Life might sometimes feel very busy. At times, juggling work, family, children, and a budget becomes overwhelming, and we feel as like we are at our wits end!
We experience hopelessness, isolation, and fear. When all that bad energy comes together, it can make us feel as though we hate our lives.
However, all is not lost; there is always a way out, even though it might feel like you’re stuck in a rut forever. It requires a lot of self discipline, some introspection and admitting that you’re unhappy. When you accept that something is not quite right, you can then take concrete efforts to make it right.
To learn more, keep reading…
The first step, as we indicated earlier, is to acknowledge your unhappiness. Once you are aware of this, you can take the necessary steps to change your mindset and return to a level of happiness and fulfilment. Remember that happiness is a choice.
However, that is sometimes rather simpler said than done, isn’t it? Change does not come easily or quickly. It calls for a degree of effort, commitment, and self-awareness that most of us simply don’t have time for.
Or to be more precise, we don’t prioritise ourselves. So, we simply continue to be dissatisfied. The problem then is that this discontent permeates every aspect of our lives, making us hate it even more!
After all, you start to feel as though a heavy object is pressing down on you. You consequently experience misery, feeling stuck and unmotivated.
There is a bright side to everything, which is excellent news. Of course, there is always a chance that things will improve. However, you must be prepared to put in the effort.
If you’re in a relationship and you’re not having fun with your partner or yourself, it’s time to end it.
Keep in mind that you are in charge of making decisions in your life. Simply remind yourself of your inner strength, value, and potential.
It is important to note that there will be moments in your life when you are unable to make significant changes to your situation. And that’s fine.
You simply assure yourself that the situation won’t be this way forever. The good news is that change is one of life’s constants, so maintain your composure and never lose hope that things can (and will) get better.
Positivity is a powerful tool, so try to use it, especially when you are feeling anything but positive! It’s all about focus.
One reason why we may be unhappy is because we’ve moved away from our primary principles and the goals that we set for ourselves. Your goals are kept in your thoughts even if you’ve never said them out loud or recorded them in a journal.
Then, when the life we’re leading isn’t bringing us anywhere near close to these goals, we feel uneasy and tense. But frequently we don’t make the connection between the two.
Always try to keep your eye on the prize but also try to enjoy the journey too!
Another thing that separates us from our true selves is society, family, and friends. They all have different ideas on how we must live our lives, and they’re not shy about sharing them with us. Repeatedly.
It’s frequently just simpler to follow along. Who are we to doubt them when they know us better than we know ourselves? Or do they?
However, the truth is that when you live by someone else’s standards, it ultimately backfires since you aren’t on your own path. This can quickly lead to discontent, so don’t fall into this trap. They lead their lives, and you lead yours.
Your innermost thoughts are mostly shaped by your past influences and childhood experiences. They may frequently be our worst enemy.
However, these are only thoughts, right?
Sadly, that isn’t the case. Because they keep telling you that you’re not capable of improvement or that you won’t succeed because you’re not good enough, these thoughts can make you really despise your life.
In truth, our mental processes influence our environment. The sooner you recognise that, the better, since you can then begin to exert some control over this self-defeating self-talk.
You’re likely great at assisting others who are in need. So why not take care of yourself in the same way?
Being kind to yourself has a huge impact on empowerment and self-love. You’ll quit hating your life, for one thing. Then, rather than always dwelling on the negative, you’ll begin to notice the positive.
So, instead of listening to your inner critic the next time it speaks and focusing on negativity, think about something good that happened to you during your day. You’ll get better at overcoming negative emotions as time goes on and stop sabotaging your efforts.
As I said before, it’s all about focus; focus on the positive rather than the negative and you can rewire your mind.
If you’re unhappy with the way your life is going, start by figuring out why. Once you identify the cause, you need to concentrate on shifting your negative and destructive thought patterns in favour of positive and constructive ones.
Determine what needs to change, then begin to plan. As soon as you discover the route that will take you to your true self, keep going. Change takes time, but if you are persistent and prepared to work hard to achieve your goals, you can accomplish far more than you ever believed possible.
