You’re reading The Psychology of Procrastination: 5 ways to stop putting things off for good, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Let me start this off bluntly, if that’s ok with you.

If you’re struggling with procrastination, the reason is a lot simpler than you probably think.

In fact, it’s frustratingly simple.

And that is this: you don’t hate procrastination enough.

Which is completely fine, but you need to know a few things.

Procrastination takes away from our happiness more than we’d like to admit. It’s a silent killer that, like fast food and smoking, can steal years from us.

It increases our stress, takes hours from our day, and means that when we have free time, we’re often unable to fully enjoy it because we’re constantly thinking about things we haven’t yet finished. And the worst part, procrastinating (unlike fast food and smoking) isn’t even very enjoyable in the moment!

Imagine if there was a food that did all of those things. Imagine a burger that just tasted average. And every time you ate this burger you felt anxious, plus you had to drive an hour a day to buy it, and everything else you ate after that burger tasted a little off because you still had the taste of the burger left in your mouth.

What would you do?

Well, obviously you’d stop eating the damn burger!

But even though procrastination essentially does the same thing, we allow it to do so because we’re not always aware of the effects.

Once we grow to dislike procrastination enough, we can start implementing strategies to beat it.

So without further ado, here are 5 ways to stop putting things off and overcome procrastination for good.

1. Remind yourself what procrastination is taking from you

The first step to stop putting things off is to remind yourself exactly what procrastination is taking from you.

Whether it’s time with your family, enjoyment at work, a calm state of mind, every time you procrastinate you are losing something, and once you see that, it’s natural that you’ll become a lot more motivated to get things done.

2. Find the ways you are procrastinating

Once you are aware of the perils of procrastination, it’s necessary to take an honest look at exactly how this phenomenon is playing out in your own life.

You can use a daily journal to track how you work from day to day, and importantly, how you procrastinate. Social Media? Text messages? Smoking or snack breaks? We all have our own mechanisms, and once you know what these are for you, you can create ways to minimize them.

If Facebook is your biggest time-waster you can use a site blocker, if it’s text messages, put your phone on silent – whatever the issue, the first step is to reflect on why it is happening.

3. Have a decision-making strategy in place

We have to make dozens of decisions every single day, so it’s natural that they’re going to take up a lot of our time. What you want however is to make sure that you have a decision-making strategy in place so the process is as quick as possible and you don’t get stuck at each fork in the road, and end up procrastinating because of decisions that need to be made.

You can try creating and using a decision-making matrix, which is essentially a roadmap to guide your decisions and speed up the process.

4. Manufacture Urgency

Motivation is a product of natural and manufactured urgency. When you feel you have something that needs to be done. In the case of natural urgency, you typically have a visible threat, if you miss this deadline you’re going to be fired or your house is on fire so you have to get out.

Manufactured urgency, on the other hand, is a sense of urgency that you create. For example:

• Give yourself accountability
• Remind yourself that you don’t have all the time in the world
• If necessary, burn bridges

5. Set yourself time limits

There’s a terrible affliction that affects almost all procrastinators worldwide.

I like to call this ‘someday syndrome.’ You’ll typically see this when people put off what needs to be done into an invisible box in their mind they label someday.

And the way to beat someday syndrome?

Time limits.

One way to help you overcome procrastination is to break down what you want to do into manageable steps and write down when you need to achieve them, preferably with consequences. It seems simple, but it has widely been held that those who write down their goals are far more likely to achieve them.

Again, in this situation, it’s important to consider that you have accountability from someone else.

If you suffer from procrastination, don’t worry, there are many out there like you, and overcoming it is a lot easier than you think.

Attention Pick The Brain Readers

Would you like to learn strategies to help you overcome procrastination at work?

Then grab our new FREE eBook:

The Mindful Workplace: 27 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Mind, Defeat Distraction, and Find Your Focus at Work

We’ve found simple mindfulness practices can make a huge difference, and we want you to benefit from them the same way we have!

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Ben is a freelance writer, and the co-creator of Project Monkey Mind – a blog for the 21^st-century worker who wants to take control of their mind, smash through their limitations and lead a life worth living.

You’ve read The Psychology of Procrastination: 5 ways to stop putting things off for good, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 6 Reasons to Stop Saying You Don’t Have Time, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

I don’t have time… One of the most boring phrases and excuses we hear each day. The worst thing is, we are all guilty of saying it.

All those daily schedules packed with urgent tasks, big projects, household chores and tons of other stuff to accomplish leave us no choice but to say, “I don’t have time” to our partners, parents, friends, and even kids.

We often skip breakfast, doctor’s appointments, dates, trips, vacations, you name it because we don’t have time.  It’s time to eliminate this phrase from your vocabulary for good and here’s why:

1. Your busy life isn’t actually busy

Before you tell me that I’m crazy and have no idea what I’m talking about, hear me out. The majority of people confess that they use their seemingly busy lives as an excuse when they want to avoid certain situations.

