How to Be Motivated to Do Those Tough Tasks

It's easy to allow yourself to slip into the habit of procrastination. But what is Procrastination? It simply means putting off those tasks that you really should be doing but don't. The reason for doing that is simply, that you feel more joy not doing those tasks than you would if you did them.

The problem is we can put them off too much and fall into a hole that we may struggle to dig ourselves out of. That's what we must avoid, but to do that we must learn to become motivated. Easier said than done especially with those less desirable tasks, such as taking the garbage out or even paying a bill.

So how can we become motivated to do those kind of tasks? We must learn to change how we feel about those mundane tasks. To do this we have to change what we see in our heads and how we imagine ourselves completing the task at hand.

If we can do that then we will replace the images of pain that we have when we think of those tasks and replace them with images of satisfaction instead.

So that's what to do but now it's time to find out how to do it. How do we change the images in our heads? We must learn to think more along the lines of what will happen if we do not do those tasks. What will your house look like if you don't take out the rubbish? What will it smell like after the rubbish has sat there for a while? What will your Partner say? You must learn to imagine this in great detail and feel like you're really living it now. You must learn to feel pain from not doing it. The other example of not paying your bills can be a lot more severe and is a good example. If you fail to pay your bills you may be taken to court, end up in debt, go to prison and even end up losing your family. Very extreme I know, but if you can get yourself to begin imagining situations such as this then you have definitely managed to get yourself to feel pain when procrastinating.

For many the feeling of pain will be enough to simply jump in and get those tasks done right away. But for others it may require practice. The more you practice techniques such as this the easier is becomes.

Of course there is no better motivator than just getting things done now. If you feel that you really don't want to do something learn to make yourself do it now and you will feel better once it's completed. The more often you do undesirable tasks the easier is becomes. You will be making a habit that will be difficult to break a habit that can set you up for life, because once you get started, who knows what else you can achieve?

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Be-Motivated-to-Do-Those-Tough-Tasks&id=9937072

Procrastinating? Try This Simple Formula

Do you have those days when you just aren't motivated or inspired to follow through on your good intentions? You're lethargic, stuck in procrastination, and just can't seem to get started. On days when I don't feel like meditating, exercising, writing, cooking healthy food, or doing anything I really need/want to do, I've found a simple formula to get me going: low expectations and an easy warm-up.

I start with low expectations by telling myself, "If I do a little, that's good for today." I usually define "a little" as half or less of what I might normally do. For example, with exercise, it might be 10 minutes of cardio, instead of 30, and one set of 5 strength exercises, instead of two sets of ten exercises. With writing, I tell myself I'll just write a paragraph or two. Because I've done more in the past, I know this lesser amount will be easy.

With my low expectations in place, I start with an even easier warm-up, something that feels like nothing at all. For exercise, I just start moving. This could be a walk or riding a stationary bike with little resistance. If I'm writing, I start with one sentence of any quality. I just get something written down.

Once I've gotten myself moving in this small, easy way, I often find the internal juices start to flow. With exercise, I begin to breathe a little deeper, feel a little looser, and my energy increases. With writing, ideas come to mind, associations click in, and I often find myself in the flow.

Invariably, I exceed my low expectations and end up feeling good about my efforts. I remember why I wanted to do what I'm doing. It feels good. It's taking me somewhere I want to go. It helps me feel productive, purposeful, and alive! At this moment of feeling good, make sure you record this experience in your memory. Then, you can recall this positive feeling of "being in the flow" to support you to get going the next time.

Now, if I do a little exercise and a little writing every day, it's easier to stay in the flow. It's easier to be consistent with a small doable action. That's the power of having an intentional daily practice to grow something that's important to you-be it your health, relationships, business, art, or spiritual growth. Small consistent actions are the building blocks of big accomplishments. They're the key to deeper meaning, purpose, and productivity.

And, if I just don't feel like taking action--if I find myself procrastinating--I go back to my low expectations and easy warmup to get me going. If getting started is the hard part, make getting started as easy as possible.

Are you ready to be free from procrastination and self-judgment?

https://ezinearticles.com/?Procrastinating?-Try-This-Simple-Formula&id=9929161

Don't Let Distractions Get in the Way (By Anne O'Dwyer)

Distractions can cause havoc with best laid plans! The recent spring weather, as great as it was; managed to entice me into the garden. I had a great time planning and planting my new garden and had a great time in the sunshine. However it was a great distraction to my time.

This was just the latest distraction; I have been procrastinating for months, following eighteen months of vertigo and general ill-health. I have allowed my business activity to slide into oblivion!

Well now is the time to make a change, I really prefer a structure to my life, a purpose and achieving goals, but I have been procrastinating and wandering through days with little to show for my time, not to mention less satisfaction and little purpose. Sunny days in the fresh air were a very enjoyable distraction and come the summer the fruits of my labour will hopefully be visible.

So how have I managed to wake-up and take charge of my life again? Well I decided to read a book I had previously published. The enthusiasm I felt when I wrote it filled me with the determination to turn my life around again and get back on track.

