9 Tips For A Spring Clean Life Reset

When you think of spring-cleaning, you probably think of the time of year when you go all out cleaning up your house. You know, the time you sweep out all the nooks and crannies and wash the windows to bring the outside in. What if you used that same idea, but instead of cleaning your physical surroundings, you tidied up your life? If you don't quite understand what that means, here are nine examples that can get you started.

Take stock of where you are now.

Before you begin to spring-clean your life, you should take careful stock of how you are currently doing. Do you have goals? How are they going? Are there any areas of your life you'd like to change? A thorough spring-cleaning can encompass multiple areas of your life. Taking stock of where you are will help you direct your energy where it's needed.

This can be your physical environment, relationships, digital clutter, work habits, personal goals, and more. Consider breaking down each area into manageable steps. Just as you would declutter one room at a time, setting clear boundaries in relationships, or prioritizing your most important personal goals.

Clean up your relationships.

Do you have any toxic relationships? Maybe it is time to part ways with these people. If the people in your life don't cheer you up, lift you up, or build you up, why are they in your life anyway?

The KonMari method, popularized by Marie Kondo, focuses on decluttering your physical space by keeping only the items that "spark joy." This method can also be applied to other areas of your life, such as relationships. Consider identifying the people in your life that bring you the most joy and focusing on decluttering the rest.

Tidy up your habits.

It might be time to clean up those bad habits of yours. Maybe you overeat, procrastinate, or smoke. Bad habits add up over time and cost you in the long run. Whatever your bad habits are, they can hold you back from living your best life.

Fortunately, bad habits can be broken and replaced with positive ones. It may take some effort, but it is possible to change your ways and create habits that will improve your life. Here are 5 ways to spring-clean your life by breaking your bad habits and creating positive ones:

1. Set realistic goals.

When trying to break a bad habit, it’s important to set realistic goals. If your goal is too lofty, you’re likely to get discouraged and give up. For example, if you want to quit smoking, setting a goal of quitting cold turkey may not be realistic. Instead, try setting a goal of smoking one less cigarette per day.

2. Create a plan.

Changing your behavior is easier when you have a plan. When trying to break a bad habit, figure out what triggers your behavior. Once you know what triggers your bad behavior, you can create a plan to avoid those triggers. For example, if you overeat when you’re bored, make a plan to find something else to do when you’re bored instead of eating.

3. Get rid of temptation.

If you have temptations around you, it will be harder to break your bad habit. If you can’t get rid of the temptation entirely, try to make it less accessible. For example, if you’re trying to quit smoking, and you have cigarettes in your house, put them in a drawer where you can’t see them. Out of sight, out of mind.

4. Reward yourself.

Rewarding yourself for breaking your bad habit can be a great motivator. When you reach a milestone, give yourself a small reward. For example, if you’ve been smoke-free for one week, buy yourself a new pair of running shoes. As you reach longer milestones, you can give yourself bigger rewards.

5. Be patient.

Changing your behavior takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you have a setback or if you’re not seeing results as quickly as you’d like. Continue to keep moving and eventually, you will reach your goal.

Clear your mind.

A lot is going on in everybody’s heads. Maybe you should take some time to clean things up a bit. Mental clutter can come in many forms, such as stress, worry, and negative self-talk. To declutter your mind, consider practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation, journaling, or deep breathing.

Getting those thoughts spinning around in your head onto paper can make a world of difference. It can also help to set priorities and create a clear plan of action for tasks and goals to reduce mental overwhelm.

Unplug.

If you’re finding yourself constantly scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, it’s time for a break. Technology is great, but sometimes you need to unplug and live in the moment. Don't be afraid to prune some of your social media accounts: decluttering your digital life can improve your focus and reduce distractions. Aim to spend less time on your devices and more time just taking in the world around you.

Social media can be a major source of mental clutter and stress, so it’s important to take a step back and detox from time to time. To spring-clean your social media, consider unfollowing accounts that don't align with your values or cause negative feelings. It can also help to set boundaries, such as limiting your social media use to certain times of day or turning off notifications.

Refresh your fitness routine.

Has your fitness routine become boring or stale? Why not shake things up? Find a new exercise, sport, or activity that gets you excited, and try to fit it into your daily routine. What do you hope to achieve from your fitness routine? Whether it’s losing weight, gaining muscle, or simply improving your health, setting some goals will help you stay on track.

Don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back for sticking to your fitness routine. Rewards can help you stay motivated, so treat yourself to something special when you reach your goals. Maybe buy new workout clothes, get a massage, or take a break from working out and have a day of relaxation.

“Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.”

— NATHAN W. MORRIS

Sort out your diet.

A great way to tidy up your life is to clean up your diet a bit. What you put into your body has a major impact on how you feel.  Consider adding more water, and natural whole foods, and cutting back on your guilty pleasures. Find a healthy way of eating that you can sustain.

If you're anything like most Americans, you probably started the year off with good intentions to eat better. Maybe you even made it a few weeks before returning to old habits. If you're ready to get back on track, Spring is the perfect time to start fresh.

One of the most difficult things about trying to eat better is finding a plan that you can stick to. There are so many fad diets and quick weight loss schemes out there that it's hard to know which one to choose. The best way to find a healthy eating plan is to do some research and find one that fits your lifestyle and tastes.

Once you've found a plan that you think you can stick to, the next step is to start making some changes. Small changes are usually easier to stick to than big ones. So begin with things like cutting out sugary drinks and salty snacks or eating an extra serving of fruits and vegetables each day. As you begin to see results, you'll be more motivated to keep going.

