Tag: success

9 Steps to Beat Laziness

crop woman snoozing alarm on smartphone

Everyone feels a little lazy at times. But being lazy on a regular basis can have a severe negative impact on your life. Laziness is a natural tendency. All creatures gravitate toward comfort, or at least what’s perceived to be comfortable. However, laziness is indulging in short-term comfort at the expense of long-term pain.

Do you know anyone with a great life that’s lazy? Over time, the law of cause and effect holds true. Laziness has a long-term price.

Beat laziness and accomplish more:

  1. Find a way to get excited. Consider the benefits you’ll receive by getting it done. It might be the end result that excites you or the fact that you’re learning and growing. Maybe demonstrating self-control and discipline is something that you can get excited about. It’s much harder to accomplish something if you’re complaining about it.

  2. Set a deadline. When you have plenty of time to complete something, or no deadline at all, it’s human nature to procrastinate. Setting a deadline in the near future can help to focus your attention and energy.

  3. Create smaller tasks from the main task. Every large task can be done in steps. Even building a house has steps. First the site must be prepared. Then the foundation is created, and the framing begins. The remaining steps are followed until the house is completed.
  • The overall project might be big and intimidating. However, the individual tasks might be easier to handle.

  • Focus on taking the first step. Once you get started, the momentum you’ve created can carry you far. Activity breeds further activity. Sitting on the couch tends to lead to more sitting. Instead of worrying about the mountain of work ahead of you, focus on getting one simple task completed.

  • Read or listen to something that motivates you. It can be something as simple as a book of inspiring quotes or a song that energizes you. You already know what inspires you. Use it to your advantage.

  • Consider the pain of not getting started. We’re good at imagining the pain of getting started, but try the opposite. What will happen if you continue to be lazy? What will it cost you in the future? What has it cost you so far? Instead of using pain as a reason to be lazy, use pain to create action.

  • Remind yourself that the last few years have flown by. Laziness is often a chronic condition. A lot of time has passed in the last 5 years, but how much have you accomplished? Five years goes by quickly, especially when one day seems to be a copy of every other day. Life is wasting away. Get up and do something!

  • Reward yourself for activity. Get one thing done and celebrate. You probably haven’t done enough to deserve a new car, but you have the right to get excited and be proud of yourself.

  • Be patient. It’s common to believe that action comes from motivation, but the opposite may be more true. Action leads to results. Results lead to motivation. Be mentally tough and get busy. You’ll have a reason to be motivated soon enough.

Avoid allowing laziness to keep you on the sideline. It will steal your time and limit your results!

7 Behaviors That Make Life Easier and More Fulfilling

food healthy nature red

Do you feel like your life is unfulfilling and overly full of challenges? If so, you’ll be happy to know that you can make changes, starting today, to turn your life around! Creating a wonderful life is the result of consistently doing things that support your happiness and fulfillment.

Avoid stressful challenges and enjoy your life more with these behaviors:

  1. Be proactive. Avoid waiting until you’re forced to take action. Plan ahead. Many of life’s challenges are easily managed if you deal with them quickly. Most of life’s difficulties are preventable.

  2. For example, you know that your car needs regular oil changes. A natural result of not changing the oil is a ruined car. You can prevent this challenge simply by changing your oil on time. If you can’t afford to have the oil changed, learn how to do it yourself. This is one task anyone can learn.

  3. Being proactive also applies to any task that you’re aware of ahead of time, such as projects and reports at your job. Waiting until the last minute to do something ensures that when you finally do it, you’ll be full of stress and won’t do your best work, both of which can cause further challenges.

  4. Set goals, write them down, and take action to achieve them. Do something each day to bring you a little closer to the life you desire.

  5. Pay attention to your diet and fitness. It’s easy to gain 50 pounds one pound at a time. A poor diet can ruin your health with imperceptible changes, a little at a time.
  • Keep an eye on your weight and set a hard limit. Once you’ve reached that limit, it’s time for serious action. You can’t weigh 250 pounds if you never allow yourself to weigh over 150.

  • Start feeding your body the nutrition it craves for peak performance. Make changes a little at a time. For example, add a vegetable or fruit to each meal. Make something homemade with organic ingredients instead of buying processed food. Do this often enough, and you’ll develop a taste preference for delicious, healthy food.

