Your startup is barely getting off the ground.

Or maybe you’ve been working your butt off for that promotion and you don’t see any progress.

It could even be your last semester in college and you’re struggling to review for your very last finals ‘til you’re off applying for jobs.

We all have our own battles.

And it’s extremely tempting to give up when nothing seems to go right.

I’ve been having hardships getting my online business to its goals, but I know that if I put in the work, make mistakes early, learn from it right away and go from there, I’ll be closer to the success I want to achieve.

The same goes for everybody reading this too.

I know it’s difficult.

So here are three things to keep in mind whenever you feel like everything’s a burden on your heart and shoulders:

1. Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight

You’ve heard this countless times, but you’re reading this for a reason. We’re human and it’s perfectly natural to be impatient.

But oftentimes we allow it to get to our hearts, then later on we find ourselves unable to function to our full potential after again being faced with that fact.

Even right now as I write this, I’m still a bit upset that I remembered that it will take more loads of work to be done to get where I want to be.

However, the sooner we accept that success doesn’t happen overnight, the better.

Whether you believe it or not, that’s still the harsh truth.

I could spew content here and there all day, every day, but that doesn’t mean I’ll wake up the next day with my desired lifestyle.

In fact, avoid working all day every day! That could be detrimental to your health and decrease the chances of seeing the results of your labor (I mean death due to unhealthy practices here).

So take it one step at a time.

Slowly but surely.

You have to fall in love with the process, dear reader.

If you’re not already in love with what you’re doing, better think of doing something else or looking at your work with a new perspective.

It makes the long days and nights a little more bearable.

2. Mistakes Are Normal but You Need to Learn from Them

If it happens once, it’s a mistake. If it happens twice, it’s a choice.

Heard of that quote?

You see, mistakes are encouraged by the most successful people because it gives you something to learn from.

But there’s no point in committing the same mistake over and over.

If you’re going through rough patches right now because of your mistakes, don’t take it too personally.

There are always other factors why mistakes happen, and the ultimate thing is they already happened and we can’t do anything about them anymore except to learn from them.

Make sure they don’t happen again in the future.

Whether it’s choosing the wrong business partner or investing in the wrong company, it’s done.

It’s in the past.

But the past isn’t meant to be forgotten, it’s meant to gain lessons from.

3. The Fruits of Hard Work Are Sweet

Keep going.

Don’t worry if you’re on the right path or not.

It will reveal itself to you when it’s time, as long as you’re consistent with your work.

Compare yourself today versus last year.

Amazing how one year can change a lot of things, right?

Guess what? The time will pass anyway, so might as well do what you need to do.

I hope you never ever find yourself saying this a lot, “I wish I started last year! Imagine what I could’ve accomplished by today.”

When I was starting out with blogging last year, I didn’t even know what domain names are.

I read their definition over and over until I got it, and how hosting works to get websites on the internet.

I felt dumb and uncomfortable, but I persisted because I knew what I wanted to achieve.

Nobody in my family has any background with online business, so in terms of looking for mentors in real life, I didn’t have anyone but myself.

Thankfully, along my journey, I’ve discovered more people within reach who I could relate to.

It took a lot of networking and branding yourself for people to find out about you, but the fruits are oh, so sweet!

I’m part of a community of like-minded people who share the same goals now, and it wouldn’t have happened if I never put in the work needed.

I’ve had niche changes along the way, but I continued working until I found one that was fit for me and there was a market for.

Don’t be intimidated by the work needed to be done.

It will all be worth it in the end.

– About the Writer –

Nicah Caramba is an entrepreneur who is passionate about public speaking, travel and Japanese food. Aside from chasing the next adventure, she is constantly looking for ways to help people communicate their ideas better in her blog todayimchanging.com

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Charisma is a powerful skill to have.

All of the top leaders, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and celebrities have charisma. When people talk to them, they feel like they’ve known them all their life. It’s as if there is a magnetic attraction pulling them in. That’s the power of charisma.

If you learn how to cultivate and master this skill, it will have a huge effect on every area of your life. You’ll be able to influence people to do what you want them to do. You’ll be able to get what you want out of life. You’ll be able to build a cult-like following of people. Whatever your goals are, having charisma can get you to your final destination much faster.

But what if you don’t consider yourself charismatic at all?

No worries.

Even if you don’t think you are super charming or outgoing, you can still improve your charisma. Here are four quick hacks on how to be more charismatic.

1. Start Smiling More

One of the easiest ways to be more charismatic is to smile more.

If this is something you struggle with, go and practice right now. Find a mirror and start smiling in front of it. Keep doing this until it looks genuine and not forced. Nothing is worse than receiving a fake smile from someone. It screams dishonesty and makes building rapport much harder.

Smile. Smile. Smile.

It’s going to make you feel better, and it’s going to make the person you’re talking to feel better.

2. Give Strong Eye Contact

Have you ever given someone eye contact and feel like there’s energy flowing between you?

You feel the pressure. That’s the power of strong eye contact.

When you’re talking to somebody, lock eyes with them. Look them directly in the eye. Do not waver or look away.

Doing this is one of the easiest ways to build rapport with people. For example, Bill Clinton, who is known as one of the most charismatic individuals on Earth, is known for his strong eye contact.

If you Google, “Bill Clinton charisma”, you’ll find hundreds of blog posts and articles talking all about it.

People who have interacted with him have raved about his charisma. They describe him as being hypnotizing to talk too. He makes you want to be around him more. Here’s the funny part – Republicans, who normally wouldn’t agree with his policies or viewpoints, have said that after talking to him they felt themselves wanting to support him.