If you find yourself struggling to stick to your healthy eating plan, don't give up. Just remember that it takes time to form new habits, and you're more likely to succeed if you're patient and consistent. Most importantly, don't beat yourself up if you have a slip-up. Just get back on track and keep going.

Organize Your Workspace.

This is almost real spring-cleaning! Organizing your workspace is a great way to boost your productivity and get more excited about working in general. Reorganizing is less about cleaning and more about making sure every item has its space and every space has a purpose.

A thorough spring-cleaning can have many benefits for your mental and physical well-being. Decluttering your physical space can reduce stress and increase productivity. It can also help you identify areas of your life that need attention and create a fresh start for new goals and habits.

Spring clean your self-care routine.

Self-care is essential for maintaining good emotional, mental, and physical health. To spring-clean your self-care routine, consider trying new activities or hobbies, setting clear boundaries around your time and energy, and prioritizing sleep and rest. It can also help to reflect on your values and goals to ensure your self-care routine aligns with what's most important to you. By making even the smallest changes to your self-care routine, you can make a big difference in how you feel.

These are my personal favorites.

1. Get outside and get moving.

Spring is the perfect time to get outside and get moving. After being cooped up all winter, your body and mind will thank you for getting some fresh air and exercise. Take a walk, go for a bike ride, or even just sit outside and soak up some vitamin D. Getting outside and moving your body will help boost your energy and mood.

2. Make time for yourself.

Self-care is all about making time for yourself. Carve out some time each day to do something that you enjoy, whether it’s reading, taking a hot bath, or taking a yoga class. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that brings you joy. Taking even just a few minutes each day for yourself can make a world of difference.

3. Connect with loved ones.

Spending time with loved ones is important for your mental health. Whether you stay in touch via text, social media, or in person, make the effort to connect with the people you care about. Talking to loved ones can help reduce stress and make you feel more supported.

In conclusion, spring-cleaning your life is a key step towards achieving a fresh start and creating a healthier, more fulfilling life. It involves decluttering your life, refreshing your mind, and reevaluating your goals and priorities. By tackling different areas of your life and creating a spring-cleaning routine, you can reduce stress, increase productivity, and create a more positive outlook. With these tips and insights, you can begin your journey towards a more organized, simplified, and fulfilling life today. So, act, declutter, and refresh your life this spring to achieve the life you desire.

My final thoughts are:

If you are serious about a spring-cleaning reset for your life, I suggest you schedule some time for it in your calendar. Choose a few days in the upcoming weeks to focus on tidying up your life.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

For more information, read this post.

21 Ways To Spring Clean Your Life

Get More Done Optimize Your Productivity and Time Management

We often assume that being productive requires massive amounts of effort. But effective productivity should make your life easier, not harder. There are many productivity benefits, and it’s more important than ever to be productive.

You can accomplish more when you put your most essential activities first. There are strategies for ensuring that you stay on track. Including putting all your tasks in your calendar and having a dedicated time block for each task.

But how can you be productive when there are so many distractions? The key is to find the right discipline and time management system for you. There are a lot of different productivity strategies out there, so it’s important to find one that you like that works for you. The best way to do this is to experiment with different techniques and see what works best for you.

Once you’ve found a productivity strategy that works for you, it’s important to stick with it. Consistency is key to your productivity. The more disciplined you are, the more productive you’ll be. So, if you’re looking to boost your productivity, don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the best method for you. And once you find it, stick with it!

Understand your optimal productive hours.

One of the most important things you can do to be productive is to identify your optimal productive hours. This may vary from person to person, but some general tips can help you determine when you are most productive. First, look at your daily energy levels. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you have more energy in the afternoon or evening? Identify the times of day when you feel the most awake and alert, and try to schedule your most important tasks during those times.

Next, think about how long you can usually focus on a task before you need a break. If you can focus for long periods, you may be able to work on a task for several hours at a time. However, if you find that you need to take frequent breaks, you may want to schedule shorter blocks of time for work and build in some breaks. Finally, consider any outside factors that may affect your productivity.

If you have young children at home, for example, you may need to schedule your work around their nap times or school hours. If you have a long commute, you may want to use that time to listen to audiobooks or podcasts. Identifying your optimal productive hours can help you make the most of your time and be more productive. By scheduling your most important tasks during the times when you are most alert and have the most energy, you can ensure that you are making the most of your time.

Create a daily schedule.

Productivity doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of careful planning and execution. And it all begins with creating a daily schedule. Time management isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to find what works best for you and stick to it. There are a few things to keep in mind when creating a daily schedule.

• First, focus on your most important tasks. These are the tasks that are going to have the biggest impact on your productivity.

• Second, break down your tasks into manageable chunks. Don’t try to tackle everything at once. You’ll just end up feeling overwhelmed.

• Third, build in some flexibility. Things come up and the plan changes. You don’t want to be so rigid that you can’t adjust as needed.

• Fourth, make sure to schedule some time for yourself. This is the time to relax, recharge, and reset. Without it, you’ll quickly burn out.

• Fifth, and most importantly, be consistent with your schedule. The only way to see results is by sticking to your plan.

Set achievable goals.

To get optimized productivity, you need to set achievable goals. Trying to accomplish too much at once can be overwhelming and lead to poor results. When your goals are manageable and specific, it’s easier to create a plan of action to complete them. Time management is a mainstay to being productive. If there is not enough time allocated to complete a goal, it will likely not be done well.