  • Minimize time watching TV or surfing the internet. TV, the internet, and your smart phone are all great ways of wasting your precious time. Consider all the other, more productive, things you could be doing instead.
  • Imagine if you spend three hours each day split between exercising, learning a musical instrument, and running an online business instead of watching YouTube videos. How would your life be different after five years? You can determine today how your life will be in the future.

  • Save money consistently. Having secure finances is crucial. One unfortunate incident, such as blown transmission in your car, can be catastrophic if you don’t have any money in the bank. Keep in mind that you can’t work forever. Sooner or later you’ll be forced to live off your savings and social security.
  • Start a savings account today and add to it each week. You can start small and, once you get into the habit of saving consistently, begin a program of increasing your savings.

  • Start investing. A great start is an index fund. Find one that you can get into with small payments and add to your investment each month. You can get started with as little as $25.

  • Consider the actual value to you of your purchases. Buy things you need, rather than things you want due to the impulse of the moment. It’s difficult to save money if you routinely make unnecessary purchases. These items rarely bring true enjoyment anyway.

  • Make decisions. Making decisions can be scary and feel restrictive. You might not want to take that much responsibility for your life. But even a poor decision is often better than no decision at all. Without decisions, your fate is determined by luck.

  • Maintain friendships. Friends drift away unless you make an effort to maintain your friendships. As you get older, there can be fewer opportunities to make new friends. Keeping a friendship alive takes effort, but it’s less work than finding and nurturing a new friendship. There are few things better in life than an old friend.

A few bad habits can create a very hard life. A few effective habits can reward you greatly. Strive to develop habits that support your happiness. Be proactive, make your health a priority, use your time wisely, and be responsible with your finances. An exciting life with minimal distress can be yours.

9 Life Lessons You Weren’t Taught in School

woman in red long sleeve writing on chalk board

Our educational system is focused on math, science, reading, and writing. While these subjects are important, being great at geometry doesn’t necessarily lead to a happy and successful life.

Although there are many life lessons that aren’t learned in school, we all still have the responsibility of learning them.

Keep these important truths in mind. They can transform your life:

  1. Forgiveness is something you do for yourself. Holding a grudge and being unable to let go of anger can ruin your own happiness, rather than causing grief to others. By not forgiving those you feel have wronged you, you’re only prolonging your own misery.

  2. Many health issues can be avoided with proper diet, exercise, and rest. The medical community is becoming more and more certain that many diseases are caused by poor diet.
  • Simply dropping a few of the unhealthy foods you eat on a regular basis can significantly impact your health and sense of well-being in many positive ways.
  • Getting enough exercise and sleep is a good prescription for anyone. It’s easier to stay healthy than it is to regain lost health.

  • Perseverance is the most critical component of success. There are few feats in life that can’t be accomplished, as long as you try. When things don’t work out as hoped, change your approach and keep on going. How could you possibly fail if you refuse to quit?

  • Your happiness is your responsibility. Although you may wish that everyone made your happiness a top priority, most people have other things on their minds. Besides, you’re the only one who truly knows what’s required for your own happiness and fulfillment.
  • Figure out all that makes you happy and create a life that supports those things.

  • Say what needs to be said while there’s still time. If anyone in your life has passed away, you’ve probably regretted not telling them certain things.
  • Whether it’s telling them how you feel about them or sharing the fact that you stole their baseball card in third grade, you only have a limited amount of time. Make the most of it!
  • Failure is part of the process. You can learn a lot from a book or from watching others, but the most significant learning comes from “failing” at something. Provided you learn from each failure and apply that knowledge, you’re really just perfecting your route to success.

  • Live life like it’s hard, and your life will become easier. Having an easy life is about doing all the annoying things that many people aren’t willing to do. It’s about taking the time to find a rewarding job and paying your bills on time. It’s about following good eating habits and going to the dentist twice a year. These “difficult” things actually result in an easier life.
  • Obsessing about the future or past creates anxiety and frustration. Looking to the past to gain wisdom is great. Focusing on and regretting things that happened five years ago is a sure way to make yourself unhappy.
  • Worrying about your future won’t make it different. Look ahead to see potential roadblocks and start working on solutions.