The saying proves, “When you want to see someone, you will find the time. When you want to do something, you will definitely do it.” And don’t tell me that it’s not true. How many times have you kicked your oh-so-important projects to the curb to go on a first date or watch the new episode of your favorite show?

You’re not alone, we’ve all done it at least once.

2. Procrastination is your biggest enemy

Everyone procrastinates. That’s a norm. But if you say, “I’ll do it later. I don’t have time” more than twice a day every day, congratulations – you are a chronic procrastinator. Science says about 20% of people are chronic procrastinators but only a few of them realize it. If you do realize, that’s great – you’re a step closer to getting rid of this habit.

The Stockholm University’s study proved that procrastination has nothing to do with time management. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a college student, you have to get things done on time in order to cultivate discipline and become successful. Stop leaving things to the last minute and you will see how much free time you can have.

3. It’s just not your priority

Don’t feel like going on a second date? Don’t want to take that extra work your boss is suggesting to you? Want to spend Friday nights alone? Do whatever you believe is better for you, but don’t feed others with your never-ending “I don’t have time” excuses.

It’s okay to make priorities and let others know about them. Be honest with yourself and others. This is one of the most effective ways to gain respect. Your boss would rather accept your “I don’t want to do that extra task” than believe in your excuses.

4. It makes you feel guilty

How many times did you say to your nearest and dearest that you don’t have time and then ended up feeling guilty for saying it?

We skip many precious family moments, including the first steps of our babies and the last breaths of our parents because we make ourselves feel busy all the time. We can’t find our soul mates because we have no time for love. We skip fun parties because we have to get our endless to-do lists done.

Life is short. You should always find time for people you love, otherwise, you can spend many years regretting you were too busy to play with your little ones or help your grandparents repair their home.

5. Start living your life

Yes, you read that right. A busy life isn’t a fulfilled life. You miss many life’s opportunities because you mistakenly believe you’re always super busy.

If your life is filled with jam-packed schedules that include work, shopping, cleaning, cooking, and sleeping, you don’t live your life. You simply exist. You live to make money and nothing more. Stop saying you don’t have time for a happy and fun life, otherwise, you will have nothing to remember in your 70s.

6. It’s just another excuse

Doesn’t it sound like an excuse? It’s surely an excuse. By not saying you don’t have time, you will eliminate many excuses from your life. Not only will you get what you want in the end, but you will start feeling more proud of yourself. Not to mention that others will stop calling you a chronic excuse-maker.

There are many reasons to stop saying you don’t have time, and I highlighted just the most important ones. As soon as you delete this boring phrase from your vocabulary and lame excuse from your life, you will see that you can actually do more things that you’ve thought you could and you’ll increase your chances of finally becoming a successful and happy person.

Remember, there’s always a successful road overstretched before you. All you need to do is to see and follow that path.

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James is the founder of Entrepreneurboy. He’ll share what works and doesn’t work to help you take the next step in the entrepreneurial direction; replacing your roadmap with a fully equipped GPS.

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You’re reading 10 Signs You Need To Quit Your Job ASAP, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

A 2013 Gallup Poll revealed that 70% of the American workforce either hates, or is disengaged by, their jobs. Furthermore, a 2011 study revealed that the psycho-social impact of working a job you dislike is actually worse for your mental health than being unemployed.

That’s pretty shocking, right? It appears that the world of work really has the potential to ruin your life.

Such a possibility begs an important question – is it time for you to quit your job?

I don’t ask you to ask this question lightly. I’m well aware of some of the pitfalls of quitting. However, at what point does taking this risk become a necessity to preserve your dignity, health and enjoyment of life?

The following 10 signs should help you answer that question. Getting the timing right, when quitting, is of fundamental importance to the decision leading you to a better place. By working your way through this list you’ll be able to identify the signs that your current job is damaging your well-being. Then, I’ll inform you of what you need to have in place to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Category 1: The Warning Signs

1. You’re low on a Monday, high on a Friday

Just because almost everybody else you know feels the same, don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s normal to live this way. It’s not. You shouldn’t be dreading the onset of the working week and you shouldn’t be celebrating the end of it. This is your life. You can’t spend it wishing you were somewhere else.

2. You’re clock watching throughout the day

Keeping track of time once in a while is not an issue. However, if you find yourself regularly looking at your watch then it’s a clear sign you’re not stimulated by the work you’re doing.

Work doesn’t have to be this way. It’s possible for you to be so engaged by the tasks you undertake that you lose track of time. That’s the kind of job you should be looking for. If you’re current role doesn’t provide this stimulation, then perhaps it’s time to look for one that does.

3. You’re Strong Arming people out the Building at closing time

Ever been in a shop, library or restaurant close to closing time and the assistant is hovering over you and frequently reminding you that you have 10 minutes till closing time, then 9, then 8 etc . . You just want to tell them to piss off, but at the same time, you can sympathize with their situation.