To have an optimized workflow, it is essential to be disciplined. Staying focused on the task at hand and breaking it down into smaller steps will help you to avoid feeling overwhelmed. By being disciplined and staying on track, it will be easier to complete your goals and be productive. Productive workflows come down to setting the right goals and managing your time wisely.

Wake up early.

The most productive people in the world have one thing in common: they wake up early. And by early, we mean 5 am or earlier. If you’re not a morning person, this probably sounds like torture, but there are scientific reasons why waking up early can make you more productive.

You will have the entire morning to get things done before the distractions of the day begin to set in. You can get a head start on your workday or your projects. This is the time of day when you’re most likely to be undisturbed and able to focus on what you need to do. Waking up early gives you more time to exercise. Exercise has been proven to increase productivity, so this is an awesome way to begin your day.

And rising early gives you time to enjoy the quiet of the morning. If you’re not a morning person, this might sound counter-intuitive, but something is calming about the world when it’s just waking up. So, take some time to enjoy the stillness before the hustle of the day begins.

If you’re looking to increase your productivity, waking up early is a great place to begin. It might take some time to adjust, but it’s worth it. Try setting your alarm 15 minutes early and see how you feel after a week. Repeat this process until you find a time that works best for you.

Avoid distractions.

It’s no secret that we live in a world full of distractions. With technology at our fingertips and our social media feeds constantly updating, it’s easy to get pulled away from what we’re supposed to be doing. When we’re trying to be productive, these distractions can be a major setback. The first step to avoiding distractions is to be aware of them.

Once you know what factors are most likely to pull your attention away from what you’re doing, you can take steps to avoid them. For example, if you know you can’t resist checking your phone every time it buzzes, put it on silent or out of reach. If you have trouble focusing on background noise, try using headphones or finding a quiet place to work. When you limit the sources of distraction, you will find it easier to focus on the task at hand.

If you find yourself getting distracted, give yourself some grace. Take a deep breath and refocus your attention on what you were doing. It’s okay to take breaks but don’t get too far off track. You’ll be surprised how much more productive you can be when you allow yourself the time and space to focus.

Take a break.

Spending hours working without a break can have a grave impact on your mental health. Breaks give your brain time to recuperate and recharge after a period of lengthy, focused work. If you don’t take breaks regularly, you will have a harder time focusing when it’s necessary.. But how exactly can you make the most of your break time? And how can you make sure that you don’t end up spending more time on your break than you intended to? Here are a few tips:

• Use your break time to do something that will help you recharge and refocus. This might mean taking a walk, listening to music, or reading something inspiring. Whatever it is that helps you relax and feel ready to work again, make sure to do it during your break.

• Set a timer for your break so that you don’t end up taking too much time off. It can be easy to lose track of time when you’re on a break, so setting a timer can help you stay on track.

• Make sure to get back to work after your break. It can be tempting to keep taking breaks, but if you want to be productive, it’s important to get back to work after a break.

Taking breaks can help you be more productive, but it’s important to be strategic about it. Use your break time to recharge and refocus, set a timer, so you don’t take too much time off, and make sure to get back to work after your break.

Review your progress.

Productivity isn’t just about working hard. It’s also about working smart. And part of working smart is taking the time to review your progress regularly, to see what’s working and what isn’t. If you’re not reviewing your progress regularly, you’re missing out on valuable feedback that can help you optimize your productivity. Here are 7 reasons why you should make reviewing your progress part of your productivity routine:

1 | Helps you stay on track.

If you’re not regularly reviewing your progress, it’s easy to get off track. Regular Reviews help you maintain focus on your goals and ensure that you’re making progress toward them.

2 | Keeps you motivated.

It’s easy to lose motivation when you’re not seeing progress. Reviewing your progress regularly helps you stay motivated by highlighting your successes and progress toward your goals.

3 | Helps you identify areas for improvement.

No one is perfect and there’s always room for improvement. Reviewing your progress helps you identify areas where you can make changes to improve your productivity.

4 | Helps you create an improvement plan.

Once you’ve identified areas for improvement, reviewing your progress can help you create a plan for making changes. This plan can help you focus your efforts and make the most of your time.

5 | Helps you track your progress.

It’s important to know whether your efforts are paying off. Reviewing your progress regularly can help you track your progress and identify patterns that may be affecting your productivity.

6 | Helps you learn from your mistakes.

We all make mistakes. Reviewing your progress can not only help you keep your time and tasks organized reducing the number of forgotten or missed details, but help you learn from the mistakes you do make.

7 | Helps you celebrate your successes.

No matter how small, every success deserves to be celebrated. Reviewing your progress regularly can help you identify your successes and give you the recognition you deserve.

My final thoughts.

It’s truly possible to optimize your productivity and time management if you are disciplined. However, it isn’t always easy to maintain these habits. So, you must find a system that works and stick to it.

For more information, read these posts.

What Is Productivity? A Complete Guide For Improving Yours.

5 Tips to Improve Your Concentration.

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Surround Yourself With Uplifting People

Gram’s Wisdom 43 Be your best edition.

We all want to live our best life and be the best edition of ourselves. Yet, few of us know its meaning for us as individuals. You don’t find a living your best life curriculum being taught in school. Instead, we’re pushed into choosing a career or finding the right job. Necessary of course, but rather limited in scope.

Fortunately for me, my Gram had a lot to say about living a good life, your best life. She told me it was important that you surround yourself with people who uplift you, but that it was equally important for you to uplift others. Gram also had a strong belief in the power of simple things acting on your life.  

In this post, I‘ve outlined a few things Gram thought to be necessary for your best life and some things I picked up myself along the way. But let’s begin with the one thing that Gram thought was central to your attaining your best life.