And you know what he did?

Give them strong eye contact.

Do it.

3. Be Interested

Notice I didn’t say be interesting.

Nope.

It’s important that you’re interested in people.

You know what people care the most about?

Themselves.

You can use this to your advantage. If you show interest in them, they’re going to automatically like you.

Why?

Because you made them feel good about themselves.

And you can show interest in people without having to kiss their butt either. Ask them genuine questions. Make statements about them. Show enthusiasm and excitement towards them.

Doing this helps you have more engaged conversations with people.

4. Practice Self-Amusement

The last hack you can do to become more charismatic is to be self-amused.

What is self-amusement?

It’s when you say or do something for the sole reason that you find it amusing or entertaining. You’re not trying to get a reaction out of someone. You’re not looking for validation. You’re purely doing something because you felt like it.

That is self-amusement.

Here’s how you can develop this skill – Lower the bar of what you find funny.

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

For example, people who have a “sophisticated” sense of humor usually are very ego-centric. They want to look and feel smart, thus they only allow themselves to laugh at “high-level” jokes.

That’s your ego talking.

What are you trying to prove? That’s a boring way to live life. The happiest people are those who don’t take themselves too seriously. They don’t care what anyone thinks of them.

Say something because it makes you happy. Don’t care what other people think about it. Don’t care if they find it funny or not. Say it because you find it hilarious.

There’s something called the “Law of State Transference.” The law states that whatever emotion you’re feeling the other person is going to feel it too. Feeling awkward? They’re going to feel awkward. Feeling happy? They’re going to feel happy.

Knowing this, you can use it to your advantage when it comes to self-amusement. When you say something you find hilarious, there’s a high chance they’re going to find it funny too. It’s all thanks to the “Law of State Transference.” Try it out.

***

And there we go.

Those are four quick hacks you can use today to be more charismatic. Go out and practice them right now.

– About the Writer –

Edwin Torres is on a mission to show you how to “next level” every area of your life. If you’re struggling with your self-confidence, click here to learn a “hack” you can use to boost your confidence in 5-minutes.

– Related Resource –

• The Charisma Myth

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Note: This post is written by Rose Martin

When the going gets tough, the tough get reading.

There’s no better way to instantly lift your spirits up, change your chain of thought and escape to a whole new world, than reading.  Reading a good book is akin to living in the author’s world and learning from their treasure of experience.

There are some people who lived incredible lives, fought all kinds of challenges and emerged winners. Fortunately, a lot of these people penned books for the world to know of their journey and be inspired by it.

Every time you are feeling lost and need a healthy dose of motivation to get you back on track with renewed vigor, just pick up one of the following books. We’ve handpicked five of the best motivational books for your perusals.

1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

There is a reason this particular book features at the very top of all self-help books. If you don’t understand why it is so, then you need to read it right now to see for yourself.

Published way back in 1937, the book is still relevant today as it draws from the life experience of over 500 hundred successful men, spanning the likes of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and John D Rockefeller.

Napoleon Hill distils the very best of all the knowledge gathered from these eminent men in his 20 years of research and serves you just the elixir you need. It gives you thirteen completely practical, actionable steps to achieve your goal, whatever it is.

“Opinions are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them. If you are influenced by “opinions” when you reach DECISIONS, you will not succeed in any undertaking.”
– Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

2. See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar

See You at the Top is the extract of Zig Ziglar’s three decades worth of traveling the world and motivating people across continents. The founding thought of the book is that you can get everything you want in life if you help other people get what they want.

The book reinforces on the significance of the basic human values we all must preserve and practice, such as faith, loyalty, honesty, and integrity. The book truly inspires you to become a good human being and assure that as long as you believe in yourself and be good unto others around you, good things will happen to you.

The book is structured like a staircase to success, saying if you build the foundation of each step firmly, you will certainly reach the top.

“The story of life repeatedly assures you that if you will use what you have, you will be given more to use.”
– Zig Ziglar, See You at the Top

3. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes you into the depths of human mind and backed by scientific principles, tells you how good habits can be (and must be) developed and kept. He emphasizes that even the most adamant of bad habits can be defeated by ardent practice and will.

He presents a plethora of real life examples of people who transformed their lives by harnessing the power of habit. A woman who quit smoking and ran a marathon, a CEO who modified one common pattern among his employees and turned his firm into a top performing business, and even a marketer who, with one small change in advertising strategy makes his product go on to make a billion dollars a year.

Read The Power of Habit to see just how you too can transform your life for real, just by understanding how habits work.

“Champions don’t do extraordinary things. They do ordinary things, but they do them without thinking, too fast for the other team to react. They follow the habits they’ve learned.”
– Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit

4. The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

With so much negativity floating out and about in the world today, preserving and exercising a positive mindset is the hardest thing and yet, the only way.

In this book that has stood the test of time, Norman Vincent Peale gives you some truly practical advice on how to stay positive and not get bogged down by the stress, anxiety, and depression that shrouds our lives.

Read this book to free your mind of its self-limiting habits and spread its wings to happiness.

“The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
-Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking

5. Just Start by Leonard A. Schlesinger

How often have you struggled to do something, and felt – if only you could get the right start? You don’t know what’s going to happen, you don’t know how things will shape out in the future. Then how can you succeed?

Don’t try to predict, don’t theorize; don’t waste time mulling over results. Just start. That’s what Schlesinger and his two equally successful businessman friends try to tell you in this masterpiece of practical life advice.

