Let Your Daily Routine Move You Toward Success

May 28, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Spontaneity is a lot more fun than routine. It helps to mix things up and keeps life interesting.
 
But too much spontaneity can lead to an unstructured way of life. Some people love that, but most find would find that difficult to maintain.
 
Today GenuLines asks you to take a look at or set up your daily routine.
 
 
call to action for routine

 

Setting Your Daily Routine

For starters, enough sleep is important for proper function. If you don’t have a routine, it’s not likely you will get the right amount of sleep every night.
 
a boy's sleeping routine

Your body needs to have its internal clock set to the same sleep habits.
 
What if you don’t have those things in place? You might find it difficult to go to sleep at night.
 
Or you’ll wake up from time to time during the night.
 
 
 
To help you get to sleep faster, make sure you go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time in the morning. Try to avoid drinking too much alcohol as this will disrupt your sleep.
 
You may fall asleep easier, but you will not go into a deep sleep. That deep sleep interrupts your internal rhythm, and you may not be able to fall back to sleep.
 
Snoozing over screening
Try to limit the use of electronic devices before you go to bed. Studies tell us devices such as laptops and tablets stimulate your visual senses. This makes it tougher to sleep.
 
You should have a routine for your diet, too. If you don’t set up the right diet and eat at the same time daily, you will likely have digestion issues.
 
Your erratic schedule has a downside, too. That’s because your body’s inability to regulate can cause weight gain issues.
 
An article about routines would be incomplete if it didn’t cover getting exercise. Exercise is also the one element where many people have a problem being consistent.
 
But a routine here can be a stress-buster. And it can bring better sleep.
 
You don’t have to incorporate intense exercise. Take a daily or every other day walk.
 
Then you can check off a big part of your exercise need.
 
Find the routines that work for you, and work hard to stick with them. Routines are habits, and it takes some effort to develop habits to the point where you don’t even think about them.
 
There’s room for some spontaneous activity, which everyone needs once-in-a-while. Don’t try to make major changes all at once.
 
Small changes are best since it’s easier to succeed with them.
 
JohnK 5-28-2019
 
 
stickman looking for routineOverheard: “The only routine with me is no routine at all”:   
                                      ~Jackie Kennedy
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for routine
 
 
 

Today’s Chi For Yourself: “Panic Free” With Tom Bunn

May 23, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

What if you could stop panic by tapping into a certain part of your brain? 

man talking panicLicensed therapist (and pilot) Tom Bunn discovered an approach to panic that uses a part of the brain not affected by the stress hormones that bombard a person experiencing panic.

Tom Bunn is the author of PANIC FREE: The 10-Day Program to End Panic, Anxiety, and Claustrophobia.

 

We get started at 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern time at ChiForYourself.com

 

JohnK 5-23-2019

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Stop Relying Too Much on Others

May 21, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

If you have difficulty trusting yourself, you may be too dependent on others. The situation can grow and you become dependent on more and more people.

GenuLines knows that can present problems when called upon to handle situations on your own, so read for some helpful ideas. 

call to action for others

Stop Relying Too Much on Others

Have you ever let someone else take over a part of your job? You may feel relief when this happens.

But you could be setting yourself up for future failure. The reason this happens is that you didn’t trust that you could do the job yourself.

 

character explaining to others

 

In the above scenario, you’re taking on something outside of your comfort zone. It may be that your boss wants to test how you will handle a new situation.

He or she gives you an assignment knowing that you have never dealt with it before.

It’s natural to ask others for help when you find yourself in unfamiliar territory. There’s nothing wrong with doing this.

But there’s little growth in letting others solve problems for you. You won’t develop the self-trust for handling new situations.

And your manager will see that you, for the most part, passed the assignment to someone else.

Positivity helps
Face your new challenges with positivity. Be willing to make an attempt even if you make mistakes.

The mistakes are the tools for you to learn. When you do make those mistakes, ask what you did wrong.

Over time, those mistakes will get less and less, and you’ll begin to trust that you can handle the situations.

There’s a subtle result of trying something new. You’ll prove that you can handle new tasks and develop new skills.

That’s enlightening and it’s a big factor in developing trust in yourself.

Every skill you are now good at and find easy you probably struggled with at the start. If you keep this in mind, you will give yourself over to trusting that you can handle anything that comes your way.

You’ll need less reliance on others. But you still should ask questions when you are unsure about something.

That’s another part of learning.