Why is it important to find people who uplift you?

There’s a critical aspect to living your best life. It’s surrounding yourself with positive people who motivate and support you.

You’ve doubtless heard experts say that change and positive thinking stem from the inside. Yet, several external factors also play a substantial role in how your life turns out. One of these is the sort of people you have in your life. They can either pull you up and help you become a better edition of yourself or drag you down with their negativity and misery-loving company attitude.

In short, finding people who encourage you to be better and support you when you feel down are called ‘expanders.’ These are the people who will help you grow as an individual. They give you space to learn from your mistakes without being judgmental or disapproving.

Look at some of the positive changes that take place when you’re in the company of people who motivate you to live your best life.

Become a learner.

When you have people in your life who possess a positive mindset, you can achieve so much more, both on a personal and a professional level. Also, these people can direct you to the areas where you’re sure to be the best edition of yourself.

Not only that, but they’ll help you steer through areas where you’re not as skilled. Then, cheer you on when you flourish and come out on top.

This isn’t just good for your life in general, it’s also good for your self-esteem. When you know you have people in your life who are confident in your abilities, then your self-confidence and overall morale will begin to climb as well.

Accomplish your goals.

The right kind of people can motivate you to think big and go after your desires. They encourage you to push forward, even on your most challenging days, and to work hard for what you want.

People who uplift you are the ones who guide you in the right direction, so you can attain your goals. But, more importantly, they help you set appropriate goals.

Develop a positive mindset.

What would happen if you surrounded yourself with doers and self-starters? Sooner or later, their positivity will rub off on you, and you’ll endeavor to be like them. Their presence can influence your thoughts and actions towards the positive. So, make sure you choose those who will leave a memorable footprint in your life by helping you become the best person you can be.

Even if your mindsets are geared toward different goals, you can learn a great deal from their different beliefs and perspectives.

If you’re an artist and your friend is in business. Why not take their business-savvy mindset and good habits, and merge them with yours? They can also do the same with your innovative attitude and learn a thing or two about creativity.

Remain optimistic.

People with a negative mindset often try to derail others from their path to success. They instill feelings of self-doubt, skepticism, and uncertainty. It’s difficult to focus on your personal growth and accomplishment when surrounded by people like that.

On the flip side, optimistic people behave as a source of support and reassurance. They become your biggest supporters and strongest allies, no matter what. The best part is they don’t become jealous of your successes. Instead, they’re genuinely happy about your accomplishments.

Appreciate the simple things.

“To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.”

— WILLIAM BLAKE

Nurture something.

Interact with something that needs care, be it things or relationships with people. This cultivating can be literal, like planting something and watching it grow. It can also mean creating something with people around you and trying to assist in its success. The point is that connecting with life in a manner that requires steady focus, reveals the relationship between distinct parts and hones your awareness.

In the case of a plant, you begin to understand the relationship between soil, sun, moisture level, and other environmental factors. You see that things are far from static, and what was simple on the surface is filled with complexity. This expanded aspect adds great richness to your life.

Take slow deep breaths.

It’s hard to relish the simple things, or anything at all when you’re always racing from place to place or task to task. Slow down, observe your surroundings, feel the sensations in your body, and tune in. The best of life may just pass you by if you don’t.

On the other hand, breathing deeply, honing your senses through quiet reflection, deep listening, practicing tactile awareness of your body, and mindfully chewing and tasting your food, will markedly increase the quality of your practice. This awareness sets you up to live your best life.

Create stillness in your mind.

Allow silence to envelop you as you take a walk in the park or sit quietly in your home. The creation of stillness in your life can be one of the simplest ways to improve cognitive function. Daily rituals of even a few minutes of quiet, breath work, or meditation can do wonders for mental clarity, stillness, and focus.

According to the National Institute of Health, long-term meditators have more folds in the outer layer of their brains (greater mental processing capacity) and show beneficial changes to the amygdala (emotional processing center of the brain). So, the benefits of meditation are physical, as well as, mental and emotional.

Look outside yourself.

When you listen to someone or lend a hand, you are promoting compassion. Sometimes the best way to see the good in life and appreciate the simple things is by moving out of your head. When you participate in acts of service, placing someone else’s needs above your own, it provides perspective. You feel empathy for another’s experience, and you care about improving their conditions. This insight widens your view and lessens the significance of your problems.

Whether you try one or all the suggestions above, you will reap rewards in your life. What occurs is you begin to appreciate the simple things. What’s more, you discover that there isn’t a single, simple thing.

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For more information, please check out this post.

How Your Circle Of Friends Influence Who You Become.

My final thoughts.

One of the ways you can live your best life is to carefully choose the company you keep. Their presence can have a profound impact on your mental and emotional health.

Another way is if you intentionally participate with the moment, you’re in. As your senses attune to your surroundings, and you absorb what you’re observing, the results will amaze you.

Don't Miss Out On Living Your Best Life

What makes up your best life? What is the meaning of making each moment count? These are subjective terms, and the truth is that we all live differently, and have different life goals, and responsibilities. Our specific paths to a fulfilling life may look different, but common elements are shared between us all. We are all human, and we all want a life that looks like it was tailored to us. Following this universal thought, we can all take positive steps to live our best lives and make every moment count.

What do your goals look like?

While you may have an idea of what you want on a day-to-day basis, do you know and understand your long-term goals? When you imagine a happier life, a more secure one, a more adventurous one, what does that life look like to you? Take a good look at all your existing goals, dreams, and aspirations. Do they suit your interests, or have you chosen them to please someone else?

