How to Start Getting Better Sleep & Adjust Your Patterns

It is easy to think that in order to be successful, we should limit the overall amount of time we spend lying down in bed. After all, that time sleeping could instead be used to work a little bit more, right?

Well, it can, but there is also something to be said for more sleep equalling better productivity.

In the high-paced entrepreneurial world, it’s easy to get caught up in the culture of listening to others bragging about how little they sleep, which in turn may make you feel like you need to do the same.

However, “slow and steady wins the race” is a proverb you should connect with, as those who pace themselves can avoid being burnt out later on.

Sure, there is no denying that some successful people thrive on unusual sleeping patterns, but what works for them may not necessarily work for you.

If you’re utterly exhausted each day but convinced that less sleep means you can do more work, then you’re only fooling yourself. Ultimately it can be counterproductive to sleep fewer hours simply to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak.


How to Start Getting Better Sleep

Along with the knowledge that you are preventing fatigue later down the line, there are many great reasons why more sleep can help boost your body and mind, including becoming less distracted, making better decisions over the day, improved memory, and fewer mistakes.

Furthermore, more sleep will make you far less likely to reach for coffee or energy drinks simply to keep you focused. And don’t even think that you can simply “catch up” on sleep over the weekend after a busy week, as this method won’t work at all!

Human beings need a regular sleeping pattern.

So, if you’re a busy person but have always felt that you never have the time to get a decent amount of quality sleep, then consider the following points:


1. Incorporate it into your schedule

Although it might seem odd to write “go to sleep” into your diary as part of your schedule, marking out a point in a 24-hour day when you can lie down and forget your worries is hugely important.

Of course, many people work on different timetables over the day, so stating that 11 pm should be your bedtime isn’t realistic for everyone.

However, planning out your day so you can make time for at 6-8 hours of sleep is a good habit to start. Is 2 am to 10 am the only viable option?

That’s fine, but as long as that’s a schedule you can stick to, then do it.

2. Have the best sleep that you can possibly get

It might be tempting to leave your phone on when you sleep “in case of business emergencies,” but if people are aware that they can contact you 24/7, then how can you ever truly relax?

Your mind needs to be in a state of rest at some point of the day, so try to make it a rule that when you sleep, your phone does as well.

This goes for checking emails and all manner of work communication before bed too, as this should be unwinding time, and any work news isn’t likely to make you unwind!

In general, your sleeping environment should be as close to perfect as you can get.

A memory foam mattress is often considered a great option to ensure a comfortable sleep, but make sure to read the pros and cons so you can make up your own mind before committing.

As for other sleep accessories, eye masks and white noise machines are also worthwhile to help getting the best sleep possible. This is your time to focus on anything but work, so switch off that part of your brain and simply relax.


3. Tactical naps

This is really a day-by-day scenario, but when there are a spare 20 minutes over the course of your work time, then by all means, take a 10 to 20-minute nap.

Any longer can kick your brain into a deep REM sleep, which may make you feel groggy when you wake up.

Short naps have long been associated with improved cognitive functions, so if you feel your eyes start to droop and concentration slipping, there is every reason to power down for at least 20 minutes.

Some major companies even urge their employees to take a quick nap over the working day, including Google, Zappos, Uber, and Ben & Jerry’s.

Mary Gresham, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta, says:

“MORE AND MORE, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP AS A MECHANISM OF CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION, DEALING WITH THE EVENTS OF THE DAY, AND RECHARGING OUR ENERGY.”

Stefan Camenzind, CEO of Evolution Design, also adds:

“MOST PEOPLE ARE TOLD THAT THE HARDER YOU WORK, THE LONGER YOU WORK, THE BETTER IT IS. THAT’S NOT SUSTAINABLE, AND THAT’S PROBABLY ALSO NOT TRUE. IT’S ABOUT SMART WORKING, AND THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO RECHARGE. IN THIS CONTEXT, NAP ROOMS BECOME MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT.”

Final thoughts

In the end, being successful is something that is built over time.

But although many entrepreneurs will make the point that hard work and dedication are the tools for accomplishment, they are not the only means.

Along with the many great ways to reduce stress, good sleep lets us remain focused on the tasks ahead and allows us to unwind.

“Sleep on it” is yet another proverb that you’ll be familiar, but it certainly holds true, as often that “Eureka” moment first thing in the morning.

Work is important, no doubt, but it isn’t our whole life.

Do you really want to sacrifice your social and family life simply to tell others how hard you’re working?

Think about the long-term. So, if you are feeling beyond tired and believe that you need to work longer in order to keep up with your competitors, think again. Take the time to genuinely rest your body and mind and you will be far better off in the future.
Are you getting better sleep after reading this article? Leave a comment below.
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5 Tips from Billionaires to Help Achieve High Productivity

There are a ton of viral articles out there that are about “habits of millionaires” or“habits of successful people.”

Quite frankly, they are a bit plain and overdone.


5 Billionaire’s Tips to Achieve High Productivity

This advice comes directly from dozens of interviews and books by billionaires I have consumed. I decided to get advice from only the best of the best.

Here are 5 tips from billionaires on how to achieve high productivity:

1. Keep Your Calendar Simple

Keep your calendar clear and organized. Rather than having hundreds of complicated tasks on there, simplify it to the most important. Drop the rest.

The average person has many low-priority tasks that distract them on their calendar. It’s not a good idea to stuff your calendar with a thousand, small random tasks.

Warren Buffett has mentioned this many times in interviews.

Bill Gates has remarked about how amazing this is after learning it from Warren. Bill has used it himself since then.


2. Do What’s Most Important First

Your most important task should be done first when you start the day.