They don’t want to be there. They don’t enjoy their work and the thought of having to spend just 1 minute longer in this soul destroying place is enough to turn them into a shop floor bouncer.

This type of behavior doesn’t just apply to retail assistants though. If, at 5.30pm, you’re logging off and running for the door, it’s a sure sign that your work is providing little motivation beyond financial reward. If you work a job you enjoy then you don’t mind carrying on for an extra few minutes, or half hour, to ensure that your customers are satisfied and you do a great job.

Category 2: Quit Sooner Rather than Later

4. Your Health is Suffering

Damage to health can come in many forms. Perhaps you’re exposed to dangerous chemicals or a hazardous working environment. More than likely, you’re under so much pressure, and having to work so many hours, that your stress levels are dangerously high, you’re permanently exhausted through lack of sleep, you’re unhealthily overweight through lack of time to exercise or you have to rely on excessive drug use (both legal and illegal) to keep you going or because it’s part of the culture you work in (see The Wolf of Wall Street).

If this is the case for you, I hope this paragraph acts as a wake-up call. No amount of money can make up for permanently damaged health.  Get out soon or, even better, play The System and get paid time off for stress while you look for other work.

5. You’re not Treated with any Respect

Studies reveal that appreciation is one of the biggest motivators in the workplace. We all want to be treated fairly, with respect and given recognition for the good work we do.

So if you find that the goalposts are being moved when it comes to bonus time, you’re being lumbered with an extra role but not getting a pay rise, you’re being spoken to in a dismissive manner and regularly given tasks to do at 5.25 pm which need to be ready for 9 am the next day, then you must stand up for yourself and explain that you won’t tolerate this treatment.

If it continues, hand in your notice.

Category 3: You’re Prepared for the Transition

6. You’ve built up a side income

Once you’re earning the minimum amount of money to survive on, from outside your day job, then quit. Now when I say the minimum, I mean the minimum. This doesn’t mean that you can afford vacations, cars and meals out. It means that you can just about cover your overheads and put food on your table.

Why is this the right time to leave?

Because freedom is more valuable than money. So what if you can’t afford the lifestyle of your friends? What you do have, that they don’t, is an abundance of time to dedicate to something you are passionate about.

Remember, you will only grow from this position. If you’ve been slowly building up a side income doing something you enjoy, while working a day job you don’t, it’s likely you’ve got the minimum amount of clients, knowledge and contacts to make it viable. So make the transition now!

7. You’ve got enough Money Saved to Live a Year plus without Working

If you use it productively, A LOT can be accomplished in a year. Even without any clue what you might like to do, it’s still worth the risk.

What’s the worst that can happen? In a years’ time you have to find a job similar to the one you quit? At least you’ve given yourself the opportunity to find something greater!

And, of course, you may actually find it. You have no idea what you can achieve when you’re not exhausted by a job you hate and don’t have the time restraints of working 40 hours a week, commuting and other commitments.

8. You set a ‘Quit Date’ a while back and it’s fast approaching

If you’re the kind of person who sets a ‘quit date’ then it’s likely you’ve prepared for what will happen. You’ve probably got some money stashed away, a small secondary income or a solid idea about how you will make money doing something you enjoy.

SO DON’T GET COLD FEET.

Trust yourself and trust the judgement that led you to set that date.

Category 4: Exceptional Circumstances

9. You’ve been Ignoring your ‘Calling’ for Years

If you feel you have a clear calling (and it’s constantly nagging at you) to do something greater than you are at present, then don’t ignore it. Yes, quitting your job is risky and yes, if you’re not properly prepared then you may experience many failures. But is this worse than living with a lifetime of regret?

10. You’re Totally Unsatisfied with your Life So Far

Perhaps you’ve recently experienced a major life event and it’s made you question a lot of things. You realize you’re time on this planet is finite and don’t want to get to the end of it feeling like you could have done so much more. If this is the case then why not quit a job that’s restricting you?

Influential blogger, Jon Morrow, was in this position (involved in a car crash, very little money, unsatisfied with his life and suffering with SMA) in 2006 when he decided to quit his job and pursue his dream of running a successful blog. Ten years later and he’s fantastically wealthy, gets to do the thing he loves and rules the blogging kingdom.

It can be done.

* * * * * SPECIAL OFFER FOR PICK THE BRAIN READERS * * * * *

If you want to learn more about quitting your job and finding a career you are passionate about, then you must read my soon to be released book, How to Create an Income without Working a Boring Job.
Click here for more information and to benefit from a pre-release discount.

Joe Barnes is the author of the critically acclaimed, Escape The System, and the creator of the Screw the System website. He’s passionate about helping people succeed on their own terms. He also works as a tennis coach and hypnotherapist.

