Understanding and Improving Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to the value we place on ourselves. It's a self-imposed judgment of our own worth. It follows that self-esteem is something that comes from within. We can't look to others for it, we can't pay for it, and it can't be gifted to us. When our self-esteem is up we feel pretty good about ourselves. It's that sense of feeling comfortable in our own skin, of acknowledging that we're not perfect but being able to live with ourselves despite the flaws. We tend to treat ourselves kindly and we learn to trust our own beliefs, values and behavior without looking to others for approval or guidance. We're not closed to suggestions or feedback but our confidence remains high as we adapt to new or challenging circumstances.

Contrast this with low self-esteem and the differences become clearer. Low self-esteem is fraught with difficulties. We're constantly comparing ourselves to others and wishing we could be like them, or even 'be' them. It's a lack of personal control and a nagging need for greater personal strength and confidence.

Self-esteem isn't fixed. We can't, for example, go on a course or read a book and develop self-esteem in the way we might develop muscles through exercise. It's true that guidance can help enormously but the point is our esteem is a dynamic process that can increase or reduce according to circumstances. Anyone who has experienced a traumatic event will tend to feel self-esteem reduce. When, for example, we're forced into actions we might not choose it means control is taken from us and placed in someone else's hands. We become victims of circumstance and we feel bad as a result.

It's therefore important to understand that self-esteem ebbs and flows, but this doesn't mean we can't have an abiding sense of self worth. If we become victims of circumstance our lives being reactive rather than proactive. We constantly look to others for approval and our lives become fearful in case we go wrong, in case we're disapproved of, in case we're not liked. Almost inevitably we can't sustain such an approach. There will always be times others disagree with us, don't want to speak to us, turn their backs on us. What's left is a desolate sense of rejection and resentment and low self-esteem becomes reinforced

Improving Self-Esteem

Our inner voice is the one critical issue to get into check. We've all got an inner voice. It's the thing that says, 'maybe I shouldn't because I'm not good enough,' or 'I'd better not in case I fail or embarrass myself or other people'. Let's unpack what's going here.

What is the content of this inner voice? Is it very general in nature or does it tend to focus on a very few things? Where has it come from? Is it some bad experience you had years ago or is it what we might think of as anticipatory anxiety?

Our inner critic tends to be ruthless. It operates in black and white terms where everything is a disaster, a failure or perfect and brilliant. Oh yes, real life is that, isn't it? Put your inner critic under scrutiny. Who says it's accurate? Is it able to predict the future? Can it mind read? Or is it stirring up your emotions based on nothing more than - well, emotions?

For every negative statement you can think of its important to counter it with a positive and more logical alternative. So 'she'll think I'm stupid,' is replaced with 'everyone asks questions, why should mine be less worthy?'

This is just a start, but it's a way to understanding how self-esteem operates and what you can do in order to turn things to your advantage.

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The Ticket to a Simpler Life

Do you dream of leading a simpler life? Are you worn out, frustrated, or unhappy with where you live or what you do? I've talked about living in paradise before, but I wanted to share a few more thoughts on the subject.

There isn't anything wrong with having a "paradise dream" (dreams are encouraged!), but if we live our lives waiting until we can move on to greener pastures, we'll miss out on what life has to offer right now.

We all have ideas on what we think a simpler life means. Some of us think retiring and moving to the woods is the ticket. Others want to move to somewhere tropical. Most of the time retiring and moving are key components for what we think is a happier, stress-reduced life.

Oh, the error of our ways...

The thing is, simplifying life doesn't have to mean moving to the middle of nowhere. Oftentimes, doing just that actually complicates things a bit. Just think about all the things you have to do to survive if you take off and move into the woods. If you don't have electricity, you have to get firewood (even if you live in the south - doesn't it get chilly there, too?). If you don't have a job or a ton of money in savings, you can't just buy the wood. That means you have to gather and cut the wood yourself. What it takes to live off the land and survive is a lot more than one would expect. And in many cases, it's a full-time job.

Our ideas of a simpler life aren't always accurate. We think if we can just move into the woods, life will be simpler. Or we think if we can just quit our jobs, life will be simpler. Sometimes it really is simpler, especially if there is drama in the workplace, but what are we going to do after that? How are we going to pay the bills?

Even if we live off the grid and grow our own food, we still have expenses. Whether we like it or not, we still need an income or a major reserve of funds to get by. It isn't as easy as one might think.

Also, in our world today, we have become spoiled with technology. We can whip out our smartphones and find out just about any information we need or want. We can order products, even food, online and have it delivered to our front door. We can watch movies online and dial a phone number simply by speaking a few words into the phone.

Many of us aren't ready to say goodbye to the internet. And if we want high-speed internet (trust me, satellite internet doesn't cut it), well, we'll need to be in a location where the service is available.

See, we have these grand ideas that if we take off into the woods, life will get easier. But the issue comes when our true calling doesn't actually support our dreams of living in the woods. In that case, moving to the woods makes our lives much harder. Internet will be slower, if it works at all, and getting supplies will take longer.

What I'm trying to get across is this: it doesn't matter where we live. We can still find ways to simplify our lives without taking off and saying goodbye to the world.

Many of us think if we just move to somewhere tropical, life will be easy. But does it align with our calling? If it does, great! If not, moving to that paradise location will make our lives miserable. We can have the best view in the world, but if it makes doing our work more difficult, we may find ourselves frustrated.

So, what are some ways we can make the most of where we are right now?

Remember our goals. 

Remember our purpose (we weren't meant to be hermits). 

Work toward our dreams. 

Focus on positive things and limit the complaints. 

Recognize the blessings. 

Learn from all experiences. 

Remember that life is a journey. 

Find an activity to enjoy. 

Believe that paradise can be achieved right now. 

Listen to the things that God is placing on our hearts.

The grass on our side can be just as green as it appears on the other side. It just takes a little work to see things clearly. It isn't about the location or the work; it's about the journey and what we can learn each step of the way.

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13 Ways Successful People Improve their Efficiency

There is never an end to the learning process.

Even successful people have the urge to improvise their efficiency on a daily basis.

Though, it takes many years of hard work to become successful, but it is even harder to sustain that success and keep on adding to one’s efficiency.

13 Ways Successful People Improve their Efficiency

Here is the list of some recurring secrets and habits that are often followed by successful people, to improve their efficiency, and which should be pursued by aspiring people as well.


1. Regular Habits Deliver Big Results

Our routine and daily chaos can play a major role. If the routine is something that distracts one from their desired goal, then a shift in regular habits can be the trick towards success.

