COOKING BY DEI

LUCA MALACRINO

My Goal & Accountability system consists of: - A Google Document that I update on a yearly basis called: Goals & Growth. - A task-driven journal that I use for 5mins each day called Inspire Now (Amazon) to keep track of the smaller tasks while maintaining balance in all areas. - A standard-lined journal that I use for personal entries in the evening that takes up another 5mins.

THESE DOCUMENTS EXPLAINED GOALS & GROWTH: This is where I write out the main 5 areas (+ personal category) and then list out goals for the year below. Under Career & Finance, I list out the different businesses/side hustles I have going on and list 2 or 3 specific goals for each. The personal one is usually something like getting that tattoo I’ve been wanting for the last year, or when thinking of something to cook, focus on learning more about Asian food. They have to be genuinely achievable, specific enough to know when I have achieved it, and know that it’ll make me feel good once achieved. I also like to treat this day as a sacred day. Choose the perfect playlist and find an inspiring coffee shop to make it happen. Inspire Now Journal This is a must for me as it physically sets up the main 5 areas on a weekly basis, as well as breaking it down into digestible days. I also love that there is a reflection page at the end of the week that encourages you to write down your achievements & lessons learned. At the end of each year, I look through the reflective pages and add them to my Goals & Growth document under new sections labeled: Wins and Lessons. The last part is a personal journal. It’s always by my bed and I simply write the Date - Day of the week. x1 thing I did that helped someone today. x2 ‘Wouldn’t it be nice…’ statements Freewriting. The ‘Wouldn’t it be nice…statement is a wish that would help in life right now. I.e Wouldn’t it be nice…if I woke up feeling incredibly healthy tomorrow with massive energy. I.e Wouldn’t it be nice if I smiled the entire way home from work tomorrow.

REST BUT DON’T QUIT. I am not going to pretend that I have never missed a day of doing this. It would be a huge lie. There have been months that have gone by where I have not journaled and it’s usually because I have been busy, tired, stressed, and mad at myself for missing a few days so I say screw it and stop. I usually wait until I feel depressed to start again.

The easiest way I have improved this habit is by stating the minimum I do each day. No matter how long, or tough the day is, what will I not give up. For me, the

Goals & Growth is easier as it’s one day a year. For the Inspire Now journal - I at least fill out the weekly reflection & planning sheet to use as a reference for the week. For the personal journal - I fill out the first two bullet points and write two sentences for the free writing. I also don’t beat myself up for quitting anymore.

The last thing I want to mention is that I believe that we all have ideas of what we can achieve in life that are dictated by the people around us, our current jobs, and the social norms that society has brainwashed us into believing. These are simply glass ceilings that we live under. Smash the glass ceiling. Dream bigger. Set bigger goals. At the end of the day, it’s more about the growth than the goals.