Average people fill their day with unimportant tasks. The start of their day is filled with tasks that could have gone undone and had minimal impact.

By the end of the day, their most important tasks are still incomplete and often pushed off until tomorrow. This leads to further procrastination and small results.

They were busy but not effective or impactful. You don’t want to be the person who does busywork to look busy rather than strategic, smart work.

Warren Buffett’s pilot, Mike Flint, learned this lesson after talking to Buffett.


Mike learned that the biggest threat to finishing the #1 most important task on your list is #2, #3, #4, #5, and so on. Throw out the other tasks until you finish #1.


3. Delegate Lower Priority Tasks

If your time is worth $50 an hour, every hour you waste doing tasks that can be outsourced for much less is a waste of time.

Do you know why billionaires don’t shop for groceries or cook themselves?

Part of the reason is because they can afford to. But according to billionaires like Richard Branson, part of the reason is because it’s an inefficient use of their time.

According to the book 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management: The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, failing to delegate low cost tasks can cost you tons of money.

If your time is worth $1000 an hour, you shouldn’t spend an hour a week buying groceries because you can get the same result in less time and earn more money.

Pay someone $20 an hour to do it for you and spend that time you bought back working. You have now earned $980 after expenses rather than losing an hour doing it yourself without earning anything.

OK, so you might not be making as much as $1000 an hour. But the same thought process can apply to how you spend your time. If your time is worth $25 an hour, how much time are you wasting at work and at home goofing off? 

4. Find Your Peak Performance Environment

People are different. Your most productive environment may be different from someone else’s.

Look for what time of day and what type of surroundings are you most productive in.
For example, some people find that they do the most creative work in loud, crowded coffee shops. Others prefer complete, isolated silence. Some people are most alert and focused in the mornings, while others do better late at night.

Build your environment and schedule to fit your optimal levels of performance.


5. Plan Out What You Will Do

According to the book, top performing billionaires plan out what they will do next ahead of time.

Plan out what you will do tomorrow and the next week. You can save hours of time by working more efficiently from the plans you made.

Without proper planning, your disorganization will cost you efficient moments of optimal workflow.

You’ll be confused and unsure of what to do. You’ll spend extra time trying to figure out what’s more important. You will be dazzled if you get interrupted and unsure where to resume.


Conclusion

There should be no excuses. Anyone is capable of turning these productivity tips into habits. I think the reasons people don’t are the lack of awareness and laziness.

Remember to keep your calendar simple, do what’s most important first, delegate lower priority tasks, find your best environment, and plan out what you will do next.
Are you as productive as a billionaire? Leave a comment below.

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How to Approach Tasks You Really Hate Doing & Win

Everyone needs to do things they hate from time to time.

It might be anything from basic chores to a dull part of an otherwise interesting project. Those who get things finished know how to push through the tasks they hate in order to work on what they love.

Nobody is immune to procrastination, and even the most hardworking people around have their weak moments. While procrastination happens occasionally with neutral tasks, it’s a common problem people go through when facing things they really hate doing.


How to Approach Tasks You Hate Doing

Here are 9 strategies to help you find the motivation for doing tasks you hate and win every time you push them to completion.

1. Create a To-do List & Tackle Your Hardest Tasks First

To-do lists are the single best solution for making sense of your work and daily life.

Organization and scheduling is much easier if you’ve got a daily, weekly, or monthly to-do list as your point of reference.

Most of the time, you’ll spot your least favorite tasks at the very bottom of your to-do list. The trick to getting these done is simply moving them to the top.

This way you’ll gain a boost of motivation when thinking about more pleasant things that come right after the hard part.

Moreover, after completing your hardest tasks, everything else will look very easy in comparison. In other words, your to-do list will become a downhill ride.


2. Give Your Tasks More Depth

Boring tasks are annoying because they’re very narrow and don’t allow you to be creative.

A good solution to this problem is giving your task more depth. This is how you’ll make it more interesting and become focused on the task, consequently completing it faster than ever before.


CONSIDER YOUR ACTIVITY AS AN ART FORM THAT DESERVES TO BE MASTERED.

Instead of seeing it as an on-off kind of task, look at the potential ways in which you could achieve more in less time. Take small steps to make the task more enjoyable and always look for smart ways to optimize it.

3. Measure Time Spent on Various Tasks

One of the best methods to stop wasting time is to start measuring it. Record how many hours you spend on various activities during your day and put them all into a chart.

Every time you look at this chart, you’ll want to keep it moving in the right direction. That’s how you get a powerful motivation boost for your work. If you procrastinate, you’ll see its consequences right in front of you.

If you’re facing a series of things you absolutely need to do but don’t enjoy, create a chart to keep track of the time you spend on working towards their completion. This anti-procrastination technique is excellent if you’re having a bad week and can’t find the motivation for tackling the hardest or dullest tasks in your schedule.


4. Come up With Another Goal

Transforming an awful task into something pleasant isn’t always an option. But you still need to get it done. This is where you can use your objectives as effective leverage.

Instead of despairing over your activity, try to think about it in broader terms. How does it relate to your final objective? What is its meaning for your bigger picture of success?

This perspective will help you to see the task in a different light and get a motivation boost when you realize that it’s necessary for reaching your final goal.

Remind yourself of this goal once in a while to push through the things that you don’t find that exciting.


5. Set a Timer

If you need to complete a short mindless task, set a timer to ensure that you get it done as quickly as possible.

Create a specific window of time and you’ll be challenged to keep your focus throughout the activity. This way you’ll also get to more pleasant tasks sooner.

