Procrastination isn’t just a symptom; it’s a condition. It tends to develop over time and can also lead to other issues. If you procrastinate, you may want to stop and ask yourself what exactly it is that you are “putting off” and if it is even worth it. How to Reduce Procrastination

If you accept that procrastination is more than just an annoyance, you can begin to deal with the habit and develop more effective ways to manage your time.

The biggest key to conquering procrastination is realizing what you are doing when you procrastinate. How to Reduce Procrastination

Some people ask themselves, “Why am I procrastinating?” Perhaps it’s to make themselves feel like they’re accomplishing something. Or maybe it’s a coping mechanism, a way to divert attention from something unpleasant or painful.

So how can you reduce procrastination and regain control of your time? Try these tips: How to Reduce Procrastination

1. Identify the habit. You might find that your procrastination stems from re-prioritizing your workload. A person who delays an essential task for good reasons is not procrastinating.

> On the other hand, procrastination is the issue if you never get back to completing these necessary tasks or keep focusing on other functions to avoid the important ones. How to Reduce Procrastination

> You can tell that you’re procrastinating if you do some of the following things: You make sure to fill your day with tasks that aren’t urgent. Or you spend time reading the same emails several times a day with no decision on how to act on them.

> You’re also procrastinating if you begin an urgent task but then wander off to grab a cup of coffee. In that situation, you know it’s procrastination when you never get back to finish it.

2. Just start working. A sure way to procrastinate is to spend too much time deciding whether or not to take action. Instead of debating, take action and get the work finished. You’ll only regret not doing it if you let it slide. How to Reduce Procrastination

> The reason this tip is so practical is in how it helps you take the first step. The first step is usually the hardest. Once you’ve taken it, the rest becomes more straightforward.

> If you had to push a car, for example, you’d find that the most challenging step is getting the vehicle to move, but it gets much more manageable once you manage to do that. Apply the same principle to your work.

> Even if it’s small, take the first step toward what you want to get done. It doesn’t have to be the most significant step you’ve ever taken – just get the ball rolling, and you’ll gain momentum. How to Reduce Procrastination

3. Avoid assuming that willpower is the answer. The temptation to procrastinate can come from within you, but it’s also the result of your environment. In an environment in which you don’t feel supported, you don’t feel welcomed.

> In that environment, you don’t fully realize your intentions. Ask yourself, “What do I need to achieve my goals?” Then make a list of the steps you need to take to achieve those goals. How to Reduce Procrastination

> Once you’ve figured out the steps, get started taking those steps, one step at a time. One step leads to another, and another, and soon you’re moving in the direction of your goals. Many people assume that willpower is enough.

> But willpower — one type of motivation — is like fuel to a car. The issue with relying on willpower is that you can only use it before you feel completely wiped out. How to Reduce Procrastination

> In addition, once your willpower runs out, it’s challenging to find the motivation to start back up again. That’s why it’s so important to think about your goals and plan the steps you need to take to achieve those goals.

> Then take those steps without focusing on the unpleasant aspects of the task.

A negative thought refers to an idea that makes you feel bad. It’s a thought that causes stress, anxiety, anger, sadness, frustration, worry, guilt, embarrassment, blame, resentment, jealousy, or fear. How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

For example, if you think, “I’m not smart enough,” this is a negative thought because you’ve made yourself believe something about yourself that isn’t true. You’ll feel bad because you’ve turned negative thoughts into a belief.

So how do you deal with negative thoughts How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

If you notice that you’re having negative thoughts, it’s essential to acknowledge them and then let them go.

Negative thoughts aren’t facts. They’re just thoughts. Thoughts don’t exist outside our minds. By accepting them as thoughts, we’re telling ourselves that they’re not real and that we don’t have to act on them. That helps us to stop obsessing over them. How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

What more can you do to fight negative thoughts? These tips can help:

1. Make mental shifts over time. The first step towards changing any behavior is becoming aware of it. For example, when you have negative thoughts about food, start by noticing whether you’ve had negative thoughts before eating something. How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

> Then you can start working out ways to change your thinking, so you won’t feel tempted to eat unhealthy foods. You can apply the same process to other things, like thinking you’re not competent or that you’ll never have the perfect relationship.

2. Try to understand your emotions. The best way to understand our feelings is to become aware of them. To do this, we must first recognize what they are.