You’ve read 10 Signs You Need To Quit Your Job ASAP, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading The 7 Best Blogs on Self-Worth, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Self-Worth is a heartbreaker. It’s cozy and comfortable to repeat the same destructive thought patterns, making insecurity our very best friend. That friend we rely on to free ourselves from feeling valuable deep down, the one we commiserate with, the one who really knows we are scared, the one that could never betray us. That is a lie. So, this is where the heartbreak comes in. Upholding a negative opinion of ourselves is as easy as it is senseless, since it is just a judgment after all. We are aware of this absurdity, yet, we do it to ourselves.

Self-worth is about valuing who we are inherently and not about outside actions dictating how you feel about and perceive yourself. Comparing, evaluating and criticizing attacks our self-worth, what helps build and discover our inherent worth is compassion toward the self, generosity, integrity and challenging our negative beliefs.

Here are 7 blogs that are particularly helpful on the road to a positive acceptance and unearthing of your self-worth:

-Calmness, self-awareness and composure are key traits to confidence according to Celestine Chua and her blog. She equips us with the knowledge of what it is exactly that chips away at our self worth and offers a few tools to release yourself from limiting beliefs.

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-Zeenat Merchant Syal’s blog offers us the voice of many and we can benefit from a concise answer to one question: “How does one raise their positive vibes”. Learning from others just may help one relate to a specific story and in turn not feel alone in our quest for self help.

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-Alex Blackwell’s blog centers on authenticity in your personal life. Through sharing his experiences (good and bad) with a hope that they may ring true with others as opposed to a step by step guide to making self-worth a reality. He believes a connection to self-worth first lies in being true to who you really are from moment to moment.

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-Elle’s blog works on personal development in ways that resonate with your reality. Living consciously with the purpose that by looking back on our past, we can structure the ways in which we’ve evolved. Be it by forgiveness to ourselves and others, learning to be more loving and most importantly recognizing when you are becoming your own energy vampire (blocking your own progress with negativity).

http://ift.tt/2b9zGO4

Scott H. Young writes a blog that is designed to aid in developing your strong foundation for self improvement as a basic jump off point for further development. With foundation, comes structure and strategy, the building blocks of success both emotionally and physically.

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This blog by couple Marc and Angel Chernoff, focuses on letting go of our fantasies of the perfect self and the perfect life with more ‘presence and positive focus’.

http://ift.tt/2dkGID4

Joshua Becker’s blog focuses on redirecting our pursuits in life to those that really matter, such as becoming a better person, as opposed to a goal that helps us gain material wealth. Recognizing where, why and how we bide our time and energy is just as important as acting on them.

http://ift.tt/ulxT2L

When we look to others to determine our self worth, we demean our own power. It is up to us to make our decisions consciously, to discover the paths that serve our best life and what it is that we value about ourselves. Once that self worth is firmly in place, our confidence levels soar securely, and never at the expense of others.

Do you read a great blog about self-worth that’s not on the list? Leave a comment on FB!

Larissa Gomes is a breast cancer survivor and single mom to her spirited baby boy! Originally from Toronto turned Angeleno, she has worked in roles from writer, actor and producer for well over a decade. In that time, she’s developed concepts, film and television screenplays, short stories, along with freelance articles, blogging and editing work.

 

 

You’ve read The 7 Best Blogs on Self-Worth, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 5 Ways To Organize Your Life Through Organizing Your Home, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

How many times have you found yourself waking up to a messy, chaotic house, and likewise having a stressful and chaotic day? As Louise Smith once said, “You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk.” When life starts to feel like a whirlwind of disarray, this could be a sign that now is the time to declutter your life and get organized.

As you move forward with getting your home (and life) organized, here are 5 simple ideas to help get you started.

Cut the Clutter

You’ve probably heard this old saying a lot over the years, “a place for everything and everything in its place” and the statement couldn’t be truer. No matter how important an item is, if you don’t have a designated place to store each item, they become clutter.

To help clear out the clutter, walk through each room in your home and imagine you’re a visitor seeing each space for the first time. Do the rooms look organized or cluttered? If you can’t find a home for any given item, it may be time to part ways. This is also a good time to ask yourself if you still love the item and does it serve the space. If not, why are you holding on to it?

Stick to a List

While most people know not to grocery shop hungry, it’s a good idea to shop with a list. Going to any store without a list leads to over-purchasing, which leads to overspending, and ultimately a cluttered home. By creating a list (and sticking to it) you’ll be less likely to buy items which clutter up your home. Plus, you’ll find more inner peace since you’re less likely to end up with buyer’s remorse.

Clean Up as You Go

The longer the mess or clutter builds up in your home, the more work you’ll have in the end. Plus, when we have larger messes around the home, we’re more inclined to put off cleaning which leads to an even bigger mess.

Set a goal to clean up as you go. Put dishes in the dishwasher when your finish using them. Fold and put away laundry as soon as it’s clean. Put shoes away in your closet. Sort mail right as soon as it enters the house. Spending a few minutes each day to do these simple tasks right away adds up to more time for fun and relaxation.