6. Make the Most Out of Your Time

Sometimes the most boring tasks are those which involve waiting, driving around, or mindless repetition of the same activity. Use this time to do something meaningful

If you’re stuck in traffic, listen to calming music or audio-books. If you’re waiting for an appointment, read a book or meditate. Listen to an interesting podcast while folding your laundry.

You can actively prevent this time from going to waste by adopting these habits that allow to live a fuller and more mindful life.


7. Focus on Your Task

If you think that getting over with a task as quickly as possible is a measure against procrastination, you’re making a huge mistake. This kind of attitude actually prevents people from getting started at all.

One way to stomach the unpleasant activity is to simply focus on it. Sometimes intense focus can help you start loving tasks you previously hated.


COMMIT TO THIS ACTIVITY AND INVEST ALL YOUR ENERGY TO CONCENTRATE ON IT.

Instead of thinking about all things you could be doing instead of this one, focus and do your best to complete it as efficiently as you can. Who knows, maybe you’ll start enjoying it in the process?


8. Break it Into Smaller Parts

Getting started is where things get difficult. We generally like to avoid tasks we hate for as long as possible. When we finally get started, we might get stuck for ages.

That’s why the key to boosting productivity lies in making it easier to get started. If an activity looks intimidating, you should break it into smaller components and commit to every single one of them.

If you’re a writer, set yourself a goal of one paragraph a day. This will make your task seem less daunting and give you motivation to complete the job once you stop actively avoiding it.


9. Delegate Tasks You Hate to Other People

Look around and you’ll inevitably find people in your life who could help you with these activities. If you build an image of yourself as too capable, others might easily start taking advantage of your ability and willingness to work on such tasks.

If you can’t find anyone to whom you could delegate your tasks, why not hire somebody to do them for you? Sure, it’s not a solution that will work for every kind of activity, but if the tasks in question can be outsourced, and you can afford it – just go for it.

This is especially valuable for managing tasks which are time-consuming. Just think of all the time you’ll gain to spend on other, more profitable or enjoyable activities. Plus, by hiring someone you’ll be helping them out as well.


Summary

Use these strategies and you’ll be on your way to getting more work done, consequently gaining more time for rest and doing things you really love.

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6 Ways To Eliminate Distraction, Find Focus and Get More Done

We live in a world of distraction.

From the constant buzz of incoming text message alerts through to ceaseless chatter and noise in the office, it can be hard at the best of times to concentrate and get work done.

Think about your daily routine – do you ever find yourself:
Feeling distracted from your work?
Struggling to find focus?
Procrastinating important tasks?
Not getting as much done as you would like?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then you need to keep reading.

In this article I’m going to teach you six of the most effective ways to eliminate distraction, find your focus and get more done by beating procrastination.

Whether you’re a student struggling to concentrate on your studies, an office worker needing to get more done to keep your boss off your back, or an entrepreneur whose very business survival is dependent on, you will get value from this article.


Use Website Blocking Software to Free Dozens of Hours Each Week

How much time do you think you waste on Facebook, Twitter or other social networking websites?

According to a 2013 Ipsos study, we spend an average of 3.6 hours a day getting social online.This figure doesn’t even include the use of other websites such as online stores or message boards.

My point should already be obvious – if you are wasting precious time every day on social media or other specific websites, then you need to do something about it. Otherwise you are simply throwing time down the drain, which you can never get back.

The easiest solution is to deploy a site-blocking tool (I use StayFocusd for Google Chrome) that allows you to set up a blacklist of websites that unnecessarily consume what would otherwise be productive time.

There are different solutions depending what browser, operating system or device type you use. However, any solution that allows you to create a list of sites and a maximum daily time limit for them (before you are blocked until the next day) will work fine.

All that is left is for you to identify the sites that waste your time, and then add them to the list. It pays to be honest here; don’t leave a site off the blacklist if you do have a problem with using it to waste time.

Think about the productivity and future benefit you can generate by using your “social media time” in a more effective manner.

Here’s a personal anecdote to show you the value of diverting focus from time-wasting websites to other tasks: A few years ago I was spending at least two hours a day on Facebook.

This meant that every week I was losing 14 hours scouring albums of friends’ party photos, and clicking pointless cat video links. This was time I could never claim back. I decided that something had to be done and blocked myself from visiting Facebook for more 30 minutes a day using a site blocking browser tool.

This extra 1.5 hours I now had in my day was put to productive use. I started a blog (about overcoming laziness and procrastination, funnily enough) which has continued to pay dividends ever since.

It now earns me some handy extra money every month, which I can put towards paying bills or keeping myself in guitar equipment. The blog also serves as a fantastic channel for my “creative energy”, which keeps me feeling positive and energetic.

Had I not banished that 90 minutes of daily Facebook browsing, I would never have had enough time to create my blog (although I would have been a mastermind on cat videos!)


Interval-Only Phone Checking to Enhance Focus & Beat Procrastination

Search around your desk or workspace for your mobile phone. Is it within arms’ reach? Chances are it most likely is!

Cell phone addiction 21st Century affliction, in which we find ourselves constantly checking our phones for the latest text message or missed call.

Unfortunately, this is disastrous for productivity. Constantly checking your phone for missed texts or calls will distract you from productive work, and encourage hours of needless procrastination on a weekly basis.

The best solution I have discovered is to be absolutely ruthless with allowing yourself an opportunity to check your phone only at set intervals.

When I need to get work done I will only check my phone once every thirty minutes. If there are no messages or missed calls, then I put it down immediately and get back to work. During this “phone free time” I actually place the device in a draw, so it is out of sight and out of mind.

By keeping your phone checking to a regular schedule you are less likely to become distracted by the oh-so-addictive nature of text messaging and mobile browsing!



Write a Daily To-Do List to Guide You to Productivity and Action

I’m a firm believer in to-do lists as being one of the most effective ways to help you find focus and prevent distraction from taking hold.