Though giving up regular habits is not easy, but simultaneously, it is key to produce a better version of oneself.

For e.g. leading writers and novelists, write less or more of material every day. This helps them improve their efficiency to write well.

Secret 1: Keep it standard and don’t break the rhythm or chain, this regular habit will lead to success.


2. Willpower Will Take You Anywhere

A lot of researches and studies claim, that to achieve any goal, anybody and everybody needs to have willpower within them. It is an assured resource for success. Famous psychologists state that making any decision needs willpower.

For e.g. Startups when take the initial entrance in the business world, it takes a lot of willpower to not loose out hope, as a startup takes a lot of time to reach the success bar. Here a good willpower will keep the new entrepreneurs focused to achieve assured success.


Secret 2: Willpower is a must and giving up is out of the question, when aspiring for success.


3. Don’t Run Behind Success, Take It Slow.

Usually, when new people in the race of success develop habits and routine to lead their way to victory, they get really pushy. Any process, habit, routine or even success for that matter, will take some time to fall in your court.

For e.g. Many reputed writers have gone through times, where their write ups were rejected or they failed to offer a bunch of words that failed to impress. But, most of them have said in their interviews or biographies, that what kept them going was their willpower.

Secret 3: Willpower is must, to keep it going towards success.


4. Introspection Is A Must

Self-analysis is the primary form of analysis that every successful person undertakes.

The famous personality, Steve Jobs (Apple), used to strongly support Zen philosophy and meditation practice, as the reason of his success.

In self-analysis one can be completely transparent about what needs to be corrected or what needs to be promoted as a practice.

For e.g. Many leading novelists often suggest out to aspiring writers, that self-editing is a must. If one wants to opt for proofreading by professionals then platforms like Contentmart can be opted, as to become a perfect wordsmith, sometime an introspection by a specialist can be of great importance too.

Secret 4: Introspecting oneself allows in defeating one’s own failures.


5. Sharing Is Gaining

Many successful people give credit to their group sessions or community meetings or talk sessions, for their growth. Talking and sharing thoughts and gaining new insights, is a prerequisite in a session with like minded people.

For e.g. Startups can attend many interactive sessions and meetup, where people with similar business background and thoughts, come to one place and share their ideology or ideas. This can help is grooming the efficiency for many.

Secret 5: Share your thoughts and ideas to gain new ones and get corrected for good.


6. Collaborative Approach Is A Must

A person alone can never achieve success, there are many helping hands who create a successful personality. Having a collaborative approach and taking every person, element and process together ahead, is a quality only successful people enclose.

Secret 6: Every person and element should be dealt and taken ahead in a collaborative approach.


7. Futuristic Approach

Thinking ahead and before time is a common trait witnessed in every winning personality. Having a futuristic approach helps people in developing a well-strategized plan, which can help them overcome challenges.

This advanced approach helps them visualize problems before time and thus, helps in planning in a manner that allows to have a plan B ready.

For e.g. Leading startups that have tasted success, have entrepreneurs that have a futuristic approach and claim their success to such an approach. They plan ahead and thus have a problem-solving strategy towards success.

Secret 7: Future is equally important to plan, as we plan the present.


8. Don’t Think Different, Do Different

Old is gold! But, not always.

To achieve something that no one has ever achieved, one has to do something, that has never been done. New approach, ideology, applications, strategy and what not, to achieve something spectacular; don’t just think differently, do differently.

For e.g. A startup to become successful, needs to introduce a business idea that is never thought of, nor implemented. Anything new and different has been always welcomed and encouraged.

Secret 8: Forget the notions, bring out what’s different in you.


9. Don’t Forget To Reward Yourself On Every Small Win

Don’t limit the rewards for the end goal achievement, take the pride to reward each small victory. To avoid an inevitable fail, celebrate small wins.

For e.g. Don’t wait for a digital marketing plan to reach 1 million, but celebrate those first 10,000 leads or targets that can motivate to prosper even further.

Secret 9: Reward yourself, no matter how small or big the win is.


10. A Failure Is Not The End

There might be many failures on the way to success.

Taking a small failure as a barrier to achieve the bigger goal is strictly a NO! Self motivation against a failure should always be a primary element of success. This motivation makes one to achieve more than desired.

For e.g. A draft idea or a business proposal might get rejected by seniors or investors, here instead of taking the failure as the ultimate decision, instead let it motivate you to work harder and attain that approval.

Secret 10: Failures are temporary, motivation for success is permanent.


11. Enjoy The Process Towards Success

If one doesn’t enjoy what they do, they will fail.

Not enjoying the process, will make it miserable to achieve success and is seen as a setup for failure. Try working on oneself and improve on a daily basis. All successful people enjoy the process more than the goal achieved.

For e.g. A writer might not enjoy the achievement of the final copy as much as he enjoyed the journey of reaching on to that conclusion.

Secret 11: Enjoy the process, it will make the journey to success easier and fruitful.


12. No Involvement In Negative Talks & Thoughts

There are thousands of mouths and even more suggestions or reactions. Some good, some bad. To achieve success, one must not involve in negative talks and thoughts. Whether they come from someone else or from within.

Encourage a positive vibe and avoid getting into negativity.

For e.g. Many entrepreneurs with their startup, face a lot of criticism about their business approach or idea, some from outside, some from within. To avoid them and to work ahead of them is a must.

Secret 12: Don’t let negativity touch or influence your goal.


13. Being Thankful

This is one of the most common qualities that can be witnessed in a successful person. Showing gratitude even with one ‘Thank You’ is more than enough.

Often at times, successful people do share their success with people who supported and helped them in their journey. Showing a humble gesture even in one sentence can do the justice.

For e.g. In books published or any written material for that matter, acknowledgement or thanks page is a must and comes before the actual write-up. This clearly depicts, that a ‘Thanks’ comes first.

Secret 13: Always show gratitude towards people who deserve a share in the success story.


Summary

Here’s a quick recap of the 13 ways successful people improve their efficiency:
Regular habits deliver big results
Willpower will take you anywhere
Don’t run behind success, take it slow
Introspection is a must
Sharing is gaining
Collaborative approach is a must
Futuristic approach
Don’t think different, do different
Don’t forget to reward yourself on every small win
A failure is not the end
Enjoy the process towards success
No involvement in negative talks & thoughts
Being thankful


So, to sum it up, if one is amongst those who chase success, embracing the above qualities can help such people achieve success and also will help in improving the efficiency quotient.
How else do successful people improve their efficiency? Leave a comment below.

