Time and stress are always closely tied together. Most of your stress will likely come from you being worried about not finishing your work on time, and that same stress will likely delay you even further, which ends up becoming a vicious cycle that leaves you stressed out and without much work done.
When you’re stressed out because you don’t feel like you have enough time to complete a project, the logical thing to do would be to get to work. However, that rarely ends up being the case.
Chances are, if you’re stressed out about work, you’ll find ways to distract yourself so that you feel better in the mere short term, while in the long term you’re going to be making things much worse for yourself.
There are all kinds of excuses that you’ll see yourself come up with. You might claim that you’re distracting yourself to be more creative for a bit or to get yourself feeling better so that you can then work more efficiently.
Even if that’s true, chances are high that you’re going to be spending more time than you’re saving, leading to you having even less time to actually complete your project. With time management skills, you can avoid this situation altogether, because it’s difficult to get out of once you’re in it.
First, you can carefully plan out your project’s schedule and how long it’s going to take you to do it. Don’t cut corners at this stage – you need to be completely honest. If you claim that a part of your work will only take 30 minutes, because that’s the fastest you can do it, don’t count on that.
If there’s a chance it’ll take you two hours, budget for that to take you two hours. If you end up taking less time, that’s great. However, if you do take up that much time, you’ll have already accounted for it, so you won’t be playing catch-up.
You need to also cut out any time distractions to see how much of your time is being spent on things that aren’t work. You’d be surprised how quickly time can fly when you’re watching shows online or scrolling through social media. That time could be better spent getting ahead in your work or catching up if that’s what you need to do.
It takes a lot of discipline to try to ignore these distractions, but you do need to try to set boundaries. The question is “How?”
No matter how hard you may try to avoid it, you’re going to be put in situations where you’re working and getting constantly interrupted. It can happen in many places, whether it be at work with other co-workers, somewhere with friends, or at home with your family.
For example, let’s say that you’re working at home writing up some documents on your laptop. Your kids might come in and start talking to you or make loud noises in the background again and again.
What you shouldn’t do is get mad at them, but rather you should tell them to be quiet during certain times of the day or interact with them every so often so that they’re less prone to interrupting you later on.
The situation with your family can depend on age as well. Toddlers won’t understand very easily that you need to focus on work, so try and patiently work with them to not come in so often, or try and play with them a bit more when you can so that they feel like they’re seeing you enough.
With older kids they can be a bit more understanding, so you should be able to explain it to them, and with teens they probably want to be in their own rooms anyway. When it comes to coworkers, you don’t want to seem like a complete stick in the mud, but you also have to be able to focus on the work you’re there to do.
Ask them nicely to talk later when you’re not working, and if that doesn’t work, get a little sterner. They of all people should hopefully understand that you need work, and if they’re still preventing you from doing your work, you might have to take the problem to someone above you instead of dealing with it personally.
Finally, you have friends that can be distracting. They might badger you into going out and hanging out with them, or prod you about working too much, but you should be able to tell them that you have to work, and you’ll just have to organize some time to hang out later.
As you can appreciate, all of this can take a lot of self-discipline and a positive attitude. If you don’t have this, you will probably struggle to manage your time and distractions, so it is well worth your while to adopt the correct mindset; I know this may sound a little cliched but it does really work.
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Do you struggle to make it through the day? Do you constantly feel tired and worn out? If you do, you will know that it can be incredibly frustrating to have no energy.
The simple fact is that you must have energy to enjoy and profit from anything you do in life.
It’s been said that we’re living right now in the worst energy crisis of all time – the crisis of personal energy. We’re more stressed and pulled in more directions than we’ve ever been and the fast pace we’re expected to meet is depleting our energy levels at an alarming rate.
Managing your personal energy has never been more critical. Doctors say that the number one complaint of their patients is, “I have no energy.”
There can be a number of reasons that a persona may be suffering from lack of energy, but most of the time it has nothing whatsoever to do with a medical condition, but you should at least get checked out first to rule this out.
Chronic fatigue is often linked to circumstances such as a difficult or abusive relationship, lack of passion or being a caregiver to a parent or child.
Here are some tools designed specially to increase your personal energy levels:
To enjoy a happy and vibrant energy level and shift from lack of energy to an abundance of energy, you must tap into the powers that only you hold – to love yourself enough to take care of yourself.
Keeping energy levels high all the time may not always be feasible so how do you get your replenish energy levels quickly? Let’s look at that now…
Restoring your energy after it feels depleted doesn’t require magic.
There are some strategies involved in giving your body what it needs to recover its strength and rebound to a point of well-being. They are:
Rather than do things and be around people who drain you, stay away from that and nourish the things and people who make you feel alive and more energetic.
If you’re exhausted from a day’s work, treat yourself kindly, get rest and feel compassion for yourself.
Another benefit of having good energy levels is that you will become more productive so let’s now take a look at managing your energy levels and increasing your productivity.
More and more, people are realizing the importance of managing your energy level rather than you time to increase productivity. There are many things and tasks that can zap your energy levels and make you much less productive than you could be.