  • You don’t know what you don’t know. We all hold beliefs that are untrue. Unfortunately, we’re unaware of which beliefs are false. If you face any challenges in your life, you probably believe some things that just aren’t true.
  • Figure out what’s true and false in your belief system. Having a more accurate roadmap to life results in a smoother trip.

Being successful in school doesn’t guarantee success later in life. They are two different environments, with two different sets of rules. Examine your life and consider the life lessons presented. Think about how applying these rules could lead to success and happiness.

The Power of Asking Effective Questions

question marks on paper crafts

We ask ourselves questions all day long.

“Where are my keys?” “What do I want for lunch?” “What should I do next?”

Sometimes the questions we ask serve us. At other times, they do us a disservice. “Why can’t I do anything right?” is an example of such a question. Our brains will always attempt to answer our questions, even if it has to make up the answers.

Asking yourself better questions is a great way to improve your life. Better questions will result in getting better answers.

Try these ideas to harness the power of asking more effective questions:

  1. Develop a set of questions that you can ask yourself before you even get out of bed. These questions should serve to motivate you and get you in the mood to have a great day. Consider these examples:
  • “What can I do to enjoy work today?”
    • “What am I grateful for in my life right now?”
    • “Whom can I help today?”
    • Develop your own questions to inspire and motivate you!
  • Pay attention to the questions that you ask yourself throughout the day. Make note of the questions that make your life more challenging. Correct yourself on the spot and come up with a better question. As an example, “Why can’t I ever be on time?” could become, “What can I do to be on time from now on?”
  • You will be surprised by how many of the questions you habitually ask yourself are disempowering. We’re all sabotaging ourselves! We can turn the tables and support ourselves.

    • Do you think a highly successful person asks the same questions every day that the average person asks? Probably not. Successful people ask questions that empower them.

  • Apply the same idea to your interactions with others. Many of the questions we ask others make them defensive, and a solution becomes more difficult to find. Instead, ask questions that help you both.
  • For example, if one of your employees isn’t getting along well with his co-workers, you could ask him, “What can we do to increase the level of harmony within our group?” This is more effective than asking, “Why can’t you ever get along with anyone?”
  • The effectiveness of your communication will increase dramatically simply by asking better questions and using the answers wisely.



  • Ask questions during challenging times. When you first notice yourself slipping into a negative emotional state, use questions to find a solution. Questions focus our attention.
  • When your attention is on solutions, you tend to find solutions.
  • When your attention is on the challenge, the challenge tends to grow.

  • Ask questions that support your goals. If you’re trying to lose weight, ask yourself about healthy food choices. “What could I eat for lunch that would taste delicious but still support my weight loss goal?” Develop some questions that will assist you in accomplishing your goals.

  • Create a set of questions to ask yourself at the end of the day. Many of your morning questions might be suitable. Ask yourself about your day. What was great? What did you learn? How will you do better tomorrow?

Questions are a powerful aspect of language. They determine our focus and ultimately have a profound effect on our level of success. We can use questions to improve our relationships. They can even help us to have a good day and a restful night’s sleep. Asking more effective questions is a powerful tool.

Learn to harness the power of asking effective questions. Your life will improve in surprising ways.

11 Tips to Self-Motivate

close up photo of black ceramic mug

Even the most experienced and successful achievers can use a little help getting motivated from time to time. Motivating yourself is a learnable skill. Everyone procrastinates at times. It’s human nature. Several tactics and strategies can lift your motivation to the critical level necessary to get yourself moving again.

Try these techniques to motivate yourself and get things done:

  1. Choose happiness. It’s much easier to motivate yourself when you’re in a positive mood. Focus on the wonderful things in your life that fill you with gratitude. Cleaning out the garage won’t seem quite as daunting. Keep your mind on the positive things in your life.

  2. Learn how to be a finisher. A trail of unfinished projects can dampen anyone’s enthusiasm to start another. Avoid quitting before a task is 100% completed. You’ll be more interested in taking on new tasks when you expect to be successful. Success breeds success.

