I occasionally make flash cards and carry THOSE around too.
I try to balance the book topics out so that there’s always something for when I’m brain dead, something for when I want deep engagement, something for when I want new ideas, etc.
I’ve been doing this for at least 15 years, and even my kids have the habit of never leaving the house without a book. I reckon a Kindle is in my future…

3. Exercise. Although what/how I do it changes over the years. I think being outside is important, too, so more and more I try to do something that involves air and sunshine more than the inside of the gym.

4. Balance–not “life/work balance”, I mean ride-a-skateboard balance. There is some research that suggests balance plays into useful intelligence, because it’s somewhat a “cognitive leak” when your brain is trying to keep you upright all the time. So, I do exercises for my balance almost every day. (Including balancing on my skateboard, a balance ball, or my horse)

5. I eat almost nothing during the day. This is not a healthy thing to do, I know, but you know that feeling you get when you’re tired after you eat? I have found very little that doesn’t have that effect on me, so during the times of the day I really want to use my brain, I just don’t eat much at all. I start the day with a fruit/protein smoothie, but the rest of the day I just dabble. Again, this is bad advice… but it’s what I have found to work for me for now.

What a great question JP. I’m making a note on the closest whiteboard to think about this some more :) Thanks for asking.

As I read this, I wondered about my own mental habits and found that containing them in 5 and prioritising would be hard. But then it would also serve to focus one’s mind to do this exercise.

You are a kind man, JP. I presume this meme is open to stealing. :-) May I?

I’m fascinated by your first pick: I tried meditation for the first time last week and found it quite a stretch (although I think that’s the point…), but the idea of walking whilst focussing my thoughts really appeals to me as an alternative approach. I love walking around London, so I may well give your technique a try.

I’m also interested in number 3, because it chimes with Euan’s point about ‘Getting Things Done’. I’m personally very bad with to-do lists, I tend to hold things in my mind. But it never occurred to me that I could treat this as a muscle to be exercised and improved.

So thank you, very enlightening.

And I’m loving the Fibonacci sheep. :-)