You want to make more money. You see the lavish lifestyles of celebrities and other famous people.
You’d like to have some of that for yourself. But, is your drive for money blinding you to the important things in your life?
It’s often said that if you do something you love, the money will follow. That can happen if you approach whatever you love with passion.
Then again, if making money is your driving force, how will you do that? You’re likely to chase the dollar from one job to the next or from one opportunity to the next.
You’ll get seduced by false offers of riches. Over time, you’ll look back and see how little you accomplished.
You may be successful in the short term. You’ll get that extra dollar from a new job or you’ll squeeze a quick buck from your business.
But, you’ll keep searching for more money.
Experience
It’s possible that if you lack the experience at your new job you won’t be able to handle it. In other words, you didn’t give your previous level enough time to develop a foundation.
You jumped ahead, and now you’re unclear what to do. It’s a concept known as the Peter Principle, named after the person who came up with the idea, Peter Drucker.
Money isn’t as important as a lot of folks believe. For instance, what good is having a high-paying job when you have to work 80-90 hours a week?
What kind of life is that?
Many people who do this, look back at their lives and wonder why they did it. While they may have a lot of money when they get older, they might end up quite unhappy.
Or the workload needed to reach your goal gets you to an early grave. In that case the money they earned is useless.
If you are happy with what you are doing, money becomes a secondary priority. People do need money to live, and you shouldn’t settle for working for less than you’re worth.
Get to the point where you can balance a decent amount of money with doing something that you enjoy. Then expect to live a more satisfying life.
Procrastination is a thief. It will rob you of precious minutes and hours before you realize they’re gone.
You put off the task you intended to complete today. There was good reason to do it, but right now you can’t remember why.
Procrastination comes in many disguises. Sometimes it’s called rationalization.
You didn’t get started on that project because the weather was too hot. Or you didn’t have all the parts to finish the job.
You can always come up with good reasons to delay a project.
Procrastination as a habit
When you put off correcting this it becomes your constant companion. You find ways to delay a task because there are other things more important to do.
There are lots of excuses.
Like checking your email. Playing an on-line game.
Or turning on the TV to see if you’re missing something interesting.
You have to recognize a real reason you delay as opposed to an excuse not to do something you don’t want to do. Ask yourself if that job needs to get done. and if your answer is yes then get it done and then reward yourself for a victory over procrastination.
When the job is complete, step back and assess what you’ve done to see if it was worth the time and effort. Could be you were procrastinating for good reason, but that’s rarely the case.
Lack of direction can cause you to procrastinate because you’re not sure what to do next.
Disorganization
This could be the father of procrastination. Get organized with a to-do list, putting the most urgent at the top.
Make a deal with yourself that you cannot do anything else until you finish at least one thing on the list. You can make giant strides with tiny steps.
Big projects can be daunting whether you’re writing a book or building a house. Break them into sections.
A small manageable task is much more palatable than trying to swallow the entire project. No matter how small the success it’s another step toward completion.
Decide what needs done and do it. Even if it’s done wrong at least you’ve done something.
Indecision
Indecision can cause major delays in both your business and personal life. It’s easier to make a decision if you make a list of project pros and cons.
Once you have a clear direction, your mind clears and the way opens up.
Fear of failure can cause procrastination. But, the failure lies in never getting started.
Difficult and dreaded tasks are rarely as bad as they seem at the beginning. Stop procrastinating today.
Lack of motivation can throw cold water on the best of plans. So let GenuLines help keep you on the path toward realizing exactly what you want in life.
You get your work assignment. You know what you have to do.
You’ve got to get started – but somehow, you lack the motivation to get off square one.
Success won’t be had without motivation.
Where’s the source of your motivation?
Where can you turn for the inspiration that will propel you forward? We’re all different and we’re all motivated by different things.
You may get motivated by visualizing completion of the task and reaching the goal. There may be a job promotion in it for you and a bigger paycheck.