The book is so motivational, you will be eager to get up and get started on something spectacular right away.

“Enrollment is not about getting somebody to do something that you want them to do. It’s about offering them the chance to do something they might want to do.”
– Leonard A. Schlesinger, Just Start

Wrapping Up

When life is just too hard to win over and you are feeling totally lost, even when you know you have the power in you, you need someone to stoke the fire and nudge you into action. Motivation is something we all need, at some times more than others, and the above books give you just that.

Every time you feel you need a friend who can take your hand and pull you out of the slump, reach out to one of these motivational books and see just how much power you have in you, waiting to be utilized. These books will give you not just motivation but real, actionable advice on how you can change things for yourself starting today.

– About the Writer –

Rose Martin is an editor at Book Siren. Her main interest in blogging is for self-improvement, business, start-ups and lifestyle. When she’s not working, she enjoys cooking, sipping a cold beer and spending time with family.

– Related Resources –

• Summary of Think and Grow Rich
• Summary of The Power of Habit
• Summary of The Power of Positive Thinking

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Note: This post is written by Swati Kapoor

So, you’re excited about the breakthrough idea that you truly believe is worth transforming into a business!

You’ve planned it in detail, created a blueprint, thought about the financial aspects, and analyzed the market. What’s next? What’s stopping you?

Is it the mental block of taking the risk of starting your own business? You know you’re not comfortable working for someone, but not sure if you’ll be able to make a mark as your own boss either, right?

These doubts have the potential to hold you back from pursuing your dream.

Every entrepreneur, big or small, has gone through all these hesitations before taking the plunge in the world of business. The first step forward is the toughest and requires a lot of motivation and courage.

Here are eight ways to get motivated to start your own business.

1. Set a Personal Mission for Yourself

Just like every business needs a cause to work towards, you must also have a mission for yourself that motivates you to strive hard.

The mission statement of a company defines its broader goals, core values, and the direction for the organization to follow. Similarly, a mission statement for you should involve your dreams and the measures to realize them.

Carry it along, read it aloud, memorize it, or get a tattoo done; ensure you always have it handy as a constant reminder of your goal to become an entrepreneur. Constant reminders of the core reasons can drive you towards becoming an entrepreneur, and help in moving forward even when the going gets tough.

2. Read Inspiring Books

Read books, but not just any book. Grab motivational books that instill confidence in you.

If you’re planning to become an entrepreneur, you’d probably already have read a lot of industry-related content. But, motivational books such as biographies of successful entrepreneurs who inspire you and stories of impresarios who’ve lived the rags-to-riches tales can inspire you.

Reading about people who once stood the same place as you and are now successful can be highly inspiring.

3. Take Inspiration from Quotes

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you want to truly become.”- Steve Jobs

Sometimes, a few lines of inspiration are all you need to get back on track, and inspirational quotes work perfectly in lifting your spirit and infusing positivity in you. Most of these inspirational quotes are the life experiences summed up in powerful, hard-hitting words.

Scientifically, motivational quotes are instrumental in activating an emotional pulse in our minds and hearts. The right quote has the power to help us see light at the end of the tunnel.

4. Adopt Perseverance as Your Life Mantra

One of the biggest reasons for not starting a business is the fear of failure. From your marketing strategy backfiring to having trouble creating a website, anything can go wrong.

On the road of entrepreneurship, you are susceptible to fall over and over again. But, it is important to be ready to rise up and move ahead taking your failures in your stride as learning experiences. This attitude will help you overcome the fear of letdowns.

Failures, essentially, help you in getting better. There are possibilities that you may do things wrong, but that is how you learn the art of doing business. Failure is essential to learning.

Perseverance is fighting for an aim, past your comfort zone, and entrepreneurial aspirations require perseverance to succeed. Being perseverant in pursuing your aim increases your chances of being successful in your endeavors.

5. Read Case Studies

Every day, numerous businesses emerge in the market to make a place for themselves. Not all of them offer ground-breaking products/services, but their success stories constitute several underlying factors that together make it a success.

These case studies help a budding entrepreneur in more ways than one. Not only do they offer essential business insights, but they also help in understanding that it is not just about the product/service. The way a business plan is executed also contributes in bringing long-term sustainable success.

6. Indulge in Motivating Activities

To travel the road of entrepreneurial success, it is imperative to consciously help yourself in staying motivated. Talking to your mentors, being in the company of positive people, and attending TED Talks and seminars help in developing a confident mindset.Not only are these sessions encouraging, they also help you in crafting better strategies for your business.

Giving yourself practical deadlines for tasks also helps in keeping the motivation level up. Don’t forget to reward yourself with little treats on completing targets. The simplicity of taking baby steps towards your dream and achieving small milestones is a great motivation in itself.

7. Go for a Run Alone

It is important not to undermine the importance of self-motivation. Spending some time with yourself every day allows you the much-required time to reflect on your strategies and business plans.

Running not only keeps you active and fit, it is a proven way of lifting your self-esteem, staying positive, and boosting memory. Running alone also helps in clearing your mind. It offers better clarity and infuses positivity. It allows you to get involved in your own thoughts, sort them out, decide on the priorities, and follow a plan of action.

8. Remind Yourself About the Advantages of Becoming an Entrepreneur

One of the best ways to get motivated to launch your own business is to remind yourself of your goal of becoming an entrepreneur and the advantages associated with it.

