Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Affirmation: I Change My Life By Transforming Myself
Changing myself is the most effective way to change my life. I have control over who and what I am. I create my life and my world. Changes within myself lead to changes in my environment.
I believe I have the power to create and control my destiny. I am free from the belief that forces outside my control dictate my life. We are all creators and destroyers with the ability to choose our experiences.
There are times when doubt creeps into my mind, but I am able to remember the truth. By transforming myself, I can turn any situation around. I can easily remember many challenging situations I was able to overcome. These memories give me the courage to transform myself in useful ways.
I keep a list of my attributes. I review the list daily and imagine myself already possessing any missing characteristics. I am surprised by how I can quickly evolve into a more effective version of myself.
I am free from limitations. I am evolving.
Today, I am taking the necessary steps to transform myself in positive ways. Transformations are the key to creating positive change in my life. The life I desire is quickly coming to me. I am prepared for its arrival.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- What changes could I make in myself that would create more joy and fun in my life?
- In what ways have I been resisting change?
- If I had more control over my ability to transform myself, how would my life be different?
What Is Your Mindset?
In the big picture, mindsets can be broken down into 2 primary groups: positive or negative. However, there are many categories of mindsets that can either be negative or positive, depending on how they are used.
Looking at this group of primary mindsets, determine which you most identify with, and then identify those that are beneficial, and those that have a negative impact on your life.
The good news is your mindset is NOT written in stone and you have the ability to change those that aren't working for you. The first step in creating change is recognizing and acknowledging where the change is needed.
Affirmation: I Use My Time Wisely
Although there are many things to accomplish today, I am confident I can be successful in how I allot my time.
Keeping my home and yard in order is important. My relationships at home, work, and in my personal life mean a lot to me. I do everything I can to contribute to those relationships in positive ways each day.
I spend my time on important tasks and people who matter.
My work is demanding. It requires my best efforts as well as a considerable amount of time. I prioritize my tasks and ensure the most critical tasks are done before I work on less important items.
How I spend my time is the foundation of my existence. Therefore, I try to make wise decisions about how to divide my time each day.
I cherish my time as much as I do my home, relationships, and work. Time is like gold because I can use it to live the type of life I want.
Today, I plan to keep track of how I spend each hour. My goal is to assure I spend the most time on things that matter. I have sixteen waking hours each day. I intend to invest those hours in the activities and people that make me happy. I pledge to use my time wisely each day.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- How many hours each day do I spend on things that have little importance to me?
- What are the five most important people and things in my life?
- When I notice I am wasting precious time on irrelevant things, what can I do?
7 Tips To Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong, or everyone is going to find out that you don’t deserve your achievements?
If you can relate to those feelings of chronic self-doubt, you’ve probably experienced imposter syndrome.
You’re not alone - studies suggest 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers.
Overall, imposter syndrome stems from a high sense of self-doubt. Instead of attributing your success to your skills, you might downplay your success and attribute it to luck.
Signs You Might Be Suffering from Imposter Syndrome
Do you relate to any of these patterns?
- You may set high goals for yourself. Because your goal is perfection, the smallest mistakes may make you feel like a failure.
- Attribute success to luck. You downplay your success because you do not believe you deserve the success, or you believe you are just lucky.
- Unable to recognize success. Instead of celebrating your accomplishments, you worry that others will see “the truth” about your skills and abilities.
- Fear of failure. Because of a fear of failure, you may set challenging goals and be disappointed when those goals fail. You might also take on limited tasks because you fear failure.
- Difficulty asking for help. You might have difficulty asking for help because you believe asking for help will show that you’re wrong or unqualified.
Experiencing imposter syndrome can limit your confidence to go after new opportunities because you feel that you do not deserve it.
Luckily, there are some steps you can take to give yourself more credit and start overcoming those feelings of self-doubt.
Steps to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
⇒Acknowledge imposter feelings. Recognize when you start feeling like an imposter. Instead of engaging with your thoughts of self-doubt, acknowledge that it is a normal response.
⇒Understand the root of the cause. Why do you think you feel like you don’t belong? Is it due to a fear of failure? Do you believe that you don’t deserve success? Why or why not?
⇒Focus on facts, not feelings. When you start feeling like a fraud, focus on positive facts. For example, maybe you were chosen for a job interview because of your qualifications.
⇒Ask yourself if that thought helps or hinders you. Does feeling fraudulent help or hinder you? Is that what you want to be? What kind of person do you want to be?