If you find that certain people, tasks or times of the day are taking a toll on your energy, it’s time to assess what those problems are and do something about them. It’s about managing your energy effectively rather than your time.
Energy levels are different from person to person. If you’re a morning person who is at the top of their game at the first crack of dawn, you should schedule the more difficult, mind-boggling tasks at that time. Others, who are night owls, should plan their schedules the opposite.
Some other ways to effectively manage you energy to get more done include:
Getting in sync with your natural energy rhythms can help in so many areas of your life. Work, personal life and health are just a few of the ways that managing your energy can make you a happier and more productive person.
By the way, if you want a convenient, downloadable version of this post, click on the featured resource below; download, read it and take action 🙂
Do you worry about not being clever enough? If you are like most people, I’m sure that this fear has cropped up at least once in your life and it can be difficult to overcome or come to terms with.
If you don’t have a certain skill and are looking to get into a certain field, it becomes an immediate obstacle to getting your foot into that industry. It’s something that holds a lot of people back from realizing their dreams before they have even started and that is a real shame.
By some measures, ten thousand baby boomers are retiring each day. What this means for those still in the workforce is companies are left with a gap in resources.
These resources need to be filled. In the past, if you didn’t have the skills to fill that gap, you were stuck, because there were plenty of people that could step up with the right skills.
But, with the mass exodus of one large group of people, companies are less stringent about strict college requirements. If they aren’t now, they soon will be.
It’s a matter of common sense and economics. If you have a shortage of skills, you are going to be more lenient in who you find. This means that you can train yourself and approach companies to present your new skills. You won’t need a degree, nor will you need much experience.
And in some countries, the barrier to acquiring a degree has been pushed so low that it means it isn’t worth anywhere near as much as it once was which is a real shame.
You need to be aware that if you don’t have that degree you may have to start out at a lower salary while they are training you.
It is possible the company training you will require you to stay for a predetermined amount of time. You will need to decide if this is acceptable to you. Remember, it’s about getting your foot in the door.
As far as where to find the training, believe it or not, you can start with YouTube. They have many training videos that can give you some beginning advice and instruction. When you go through some training, then you can step up your efforts and look for more advanced instruction.
At this point, it’s a good idea to get on some mailing lists related to the field you are trying to break into. Involve yourself in forums as this is a good way to get familiar with the influential people in your field.
Consider starting a blog related to this new field so you can add credibility to your efforts. Maintaining a blog shows you are serious about committing to the field.
They often look like they have it all and it was handed to them, but more often than not, that is far from the truth.
Here are a few to inspire you…
The following people are well-known and have overcome obstacles at some point in their lives. This article profiles what types of obstacles they faced and how they became who they are because of them.
With the help of Anne Sullivan, who became her governess and companion, Helen rose above her obstacles and learned how to help others in similar situations like hers.
Helen became a renowned author and speaker, which was incredible during her time. People with her type of disabilities were not expected to do much. She became an activist for women’s suffrage among other causes.
To say that Abraham Lincoln had a lot on his plate is probably the largest understatement in history. He lost his mother when he was still a child and his family lived in poverty.
He taught himself law and went on to become one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States.
But, he dealt with severe depression. Some believe this is what defined him and it led him to greatness. He focused on what he could control and understood what was beyond his control.
The war was a difficult time for him, but he persevered. Even his enemies admired the man for what he accomplished.
This low point in her life was both depressing and revealing. She used the pain at the time to transform a concept she carried with her, i.e., the concept of Harry Potter, into an epic series. You are unlikely to find too many people who are not familiar with this story.
Her example is one of not giving up and writing during her low point. Where others would simply feel sorry for themselves and continue to live in poverty, Rowling wanted a better life for her and her daughter. So, she persevered and catapulted to success.
As you can see from the profiles in this article, these people overcame their obstacles and went on to greatness. It is within us all to do the same, as long as we are willing to do what it takes to get there.
And having a strong mindset is critical to any attempt to staying focused and motivated to achieve greatness and overcome life’s obstacles, so click on the featured resource below to get a free report on how to develop a strong mindset. Download, it read and take action 🙂
Do you find that some days you wish you lived a different life? Perhaps you find yourself wishing that you were Richard Branson, Donald Trump or Brad Pitt.
It isn’t unusual to wish you lived a different life or were someone else. If you find that you have days where you feel unsatisfied or discontented, then it may be time to think about what you can do turn your life around.
Instead look deeper and list those qualities that you admire. It may be that you are inspired by their skills, knowledge, generosity or temperament.
What do they have that you don’t? They have passion and a purpose. They have something that they care about and are filled with a desire to make a difference; not just for themselves but for others.
Your life can be fulfilling. Living a life with passion and purpose is possible for everyone. You do not need to be rich, famous or highly educated.
To find your passion and purpose you need to discover what you really want. Don’t just consider material objects, look deeper at lifestyle, relationships, your health and emotions.