Write It Down

A “to do” list is another important organizational tool. Write everything down in a planner or enter every appointment in your phone—if it’s documented, you have a greater chance of accomplishing the task. After all, who doesn’t enjoy crossing something off their list? Nothing elicits feelings of satisfaction or accomplishment like seeing the list of things you’ve completed each day.

Consider Feng Shui

Feng shui is all about balance, and balance is exactly what it takes to feel organized in your home and your life. According to the Chinese philosophy, when the environment around you is in harmony, you will be in harmony too. Even if you don’t believe that balancing the elements of your home will lead to balance in your personal life, there’s no denying that when items in your home look balanced, things look more organized, and it’s easier to feel at peace in the space.

While finding balance and being organized within your home may be difficult at times, when the space you live in is peaceful, you will feel peaceful too.

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Brooke Cade is a freelance writer who works with various publications including Simply Self Storage. When she isn’t writing, Brooke enjoys DIY projects, yoga, and hanging out at her local coffee shop.

You’ve read 5 Ways To Organize Your Life Through Organizing Your Home, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 5 Reminders There Is No Such Thing As Failure, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

After a divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure and a deep state of depression I was feeling like a complete failure. I couldn’t figure out how my American Dream had turned into the American Nightmare in the span of only six years. For several months I isolated myself from the world and held a pity party with myself for being worthless and unworthy.
During that darkest period of my life I ran across a quote from the late Wayne Dyer that would not only shift my spirit and help me get my life back on track, it would also become my go to quote anytime I felt like a failure.

He said: “There is no such thing as failure. There is only the non-attainment of a desired result.” I’m not sure exactly how this quote changed my life in an instant but it did. After reading it I came to the realization that I had internalized myself as a failure. I had concluded it was something that I was inherently versus something I had done externally.

Upon further investigation I learned that my feelings of being a failure were being driven by a deep sense of shame as a result of my divorce, the sadness I experienced from being separated from my kids and the embarrassment I felt from having lost all of my material possessions.

Once I embraced the quote that there was no such thing as failure it gave me the awareness that I could actually change my circumstances and ultimately change my life. This awareness led me on a 25-year journey of growth and transformation which ultimately led me to waking up to who I truly am and to arriving in this very moment in which I can honestly say without reservation that I am happier now than I’ve ever been in my life. Because of the inner journey that I went on I was able to create a wonderful marriage (14 years) with a woman who is absolutely perfect for me. I was also able to discover my gifts of writing and speaking which led me to become an entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. But most importantly my journey helped me awaken to my true life’s purpose, which is to support other people in learning how to live extraordinary lives through my books, seminars and lectures.

I’d like to share the five most important lessons I’ve learned on my journey of self-discovery. My hope is that these lessons inspire and motivate you to overcome any adversity you may be experiencing in your life right now and to help you recognize that there really is no such thing as failure.

1. Remember that failure is not something that you are, it’s something that you’ve done.

Don’t do what I did. I beat myself up for all of the mistakes I made in life and believed that those mistakes made me a failure. The truth is there will always be times that you will not attain your desired result but that doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

2. Be willing to examine your religious beliefs that may have convinced you that you’re a sinner.

This is a tough one. There are some religions that teach you that you are a born sinner in a sinful world. If you accept this belief, at your core you will believe that something is wrong with you. Do not believe this. Challenge your beliefs about your religion and be willing to change them if needed.

3. Accept the truth that you are a wonderful human being with unlimited potential.

I believe this is true. Although you may make mistakes, you are not “a” mistake. Be willing to forgive yourself for the mistakes you may have made and learn to love and accept yourself for the amazing person that you are.

4. Take some time each day to express gratitude.

Take a moment everyday to simply write 5 things that you are grateful for. If you will do this for 21 days straight, I can promise you that your life will change for the better.

5. Take life sincerely but not seriously.

Take some time each day to laugh and appreciate the little things in life. Do not buy in to our negative media. There are lots of reasons to be optimistic about your life and about the world around you but it’s up to you to find those reasons. Find the reasons that bring you joy!

My hope is that you will take these five lessons and apply them to your life. If you will commit to following their guidance rest assured that you can overcome any adversity in your life.

So remember, “There is no such thing as failure, there is only the non-attainment of a desired result.” Though you may not attain your desired result you are not a failure and you can always recommit to attaining a different result.

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Coach Michael Taylor is an entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker and radio show host who has dedicated his life to empowering men and women to reach their full potential. He knows firsthand how to overcome adversity and build a rewarding and fulfilling life and he is sharing his knowledge and wisdom with others to support them in creating the life of their dreams. He is the author of Adversity Is Your Greatest Ally, Black Men Rock, A New Conversation with Men, and Brothers, Are You Listening?. For more information please visit: http://bmracademy.com/.