⇒Reframe your thoughts. Instead of telling yourself that you don’t deserve success, reframe your thoughts to give yourself more credit and enjoy the experience.
⇒Own your accomplishments instead of attributing them to “luck” or “help from others.”
⇒Instead of setting impossibly high standards, set smaller goals so you can enjoy the process.
⇒Remind yourself there will never be the “perfect time.”
⇒Accept that we all have to start somewhere.
⇒Accept that it’s okay to make mistakes. Instead of fearing failure, develop a healthy response to making mistakes. Accept that it’s normal to make mistakes and learn from each mistake instead.
⇒Reach out for support. Having a safe space to receive support will help you reduce feelings of being an imposter. When you feel imperfect, make a mistake, or receive a compliment, your first instinct may be to hide. Instead, start reaching out to an encouraging mentor, coach, or colleague for support.
⇒Say “thank you” when you receive a compliment.
⇒Practice being honest when you feel imperfect, embarrassed, or have made a mistake.
⇒Share and celebrate your achievements and successes.
Imposter syndrome can make you feel like you’re not good enough, you don’t belong, or you are undeserving. But it’s important to remind yourself that learning and making mistakes do not make you a fraud - it makes you human.
Instead of doubting yourself, take the above steps to build your self-esteem and self-worth.
Do More In Less Time And Have More Time For Yourself
Getting things done brings such a great feeling of accomplishment, but it can also be overwhelming if the task seems insurmountable. Sometimes, the days just don't seem long enough to do everything we want to do. When that happens, worry can set in, but it doesn't have to!
You can do more than you ever thought was possible, and in less time too, giving yourself time to relax and really enjoy life!
It all begins with a solid foundation of time management and scheduling. It's okay if you're not a good time manager right now, you can learn to be. It just takes a little bit of practice and you'll soon be getting more and more done.
When you see how much you're accomplishing, you'll work even harder during your busy times, and enjoy those down times more thoroughly.
These scheduling strategies will help you become an expert manager of your time:
⇒Schedule your life for maximum benefit. You can avoid procrastination and the big stressed-out rush to meet a deadline by scheduling each day and using just a bit of self-discipline to stick to your schedule.
⇒It helps to break things down into smaller tasks. For example, do you have a big presentation coming up at work in two weeks? Don't try to do it the night before it's due. Start now. Working for just a half hour each day can help you get that presentation done with plenty of time to spare.
⇒By scheduling your day according to your priorities, you can better utilize the time that you might otherwise have wasted doing unproductive things, like watching television or waiting for the next item on your to-do list to come to you.
⇒Disallow doubts from getting in your way. That little voice in the back of your mind that tells you, "It's too much work," or "It's not going to happen," doesn't know what it's talking about!
⇒You can do anything you set your mind to. Keep that thought in mind as you go through your day. The more you think it - or even say it out loud - the more you'll internalize and believe it.
⇒When you remind yourself how much you're capable of doing, you'll work harder so you can reap the rewards of being done with work.
⇒No matter how you reward yourself, make it a point to do so regularly. Finished that presentation? Take the evening off and watch your favorite movie! Whatever reward works for you is a good one - as long as the work's done first.
⇒Recognize when you're getting stressed and why. Sometimes, in an effort to get more done, you'll find that you aren't getting the time for yourself that you'd hoped for. When this happens, stop and reassess your schedule.
⇒Are you following your agenda? Are you productive during your scheduled working times? Are you meeting your goals? Where can you make changes for better success?
⇒Do you concentrate and get your work done during your working hours? If not, you may find that you still have to work when you should be relaxing. This is a vicious circle that leaves you feeling stressed, while getting nowhere.
⇒Eliminate your stressors while building in stress relief. Think about the following as you go about your workday:
⇒By focusing during working hours, you'll complete each task much sooner. Get your drudgery tasks out of the way as quickly as possible to make more time for more enjoyable tasks.
⇒Work time is for work only - so avoid distractions. Ringing phones and other issues can stop you from accomplishing your work. Forward calls to your voice mail and establish "do not disturb" times. You'll be amazed at how much work you can get done without distractions!
⇒If you complete your tasks early, keep working until your schedule says it's time to stop. Perhaps you can tackle some work for the next day to get ahead. Being a little ahead gives you the flexibility to take care of inevitable emergencies without falling behind in productivity.