Or you want to finish another chapter in the book you’re writing, or you look to lose five pounds by the end of the week. Seeing the goal in your mind could motivate you toward success.
Visualize completion
Never lose sight of your ultimate goal. Know you’re going to get what you deserve and push forward with renewed motivation.
You know that success is not only an option but is a real fact. Keep this in mind and motivation comes easier.
Preparation
Motivation without the skills to achieve your goals is not enough. If you know you’re lacking something to move forward motivation is hard to summon.
Knowledge fuels motivation, and to a lesser extent, so does persistence.
Change your environment
New surroundings often give you a renewed outlook on your life. It can be something simple.
Put a new plant in your home or office, hang a new picture or open the curtains and let in the light.
This also includes surrounding yourself with positive people. When you’re around positive and successful friends their attitude rubs off on you.
You absorb their energy. But you’ll also absorb the energy of negative people or depressing surroundings.
Other methods
Find the source of your motivation and re-evaluate your tasks. Brainstorm and look for new information.
You can do this by taking a break. Go for a walk, exercise, work in the yard or relax with an inspirational book.
Using your brain in different ways will stimulate it. And stimulation leads to motivation.
Do something for others
When we do for others we find motivation within ourselves. Many times the way to achieve your goal is to assist others in reaching theirs.
Seek to serve and you’ll become energized and motivated when people rely on you. Disappoint them and you disappoint yourself – and you’re not going to let that happen, are you?
Listen
Some find a motivational source by talking or reading aloud to themselves. Keep an inspirational book handy at all times.
When you actually hear the positive affirmations they become more effective.
Motivation comes from many different sources. Look within and find what works for you.
Believe in yourself. Look forward to the good that will come into your life.
Do these things and expect motivation to come your way..
Creating a time management plan keeps you from wasting time. Having a plan makes every hour count.
You work at a good pace. And your time gets good distribution over the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks.
Creating a time management plan is an important key to success.
* Be Realistic With Your Plans –
Don’t go against your own internal clock when planning each day. If you know you struggle to get up in the morning, don’t schedule things in the early morning hours.
If you can manage the tasks you like first in the morning, try that.
* Set Time Limits –
This is especially important for both tasks you dislike and for the ones you like. There’s a risk of procrastination when you spend too much time on tasks you like.
* Say no to Distractions –
One of the biggest killers of any plan is distractions.
These include television, phone calls, social media, even children and spouses. You can head off most distractions by planning ahead.
Turn off the TV. Turn off the phone.
Use social media only at certain times- and use a timer. Explain to kids and spouses the importance of not bothering you while you’re working.
* Differentiate Important from Non-Important Tasks
Understand what is important and what is not important. If you make it a habit to do the most important things first, you’re going to feel more accomplished and get more done.
* Calendars and Technology –
Use Google Calendar or another system synced to your phone. This is a great way to ensure that your calendar is always with you and that you don’t forget things.
You can even set reminders and alarms to help.
* Kick Urgency out of Your Life –
For instance, if you’re a service provider, stop taking last-minute work orders. Train your clients to give you plenty of time to work tasks into your schedule.
Set family time and playtime into your schedule too. That might avoid a last-minute meltdown from the little ones, too.
* Create and Use Lists –
It’s one thing to note on your calendar the words “work on project A”. But it’s quite another to list what you’ll do when you work on project A.
This is the most effective way to schedule your time so that you meet your goals. Be very specific with lists so you don’t waste time.
* Create a Daily Action Plan –
Have at least four or five things that you can do each day toward any goal that you have. Plus, having a variety of things to do each day can avoid boredom and procrastination.
Creating a time management plan is an essential element in creating success. Most successful people live and die by their calendars.
Some of the biggest stressors for families are financial challenges. When your financial house is in order, then the rest of your life falls into place with less hassle.
For most of us, financial planning was not a part of our high school or college curriculum. Ditto for balancing a checkbook or concentrating on 401k or emergency expenditures.
No balance in your financial issues can mean no balance in other life areas, too. Unfortunately, money controls much of our thought patterns, time, and worries.