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The Power of Habit: 4 Steps to Creating Good Habits

People tend to think that habits are unbreakable. They feel it’s exceedingly difficult to change habits for the better. After all, that’s why so many people struggle to lose weight, quit smoking, or beat procrastination.

But, what if I told you that was wrong?

Habits can be changed. Not only that but changing a habit is easier than you think. What it does involve is thinking about them differently.

He uses a combination of research backed science and his experiences of habit change to take the reader through how to make changes in their lives.

In this post, you’re going to learn the four steps Duhigg has found that helps to get rid of good habits and create new ones.

How Habits Are Formed

We develop habits over time by creating a loop that we repeat over and over again. It’s that loop that cements habits in our minds.

There’s a three-step process that goes into every habit you form:
Cue
Routine
Reward

In basic terms, here’s how it works:

A habit is formed when a cue signals a routine that provides the brain with a reward.
When that feedback loop is created, your brain shuts off when it comes to making decisions about that loop.

This is why it’s so common for a smoker to automatically have a cigarette after their morning coffee. They’ve done that action so many times it’s cemented itself as a loop in their brain. More often than not, they light up without even thinking.

It’s also why these seemingly routine tasks are so difficult to break. When smokers are trying to quit will talk about how the hardest time to avoid smoking is during that morning coffee. It’s because when that cigarette is removed the loop is broken, and the reward is gone.

Understanding that loop is the key to success with any habit is replacing a “bad”habit with a “good” one. You do that by replacing the reward portion of the loop.


(We’ll cover each of these steps a little bit more in depth later on, so keep reading!)

The secret to success is finding a “good” reward that replaces the craving.

In this case, maybe the coffee is the reward, not the cigarette. So it could be possible that by keeping the coffee and removing the cigarette the reward is still there, thus making it a lot easier to stop smoking with that morning coffee.


Creating “Good” Habits

One way you can look at this is through creating Keystone Habits. These are like good habit dominos when you have one good keystone habit; others begin to fall in line.

Losing weight is a common place where creating a keystone habit can make a massive difference with success. We all know it can be difficult to lose weight, many people struggle with it.

What Duhigg found, however, was that researchers began to see one keystone habit that helped people to lose weight over and over again. It wasn’t exercise or drinking more water; it was keeping a food journal.

Seems simple, right? But in reality, this practice is a fantastic example of a keystone in action.

The food journal let dieters keep track of exactly what they ate. Because of this, they were able to identify foods that were bad, see if they fell into common traps, and make small dietary changes.

All of these ‘small wins’ can dramatically add up to significant weight loss over time and reinforce a positive habit loop.

Alright, so now you’re probably wondering how you can start accomplishing some of those New Year’s Resolutions and finally create good habits that stick.


How to Change a Habit (in Four Easy Steps)

Through all of his research and personal experiences in the book, Duhigg found there is a four step framework to replace a “bad” habit with a “good one.”

We’re going to look at each of the steps in the framework below.

Step 1: Identify The Routine

We know every habit has three main parts: the cue, routine, and reward. Here, the first step is to think about the habit you want to change.

Once you’ve identified a specific habit, the next thing you need to do is walk through the routine associated with that habit. So you want to think about the “the reward driving your behavior, the cue triggering it, and the routine itself.”

If you’re a smoker, think about what you do every time you light up. If you have a killer sweet tooth, try to note what is happening when you go for that cookie after dinner. And, If you consistently give up when trying, new things look at the routine around how you’re setting yourself up for success.

Duhigg found he was gaining weight because every day he went to the cafeteria at the New York Times (where he’s a writer), would buy a cookie, and eat it while chatting with friends.

This habit was the routine. It’s going to be the action you take around something.
Remember, when habit loops form, the brain just goes through the motions. What you need to do is start training your brain to think again. To change that routine, you need to get your brain kickstarted again and involved in the feedback loop.


Step 2: Experiment With Rewards

When it comes to bad habits, the reason why you stick with them is that of the reward. If your body and brain get something out of a habit, then the brain is going to keep doing it.

More often than not, it’s this reward that is the entire reason why you’re stuck in a bad habit loop. The reward is what is the response to the craving; the reward satisfies it.

What you need to do is see if you can find a new reward that will still give your craving the same satisfaction but removes the negative action.

Here’s where you are going to have to do a little bit of scientific (well not so scientific) testing. Try experimenting with different rewards.

So, the next time you’re craving a smoke with your morning coffee, try a few other routines and see if anything works. Here are a few ideas:
Have a glass of water
Chat with a friend or coworker
Do squats for 30 seconds
Look at a picture of your pet


Do that for a few days or a few weeks until you can start seeing some patterns. And right after you try each new routine, Duhigg advises you do two important things.
Write down the first three words that come to your mind
Wait 15 minutes to see if you are still feeling the craving

This makes it easier to track to see what’s working and what isn’t. If your new routine is making you miserable, note that. If you feel great 15 minutes after looking at a picture of your puppy, then you’ve begun the process of creating a replacement loop.


Step 3: Isolate The Cue
Every habit has a trigger and finding this is the key to changing your habits. Unfortunately, this is typically the hardest part.

The reason?

According to Duhigg, researchers have found that our brains are just constantly bombarded with too much information, too many inputs to quickly determine what the primary cue is.

Fortunately, there are ways to find the signal in all that noise. Duhigg talks about five major cues that almost every habit falls into:
Location
Time
Emotional State
Other People
Immediately preceding action

Here’s an example straight from the book that will help you understand. Duhigg found he had gotten into the bad habit of eating cookies every afternoon. He’d go to the cafe, buy a cookie (or two) and chat with coworkers.

He wanted to stop this habit and save his waistline, but it was hard to determine exactly what the cue was.

From the book:

So, if you’re trying to figure out the cue for the ‘going to the cafeteria and buying a chocolate chip cookie’ habit, you write down five things the moment the urge hits (these are my actual notes from when I was trying to diagnose my habit):
Where are you? (sitting at my desk)
What time is it? (3:36 pm)
What’s your emotional state? (bored)
Who else is around? (no one)
What action preceded the urge? (answered an email)

He wrote down what happened when he felt the urge for the cookie for a week and found one interesting tidbit.

Every time he wanted a cookie it was around 3:30 pm. This hour long period was the cue. To change this habit, he had to do something else to get a new reward.
This is where having a plan comes in.


Step 4: Have a Plan

Once Duhigg was able to identify the cue, he needed to come up with a plan to change it. Having a plan is the critical point here. After you’ve done the hard work of realizing what the cue is in the habit you want to change, you need to attack it with a specific plan.