Sometimes it is easy to let yourself become bogged down by unfortunate events, ill-health or general day-to-day living. Spring always feels like a good time to turn things around and as nature turns the hedgerows green again my enthusiasm for change grows.

The trouble when you decide to catch up again with things that have descended in a downward spiral it is difficult to decide what to do first!

My decision was to reassess what is most important to me, and what I find most enjoyable. Life is too short not to prioritize things you enjoy doing!

The first was to get fit again I am not overweight just a bit flabby from lack of exercise and my balance has gone to pot after my leg fracture etc. So Tia Chi I'm told should help that, plus a toning program and if I can fit it in - balance exercises on my Wii fit.

My second was to rebuild my online business and work at home. I have all the knowledge I just need the determination to put it all into practice! So with all this planned activity I certainly shouldn't be bored by too much TV!

So if things of late haven't been going to plan, take heart and join me in a planned return to better times. It is easy to let procrastination and distractions take over your life, until one day you wake-up to find months or years have passed by. Decide what is really important to you and make a concerted effort to reach it - Wishing you great success and a happy journey too!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dont-Let-Distractions-Get-in-the-Way&id=9931231

How To Overcome Being Unmotivated And Uninspired

Being unmotivated and uninspired is, unfortunately, a very easy pattern to fall into and can also be a harmful way of living. You begin to lie to yourself, make plans but never follow through. You make resolutions but then repeat the same habits. So how do you overcome this and get motivated?

Do you dislike taking the initiative, working or even going to the gym? Do you hate getting up early? Do you not have time for anything? Do you keep postponing the work you have to do? And often ask yourself why you keep procrastinating?

If any of these habits sound familiar to you, then you are unmotivated, uninspired, and even becoming a never-do-well. These patterns are the behaviors of a failure, and that is what you will be if you continue on this path. But why is a person lazy, unmotivated or uninspired?

Well, one of the reasons is because you are happy with dreaming. You want to be famous, rich, dating sexy partners, buy a yacht or a jet, own a luxury car, have a house, get a vacation home, and yet at the same time, you do not want to do anything. It is just a deep wish inside your fantasy!

Countless of people do not want to do anything, but they want to have everything.

You hate work. I understand. Just the idea of work makes you start throwing fits and building plans on how to avoid doing it. When you were a child, you hated waking up early, going to school, doing homework, studying but were forced to do all of these things by your parents anyway. Under their supervision, and over your young years, these habits were set up in your brain.

Nowadays even technology comes into play. No matter if personalized or not, it is created to make you feel unmotivated or uninspired most of the time. The reason I say this is because it has a downside. Its purpose, after all, is to reduce all hard work and get you things faster, easier and with minimal involvement.

The Path Full of Hopeful Intentions

The path to lacking in enthusiasm is full of hopeful intentions. You might say that you are going to get more done tomorrow, but feel just as uninterested and unimaginative when you wake up the day after as you did today.

These days, you can buy food, clothes, liquor, groceries, medicine, films, taxis, meetings and even sign agreements without moving from your couch. You can even talk to anyone from anyplace in the world visually, verbally, or textually.

So, are all of these things making you more or permanently unmotivated or uninspired?

Of course not! Because you still playing sports, hanging out, partying, going to pubs, meeting your friends, going on vacation, on dates, shopping, and all kind of other things in the name of fun.

Now, you realize that your laziness is selective. It is prejudice. It only focuses on certain aspects of your life, which you honestly find annoying. You dislike working, studying, learning, researching but love doing everything that is fun. So it is all about preference.

Being Unmotivated and Uninspired is an Excuse

Being unmotivated and uninspired, by definition, is not a disorder. It is not something you are suffering from but is rather an excuse. The truth is, you want to be successful, but you do not want to work for it.

But let's take the case of a dog chasing you, lazy or not lazy, you are going to run your ass off. Why?

Walking unmotivated or lazily, in that case, is not a choice. Here is a typical guy's example: If a girl calls you and says "Come on over" or "My parents are not home," you do not stay there wondering what it is you should do, you get up, take a shower, and make a run to her place. The laziness again disappears. Why? Well, this time is for fun!

So to be lethargic or unproductive is ultimately just a habit. People are unmotivated or unproductive when it is convenient for them. It is a personal choice based on the freedom you have. It is like when your boss orders you to finish and submit some work in two hours, you do not have the same convenience, so you do that work, or else you will get fired.

Likewise, if you study on the last day before your exam because you ran out of time, now you find yourself having no choice, or you will fail. Therefore when you do not have a choice, you are not unmotivated and uninspired anymore. But when you are on your own, you find it convenient to sabotage your own life.

Are You Truly in Charge

As a result, when it comes to things where you are in charge, which is your life, most of the time you seem not to care much. Despite what you feel or say, you do not want to be successful in reality, because those who do are working like hell.

Being lazy and uninterested takes advantage of your willpower. It is okay to feel down at times, and you might probably miss a day or two every once in a while, but you have to get back on the horse. You need to remember that not feeling motivated or inspired is a habit, not a personality trait.