Whatever you want in life will require discipline to achieve, and if you want to know more about harnessing the power of self-discipline, then check out the featured resource below for a free report; download, read it and take action 🙂
It will always be challenging to strike a good work-balance. It simply is. You can manage it but you can’t escape it. But you’ll manage to get through it no matter what. That is definite!
It takes strength of character to try and balance your life and your work. For the majority of people, obligations, stress, and other commitments just meld together, turning life into a frantic back-and-forth race to keep everything in line.
We’ll feel discomfort as we adjust to any new routines and habits… but once you embrace them and incorporate them into your lifestyle, you’ll benefit from them so much more in the long run.
Your family, friends, and others are affected by this habit. It most definitely applies to you. This will be your biggest obstacle.
How then do you establish boundaries?
Choosing your start and finish times for work will be the first step. This is particularly valid if you work from home.
You’ll also need to tell your family and friends not to enter your work area and to respect your working hours.
You won’t work for too much and risk burnout if you set out certain blocks of time for work and rest. The pauses between notes are what make music.
This is another challenging habit to establish. The majority of us are so linked to the outside world that working in isolation feels absurd.
However, the greatest method to be productive is to devote your full concentration to the subject at hand. Multitasking impairs your concentration and productivity. It should be avoided at all costs.
Silencing your phone during work hours is the simplest way to eliminate all distractions. It’s much better if you can put it in a different room so you’re less inclined to check notifications etc. When something is out of sight, it is out of mind and will be less tempting.
Turning off your Wi-Fi or using apps like Rescue Time are the best ways to resist the continual temptation to check your social media.
Reduce your distractions as much as possible so that you can stay focused.
Both work and other pursuits fall under this category. There is a difference between working on projects that make a difference and wasting time on ‘busy work’ that keeps you busy but doesn’t advance you.
You should always spend the majority of your time on tasks that advance your company. Usually, the things you put off until later are the tasks that are the most important. It’s simply in our nature.
You’ll feel uncomfortable as you establish these new productivity practices. This is normal behaviour. Until the challenging becomes simple and the simple becomes beautiful, keep putting up with the discomfort.
Your life will feel better when you have good habits and a strong sense of balance in your life.
“We must provide for our loved ones, but at what cost?” wrote author James Jean-Pierre. “After all, a dead person cannot provide for the living.”
This quote may sound harsh, but it is undoubtedly true. Instead of the other way around, we work to live. The reality that millions of people nowadays see their jobs and their work as their lives seems to have eluded them.
They are constantly burning the candle at both ends. It never stops…, trying to make more money, get more stuff, more accomplishments, more growth.
Even when we work hard to accomplish our goals and eventually succeed, we rarely take the time to celebrate our success before setting new, even more difficult goals that will just add to our stress.
The cycle never ends. A rat race to be the best rat… and time marches on. Our relationships ultimately become meaningless and fleeting. Family ends up taking second place, and any communications are relegated to a few quick exchanges as we go about our busy lives.
Your work cannot follow you into eternity. You won’t ever look back on your life and wish that you had put in more effort or devoted more time in the office.
On their deathbeds, millions of individuals regret not having spent more time with family and friends. They regret putting the wrong things first and sabotaging what really mattered in life.
They wished they could go back in time and start the process over again… however, they can’t. The same goes for us.
The reality is that no matter how prosperous and successful you may become, your commitment to your family should always come first in all you do.
Give your family members an hour of your day to talk to them. Learn what is happening in their lives. Know what they are thinking, feeling, and fearing.
Be there when they need you to be there. Avoid using your phone to check emails and refrain from becoming side-tracked by work-related activities. Your family deserves your undivided attention.
Once you get married, dating your spouse doesn’t have to come to an end. Establish a weekly date night and take a break from working to add some romance to your life. This will keep the fire burning in your relationship and keep the spark alive.
Numerous business owners who were too preoccupied with their jobs to maintain their relationships have done so and their marriages ended; don’t be that person.
Participate in any event your children have at school. Be gracious and watch a film with your wife if that’s what she wants to do. Take an interest in the other person’s lives.
Dedicate some time to simply be with them when they are doing what they enjoy.