You’ve read 5 Reminders There Is No Such Thing As Failure, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading STOP being Lazy: 5 Ways To Make Each Day Count, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

The guilt eats at you when you think about the day you’ve just had. You could have accomplished so much more, but here you are, feeling sorry for yourself because you’ve spent your time doing nothing but insignificant crap. You can’t stop being lazy.

You’ve been watching videos on YouTube, snacking on cornflakes, going on Facebook – as you procrastinate on what matters most. By the end of the day, you try to remind yourself that you’ll have more productive days soon – or that you needed the break today.

But deep down you know you need to change for good… This pattern has happened once too many times for it to be an accident.

Note: I can tell you I’ve been there, and I know exactly how it feels. Today I’m going to show you the 5 strategies that will allow you to end this cycle so that you can finally get tons done each day. Also, I have a special FREE bonus to help you even further. Make sure you read all the way to the end to get it.

Avoid Procrastination by removing the possibility of choice

The most unproductive days I’ve had were down to me feeling like I had the choice of doing things later on. Naturally, I would do what I felt like before attempting to accomplish anything that was important. If I was given a work assignment due for Tuesday, say on a Monday, in the morning I would tell myself: “It can wait; I’ll do it later on.”

I soon realised that if I kept beginning my day from the wrong place, I would end up in the wrong place. My change occurred once I started understanding how important each first half of the day (first 8 hours) was to my future. If you want to stop being lazy, that’s something you’ll want to also internalize.

Have priorities for each day

I used to negotiate myself into doing whatever I felt like doing. I would switch between checking email and Facebook and doing work. I would then multitask between different work tasks whenever I felt bored or anxious. Or, I would just keep hacking away at a job without taking any breaks. So I’d either be distracted or mentally beat.

I was missing a system to dump all the things I needed to do, so that I could differentiate between what was a priority and what wasn’t. Following David Allen’s GTD Principles, I started using Todoist to create different projects for my life i.e. Routine, Work, Contact, Errands, and Shopping. So whenever I thought of something that needed doing, I could drop it in any of these five categories without ever forgetting about it.

That change alone made my mind so much clearer, and I began to see everything I wanted to do with a better mind-set. Otherwise, I would just get into the habit of writing done whatever I wanted to accomplish.

It’s our natural inclination to put off the things that make us uncomfortable. And yet, it’s these things that make us grow the most. Having all your tasks in view, allows you to see what’s truly important – allowing you to more easily stop being lazy and  knuckle down on what’s need doing.

(Part of the reason we’re also lazy is because we lack an approach that allows us to feel good about our work. I’ve put together a complete system to help solve this.)

Start your day with the MIT (Most Important Task) and use a Timer

Every morning, I started to write 3-5 tasks I wanted to accomplish by the end of each day. And I would make sure to dedicate 2-4 hours to the number one priority or a single project.  I would ask myself: “What’s the single hardest thing I need to accomplish today?”
Achieving it as soon as possible allowed me to move through the rest of the day with excitement and a sense of triumph.

“The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Once you begin work on a valuable task, you seem naturally motivated to continue.” – Brian Tracy

As my life slowly changed for the better, I began to realize unproductive days were greatly down to a lack of urgency in the early part of the day. You can stop being lazy and start getting **** done while being happier for it; once you start prioritizing what’s important and leaving the rest behind.

The second other change I made was using a timer and setting it for 60 mins each time I worked on the computer. That way, I’d know I’d have a break coming up, no matter how I felt. Naturally, I’d be a lot less likely to multitask, or get distracted.

So, here’s a quick recap:

5 Ways to Stop Being Lazy

Step 1: If we’re awake for 16 hours, we must begin to see the first eight hours as the foundation of our lives. In those 8 hours, get as much of the high-stakes stuff done.

Step 2:   Get everything out of your head using a software tool like Todoist, Nozbe, or a paper notebook, so that you can see your life objectively. Also ,write down 3-5 tasks you want to accomplish daily, either in the morning or the night before.

Step 3: Use a timer and set it to no longer than 60mins so that you have a break to look forward to when you’re working on longer tasks.

Step 4: Work on your most challenging to-do first thing after your morning routine so that you force yourself to stop being lazy.

Bonus Tip: Plan as much of your week as you can in advance, theming each day concerning each single project you want to focus on i.e. do you want to dedicate Mondays to research and Tuesday to phone calls, etc.?

So that’s it. That’s the plan you need to follow to being a badass. I’m going to give you a bonus to help make sure you take your productivity to the next level.

• First, I’ve put together a list of the best morning routines, so that you can feel relaxed and at ease, meaning you’ll approach your work with the best attitude.
• Second, I’ve included a strategy on how to split up your day day in 4 chunks, so you’ll know exactly what to do wherever you find yourself in each day.
• Third, I’ll show you how to consistently celebrate your wins, so that you feel more creative and enthusiastic daily.

