10 Creative Ways To Get Yourself Motivated

I believe we are all motivated by something or another. It is said we each have a natural tendency to be motivated in one of two ways: either towards something pleasurable for us or away from something that's painful.

I've noticed that if I have someone visiting me I'm motivated to getting the house in order.

If I have a meeting to attend I'm motivated to getting done whatever I need to prepare for that meeting. I may run out of time. The quality may not always be what it should. But I have a good stab at getting things done.

If I'm criticised by someone about something I've not done I feel shamed into action.

On the positive side, if I'm faced with a project that's exciting, challenging and uplifting in just the right measure for me, and I decide I want to do a great job or reach a certain level of attainment, I'm also motivated to take action - and I often produce good results in this instance.

I have to feel I can achieve, and achieve fairly easily. If I feel in any way overwhelmed I'll be demotivated.

So I suppose the question is how can you turn that which is painful for you into something that appears more pleasurable?

1. Can you change the image you have in your head of that thing you don't want to do? For instance if the image is of pushing a boulder up a hill, could you change the image so that it becomes a pebble being kicked along the ground? Does this change the way you feel about what it is you're tackling? If so how?

2. Can you focus on how you'll feel once you've done what you're dreading? If you keep the end in mind all the time and focus on that feeling of satisfaction this can be a big motivator

3. Can you outline to yourself the benefits (pros) of doing what you don't want to do? Could you devise a pros and cons grid, where the pros are positively encouraging you to act, and the cons are spurring you into action to avoid the discomfort of not doing?

4. Can you break down the project or task into smaller activities that you schedule in to complete over time? We don't always have to do everything in one go - and if we attempt to do so, it can at times feel quite overwhelming.

5.Could you imagine the worst-case scenario for yourself if you don't complete your project or task, and allow this to push you into action? 

6. Could you in some way hold yourself accountable by sharing your objectives with others whom you trust? Can you do a deal with someone: I'll stop smoking if you stop drinking?

7. Can you think of 3 instances where you felt completely demotivated to do something but did it anyway and felt great afterwards? What did you do to get yourself to move in the direction of your project or task? Can you replicate that for this current activity?

8. Could you give yourself a challenging time limit that'll spur you on? Can you make it a race against time? Setting challenging but realistic time limits can help to increase not only your focus but also your overall speed.

9. Could you reduce the amount of time you spend on the project you don't want to tackle (even if you spend just five minutes in the first instance you will have done something - even if it's just to think about the project for five minutes)?

10. Could you delegate the project/task (or part of it)? This could free you up to do the stuff you're best at. Does it make sense for you to do it? Are you the best person for the job? Be honest! If it's going to take you a week to do something you dislike that someone else could do in a day and enjoy, maybe it's time to delegate.

http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Creative-Ways-To-Get-Yourself-Motivated&id=9416610

4 Easy Ways to Shrink Your To-Do List

We all have a lot on our plate, and even the most organized among us can sometimes feel overwhelmed by how much there is to do. But help is on the way. Read on about how to keep calm and carry on with 4 simple steps.

Good time management means focusing on the highest and best use of your time. I'm a big fan of author Julie Morgenstern's tool for shrinking how much is on your plate so you can focus on activities that support good time management. She prescribes using the 4 Ds - four alternatives which can be a lifeline when you're in over your head and going down fast.

1. Delete. Don't keep postponing and rescheduling things that aren't worth doing at all. If you can live with the outcome of something not getting done, delete it from your list. It might be fun to do, or interesting, but if it's not critical and you don't have time for it, just delete it. You won't miss the clutter it adds to your schedule.

2. Delay. Reschedule tasks to a more appropriate time. This intentional deferring of less-critical tasks isn't procrastination; it's triage. Procrastination is avoiding doing things, typically by doing more enjoyable things instead. Delay means making a conscious decision to postpone something to a better time.

3. Diminish. Shrink how much time something is going to take you to do, either by doing it more efficiently, or by shrinking the deliverable. Find shortcuts to get things done - spend more time planning to minimize the amount of time needed for doing. Adopt the "less is more" philosophy and see if shorter emails, meetings, reports, etc. will give the desired results with less time and effort.

4. Delegate. Enlist the help of others when possible: employees, family members, friends, or outside service providers (cleaning service, bookkeeper, etc.). Most people love to be of service and use their skills to help others, so give them the opportunity to do so when it's appropriate.

My favorite "D" is Diminish - I'm always looking for ways to do things more efficiently, whether it's creating templates I can use the next time I have to do the same task, shrinking the deliverable, or recognizing when good enough is good enough. I'd love to hear which is your favorite and how you put it to work for you. Wishing you success in making the 4Ds your productivity power tool.

http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Easy-Ways-to-Shrink-Your-To-Do-List&id=9401678

3 Tips on Getting Your To Do List Completed

One of the most frequently asked questions from my clients is "how do I get my "to do" list completed"? It seems as if the to do list is a never ending list of tasks to be completed. Every day the list stares you in the face or you just plain forget about it. Sometimes I am just sitting outside and realize there is something I need to add to the list. Some of you have home and work to do lists which makes it even more overwhelming.