If you can, go on a little family vacation. It doesn’t matter if you can’t take a full weeklong vacation. Even a little two- or three-day vacation to the lakes, mountains or a neighbouring resort will be beneficial for you and your family,
If you want to achieve work-life balance, it all comes down to striking a balance between your family and professional commitments.
Be committed and loyal to the people in your life because they are what counts.
Whatever you want in life will require discipline to achieve and maintaining a healthy work life balance is a small part of that. And if you want to know more about harnessing the power of self-discipline, then check out the featured resource below for a free report; download, read it and take action 🙂
Habits are a powerful way for our brain to increase its efficiency. Making regular actions and behaviours into habits allows us to focus on more essential tasks. They are our life management system on autopilot.
Even bad habits can be beneficial to our health. An improved mood and less tension are the short-term effects. However, they frequently have a detrimental long-term effect on our health and well-being. We create habits even without our knowing, and these can be success habits or bad habits, but us humans tend to accumulate more bad habits than good!
But why is it so difficult to put an end to something we know is harmful for us?
We are receiving a benefit, such as a good mood or reduced stress levels, when we partake in the bad habit, e.g., smoking. As a result, anytime we are in a particular scenario (for example, when we are worried), our brain builds a desire to engage in this behaviour in order to reap the benefits.
Our mind keeps us desiring the things that we are trying to avoid, creating a vicious cycle. This understanding helps us to devise ways for breaking and eliminating bad habits.
Bad habits harm us in a variety of ways. They have the potential to adversely affect our health, our emotional well-being, and even our intimate relationships. It will not work to try breaking a bad habit simply by telling yourself you’re not going to do it. The habit, such as the desire to drink or smoke or being incredibly disorganised, is hardwired into your brain.
Getting rid of bad habits is similar to creating a goal. If you have a precise goal in mind, you have a better chance of succeeding. It’s also crucial that you are the one who wants to break the habit (intrinsic motivation).
Identifying the bad habit and why you think you persist in it is the first little step to take. Make a note of it on a sheet of paper.
Once you’ve figured out what’s causing the bad habit, make a plan to change it immediately. If you smoke every day, for example, you will figure out what makes you want to smoke. Is it anxiety or stress? Do you smoke when you have a cup of coffee purely out of habit?
When you smoke when you’re stressed, you will need a plan of action to minimise stress throughout the day. What minor things in your life can you get rid of that are causing you stress? Make a note of it in your action plan. If you’re tempted to smoke because you’re drinking coffee, consider switching to a different beverage.
You can then write it down and commit to smoking one fewer cigarette per day until you reach your goal of no cigarettes.
Many bad habits can be replaced by alternatives. If you always have something sugary for dessert, for example, your blood sugar levels are likely to suffer. It’s also possible that you will gain weight. Because we know that refined sugar causes a myriad of health problems, you should swap out your desserts for healthier options.
If you need something sweet after supper, cherries are a good choice. They provide the sweetness you crave, plus lots of health advantages.
You must make the choice to take a step back and not succumb to peer pressure. Refuse and walk away when pals insist on spending their Friday nights drinking from 5 p.m. till the wee hours of the morning. Replace it with a healthy habit, such as going to the gym or spending time with your family.
Some habits are inextricably linked. If that is the case, you can work on all of them at the same time. You already know that watching too much tv and overeating is bad for your mind and body. By turning off the tv and going on a bike ride, you can get rid of both habits at once. Bring some healthy snacks and plenty of water.
Another little step toward easing bad habits is to remove or replace them. We all realize that drinking soda is bad for you, and some individuals drink a litre or more every day. Replace soda with water or freshly squeezed fruit juice in your fridge and on your grocery list.
If you like a burger and fries every now and then, bring a water bottle with you when you order. Order individual burgers and fries instead of the combo, which includes a drink.
Another bad habit such as continually using your cellphone can be controlled by putting your phone out of reach at different times of the day. Put y our cellphone in another room when you’re eating meals with your family.
Another bad habit is bringing your phone to bed, and you should keep it in another room nearby in case of an emergency. If it is next to you, you will be more inclined to watch news or scroll through social media before going to bed. Both are full of bad news, which will make you lose your optimistic outlook on life. In bed, replace your cellphone with a good book about positivity or some other form of self-improvement. If you are spiritual, read some Bible devotions and spend time in gratitude before going to sleep.