  3. Expect mistakes. The only people that don’t make mistakes are those who never do anything. The more mistakes you make, the more you’ll learn. Mistakes can be very positive. Use them to your advantage.

  4. Keep yourself grounded in the present. If you’re worrying about the future or beating yourself up over the past, it’s challenging to get anything accomplished right now. Focus on your breathing for a few minutes if your mind is running wild.

  5. Focus on the result. You’ll find it difficult to get started if you sit around and think about all the work that needs to be done. Focus on the result and you’ll feel much more motivated.

  6. Give yourself a reward. You go to work every day because you know that a paycheck is coming your way. You wouldn’t go otherwise. Give yourself a small, but meaningful, reward when your work is complete. Determine the reward before you get started.

  7. Use a timer. Decide how long a task should take and see if you’re right. Set a timer and see if you can beat the clock. A little time pressure will help to keep you focused on your work. There are many timer apps and programs available at no cost.

  8. Read inspirational quotes. Reading inspirational quotes by those who have achieved great success can be very motivating. Spend a few minutes reading these great quotes and you’ll be sure to experience an enhanced level of enthusiasm. Consider creating a list of quotes that you can keep nearby in case of emergency.

  9. Consider the price of failure. What is the price of failing to follow through? Make a list of the negatives. Some of us are more driven by pain then we are by reward. Using both to your advantage can be powerful.

  10. Get some exercise. If you’re felling stuck, go for a brisk walk or a short run. Taking a short break every 60 minutes has been shown to increase productivity. Keep your breaks short so you don’t get off track.

  11. Measure your progress. Big goals or projects can takes years to complete. Measuring your progress along the way is a great way to keep your spirits high. Set short-term goals to keep you focused.

Most of us don’t live with our mothers any longer. It’s important to be able to motivate ourselves. The most successful people are able to harness the power of self-motivation. A higher level of motivation will ensure that your work is done well and as quickly as possible. It’s time to get busy!

Get your free PDF of 11 Tips to Self-Motivate here!

http://www.LifeSomeday.com

How to Maintain a Positive Mindset When You Don’t Feel Like It

Do you have days when you know it’s better to be upbeat and positive, but you just don’t feel like it? When you face challenges or feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities, it can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude.

Try these techniques to improve your mood and experience the inner peace you deserve:

  1. Start your day with something positive. Decide each morning that you’ll start the day headed in the right direction. Instead of waking up on the wrong side of the bed and setting the stage for a grouchy day, resolve to experience something positive first thing in the morning.
  • Develop a morning routine that you can repeat daily to ease into your day’s responsibilities. Determine what activities help improve your mood and put you on the path to positive thinking. Find two or three things you can do each morning that’ll set the stage for a successful day. As these become habit, add to the routine little by little.
  • A routine will help your body and mind settle in and focus on what you need to accomplish. Instead of rushing around or forgetting important details, your plan will guide you through a peaceful set of steps that calm your mind and create unstoppable momentum.
  • Set exciting goals. If you wake up each morning with nothing to look forward to, your mind may quickly latch onto negative feelings that can last throughout the day. Give your life focus by setting goals that motivate and excite you. Write those goals down and review them every day. Each day, take some small action that brings you closer to attaining your goal.
  • Set aside a few minutes this week to write down all the reasons why each goal is important to you. How will you feel when you reach the goal you’ve set? How will your loved ones be affected? How will your quality of life improve?

  • Spend a few minutes each day reading through this list. A big enough “why” can help you to overcome obstacles that are in your way.
  • Surround yourself with positive people. If you want to feel better about your life, hang around people that encourage you and bring out the best in you. Spend more time with people that make you feel good about yourself and less time with those that complain about everything.
  • Every cloud has a silver lining and it’s easier to find that silver lining when you hang around people that help you to see it.
  • Remember that bad days happen. When you have a bad day, don’t beat yourself up or dwell on it. Remember that tomorrow is a new day with exciting possibilities and challenges. Your next victory is right around the corner if you resolve to start with a fresh perspective.

These suggestions will only help if you put them into practice. Pick one or more of them and decide that your happiness is worth small changes that lead to a big payoff. Begin to experience the happiness you deserve by taking positive steps today that will lead to a bright future.