> Once we know what these emotions feel like, we can identify them. This action helps us recognize when they are present in ourselves or others. It also allows us to take control of our feelings rather than letting them control us.

3. Work to change what you can. Emotions don’t just happen – they originate from thoughts, beliefs, memories, and experiences. If you want to change your emotional state, you can start by changing any of those things. How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

> For example, if you feel angry, try to remember why you felt that way. If it was because someone hurt you, then try to forgive them. If it was because you didn’t get what you wanted, try to let it go and move on.

4. Uncover your negative thoughts. A good step towards overcoming negative emotions is understanding the source. Once you know where they are coming from, you can choose different responses from those you usually fall back on.

> It might feel like a big task at first, but soon you will develop new habits and behaviors that will help you overcome these issues.

5. Let go of judgments. It’s natural for us to judge others and ourselves. The problem occurs, though, when we constantly compare ourselves to others. Social media may also cause us to compare ourselves to an unrealistic version of someone. Those are all negative consequences of judgments. How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

> Instead of comparing yourself to others, try this: Focus on the good things about yourself and your life. Work to let go of judgmental thoughts.

> When you catch yourself judging others negatively, pause and replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. Think of the positive traits the person may have.

Negative thoughts may occur naturally from time to time. We may judge people or think about the past or future negatively. That’s okay – we all do it. What’s important is how we respond to those thoughts. How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

If we let them linger, they can end up ruining our moods and even our lives. But if we choose to let them go and work on positive thinking, our emotional states will become more positive as well. How to Fight Negative Thoughts and Feelings

When the alarm goes off in the morning, do you curse its existence? Is there any part of your day where you don’t feel unhappy or incomplete? There’s a point in everyone’s life where they realize they don’t love their current life path and crave some positive change. 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

In most cases, you might think a complete overhaul is what you need. But you don’t have to make such a drastic change. Sometimes all you need to feel fulfilled is to make a few changes.

The perfect life does not exist. But it’s possible to create a life you love.

Here are some tips to help you: 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

1. Determine what you’d like to change. The most important question you can ask yourself is, “What do I want to change?” If you don’t know your current values and goals, how can you ever expect to come up with a life worth living?

> Instead of just changing one thing, it’s essential to determine why you want the change in the first place. You might want to strengthen your relationships or change your career path. Whatever the case may be, it’s essential to know your goal before working on your strategy.

2. Be honest with yourself. As we grow up, our goals change. The things we desire change. That’s normal. One thing that shouldn’t change, however, is your integrity. 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

> Never settle for a “good enough” life if you truly want something better. If you own a business and are unhappy with the way it runs, take the steps necessary to fix it rather than just working around the problems. 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

> It’s easy to overlook your values and morals when you’re stuck in a rut or dealing with circumstances beyond your control. But remember, there’s a difference between compromising and settling.

3. Assume the attitude of rolling with the punches. In the same vein as honesty, it’s also vital that you are open to change. Sometimes things happen that will throw a wrench in your plans. Sometimes circumstances beyond your control can make it challenging to achieve your goal. But nothing lasts forever.

> You can achieve most goals and dreams if you keep trying despite the setbacks. You’ll inevitably face roadblocks. But you can still reach your ultimate destination if you’re willing to roll with the punches and never give up. 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

4. Leave the past behind you. Sometimes the most challenging thing about creating a better life is letting go of the old one. You might have difficulty leaving behind friends or the life your parents gave you. But if those things are holding you back from what you want, you might want to leave them behind.

> You can’t change the past. The only way to create a better future is to accept what has happened and move forward with your head held high. Far too often, people spend time in the past, trying to repair an irreparable situation. It’s important to avoid doing that. 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

> Focus on what you can change – the present – and keep moving forward.

5. Make happiness your rudder. A rudder is a steering device that directs the boat where it needs to go. You can’t steer a ship without a rudder. Likewise, happiness is the key to a good life and the most important goal you can set for yourself.

> Life may not be cupcakes and rainbows. But if you strive for happiness every step of your life, you will find that every storm has a silver lining.