Remember, because your habit is set in motion, it means your brain does it automatically. The point of the plan is to help re-wire this habit.

So, back to the example above.


After tracking his behavior and asking the questions he saw that the real ‘reward’ he got from going to the cafe wasn’t the cookie, it was able to chat with co-workers for a few minutes. He wanted to socialize.

Here is the plan he came up with:


“AT 3:30, EVERY DAY, I WILL WALK TO A FRIEND’S DESK AND TALK FOR 10 MINUTES.”

It didn’t go perfectly at first. The brain is tricky that way. Realize that forming a new habit loop is hard and prepare for the fact that you will fall off the wagon. That’s where the plan can help.

After a few weeks, Duhigg didn’t need an alarm or note to get himself up and chatting with a friend at 3:30 pm, he did it automatically. He was able to dramatically reduce his cookie buying, lost weight, made new friends, and felt much better.

His brain had re-wired a new habit.


Final Thoughts

As you go through the process of trying to change your habits, remember what Duhigg calls The Golden Rule of Habit Change:


“YOU CAN’T EXTINGUISH A BAD HABIT, YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE IT.”

Anything you want to change, you can. Just put the above steps into practice. It won’t always be easy, but once you start locking down those small wins, then the sky is the limit.

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4 Ways To Simplify Your Life Right Now

In a period of information overload, there's never been a better time to simplify life.

The raging struggle of modern existence can lead to inner turmoil if we're unaware.

The key to living an inspired life is to simplify it. To gain clarity on what's important, let go of unnecessary conditions and tune into what you value most. Most people chase material possessions believing they'll be happy, only to realise it makes matters worse.

The more clutter in your life, the less capable you are of knowing what's important to you since you are distracted by insignificant issues that vie for your attention. Naturally, you react to what is taking place before you instead of what's essential.

Health, relationships, family and living my purpose are central aspects to my life nowadays. It's taken an entire lifetime to reach this point, yet it's well worth it. That which brings you joy and happiness require the least effort.

I'm drawn to the quote by Henry David Thoreau who said, "As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness."

The Law of Least Effort functions according to the principle of simplicity. Given that we evolve from nature, it makes sense to adopt this way of being in our life.

The following are four valuable points to implement right now. Apply them gradually and don't be discouraged if you don't see results at first. It requires patience and persistence for something of value to yield results. Akin to a plant, the initial stages begin with the seed sprouting beneath the soil, invisible to the naked eye. Yet, with nurturing and time, it grows into a healthy plant and so too with your habits.

1. Surround Yourself With Remarkable People

These include: friends, family, romantic partners, co-workers and those who offer you support and encouragement. Significant people are those who encourage your personal growth. They are your humble ambassadors in times of need and don't desert you through crisis. The company of such people leads to simplified living because your needs are met through close connections.

Great people inspire and strengthen you, not drain your energy. Energy vampires rob you of your vital force, so be aware them. They want to gain something and are unwilling to offer anything in return. Steer away from them, they will deprive you of your long term happiness.

2. Let Go Of What No Longer Serves You

I've written about this in earlier articles. Letting go of what no longer serves you is essential to simplifying life because we free ourselves from what consumes our energy. This includes: people, things, places, relationships, travel, behaviours or habits. If it doesn't bring you joy, remove it from your life or distance yourself from it. However, don't fill the void with something else, simply allow it time to recede, so you have less to focus on. In doing so, you free up mental and emotional resources for more important matters. Create a space for something wonderful to appear and trust it will take its place, since Nature abhors a vacuum.

3. Focus On Experiences, Not Things

The lie that happiness comes from material possessions is one many fall victim to. Sure, it might offer happiness for a short while, although once it wears off you yearn for something more.

Newspapers are filled with stories of people who inherit millions of dollars, only to find themselves more miserable than before. This is not due to money per se, rather the stress associated with managing large sums of money. Accumulating material objects amplifies insecurities already present in a person.

Focus on experiences and surrounding yourself with friends and loved ones. Travel more, perform random acts of kindness, do charity work if that appeals to you. The key is to find fulfilling experiences that embody who you are. For example, I enjoy creative hobbies and feel lively when engaged in these endeavours. Find time for these activities and you'll be happy and content.

4. Be In Tune With Your Nature

When you're in tune with your nature, you connect to your source. I'm not talking about religion or spirituality, yet something greater. You are the expression of Mother Nature in all her glory. Everything from your thoughts to your body reflects the infinite powers of universal intelligence. Stay connected to your source and you'll feel the aliveness of the universe permeate through you.

How do you stay in tune with your nature? Here are steps to consider:

Be kind and compassionate to yourself and others

Think empowering thoughts

Live a healthy life

Eat whole food close to its original state

Balance your giving and receiving

Create fulfilling relationships

Be of value in your local community

Respect Mother Nature

Be of service to others

Be at peace with yourself

Think globally, act locally

We're on the verge of a new way of life, uniting spirit and matter to become conscious creators of our destiny. The old paradigm is gradually falling away to make way for the new. This isn't about a new world order, for it's much simpler than that. It's an expanding of consciousness and fading of primitive thinking, once dictated by our primal urges.

The changes herald a new way of perceiving the world via our sixth sense. People are harnessing their intuition to make sense of the world around them. Be willing to upgrade your model of reality to coincide with the change. Remove preconceived ideas about how life should play out since these concepts keep you trapped in the past.

Simplifying life brings immense joy because we need little to make us happy. Economic studies in Australia suggest households on a combined income of $40k per annum are no happier at this threshold. In the US, the figure is $75k, which confirms we needn't accumulate vast amounts of wealth to be happy.

Mother Nature is more intelligent than we give her credit for. She provides us with the inner wisdom to make sense of our lives, yet we're controlled by our impulses instead of focusing on what's meaningful. Don't succumb to the out-there model that suggests your inner needs originate from outside circumstances.

Make a vow to simplify life and reduce your impact on the environment. Reduce your waste and non-renewable resources.

Strive to live a clean and uncluttered existence.

The reward is a conscious life imbued with simplicity, instead of what you believe will make you happy.

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The Most Significant Ways To Reclaim Your Life

How To Make Sense Of Chaos

You may believe your life is spinning out of control.

However, it's a misguided perception because you're invested in your circumstances and unable to see an alternative solution.

I'm drawn to the tale by Anthony de Mello which highlights our reaction to life:

Everyone was surprised by the Master's updated metaphor: "Life is like a motor car."

They waited in silence, knowing that an explanation would not be long in coming.

"Oh yes," he said at length. "A motor car can be used to travel to the heights."

Another silence.