Remember how you always felt that you don’t belong to the 9-to-5 rut. The feeling of being your own boss, taking a break whenever you want, executing a plan the way you perceived it, and accountability to no one but yourself are some of the best perks of being an entrepreneur.

Constantly reminding yourself of these liberating benefits can offer great motivation to follow your dreams.

Conclusion

Becoming an entrepreneur is an experience that frees you from pre-set goals and bestows the power of creating your future in your own hands.

Don’t let the inhibitions of failure and obstacles hold you down and keep fueling yourself with the adrenaline to succeed and achieve your dreams.

– About the Writer –

Swati Kapoor is a qualified dietitian at Practo. She has a Masters degree in Dietetics and Food Service Management. She is a strong believer in spreading the goodness of ‘nutrition through healthy eating’.

– Related Resources –

• Escape from Cubicle Nation
• The E-Myth Revisited
• 21 Days to a Big Idea

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Note: This post is written by Gabriel Smith

Almost half of the decisions you make are simply based on habits.

According to a paper published by Duke University, habits are neurological shorthand that frees our minds from the stress of decision making. This behavioral shorthand gives us more bandwidth to focus on unique tasks of our lives.

Most of us form habits unconsciously, wiring our brains into life-sucking routines that are seemingly impossible to short circuit. Quitting bad habits can be hard, but new research shows you can make a permanent change with the right tools.

Here are five tips on how to change habits.

1. Recognize Your Triggers

Recent research in neurobiology has changed how researchers think about habits. Past research focused on changing the routine of the habit, not on which cue triggers it. By studying triggers and rewards, researchers have gained more insight into how habits really form.

Habits are routines triggered by cues, like a time of day, and reinforced with a reward, like food or socialization. In order to change the routine, you need to become aware of the cues that create a habit and what reward you gain out of it.

Charles Duhigg, the author of “The Power Habits,” summarizes this research well:

“Scientists have explained that every habit is made up of a cue, a routine, and a reward. The cue is a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and which habit to use. Then there is the routine — the behavior itself — which can be physical or mental or emotional. Finally, there is a reward, which helps your brain figure out if this particular habit is worth remembering for the future. Over time, this loop — cue, routine, reward; cue, routine, reward — becomes more automatic as the cue and reward become neurologically intertwined.”

So, the first step to change a habit is to recognize in what context your habit is triggered. For example, is your desire to smoke increased by being around certain people, a certain place, or after a meal? Gaining consciousness of these subconscious cues empowers you to take the next step for change.

2. Rewire Your Routine

Once you are aware of what triggers your habit, the next step is to either create a plan that hijacks these old cues with a new routine and reward or find a new cue to create a routine and reward around.

After you have created a plan for the new habit you want to cultivate, you are on your way to creating your new routine. Once you are able to identify how your habits work, you have the tools to override your “bad” habits with new ones.

3. Reward Yourself

When evaluating what habit you want to change, you also have to recognize the benefit that habit provides and replicate that reward in the new habit you are creating. Choose a reward that you truly enjoy. For example, if you want to start exercising, your reward could be a small piece of chocolate.

Depriving yourself of a genuinely satisfying reward and relying on “willpower” to create a new habit goes against how your brain creates new neural pathways and habits. Or as Jocelyn Glei, author of “Unsubscribe: How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distraction, and Get Real Work Done,” puts it:

“If you want to get rid of a bad habit, you have to find out how to implement a healthier routine to yield the same reward.”

4. Sleep and Eat Appropriately

A good night’s sleep rests our brain as well as our body. A well-rested brain handles the stresses of decision making better than a sleep-deprived one. If you are sleep-deprived, your brain is tired and stressed, reducing your ability to make decisions that are not habitual. A tired brain slips into old habits quicker than a well-rested one.

Dr. Sujay Kansagra, director of Duke University’s Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program and a sleep expert for Mattress Firm, recommends, “For adults, a full night’s sleep is typically between seven and nine hours, but everyone is different. So, how do you figure out how much sleep is best for you? If you don’t have any other sleep problems (e.g. sleep apnea), you should wake up feeling refreshed in the morning after a full night of sleep.”

Low blood sugar also stresses out your body and brain. If you don’t eat good food every couple of hours, your blood sugar drops, causing you to be cranky and crave carbs. This state of mind and body inhibits your ability to make rational decisions.

To avoid a drop in your blood sugar, and thus your decision-making ability, it is recommended that you eat a snack or meal every three to five hours.

5. Forgive Relapses and Keep Going

Changing a habit is hard because you are creating new neural pathways or rewiring your brain. You are going to fall back into old habits once in a while—especially in times of stress. Don’t let a relapse discourage you. The best thing to do if you fail is to keep trying.

Remember, once you know how your habit works, you have the power to change it.

“What we know from lab studies is that it’s never too late to break a habit. Habits are malleable throughout your entire life. But we also know that the best way to change a habit is to understand its structure — that once you tell people about the cue and the reward and you force them to recognize what those factors are in a behavior, it becomes much, much easier to change,” said Charles Duhigg in an NPR interview.

– About the Writer –

Gabriel Smith is an ex-business student turned writer and health and wellness expert, finding motivation from his former life as a competitive athlete and trainer. He regularly shares insight on self improvement, self sufficiency, and how humans can better their lives.

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Note: This post is written by Danny Donchev

Working as a freelancer offers a lot of freedom, but that freedom can also lead us down a highly unproductive path. One minute you’re sipping that first delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee as you log into your computer, the next thing you know two hours have gone by while you were watching hilarious YouTube videos.