Take some time to assess what you want in your life – not what others expect you to want – then decide if your path needs to change, so you can be in command of your life and future. When you’re setting goals, try to find reasons with meaning that promote the well-being of your mental and physical health. 

The human mind desires to work towards an end goal, without one, you are more prone to psychological or emotional distress from a life without purpose. A study titled “Purpose in Life Predicts Better Emotional Recovery from Negative Stimuli” by Stacey M. Schaefer et al. reinforced the idea that a life of purpose not only supports mental health but also helps you build resilience to face life’s challenges.

List your priorities.

Prioritization is the process of taking the elements of your life and spelling them out numerically. From short-term to-do lists to longer-term, five or more years, plans, your capacity to organize and prioritize plays a huge part in your ability to carry out your goals. Take a deep breath in, exhale, and accept that you can’t do everything. When you know your limits, you can begin determining what to accomplish first so that you can begin living your best life.

One of the largest contributors to stress and anxiety is a life lived without priorities. Goals without priority often leave you feeling frustrated or ‘stuck.’ Time is divided between responsibilities, work, school, family, and friends, the list is endless. Often you prioritize in the wrong order; work that keeps you from relationships, relationships keeping you from your goals, and habits that prevent you from saving, or realizing your purpose.

So, first, with your goals in mind, sit down and prioritize your time. This can be as specific as you need it to be. Second, since your life is not lived in a vacuum, be sure to include those close to you in the process as family members and friends may need to adjust to changes.

 Who are you?

When you know who you are, you have a full awareness of who you are now and who you want to become in the future. People constantly change throughout their lives; though there are some characteristics of themselves they hope to grow and develop, there are other parts of themselves that may remain the same.

Owning who you are means that you’re able to embrace those desires to evolve while also honoring the steadfast features of who you essentially are. Often, this appears as a set of strengths and weaknesses. Just as you are strong in some areas and abilities, you may be weaker in others.  

Learning how to accept and embrace both sides of who you are is a crucial part of understanding yourself. You can more easily become who you want to be when you accept your whole self – not just select parts of it. Practice accepting your shortcomings and flaws; if you can work on them, do it. If these are parts of yourself you can’t change, embrace them.

Who do you want to be?

When you realize how much control you really can have over your life, it opens your view. You recognize that you are quite powerful and have a lot of say over your life and how things work for you. Whether it’s imagining yourself in the next five years, or six months, imagine the person you want to be by that point in time. What do you want to accomplish? What would make you feel happier and more successful?

Knowing who you want to be means you have a clear vision of whom you want to become, as you move forward into the future. This image of yourself may be based on personal goals, ambitions, or changes you want to make within yourself. Owning that image of your future self means you know what’s possible to achieve with hard work, commitment, and persistence. Treat the image of your future self like a roadmap – it will help you determine what tools you already have at your disposal to achieve those goals, and what you need to do to get there.

 Surround yourself with good influences.

The people you surround yourself with, the places you hang out, and the activities you participate in heavily influence your goals. Furthermore, a study has found that being surrounded by happy people promotes happiness.

Your family and friends are a good place to find love and support. Like-minded people can often be found in a hobby or work-related clubs. Mutual encouragement and inspiration are often the currency of these interactions.

Build circles that support life goals. Learn to speak positivity into your life, offer grace and empathy when needed, and strive to always foster mental, physical, and emotional health.

Do hard things.

The last step in any plan is implementation. You’ve set your goals, you’ve prioritized your time, and you’ve surrounded yourself with supporting figures who will encourage you, now you need to go out and do the hard things.

The hard things are those things that make you uncomfortable or require you to risk failure or take courage to perform. The hard things are often the very things you don’t want to do but must persist in doing so that you become competent.

It’s called your best life because it's not always going to be easy, but it will be rewarding. Sitting on the couch every night is easy. Meeting new people, trying new things, and exploring new places can all be scary and at times even intimidating. But these are frequently the moments that we remember and cherish.

My final thoughts.

Remember to take each day as it comes. To make every moment count, you need to learn to live in the present. Your journey into the future gets closer with each decision you make today, so make it a good one.

For more information, read this related post.

9 Practical Tips For Living Your Best Life Now.

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Taking Action On Your Intention

Gram’s Wisdom 42 Act on what you want from your life.

Actions speak louder than words. We are all familiar with that saying. Right? Yet, moving through life unintentionally is taking the path of least resistance and stumbling into what success you can find. The people who find success in this way are the exception, not the rule. Luck will always run out for people who do not prepare or have something to fall back on.

The basis for the feeling that life happens to you and is out of your control begins in childhood. It’s hard to go from being that child, told how to live, to “well, what do you want to do with your life now that you are out of school”? Is it any wonder that many people only live on the surface, unfamiliar with what it is they want from their life?

My Gram challenged me as a teenager to get to know myself and my values on a deeper level. She told me; that I should use the knowledge of what I learned to understand what I want my life to look like. She said a person successful in life can see the link between where they are now, what their goal is, and what it takes to move toward that point.

Gram believed this kind of life success aimed to provide direction and focus. Gram told me that is how you become the person you want to be, so you can live the way you want to live. Her thought was that your life should reflect who you are. Fast-forward to today and people call this an intentional living mindset.

If you don’t act these are just words.

There is more to choosing a life that matters than having good intentions. You intend to catch up with your friend over coffee, but you never do it. You intend to volunteer at the local soup kitchen, but there is always a reason why you can’t. Or you intend to leave the job you hate and begin a new career, but you never do.