If you’d like to learn how to implement all of my strategies, you can click below to access my eBook (12mins read). I’ll show you the behind the scenes to every detail of my system. (Access here).

About the Author: Samy Felice is a copywriter who is passionate about ideas related to living a meaningful life. His free book explores ways people can experience stress free productivity.

You’ve read STOP being Lazy: 5 Ways To Make Each Day Count, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading Eight Amazing Books to Help Write Your Best Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Looking for a Wastebasket to Empty Out Your Head?

Tired of those same thoughts over and over again? Tired of how FULL your head feels?

Sure, it would be great if you could take off your head, scrape it like the inside of a pumpkin, and start fresh, carving out a new face in the process.

But you can’t.

Yep, those thoughts don’t seem fertile, they seem like weeds in your head’s struggling garden.

Good News: Weeds Can Be Great Fertilizer!

Here’s the trick. If you let those weeds overgrow your garden, that garden won’t nourish you.

If you pay attention to those weeds, you can not only fertilize your garden, you can actually harvest those repetitive, initially troublesome thoughts.

How? Keep a diary, write those thoughts down.

And nothing helps you keep an effective diary than great books that help you change negative thoughts to positive ones.

Here are eight of the best ones that have saved my mental and emotional life again and again. They’re like guides who carry torches in the scary darkness of your head so you can turn on the lights, keep them on, and transform your inner house.

Joan Borysenko, Minding the Body, Mending the Mind. This book combines physiological insights concerning the “relaxation response” with perspective on the components of your personality, especially the ego and its role.

Mark Epstein, Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness. This book is an outstanding bridge to the healing insights of Buddhism, brought home to the reader through terrific composites.

John Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are. In a series of short pieces, the author provides the healthiest way to position your mind to avoid, withstand, and manage the stress of everyday life.

Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning. This inspiring testament by a survivor of a death camp is a shows the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable horror.

Alice Miller, The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self. Miller’s account of the effects of poor parenting and the insights around the child’s coping mechanisms, sadness, and healing is a terrific addition to any self-help library.

David E. Burns, Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy: This book brings the art of the internal “Talk Back” to new heights.

Tara Bennett-Goldman, Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Heart. Goleman’s work on the unhealthy “schema” that emotionally damaged individuals put together is a valuable contribution to the field.

Eckart Tolle: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. Toll’s work’s insistence on acceptance of the immediate present provides a useful perspective.

These Books Provide Medicine, but You’re Still the Doctor.

If you read these books, and while these are the most meaningful to me, certainly you can find other outstanding ones, that’s just the start. Read books like this, then do the following:

• Accept the Fact that You CAN Take Charge of Your Thoughts
• Become an Observer Rather than a Critic of Your Thoughts
• NOTE the Thoughts That Recur the Most
• Open a Dialogue with YOURSELF

A diary is a tool that helps you do all these things. Each of these books provides a multitude of insights that you can put to use right away as you write down what you see, what you feel, what thoughts you have, and what connections your heart, your mind, your spirit, and the various voices inside you can make.

Each of your internal voices represents a narrative, a story inside you about yourself and your place as human being as well as human doing.

If you observe rather than criticize your thoughts, no matter what they are, you transform useless weeds into something of information, self-awareness, nourishment, and future fertilization.

The Mind Is Your Garden-Tend It Well!

So, next time you want to simply throw your head away, because it’s negative, so negative that you feel you just can’t find something good to hold on to, STOP.

Sit down, take a deep breath, and simply WATCH YOUR MIND and what’s in it.

That’s the beginning.

The, get some of these books, note what you’re thinking, and write the story of your life, every day.

Don’t rip up the weeds, use them to make the garden of your inner world something that will feed you all the days of your life.

Lars Nielsen is a free-lance copywriter whose unique and image-rich selling voice combines the narrative power of his poetry, playwriting, fiction, radio, liturgy, and comedy. Go to http://ift.tt/2aI2xgg and see how Ultimate Influence Copywriting can reframe the narrative of your business, speeches, ideas, and your life for success.

You’ve read Eight Amazing Books to Help Write Your Best Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 8 Steps to Conquering Your Fear, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Fear is a killer of hopes, dreams, souls, and lives wanting to be lived.

Once upon a time I was a very fearful person. I was afraid of my own shadow and if anyone said anything to me I would cower off into a corner, paralyzed. I was afraid to even acknowledge I existed for fear of ridicule or criticism.

I attribute my being a fearful person to my childhood, where I grew up in a house with a father who was a violent alcoholic, and a mother who was emotionally unavailable.  We were made fun of, criticized, told to shut up and made to feel stupid almost every day of our lives.

I carried the impact of my childhood into my adult life. My childhood fears became the adult fear of not showing my true self for fear of being unloved because of who I really was.