The first tip and the best and most effective way to complete a task on your "to do " list is to schedule it. Put it on your calendar as you would a doctor's appointment. Start with some easy ones to adjust to doing a task. Do not try to put all of the to do list on the calendar at one time. This will lead to failure and you will be in the same boat as you are now. Start with one task and one day. Make sure you complete it and celebrate the accomplishment. Move on to another task a few days later and continue as time allows. Once you have the hang of scheduling and completing a task on your to do list, prioritize and organize the list so you know the tasks that need completing sooner rather than later.

I know some items are difficult or too big to schedule on a day such as painting your deck or your entire room. Factors such as weather and enough time will hinder this and other tasks. Fortunately, not all tasks on your to do list are hindered by other factors other than that most of us just cannot seem to get them done.

The second tip is to start timing your tasks so you will better understand how long they are taking you. Nothing is more derailing then to have an hour scheduled for something and it takes 2 hours. You need to become more aware of your time. A good exercise is to write down everything you do during the day and how long you do each item. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning, get to work, grocery shop and read the paper. Doing this for a week will really open your eyes to how your time is spent.

The last tip is to review your list weekly to really make sure that all the tasks on the to do list are still relevant and if some can be assigned to someone else. If your to do list is a mile long, the reality is you will never get it completed and this will frustrate you to just not do any of it. Prioritizing them will help in this aspect as you will discover many tasks might be able to be delegate to others.

http://ezinearticles.com/?3-Tips-on-Getting-Your-To-Do-List-Completed&id=9496498

6 Essential Steps To Making Your Action Plan Relevant

There is no single aspect of leadership, which is more essential or meaningful, than gaining the skills, abilities and necessities of quality planning. The better one becomes capable of thoroughly analyzing situations, with the intention of learning priorities, needs, concerns, and alternatives, the better he can develop the best course of action, and a plan for getting there. Nearly every leadership training program dedicates time to the significance of both strategic and action planning, yet very few organizations, and their leadership, ever go beyond surface efforts, or over-reliance on the safe, popular, same-old rhetoric and ideas! It is the intent of this article, therefore, to review the six essential steps one should follow, to assure he makes his action plan, relevant and meaningful.

1. Fully review needs and priorities: How can you hope to develop a meaningful, relevant plan, if you don't first thoroughly review the needs and priorities, which will make the biggest, most important difference. Maintain an open mind, listen far more than you speak, avoid empty rhetoric, under-promise and over-deliver! Address current concerns in a forward-looking manner, and you make your potential action plan, far more meaningful!

2. Consider options and alternatives: Never prejudge, but rather consider options and alternatives! Think about the what-ifs, from a positive, can-do, action-oriented perspective. How will every possibility impact your organization, and what are the potential possibilities and ramifications (both positive and negative)?

3. Develop your team carefully: No individual, regardless of talents, assets, intellects, skills, etc, can do it alone! He needs to involve both co-leaders as well as stakeholders, etc. We often hear people discuss the need to delegate, but beware that unless you do so with care, and select the right people, there may be more harm than benefit! Don't merely choose yes-men, or friends, or those who you believe you can dominate. Seek individuals with absolute integrity, and the highest level of personal responsibility, who you can count on, to do what they promise to! Train and oversee the members of your team, and carefully articulate your expectations, and their responsibilities/duties, etc.

4. Delegate effectively and properly: How will you break up responsibilities, and how will you assure a minimum of redundancy? Delegate by clearly identifying what each individual should and must do, and obtain a high level of assurance your confidence in them, is understood, and how they will communicate with you, as well as the timetable, etc. If you find the right team, your possibilities are exponentially enhanced!

5. Step-by-step, with contingencies and responsibilities: A wise man once told me, Do you know how to eat the elephant? One bite at a time? When we look at any project in increments/steps, we create a can-do mindset, which becomes self-motivating! Don't over-simplify the process, consider all foreseeable contingencies, and clearly articulate responsibilities, in a well-considered manner!

6. Start!: No matter how great your hopes, plans or expectations, no action plan becomes meaningful, until, and unless you actual start and proceed!

Leaders must create, develop, implement and pursue, an action plan that is relevant, and makes a significant difference, for the better! Become the best leader you can be!

http://ezinearticles.com/?6-Essential-Steps-To-Making-Your-Action-Plan-Relevant&id=9309021

Action Plans

Small Scale Planning

Whether it's sending out an email newsletter, putting together a presentation for senior managers, or working on a special request for a client, many of us have to complete simple projects as part of our day-to-day responsibilities.