You should enter every new day armed with a comprehensive checklist of tasks you want to complete.

These tasks can encompass work-related items, such as completing an important report or filling out your expenses through to everyday tasks like fetching groceries or arranging a service for your car.

Before you go to bed each night, you should create a to-do list for the following day. Leave some time free for tasks or duties that pop up unexpectedly (such as when you get to work and your boss tells you that you have to drop everything and do something urgently) but nonetheless be as detailed and as comprehensive as possible.

A to-do list that has been well thought out will help you to overcome procrastination, as it challenges you to ensure that every item is completed in time.

Make it a personal credo to never get to the end of the day without having finished all the tasks on your list.

The amount of extra work you will get done by following this strategy will astound you.


Use Noise-Canceling Headphones to Prevent Distraction & Improve Mental Clarity

This is one of my “secret” strategies for eliminating distraction, especially in an office or college library environment.

I’m sure you don’t need reminding how frustrating it can be when people come up to your desk or workspace when you are supposed to be working, and then distract you from getting stuff done.

The solution is simple: You need to create the impression that you are hard at work.

As a rule, most people are loath to interrupt others who appear fixed deeply in a state of productivity.

By wearing headphones while you work, you are sending a strong message to your co-workers that you are doing important work, and you should therefore not be interrupted.

I recommend noise-canceling headphones because they also provide the benefit of blocking out distracting noises, such as others talking around you, and help you to establish a mental sanctuary from which you can elevate your focus and drive.

Take a look in your local electronics store (or online) and find a pair that suits your budget. If you want to eliminate distractions and get more work done, then you cannot afford to ignore this method.


Discourage Unnecessary Face-to-Face Interactions with Colleagues to Minimize the Risk of Distraction

If you find yourself in an environment where the headphones trick wont work (e.g. your office has a policy against allowing employees to wear them) then you need to be a bit more overt when it comes to telling others not to distract you.

In any place that values productivity and effective work, you should not have to feel bad about asking those around you to refrain from disturbing you.

In a few different offices I’ve worked in, I asked my managers whether they had any problem with me sending a friendly group email to my colleagues asking if they wouldn’t mind emailing me first with any requests before coming to see me in person.

The benefit of this strategy is immense: It allows you to “screen” for pointless distractions before they invade your personal space bubble.

The annoying co-worker who was about to come and divert your attention away … just to tell you spoilers from the new Game of Thrones episode? Now he either has to email you first (and how likely are you to give him permission to distract you?) or more likely he will just not bother at all.

Another tactic worth using is to put up a do not disturb sign, during times when you really are pressed to get lots done. This will help you to prevent distraction by discouraging others from interrupting your important work.

If you’ve ever read The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss, then you’ll probably recall that he was a big fan of creating a working environment where you control other peoples’ access to your time and focus.

I support this idea too; and by politely requesting that your colleagues (and even friends and family) avoid “unsolicited” attempts to pull you away from your work during the times you need to be productive, you’ll soon develop much better focus and grow a productivity mindset.


De-Clutter Your Workspace to Create an Environment That Promotes Taking Action

Visual clutter is highly distracting for most people. It provides an avenue for diverting full attention to the work you need to complete.

Therefore, one of the most effective strategies you can deploy to enhance your focus and prevent distraction is to reduce that clutter.

I suggest starting with your physical surroundings. If your desk looks more like a battleground than a cohesive workspace, then you need to start tidying in a ruthless manner.

If you’re working in front of a computer, then try de-cluttering to the point where you only have your screen, keyboard, and mouse in front of you.

Invest in some drawers (if your desk doesn’t already have them) and put other items, such as notepads and pens, in there – keeping them out of sight and unable to distract you, but still within arms’ reach if you need them.

Another thing to consider is removing clutter from your computer itself.

A computer desktop that is littered with icons and folders does not make for a streamlined or efficient workspace, where you can easily take action and get work done.

Arrange your documents using a precise folder system, and try to keep visual clutter to a minimum. Another benefit of this is that you’ll be able to use your computer more efficiently – you’ll find it easier to locate important documents and files.

While I’m on this subject, a true distraction demon that you need to avoid where possible is tabbed browsing. As computers and smart devices have become ever more powerful, the ability for us to have loads of browser tabs, windows, and programs open at once has grown dramatically.

While more powerful computing is a great thing, it also has its downsides for those of us who struggle with distraction and wasting time online: Tabbed browsing and multiple programs make it too easy to flick from work to play.

Your brain simply cannot process all that information as once; so stick to having a couple of tabs/windows/programs open at once. Your favorite online shopping site isn’t going to disappear if you no longer have it open every time you hit the Internet!


Conclusion

You don’t need to be a slave to distraction, lack of focus, and inaction.

By deploying the strategies you have learned in this article, you’ll be able to develop hawk-like focus, and kick procrastination to the curb.

I’ve armed you with the tools … now get out there and finish the job! The benefits you’ll see in everyday life that accompany better focus and motivation will last you a whole lifetime.

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10 Crazy Ideas to Help Discover Motivation in Life

Motivation is elusive at times, so each one of us has been challenged to find it when it escapes us. Whether it is for a specific work assignment or simply to move life forward, motivation is an essential feature of high productivity and meaningful output. As a result, we lean on a variety of techniques to keep motivation high and continually adapt our approach to staying inspired. When motivation runs dry, use the following tips to turn things around.

Set a Mini-Goal

Success begets motivation, so setting yourself up to win a small battle is a great way to support ongoing productivity. The morale boost from a minor win creates momentum, which can be all that’s required to ramp-up motivation levels. When tackling a work project, for example, carve-out a short-term benchmark you can easily reach. And if that is not enough to spark a roll, move through subsequent tasks in the same way. Eventually, sustained motivation will set-in, seeing the project to completion.