It happens to the best of us. Being a freelancer requires a strong will and dedication, but with social media a tap of the finger or a click of the mouse away it can be hard to stay focused. Productivity is the name of the game and the only way to success. If you’re falling victim to the various distractions around you, get your time management back on track with these productivity tips for freelancers.

1. Create a Schedule

Freelancing allows us to break away from the traditional nine to five working mold, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need a schedule to accomplish your tasks. The best part is that you tell yourself when it’s time to get down to business and when you can relax.

Your schedule might change from week to week or even day to day, but sticking to the time frames you’ve created to get your work done is a sure-fire way to boost productivity.

2. Do One Thing at a Time

Multitasking is a useful ability in almost every facet of life, but it will kill your productivity. Everything you are doing besides the task at hand is stopping you from completing it, plain and simple.

While sticking to your schedule, make sure that your time spent on working is just that. Turn off your phone if you can’t resist the urge to hop on social media, clear your workspace of distractions, and get rid of anything that keeps you from getting the job done.

It isn’t easy at first, but the more you practice “single-tasking,” the more work you will get done.

3. Prioritize Your Work

When it comes to productivity tips for freelancers, this one seems as though it should be common knowledge. However, simply working on the next item with the closest deadline doesn’t always work out as planned. Here’s what to do.

Put Common Tasks Together

Answering emails and calls are part of the trade, but jumping to answer either in the middle of your workload can severely impede your productivity. Setting a specified time in your schedule to answer emails or make calls will allow you to reach out to your clients without interrupting your creative flow.

Do the Undesirable

If there’s a task you’re dreading, do it first. Eliminate having that weight looming over your head all day and snub procrastination in one fell swoop. Everything will be easier once that pain in the rear is over with.

Get the Small Stuff Out of the Way

After dealing with the hardest part of the day, tackle the little things. Whether that’s resizing images, putting documents together for a presentation, or creating an email list, accomplishing those smaller tasks first will help the rest of your day to run smoothly.

Set the Order of Importance

Once you knock out those first three, figure out what needs to be done next. That might mean completing an assignment due today or finding social media influencers to help promote a product. Make a list of what needs to be done today.

When the work day is done, make another list of what will need to be done tomorrow to help you stay on task.

4. Avoid ‘All Work and No Play’

Breaks are an essential aspect of productivity for freelancers. Your schedule should allow for a few minutes away from your computer screen every hour or so. During that time you should stretch, get a glass of water, or just step outside to take a breath of fresh air.

Don’t forget to schedule longer breaks so you can eat. Pro tip: Skip the Hot Pocket and make yourself a dish that will provide sustained energy.

5. Do It All in Intervals

Ever try to power through a term paper in one night? How did that turn out for you? Working straight through for an extended period of time like that can amp up the stress and destroy your motivation along with your creativity.

Take a hint from LiveOps, a telecommuting company that hires freelancers, and section your schedule into thirty-minute increments. This will help to make large tasks seem smaller while setting aside dedicated working hours (no phone, social media, etc.).

As a bonus, it makes scheduling work times around life obligations a whole lot easier.

6. Challenge Yourself

To make serious money freelancing you have to work fast and efficient. Unfortunately, there aren’t any coworkers to compete with. So, where does your healthy competition come from?

Jump back to sectioning off your workload into thirty-minute segments, then make it a game. Set a timer and review how far you’ve progressed with your current task. Keep trying to outdo yourself each time for one week and you’ll be surprised at how much you can get done in just a half hour.

7. Add an Incentive

Challenging yourself can be a fun exercise to boost your productivity, but the end goal is always sweetened with a little incentive. The faster you work, the more assignments you can take on, which means you’re making more money.

Set a few goals for yourself with rewards for reaching them. For instance, if you can turn one week’s worth of assignments into three days then treat yourself to a nice dinner. As your income and speed increases then make the reward greater, a dream vacation.

It won’t happen overnight, but adding incentive certainly increases your motivation to get the job done.

8. Equate Your Time with Your Expenses

We all know that ‘time equals money’, but that doesn’t stop us from procrastinating. Expand on that age-old piece of wisdom by equating your time with your expenses. Before you can think about that dream vacation, you need to think about paying the bills and buying groceries, right?

Break down your assignments into what their pay will be going towards. Look at those next two articles as the money it takes to fill your fridge, that presentation as your car payment, or another hour answering calls as a night out with friends. Aside from easy budgeting, it helps to create the motivation you’ll need to get the job done.

9. Make Time to Market

Marketing may not seem like it belongs on a list of productivity tips for freelancers, but making time to land the next gig is important. Try to fit this in at the end of the day to avoid making it another fateful part of procrastination.

The reason marketing yourself is important comes from the motivation more jobs creates. It adds a little pressure to get the tasks at hand done so you can move on to the next. At the same time, more assignments mean more money and we can all agree that is one amazing motivator.

10. Relax

There’s nothing wrong with working under pressure. In fact, some of us are ten times more productive that way. However, an unnecessary load of stress does nothing to help your productivity.

Before you even start the day, create a ritual that gets you ready to tackle any assignment. For some that might be a morning run, for others it could be coffee and a cigarette on the front porch or a little quiet meditation. Whatever helps you to relax, do it.

Stressing out over your workload makes it something you want to avoid. Instead, clear your head and get ready to do what you do best. That’s why you’re a freelancer because you have the skills to take on these assignments and produce quality work from the comfort of your home.