But be honest with yourself. If you can work hard to get laid, maintain relationships, hang out with friends, party, actively be part of a social life, chat on Facebook, and play video games for hours on end, and the only things you are avoiding are somehow work-based, then you are lying to yourself.

So the truth is that most of us are unmotivated or uninspired because we have not yet taken full control of our lives. We are still unconsciously waiting for some authority, supervision, guidance or a manual to make us do things. We do not realize that we have moved past that phase, and it is not going to happen.

Three Ways to Change Your Patterns

There are at least three ways to change your unmotivated and uninspired patterns by creating particular habits that you can add to your routine to transform it.

Accept Control of Your Life

You are on your own. Your parents now are your supporters, and your friends see you as only an element of fun. Most of them have no interest or investment in your success. They do not care. They will be sad for a minute if you fail, but they will most certainly move on.

Therefore, unmotivated and uninspired, your life is right now in your hands only. You are its master. You are the captain! As a result, accept control of your life and actions.

Remember What You Have to Do

Remember what your parents had to do to get you where you are right now. Even then, you did not want to study or do chores. You rather desired to sleep and only have fun, but they pushed you.

So now, in their absence, since you are the master of your destiny, you have to push yourself. The responsibility is now yours. Get yourself up. Scream on yourself if need be or if you are wasting time. Punish yourself if you have to.

If you have plans for the day or tomorrow, but did not study, work or do whatever you were meant to, then drop those plans. Discipline yourself. Being unmotivated and uninspired is a choice. You are choosing not to work or study. And by making that choice, you are going against your evolution.

End the 'Being Unmotivated and Uninspired'

Usually, whenever you have some work to do, you tell yourself that you will start later, in 30 minutes, the afternoon or tomorrow. Meanwhile, in that time frame, you text messages, check out pictures or look at your social media.

You are surrounded by millions of choices, options, and sources which are pushing their content on you. It is addictive, great, compelling content and these companies' goals are your permanent subscription, and to get you hooked on it.

Now, these people are doing a fantastic job because it is their job. But because of them, you are screwing up your work and your life. You are being unmotivated and uninspired to do your stuff. But still, the blame falls on your head because you are the one who has to manage your time.

The truth is that most of us are consistently good at lying to ourselves. What do you gain from lying to yourself? You are in charge of your life. It only proves that you do not value yourself enough, that you see yourself as a has-been or never-will.

Tips to Overcome Laziness and Lack of Inspiration

• Look forward to doing the work as it is the fastest way to get more done.
• Get enough sleep and try to get on a regular sleep cycle.
• Start your day with positive self-talk and affirmations.
• Figure out when it is your best time to work and then do most things during those times.
• Stay away from social media to avoid being unmotivated and uninspired to act on more important.
• Exercise at least three times a week to release endorphins which improve your overall mood.
• Use a goal tracker to set specific goals for yourself and mark off when you do them.
• Eat healthy as it can affect your overall energy.
• Get help if you feel stuck.
• Go easy on yourself as there are days that won't feel right.
• Listen to energetic music that makes you feel active and productive.
• Break your work into small steps, so you do not get too overwhelmed.
• Change your environment to stay motivated and inspired.
• Surround yourself with productive people who inspire you.
• Expand your interests and skills not to find yourself being unmotivated and uninspired.
• Fix a schedule for working and breaks.

The only way to overcome these habits is by taking action. You have to understand the value of time. If not, someone else will take your place or create your idea because they are not playing around. Remember that there are no excuses and surely no cure for being unmotivated and uninspired. The only solution is you and self-discipline. So start now!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Overcome-Being-Unmotivated-And-Uninspired&id=9764346

How To Stop Delaying, Taking Action

Many people have the habit of delaying things indefinitely. They make plans and then lack the willpower to start working on them immediately. They think that they have indefinite amount of time on their hands. Soon, things change for the worse and they realize they are left with no option but to drop the plan. Most of us don't start working on a plan not because the time is not right but because we lack the willpower.

Many times we keep waiting for the right time to start a work and miss the opportunity in the process. If you hesitate some other person will come and grab the opportunity, and you will be left repenting your procrastination.

Make a to-do list

One way to stop procrastinating is to make a list of work to be done. It will help you make your mind about important work to be done. When you make a list of work to be done then your mind becomes clear and it becomes easy for you do to the work. It also makes it easy for you to prioritize your work.

Do difficult work first

When you have prepared a list of work to be done then you should start working on a difficult task first. Since tough work require more energy, work on that first so that when your energy level is down you have less difficult work to do.

Many times we keep postponing difficult work to a later stage and it makes us feel stressed. Don't do that.

Focus on end result

One way to stop procrastinating is to focus on the end result of your work. If you just focus on the number of tasks to be done then you will feel stressed. On the other hand, if you focus on the end result you will feel energized to do the work faster.

The human history is a witness that great events take place when people are moved by visualizing great results in their minds. Thinking about positive results will keep you motivated and will push you to take action.