One important key to a successful life is living by your values. But too often, people get stuck in a rut or face circumstances beyond their control, and they compromise their values for the sake of survival. 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

In most cases, it’s not necessary to make drastic changes to feel fulfilled. It can be as simple as making minor tweaks that lead you towards happiness and give your life meaning. 5 Tips for Creating a Life You Love

Are you an early bird? If so, good for you! If you’re not, you might want to consider trying out a new schedule. There are a lot of advantages to being an early riser. 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

Studies show that early birds are more productive and healthier.

It’s a great way to live. All you have to do is get up a couple of hours earlier. The benefits are worth the momentary discomfort each morning.

Still not convinced? Read on.

See why the early bird really does get the worm: 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

1. It’s healthier. It’s been found that the sleep patterns of those that get up early are healthier. You might live longer by being an early bird. Spending less money on medical care is another bonus.

2. It’s more natural. Most animals are active during daylight hours and asleep while it’s dark. We don’t see well in the dark, so we’re clearly not designed to be active at night. 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

3. You’ll be thinner. On the average, early birds are leaner than night owls. Maybe it’s the late-night snacking that many night owls like to do.

4. You’re more focused. There are fewer distractions early in the morning. You can get more done by having a greater level of focus. There’s no one around to intrude on your time. 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

5. You’re in good company. The majority of highly successful people are early birds. You might become more successful if you wake up earlier and get started on your day.

6. You can enjoy the morning. When you have a few hours before you need to leave for work, you can take your time and enjoy the morning. See the sunrise. Listen to the birds. Enjoy a cup of coffee without being rushed. Relax while everyone else is rushing to get ready for work. 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

7. You get more accomplished. You could use the extra time to learn the guitar, read, write, exercise, journal, or get started on your work for the day. Studies show that early risers are significantly more productive.

> Most people don’t accomplish much after 6:00pm, so early risers have a day that is effectively longer. The night owls might spend as many hours awake, but more of their hours are spent on less productive activities. The early birds are sleeping while the night owls are playing.

8. You build willpower. It’s not easy to get up when you know you have time to sleep for another hour or three. It can be a bit of a challenge to get up earlier than necessary each day. However, the willpower you develop can be applied to other aspects of your life. 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

9. You’re more confident. Knowing that you have a big head start on most of the rest of the people in the world can make you feel a little smug. You can be a couple hours ahead of your coworkers while they’re still brushing their teeth.

> Some of those coworkers will likely be working for you someday soon.

If you’re not someone that naturally likes to get up in the morning, there’s still hope. The key is to alter your bedtime and wake-up time a little at a time. Fifteen minutes each day is doable and sustainable. Or you could adjust by 15 minutes and keep that schedule for a week. The next week, add another 15 minutes. And so on. 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

Shifting your schedule to a couple hours earlier will change your life in so many positive ways.

Consider how you spend the last two hours of your evening with your current schedule. Those hours might be fun, but they’re probably not productive. Imagine adding two hours of productivity, enjoyment, and reflection into each day of your life. 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

There are so many advantages to being an early riser that it would likely benefit you to at least give it a try. Avoid assuming that it would never work for you. You might be pleasantly surprised! 9 Benefits of Being an Early Bird

There’s a lot to be said for making a series of small changes to your life and taking your time. It’s an effective way of changing your life with a minimal amount of stress. But, what if you’re impatient? How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

What if your life is such a mess that you’re willing to risk being uncomfortable to have a chance of changing your life quickly? In this case, there’s another option.

If you want to make big changes quickly, you can do a hard reset. Doing a hard reset on your cell phone erases everything and allows you to start over from scratch. You can do the same thing in your life if you’re tough enough.

A hard reset can be in just one part of your life or can encompass several aspects of your life. How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

• Changing careers
• Ending a relationship
• Moving to a new city
• Losing a dramatic amount of weight

Hard resets are big, serious, and require a lot of time and focus.

If you’re ready to make a big change quickly, follow this process of proven strategies:

1. Have a vision for what you want to accomplish. A big change requires a big and clear goal. What change do you want to make to your life? How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

> Do you want to move to the beach?
> Find someone that is a better match for you
> Quit your job and go back to school?
> Lose 75 pounds?
> Run an ultramarathon?

2. Clear the junk out of your life. This includes possessions, people, and obligations that don’t add significantly to your life. People carry too much dead weight through life.

