Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Affirmation: My Time Is Valuable
Each moment is precious. I can acquire more money and possessions, but my time is finite. So, I set priorities. I focus on the activities that are rewarding for me. I ensure my schedule matches my values. I block out time for the projects I feel passionate about.
I track my time. I figure out how long my routine activities take. I use that information to plan my day and eliminate nonessential tasks.
I avoid procrastinating. I seize promising opportunities instead of putting them off for later. I travel each year instead of waiting for retirement. I volunteer at my children’s school without waiting for a slow time at work.
I limit distractions. I turn off the TV. I limit my time on social media. I go shopping only when I need a specific item.
I take care of my health. I exercise regularly and keep up with recommended doctor appointments.
I spend time with family and friends. I share mealtimes and fun activities. I take my children along when I run errands so I can talk with them and teach them about adult responsibilities.
I learn and grow. I study subjects that enable me to advance my career and increase my personal knowledge.
I do meaningful work. I use my talents to help others through my job and hobbies.
I relax and play. Downtime and laughter keep me strong and cheerful.
Today, I recognize that my time is a valuable treasure. I manage it carefully so I can experience more happiness and fulfillment.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- What is one activity I want to stop wasting time on?
- If I could add an extra hour to each day, how would I use it?
- How does time promote healing?
6 Time-Saving Tips to Help You Get Work Done Faster
There are times when you have lots on your plate, but the time available doesn't permit you to do as much as you'd like. You could feel so overwhelmed that your mind can no longer comprehend the situation and feels like giving up. You probably even tried your hardest, but things seem to keep piling on.
This scenario calls for you to schedule your tasks. Use time management tools to help. For example, post-it notes are easily visible on your desk and allow you to prioritize what you need to do. You can use different colors for different tasks according to importance.
For example, use red post-it notes to prioritize unfinished tasks, blue notes for essential functions that aren't urgent, and green notes for critical tasks that you must complete immediately.
What other time-saving tips can help you work faster and get work done?
Consider these tips:
⇒Reach out to people before meetings. It shouldn't be surprising that meetings take up more time than anticipated. However, you can reduce this stress by speaking with participants before the meeting.
Find out if they can make it and if they want to add anything to the agenda. That way, your meeting won't go longer than expected.
⇒Remove all distractions. Sometimes, it seems that no matter how hard we try, distractions always keep popping up. However, if you can keep your desk free of distractions, you'll be able to focus better on the task at hand.
Take out all the unnecessary items on your desk, so you're less likely to get sidetracked with other stuff.
Start the most challenging tasks first. Some jobs are easier said than done. Rather than working on all tasks at once, start with the most difficult ones first.
That will allow you to feel more accomplished as you complete each task. And by the time you complete your major ones, the rest will seem easy!
⇒Do most of your work at your most effective time of day. Everyone has a preferred time when they are most alert and productive. Also, different people have rhythms unique to them that work in their case. And sometimes, one person's rhythm will backfire when someone else tries to adopt it.
Scientists believe that these differences result from age, education level, personality, and life experiences. And interestingly, just because you're a morning person does not automatically mean you should do the most demanding work early in the day.
Sometimes, your less-than-optimal times are your best times. Your goal is to find the time for your unique situation and get work done.
⇒Make use of templates. Templates are great because they let you accomplish everyday tasks with a few mouse clicks. For instance, if you need to check off multiple items on a to-do list each day, you can use templates to pre-fill individual tasks with relevant data.
Templates are quick and easy, and they can save you a lot of time over doing it manually. You can also create templates for repetitive tasks. Take a moment to look through your chores and find out which ones you can do with a template.
Then next time you need to complete something, insert the appropriate data into the template for quick completion.
⇒Practice saying no more. Saying "no" is a skill you can develop over time. The good news is that if you practice saying "no," you become better at it. Make it a point to avoid feeling guilty when you can't commit to doing something.
Instead, choose to prioritize your tasks and focus your efforts on those that matter most. Saying “no” can easily make you three times as productive because it frees you up to focus on what matters to you.
Be more intentional about your time and focus on using your time wisely. Use time management tools to easily keep track of things like due dates and times. Those few extra minutes you'll save per day will add up to a lot over the long haul.
