I was once told by someone that I should end each day by crossing it off my calendar and saying out loud, "There goes another day of my life, never to return again." Try this for yourself, and notice how much it sharpens your focus. When you end a day with the feeling that you would have lived it the same if you had the chance to repeat it, you gain a sense of gratitude that helps you focus on what's really important to you. When you end the day with a feeling of regret or loss, you gain the awareness to try a different approach the next day".
If we're not careful, we don't notice that the days are passing us by. We take the paths of least resistance, sticking within our comfort zone. We watch TV all evening rather than learn skills that will help us advance. We put up with unwarranted critici, we passively submit to requests rather than assert our needs. We allow a lack of confidence to pass up on an opportunity.
Looking back over the past year, or even the past week, by doing things and stretching myself that I feel I have made the most of my days. Or as the quote says, I would live it the same way if allowed to repeat it. But, to use another cliché, life is not a rehearsal - there is no replay button. Moreover there is no erase and record again facility!