These small- to medium-sized projects may, at first glance, not seem to need much thought. But, occasionally, we can overlook a key step or "to do" item that can derail all our efforts.

For instance, how do you make sure that you've covered everything? Are there any actions that need to be taken early on in the project for it to succeed? And are you clear about when you need to do key tasks, in what sequence, to meet your deadline?

Action Plans are simple lists of all of the tasks that you need to finish to meet an objective. They differ from To-Do Lists   in that they focus on the achievement of a single goal.

Action Plans are useful, because they give you a framework for thinking about how you'll complete a project efficiently. They help you finish activities in a sensible order, and they help you ensure that you don't miss any key steps. Also, because you can see each task laid out, you can quickly decide which tasks you'll delegate or outsource, and which tasks you may be able to ignore.

Using Action Plans

Use an Action Plan whenever you need to plan a small project.

To draw one up, simply list the tasks that you need to carry out to achieve your objective, in the order that you need to complete them. (This is very simple, but it is still very useful!)

Use the three-step process below to help you:

Step 1: Identify Tasks

Start by brainstorming   all of the tasks that you need to complete to accomplish your objective.

It's helpful to start this process at the very beginning. What's the very first action you'll need to take? Once that task is complete, what comes next? Are there any steps that should be prioritized   to meet specific deadlines, or because of limits on other people's availability?

Step 2: Analyze and Delegate Tasks

Now that you can see the entire project from beginning to end, look at each task in greater detail.

Are there any steps that you could drop, but still meet your objective? Which tasks could you delegate   to someone else on your team, or could be dealt with by a freelancer? Are there any deadlines for specific steps? Do you need to arrange additional resources?

Step 3: Double-Check With SCHEMES

Use the SCHEMES* mnemonic to check that your plan is comprehensive.

SCHEMES stands for :

• Space.
• Cash.
• Helpers/People.
• Equipment.
• Materials.
• Expertise.
• Systems.

You may not need to think about all of these to complete your project. For instance, for a small internal project to streamline the format of your team's reports, you might only need to think about "Helpers/People," "Expertise," and "Systems."

Note:

Once you've completed your plan, keep it by you as you carry out the work, and update it with additional activities if required.

Learning from Your Action Plan

If you think you'll be trying to achieve a similar goal again, revise your plan after the work is complete, by making a note of anything that you could have done better.

For instance, perhaps you could have avoided a last-minute panic if you'd alerted a supplier in advance about the size of order you'd be placing. Or maybe you didn't allow enough time to do certain tasks.

Tip:

If you'll be doing similar work again, consider turning your plan into an Aide Memoire  . This is a checklist that you progressively refine and improve to make sure that you remember to do everything important for success.

Managing Bigger Projects

Action Plans are useful for small projects, where deadlines are not particularly important or strenuous, and where you don't need to co-ordinate other people.

As your projects grow, however, you'll need to develop more formal project management skills, particularly if you're responsible for scheduling other people's time, or need to complete projects to tight deadlines.

You can also use Action Plans in conjunction with your To-Do Lists  , or Action Programs  .

Action Programs are "heavy duty" versions of To-Do Lists, which help you manage many simultaneous small projects. This is something that managers at all levels need to do routinely.

Key Points

An Action Plan is a list of tasks that you need to do to complete a simple project or objective.

To draw one up, simply list the tasks that you need to complete to deliver your project or objective, in the order that you need to complete them.

To do this, first brainstorm every step you'll need to take to follow your task to completion. Then, analyze tasks to see if there are any that can be pruned, or delegated. Lastly, use the SCHEMES mnemonic to double check that you've considered all critical areas.

If you need to schedule people's time, or meet tight deadlines as part of your project, consider using the other project management techniques mentioned.

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_04.htm

When Ego Is the Enemy

A growth in confidence in a person who is experiencing success is a very normal human response. Yet there are significant differences in the ways individuals portray confidence that can have a dramatic and lasting effect on their future opportunities -- and some folks simply overdo it.

Perhaps you have sat down and had a conversation with someone who finds it necessary to incessantly tell you how awesome and successful he or she has been.

Want to know how to easily spot one of these ego-filled creatures so you can avoid working with them as employees, partners or clients? Here are a few items to pay particular attention to:

They think they did all the work. Such individuals have racked up some success, yet they feel the need to take all the credit. Yep, they built the company with their bare hands, did all of the sales and marketing, ran the numbers every night until 2 a.m., emptied trash cans and even replaced the toilet paper rolls.

Be fearful of people who won’t give recognition to those they surround themselves with. In fact, search for the opposite: Some of the greatest business and political leaders in history were completely opposed to taking credit for themselves and instead shifted it to their team members.