"But most people lie in front of it and allow it to run over them and then blame it for the accident."

Our greatest challenge in life is overcoming our sense of helplessness. However, this too is an illusion and not what's taking place.

"Circumstances are powerless, too. Your perception of outside events is solely dependent on your thinking and mind-set. And since your thinking and mind-set ebb and flow, it makes little sense to take the content of your thoughts as written in stone and requiring action," affirms author and sports psychologist Garret Kramer in The Path of No Resistance: Why Overcoming is Simpler than You Think.

When we become invested in the drama around us, we cannot make sense of it and assume chaos is detrimental.

In fact, upheaval may be what we need to advance us to the next point in our life.

The most significant act we can undertake to reclaim our life, is to surrender. I realise this goes against every principle of setting your life on track. Nevertheless, what if this simple understanding propelled you to a new way of life?

Author Mary O'Malley states in What's in the Way Is the Way: A Practical Guide for Waking Up to Life, "Opening to Life brings you into full engagement with what is happening rather than keeping you caught in a conversation about Life. We could call it surrender, but this doesn't mean being defeated. It means finally giving up your war with what Life is bringing you."

The Process Called Life

Surrender does not mean apathy, yet something more significant. It entails yielding to the process called life, by allowing what needs to transpire, irrespective of your thoughts and preconceived ideas.

Your ideas and beliefs about the world give meaning to what is taking place around you.

To reclaim your life, requires finding your own path and following the journey wherever it leads. It's a rewarding adventure, given the many discoveries made along the way.

Thus, it pays to be vigilant and know what's important to you.

It's easy to be distracted by unimportant matters. Many people succumb to this way of living because they react to what happens before them, instead of focussing on what's essential.

"Saying yes to reality-to the things we cannot change-is like choosing to turn around and sit in the saddle in the direction the horse is going. Sitting that way is mindfulness, an honouring of the here and now without the distractions of fear or desire," avows author David Richo in The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them.

It's In Your Response

How you respond to life, reflects whether you're pulled by situations or people that don't relate with your deepest values.

Life proceeds with its own agenda, directed through you. Yet, it's derailed by trivial matters since we lose sight of what we value most.

I liken it to working on a computer and besieged with pop-up messages from a mail program.

If you're like most people, they respond to the messages, texts or incoming calls as they arise because they're habituated to do so, like Pavlovian Conditioning.

What if there's a better reaction instead of plunging ourselves into unimportant issues?

The choice is not to allow external events to disrupt your inner stability.

We must be mindful of the excuses that keep us trapped in our comfort zone. This safe harbour is where we avoid confronting life's pressing issues while delaying the inevitable.

Eventually, it overwhelms us because we've grown accustomed to running away from our problems instead of meeting them head-on.

"People automatically thrive when they stop making circumstantial excuses for their feelings. They find clarity, take judgment off the table, and then feel a connection with everything around them," states Garret Kramer.

Life needn't be a series of unfortunate events. You have the power to take affirmative action to reclaim your life. First, you must discover what's important to you and let go of any distractions that don't complete the picture.

I assure you, life will pull you in every direction not of your choosing. If you're not resolute, you'll find yourself in a place you care little for.

This is why many people are unhappy in intimate relationships because they're enticed by the initial spark that alights their interest. They respond like a child with new toys, believing the situation will stay the same. It seldom does and soon enough they find themselves stuck and unable to navigate life.

Life is not to blame for your circumstances. It results from your less than unwavering commitment to pursue what's important.

If you're in a position that does not benefit you, ask yourself, "What really matters?"

Continue to pose this question for thirty days until answers appear. What emerges will be insights giving you clues to what you value most.

Pursue it.

However, what arises, may go against your better judgement and force you out of your comfort zone - that's okay, go with it.

Listen, for something to be of value, you must let go of fixed ideas not in alignment with a greater vision for your life.

Tune In To Your Inner Wisdom

There's a place within you, a universal wisdom that knows your needs. You may not be aware of it as it's drowned out by the incessant chatter in your mind.

This radio mind distracts you of what's essential.

To live a spirited life, turn down the volume on your thoughts and tune in to the ever silent, infinite wisdom that lies deep within you.

I assure you it's there.

People claim not to hear it or that it doesn't exist because they can't get quiet enough to perceive it.

It may take months or years to drown out the incessant chatter and allow the silent voice to direct you to the life you're meant to live.

What's the rush, anyway?

Your Instagram and Facebook friends will still be there, so set aside your communication devices for now.

Don't go another minute living a complicated life, claiming it's a series of trials and tribulations.

Be vigilant in your response to life and trust there's a greater plan for you, beyond your understanding. You needn't know the plan in its entirety right now.

Follow the trail, via your emotions to reclaim your life. Take one step at a time.

Everyday, life will show you what needs to be completed, who you need to meet with, what books you need to read and the resources you require.

As the opening tale proposes, step out of the way of the motor car and into the passenger seat to assume your role as creator and navigator of your life.

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10 Habits That Lower Self-Esteem and Cause Depression

When our self-esteem is low, which is typical of codependency, we're at greater risk for depression. Codependency is learned, and so are self-esteem and the beliefs and habits that cause both low self-esteem and codependency. Self-esteem is what we think about ourselves. It includes positive and negative self-evaluations. Good self-esteem is a realistic, positive self-concept. It reflects self-respect and implies a feeling of worth that's not determined by comparison to, or approval from, others. Self-acceptance (which some writers include as part of self-esteem) is even deeper. It's a feeling of being good enough, neither perfect, nor inadequate. We feel we have worth and are lovable, not merely because of beauty, talent, achievement, intelligence, status, or popularity. It's a sense of inner contentment.

We each have intrinsic value, not based on how we perform or what we do or give. Just as every baby and breed of animal are unique and worthy of love, so are we. Unfortunately, as codependents, many of us grew up in families where love was nonexistent, conditional, or had to be earned. We believed that we had to earn or win the love of a parent. As a result, we're afraid to be authentic for fear we may be disliked. We may pursue people who cannot love and reject those who love us. We "over-do" or "over-give" in relationships and at work, and end up feeling resentful, used, or exploited.