Some people may give you a hard time because it’s inconvenient. But, you’ll find most people want to help you succeed.

It helps them when you get up to speed with new skills.

JohnK 5-21-2019
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stickman listening to othersOverheard: “Trust but verify”
                           ~Ronald Reagan

 

 

 

 

disclaimer for others

 

 

Become a “Turnaround Factory” for Negative Thinking

May 14, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Negative images bombard your life. They’re all over the television news and your favorite TV shows.
 
You see it online, at work and even at home. But, GenuLines suggests some out of the box thinking to turn things around 
 
call to fight negative

Become a “Turnaround Factory” for Negative Thinking

What if you could picture your brain as a factory? One that takes in negative thinking and processes it to churn out positive thoughts.
 
negative picture of factorySeems a bit odd since, of course, you’re not a factory. But, if you can think in these terms, you may be able to combat negative thinking.
 
Switching to factory status means you need to stop overreacting to what people say. When someone says something you don’t agree with, take a moment to consider what they’re saying.
 
 
When you get annoyed at others, you stop listening to them and only want to get your point across. You want to prove why they’re wrong.
 
Instead, after he or she speaks, take a moment and consider what the message is.
 
The next step is to try and see the other person’s point of view. If you have a difficult time doing this, calmly ask questions of the person making the statement.
 
You can say that you don’t understand the reason for the statement and would like to know more about why they said it.
 
You don’t have to agree with the other person, even after you start to process what they say. But, the act of listening and considering their point of view will transform you.
 
You may start to challenge your belief system. Sometimes you can get so focused on a belief, even when the reason why you feel that way has changed.
 
When you start to question your beliefs, you’ll be more open in considering what others have to say. The process will help you turn negative thoughts into positive ones.
 
Negative thoughts seldom lead to believing in oneself. You will end up challenging what everyone says as wrong if they don’t agree with your way of thinking.
 
You’ll become bitter towards others and at some point towards yourself. You won’t believe that anything is possible because you shoot down every suggestion.
 
This type of thinking doesn’t make people happy.
 
When you start to open yourself to others, you will learn more and be accepting of different beliefs. You’ll become enlightened when this happens.
 
JohnK 5-14-2019
 
 
stick figure hears negative talkOverheard: ” Negativity can only feed on negativity”
                                ~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for negative

Show Others How to Appreciate the Small Things

May 7, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Life gives us lots to appreciate. People who forget that can become bitter over time.
 
But you can set an example for them. Today GenuLines looks at some ways to do it.
 
call to content you'll appreciate
 

Show Others How to Appreciate the Small Things

Your gratitude for life’s gifts can help you show others how to do the same. You don’t have to go overboard.
 
sign you can appreciateYou can make occasional references to how you enjoy your life and give reasons why. Relate experiences about your weekend to your colleagues.
 
Then tell why you appreciate them.
 
Stay as positive as you can, even if the bitter people are negative. That’s not easy since negative people can sour the moods of the people around them.
 
 
***
 

 

But, your positive outlook can cancel out that negative behavior.
 
People appreciate listeners
They haven’t been able to get their problems off their chest. These problems often build, which stokes their bitterness.
 
They feel as though no one is listening and no one cares about them. But playing the role of advisor can be the wrong tactic to use.
 
Be a listener. It’ll make a world of difference.
 
Invite them to events after work. Understand that it may take some time before they say yes to your invitations.
 
Bitter people often become reclusive. Keep inviting them, and over time you may break down their barriers.
 
Don’t pressure them. That will make them more reclusive.
 
Talk activities
Get them talking about their hobbies or their favorite sports. Even if they aren’t active in these events, ask about past experiences.
 
When they start talking it may re-ignite a spark. That can be a great starting point in helping them get through their issues.
 
Some people will never let down their guard, and that’s unfortunate. They’ve stopped living life, and they don’t appreciate any aspect of it.
 
But there’s hope for some. Even changing one life is a force for good.
 
They’ll become more pleasant to be around. And they may get to the point where they’ll help others who’ve lost their way.
 
JohnK 5-7-2019
 
 
stickman who apreciatesOverheard: When the crowd appreciates you, it encourages you to be a little more daring, I think.
                               ~ Julius Erving
 
 
 
 
 
***Photo by MARK ADRIANE on Unsplash
 
 
 
 
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Helping Others Deal with Adversity

April 30, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
At some point in your life, you’re going to experience adversity. It teaches you that you have the strength to overcome most anything that comes your way.
 
