Part of being an alpha is simply getting shit done. Successful men not only take action on their motives but follow through to see them fulfilled. Even when the original goal is not attained, the journey of embarking on some sort of mission or task yields a man to undergo the process that may alter the end goal. Nonetheless, the man achieves and learns a great deal whilst in hot pursuit.

However, it’s easy to lose direction, so having a tool to ensure that your slacking ass keeps up the pace helps maintain forward momentum in making moves every single day. Thoughts of productivity and grand ventures enter our minds all day only to be forgotten and set aside by thoughts of stress, entertainment, and of course, slinging dick. Actions speak louder than words, but having an idea down on paper is a good starting point. It’s time you stop saying, “I’ll have to remember to do that” and start making a game plan.

The answer is simple, keep a diary, a journal, a notebook, or whatever you want to call it in order to retain your masculinity. The point is to create a to-do list, accompanied by any other notes that will aid in organizing your life. Additionally, it allows for analysis of past events, etc., and leads to deeper introspection and growth. Listed below are what I consider essential items for such documents.

-Date – I like the Weekday, Month Day, Year format. (Friday, January 17, 2014)

-Exercise – Your health comes first, because you can’t have any game if your game piece is weak and toxic.

-Important dates – You don’t want to forget these, especially if you planned a date later in the week.

-Work/School related tasks – You also don’t want to forget these objectives or bullshit homework assignments.

-Chores – Everyone has daily chores to complete, or else you’re just a lazy, unkempt, dependent Momma’s boy.

-Play Time – It’s important you get to do things you actually enjoy, so make time and effort to do this. Perhaps you’d really like to finish a good book, go fishing, etc.

The rest is open for anything. But first, make sure you cross off ALL of the essential tasks. It’s a good idea to list them in order of most importance to least importance, even though they are all IMPORTANT. Perhaps aligning them in chronological order will more effectively keep you on track throughout the day. The quicker these are eliminated, the sooner you commence play time. Just make sure you don’t half ass anything for the sake of time. That would be a sign of laziness, you fuck. Now, when you start getting more shit done, magically, a wave of consciousness and clarity will fall before your eyes, revealing just how much more productive you can be when you’re organized and have a strategy. I find that when I make a list each night before going to sleep, I wake up in a savage state and start killing my day, and by the time I’m ready to turn in, I take a glance at those check marks with the utmost fulfillment.

If you are seriously committed to training hard in the gym, and not just going through the motions of exercise because you’re supposed to, this is a good place to jot down each workout and note your performance. This is a highly effective tool for tracking your progress and making a cognizant effort to tune into your body. If you are even more dedicated to your health and fitness and focus on eating clean/healthy (as I advise to everyone), staying true to your diet, etc., this is also another good place to log your food, especially if you count macros. Take records of your weight, or various physiological data such as resting heart rate.

I recommend keeping a notebook for the sake of convenience and the space it provides to write thorough notes on each page. I find that the smaller the piece of paper, the less room I have to organize my thoughts. Hang on to a notebook even after you’ve filled it up and moved on to a fresh pad. You never know when you might have to reference something from a few months prior, so remember to write down the date along with the day of the week. I know the infamous iPhone calendar app can be helpful in keeping your life together, but that’s baby record keeping. I’m talking about creating a blueprint for each day; an archive of your life. Feel free to write down some accomplishments on those pages, or even a note-to-self on how you could have improved your game last night.

I’m all for the empowerment of one’s self and taking the responsibility and initiative to lead a more fulfilling life. I have been keeping logs in a notebook since the beginning of high school (I’m 20 now), and it has definitely aided in my productivity. When you keep your shit in check a lot of stress is alleviated. So make a game plan, keep it thorough, strategic, and cross off those tasks like a man on a mission. Because is that not who you are?