Remove distractions

If you want to stop procrastinating then you should remove all kinds of distractions from your surroundings. Many times we are distracted by objects and useless tasks that take away our attention. It's bad for your work. If you want to do good work then you should focus on important tasks by removing your attention away from less important things.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Stop-Delaying,-Taking-Action&id=9757503

Decide Now

DECIDE NOW AND STOP PROCRASTINATING

When I was at primary school one thing I was not able to do was to make decisions and not alter them. That haunted me for a couple of years I think for 4 or so years. I do not know what actually happened to change that because I was a kid back then. From that moment onwards I was able to make decisions and stick to that. My life changed for the better, friends began to come to me seeking for answers. That is the "power of decision."

Every time when you are confronted with a challenge or difficulty, the best way to overcome that challenge is to make a decision and stick to it. You should know inside you what you want and what you have to do, do not wait for tomorrow. The unfortunate thing is tomorrow might never come. It can be an opportunity that has arisen, be able to make a decision and be slow to reverse that decision. Yes, do not quickly reverse your decision.

Sometimes you have to go against the odds and be your own, stop listening to rumours and gossips that can make you decide basing on opinions. I tell you in that process of listening to opinions in a newspaper or from friends and family, you will make yourself a person of no value.Your value comes when you are able to make bold decisions in a matter of death or life situations. Your decision has to be a courageous one. You will lose your confidence when you grow a habit of listening to other people's opinions before making a decision.

If it was not for Henry Ford's decision to come up with a V8 engine, we would not be enjoying 8 cylinder vehicles now, if it was not for Thomas Edison who decided to create a bulb we would not be having bulbs now. It is not a matter of looking for someone to make a decision, the opposite of decision is procrastination. Procrastination in itself is the thief of time.

Do not be a procrastinator in all you do, the moment you procrastinate you already have lost time. Time lost is never gained. So be firm and bold to make decisions, it is your DECISION that can change your current situation. It is your decision that can change the situation of your nation or community.

"The choices we make lead up to actual experiences. It is one thing to decide to climb a mountain. It is quite another to be on top of it."~ Herbert A. Simon

"Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday."~ Napoleon Hill

One more thing, when you make your decision, the best that you can do is to shut your mouth and pursue your goals. Open your eyes and ears, but your mouth should not open unless it is something pertaining to your goal. Why shut your mouth? Because deeds and not words are what counts most.

Even to decide to be a decision maker you have to do it now, if you had lagged behind or you had been procrastinating throw away procrastination. Your decision means a lot to your family, friends, community, country and even the world. "What you decide now can make a huge impact to the world."

http://ezinearticles.com/?Decide-Now&id=9731259

How Do I Get Motivation to Be Successful?

So to get yourself motivated to be successful, you need to firstly decide what it is you really want, then work out which is stronger - gaining pleasure or avoiding pain. What will make you work harder? For example my goal is to fully work from home so I get to spend as much time as possible with my babies (2nd one due in 7 weeks!!) and earn good enough money for us to live comfortably and have a holiday every year. So the pleasure of seeing my children lots, being able to take them to and from school eventually and attend every assembly and sports day is great motivation for me.

But sometimes avoiding pain is actually a stronger motivator, for example if you have a job you cannot stand and work with people you don't get on with, or have to see your child upset every time you leave them at nursery, these feelings can push you to work so hard that you can end these painful circumstances.

Relating this technique to losing weight for example could offer the following statements - if I lose weight I'll fit in to my old size 10 dress (gaining pleasure) or if I don't lose weight I could end up having a heart attack (avoiding pain). So you have to decide which feels the stronger sensation to give you that motivation to succeed.

Think about your motivating factors and write down answers to the following questions:

What is/are your goal(s)? 

What are the things that will give you pleasure to attain these goals? 

What are the things that will cause you pain if you don't attain these goals? 

So find out which is stronger, avoiding pain or gaining pleasure and keep those thoughts in mind, or even write them somewhere so you can see them regularly to remind you!

So for example, with your home based business, your little ones are in bed and you could get on with some online training or do some income producing activity, but your favourite programme is on the TV, and you just need to do the washing up, then sort the washing, then tidy the lounge floor covered by toys and so on... STOP AND THINK about your motivating factors! You might say, by procrastinating like this I'm going to have to stay in a job I hate (avoiding pain) or if I stop procrastinating I'll get to spend more quality time with my children (gaining pleasure).

So you see what I mean, really focus on what will give you motivation! I wish you luck and all the best in your endeavours. Stay strong and get the motivation and keep consistent! Please do feel free to comment and let me know your goals and motivating factors as it's always great to share ideas.

Thank you for reading my article and I wish you all the success in the world!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Do-I-Get-Motivation-to-Be-Successful?&id=9535546

Creating Happiness - The Power of Self Approval

There are issues that come up in life that cause us to lose self-respect. During these times we tend to feel discouraged and start procrastinating when important tasks need to be performed.

This is when we need to do two things:

1. We need to look inward, and recognize all the accomplishments we've had.
2. We also need to reward ourselves for the positive things we've done.

I have many friends who procrastinate when it comes to accomplishing something important. I see it happening all the time. I have to admit that I catch myself making the same mistake.