⇒Recognize when you need a break. People are not machines so your schedule should reflect that. Realistic break times should be part of even the busiest schedule.
By planning your time wisely, you'll accomplish more and be able to reap the many benefits of true relaxation when you're done. It's well worth the effort!
Affirmation: Being Organized Simplifies My Life
Being organized makes my life a lot easier. I start by getting my thoughts under control. When my mind is at peace, my surroundings become more orderly.
Coordinating my schedule with a written calendar simplifies planning, saves time, and helps me to live up to my commitments. I am clear about the tasks I need to do and how to approach them efficiently. I keep track of the promises I make to myself and others. I live up to my word.
I put systems in place that simplify tasks and keep me from becoming overwhelmed. I break projects down into smaller steps. I follow structured routines that enable me to do more in less time.
I establish priorities. My top obligations come first. This easy rule helps me focus on the things that are most important to me.
I streamline my to-do list and modify my expectations. I cut back on less urgent chores. I am satisfied with being able to see most of the rug in my child’s bedroom. I can accept a few toys scattered around.
I evaluate my attachment to material things. The less I own, the easier it is to keep my home neat.
I welcome support from others and delegate assignments to free up my time and energy.
Today, I acknowledge that an orderly life helps me enjoy stress-free days. I create a calm mental and physical environment that simplifies my life and brings me joy.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- What is the most important area of my life where I want to be more organized?
- How does being organized help me to be more productive?
- What is my chief personal motivation for becoming more organized?
Five Ways to Get More Done With Less Work
Many people look at their workdays and wonder how they can get more done in less time. Although delegation and outsourcing may not always be an option, there are ways to get more done in less time and with less effort.
Getting More Done Quickly and Efficiently
One great way to get more done in less time is to stop. That’s right, stop! If you’re over-worked and stressed out, you won’t get nearly as much done and you’re more prone to silly mistakes and illness. Sometimes you need to take a break and completely separate yourself from work. You’ll find that taking a break is just what you need the most – even if it seems to be the opposite of what you should be doing. The best part: once you come back to the task, you’ll feel refreshed and more creative!
What Do Your Priorities Look Like?
You need to make an organized and frequently updated list of priorities. When you prioritize outstanding tasks, you’ll suddenly find that all of the work on your plate really is manageable. You can prioritize using letters or numbers so you clearly can see what needs to be done and when it needs to be done by.
Combining Similar Tasks
The next thing you need to do is combine tasks that can be done at the same time. For example, plan out your errands so they can all be done in one trip, instead of multiple trips throughout the day or week. When it comes to work, you can group similar tasks that require the same tools or resources so they can be done more efficiently. Since you have already organized your priorities, you’ll be more aware of what needs to get done, so you’ll be able to better combine similar tasks.
Getting Help
You can only do so much alone, so ask for help! You will be able to accomplish much more with less time and effort when you work with other talented people. You may be able to ask a colleague for help or even hire your own personal assistant from a freelance website like Elance. It’s not as expensive as you think!
Having an assistant can help you re-gain your time and save your energy so you can get the important tasks done. Give your assistant the trivial tasks and save yourself for the rest. You also may find it fun to have someone working with you on a shared task or goal.
Using the Power of Affirmations
Affirmations are another tool that can help you get more done with less work. These simple statements can help you maximize your time by focusing on the positive. For example, in moments when your work seems overwhelming you can say something such as, “Each simple, completed task propels me towards success.” Repeating these affirmations will give you a positive state of mind that just may be the extra push you need to get more done with less work and in less time.
Affirmation: One Of My Top Priorities Is A Balanced Life
I thrive when there is balance in my life. When all aspects of my life are given their fair share of attention, I feel like a complete person.
My spiritual life is important to me. When I give regular attention to my spirituality, I find it easier to make it through the challenges of each day. I realize that my inner strength is lessened if I neglect the spiritual part of my being.
My physical well-being is critical because it ensures that both my body and mind can work at their peak performance.
When I am in shape physically, I feel energized and my thoughts are clearer and more organized. I make better decisions when my body is in a healthy state.
I commit to making time for both work and enjoyment so one can balance out the other. I take pride in the feeling of accomplishment I get when I excel at my job.
I also allow myself enough time to relax and rejuvenate.
Reducing my stress lets me be at my best.
Today, I strive to pay close attention to the signals in my life. I commit to heeding those signals and acting accordingly so I continue to maintain a balanced life. I know I am more effective in each facet of life when all aspects are given their due share of attention.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- Do responsibilities ever get in the way of me achieving balance in my life?