It wasn’t until I turned 50 that I met my fears head on.  I had done a few fearless things before that, but they were usually what others wanted me to do. The real movement with facing my fears was when my fear of forever being lost overcame my fear of moving forward.

What is the impact of fear on your life?  Fear keeps you from living your life. Period. New experiences, new adventures, new people are all aspects of life that keep us moving forward and creating a life we love.

What are you afraid of? There are many reasons you may be afraid to pursue something. Fear of rejection, ridicule, criticism, failure, and even success.  Getting the root of this issue will help you develop techniques to work through these fears.

Figuring out what is at the root of your fear may take some time.  Look back to your past to see what incidents might have caused this fear. Were you shamed or rejected as a child or adolescent?  Have you failed at something once before and just can’t face failing again?

Visualize the absolute worst that can happen.  My absolute worst is always ending up as a homeless bag lady.  However, that has never happened.

Also, what is the absolute best that can happen?  This is a way to reframe the conversation and be positive.  I always look at the positive outcomes of a new experience now, before considering the negative. (If I do at all.)

Start small.  When you succeed at one thing, you can confidence and are more likely to move forward.

See “failure” as the path to success.  When you take a look at the reasons for failure you can make better decisions on moving forward.  Also, it keeps you from tossing all plans out the window because you failed once.

However, the only way to really conquer the fear is to face it.  Get off the couch and do that thing you are afraid of.  I have found when I do face the fear, it’s not as scary on the other side.  You can plan, surmise what may or may not happen, and write a book on why you are fearful, but none of it is worth anything, until you actually face that fear.

Shelly is a personal development strategist and founder of The Rescue Yourself Project helping women over 40 step into their unique selves so they can create a life they love!  A few years ago, she found herself living a life that wasn’t of her making. Deciding that wasn’t what she wanted she ran away from home and spent eight months “re-branding” herself. Today Shelly helps women find their unique selves by becoming experts about their values, strengths, passions, goals and purpose so they can design a life they love.  

 

You’ve read 8 Steps to Conquering Your Fear, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading The 5 Best Podcasts On Optimism, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Favorable outcomes support the optimistic, could there be truer words?

Yes, actually, there probably are truer words. Truth is, optimism is not about things always working out the way you’d like them to. It is about discovering that you can find happiness again, just by focusing on understanding it. Optimism is often thought to be an innate quality, however, most of us have to work at it.

As human beings we are complex, our emotions can vary from day to day based on our experiences in life. Whether it is finding balance in career/family or prevailing over challenges and adversities, hopeful determination to overcome seems to be one thing the optimistic among us possess. Along with the ability to move on from failure, there is still a drive to future success with the optimistic person. So, stay positive! There are ways to work at an optimistic mindset even if you feel it doesn’t come naturally to you.

Here are 5 podcasts that will help you condition yourself and strategize your way to ultimate optimism: 

You Have a Calling – Joseph Wilner is a licensed therapist and life coach. His podcast focuses on prolonging and enhancing your positive emotions and how to do this. With techniques that help you discover gratitude and reframe a difficult experience with discovering what value it may have for you in your life. http://ift.tt/2cP7jF1

Ted Radio Hour – “The Case for Optimism” – This podcast is about how optimism can be the one thing that saves us from even the most destitute of outcomes (climate change, war, famine, etc). Addressing problems in a novel way can help us see that the way out of them is our interconnectedness.

http://ift.tt/2dFDJYF

Happiness Matters – “Fostering Optimism and Confidence” – Optimism is learned and within our control. The facts about how optimistic people are more successful in work and relationships and how to foster this in our children.

http://ift.tt/2cP5RT7

Beautiful Writer’s podcast – “Writing with Fierce Optimism” a podcast with Leeza Gibbons – What is the difference between optimism and hope? Optimism is a time tested strategy and hope is an inherent ability to get back to what our core values are.

http://ift.tt/2dFEOQe

Blogarama – “Overcoming Adversity with Optimism – Helen Keller” A podcast inspired by Helen Keller’s essay on Optimism. It is edited and adapted. Her thoughtful writing is a wonderful essay from a girl who despite being deaf and blind, lived a life of optimism and accomplishment. She was particularly profound and insightful.

http://ift.tt/2cP6NXF

We do not need to feel stuck in a spiraling mindset of defeating thoughts, if we trust that we can control these thoughts and free ourselves we can become optimistic of what’s to come and learn from our setbacks. The spirit of our determination can help us visualize obstacles and pain as simply one stop on the way to our best selves. So, optimism is in fact, supported by favorable outcomes, however, that outcome is all in how we perceive it.

———–

Larissa Gomes is a breast cancer survivor and single mom to her spirited baby boy! Originally from Toronto turned Angeleno, she has worked in roles from writer, actor and producer for well over a decade. In that time, she’s developed concepts, film and television screenplays, short stories, along with freelance articles, blogging and editing work.

You’ve read The 5 Best Podcasts On Optimism, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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