Affirmation: My Life Is Filled With Silver-Lining Moments
Even on my darkest days, I am confident that the sun eventually comes out. That belief in silver lining moments takes me through challenging times. I attest to the fact that each difficulty is soon forgotten through positive thinking.
I recognize that tough times also call for resolve and courage. When I display strength, I am able to rise above the challenges. That ability turns the difficulty into success.
My life is filled with silver-lining moments.
I avoid worrying about hard situations that confront me. In time, a solution to any uncomfortable matter always presents itself.
I use disappointing occurrences as learning experiences. The lessons I learn prepare me to overcome future trials. Simply lamenting over disappointments rarely gives me the wisdom and strength to prevent them from happening again.
I am a strong believer in allowing my attitude to shape my future. I maintain a mindset that brightness awaits me after even the scariest period of darkness. When I take that approach, I religiously get the result I expect.
Today, I banish worry from my life because it is worthless. I choose, instead, to believe in silver linings. My decision to take the high road of positive thinking is powerful. I know I am capable of shaping my future by redefining my expectations.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- How do I show my gratitude when I get past a tough situation?
- Which situations make it difficult for me to maintain a positive mindset?
- What can I do to ensure silver linings appear after a difficult circumstance?
The Psychological Triggers That Cause Procrastination
Teddy Roosevelt spoke about how nothing is worth doing unless it involves effort, pain, and difficulty. What do you think? If you’ve experienced what we’re about to discuss, you might respond, “Hogwash!”
- The agony of compressing a semester’s worth of studying into a single night.
- The suffering of scrambling at the last minute to meet your work deadlines.
- Finally, the agony of putting off doing your laundry until you have a mountain of dirty clothes.
Procrastinators, to whom we can, of course, assign these actions, may say this. Procrastination isn’t worthwhile, yet it involves much pain, effort, and difficulty.
If procrastination is such a thorn in the flesh, why do many people do it? You may have wondered if you know a procrastinator or can admit that you are a procrastinator.
What are the inner workings behind why people procrastinate? Psychology explains what cogs and gears are turning in the minds of procrastinators. Let’s look.
The Psychological Factors Behind Procrastination
Studies show that various factors cause procrastination. These factors are why procrastinators may know their behaviors yet can’t change them. What are they?
Consider these factors:
- A lack of structure. Organizing your tasks while taking your habits and behaviors into account is a skill. One a procrastinator lacks. Those who can order their past, present, and future activities can manage their time well.
- When a person cannot do so, they cannot plan the actions they must dedicate time to. They can’t devote the time required to complete an activity.
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- As a result, they lose focus and postpone tasks they must complete. When you build a habit of delaying tasks, you become a procrastinator.
- Anxiety and fear. The tasks we have to perform can be challenging when you can’t see the top of the mountain of clothes that need washing. Confess, and it makes you feel uneasy.
- Fear of the results of our work or the journey necessary to achieve a task can paralyze a person. It results in an inability to complete a task and, as a result, procrastination.
- Lack of motivation. Some call motivation the driving force behind accomplishing what needs doing. Motivation might come from the outside or from within. Internal motivation is a crucial psychological factor.
- It helps decide whether a person can act to complete a task. We all yearn for fulfillment and pleasure. It means that if a task may benefit us in this way, we’ll want to do it.
- Likewise, if completing work does not provide us with any rewards, we will not want to do it. Disliking a task results in a lack of motivation. When this happens, the chances of deferring work on a task are great. That’s saying we procrastinate.
- Perfectionism. Holding up a weighty object isn’t easy. The pressure exerted by the object makes it difficult even to move. That’s the strain that perfectionism puts on individuals who suffer from it.
- Perfectionists have such high expectations of themselves. Yet, it may not always be possible to complete a task to such a high-quality standard.
- Instead of settling for their best, a perfectionist won’t. They may not bear the thought of failing to meet their high expectations. So as not to “fail” at whatever task they need to complete, perfectionists postpone actual work on the task.
- Instead, they spend their time musing on how to best complete the task to meet the high standards. It makes perfectionism a relevant and proven psychological factor for why people procrastinate.