The quick answer is that it varies.
According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes between 18 and 254 days for a person to develop a new habit. These numbers are similar regarding breaking a bad habit.
There are so many factors in the question “How long does it take to break a habit?” that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. For example, it takes a lot longer for someone who has been smoking for 20 years to quit than it does for someone who is attempting to break the bad habit of forgetting to brush their teeth in the evening.
To have the long-term drive to stop or replace your habit, make sure you have a strong “Why” (purpose or goal) because this will keep you going if/when things get tough.
Creating habits requires self-discipline and many people do lack in this area. If you want to gain more self-discipline, check out the featured resource below where you can get a free detailed report about the Power Of Self-Discipline; download, read it and take action 😊
Self-discipline is difficult. There’s no way around it.
Self-discipline is regarded as a sign of professionalism and confidence, especially in the business world. Professionalism requires being on time, responsive, efficient, creative, active, productive, and conscientious… not to be satisfied with the bare minimum
You must “do what you say and say what you do,” which means not promising the unattainable, being practical, competent, and meeting deadlines in order to complete the objective. It’s not the end of the world if you have trouble with self-control. You can get back on track and become more efficient by doing a few simple measures.
He realised that even the greatest of us will struggle to develop and sustain self-discipline, he understood. This is a lifelong battle, but it should become easier over time if you practice it on a daily basis.
Self-discipline is a gigantic and Herculean undertaking in and of itself, but some people make it far more difficult than it needs to be. They sabotage their own efforts in a number of ways.
Each of us is a unique individual. It’s best to do what’s right for you when trying to form positive habits (which is what building self-discipline is all about).
Weight loss is a common issue where most individuals go wrong. There are so many options for losing weight that you’ll be spoilt for choice.
If everyone you know is following the keto diet and you decide to give it a shot (because your friends say it’s amazing), but you despise eating all that fat with your meals, following the plan will be difficult.
It will be easier to build fasting as a part of your self-discipline than it will be to stick to your keto diet.
The same can be said of other habits. Some folks accomplish their finest work first thing in the morning. Others might rather work late at night. You’ll be fighting your natural circadian rhythm if you force yourself to get up early merely because others believe it works.
Rather than striving to work against yourself, you should be disciplined and work with your natural inclinations.
Life is a breeze inch by inch. Life is difficult, yard by yard. You may believe that making drastic changes in your life will help you advance more quickly. In actuality, this is ineffective and will just cause you to stumble.
You’ll experience uncontrollable food cravings if you try to adjust your diet overnight. Working out too intensely too soon can result in significant muscle aches and even injuries.
The final result is that you continue to succumb to food cravings, or you miss workouts or put things off at work. These mistakes can make you feel bad, and you will be tempted to give up.
It’s best to take things slowly and create modest beneficial changes that you can manage on a daily basis. You’ll be far more likely to stay on course, and over time, your entire life will change.
Keep a journal and make a list of the habits you want to develop. This will assist you in keeping track of your progress.
If you skip a day, begin again the next day and try to complete another 60 days.
Development takes time, and most people are overconfident in their ability to achieve a lot in a short period of time. It will take considerably longer than you expect in practice.
Staying on track and making progress (even though it may be slow) until you achieve your goal is what self-discipline is all about.
You’re certain to make a mistake at some point. It happens to all of us, and it always happens. This isn’t a symptom of laziness or a lack of willpower.
Breaking old habits can be difficult, and you’ll always face opposition. We’re all human, so we’re bound to make mistakes now and then.
It will take time to develop self-discipline. You’ll achieve mastery over your ideas and actions over time if you allow yourself that time and don’t work against yourself.
Once established in your life, these positive practices should provide better alternatives to your previous habits. When the feel the urge to revert to past dangerous habits like drug and alcohol abuse, you can turn to these things instead.
It’s easier to turn your goals into achievements when you have self-discipline. The first step toward becoming self-disciplined and successful is to recognize the relationship between success and self-discipline.