It goes like this: They are stuck in a rut and they need to move on. However, they feel like they won't succeed, so they dream up all the reasons why it won't work.

The way it looks to me, they are in denial. They feel comfortable with the status quo. They find it difficult to put the effort into doing whatever needs to be done to get to a better place in life.

Do you find yourself doing this? Are you not happy with your present job, your personal relationships, or the present place where you live? Whatever the circumstance, it can be changed.

You may be reading this because you find yourself in one of those particular situations and you know in your heart that you are not, and have not been, doing anything about it. You're eager to find the solution, or you're hoping you'll at least become motivated. Am I right?

Recognize Your Accomplishments

Well, the motivation comes from within. I can't motivate you. Something is holding you back, and there's nothing I can do about it. I've learned time and time again that friends don't listen to advice.

You need to look inward yourself and come to terms with whatever it is that's standing in the way. While you're doing that, focus on your past accomplishments. I'm sure you had many. You just are ignoring it in order to stay with the status quo.

If it helps, make a list on paper of each time in your life when you accomplished a great feat. Think back. You had situations in the past that were troubling and you did whatever you needed to do to get past it. You forgot you've done that, didn't you? Well, you can do it again.

Maybe you once had to do something nerve-racking that you didn't look forward to doing, like giving a speech in elementary school. Nevertheless, you did it, and you did well.

Keep going. Fill up that list. Now you have something to look at to help with self-approval. In addition, you should reward yourself for those accomplishments that went unnoticed in your own mind.

Self-Gifting

After all we've been through, it's useful to reward ourselves for getting through tough times. Self-gifting is a method of self-approval. It can lift our spirits, especially when we lost all motivation to make plans for positive change.

Deciding on a gift will also give us something to do that's enjoyable. Take the time to think of things you've always wanted. Find where to get it and make a gift to yourself. Think of it as a reward. You earned it.

Now you have the power to find that energy to move forward. You'll feel happy about it because you know you can. You already proved it.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Creating-Happiness---The-Power-of-Self-Approval&id=9559682

The Little Things We Can Do For Ourselves

So, everyone seems to be wrapped up in the big, busy world that we live in. Seldom do we actually take the time to do the things that we want to do. Between school, sleep and homework or family and work, when do we have time to work on our goals?

Well, here's the thing, we can choose to make the things we love doing, priorities. And by setting goals which brings joy to our Hearts every time we work on it, why wouldn't it be a priority? We always seem to look at our goals as a side project. Something to work on once we're a little less busy in our everyday.

But here's the thing, our goals aren't going to make time for us if we don't make time for them. If we're constantly procrastinating from working on them, even by convincing ourselves that we are busy with other stuff, we are never going to achieve our goals.

So why does it seem like our goals aren't already a priority?

For many, it's because they don't take their goals seriously in the first place. They look at their goals as 'wishes' that won't ever come true. But they could easily turn their wishes into realities with a change in their perception.

Another problem, which I sometimes face is something like this. I do indeed take my goals seriously, I just get too swamped with my everyday life like schoolwork and the Internet that I end up not taking any action on my goals.

The trick is to eventually make working on your goals a habit pattern, part of your everyday lives. Then, we would be able to do the things we love without having to worry about finding 'extra' time to do it.

But how do we make this a habit pattern?

Start slowly. I know, I know, I always seem to use the same answer, but it's true! All you need to do is start working on your goals, bit by bit at first. For example, what I do is I find small spaces of time when I'm free to think up of article topics or ideas. Sometimes, I even pull out my phone and Google something that has to do with my goals, just to keep my Mind focused on my stuff.

I do this during the oddest of times, like a couple of minutes on the ride home, a few minutes in between talking to my friends during break at school, when I'm waiting for my food at a restaurant. It's the combined time that I spend working on my goals that start building up the momentum of my work.

The more I work on the little things, the more I find myself eager to get home and expand on the things I've worked on. Try doing it yourself! You could start by doodling on loose paper at first if you want to be an artist or try to figure out the chords in the song playing at the background of your head, if you want to be a musician.

There are a million ways to work on the things you love without making them seem too time consuming. Enjoy finding your own ways to find out how to maximize the little moments in your day!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Little-Things-We-Can-Do-For-Ourselves&id=9372819

The Importance of Creating a Morning and Evening Routine

Many of the most successful and influential leaders in history describe themselves as having a morning routine and/or an evening routine. Those names include Barack Obama, Winston Churchill, Steve Jobs and many others.

Having a morning and evening routine like this is a great idea because it makes it a lot easier to start the day on the right foot. If you find yourself often waking up late, procrastinating by hitting snooze and then rushing out of the door with one sock on, you'll know just how destructive this can be to your productivity later on.

Likewise, the morning is a block of time that will almost always be free from interruption, which means that you can fill it with useful tasks and activities. That way, even if the rest of your day is a bust you can rest assured that you accomplished at least those few positive things.

The importance of the evening routine is to help book end the day and also to ensure that your morning routine has the best chance of being carried out well. If you set yourself up in the evening, then you'll make it considerably easier to follow through with your plans in the morning.