We’ve discussed some of the “whys” behind procrastination. Gaining knowledge of this is a step forward in overcoming this self-defeating habit. As you do, you find that you’re happier.
Affirmation: Everything Is Possible
I know that the universe is vaster than anyone can comprehend. This means that there are more possibilities available to me at any moment than I could ever count. This means that anything is possible for me.
I accomplish great things in my life and know I can enjoy even greater achievements. The key is recognizing that anything is possible.
Everything is possible.
- I can achieve whatever I want.
- I can have what I desire.
- I can choose any career that pleases me.
- Everything is possible.
I can create. I can possess. I can imagine. I can see so many possibilities and know that they are within my reach.
When I am struggling for a solution, I remember that everything is possible. When I remember that, I open myself up to discovering the solution I seek.
I remember the times in the past when I found a brilliant solution to a challenge. I find strength in those memories. They encourage me to seek new solutions now.
I remember that learning to walk and talk is much more challenging than anything else I could ever want to accomplish. I learned how to walk and talk, so everything else is also possible.
Today, I allow myself to be open to new opportunities and possibilities. I am free of believing that my options are limited. I know that an elegant solution exists. I know in my heart that everything is possible.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- In what areas of my life do I feel confined and out of options?
- Can I allow myself to believe that everything is possible?
- How would my life and perspective change if I believed that everything is possible?
Building Momentum
It pays to have the power of momentum on your side whether you’re running an Olympic race or just trying to finish your sales report on time. See how the laws of physics can help you reach your goals faster.
You may have heard of Isaac Newton’s Law of Inertia: An object in motion tends to stay in motion. An object at rest tends to stay at rest. That’s also true for people.
Try these 18 techniques to propel yourself towards more success by taking advantage of this law of nature.
Make a Start
- Take the first step. The kickoff of any project can be the most challenging stage. Give yourself credit for taking the initiative. You’re on your way to fulfilling your wishes. Even if you make a mistake, you can learn from it.
- Begin early. Use your morning hours wisely. Rack up at least one accomplishment before breakfast. You may sort through your emails or do a load of laundry in record time when interruptions are fewer.
- Start strong. Generate multiple leads to fill up your pipeline. For example, if one job interview fails to pan out, you’ll have several other applications to follow up on.
- Break projects down. Simplify complicated jobs. If you’re renovating your bathroom, draft a budget and ask family and friends to recommend contractors.
- Aim for easy wins. Feel like a hero by getting a few simple victories under your belt. It will inspire you to keep striving for more.
- Gather facts. Avoid delays due to uncertainty. Conduct the necessary research first. Browse online or ask a librarian for the best resources. Reach out to experts to get their advice.
- Identify obstacles. Similarly, anticipating roadblocks helps you to plan around them. For instance, arrange for a colleague to cover your responsibilities before you ask your supervisor for a week off.
Keep Moving Ahead
- Clarify your goals. It’s easier to advance when you know where you’re going. Be precise about what you want to achieve.
- Establish timelines. Target dates are another important element. Stay on track by deciding to get your taxes done by the end of the month or clean out the garage this weekend.
- Hold yourself accountable. Realize that you generate your own energy. Motivation is more reliable when it’s internal.
- Build on previous victories. Resist the temptation to rest on your laurels. Get back on the phone immediately after closing one sales call.
- Share the glory. Enlist the support of others. You can spur each other on. Momentum is contagious!
- Chose meaningful activities. You’re more likely to keep at something when you feel passionate about it. Devote your time to the things you care about.
- Tackle irksome tasks promptly. Of course, there’s bound to be grunt work. Wash the dishes immediately and get them out of the way.
- Get organized. Build up speed by putting systems in place. You’ll check off routine errands in less time.
- Schedule downtime. Allow for rest and relaxation. Play with your children or listen to classical music. You’ll return to work with more energy.
- Stay fit. Productivity depends on your physical and mental condition. Exercise regularly, eat a nutritious diet, and follow your doctor’s recommendations for any medical conditions you have.
- Evaluate your results. Take time to review your achievements and identify areas where you can raise your sights. Find satisfaction in developing your skills and being of service to others. Reward yourself with something nice like a potted plant or a good book.