Figure Out Your Spending Habits
Learn about your financial patterns before talking about money with your partner.
You can make improvements in your spending habits.
And you can do that whether you’re frugal or a spendthrift.
The Spendthrift
If you have no knowledge of where money comes from or how to manage it, you’ll find that money will manage you. Spending more than you earn is never a good scenario.
Sit down with your finances. Figure out what’s coming in, what’s going out. and keep the difference for yourself as spendable income.
It’s really that simple.
Living above your means is something that you do not want to do, ever. Living above your means is never a win/win situation.
The Frugal Financier
If you hate to part with pennies and dimes you’ll have strained money dealings with most everyone. No one is going to put up with someone who’s being a tightwad, even for fun.
Get Together with Your Financial Partner
It’s very important to get together with your financial partner. Put your differences to work for you instead of against you.
Let’s say you are frugal and your partner is a spendthrift. Come up with great and innovative ways to meet somewhere in the middle.
Compromise is an important part of a relationship. And what better way to incorporate that tool than to use it in your financial life.
There is a lot more to goal setting than just picking a goal and moving forward. Yes, this is important.
But it’s also important to make sure that you’re setting the right goals at the right time. These questions will help you head in the right direction:
Are You Setting Specific and Realistic Goals?
It takes a little research to ensure that a goal is realistic. If you’re not sure if something is actually achievable then you haven’t done enough research.
Once you know that the goal is realistic you need to give it a clear description. This will let you work backward to make a schedule of action you’ll need to succeed.
Are Your Goals Multifaceted?
Focusing on only one part of your life is a bad idea. To feel successful people make goals for all areas of their lives.
Say you have a wonderful business and career but your personal life suffers. No matter how successful you are, you won’t feel successful.
Make sure your goals include something from each aspect of your life.
Does Your Scheduling Show Real Need?
For instance, you want to exercise 30 minutes per day. But setting aside only 30 minutes isn’t going to be realistic.
You’ll probably need to set aside an hour. This will cover getting ready as well as cooling down or getting cleaned up to go back to work.
Are You Learning from Failure?
You might feel like giving up when setting goals and schedules. You put your plan into effect but you notice there are things you’ve forgotten to take into account.
Don’t quit. Learn from the failure and change the schedule to be more realistic.
You might find that in practice you have to rewrite all your goals and your schedule. This is natural.
Failure feels like a negative. But the truth is if you don’t fail sometimes you’re not going to learn much and it’s likely your goals are too easy.
Do Your Goals Represent Your Needs and Wants?
A lot of people set goals that represent what someone else wants instead of what they want. This can cause a lot of bad feelings and resentment.
And it can derail the best-laid plans.
As you set your goals for your life, ask yourself if they’re what you want for yourself or what someone else wants for you. Ask yourself if you’re okay with any goal you make being for someone else before you embark on your journey.
Are You Checking in Often to Stay on Track?
To-do lists pale in comparison to a well laid out calendar of tasks and activities that get you from point “A” to point “B”. Make sure that you look at your schedule often.
Make note of when you succeed in sticking to your schedule and when you don’t. Noticing a pattern of activity can help in improving your schedule.
And it can help you stay realistic about whether you’re sticking to the plan.
Do Your Goals Have Positive Focus?
Try writing down a goal and then changing the words to sound more positive to see if it isn’t more motivating. For instance, “losing weight” seems like a good target.
But for some people, it might signify deprivation. Instead, frame the goal as “improving my BMI by 10 points” or “improving my cholesterol by 10 percent.”
Do You Have Too Many Goals Set at One Time?
Just as setting too few goals can be a problem, so can setting too many. Instead, pick one personal goal, and one other type of goal to focus on until you reach them.
Later you can add more as time goes on. You don’t need to do everything today.
Slow and steady wins the race is a good motto to hang on to.
Setting the right goals for yourself takes some thought and consideration. Don’t try to set them all in one day.