Let's take a look at some examples of things you can add to each routine for your inspiration...

The Morning Routine

Healthy Breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast is crucial to start your day off well. Keep a consistent menu and you can automate your morning process and ensure that you have fuelled yourself with complex carbs and all the nutrients that you need to function at your best.

Exercise

If you can exercise at the start of the day, then you'll begin your day with more energy and enthusiasm and you can ensure that you'll have burned at least a few calories before you begin. Even if you just do a few press ups and pull ups, this can make a big difference!

Making a To-Do List

Why not set out your goals for the day right at the start?

The Evening Routine

Lay Out Clothes

Save yourself time tomorrow by laying yourself out clothes. And while you're at it, why not lay out that gym kit?

Write a Journal

This is a great way to reflect on the day just gone!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Creating-a-Morning-and-Evening-Routine&id=9358470

Why "Just Do It" Actually Works

                            

Starting something is always one of the hardest steps of any processes.

Whether it's about starting a new workout routine, OR starting a new relationship with a lovely woman after a divorce, OR starting a new online Amazon business when you have heard that John The Guru had made his 1.7 million dollars in his first 18 month...

Whatever it is, initiating something from scratch is scary to most of us.

Of course, many people fail because they don't follow through what they begin. But the idea of taking the first step of the thousand miles is still intimating.

So what's the best strategy to overcome this inertia of not taking action?

Well, there might not be one single best solution, but a very effective yet simple method to start taking action is literally "just do it!"

"If that's easy, I wouldn't have been procrastinating for months Keye!" your inner voice may say.

Sounds convincing my friend. But the truth is you're just playing mind games with yourself.

You're pumping excuses for yourself as to why you can't do it.

You're finding all sorts of "alternative methods" to avoid direct contact with what you need to get done.

You're choosing to stay in the safe zone of comfort instead of stepping up to do what's necessary and what's best for you.

Argh, brutal yet honest truth always hurt our egos.

Just like 10 minutes ago, I was still deciding whether I should write this article or just call it a day.

I started to come up with "reasons" why I couldn't think of anything to write. My brain started to search for "answers" why I had already run out of ideas and why I should take some rest and do it tomorrow.

Luckily, I was reminded of Shia Labeouf's crazy "Just Do It" YouTube video. I knew that I must "just do it".

Taking action is really the ONLY fastest, quickest, most effective way to beat procrastination.

Often, we tend to over think things and sabotage our successes by analysis paralysis.

We wait for the perfect timing, perfect moment, perfect opportunity, perfect people etc. before we give ourselves permission to grab the gold.

But in life it's impossible to obtain 100% certainty. As Tony Robbins says, "The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably deal with."

You've got to train yourself to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Success is progressive and accumulative, not linear and overnight. Just take the very first small easy step even though there are thousands ahead.

Kick those excuses goodbye and get yourself to thrive.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Just-Do-It-Actually-Works&id=9510661

How to Develop Innovative Ideas at Work

 Are you stuck with your work projects? Can't proceed? Or, simply procrastinating? This article pours insights on how you can accumulate innovative ideas at work. Read on to find out.

Here are four great ways:

1) Surf the web: Free your mind and remove anxiety from your heart. Then browse over the web on topics related to your work projects. Find out what really exists out there and how much has already been researched and implemented. Take notes. After a short break, mull over them and naturally new ideas will start to fall together. You get back your stamina and can't wait to get started!

2) Hold conversations with the important people at work: Schedule discussion times for 20-30 minutes with your Boss and one or two significant co-workers. Tell them how much you have done and ask them what would the best way to proceed from there would be. Give them options. Have them researched beforehand. Never say you are stuck with your projects. They will be most willing to offer you advice and from there, your spectrum of innovative ideas will stretch and broaden.

3) Prepare a questionnaire: Yes, create a hard copy questionnaire and hand over copies to as many co-workers as you would like. Keep the level of questions at a moderate difficulty level so that you can hand over a few copies to your friends and laypeople you know. Then start collecting them back from them and do some research based on their feedback. You will definitely build up awesome and enriching ideas about what people like and want and how you can refine your projects and leverage them to give maximum benefit to your company and beyond.

4) Hold a seminar: At your workplace hold a seminar with your co-workers including probably your boss. Present all your work and their challenges. Welcome questions from the audience. You also ask open questions. This will cater for a broader discussion on your work projects and definitely and honestly you will invite fresher and newer ideas from many of those who participated in the seminar.

Summing up, these four ways should get you started and moving with your work projects instead of wondering what to do and worst of all, procrastinating. As you assemble innovative ideas from these channels, you will find your work much more motivating than ever and you will find yourself unstoppable. Isn't that cool?

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Develop-Innovative-Ideas-at-Work&id=9499843

5 Ways Perfectionism Is Getting in Your Way

Adam was in the last few minutes of what felt like a really successful interview for his dream job when the interviewer asked him to share developmental areas that have appeared on past performance reviews. Without missing a beat, Adam shared that he was “too much of a perfectionist.”