Turn to Past Success

When frustration or self-doubt get in the way of motivation, turn your focus to things you have done well in the past. Reminding yourself of what you’re capable of is often all that’s required to restore forward thinking and ramp-up motivation levels. In fact, sometimes you can pull lessons directly from your past successes, to be applied to ongoing projects.

Compete

Playing a game or competing in a sporting event stimulates motivation. Pitting yourself against others or even against yourself in a solo sport stirs natural internal responses, which motivate you in all areas of life. Win or lose, competitive juices motivate you to perform at peak levels.

Find Help

Motivation and inspiration are infectious, so leaning on helpers can be a strong force for revving-up your own enthusiasm. Even tapping an associate’s or co-workers expertise for a single piece of the puzzle can be enough to boost your motivation tackling the other aspects of a project.

Get back to Nature

Though it represents a stark contrast to business environments and other fast-paced parts of modern life, nature has an amazing restorative impact on motivation. Walks through the park or a more intensive hike, for example, expose you to inspirational features of nature, which are easily carried to tasks you need to complete. Taking-in the larger picture this way inspires reflection capable of motivating observers to get excited about their own places in the universe.

Study Mentors

When struggling with your own output, it can be beneficial to study examples of the type of work you wish you were producing. Formal mentors can help with motivation directly, by sharing experiences and helping tweak your trajectory. But even studying respected colleagues from afar yields clues to what motivates them and keeps them on track.

Change your Scenery

Sometimes work environments become stale and uninspiring, calling for a change of scenery to boost motivation levels. If possible, shake things up by changing your environment, which can itself stir inspiration. Travel, for example, stimulates worldly feelings, which can be beneficial to self-motivation. And though it is not always possible to get away when motivation wanes, there are nonetheless worthy options found locally, allowing you to stay on-point with assigned work tasks. If you telecommute, for example, try heading-in to the office for a day or two to mix things up. Or if a cubicle stands in the way of motivation, seek permission to deliver remotely, enabling you to complete work assignments at home, the library, or some other inspiring location.

Get Fit

Mind and body are inextricably linked, so motivation levels are influenced by physical fitness as well as mental fortitude. If you find your productivity and inspiration slipping, account for your physical approach alongside the mental exercises you tap to increase motivation. Start slow, to get your blood flowing and synch your and and body. Once positive results are felt, it becomes easier to engage in exercise as a motivational force. Walks and other low-impact movements should not be underestimated for the benefits they bring.

Do the Opposite

Human beings undeniably get in ruts, reinforcing patterns that can be hard to break from. When your motivation slips as a result of sameness, try changing your approach with a radical departure from the status quo. By acting contrary to your standard approach, you’ll open new perspectives and channels of understanding. Even if you determine your original take on things is the best one available, it serves to reinforce your confidence, motivating you to keep up the good work.

Be Forgiving

Second-guessing your methods and performance can be enough to thwart motivation and hold you at a standstill. Rather than becoming mired in negative introspection, forgive periods of diminished motivation with a clear eye toward brighter days. This forward-thinking frame of mind helps you get beyond life’s inevitable speed bumps into positive territory that supports achieving your goals.

Motivation ebbs and flows throughout the course of daily life, and it doesn’t always synch with your personal and professional responsibilities. When motivation dips at the wrong time, it pays to reevaluate your approach using these helpful tips. In the end, jump-starting motivation levels leads to ongoing success for those able to move beyond trying times.

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Organization Tips: Cleaning Up Your Workspace And Your Calendar

A lot of people think that being an entrepreneur means that I can do anything I want, anytime I want. While it’s true that I don’t have a boss who dictates my schedule, that doesn’t mean I’m just free-floating all the time—as an entrepreneur, I have learned to have a lot of self-discipline and to be very organized in my business and my life. So today I’m sharing with you some of my favorite organization tips. Your business can only grow to its full potential if your space and your time are clearly organized—I hope these tips help you clear the clutter and maximize your potential!

DESIGNATE A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

Time is money, as they say, and having an organized space will save you time. If you don’t take 10 seconds to put something in its proper place, you might lose 10 minutes looking all over for it later. When I complete a project for my DIY business, I don’t call it a day until each tool is put back into its designated space and the workshop is clean. In those moments, I’m often tired and ready to relax at that point in the day, but I motivate myself by imagining how inviting my workshop will be when I set to work on my next project—and how much time (and, therefore, money!) I’m saving in the long run.

LOOK AT YOUR SPACE THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S EYES

Schedule frequent meetings at your workspace, whether that’s a home office, a rented space, or a workshop. Knowing that you’ll have regular visitors will force you to keep it orderly. When we’re the only one using our space, we have a tendency to become “blind” to dirt and clutter that might accumulate over time. But as soon as someone else comes by, we suddenly see what’s overflowing or out of place. Use this fact to your advantage by regularly inviting clients and colleagues to meet with you at your workspace—the pressure to have a clean, hospitable space will compel you to keep things organized.

TRY OUT THE KONMARI METHOD

If your space really needs an overhaul, I highly recommend picking up Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This unlikely bestseller has taken the U.S. by storm and, after finally having a look at it myself, I can understand why. Kondo’s “KonMari Method” of organization involves radically purging your home or workspace of anything that does not “spark joy.” While this criterion might seem strange for organizing an office space, its basic premise of getting rid of anything that’s not serving a purpose seems right on target. The extreme purge takes time—Kondo recommends laying everything out and methodically putting back only what you need—but it is time well spent if, as she argues, you’ll never need to do it again!

KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING—AND PARK ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE

The first three tips dealt with organizing our space; now let’s turn to how we manage our time. I force myself to make a plan in advance for each day and WRITE IT DOWN. If my plan for the next day (or at least for the first half of the day) is written down in my planner, then I don’t have to think about it for the rest of the evening. I can relax knowing that my instructions will be there waiting for me when I wake up. Sometimes I even make a point of stopping short of completing a particular task the day before so that I can begin the next day by picking up where I left off. Productivity experts call this “parking on a downhill slope,” and it can really help you start the day off with some momentum.

TURN A TO-DO LIST INTO A TO-DO SCHEDULE

A list is designed to be added to, so it can make it hard to feel satisfaction if you’re adding as much as your checking off. To remedy this, try turning your to-do list into a to-do schedule. When I consult my calendar at the start of each week, I write in my to-do’s alongside my scheduled appointments. If I assign an actual time to a task, I am far more likely to actually get that task done. Having a to-do schedule has taught me to be much more realistic about how much I can get done in a given time. Sometimes it means not having time for everything on the to-do list, but it’s better to know that in advance than feel disappointed at the end of the week. With this method, I’ve found that not only am I getting more done but also I’m more tuned in to my schedule and can therefore say yes or no to new projects with much more confidence.

PUT YOUR SCHEDULE WHERE YOU AND OTHERS CAN SEE IT

Put your important appointments/tasks on a shared, visible calendar where everyone else who matters can see it (family members, coworkers, roommates…). If you make your schedule and goals “public” in this way, you can avoid scheduling conflicts. You’ll also be more likely to complete tasks on time, because others can hold you accountable. You might share your schedule digitally, via a Google calendar or other shared site, but you can also go the try-and-true dry erase marker route. For home use, I got a magnetic wipe-off calendar from The Board Dudes with a set of markers so I can color-code based on category or person. For the office, I like their bigger and more professional-looking glass wipe-off calendar—it’ll keep you organized, give you a highly visible place to write down goals and important reminders, and look sleek if clients or collaborators come by.

STICK TO A SYSTEM

Don’t be fickle. I love organizational tools, but sometimes they work against me because I get so excited about the newest app or planner that I don’t stick with one long enough to really reap its benefits. The most important thing about an organizational system is not if it’s pen-and-paper or digital, or if it’s got flashy new bells and whistles—the most important thing is that you stick to it. So do a little bit of research to decide what approach might be best for you, and then hurry up and start using it!

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7 Weekly productivity Hacks

Weekly planning is an integral part of running a successful business. Creating a plan will keep you on track to meet your yearly goals, help you track results, analyze your business, and keep stress off your back. Start planning today by following these 7 productivity hacks.

1.Pick a Planning Day

It takes weeks for proper habits to form, so do yourself a favor and stick to a specific time and day for your weekly planning. It helps to be consistent, so make sure you’re doing some form of planning every week – even if you start with just one goal for yourself, you will be moving forward.

2.Pick a Place

Pick a place you can go to every week that has a good environment for your weekly planning. Maybe you do better out of the house so pick a local coffee shop. Maybe you love spending time outside, sit on your porch and plan. Whatever environment is inspiring and/or relaxing for you, go there.

3.Brainstorm Projects/Goals

What projects and goals can you assign to yourself that will progress your yearly business plan? It could be as simple as setting a sales goal you want to hit each week. However, how we hit those sales goals often correlate with how often do we blog, how often do we create new product, how often do we post on social media…the list is endless. Take that list and break it down. What things can you be doing weekly to improve your business? Start setting those goals for yourself along with a sales goal.

4.Set Measurable Goals

No matter what projects and goals you set for yourself, make sure they are measurable. For example, don’t word a goal like this – “I’m going to post on social media more this week.” Instead word it like this – “I’m going to post on Twitter 5 times this week and make a Facebook update everyday.” At the end of the week when you review your results it will be very easy to see if you hit your goal of posting 5 times on Twitter, won’t it? So make sure, you are being specific with your projects and goals. Especially if you are working on projects, like building a bench, make sure you set yourself up for success by outlining how much of each day will be dedicated to building that bench and where you want to be with that project at the end of each day.

5.Set Deadlines

Set deadlines for yourself, this goes hand-in-hand with setting measurable goals. If you are going to post on Twitter 5 times or build a bench when should those things be completed by? Personally, I’d take it one step further and set a daily action goal of “1 Twitter Post Today.” Deadlines help you manage time wisely and give you urgency to complete the goals you have set for yourself.

6.Challenge Yourself

If you’re new to planning or have just started a business don’t overwhelm yourself and set unrealistic expectations. Start slow. Schedule in what you know you can do and then one or two things that push you. Make sure that every week you are challenging yourself, whether it’s setting a goal higher or adding in an additional task, make sure you are capitalizing on your full potential every week.

7.Review Results
When you sit down to do your weekly planning make sure to start with reviewing your results from the week before. Did you hit your sales goal? Did you finish the bench? Did you post on Twitter 5 times? Celebrate your successes and note your opportunities. Analyze why certain tasks got completed while maybe others didn’t, did you plan too much for your week or did you just not manage your time well – what was the cause of this effect. Now that you have reviewed your previous week it’s time to plan the current week!

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How To Find Your Core Purpose In Life

How To Find Your Core Purpose In Life

This is one of the biggest, greatest and most fascinating mysteries of all time.

For one thing, most people are caught up in the day-to-day chores, running errands, paying bills and surviving through the day; For another, a lot of us never really stop and give ourselves some quiet time to contemplate this imperative life question.