If you make an intention to change, but you don't change, your true intention is to never change. The biggest problem that many people have when trying to act with intention is they do not know what they want. They chase one shiny object after another, and they never get anywhere.

To do something intentionally means to do something purposefully. It's intended. That means it involves a plan of action. You need an objective, a destination.

So, acting with intention means thinking about it. Acting intentionally means acting on a purpose. So, while people talk about acting with intention, you can focus on being intentionally intentional. You are going to think about it, and then you're going to act. This is what it will take to reveal your potential. Once you crack that nut, everything will feel possible.

How do I begin?

The first step is to set a goal, but before you can set a goal you need to know what you want. If you don't know what you want, your first step is to figure it out.

The second step to acting intentionally is setting an end goal. You can't run a race if you don't know where the finish line is. So, where is your finish line?

Now that you have a finish line in mind you can develop a plan. How are you going to get to the finish line?

The next step is the biggest – you can't get to where you're going unless you start acting. You can set all the intentions in the world, but unless you start acting on those intentions, nothing will change. You need to act on every intention you set.

Once you begin your journey, don't give up. You can't give up if you want to be intentionally intentional. You can regroup, you can correct course, you can reboot your plan – none of those things are quitting.

Quitting means stopping and if you stop you will have failed. Nothing less than that counts as a failure because you're on a journey that will take time and effort. You need to give yourself the space and grace to take that journey to its completion.

Just remember, lasting change will never happen by accident. Despite this, a lot of people choose to cruise through life without a plan. And while some of them will find success regardless, you can't rely solely on luck to get you by.

More Than Intentions.

Intentional living forces you to question the significance of your life. It motivates you to act, to find creative ways to succeed, it's energizing, inspiring, and encouraging.

So, what do you do when you want to make a difference and choose a life that matters? You can start small and do common things better than anybody else can because ultimately, you'll reach excellence. How do you start small while believing big?

• Begin right where you are, with just one thing before you expand.

• Pay attention to the words you use.

• Make small changes, little changes accumulate into big things.

If you want to lead a life that has meaning, you need to put others first. Instead of thinking about what you will get out of doing something, think about how your actions could benefit others. Start by learning to appreciate others and listen to their stories. Before you act, take a moment to see things from their perspective and put yourself in their shoes.

You can add value through positive thinking and positive actions. You can impress people by bragging about your success, but you can add value and impact people by discussing your failures.

Your why is one of the biggest aspects of intentional living. If you have a good handle on your why you can focus on it completely. It helps you make sense of what you encounter on your journey, it is the lens through which you see everything and will help you find your way.

We are made to live out a purpose, and they will all be different. If you live without meaning, you live without hope. If you live with meaning, you live with significance. Knowing your why will help you focus on the right things, boost your self-confidence, and keep you motivated.

Live intentionally.

You are the main character in your story, so, start living like one. And you can begin by asking yourself the three questions below.

1.  Can you become the best at what you do?

This is a question about your skills and talent. You already have skills you can use to help others. 

2.  Do you feel passionate about what you're doing?

This is a question about your heart. The feeling of leading a significant life begins in your heart because that's where your desire stems from.

3.  Do you have the resources to make a change?

This is about your tools and resources. If you want to make a difference, do you have the resources necessary to go out and make that change in your world?

My final thoughts.

Living intentionally will form the cornerstone for all your growth moving forward. It will serve as the foundation of everything you hope to achieve.

Think of purpose as the rudder to steer your direction. If you need a reminder, ask yourself every morning why do I do what I do? This is your focus, and the answer should fuel you through another day.

If you want to change something, the only way to make those changes is to act with intention. If you try to make changes without intention you will be unlikely to meet much success.

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For more information, read this post.

6 Steps To Live With Intention: Live Intentionally Not Habitually

Your Mindset On Time And Small Changes

Gram’s Wisdom 40: Small changes make a big difference.

How many of you had parents or other adults ask you, at 7 or 8 years old, what you wanted to be or do when you were grown, then laugh at your answer? I never understood what was funny. Some children just seem to know forever that they want to be a doctor, while others have no idea whatsoever and change their minds daily. The decision about what you want to do with your life is one of the most difficult things you'll go through. Fortunately, at this young age, you have plenty of time to sort this out. You’ve seen the cumulative effect time has on what you learn and the habits you make.

Gram often told me that being an adult doesn't come with a manual, that much of it can be trial and error, and you will make many mistakes along the way. One way to minimize risks is to make small changes as you grow over an extended amount of time, rather than trying to transform your life overnight. By observing, over time, the effect of your actions, you know how well, or not a particular decision is working for you. 

As a human being, you have the power to choose. Whatever you do, it's your choice. Do nothing and that is your choice as well. But how can you tell which choice is right and which is wrong? After all, the possibilities are endless. Don’t rush the decision. Try using these steps to choose your most significant small change for a better life.

Determine your meaningful objectives.

Whatever you want to accomplish, make sure it's meaningful to you. Stop looking at the objectives that others set for themselves. Their goals are not your goals. Why? Because they are not you. Setting an inappropriate objective for the wrong reason will not give you the result you hoped for.

Do you want to be a doctor with your own practice or own a florist shop? Do it because you want to, not because your parents are pressuring you or your friends believe it is the right thing to do.

Consider what would make you happy and add joy to your life. Go beyond the superficial and dive deep into what brings those feelings to you right now. Don't try to change things just for the sake of doing something new, unless new is the thing you desire. If you do that, you'll find it’s not sustainable, and soon you will lose your enthusiasm for it.