Adam had rehearsed this answer as the perfect way to share a developmental area that the new company would likely see as a positive. But hiring managers know otherwise. This interview answer ranks up there with “I work too hard” or “I just care too much” as a red flag.

Yes, perfectionism is often a badge we wear with pride, but maybe we shouldn’t.

Life and work aren’t perfect. Those who adapt to ambiguity, uncertainty and find progress in spite of it are the truly successfully people that will most likely reach their goals.

Here are five ways that perfectionists get in their own way and ways to overcome:

1. Never starting. Perfectionists want to be sure that the answer, the strategy or the plan will be flawless. They think unless there is certainty, it’s safer never to act. But answering questions like, “What can I do today/this week/this month?” can help create forward movement—and usually aren’t that scary.

2. Being too slow to move. For my book, Make Waves, I researched people who started large-scale changes to make their ideas a reality. I learned most of these people have instincts that value both speed and flexibility. As a perfectionist, learn to have the confidence to start now, knowing you can adjust as you learn more.

3. Procrastinating. In the research for Make Waves, I also discovered that procrastination is very closely linked to perfectionism. Procrastination can mask a lack of confidence or a fear of being wrong or of facing criticism. Think about it: What is making you delay your idea or your goals?

4. Not knowing when good is good enough. We often refer to this habit as “analysis paralysis,” or when we need just a little more information to get the perfect answer. Instead, try using informed intuition—the ability to know when there is enough information to decide and move forward; you’ll find it easier to adapt in new or uncertain situations.

5. Looking for the right answer when there isn’t one. Very few situations in life have a perfect answer or even just one answer. So, become an “incrementalist”—someone who looks for forward progress in the general right direction. There may be 10 paths to reaching your goal, so when one door closes, find another door that will open.

Before you proudly call yourself a perfectionist, know that it’s likely getting in your way. Find the path to progress and a first step. Trust yourself to course-correct as you go. Your real goal probably isn’t to be perfect anyway.

http://www.success.com/blog/5-ways-perfectionism-is-getting-in-your-way

How To Motivate Yourself To Overcome Total Laziness

I’m lazy. That’s right. And there’s nothing wrong with being lazy at all.

To give you context, here’s what I mean when I say I’m lazy.

If I could snap my fingers and have my dinner prepared for me in a flash, I’d do it without a doubt. That would save me a LOT of time.

If I could turn my laptop on by pressing a button on my smartphone (someone should invent that), then I’d gladly do it.

If I had to decide between shopping online and shopping offline in the supermarket, I’d do it online because it takes less time and less effort.

If I had to choose between shopping in the day time and shopping at night, I’d do it at night. Because there’s less people, less queue’s, less headache and less effort on my part.

Laziness only becomes a problem when you let your lazy tendencies interfere with your life and your priorities.

If laziness is doing exactly that to you, for example – playing video games all day and night, and having your girlfriend bring you food and water because you’re too lazy to do it yourself… (Hopefully it hasn’t gotten that bad for you) Here’s how you can motivate yourself to overcome it.

1. Put the repercussions into perspective.

I used to play video games throughout the day and throughout the night. Almost everyday. Sometimes everyday. Sometimes a few days a week.

Sometimes I’d wake up at 12-2PM in the afternoon. On rare occasions it was 4PM. On a lot of occasions I’d go to bed at 3-5AM after gaming so much playing Halo, etc.

When It became a habit I had no job at the time. I was looking, but I obviously wasn’t putting in enough work as you can probably tell.

I abused my time playing games, after all. Which in business talk, has a poor ROI over the long term.

Imagine how many books I could have read, how much money I could have made, or many important skills I could have developed in that time?

So what did I do about it? Eventually the repercussions were put into perspective. Not by choice either. Here’s what those repercussions looked like.

• Will my future be something to look forward to? Will it be exciting?
• If I keep this up how do I expect to live out my dreams, my goals, and what’s important to me?
• If I keep this up for the next 10 years, I’ll be in my 30’s and 40’s, with no life, no prospects, no career, followed by a miserable future.
• If I keep this up, will I be happy with where my life has taken me 10-20 years from now?
• Will I feel better about myself and how I’m spending my time?

I’m 26 today. For the past 3+ years I’ve been working on myself harder than I ever have in my life. And I haven’t bought a video game ever since.

My priorities and my future are too important for that procrastinating BS. I’ve changed as much as a cocoon changes after morphing into a butterfly.

What about you though? Whatever your situation is in regards to sheer laziness, write out a list of the repercussions of your actions. And put a time line on it. 5 years. 10 years. 20-30 years from now.

How does your life look that far into the future if you continue to do what you’re doing today? If you continue to waste your time on foolishness?

Will your future self be happy with the life he or she has created a decade or so from now?

You already know the answer. And If that’s not motivating enough, I have another solution for you.

2. Commit to your purpose.

I know, I know. It probably sounds corny and is an overused word. But when I say purpose I’m not talking about the “find your life’s purpose, you’ll know it when you see it” BS. It’s a lot simpler than that.

At some point along my journey I realized what was important to me, what mattered, what I care about, what I want my life to look like 100%, and what my reasons were.