However, if you don't put some serious thought into this question and take action for some mini-experiments, you're very likely going to drift like the average mediocre masses and never experience the kind of maximum achievement, total fulfillment and deep meaning of a purposeful life.

So how do you find your purpose then?

Well, firstly recognize the fact that it's a never-ending process.

Your path to discovering your purpose is similar to peeling off layer after layer of an onion.There's always something inside.

But the good thing is that, every time another layer unfolds, you will reach a deeper level of what you're supposed to do in life.

So maybe right now you aspire to be the next best New York Times Best Seller.

Writing is something you are passionate about, it's what you do naturally in your leisure time, and you don't mind doing it for free because the process energizes you.

That's awesome and you should definitely go for it.

However, there may be a point in the future (maybe 5, 10, or 20 years later) when you don't feel inspired to write anymore.

Maybe writing has become something you hate rather than love.

Maybe you're tired of the business side of launching a successful book.

Maybe the world doesn't like your writings anymore.

That's okay, accept the fact that things change and you've evolved to become a different person. It's time to start some mini experiments again.

It's time to leave your comfort area of familiarity and explore the world a bit.

It's time to hang out with new people and meet some friends so you gain fresh insights, stimulation and inspiration.

It's time to try out new activities, places, food, fun, adventures etc. and feel alive again.

And because of these new stimuli, you'll likely acquire new motivation to pursue something new.

What makes you happy may change.

What attracts you may change.

What you love may change.

What you hate may change.

Life is a never-ending process of experimentation.

Every time you're nudged by God, the Universe, the Cosmo, the 6th sense or whatever you believe in to do certain things that your heart, gut and soul wants to, you're moving one step closer to your core purpose.

Be aware of these signals.

Give yourself permission to feel, to discover, to experiment, to fail, to be wrong.

And when something resonates with your deepest core being like nothing else, maybe your calling has arrived. At least for now.




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14 Ways To Procrastinate Productively

For too long I’ve sat idly by while the good name of procrastination is dragged through the muck. For the sake of getting things done we’re advised to banish, kill, and avoid procrastination without any acknowledgment of the good it’s done.

We owe procrastination. Big time. It’s responsible for our best ideas and busiest hours. Used effectively, procrastination is a powerful motivator and source of inspiration.

Structured Procrastination

Productive procrastination falls into two categories, structured and unstructured. With structured procrastination (via pmarca, via via 43F) you use the desire to avoid an important task as motivation to crank out dozens others. Anything to postpone what you really need to do, right?

Whenever I need to avoid something important, I turn to a few tasks that rarely get the attention they deserve.

• Get Organized – There’s no better way to feel productive while avoiding the inevitable than organizing your home or work space. Without procrastination my desk would be perpetually cluttered and the dishes would never get done.
• Network – Have a bunch of contacts you should really touch base with but don’t have the time? Procrastination is a great opportunity to politely reply to nonessential email. Taking the time to stay in touch with people pays dividends in the long-run.
• Plan Ahead – The only thing better than actually doing something is thinking/talking about doing something. Take the time to identify, record, and schedule all your tasks, obviously leaving the most important for last.
• Odds and Ends – Procrastination is the best time to find closure for everything that’s on your mind. Use it as an excuse to investigate and resolve issues that have been nagging you.
• Meetings – If you’re not going to be productive, you might as well take other people down with you.
• Errands – Need to schedule a dentist appointment? How about that oil change? Procrastination is capable of making the most tedious and trivial errands appealing.
• Get Up To Date – Have a bunch of dull reports and memos you should probably read? They’re starting to look a lot more interesting.
• Assist Others – If you’re not going to do your own work, you can at least deliver on the help you promised your colleague last week.

Unstructured Procrastination

Structured procrastination is a great way to keep busy, but sometimes that doesn’t cut it. When you’d rather not do anything work related, unstructured procrastination is the way to go. It might seem like laziness, but what’s wrong with that?

Unstructured procrastination is essential for recharging creative energy and allowing the unconscious mind to work on difficult problems. These are 6 productive ways to avoid work completely.

• Go to Lunch – You need to eat, might as well do it now so you can’t use it as an excuse later.
• Exercise – Same as lunch, with the added benefit of increased alertness.
• Take a Walk – A casual walk is a great way to unburden your mind and allow great ideas to come to you.
• Relax – If you feel a strong desire to procrastinate, there’s probably a reason behind it. Relax ation is important for a healthy productive lifestyle, why not do it now when you can’t get anything else done?
• Come Up With a Great Idea – This one can’t exactly be completed on demand, but studies have shown that entrepreneurs and other creative people tend to get their best ideas during down time.
• Read a Good Book – If you’d rather not think for yourself, you might as well absorb the great ideas someone else took the trouble to record.

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Finding Your Sweet Spot

Anything out of balance feels out of whack, feels unpleasant and overwhelming. It just doesn't sit right when you're not in your "sweet spot". Meditating is the same. In the beginning, it would be extremely awkward, even certain levels of discomfort in the physical body caused by the attempt to give the mind new instructions to take it slow. To let it all go. Any kind of environment we were growing up with, be it work or school or even at home, you were conditioned to take in as much as you possibly can. To grow up quickly and learn as fast as you possibly can. To absorb and to digest.

No one in this world ever taught you to let go. To do less and to not do anything at all. To just be present and be in the moment. You would never find it in any "to-do list" because it seems "lazy" to have so little on it. To fathom the concept of doing less yet able to be producing more. In this day and time, quality productivity surpasses any other forms of multi-tasking.

You can be the best multi-task-er in the world but at the end of the day, if you went home and unloaded your "overflowing" cup and drowned everyone else with your workload you have taken on, then you have not succeeded in finding the balance and harmony for yourself. You are simply dumping it off on someone else. A best friend, a lover or a spouse, your poor mother or perhaps even strangers who have no business listening to you ranting on about your day's issues.

