10 Strategies for a Better Life
Time management and stress management go hand in hand
I often hear clients say, “If I just had more hours in the day to get everything done, I wouldn’t be so stressed out all the time!” Well, I can’t add more hours to the day but I can give you 10 Better Life Strategies to manage your time and reduce your stress so you can make the most of the 24 hours you do have.
I suggest picking one or two of these (hint: start with sleep!), and do them for several weeks so they become habits. Then you can add more and repeat the process until you are living in flow and loving your life!
Go to Bed!
Sleep is when our brains and bodies repair and detox. Starving yourself of this crucial stress relief tool kills your ability to think clearly and get more done during the day.
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Turn off electronics at least 30 min before bed.
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Do some deep breathing or try a sleep mediation for better sleep.
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Sleep is self-care and health care!
Mindful Mornings
Set yourself up for success in the morning – start your day off right.
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Choose your mindset and get focused to make the most of the day. Before you even get out of bed, start with gratitude, positive affirmations, and setting intentions for the day.
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Hit the H20 – ASAP! Your body wakes up dehydrated. It might be part of why you feel groggy.
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Meditate or Journal for 15-30 minutes to get present and focused on the day.
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Move your body! Get your blood flowing, oxygen to your brain, and warm up those sleepy muscles. Even 10 minutes of dancing in the kitchen helps. Can you get 30-60 minutes of exercise in? Awesome! Go for it!
Make a To-Do List
Prioritize your list and focus on what matters most.
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Prioritize what is essential and flag what is urgent and do those first.
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Limit your distractions so you can stay focused on the task at hand.
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Don’t be afraid to delegate (or ask for help). You can’t do it all, all the time.
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Learn to say “no” to tasks that don’t support your goals.
Plan Ahead
Keep the end goal in sight
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Have a big picture vision with daily, weekly, monthly goals scheduled.
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Only take on new obligations/opportunities if they align with the big vision.
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Create a vision board or place your plan where you see it often.
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Use SMART Goals to create specific, realistic, achievable goals.
Set the Stage
Create a productive workspace
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De-clutter and organize your workspace so it isn’t overwhelming and you can find what you need to complete tasks.
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Work where it’s quiet and out of office/home traffic areas.
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Have a plant, water feature, window, or picture to focus on and take eye breaks from the computer. Take breaks away from your desk.
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Use scents like oils or candles to boost your mood and productivity. Citrus, mint, and rosemary are all good for motivation and focus.
Beat Procrastination
It creeps up for many reasons. Here are some solutions:
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Think back to WHY you want/need to do the task(s) on your list. ‘WHY’ is our emotional connection to actions. Reconnect with your why and find your motivation again.
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If it feels overwhelming, break up into smaller tasks and take the first step now.
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Set a timer to work on it for just 30 minutes. Once you get started, it’s easier to finish.
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Get an accountability buddy, coach, or mentor that motivates you to do your best.
Take a Break!
Breaks, lunches, days off, and vacations are important to recharge yourself and de-stress
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Take a movement break every couple of hours. Stretch, take deep breaths, and get the blood flowing. This practice will wake up your brain and re-center you so you can focus again.
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Eat lunch, drink some water, move your body. Refuel your brain and body, so the afternoon isn’t a drag!
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Get unplugged! Get outside, read a book, do something fun, laugh, play! Recharge!
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A change of scenery can spark new ideas, create clarity, or provide inspiration.
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Schedule your downtime, or your body will, and it may not be as convenient. Burnout is real!
Celebrate Yourself!
Recognizing wins and accomplishments each day will keep you motivated.
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Take a few minutes to celebrate daily achievements, especially the hard ones.
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Review the week or month to acknowledge ongoing progress and stay motivated.
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Accept praise from your friends, family, accountability buddy, coach, or mentor without downplaying it.
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If it wasn’t on the list, but you did it – add it to the list! Then cross it off – it’s already done :)
Focus on what you have control over
Worrying about things that are beyond your control is draining and stressful. Find things you can improve on or projects to complete. Be mindful of what you focus on.
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Don’t micromanage others or take over other projects to avoid your own.
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DO focus on using your strengths to make tasks easier.
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Don’t let meaningless distractions steal your time.
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DO reset your mindset if you are distracted, procrastinating, or feeling unmotivated.
Create a Support System
We all need people to encourage and support us. Only 1 in 5 people accomplish goals without support.
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Get a coach or accountability buddy to help you stay motivated and on track.
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Surround yourself with people who have similar goals and ambitions.
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Have a strategy to avoid getting derailed and a plan to get back on track if you do.
I hope you find these tips and tools very useful in your life!
A list like this can be helpful IF you know what you need to change to make a difference in your life AND can implement changes by turning them into healthy habits that support your life goals.
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IF you said to yourself:
"That list feels overwhelming to me!"
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"I have tried to create change in my life before and nothing worked."
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"I don't have the time to make these changes."
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"I don't know where to begin."
Don't worry, you are NOT alone.
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If these types of thoughts come up for you, I want to invite you to work a little deeper on getting clarity about the core issue/challenge holding you back. Once you get more clarity, you can start to determine the right tools and strategies to make the changes that will create the most significant impact in your life.
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My Clarity Workbook will walk you through the Awareness, Clarity, and Empowerment (ACE) process I use in my life and with my clients. It will help you get clarity, set specific goals and make a plan to make it happen.
Ready to Get Clarity?
Take the 1st Step
& get your Clarity Workbook & Videos today!
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