They think they’re the smartest people in the room. Ever been around those folks who constantly talk about how smart they are or how stupid everyone else is? Look, if they have to tell others that they’re smart, ethical or generous, it’s pretty obvious that they’re merely trying to convince themselves and could be the opposite.

Such individuals pose a serious risk to your business for multiple reasons. For starters, there’s the fact that they probably won’t be open to outside opinions or ideas, will always think they’re right and even believe their own nonsense -- even if most others won’t.

They won’t give up control. Everyone is familiar with control freaks or micro-managers. They feel that the only way to get something done is to do it themselves, which leaves their employees extremely unhappy and their own schedules dramatically overfilled.

Then there’s the problem that results from their inability to properly train and delegate. Notice, I didn’t say dump; there’s a major difference. This is why their calendars are so mind-numbingly busy that they can barely function and feel the need to have their hands in every single project or process.

They talk but don’t listen. It’s common knowledge that people love talking about themselves. Furthermore, Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People explains the importance of getting people to talk about themselves, particularly in a sales setting.

But the big-ego types tend to turn each and every conversation into a story about themselves. They may even go a step further and turn their story into one that is clearly better than yours. Their sense of ego makes them incapable of listening, which is bad in the office -- especially in a sales setting where success is largely built from one’s ability to listen and understand, not simply respond.

Let’s be clear; there is a difference between being confident and being overly egotistical. Do you want a hint about how to avoid entering that territory? Keep in mind one simple word that can keep your ego in check: humility. It really is the perfect solution for every occasion.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232126

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Mornings

Take the stress out of your morning routine

Do you feel stressed during the day? Always feel like you're rushing around playing catch-up? The culprit may not be your day. It may be your morning.

The tone we set for ourselves in the morning sets the tone for the rest of our day. If you start your day feeling rushed and unsettled, chances are you're going to feel the same way when you get to work and throughout the rest of the day. So anything you can do to start your day on a calm, happy, and stress-free note is well worth the effort

... and it does take effort.

Productive people are not effortlessly productive; it requires planning, commitment, and excellent time management. The good news is that what works for them can work for you. Here are five of the most commonly used strategies for highly productive people who want to get the most out of their mornings and set the tone for a calm, productive mind-set to get them through their hectic days.

1. Plan ahead. Prepare for your day the night before. Unless you're single, this doesn't necessarily mean preparing only for yourself. In addition to picking out your clothes and organizing/packing everything you'll need for the next day, you also should plan as much as possible for those you take care of. If you have children, help them get their things together the night before as well. Not only will this make for a less frantic morning, it will teach the kids good habits that will help them as they grow. If you or they take lunch to work or school, make as much of it as you can the night before, or if your children are old enough, have them do it (see #5). Get home work backpacked and school projects put together/ready to go before going to bed. Some people even get breakfast started the night before, such as making overnight crock pot oatmeal, or putting together protein shake ingredients in a blender the night before and refrigerating. The more you take care of before you go to bed, the less you'll have to do in the morning.

2. Get your blood flowing. Most experts recommend a morning exercise routine. However, a structured work-out program is not everyone's cup of tea nor is it the only way to get your blood flowing and your mind ready for the challenges of the day. If you're not the work-out type, take your dog (or yourself if you don't have a dog) on a brisk walk around the neighbourhood. The fresh air and sunlight will stimulate hormones that will lift your mood and give you energy throughout the day. If walking isn't your thing, try turning on some up-beat tunes and shake it up as you're dressing or making breakfast.

3. Eat. The best way to start your day is by fuelling your mind and body with a healthy breakfast. We don't expect our cars to run on empty. Why would we expect our bodies to do it?

4. Don't let technology derail you. In the tech-frenzied world that we live in today, it's rare to find someone who doesn't wake up and immediately (or almost immediately) check their gadgets for messages. Unless your job requires this, my advice is to resist the pull. It's very easy to get derailed by emails and text messages, which will lead to unnecessary rushing to get out the door on time. Getting out the door late sets off an entire series of bad situations, including speeding (dangerous) and arriving late to work (stressful), so why set yourself up for that? Check your work email at work and your personal email on breaks. Rarely does something so urgent happen during the night that you have to know about it first thing in the morning (and if the message is that urgent, it wouldn't be sent electronically anyway).

5. Delegate. High-achievers tend to be poor delegators because they usually can do what needs to be done better and faster than others. However, not everything needs to be done better or faster. Does it really matter if your bed or your child's bed isn't made perfectly? Of course not, so delegate this task to your children or your partner. Many time-consuming household chores can be delegated the night before or in the morning, so that you have time to do the things that require your involvement.

By developing a calm, productive pre-game routine to start your day, you give yourself the best chance of having the same kind of day. Here's to a great morning!

 http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201311/5-ways-get-the-most-out-your-morning
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