And that’s really all it takes to go from being lazy one day, and being so driven the next day that you can’t believe you were ever lazy in the first place.

Ask yourself:

• What do I want my life to look like?
• What are my reasons?
• Who benefits other than myself?
• Why am I doing it?
• Who am I doing this for?
• What’s important to me?
• What is it I care about doing?
• What is it I want out of my life?
• What fulfills me?
• What is it I want to accomplish?

And then write down ALL your answers. Be as detailed as possible. Make it clear. Read over it, and then get to work.

The reason this is a great solution to solving your problems with laziness and procrastination, is because it matters. It’s compelling. It pulls on your heart strings. And it means a LOT to you.

Yes It will take practice and commitment to completely rid yourself of the habit, but these two solutions I’ve laid out will be enough to get you started.

And along your journey if you do ever come to a point where you’re procrastinating, or wanting to be lazy, simply ask these questions again.

Look at your questions again. Look over your answers. Then your focus will switch to what’s important to you. And your actions will speak for themselves.

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/motivate-overcome-total-laziness/

9 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get Things Done

Here’s how to do it now and do it right.

Perfectionists are great procrastinators. Stalling until the last minute, they tear into a project with dust flying and complaints about insufficient time. Perfectionist-procrastinators are masters of the excuse that short notice kept them from doing the quality job they could have done.

But that’s hardly the only variety of procrastination. For others, it comes with a gnawing feeling of being fatigued, always behind. They try to tell themselves that they’re taking it easy and gathering their energies for a big new push, but procrastination differs markedly from genuine relaxation—it saves no time or energy. On the contrary, it drains both, leaving behind self-doubt and self-delusion instead.

We’re all busy. Every day promises a giant to-do list of people to see, projects to complete, emails to sift through and calls to make. Henri Nouwen’s classic book Making All Things New likens our lives to “overstuffed suitcases that are bursting at the seams.”

Feeling like there is forever far too much to do, we say we’re really under the gun this week. But working hard or even heroically to solve a problem is little to our credit if we created the problem in the first place. When most people refer to themselves as being under the gun, they want to believe the pressures and problems are not their fault. In most cases, though, the gun appeared after failure to do something in good time. Instead of being proactive early, they procrastinated until the due date became a crisis deadline.

One of the best escapes from the prison of procrastination is to take even the smallest steps toward your goals. People usually procrastinate because of fear and lack of self-confidence and, ironically, become even more afraid when under the gun. There are many ways to experiment and test new ground without risking the whole ball game on one play.

Experience has shown that when people go after a big goal all at once, they invariably fail. If you had to swallow a 12-ounce steak all at once, you’d choke. You have to cut the steak into small pieces and eat one bite at a time.

So it is with prioritizing. Proactive goal achievement means taking every project and cutting it up into bite-sized pieces. Each small task or requirement on the way to the ultimate goal becomes a mini goal in itself. Using this method, the goal becomes manageable. When mini mistakes are made, they are easy to correct. And with the achievement of each mini goal, the positive feedback motivates you to take on the next mini goal.

So step forward and do it now and do it right. To stop procrastinating and to be more proactive, do these nine things:

1. Set your wake-up time a half hour earlier tomorrow.

Use the extra time to think about the best way to spend your day.

2. Memorize and repeat this motto: “Action today, not tomorrow.”

Handle each piece of incoming mail only once. Answer your email either early in the morning or at the end of the day. Block out specific times to make phone calls, take phone calls and to meet people in person.

3. When people tell you their problems, give solution-oriented feedback.

Rather than taking on the problem as your own assignment, first, ask what’s the next step they plan to take, or what they would like to see happen.

4. Finish what you start.

Concentrate all your energy and intensity without distraction on successfully completing your current major project.

5. Be constructively helpful instead of unhelpfully critical.

Single out someone or something to praise instead of participating in group griping, grudge collecting or pity parties.

6. Make a list of five necessary but unpleasant projects you’ve been putting off, with a completion date for each project.

Immediate action on unpleasant projects reduces stress and tension. It is very difficult to be active and depressed at the same time.

7. Seek out and converse with a successful role model.

Learning from others’ successes and setbacks will inevitably improve production of any kind. Truly listen; really find out how your role models do it right.

8. Understand that fear, as an acronym, is False Evidence Appearing Real, and that luck could mean Laboring Under Correct Knowledge.

The more information you have on any subject, the less likely you’ll be to put off your decisions.

9. Accept problems as inevitable offshoots of change and progress.

With the rapid pace of change in society and business, you’ll be overwhelmed unless you view change as normal and learn to look for its positive aspects—such as new opportunities and improvements—rather than bemoan the negative.

There is no such thing as a “future” decision; there are only present decisions that affect the future. Procrastinators wait for just the right moment to decide.

And if you wait for the perfect moment, you’ll find yourself running in place, unwittingly digging yourself deeper into your rut. Get out of your comfort zone and go from procrastinator to proactive and productive.

Make your personal motto: “Stop stewing and start doing!”

http://www.success.com/article/9-ways-to-stop-procrastinating-and-get-things-done