Sometimes, others you know may need help when dealing with their adverse situations. GenuLines reminds you that your experience of self-help puts you in a good position to offer them help.
 
banner helps with adversity
 

Helping Others Deal with Adversity

cloud of adversityThe people you’re trying to help may need to open up about their situation. If they’re denying that it’s occurring, it’s going to be difficult to help them.
 
They won’t accept your offers of help because they don’t believe anything is wrong. Or worse, they’ll get angry with you for even suggesting something is wrong.
 
 
 
A helpful approach
There’s a way to help them realize they have a problem. Ask them how they would handle a similar situation if they needed to help someone else.
 
This gets them to focus on an outside entity, even if fictitious. This lets them start the process of identifying the problem.
 
It doesn’t guarantee that they’ll come around. But it can get the process started.
 
Helping people to recognize the problem helps them take action.
 
You may want to search for help online. Research before they do so that you can help them when they get to that point of doing the research themselves.
 
It’s not a bad idea to learn more about the situation. You’ll be better able to help them.
 
Your adversity experience
If you’ve dealt with the specific situation before, that will speed the process. The person you’re helping can ask questions about your experiences and what you did to cope or get through it.
 
You will likely have a list of resources prepared from your experiences. You can volunteer to go with them to any support groups or meetings.
 
But once they get started they may be able to do it alone.
 
Helping others deal with adversity is not an easy task. You should expect to get resistance, especially in the beginning.
 
But, if you can get them to see the problem, they may be ready to take action towards the recovery process. It can be rewarding to know that you helped people start on their road to recovery.
 
JohnK 4-30-2019
 
 
stick figure hears about adversityOverheard: “The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity”
 
                             ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for adversity

Money and Mindfulness on The Next Chi For Yourself

April 24, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

Is it possible to be a conscientious citizen of the world and save more money? Our next scheduled Chi For Yourself guest says yes you can.

Jonathan K DeYoe is a Buddhist and a financial planner. He’ll talk about a unique financial plan that’s guided by your deepest beliefs, and how to save, invest, pay off debt, and fund your retirement and dreams by building a lifetime income stream. 

man who talks about money

      Jonathan K. DeYoe

 

Jonathan K. DeYoe is the author of Mindful Money: Simple Practices for Reaching Your Financial Goals and Increasing Your Happiness Dividend.

Join us on Thursday,  April 25th at 4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com

 

JohnK 4-24-2019

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Do You Know Your Optimal Routine Zone?

April 23, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Do you have a favorite time of day to do your work? Not everyone’s a “rise and shine” thinking dynamo.
 
Today GenuLines looks at different peak productivity times. Let’s see where you might fit into one of them.
 
banner helps find zone
 

Do You Know Your Optimal Routine Zone?

People have certain times of the day when they do their best work. They get more done and are more focused.
 
Some do better in the mornings. Others in the afternoons.
 
 
relaxing in the zoneThen there are the night owls, who can produce the most during the later hours. These are their optimal routine zones.
 
What is your optimal routine zone? Are you a morning person or do you cringe at the thought of getting up early?
 
 
 
Do you have vampire blood that lets you do your best work at night?
 
Match up with the zone
Whatever you find to be your optimal routine zone, set your tasks to work during these times. Do as much of your work as possible during this optimal zone.
 
Structure your day around it.
 
Working during your optimal time doesn’t mean you do nothing when you’re outside of those zones. Your boss will likely not take too kindly if you slack off.
 
Instead, you should use this time for activities that are not as taxing. These include making phone calls and other non-stressful activities.
 
Sometimes, you’ll have no choice but to do more of the heavy lifting during your “off times.” If this happens, you’ll have to make the best of it.
 
Zone out
Another problem is that you may be working in a job that does not coincide with your optimal zones. That’s a tough one. 
 
You may want to adjust or to move on to opportunities where you can work during your optimal times.
 
If your job involves being creative, this concept of optimal zones is going to work in your favor. For instance, if you are a writer, try to do most of your writing during these times.
 
You can use the other times to answer emails, post on social media, or check out forums related to your writing. If you’re writing for a blog, try writing several posts in your zone. 
 
Schedule them as if you’ve written one per day, etc.
 
Increasing your productivity is knowing your advantages. Find your optimal work zones and use them effectively. 
 