Final Words

Some days our willpower is stronger than others. It happens to the best of us, but staying productive is the only way to make a comfortable living when you work from home. Adding the ten tips above to your daily work routine will help you stay on top of your workload and see yourself succeed in this industry.

– About the Writer –

Danny Donchev is a marketing manager of AdaptRM, a revolutionary time-tracking tool. Danny writes more posts about productivity and efficiency on the AdaptRM blog.

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Note: This post is written by Sarah Jones

Tiredness a is part of life for many of us. Children, work, unexpected surprises and circumstances as well as unwanted stress and anxiety can all rob us of one of the most important things we need in our lives: sleep.

Sleep has more benefits than you may realize, so before you binge watch a new series on Netflix tonight, remember that sleep can benefit you more and in many ways.

Here are five benefits of sleep.

1. Sleep Boosts Your Memory

Getting adequate amounts of sleep each night helps improve memory. According to Dr. Rapoport, a professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, people receive information better and faster after receiving the amount of sleep one needs.

Performance increases with proper sleep, so if you’re trying to complete an assignment or learn something new, getting some shut-eye will help your brain retain and process the information easier.

2. Sleep Promotes Positivity

Sleep can help you see that the glass is half full. Many of us get the grumpies without enough sleep because the lack of rest affects our outlook and our mood.

During the phases of rest at night, both our minds and our bodies recuperate and can relax without stress or activity. Getting sleep at night, and good, restful sleep improves our outlook on life and increases our positivity because we feel refreshed.

Dr. Rapoport also mentions that not only does it improve our outlook, but it also gives us more energy throughout the day for both mind and body. Studies show that people who receive anywhere from 7 to 9 hours of rest every night are also less likely to develop depression.

3. Sleep Helps You to Relax and Rejuvenate

Rest also helps us be calmer, which many of us need after a hard day. During an evening’s rest, our heart rates stabilize, and our blood pressure drops as our body relaxes and focuses on system recovery.

Lack of sleep doesn’t allow our heart to take a much-needed break which can lead to complications such as diabetes, inflammation, and heart disease. During this nightly rest, our bodies produce white blood cells because the body has time to recuperate and do a system check and repair. Give your heart a break tonight and let it relax too.

4. Sleep Reduces Anxiety

Feeling stressed? You need more sleep! Sleep helps lower anxiety and stress levels which feed off each other.

Dr. Jean states that our health and lack of sleep accompany each other. Resting your mind can ease the stress and lower anxiety levels, and in the morning, many of us are aware of a noticeable difference in both anxiety and stress because resting is the ultimate cure for both.

5. Sleep Unclutters the Mind

Sleep can also help us relax by removing unnecessary data from our busy minds. During the day, our brains work full-tilt acquiring and sorting new or existing data.   At night, our brains take a break and during the resting process, removes all unnecessary or useless data you do not need to remember for tomorrow.

This helps clear space in our minds during a sort of “uncluttering” process. Resting our minds at night also helps with prioritization, so you don’t choose what’s for lunch over finishing an important assignment the next day.

***

Sleep has a slew of other benefits including making a tough decision easier to make, increasing our energy levels, which most of us need, and even plays a role in decreasing appetite which can benefit both your metabolism and weight. It also makes under-eye puffiness vanish while improving our mood. Doctors around the globe encourage getting 7 to 9 hours a night to see the ultimate benefits.

Would you like to be smarter, pleasant, energized and healthy? The answer to all of these is one thing: sleep. We are busy creatures jetting from chore to chore, from work to home, or to after school activities and much more in our busy schedules.

Our bodies and minds need a break, and they receive this rest during our time in our cozy beds at night. Skimping on sleep can negatively affect your health, your heart, and your mood, causing fatigue and reducing our awareness and creativity levels.

For less stress and a happier and healthier you, don’t skip out on some precious sleep time tonight.

– About the Writer –

Sarah is the Editor of Sleepy Deep. Feeling the repercussions of being an irregular sleeper for too long, she decided to do something about it. She learned why sleep is so important, how to maximize it, and now helps others who are struggling to find their right sleep routine.

– Related Resources –

• The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time
• The Secret Life of Sleep: An exploration of what happens after we close our eyes

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I don’t read many books on health. A while back, however, I came across The Truth About Cancer and decided to read it. I was interested in it because cancer is one of the top killers in the modern age. More personally, my mom passed away because of cancer. I also have two friends who passed away because of cancer at the young age of 32 and 33.

I’m glad I read the book. Honestly, the content of the book is not what I expected. I expected a positive attitude toward popular cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. But the book is actually against them. It’s eye-opening for me.

You might want to read the complete book yourself, but here are ten key ideas from the book:

1. Cancer is widespread.

Cancer is now one of the top killers in the world. About 40 percent of the general population will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.

The most common type of cancer for a woman is breast cancer. For a man, it’s prostate cancer.

2. The standard treatments do more harm than good.

The standard treatments for cancer are chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Unfortunately, they often do more harm than good.

Chemotherapy, for instance, has a low success rate. Only about 2 percent of patients survived for more than five years after undergoing chemotheraphy. Chemotherapy is literal poison to the body that harms both bad and good cells.

3. Money is the main reason behind the standard treatments.

If they aren’t effective, then why are those treatments still used widely? The short answer is money. There is a lot of money to be made through them, and the industry just won’t let it go.

4. Beware of the screening movement.

There is now a widespread screening movement that encourages people to do regular checkups for cancer. Unfortunately, the standard screening procedures also do more harm than good. Mammography, for instance, could actually cause cancer.