Habits that Damage Self-Esteem

If you conclude that self-esteem is essential to enjoying your life and enjoying enduring, healthy relationships, you're right! The following bad habits, typical of codependents, can make you feel insecure, ashamed, anxious, sad, and hopeless:

Negatively compare yourself to others

Find fault with yourself

Tyrannize yourself with "Should's"

Project self-criticism onto others and imagine they're judging you

Don't try new things to avoid failing

Procrastinate

Doubt your instincts and decisions

Ignore your needs and wants

Don't set boundaries and allow abuse, criticism, or exploitation

Refuse to forgive yourself

When we compare ourselves to someone else, whether favorably or unfavorably, we are measuring ourselves by an external standard. Feeling "better than" someone is really a means to compensate for underlying shame and low self-esteem. The lift we get is false. It would be more helpful to wonder why we need to compare ourselves to someone else. When we compare ourselves negatively, it's self-shaming. We feel inferior, lose confidence, and like ourselves less. It depresses our mood and discourages us.

An active "inner critic" besieges us with what we should and should not do and second-guesses what we've already done. Habitual fault-finding can cause us to assume others see us as we see ourselves. In this way, we project our critic onto others and anticipate and feel the effects of criticism or judgment that we imagine, even when none occurs.

Lowered self-confidence causes us to fear making mistakes, looking foolish, or failing. Our self-esteem is always on the line, so it's safer not to try anything new to avoid appearing incompetent or not succeeding. This is another reason we procrastinate tasks or experiences that are new or challenging. At the same time, we nag and criticize ourselves for failure to accomplish our goals. Rather than take a chance, we make ourselves wrong for not trying, which ensures "failure" and low self-esteem.

Accommodating others from an early age leaves us unsure of our values and beliefs and encourages reliance on others. Decision-making becomes difficult, even paralyzing. Low self-esteem and shame heighten our fear of making mistakes, leading to self-doubt, insecurity, and indecision. Instead, we procrastinate or look to others for validation, opinions, and answers, which further undermines our self-trust and self-esteem.

Accommodating others also alienates us from our needs and wants. By not acknowledging, expressing, and meeting our needs and wants, we're admitting to ourselves and others that they're not important; ergo, that we're not important. On the other hand, taking responsibility to meet our needs and/or ask for them (such as asking for a raise) builds self-esteem. When we don't, we feel helpless and a victim of circumstances and other people.

Not feeling worthy of love and respect - which we deny to ourselves - makes us vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. We don't feel worthy of being treated well, and deny, excuse, or rationalize being abused or disrespected. Dependent upon others' approval, we're afraid to set boundaries lest we alienate those we love or need. We're quick to blame ourselves and readily accept blame from others, because we're guilt-ridden due to shame. Although we forgive the mistakes of others, especially if we receive an apology, we're not as kind to ourselves. Apologies to ourselves don't count. In fact, we can punish ourselves or hold a grudge against ourselves for years over past mistakes.

Treatment for Low Self-Esteem and Depression 

Fortunately, we can grow our self-esteem and increase our capacity for self-fulfillment. It will enhance our creativity, ambition, physical and emotional health, loving relationships, and resilience in the face of adversity. It is the key to success.

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Essence of Self Confidence

Have you ever observed how people pay more attention to what things look like than what purpose these things actually exist for? For example, there are two bars of the same chocolate in two different boxes. The other is covered in beautiful and shiny paper. The latter is placed in a plain box on top a hidden shelf. Obviously, you know which one will get picked by people who pass by, even though the contents are the same. Believe it or not, this is the very same case when it comes to people and confidence. In fact, it happens to people every second of the day, every day of the year. Whenever people mingle, there's just no room for the absence of assessment. Although there are a few people on earth who do not mind what their peers think of, chances are there are billions more who actually care and get terribly affected by negative remarks. The sad part is that most of these people are often misjudged due to how they look, act and other shallow standards. From never looking anyone straight in the eye, excessively fumbling and even murmuring instead if talking... all these barriers to personal growth are actually manifestations of low self esteem.

You see, having self confidence is the trigger which pulls off every positive aspect of life. It is the overall aura you exude for people to notice you. It is the element which lessens other people's doubts about what you are actually worth. This is the element you often see in models when they strut on the catwalk. This is the silencing power you sense in CEO's. It is the soundless air you feel whenever you meet someone which leaves you impressed for no apparent reason at all.

High levels of self-confidence give anyone, including you, more potential to do what has to be done in order to achieve your dreams and ambitions. Professionally, you can use confidence to take your career a notch higher than where it usually is. When you look confident, people will stop looking at you as a fumbling fool. They will get interested in what you are capable of doing. As such, you can seize every opportunity to exert extra effort so that you can show how good you are at your field. Your confidence will assure you of an audience. Your peers and bosses will watch in anticipation as they try to see what you can accomplish. After that, appreciation will follow and you are almost set for the next big step.

Even your personal life is highly affected by confidence. When it comes to relationships, confident people always seem to establish steady emotional bonds with ease and resilience. Confidence is often equated to honesty. It's a character only people who have nothing to hide can truly possess. As you might have observed, people love the absence of pretense. When you're confident, you are actually giving yourself a chance to be what it is no matter how lame it may be according to the world. With this kind of attitude, it will be just a matter of time before you meet people who share common passions with you. By utilizing confidence you can establish these similarities without awkwardness, thus strengthening your personal ties with people.

Most importantly, a steady sense of self confidence can make you feel better as an individual. With it, you can love yourself for who you really are. You can sleep at night knowing the positive and negative aspects of your life, thus giving yourself a chance to make things right. Without insecurity, you can look every problem straight in the eye. You will never have to flee from belittling remarks and violent reactions simply because you believe and know what you are truly capable of. This is the power only pure non amalgamated confidence can make you possess.

Ways to Give Your Self-Confidence a Quick Boost

1. Stay Prepared

No matter how you feel, get up, get dressed and act like you know it's going to be a good day. Why is this one of the best confidence boosters? Because you can be sure that when you are prepared for success, it will find you.

2. Order Dessert

This one here is not so much a question of putting your complex carbohydrates before your protein; it's more about doing something that goes against the "norm". Besides the quick boost you'll get from the sugars, breaking some of life's little rules can be quite liberating and can nurture your fearless inner diva.

3. Check Yourself

Checking in with your thoughts and feelings about yourself may be one of the single most important things you can do throughout the day. Most of us tend to be our own worst critics. Left unchecked, that persistently annoying voice that tells us we aren't doing enough or we aren't good enough, will only grow louder and eventually dominate our thoughts.

4. Value Yourself

Because from one fabulous lady to another, paying a deserving compliment goes a long way toward making us feel better about ourselves and unfortunately, we don't do it enough. Contrary to popular belief, criticizing others actually does not make us feel better. Showing that you genuinely appreciate the excellence in another, not only demonstrates the value of your own self worth, but it can be motivation to look around for things that are positive.