This way you’ll increase your productivity. Your manager will notice this, and it could help you when asking for a raise or getting a promotion.
 
It will also give you the satisfaction of a more fulfilling job.
 
JohnK 4-23-2019
 
 
stick figure hears about zoneOverheard: “It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it.”
 
                                          ~John Steinbeck, East of Eden
 
 
 
 
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Learn How to Make Mistakes

April 16, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
So you’re afraid to make mistakes. And that’s cutting into your self-trust.
 
GenuLines realizes that this could be standing in the way of your success. When you learn how to make mistakes, you’ll be ready to start trusting yourself.
 

banner helps mistakes

Learn How to Make Mistakes

I think you’ll agree that nobody is perfect. I make mistakes and you do, too..
 
When you make mistakes, you learn from them. That’s what makes them so valuable.
 
warning for mistakes
 
Of course, if you don’t learn from them, you can expect to make the same mistakes again and again. That’s why you have to do a post mortem of your actions and take stock of where you made your mistakes.

Mistakes will happen

If you try too hard to avoid mistakes, you end up making more of them. You can’t avoid mistakes and you shouldn’t try. Sometimes, your mistakes will make people angry with you.
 
It’s a part of life.
 
If this happens, you first have to determine if your mistakes truly affected those people. If it didn’t, they have no right to call you out on them.
 
If it turns out that your actions did affect them, do what you can to rectify the situation. A simple apology may be all that’s needed.
 
Be forgiving of people who make mistakes. You would want them to do the same if you slipped up.
 
It’s okay to get angry at someone in certain situations. But, open your heart and let them make amends.
 
Once you give in to making mistakes, you’ll find it a freeing experience. You will no longer need to put too much pressure on yourself to avoid them.

Sticky situations

Meanwhile, mistakes can lead to positive, unintended circumstances. Take Sticky Notes by 3M.
 
Researchers at the company set out to create a strong adhesive. Management was not impressed, but the idea was used to create a different product.
 
There have been many instances of mistakes that lead to alternative solutions. These wouldn’t have happened by way of mistake avoidance.
 
Let yourself make mistakes. They’ll help you trust yourself.
 
JohnK 4-16-2019
 
 
 
stick figure hears mistakesOverheard: “You make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make you.”
                              ~Maxwell Maltz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for mistakes
 
 
 
 

Complainers Can Learn to Appreciate Small Things

April 2, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Complainers complain. It’s what they do. Are you dealing with such a person? If you are, consider the points in this GenuLines post and apply them to your situation.
 
banner helps complainers
 

Complainers Can Learn to Appreciate Small Things

 
woman complainingDo you know a chronic complainer? Someone who never seems to be happy about anything.
 
They find everything wrong with what others do. If there’s a new idea, they’ll knock it down.
 
They’re also the type of person who will interrupt others to make their point. They’ll do that because they know best.
 
 
 
But at some point, people start to ignore them. And they’re high on the list if cutbacks should ever hit the company, too.
 
Complainers have forgotten how to appreciate the small things in life.
 
They don’t realize that it’s difficult to get a new job and it takes much more time than it used to.
 
They don’t appreciate that they have a job.
 
Sometimes, chronic complaining can be a result of complacency. Since no one is listening to what the person says, it’s just easier to complain.
 
No company or situation is perfect, and sometimes it’s best when problems are out in the open. But there is a time and place for complaints and a correct way to air them.
 
If you have to complain offer up several solutions to the problem. That’s a productive use of complaining energy.
 
Call it problem recognition with applicable solutions.
 
There’s a critical difference between you and a chronic complainer. You appreciate your job or your situation.
Help the complainer
If you want to help a chronic complainer, point out the problem using a subtle approach. Instead of telling the person they complain too much, show them how to be grateful for the little things in life.
 
Remind them that you feel appreciative of the fact you have a job, etc.
 
Relate a story- may be about how your last job search was difficult. It took you months, and it made you realize that jobs are not easy to find.
 
Also, talk about how you appreciate your home life and your family and what it means to you. That’s a subtle approach.
 
The person may start to understand there is much to appreciate in everyday life. You can show that complaining is ineffective and may lead to problems down the road.
 
Aim to get friends and colleagues to relate to the same gratitude for work and family.
 
The chronic complainer may start to see it pays to be appreciative.
 
JohnK 4-2-2019
 
 
stick figure hears complainersOverheard: “Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses.”
                               ~Proverb
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for complainers
 
 
 
 
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