Forget about getting stuck. Use momentum to build your confidence and put you on a winning streak
Affirmation: New Perspectives
I revel in the diversity of ideas available to me. While I am confident in my values and beliefs, I enjoy thinking critically about them to ensure that they continue to serve me. Therefore, I cultivate new perspectives each day.
Others are a great source of inspiration for me, even if their beliefs vary widely from mine. Therefore, I choose to affiliate with a wide variety of people.
I cherish opportunities to learn, which only come when I am confronted with new ideas. Examining fresh perspectives can bring new nuggets of wisdom which enrich my life. So I always look at new ideas as possibilities.
If I feel that my perspective is better for me than the one portrayed by a discussion partner, I am polite and considerate anyway. Having differences of opinion is part of our life experiences as unique individuals.
I entertain all new perspectives, however briefly, so I know that my decisions are sound for me.
Today, I intentionally seek opportunities to learn about new perspectives.
I am thankful for each new idea that comes my way, since each one helps me reinforce or reshape my own views so that they are always in keeping with my highest good.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- What new perspectives have I been exposed to lately?
- How can I approach new ideas so that I am more receptive to them internally, even if I disagree with them?
- How does a cultivating new perspective benefit me?
Could You Use An Attitude Makeover?
In this day of personal makeovers, we've seen people lose 100 pounds, get a nose job, and finally go after their dream career. But for many, an alteration of attitudes alone can bring transformative life experiences.
Changing how you approach daily living might help you achieve your ultimate goals.
Even if you don't think you're in need of a total attitude makeover, check out some of the ideas below to discover positive approaches you can take to get the most out of your life.
Are you "Stuck" in a Dominant Attitude?
If you find yourself feeling the same way about a variety of situations in life, maybe you're hanging on to the same attitude. If you have a particular, less-than-positive approach that dominates your life, it may be time for a makeover.
Reflect on Your Feelings
Take time to think about how you feel most of the time. How would you describe your dominant attitude? Is it contentment, sluggishness, happiness, annoyance, satisfaction, resentment, peace, envy, joy, worry, inquisitiveness, or even anger?
Examine Your Attitude Type
As you can see, some attitudes are positive, optimistic and motivating. If you're blessed with a naturally positive dominant attitude, you're in solid command of your life. You're most likely already living the good life you deserve.
But if you notice that a less positive attitude is pervasive, make the decision now to alter how you think and feel.
Consider the following regarding these more challenging attitudes, and the ways in which they can detract from the quality of your life:
- If you have a sluggish attitude toward life, you'll find yourself simply plodding along, doing barely what is required to get by. You might take little interest in anything and prop your feet in front of the television at every spare moment. Chances are, you set few, if any, goals.
- If you find yourself consistently annoyed, you probably rarely feel satisfied with life. Something is usually amiss. When you're annoyed, you may often sit in judgment of others, whom you see as unable to "do things right."
- Being resentful involves feeling rankled, troubled and worked up most of the time. When resentment is your dominant attitude, you may feel challenged to manifest positive events in your life or enjoy the ones that do occur.
- Feeling envious of others can include wanting what someone else has or feeling spiteful toward or competitive with others.
- Worry. A prevailing attitude of worry means you often experience nagging feelings that things are not quite okay. In advance of an event, you construct many possible scenarios, with few of them leading to a satisfying finish.
- An angry attitude is exhausting if you have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis, whether it's your own attitude or someone else's. When this attitude is dominant, usually there is a general sense of unhappiness.
Make Over Your Attitude
Once you determine you might benefit from an attitude makeover, you can get started right away. As an adult, you most likely already have all the skills you need to change your challenging state of mind.
Try these strategies to experience the joys of a more positive dominant attitude:
- Make a decision. Decide to rid yourself of the attitude that brings you down.
- Use reminders. Post reminders on your mirror and refrigerator and in your car to "catch" and let go of your old attitude.
- Replace the old. Select a more uplifting attitude as your dominant one. For example, happiness, joy, peace, satisfaction, or contentment as your chief attitude will strengthen your passion for life. When you notice your old attitude creeping in, replace it immediately with a more optimistic, motivating one. Refuse to surrender your power to that old state of mind.