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How Successful People Stay Productive: 10 Habits to Live By

How Successful People Stay Productive: 10 Habits to Live By

What are you willing to do to be successful? If you are interested in being an average Joe, then this is not for you. However, if you want to excel in life you are going to have to stand out in positive ways.

In order to stay on top of your game and reach the level of success you want, you need to follow a certain set of self-induced rules. Success is not something that happens by accident; if you want it bad enough, you will get it. Learn the habits that successful people have given up in order to reach their own success.

They don't work in their comfort zone.

What is your comfort zone? Your comfort zone is defined as a psychological state in which a person feels familiar, at ease, in control, and experiences low anxiety. When you get outside of your comfort zone, it doesn't mean that you should strive for a constant state of anxiety and stress. It simply means that, in order to grow, you should try new things and expand your horizons.

The reason we are comfortable in our comfort zone is because we are not taking risks when we are in this state. When we live in our comfort zones, we are living life like hamsters on a wheel, going around and around in a constant cycle, but going nowhere in our lives.

Famous motivational speaker, Les Brown, said it best with, "If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness."

They don't do without first learning.

Learning is what we do best. The greatest thing about learning is the benefit that we receive in all aspects of our lives. Successful people strive to continue learning new things and expanding on things that they already know.

If we stop learning, then the only thing we can do is settle with what we already know; if we settle for that, then there is no way to expand our minds. Expansion is essential on the path to success. Since our minds require learning for expansion, we must never stop seeking new knowledge.

Imagine what would have happened if Bill Gates stopped learning and growing. The internet would be much more primitive than it is today. But because he followed his dreams and continued growing, he founded one of the biggest companies in the world and it is still flourishing and growing today.

They don't fear asking for advice.

Richard Branson, a famous entrepreneur, stated, "When you need to make hard decisions, being able to discuss your ideas with entrepreneurs and business leaders who have solved similar problems can make all the difference."

Asking for advice is not always easy. We think that we have the same opportunity as everyone else and sometimes feel insecure and dependent, so we decide not to ask for advice, and try to figure it out ourselves. But this could be greatly limiting us from reaching our full potential, because the advice we might be seeking could be something that somebody knows very well.

They don't get lost in the small details.

When life gives us seemingly endless opportunities, it is very easy to get lost in the small details. The small details are very easy for us to become focused on, thus causing us to miss out on the overall vision, also known as the "big picture".

Focusing too much on the smaller details constricts your ability to see how everything ties together. Much of our lives hinge upon the connections that we make with others and with ourselves. If we get lost in the small detail, it is like having missing pieces to a puzzle. How are we supposed to solve that?

Imagine what would have happened if Henry Ford only saw the small details. When building the company that Ford is today, he knew that he must do something different if his company was to succeed. After many people told him it couldn't be done, his company continued improving upon the smaller details until they got it right.

Henry Ford didn't focus too much on the small details, which were the hundreds of times he failed; he saw the overall goal and knew that it could be accomplished. It required seeing the bigger picture to make it happen.

They don't multitask.

Multitasking is typically viewed as a skill that only certain people possess. But truth be told, nobody actually has the ability to multitask. Multitasking is known to actually decrease productivity. Those who are successful focus on one specific task and do that task to the best of their ability without interruption.

When you multitask, you limit your ability to fully focus on one specific task at a time. Successful people utilize the talents and abilities that they have by focusing it on one task and one task only.

Emma Watson said, "I just dropped my iPhone in my soup. I think it might be time to tone down the multitasking." This demonstrates how destructive multitasking is highlighting the fact that when we multitask, we are greatly limiting ourselves.

They don't lie to themselves.

Lying to yourself is one of the easiest things for you to do. It is much more difficult to accept the problems that we have without make excuses for them. Successful people understand that we will encounter problems, both internally and externally.

But it is important to accept the problems that reside in our lives, rather than not dealing with them and lying to ourselves about them.

As Steve Maraboli said, "Stop lying to yourself. When we deny our own truth, we deny our own potential."

They don't procrastinate in asking for feedback.

Feedback is important, because it gives you a different perspective on your current situation. Sometimes you are not able to see the answer that is right in front of you. But when someone gives you feedback, it allows you to see something from the perspective of someone else.

If you procrastinate asking someone for feedback, you are missing out on time that could be put towards accomplishing your dreams. The longer you wait, the harder it is to utilize advice that others can give you.

"I think It's very important to have a feedback loop, where you´re constantly thinking about what you've done and how you could be doing it better," entrepreneur Elon Musk once said.

They don't follow, they lead.

You have probably heard the phrase "lead, follow or get out of the way." There are two types of people in this world: leaders and followers. The ones who are successful are the ones who are leading the pack.

Successful people are not successful because they got there by chance. They did not follow somebody to the finish line. They paved their own path in life to get where they needed to be.

Just as the great Robert Frost stated, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

They don't let the past dictate their future.

The past is something that we will never change, nor should we want to change it; because without it, we would not have learned the lessons we needed to learn. Therefore, we would wind up making the same mistakes over and over again until we learned the lesson that life is trying to teach us.

At one time, businessman Shahid Khan washed dishes for $1.20 an hour. His humble background did not prevent him from thinking bigger though. With a net worth of $3.8 billion dollars, he now owns Flex-N-Gate, one of the largest private companies in the U.S., the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, and Premier League soccer club Fulham.

They don't hang around negative people.

Negative people are very destructive to be around when it comes to achieving success, because there are so many situations that life throws at us and causes us to get down on ourselves or our situation. But some people like to focus on this aspect of life the majority of the time.

When you are around negative people enough, you start to see things negatively and you begin to lose sight of your dream. Success is more about mindset than anything, and if you always have a negative mindset, life will reward you with negative outcomes to deal with.

Joel Olsteen once said, "You cannot expect to live a positive life if you hang with negative people." So if you wish you be successful, don't focus on the negativity that others bring.

To be successful requires focus and determination. It seems that every successful person follows similar patterns. Therefore, it's easy to see why they are where they are. They knew what they had to do in order to achieve their dreams and they didn't let anyone or anything stop them from getting there.

You have the power in yourself to become one of those successful people you admire and look up to.

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10 Unique Tips To Wake Up Early

Getting yourself to wake up early can be challenging, however, the benefits of waking up early can also be quite rewarding. Studies have shown that the early morning riser is usually more proactive, optimistic, healthier, and happier in their overall life. As an entrepreneur starting early and making the most of your day is extremely important. So stop wasting time, set that clock back, and wake up early!

1. Get Enough Sleep

Easier said than done, I know, but here are some quick tips that will help you achieve that beauty sleep your body needs.