It’s better to set some goals in different stages and in different areas of your life. And give a lot of thought to why you’re setting the goals in the first place.
Your brain isn’t something you usually consider when you think about holiday meals. So GenuLines gives you some things to think about before you dig in with family and friends.
Unnecessary distractions can slow down your day. Regardless of what you do for a living or the hobbies and pastimes you enjoy.
Improving your ability to concentrate on the task at hand could give you a big advantage.
A healthy diet is a solid way to improve most aspects of life in general. There are lots of healthy dietary choices that can improve cognitive functions.
Here we’ll look at a few of the many dietary options that help you focus on whatever it is that is important to you.
Salmon
To improve focus you need good brain function.
This is why foods that contain high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, are a great option.
Omega-3 actually improves the amount of oxygen available to the brain. And it increases new information retention.
Foods Rich In Vitamin D
Research tends to find that a LACK of vitamin D leads to greater levels of cognitive impairment. This is especially true in older folks.
Exactly how this happens is uncertain. But a recent study in the journal, Trends in Neuroscience, gives us clues.
A sort of netting surrounds healthy neurons in the brain. These nets work like supportive structures.
They help maintain the connections between various neurons. This allows them to continue to relay information via synaptic pathways.
The researchers felt that low vitamin D could make these nets more vulnerable. The result could be degradation by certain enzymes.
And this could result in various cognitive deficiencies such as focus and concentration.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient herb used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Users say this dietary supplement helps focus and information retention.
And there’s been a resurgence in its popularity.
The thinking is that Ginko boosts blood and oxygen flow. This logic is often applied to other areas of the body, such as skeletal muscles.
Green Tea
Caffeine is a very popular go-to when it comes to focusing and being able to concentrate. But a roller coaster ride comes with ingesting large amounts of caffeine.
The result is a mental crash at the end of the ride. Green tea does in fact contain caffeine.
But it possesses another chemical that’s great at mitigating this crash.
Most forms of green tea contain L-theanine. This allows a slower release of caffeine into the bloodstream.
The result is a sustained sense of focus and concentration. And without the unwanted comedown.
Works Cited
9 brain foods that will improve your focus and concentration. (2018, April 27). Retrieved from https://alifeofproductivity.com/9-brain-foods-that-will-boost-your-ability-to-focus/
Rodriguez, B. D. (n.d.). ADHD Diet: Foods to Help You Focus – ADHD Center – Everyday Health. Retrieved from https://www.everydayhealth.com/add-adhd-pictures/what-to-eat-in-an-adhd-diet.aspx
Vitamin D and brain health: New mechanism may explain link. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324541
Intending to be productive is a worthy pursuit. But over time and with overuse the definition of productive has become a little fuzzy.
Now “Productivity” is a sort of buzzword. It’s used in employee training seminars and self-help techniques.
If you don’t get the true meaning of this word you might waste valuable time that could be better spent.
In a fast-paced driven society we’re expected to produce more in less time. Unfortunately, this can often have the opposite effect.
Here are a few things to consider when looking at how you spend your time,
Busy & Productive Are Not Synonymous
This might be the biggest misconception about what it means to be productive. Staying busy and on the go doesn’t always mean you’re being productive.
Being productive means you are actually getting something done.
It’s easy to jump from one task to another. Could be you shift your focus and attention every five minutes, all in the name of “multi-tasking.”
Now and then ask yourself if you’re actually accomplishing anything. For example, after a five-hour stint on your computer at work, take a look at the end result.
Have you produced something of value that was not there when you first sat down at your desk? Never confuse being busy with being productive.
Progressing Towards Something
This kind of piggybacks off of the previous thought. But this tip deserves its own discussion.
You can get into a kind of “grind” mentality.
You spend hours working at irrelevant things. Again, this may or may not help your productivity.
With anything that you dedicate a lot of your time to, there should be an end goal in mind.
Have a well-understood plan of how you’ll reach it. Productivity involves a linear path from where you are right now to what you want to get done.