5. There are better ways for early detection.

If the standard screening procedures are not recommended, then what should we use? Fortunately, there are good alternatives.

For mammography, a good alternative is thermography. For many other types of cancer, a good alternative is a combination of AMAS test and ONCOblot test.

6. “Alternative” treatments are often more effective than the standard ones.

Similar to the case of early detection, there are good alternatives to the standard treatments. Some of them are oxidative therapy, virotherapy, and metabolic theraphy.

7. The best way to handle cancer is to prevent it.

Prevention requires you to adopt a holistic, anticancer lifestyle which includes your mind, body, and spirit.

8. The most important aspect of prevention is nutrition.

Nutrition is the “fuel” that your body uses. That’s why it’s the most important aspect of cancer prevention.

For this, keep in mind that there are only two types of food: cancer-fueling and cancer-fighting. In general, processed food falls under the cancer-fueling category while organic food falls under the cancer-fighting category.

9. Regular exercise is essential.

In addition to nutrition, you need to make sure that you have regular exercise. Exercise causes your body to sweat which helps your body eliminate toxins. An especially good form of exercise is rebounding.

10. Have enough sleep and stay hydrated.

Having enough sleep and staying hydrated reduce your cancer risk.

***

I hope you find these nuggets of information useful. Stay healthy and live your life to the full!

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Note: This post is written by Gabriel Fishbein

Having a family is one of the most fulfilling accomplishments; it’s a whole new chapter of life. Whether you have one child or more, you probably know that as rewarding as being a parent is, it can also be tough sometimes.

Saving for holidays, a new house, or even a car can be a challenge when you’re no longer just thinking about yourself. That’s where some money-saving advice could help you to reach your financial goals, so you can enjoy your next family trip to the Bahamas, or tucking your kids into their new bed.

Here are five money-saving habits every family needs to adopt.

1. Cut Down on Junk Food and Processed Food

People usually have the assumption that to cut down on your food bill you need to buy less food. This isn’t really the case. Instead of cutting down on everything, simply learn to say no.

Instead of buying a packet of cookies and a bottle of soda, stick to fruit and veg. By cutting out processed foods that have no nutrients, you’ll notice how your grocery bill decreases.

Cut down, or eliminate fast food and takeouts altogether and opt for cooking at home instead. Just think that every weekly takeout that costs around $20, could add up to around $100 by the end of the month.

2. Spend Less on Clothes and Shoes

If you have growing children, then you know how tricky it can be when you’re trying to buy them clothes that fit and they won’t grow out of too quickly.

One of the best ways to get them everything they need is to make a list for autumn/winter and again in spring/summer. Make a note of everything they need for the season, such as a winter coat and boots.

By getting them everything season by season, you will avoid shopping constantly week to week and spending excessive amounts on clothes your child may never wear.

3. Cut Down on Toys and Make Memories Instead

Next time you’re in a store with your kids and they try and guilt trip you into buying toys, say no. Instead of accumulating useless things that they’ll get bored of after a few days, plan experiences or family bonding time instead, which is free, or could cost significantly less than the latest video game.

Take your kids to the park for a picnic or a game of football, as opposed to indulging them with the latest toy or gadget that they’ve seen advertised on TV.

4. Reuse as a Household

One way your kids will learn the value of money is by understanding that throwaway culture is not good for your wallet or the environment.  So instead of buying new clothes, keep a few good-quality pieces so that you can pass them down to your next child.

This will save you money in the long term and the same rule applies to toys and games. Reuse them by passing them down, rather than hoarding toys and constantly buying new ones.

When it comes to household items, you’ll be surprised at how much you can save by using reusable tea clothes and dust clothes, rather than buying kitchen paper and wipes every week.

If you’re thinking of redecorating or want to add a few things to your house, then as an alternative to buying more pieces of furniture, have a look at vintage and antique stores. You’ll be able to find treasures for bargain prices.

5. Teach Your Kids to Decrease Their Carbon Footprint

Show your kids the importance of turning off light switches and appliances that they’re not using, and they should know not to leave electronics on charge.

After your whole family becomes energy smart, you’ll not only have taught your kids a valuable life lesson but you’ll also notice your electric, water and gas bill decrease.

***

With a few simple household changes, you’ll see the difference in your savings account and your kids will eventually appreciate the fun memories, tasty home cooked meals and their pre-loved and quirky furniture.

By making a few little changes you could be on your way to a more financially stable future as a family.

– About the Writer –

Gabriel Fishbein is the lead content marketer at GiftCardio. He graduated with two degrees in Marketing and Information Systems from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland. He is persuasive, logical, and deliberate but not lackadaisical when making decisions.

– Related Resources –

• The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money
• Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties

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Note: This post is written by Zak Khan

It is an unfortunate reality that most schools don’t teach learners how to succeed at life in a realistic and practical manner.

Sure, an elaborate understanding of Mathematics and Science can open many doors but when challenged with real life problems, most of us crumble and fall into stagnancy.

Over the last 7 years since finishing school, I’ve been through quite a few ordeals. Overcoming a life-changing disease was just one of the battles I won and you can read about that in a previous post I wrote for Life Optimizer (3 Ways to Overcome Adversity).

What I care to share with you today are the laws of success that often go overlooked. These are the laws that celebrities and entrepreneurs obsess over on a daily basis which brings about ridiculous success and rewards. If you’re sick and tired of being stuck in a loop of failure and mediocrity, this post is for you!

Without further ado, here are the 3 undeniable laws of success.