- How can I encourage my loved ones to seek a balanced life?
- Does my idea of balance change as I encounter new experiences?
Affirmation: Developing A Positive Attitude Results in Positive Experiences
Each day, I see the benefits of maintaining a positive attitude. I realize that being positive results in better outcomes for me. When I am optimistic, it is easier for me to find solutions to challenges.
My mind is ticking with creativity because I am positive. I realize that when I look on the bright side, I can think clearly and accomplish more.
My relationships with those around me are stronger when I keep an open mind. I take the time to listen to their points of view. This approach results in better collaboration and mutual respect.
Keeping a positive outlook ensures that I avoid getting frazzled. When I feel frustration mounting, I remind myself that I am free to choose how to respond.
Being positive helps me to be patient. It helps me prepare to meet my long term goals.
I avoid allowing my lack of experience to prevent me from applying for new jobs. Even when I have less experience than other candidates, I believe in my abilities.
Every positive experience affirms that being positive is the best way to move forward.
Today, I vow to live a life full of positivity. I attest to the power of positive thinking because I see its impact on my life. I commit to encouraging others around me to live the same way.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- Why do disappointments sometimes cause me to lose hope?
- When the outcome to a situation is unfavorable, how quickly am I able to find an alternative?
- How does having a positive attitude help to develop other positive traits in me?
9 Ways To Overcome Negative Thoughts And Think Positively
Negative thoughts are like a cancer to your spirit. They slowly eat away at you until there isn’t enough left to support your hopes and dreams. Negative thoughts are damaging because they affect everything that comes afterwards. This includes your decisions, goals, actions, and results.
Negative thinking can impact every area of your life. It limits your effectiveness and poisons your outlook on life. If the time you have to spend on self-development is limited, dealing with your negative thinking is good way to allocate your time.
Take control of your thinking and be more positive:
⇒Avoid thinking of yourself as a victim. When you have the mindset of a victim, you’re dooming yourself to a plethora of negative thoughts. A victim has neither hope nor options. There are always ways to move forward. You have choices.
⇒Recognize your negative thought patterns. Your thoughts can be just as habitual as your morning coffee or your cigarette break. Notice your repetitive thoughts and when they occur. The first step to changing these thought patterns is to catch them when they first begin. When you notice negative thinking, change your thought.
⇒Either think a positive thought or redirect your thinking and focus to whatever you’re doing at that moment.
⇒Read positive quotes each day. If you can’t find the time to read a book, at least read a few positive quotes each day. You can buy calendars with positive quotes. There are also plenty of websites with quotes on a wide variety of topics.
⇒Keep your mind in the present. Sure, you can look ahead, as needed, to make plans. But your thoughts should remain rooted in the present. Thinking about the past results in frustration and regret. Thoughts of the future can cause anxiety. Keep your mind on your current surroundings and task
⇒There’s no reason to worry about the next step. Take care of the current step first.
⇒Ask yourself, “Do I know for certain this is a fact? Or is it just my opinion?” You don’t know as much as you think you do. You make a lot of assumptions based on faulty knowledge. This can lead to the belief that a situation is less solvable than it really is. If you don’t have accurate beliefs, you’re already at a huge disadvantage.
⇒Avoid the idea that perfection is possible. Expect that you won’t be perfect at anything. When perfection is the goal, you’ll always fall short and that opens the door for negative thinking.
⇒Spend time doing something that makes you feel good. It’s easy to have positive thoughts if you’re doing something enjoyable. Spend time with your partner or a good friend. Make a list of things you like to do and spend some time each day doing at least one of them. Enjoy yourself each day.
⇒Meditation seems to be a cure for everything. It’s one of the best ways to learn more about your thought patterns. It’s also an effective way for learning to focus and direct your thoughts.
⇒Make a list of affirmations and take control of your self-talk. Instead of inventing positive self-talk on the fly, have a list prepared of positive things you can say to yourself. Build your self-talk around your goals and kill two birds with one stone.
Are your negative thoughts impacting your results and future? Negative thinking is a challenging habit to defeat. Monitor your thoughts and defeat negative thinking before it can take root. Replace those negative thoughts with a positive alternative. Make an effort to spend some time each day enjoying yourself.
Little by little, you’ll find that you’re spending more of your time thinking positively, and your life will take a turn for the better.