If you’re working hard only for the sake of working hard, you run the risk of wasting valuable time and energy. It’s always important to consider your “why” before you commit your valuable time to any task.
Balancing Productivity
Achieving anything worthwhile often involves hard work and focus. But it doesn’t mean neglecting every other area of your life in the process.
For example, you want to transform your body and get in better shape. Will it help if you neglect your closest relationships and other commitments, too?
True productivity includes nurturing every aspect of who you are. Even during the pursuit of something specific.
Sure, there are going to be times when more of your time and energy goes toward one thing in particular. But make sure that not ALL of it is!
As a human being, you are a lot of things at the same time.
When it comes to decluttering your home, you might decide to put everything you throw
out on eBay. But decluttering your mind is a little trickier.
Here are a few ways to declutter your mind.
#1: Declutter your space
This one is pretty obvious. With fewer things in your field of vision, you have less garbage to stew over and worry about.
This frees up space in your mind.
#2: Declutter your schedule
Another thing that can drive you crazy is the constant rush from one activity to another. Take a look at your schedule and start eliminating things that aren’t necessary.
With fewer ingredients in your stressful stew, you’ll make your day a little calmer.
#3: Unplug from the party
Would you be able to get any rest if you were attending a party of several thousand people? I’m talking, like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
That’s pretty much what’s going on with your smartphone, tapped in as you no doubt are to social media networks. The pings, dings, and rings from your contacts are all adding small but unhealthy doses of stress to your day.
#4: Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about engaging with the present in a fully, alive way. There are lots of ways to practice mindfulness.
One is meditation. Another could be fixing your stare at an object (like a candle) and noticing your thoughts.
Mindfulness can contribute to increased concentration and a decluttered mind.
#5: Let go
Sometimes it’s best to let old memories die. These can range from broken relationships to diabolical bosses.
We tend to have a whole lot of backstory spinning in the recesses of our minds. Let it all go, and like a faster-operating computer, you’ll find your mind in a much more free and easy state.
Meditation might not be your first thought when your motivation is on the wane. But GenuLines knows that it can be a go-to tool for those times when you lose your spark,
The downward spiral of low motivation can seem like an impossible cycle to break. During those times productivity and accomplishment can seem like unattainable goals.
There is one simple tool you may not have considered before that can get you back on track, and that’s meditation. It’s an exercise that goes well beyond providing relaxation.
Focus and Concentration
Focus and concentration are by-products of meditation. But don’t force the issue.
This could have a negative effect on your motivation.
Increased Happiness
More and more of us are being diagnosed with depression. It’s no surprise that happy people tend to have more energy and higher self-confidence.
And motivation raises happiness by helping release the brain’s “happiness hormones.” When you’re feeling more positive, you’re likely to have more desire to get things done.
Less Stress
Meditation leads to a more relaxed state. This is due to the way it allows the brain to slow down as it receives sensory input.
This relaxation and improved processing leads to reduced feelings of stress and overwhelm. With less stress comes a feeling of more control, which then fuels your motivation.
Positive Thinking
One of the biggest killers of motivation is negative thinking. A pessimistic view can come from many sources.
Think depression, poor habits, or general life difficulties.
The beauty of meditation is that it “rewires” brain patterns. This process encourages more positive thought patterns.
The result is a reset that helps you become more motivated.
Clarified Goals and Purpose
Taking time each day for meditation can give you a great deal of insight. This helps with reassessing what’s most important in your life.
When you have a better picture of your priorities, your goals and life’s purpose become clearer. Knowing where you want to go kicks your motivation into high gear.
And you’ll feel a greater urgency to take the necessary steps on the path to your dreams.
The benefits of meditation for increased motivation are many. There are various types of meditation.
You can begin to research on your own or find a teacher who can help you develop a practice that works for you. What’s most important is that you get started.
And maintain consistency in your meditation practice to get the most effective results. Soon you’ll be tackling your to-do list and pursuing the life goals that matter with renewed vigor.