It’s not a problem at all if you don’t have as much self-discipline as you’d like. You can begin by becoming more self-disciplined than where you are today. All you need to do now is take that initial step and keep moving forward one step at a time.
Whatever errors and blunders you’ve made previously, you can always make better choices right here, right now.
“Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” – John Maxwell.
As you can see, self-discipline is an important skill to master, and if you want to increase your power of self discipline then check out the featured resource below for a free detailed report; download, read it and take action 😊
Who wants to go to the trouble of driving yourself into the ground? It’s highly unlikely that anyone will raise their hand in support of such an idea! 😄
We all want to relax and unwind, but the reality is that we need to be working. To work smarter not harder, to be happy and productive.
Here are ten pointers to help you master the simple concept of smart working, so you can work smart not hard.
This isn’t to say that you should start chopping heads like the nobility of old. It means being a visionary leader with innovative ideas for getting things done while also ensuring that the process is enjoyable.
There is a definite knack when it comes to getting things done for you and you need to be able to delegate with a light touch.
Do this right and your productivity will skyrocket!
You must be the ruler once again. Treat yourself properly, but don’t fall into the trap of doing things that aren’t necessary.
Decide what requires your undivided attention and focus on it before moving on to the next high priority.
And whatever you do, DON’T be tempted to multitask; it is a productivity killer. Focus on one task at a time, and don’t be tempted to move on until that task is finished.
Have you ever witnessed someone attempting to construct a backyard deck without a blueprint? It doesn’t go smoothly does it?! 😳
Few people have the ability to complete high-priority activities without thorough planning. Following a well-thought-out plan will assist you in properly managing your time and achieving your objectives.
You know what they say, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail!” Do not be that person!
Slow typing is inconvenient and reduces the amount of time you have to complete all of your high-priority activities.
If you are unable to type quickly, it is probably a good idea that you take a typing course to learn how to type quicker. Keyboard shortcuts can also be extremely useful, so make sure that you learn them.
Many people use speech to text software, such as the one included in Google Docs or Microsoft Word, to speed up their writing.
It’s a good idea to take breaks. Even if you’ve been working hard in short spurts or for lengthy periods of time, you still need a break.
When you’re stressed and exhausted, you’re more likely to make mistakes in your work.
Short breaks will keep your health in control, and you will be less likely to become ill and miss work.
In today’s environment, most people rely on email to communicate with others, even within their own company.
You’ll get a sense of who is available to take calls and who will never answer. Keep note of those who are responsive, and only email or text those who will either not respond or who have a tendency to become irritated.
You will find yourself completing repetitious tasks throughout the day. Put a stop to it by working smarter rather than harder.
You can programme mini-programs in your computer to handle repetitive activities for you.
Wherever feasible, look for templates. You can just load and fill in the blanks. Templates are available for download for free or for a modest cost and can be used for recurring writing or visual assignments, such as sales pages.
Set and stick to deadlines for everything, not just your top priorities. You will need to work harder if you procrastinate.
You must first work to break free from procrastination, and then you’ll need to work even harder just to catch up.
Set a firm deadline for a task and then work toward finishing it on time. Give yourself a tiny reward before getting back to work and meeting the next deadline.
You must softly but firmly communicate to family, friends, and coworkers that your time is valuable. Distractions must be avoided in order to avoid working harder.
They will steal your focus away from you, and it will be difficult to regain it.
Keep an internal punch clock in your head to keep track of time. When the job is done correctly (and smartly), punch in and out.
You must move it, a bit like that famous song from Disney. Doing all of your work in one place can lead to boredom. Use a combination of your regular work desk and a standing desk next to it.
Switching between the two will help your body stay strong and prevent you from becoming drowsy. If feasible, alternate between those and taking the laptop into an empty conference room for a while.
It will help you stay alert and concentrated if you move around. You have an endless supply of ideas for the same thing at home. There are numerous workstations, comfortable chairs, and other items that you can shift from one location to another.
As you can appreciate, working smarter not harder requires a lot of self discipline, and if that is something you struggle with (don’t we all?) then please check out the featured resource below for a free report which will help you; download, read it and take action 🙂