This is why we practice mindfulness to find the "sweet spot". It can increase positive emotions and lower negativity and thus counteract stress and prevent depression from "overworking" the mind. It also increases the capacity for attention (to be present) and develops our memory so we may focus on the good things in life that we already have. Of course, being mindful helps to be more solution oriented and getting better at exploring creative strategies for problem-solving. Meditation also helps a person withstand the traumatic effects of the mental state of being and enhance its resiliency.

Mindful living benefits us in a positive way which we are able to experience our bodies and minds differently and we are not so quick in reacting to bad situations and circumstances, instead we will be able to handle it effectively and positively strengthening ties and relationships with every aspect of our lives. It can extend to every aspect of our existence and consistent practice will lead us to benefiting from it in the long-term immensely.

The "sweet spot" equates to "life's satisfaction". Mindfulness cultivates behaviours and attitudes that encourages it and makes the pleasures of life more noticeable and enjoyable, also helps us become more committed to activities in the moment and a greater capacity to deal with life's challenges and curve balls thrown in our way. All of these ultimately leads to greater overall life's satisfaction. So we get more done and feel really good about it which reduces the moments of "default thinking" allowing the mind to wander off carelessly.

Being present in the moment lets us learn to become more flexible in our thinking, less stubborn and resistant to new concepts and ideas. We can observe our thoughts without becoming overly attached to them against our own will, we're able to accept them without the attempt to change them or have it be different. There is a deep sense of well-being that is sturdy and stable, not having to be dependent upon life's circumstances which is ever-changing at an unpredictable rate. We will be able to thrive in the harshest of conditions with a practiced mind, sitting in our "sweet spot".

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7 Ways to Beat Procrastination and Start Taking Action Today!

With the advent of the Internet, smartphones, and Wi-Fi, low productivity has become one of the most prevalent diseases across the globe. It will be a long battle to regain our attention control, and I recommend you to take baby steps during the process.
Below are 7 simple ways to help you beat procrastination so you finally take action on the goals you have set.

1 No More "Someday I will... "
Recognize that the best time to take action is 10 years ago, the next best time is now.
Stop living in the delusion that you have millions days in the future to pursue something your heart desires.
If there's something that you really want to do - whether it's to start a blog teaching people your cooking expertise, or making the phone call and ask your crush out, or giving a surprise visit to your parents whom you haven't seen for a year - you've got to plan when you are going to do it.
Time doesn't wait.
According to Bronnie Ware, author of the bestselling book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, the number one thing people regret is that "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."
Procrastination may be a short-term relief, but it's not going to get you anywhere.
Choose the pain of discipline over the pain of regret.

2 Take Massive Imperfect Courageous Action
Forget about perfectionism, just aim for the "85% good enough" standard and get it out there.
Your life-changing products or services aren't going to change a single life until you push it out to the market.
Your relentless studying and reading won't do humanity any good until you go out and implement the wisdom.
Your genius ideas aren't going to turn into a billion dollar business until you pitch it in the Shark Tank.
The key to success, especially entrepreneurial success, is your speed of execution.
Results come from nothing but massive imperfect courageous actions, not affirmations, visualizations or meditations.

3 Action Leads To Motivation
Do you think you need motivation first before you can take action?
Do you believe you need to wait for the "perfect moment or timing" before you can take action?
Do you trust yourself that you are good enough to at least start taking action?
In the self-help world, many people fall into the thinking trap that they need to "prepare more" before they can really initiate the task they want, whether it's about starting a conversation with a lady, starting an online business, or starting to workout.
Sadly, these preparations often become excuses for them not to take action.
The truth is motivation comes when you take that scary action.
If you're willing to force yourself to "do that thing" for just 5 minutes, you'll be surprised that action is easier than you thought and you'll be motivated to continue taking action and make some real progress.

4 Plan Your Day the Night Before
You never want to wake up not knowing exactly how the next 16 hours will be.
Planning should always happen the night before, so that the moment you open your eyes, you are in automation mode and you don't need to spend extra thoughts to craft out your day.
Before you know it, you're already spending your first 2 hours doing the one big thing of the day that will yield you 80% of the progress.

5 Stop Multitasking
Science has proven that our brain is incapable of multitasking.
All we are doing is reacting to that stimulus, switching our attention to a different task, finishing the unimportant stuff, coming back to the original task having no idea where we are at, spending extra time & energy to get back into flow.
CNN World has reported that switching tasks make you dumber than being stoned, because our IQ drops by 10 points when we switch tasks while our IQ drops by 5 points when we smoke marijuana.
Don't want to be an idiot?
Time to cut off all the emails, phone calls, Facebook, app notifications, news updates, or chit-chat with your colleagues while you work!

6 Chunk Things into Baby Steps
I am annoyed by this cliché but it's true: You eat an elephant one bite at a time.
One main reason we procrastinate is because we feel it's too difficult, too long and too much to do it.
Big goals are fantastic, but when it comes to action, you want to make them seem as easy as possible.
So chunk them into mini segments so that the pleasure of completion outweighs the pain of taking action.

7 Reward & Celebrate
Nothing pisses your brain off more than enduring some painful discipline for a long time and not getting rewarded at the end of the process!
You've got to reward yourself kindly at the end so that you anchor massive pleasure to the beautiful moment of task completion.
Pet yourself on the back so that when you start another boring, mundane, yet significant campaign, you can motivate yourself to finish it as soon as possible and arrive at the end of the pleasurable tunnel!
I'm going to reward myself now, how about you?

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