Simplify your goals.

Most people have some huge goals, such as owning a dream home, traveling around the world, or making a fortune. While there’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, these things take time and hard work.

Let's say you want to have a home by the sea. Break this goal into small, simple steps. Evaluate your income and expenses, determine how much your dream home would cost, and what’s involved in the process. Also, try to determine what small changes you'll have to make to accomplish your goal. Allow yourself ample time to reach your goal. Time compounds your effort.

Tackle one challenge at a time. Don’t try and do all the things at once.

For instance, you could begin by taking a second job or starting a side hustle. Put some money aside every month. As your side business grows, turn it into a full-time venture. Later, you'll be able to get credit and buy that dream home.

Constancy is key.

Believe it or not, you can bring your ideas to life without changing everything at once. It’s that important first step that can move you in the right direction. Small things, such as building a new habit over time, can go a long way toward your success.

Whatever tiny changes you make, turn them into habits. It's not enough to put money aside for a month or two. A house costs a lot more than that. Instead, save money every month for one year, three years, or five years. Commit to those years and celebrate the milestones as you achieve them.

If you feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place. Focus on your end goal and remind yourself that everything you do brings you another step closer to the destination. Don't give up - your hard work will pay off. It's just a matter of time.

Small actions lead to big changes.

Taking the first step is always the hardest. It’s not uncommon to see people never do what they have in mind just because they’re too afraid to begin. New experiences come with a dose of fear. Not everyone is willing to let go of their fear and take on a new challenge. Be assured, though, that if you want to succeed, you must embrace the unknown and take risks.

No matter what you're trying to achieve, taking the first step can be terrifying. You might think:

    • What if I fail?

    • How will I make money?

    • What will people think?

    • What if I’m no good?

    • What if it's not the right time to do it?

    • Am I ready for this?

The truth is there is no guarantee that you'll succeed. But you'll never know how well it's going to turn out unless you try. Do you want to spend the rest of your life wondering "what if?”

That first step is always the hardest because it requires you to embrace the unknown and face your fears. It's also the most important step - without it, nothing will change.

My final thoughts.

Take a baby step to change your life. Most times, it's the smallest things that have the greatest impact on our lives. Small things take time to accumulate and build. It takes perseverance and dedication. You needn’t have everything figured out from day one. What you need is a goal and the courage to do one little, minuscule thing to get started.

Later, take another step and then another, and so on. Stop waiting for the perfect moment to get started. Stop overanalyzing and just go for it! The best time to begin is now.

For more information on how to establish a new change, read this post.

Small Changes Over Time Equal Big Results

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A Better Mindset From Incremental Change

Tiny changes bring about large results.

Do you want to be better? A better person, a better parent, a better boss? And how about being better than you were last year or even last week? It’s possible. It just takes the right mindset and goals. I call it the mindset of better.

Did you know that only eight percent of people reach their goals? Yep, that's right! The other 92 percent fail within weeks or months. They want to do better, and it’s not their mindset at fault. According to research, what separates the two comes down to one simple thing: setting detailed and challenging goals.

The first step is to open your mind and embrace change. We, humans, are wired to resist any changes that disrupt our routines and habits. Unless you beat inertia, you’ll never be able to transform your life. Relax and be ready for whatever comes. Big dramatic changes won’t necessarily produce big results. Sometimes, it’s the small things that matter.

However, this doesn't mean you should dive in and do everything at once. Trying to do too many things is often a formula for failure. Instead, if you want to go big, you must think small. Not just small, but minuscule. Break those large goals into smaller goals, then make them tiny and begin there.

What's so wrong with “Thinking Big?”

People might have told you that you can accomplish anything you want, whether it's saving the world or becoming a prima ballet dancer. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen. Sure, you could do it, but it will take years of challenging work and discipline. For this reason, it's so important to take baby steps toward your goals, so you don’t become burned out.

The truth is what you need to do is think big in detail. It's essential to have detailed information, plans, knowledge, and skills for your big goals to become a reality. That won't happen overnight. It takes tiny steps, consistently performed day after day.

A big idea doesn't guarantee success. Anyone can have ideas, but only a few people will bring them to life. When thinking big, it's easier to miss the smaller details and make costly mistakes. If you fail, you'll feel disappointed and have a tough time beginning again.

For example, many people dream of running a marathon. However, they haven't yet put on their shoes and run to the end of the driveway. To succeed, think big in increments. Focus on getting out the door and around the block for a week. After that week, begin adding additional distance to your routine. Soon you should notice that your consistency is making it easier for you to get out that door and become a better runner.

How to leverage incremental change.

Since trivial things can have such a significant impact, you can use incremental change to your advantage. Think of what you want to accomplish and then narrow your view. The narrower your focus, the more you will see and experience.

Focus your efforts on taking small baby steps toward your goals, you’ll be more precise and get better results. Your attention to the minute details makes it easier to pivot if or when necessary, as opposed to the challenge of changing all the moving parts in a large goal.

Apply these principles to all areas of your life, whether it’s your career, family, relationships, or health. Each day, do one thing that supports your goals. Build on it the next day. You are looking for a cumulative effect. It doesn’t have to be something big – remember, slight changes have the biggest impact overall.

Changes in your behavior can change your life.

Whether you want to become the next Steve Jobs, launch a successful project, or learn a new skill, you need to begin with baby steps. Exchange any behaviors that hold you back for actions that move you forward.

Let's say you have a tough time following through on your goals. Lately, you always find excuses to skip your piano lessons. By doing that you'll never manage to learn the fundamentals and without them, you will never learn to play well.