> Big goals require sacrifices to be made. You might have to cut-off your high school friend, quit playing darts on Saturday nights, or throw your ukulele in the trash. How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

3. Decide on the most important actions to take. We like to be busy. It feels like we’re doing something. But we don’t necessarily like to do the most effective tasks, because they’re uncomfortable or inconvenient. That mentality isn’t an option if you’re doing a hard reset. You have to be tough on yourself.

> Cutting off your food after dinner and taking a walk is a lot more effective than eating low-fat artificially sweetened brownies on the couch. How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

> Approaching five interesting strangers each day is more effective than rewriting your personal ad profile for the 8th time.

> Cold calling is more effective than tweaking your website that no one visits anyway.

> Find the most effective actions and focus on those.

4. Schedule your time. You have 168 hours in the next week. If you sleep for 7 hours each night, that leaves 119 hours. If you’re working 40 hours a week, you still have another 79 hours left to use as well as you can. Even if you work 60 hours, that’s still a lot of time left over! How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

> Make a plan for each day.
> Each night, make an even better plan.
> Execute your plan.

5. Realize the truth. If you’re spending all of your available time taking the most effective actions, how could you not be supremely successful at what you’re trying to accomplish?

> Success isn’t a secret. It’s just that the obvious path to success looks miserable to most people.

The only issue you really have is yourself. With time, intention, and a little courage, it’s possible to make dramatic changes to your life very quickly.

A hard reset isn’t for everyone. Many people would have better luck making small changes over the course of several months. How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

On the other hand, some people are capable of moving faster and handling more pressure.

Which type of person are you? Go for it, in the way that works best for you. Either way, you’ll see success. How to Do a Hard Reset to Make Big Changes in Your Life Quickly

There are a lot of people that react to any kind of obstacle, setback, or challenge. Reactions are reflexive, ego-driven, and only consider the short-term outcome. Reactions make you feel better, but don’t resolve an issue effectively.

Responding is different. It’s intelligent, practical, and considers the long-term implications of that course of action.

People that react struggle and are known for making impulsive decisions. Those that respond have fewer struggles in life. As it turns out, the biggest hassles in life are usually of your own making.

Let’s consider an example that highlights the differences between reacting and responding:

Imagine that you have a horrible boss. Today at work, he berates you for something that isn’t your fault. He calls you a mean name. He says that you’re a worthless employee. You leave work enraged and convinced that you can’t take it anymore.

Reacting to this situation might entail quitting in a blaze of glory. You march in the next day and tell him exactly what you think of him. You might even spit in his eye, stomp on his foot, and shove your resignation letter into his mouth.

However, when you get home, you realize that the job market is tight, you have no savings, and no employment prospects.

Responding to this situation might look something like this:

You determine that you need to find another job. You work on your resume. You put out feelers to everyone you know that have or know of a position that’s suitable for you. You get in touch with a recruiter and let them know that you’re looking.

You also cut back on your expenses and save some money just in case you lose your job.

One of these options is short-sighted and risky. The other is thoughtful and logical. One is likely to end in misery, while the other is likely to end in success.

How can you strengthen your odds of success when challenges arise?

Following this process will help you to respond rather than react:

1. Steady yourself. It’s hard to be intelligent, logical, and practical when your emotions are high. Never make an important decision when you’re not cool, calm and collected. Take the time you need. Mull it over. Consider your options.

2. Identify the problem. What is the issue that you need to resolve? Think about what you want to change. Avoid changing a bunch of other things that may have a negative impact on your life. In the example above, you’d get away from your boss, but drastically change your income, too.

3. Be clear on the outcome you desire. It’s just as important to consider the outcome you desire. You might hate your job, but you don’t just want to get away from it. You’ll want a good landing place, too.

4. Make an intelligent plan. Create a plan that resolves your issue and gives you the outcome you desire. Reacting only removes the initial problem. It doesn’t provide a great outcome. A good plan does both.

5. Execute that plan. Use your plan. There are a lot of people that are great at making plans, but never execute them. You don’t want to be one of those people. Put your plan to the test and see what happens.

If you’re someone that reacts to the challenges in your life, you already know the additional challenges it can bring. It’s the perfect example of “out of the frying pan and into the fire.”

Avoid making decisions when you’re upset. Calm yourself first. Then make an intelligent decision that will remove that challenge from your life in a way that leaves you better than you started. Life is much easier this way.