Stop drinking caffeine 4-11 hours before bedtime. The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine states that caffeine intake 3 hours before sleeping showed a decrease of 5% in the the quality of sleep and a reduced sleep time of 25-30 minutes. Keep in mind, coffee is not the only caffeine stimulate – chocolate, sodas, energy drinks and protein bars are all other sources to be wary of before bed.

Let your body metabolize alcohol before bed. Alcohol is deceiving, it may send you quickly off to a blissful slumber, but the problem with intoxication doesn’t lie in the ability to aid sleep,rather, the quality of sleep that ensues. “The problem is, in a single night, as the alcohol is metabolized during the second half of the night, it creates more fragmented sleep,” says neurologist and sleep expert Jessica Vensel-Rundo, MD. Don’t worry, your nightly glass of wine is still okay, just make sure you give yourself at least an hour before bedtime to metabolize the alcohol.

Go to bed early. If you want to wake up early you need to go to sleep early. Adults need anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep. Going to bed early can sometimes feel like a punishment, making us feel like we are missing out on hours of me-time or time with our spouses. It’s time to take back our nights and make them count, if we want to wake up early we need a nightly routine!


2. Create A Nightly Routine

Power down, turn off all your electronics 1-2 hours before going to sleep. Yes, I know, this might mean having to wait until tomorrow to finish that episode of The Voice. Even the smallest of light emitted from our electronic devices miscue the brain and promote wakefulness. Along with light emitted from our devices, be wary of any light sneaking around your bedroom. The power buttons on computers, bright alarm clocks, or cable boxes are sources of light you may not realize affect your sleep, you may want to hide these light ninjas with some electrical tape.

Once you’ve powered down, soak in a relaxing warm bath filled with lavender bubbles. Okay, you can skip the bubbles if you want, and even the bath – but taking a warm shower before bed helps relax the muscles, preparing the body for a good night’s rest.

Set out your clothes for the next day. Whether you’re headed to the office or for a run, setting out your clothes can be a great way to save time in the morning.

Set 3 goals for yourself to accomplish the next day before going to bed. Setting goals or tasks for yourself to do the next day will help you wake up early with purpose.

Whatever you decide to do with your nights, make sure you create a relaxing routine for yourself that encourages proper sleep habits.

3. To Snooze Or Not To Snooze

Find the right alarm clock to wake you up. Does your blood pressure spike every time you hear that annoying beep of the alarm clock? Do you constantly hit snooze and fall back asleep? Maybe it’s time to try something new. Spend some time figuring out what your body responds to best – maybe it’s the natural light of the sun that wakes you up peacefully, in which case clocks such as the Philips Natural Wake Up Light might work best for you. Or maybe you need an alarm that will get you out of bed and moving, in which case an alarm app such as Walk Me Up, an app which makes you walk around the house to shut off it’s annoying alarm. Maybe the solution is as simple as setting your favorite song as your alarm clock tone instead of that anxiety triggering beep.

To snooze, utilizing the inverted snooze. I’ve heard time and time again that snoozing your alarm clock is the worst thing ever…that is of course IF you go back to sleep. Some people, such as myself, find it helpful to set two alarms. One alarm is set 10-15 minutes before your actual wake up time. When your first alarm, or the “false alarm”, goes off you give yourself 10-15 minutes to do anything your heart desires (with the exception of going back to sleep). I, personally, love the inverted snooze and usually use my first 10-15 minutes laying in bed checking emails, Facebook, or playing games on my phone.

Not to snooze, the art of jumping straight out of bed. This method is less familiar to me, but most people swear by it. When your alarm clock goes off there is absolutely no snoozing, you are out of bed and beginning your day. Things like having the coffee pot set on automatic drip or having an alarm app that makes you solve word problems seems like motivating ways to make this method work.

4. Let There Be Light
Turn on the lights when you wake up. Our bodies naturally associate light with the sun, meaning daytime and wakefulness. Consider turning on the lights immediately upon waking up, or investing in a timer that will turn on your lights in association with your alarm clock.

5. Scents For The Senses

Start diffusing your house with essential oils that promote wakefulness. What we smell can have a big impact on how we feel. If you don’t already have an aromatherapy diffuser you may want to consider buying one, it will wake up your senses and leave your bedroom smelling unbelievably good. Citrus, rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus are all scents that are known to help energize, focus, and stimulate the brain. Don’t just diffuse these scents in the morning either, diffuse throughout the day and even change the scents at night to relax and encourage slumber.

6. Make Your Bed

Making your bed every morning is a small way to make a large impact. Not only does making your bed create a welcoming and relaxing environment for you to return to at the end of the day, it also makes us think twice about slithering back under those freshly folded sheets.

7. Be Active

Do some form of exercise first thing in the morning. We aren’t all morning joggers or gym attenders, but doing some kind of activity should still be a goal for all of us. Meditation, yoga, dancing, and stretching are all great activities to add to your morning routine. Mornings are usually tight on time, but even 10 minutes of stretching will make a difference. Stretching first thing in the morning increases blood flow, which in turn increases concentration and sharpened senses throughout the day.

8. You Are What You Eat

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We’ve all heard this saying before, but what isn’t said is – “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and so is what you eat.” Kick that sugary cereal to the curb and treat yourself to breakfast foods that wake you up – oatmeal, eggs, apples, greek yogurt, honey, and grapefruit are all foods that stimulate your mind and body for hours to come.

Drink a glass of water before your morning coffee. If you’re anything like me, we’re reaching for the coffee pot before anything else in the morning. However, studies show that drinking water upon waking up triggers our metabolism, fuels our brains, and re-hydrates our bodies. So down that H20 before you do anything else!

9. The Power Shower

Take a 90 second cold shower. I will admit this tactic seems harrowing, however, the science behind it is undeniable. Take your morning shower as normal, but at the very end switch the water to cold for 30 seconds and then back to warm. Repeat this cold water torture one more time for 1-3 minutes and then turn the water completely off. Cold showers naturally wake you up by increasing your heart rate and triggering a rush of blood throughout your body. Additionally, cold showers refine your hair and skin, stimulate weight loss, and improve 

immunity and circulation. 

10. Wake Up Early And Reward Yourself
Make time for something in your morning routine that makes you smile. Whether it’s enjoying a freshly brewed french press, a crossword puzzle, or a quiet morning stroll – do something in the morning that you love. Doing something we love early in the morning will not only motivate us to wake up, it will help kick our day off with a positive start.

Hopefully, at least one of these tips will help energize your mornings and create a productive workday.

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