Commit yourself to your lessons. Take them seriously just like you do with your job or family time. Schedule practice time as well. Start tiny with 5-10 minutes every day in the beginning.  What you’re doing is incrementally building a new positive habit. The key is not to become overwhelmed and give up.

Stick to the changes you’ve made. Don't jump from one thing to the next. Be consistent and take small steps toward your goals. For instance, if you begin meditating, practicing yoga, or playing the piano, do it every single day. Your goal is just to get better one day at a time.

Think small to go big, and the results will follow!

 Why do small things matter?

Ever heard of the Butterfly effect? According to the chaos theory, insignificant things can have major effects on the world around us.

Want another example? Think about the soda you drink every day. One 12-ounce container has about 150 calories. That's an extra 4,500 calories per month and 54,000 calories per year. It takes just 3,500 calories to gain one pound of fat. If you drink a can of soda daily, you'll pack on an extra fifteen pounds a year unless you burn off those calories.

There are plenty of examples of minuscule things that have had a great impact - and the same applies to your daily life.

My final thoughts.

You can have an influence on your life in small incremental ways. Remember, it’s the mindset of better. Something as simple as reading a book can lead to a major career shift or an aha moment in how you relate to your family. Tiny steps taken day by day accrue like interest in the bank. You won’t see a big change next week, but just give it a couple of years.

For more information, check out this post.

Why Small Goals Are the Secret To Success.

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How Strong Is Your Resolve?

So, already making excuses for falling off the New Year resolution wagon? You needn’t be embarrassed, so are 80-90 percent of others who made resolutions. Instead, take heart it’s not completely your fault. You see, it’s not all about willpower, creating positive habits is equally important.

Do you ever wish you could develop your willpower? Well, you can. Willpower works a lot like a muscle. Exercise it regularly, and it becomes stronger. The key is to make using your willpower a daily habit, and that’s easier than you may think.

Willpower plus positive habits.

Having plenty of willpower is a good thing. While some people seem to have more of it than others, many people struggle from time to time with not having enough. Sure, you can get better at reaching your goals with practice and discipline. But, if that's all it took, everyone would be skinny, fit, and in good financial shape. That’s just not how the world works though, and at times, we all struggle with finding the willpower to reach our long-term goals. 

Luckily, there’s another strategy and skill set that’s just as important as willpower. It’s creating positive habits and routines as a support system for your willpower. Here’s how this works and what it has to do with willpower. Let’s say you want to make a positive change in your life. It doesn’t matter what that is. It could be to read more books specific to your career, so you can learn more and become better at what you do. Or it could be to journal to understand your behavior better.

Begin with a goal in mind.

The simplest way to make sure you are exercising your willpower daily is to work towards a goal. When you have a reason and a purpose, you don’t have to remember what to do to work out those exercise muscles. You just do something that positions you closer to your goal each day.

Consider what that should be. It helps to focus on a single goal at a time instead of trying to change too many things in your life. Pick one area, one thing you want to change or improve and set your goal. Make it a measurable goal with a deadline connected to it. Instead of saying that you want to lose weight, make your goal to lose 25lbs. By Easter, for example.

Alter your goal into a plan using a daily action item.

Once your goal is set, it’s time to come up with a plan for what you need to do to reach said goal. It’s just a matter of considering what you need to do daily to go from where you are today to where you want to be and thus achieve your goal. Let’s look at an example. Let’s say your goal is to get fit enough to run a 5K race in six months. To make that happen, you must work out daily, starting with brisk walks, then a mixture of walking and jogging, graduating to daily runs that get longer and longer until running 5K will be an easy task. 

The plan then is to begin week one with daily 30-minute walks, for example. Those are your daily action items. It gives you something specific to do to exercise your willpower and something measurable you can track.

Use strategies in addition to willpower to establish new habits.

Lastly, it’s time to turn this willpower exercise into a habit. The easiest way to do this is to establish new positive routines. Willpower and habits work together. You must pay attention to both and use them in tandem. Use your willpower to create new habits one at a time. Once that new behavior has become a real habit, you can focus on the next one. Going back to the earlier examples of reading and journaling, start with one of them.

At first, it takes a lot of willpower to make yourself read a few pages or go through 15 minutes of journaling. A better strategy would be to wake up, prepare your coffee, get comfortable in your favorite chair, or sit on the couch and do your reading there. Make sure your book is waiting for you there, and you have reading glasses and light to read by if needed. Add a fun pillow or throw to create a cozy reading spot that you look forward to using. Then begin to establish the habit by using your willpower to make it happen every morning, come rain or shine.

Stick to your new habit.

Follow this new habit until it becomes something you no longer even think about completing. Establishing this new routine can take anywhere from one to three months. Stick with it until it’s just what you do in the morning. Then begin adding the journaling to the mix using the same strategy of having a notebook and pens at the ready in a comfortable place to write until it has become a real habit.

If you use your willpower wisely and add strategies, it will become easier to make this happen every morning. Before you know it, your new task has become a habit and part of your overall routine. At that point, it doesn’t take willpower anymore. Just like you don’t need to remind yourself to brush your teeth.

My final thoughts.

It would be nice to have an extra boost of willpower when you need it most. So, make your plans to reach your goals, add strategies that can increase your success, and avoid the urge to quit.

Another trick to help you stick to your habit is to make it visual by adding it as a recurring event on your calendar.

For more information, read these posts.

New Year Resolution Statistics

Why We Fail To Achieve Our New Year Resolutions

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