For a positive difference to take place you don’t need to give up your job and follow your calling 100% of the time. You can start small and paint your masterpiece or write your novel in your spare time.
This will allow you to begin to feel the benefits of doing what you love and feeling the positive effects and changes while still working and earning an income.
You will experience the joy of giving and in return feel a sense of satisfaction. In addition, you’ll probably pick up new skills, make new friends and connections and discover other changes you want to make in your own life.
Everyone deserves to live their best life. All you need to do is find what you really want to do that can make you feel excited, joyful, engaged and fulfilled. That way you can begin to live your best life instead of settling for a humdrum existence.
Everyone wants to be successful. Focus generally tends to be towards career success.
After all if you haven’t got a goal then how can you be successful? So what are the four secrets that can help you be successful?
It is vital that you set yourself goals for your personal and professional lives. These will provide a target to aim for.
Find an accountability partner, mentor or coach who can help and support you.
And when you are setting goals, don’t always be totally focused on the end point but try to enjoy the journey along the way. Life is about enjoyment, not just achieving something.
If you want to discover how you can embrace your passion and enjoy the journey, then check out this excellent training here.
You may think that your career goals are totally separate from your personal goals.
However, they are inter-dependent. Your career relies on your well-being, impacts on your family and relationships, your health and happiness.
Your happiness, relationships and health are affected by your career.
To be successful in one area you need to create success in the other.
If your personal and professional lives are inter-dependent, then to be successful in them you will need to discover your passion and purpose.
Ask yourself what you really want to do with your life. What do you want your legacy to be?
While many people consider amassing wealth to be a sign of success, that should not be your end goal or sole success indicator.
Instead focus on your emotions, lifestyle and well-being. What will your life look and feel like when you have successfully achieved your goals? How will your family and friends feel? Why not create a vision board with words, quotes and pictures showing your life as a success?
Think about work/life balance and the effect on your family and relationships with friends. How will your new role or business affect your life, health and happiness?
While success can mean different things to different people, one thing all definitions have in common is that success is measured by achieving goals that make you feel positive emotions, for example, happiness and achievement.
You will find the greatest success comes when you use your passions to create your goals in life and work.
As you probably already know, having a strong mindset is critical to any attempt to finding your purpose and passion and staying focused on them, so click on the featured resource below to get a free report on how to develop a strong mindset. Download, it read and take action 😊
We are all guilty of suffering from a lack of motivation in our lives!
What happens when we push our brain to keep thinking, focusing and creating hour after hour? It shuts down. It goes on strike. It says “I’m outa here, buddy”.
This is especially true when we keep requiring it to focus on the same task for hours at a time.
Neuroscience now tells us that changing tasks regularly, taking consistent breaks and blocking out our time keeps our brain more engaged when it is working so that we actually get more done in less time.
So, let’s look at blocking time.
This is not a new concept. But it’s one we don’t use often enough to maintain our enthusiasm and focus, not to mention our mental and emotional health.
But why you may ask, is this important to performance and productivity?
So, how should you go about blocking your time? Usually, it’s recommended to work in 2–3-hour work chunks at a time, while allowing a short 5–10-minute break every 30-45 minutes.
If 2-3 hours seems a long time to focus on a particular task, then you can use smaller chunks.
The Pomodoro technique uses time chunks of only 25 minutes, each followed by a 5-minute break. After 4 of these chunks, you should take a 15-minute break.
If you a little more information about the Pomodoro technique, you can read this blog post
When working on tasks, you should also schedule breaks you’re your routine.
Why, you ask? Well, let’s look at a scientific reason now…
Too busy to take a break? That’s a common thought in our fast-paced world.
We are a society with consistently too many things on our collective plate.
Advances in neuroscience have proven that we need breaks as well as focused work time, as some cultures have known and practiced for millennia.
There are a number of reasons why it is important to take scheduled breaks, and we will cover just 3 of them in this article.
This causes us to become frustrated and becomes a negative feedback loop, so it is important to take a break.
Let’s look at 3 big reasons to stop…
Our brain has two modes of operation. The focus mode, which is where we spend most of our day, concentrating on tasks and challenges as they arise.
For example, you may have an ah-ha moment about a solution to a problem that you’ve been trying to solve while you are driving someplace familiar or taking a shower. This diffuse mode is when most of our insights and out-of-the-box thinking happens.
When we stay focused on a task or problem constantly, we can easily become caught up in all the little details instead of questioning if we are completing the right tasks in the best order and way.
Stepping out of work mode for even just a few minutes is enough time to help us re-evaluate our goals and the way we are going about achieving them.
Our brains weren’t meant to stay in focused mode all the time, even though we think they should sometimes.
Breaks give our brains a rest from constant focus so that they can “regroup” if you will. When we take breaks throughout the day when working on tasks that take a lot of concentration or take a longer period of time to complete, we actually are more productive and motivated when we are working on the task than if we worked straight through.
As you probably already know, having a strong mindset is critical to any attempt to plan and stay focused, so click on the featured resource below to get a free report on how to develop a strong mindset. Download, it read and take action 😊