1. You Have to Show Up Daily

Part of why some people achieve the impossible whilst others look on in disbelief is because they show up every single day despite every reason not to.

Look, you’ve seen it happen time and time again. Someone who wouldn’t strike you as special comes along and does what everyone didn’t even bother attempting. You brush it off as luck and move on with life. But, guess what? It wasn’t luck! It was deliberate.

Despite all the negative thoughts and opinions surrounding a particular objective, the people who show up in an attempt to succeed are the ones who usually succeed.

You can chalk it down to pure luck or chance but the fact of the matter is that for as long as you show up each and every day, the possibility of success immediately changes from impossible to possible.

For as long as you don’t try, impossibility is a reality. This form of impossibility has nothing to do with circumstances preventing a goal or dream from being realized but from self-imposed limitations.

You can only get better at something or unlock rewards by being present. When the opportunity arises to accomplish the impossible, you’ll be the one reaping the rewards because you showed up when everyone else didn’t.

“Success doesn’t chase you, you chase success.”

2. Hard Work Is Non-Negotiable

Once you show up and an opportunity arises, what do you do? Getting by on the bare minimum will only generate the bare minimum results. The best results in life require the best effort you have to give.

Are you familiar with the notorious fighter Conor McGregor? He’s the first man to hold two championships at the same time in the UFC. Not only has he accomplished something nobody else has but he’s made millions of dollars at the same time.

Many people attribute his success to luck or talent but in reality, it all boils down to hard work. If you don’t believe me, listen to what he had to say in an interview, “If you put in the work to become number 1, you will become number 1. If you put in the work to become the runner up, you will become the runner-up. I put in the work to finish first!”

If a millionaire, record-breaking and double champion attributes his success to being a workhorse, shouldn’t we take that at face value and adopt his attitude to success?

What this means is that despite a lack of natural born gifts and talent, someone who is willing to work harder than anyone and everyone else has a fighting chance at being the best in the world!

Look beyond the bare minimum. When I was in high school, all I wanted to do was have fun. So, when it came time to prepare for examinations, I aimed for a passing grade. Most of my results were a reflection of my intention.

I worked for average results and I attained average results. However, when I entered University and started studying Law, things changed. A desire to achieve great results wrapped itself around me and I attempted to do something I never did before – work hard.

Rather than aim for simply passing, I set my sights on those 80 – 90% grades. I hit those grades in quite a few of my modules! The ones that weren’t in that percentage category were often in the 65 – 79% category.

I went from 50’s during my high school years to 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. This growth can be attributed to the following 4 fundamental changes:

1. An attitude and mindset adjustment.
2. Higher minimum requirements.
3. Maximum effort at studying.
4. Daily sacrifice.

I showed up every day, set ‘my minimum passing grade’ to be much higher than the average passing grade, put in the work and most importantly, I sacrificed time-wasting activities that were once fun for hard work and success.

In the end, it paid off when I was on stage accepting my Bachelor of Laws degree this past April. If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that hard work, even in the face of obstacles, can overcome all adversities in life.

3. Momentum Trumps Motivation

There will come a time in every new venture when motivation depletes and the only thing that keeps you marching forward is momentum.

Unlike fleeting emotions like motivation and inspiration, momentum relies solely on movement and/or progress.

If you’re familiar with the cumulative effect, you would know that by simply taking action over and over again, you accrue small but significant results that add up to create a big reward over time. Similarly, when you take action on a daily basis, the movement or progress you make from previous attempts carries you forward day after day.

After some time, it feels second nature to partake in the activity you’ve been consistent at. Ask anyone who has exercised for longer than 4 weeks, they can attest to the principle of momentum.

The first few days of starting an exercise regimen are physically, emotionally and mentally brutal. If you were to stop after the first day, all the soreness and cramps last for many days, even weeks. However, if you exercise the next day even though you feel sore, mid-way through the workout all of that clears up.

By the next day, you wake up feeling less sore and less exhausted. The more you do it, the stronger you become and the less noticeable is the pain and suffering.

Momentum brings about this wonderful phenomenon. Do something for long enough and the results accumulate. During this accumulation of results, the side effects reduce drastically until it’s mostly invisible.

Rather than relying on erratic emotions, engage in motion and movement to truly accrue results and success. While everyone else is waiting for the perfect moment to get started, you’ll be the one achieving your goals and dreams.

When I was tasked with studying thousand-page-long books on Law, many times I felt overwhelmed and challenged. Time was never on my side and I could never find the perfect moment to get started. I could have waited until it was too late but I quickly realized that hard work will never feel easy.

I couldn’t rely on emotions because their erratic nature left my future up in the air. The only thing that guaranteed progress was sitting down at my desk, opening those textbooks and working through one page at a time.

The more pages I worked through, the less overwhelmed I felt because progress was visible. What seemed impossible no longer did.

If I Can, So Can You

The most pivotal message you can take away from this article is that if someone with autoimmune diseases and a lack of talent can achieve his goals and succeed in his ventures, so can you. There’s no excuse for why you can’t be successful at meaningful objectives in your life.

Everyone has problems and circumstances that make achieving success difficult. You merely have to work around those circumstances and rely on brute force to achieve your greatest desires.

Excuses are for quitters. Ditch them and embrace these 3 undeniable laws of success. If you do, there’s no telling what you’ll be able to accomplish in the near future!

– About the Writer –

Zak Khan is a full-time writer and author who shares his insights on productivity, self-development and writing over at Zakwrites.com and his journey to health and wellness on Servedhealthy.com

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