- Affirm your new attitude. Apply your new frame of mind. Every day, say to yourself, "No matter what, I am [your new attitude]." Remind yourself that you're stronger than your old, ineffective attitude.
If you identified any of the above challenging attitudes as your primary emotional state, you might get a lot of pleasure from an attitude makeover. By following these suggestions, you can begin to enjoy the good life you've always wanted.
Finding Your Strength When The Going Gets Rough
Experiencing challenging phases in life can really test your mettle.
When you encounter those bumps in the road, how do you react? Are you able to deal effectively with these challenges without going to pieces? Could you use some help in finding your inner strength?
Try these ideas to tap in to your personal reserves whenever the going gets tough:
- Take some time to ponder the present dilemma. What do you see as the real issue? Are you making a mountain out of a mole-hill? How can you focus your efforts on the current event that’s troubling you?
- Acknowledge your fears about the vexing situation. Before you can show resilience to move forward, it’s important to recognize any fears that have a bearing on your current circumstances. Ignoring them will only serve to thwart you from confronting the issue.
- Consider every option. Writing down your options for overcoming your challenge will help you see the situation from all angles.
Brainstorming as many solutions as you can is a great start to finding a workable option.
Be open-minded. Sometimes you have to remind yourself to not automatically screen out possible solutions to a sticky wicket. Every viable possibility should be considered.
Considering every possible solution indicates you have the resilience to succeed.
- Approach the challenge with positivity. It may sound over-simplified, but you can either approach a stumbling block thinking, “I don’t think I’m going to survive it” or “I’m going to do my best and make my way through this situation.” Taking a positive outlook will compel you to move forward through the crisis. Be optimistic!
- Avoid looking too far ahead. Focus on what’s going on in this moment. Sometimes, it helps to make it through 1 hour at a time.
Concentrate your energy on what you can do in the here and now.
- Draw from your religious faith to help you through. Spirituality regularly assists millions of people to live consistently healthy, happy lives. Perhaps finding faith would bring you the inner strength you desire.
- Seek emotional support from those you love. Any troubling event is easier to navigate through when you feel the love and support from someone close to you. Bolster your “resilience reserves” by getting a little help from your friends and family members.
Although it might be difficult for you to reach out and say, “I’m struggling,” look at it this way: your loved ones will feel better if you give them opportunities to be there for you. Accept the loving and supportive care that your loved ones are so willing to provide. You’ll likely have a chance in the future to reciprocate.
- Soothe your spirit. What calms you down, makes you feel peace, and brings you simple joy? Take time to participate in your favorite activities to soothe your frayed emotions.
Taking a walk in the woods, swimming a few laps at the pool, or doing a hand craft or hobby at home can be one of the most self-soothing things you can do when you’re experiencing a tricky life phase.
- Embrace your strength. Remember that your strength has pulled you through many crises in the past. Have confidence that it can continue to bolster you through many more.
Life can be exhilarating, interesting, and challenging. When you encounter a block in your path, allow your resilience to shine through. These strategies can help you draw on your inner strength to live a meaning.
Affirmation – I Live Each Day On Purpose
I live each day on purpose.
I prevent my days from turning into weeks, then months, then years, by setting out to live each day with a plan and purpose.
I refuse to allow life to happen to me while I simply react to it. Armed with a plan and the knowledge of my purpose, I greet each day ready to do what I need to do.
When I think of the year ahead of me, I want to make every single day count, starting with today. Living each day on purpose puts me in the driver's seat of my life.
Every decision I make, I make intentionally, with the goal of getting one step closer to fulfilling my purpose. I have become proactive by eliminating my habit of putting things off until later.
Haphazard living is over for me. I am an adult fully capable for taking charge of my own life. The power to change my days lies within me.
I have removed myself from the sidelines and I have become an active participant in the game of life. Instead of watching my life unfold, I am now the co-author of my life's success story.
My friends and family are cheering me on as I make life-changing decisions. They support my plans to better myself and are inspired by my progress. My loved ones begin to take charge of their own lives, also, as they see my success.
Today, I choose to take action and do what needs to be done today.
The "catch-up" game is over and I am in control of my destiny.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. How can I better plan my days for success?
2. How can I make my life count today?
3. What is one thing I have been putting off that I can accomplish today?
