BlastAloud

Tag: self care

  • 10 Things To Do Every Sunday For A Productive Week

    10 Things To Do Every Sunday For A Productive Week

    For some people, Sunday is a day to relax, walk around the house in underwear (or even nothing at all), catch up on the latest TV series or simply…sleep. For others, it’s a day to do all the fun things they didn’t have time to do during the week. And then, there are workaholics, who will still find a way to work on Sundays. Which one are you? Do you prefer to chill with a tub of ice cream and tissues, watching Titanic for the hundredth time, or go jogging? Or, do you prefer to pretend Sunday is just another Monday but without having to leave the house?

    Whichever category you fall into, there is always room for improvement. Sunday doesn’t have to be basic, boring or stressful. In fact, it can be the most important day of the week, depending on how you spend it.

    Being the day before a new week starts, Sunday has a major influence on how the entire week will go. If you can spend a part of your Sunday planning for the week ahead, you’d be surprised at how much of a difference it would make. The truth is, many of us waste Sunday, either lazing about or worrying about the coming week.

    It’s easy to dread Mondays because you have to go from relaxing for just two days, to working 9-5 for five days straight. Poor Monday, everybody just hates him. But do you know it’s possible to look forward to Monday? I promise, it’s no magic trick. All it takes is proper strategizing and the right mindset.

    Now, I know “strategizing” sounds like work—relax, I’m not suggesting you work on Sundays too. However, spending some time out of your Sunday to plan the week ahead will not only save you the stress of squeezing your dozens of to-do tasks into the week but also help you take on these tasks with a positive mindset.

    10 Things To Do Every Sunday For A Productive Week

    In essence, a productive Sunday translates to a productive week. By productive, I am referring to proper organization and generally doing things that bring you closer to achieving your goals. We all have short and long-term goals we’d like to achieve, but if you keep moving from one week to the other, dreading the week and the work you have to put in, you are less likely to achieve any of those goals anytime soon.

    There are several problems you can avoid by planning your week ahead of time. In fact, you can prevent work spilling over to the weekend just by taking an hour or two out of your Sunday to organize your tasks for the week into a comprehensive spreadsheet (oh no, this is starting to sound like work, sorry!). But truly, if you want to see actual progress, start from Sunday, so that your life will not just be the typical routine:

    • Go to work
    • Hate your boss
    • Spill coffee on your computer
    • Hate your job
    • Stress through 8 hours of the day
    • Countdown to 5pm
    • Worry because you couldn’t finish the day’s tasks before 5pm
    • Cry and go home
    • Eat boring food
    • Sleep
    • Wake up
    • Repeat

    Well, using your Sunday strategically may not change the fact that your boss sucks, but it will help you be more productive so that you can achieve that goal of actually being your own boss, or at least doing what you love. Here are 10 things you should do every Sunday for a productive week. You might like to call them…the rules of life (okay, maybe it’s not that deep). Nonetheless! Let’s go.

    1. Chores, chores, chores

    Now, I’m sure you didn’t think I’d let you off without cleaning the house under the guise of “planning and strategizing for the week.” Nah, fam. Pick up your cleaning tools, tie your hair into a messy bun, and scrub that house clean. If your environment is not clean and ready for the week then neither are you.

    It’s way more stressful coming back tired from work and finding clutter on the floor or dishes in the sink. The best time to clean up is over the weekend. You can do this on Saturday actually, but supposing you were out with friends or went partying, then Sunday remains the only day to get things in order. Before you sit down to plan your week, do all your chores so you have nothing holding you down in the background.

    2. Sleep is for the weak

    Okay, this is an exaggeration (phew). However, there is nothing more unproductive than sleeping all through your Sunday. Yes, the week was stressful and tiring. Yes, that party was fun and tiring. But sleeping the whole day away will only leave you unprepared for the week, resulting in another stress-filled week and another weekend where you just want to sleep and sleep – and behold, the cycle continues.

    Break the cycle. Shatter it. I’m not suggesting you have to wake up early (why would you do that?). In fact, getting enough sleep is recommended, but when it stretches into the whole day, well, you’ll be missing out on a lot. So, on Sundays, sleep, yes, sleep well, but make sure you get up early enough to do all you need to do for the day.

    3. Reflect on the past week

    Often, we move on to the next week without assessing how the previous week went, what we did wrong, what we did right and what we should never do again (like calling your ex). Sundays are a great time to reflect on the past week and draw lessons from your experiences.

    What could you have done better? Try and implement it in the coming week. What could you have avoided? Try and avoid it this week. Did you achieve your goals for last week? If yes, kudos! If not, re-strategize for the coming week.

    4. Plan!!

    This should be the highlight of your Sunday. Plan. Prepare. Strategize. List out your tasks for the week and organize them into time slots. There are several mobile apps you could use to help you plan your health, finances, calorie intake and workout schedule (if you have the time to workout during the week).

    While some people can plan their lives down to the smallest detail, others simply plan the bigger things and let other things fall in place. Whichever you are, ensure you plan regardless. You don’t have to write down each and everything you will do, how many times you will go to the bathroom or which lipstick to wear on Wednesday. Focus on important things like getting to work on time, having the necessary documents ready for your first task, reading ahead for your next class or seminar, etc.

    The purpose of organizing your week is so that everything does not overwhelm and choke you. When you know what you’ll be dealing with beforehand, it will be less tasking and less stressful for you to handle. Of course, unexpected tasks or circumstances may spring up, but that is all the more reason to be prepared. Imagine having so many things to do at once and then to top it off, your car breaks down. The frustration is enough to have you growing grey hair! If you have everything neatly planned out, minor setbacks will not set you back so much.

    Depending on your occupation and how cluttered your week can get, you will need to spend an hour or so planning out your week. That one hour of planning can help the next 120 hours of the coming week be less cumbersome.

    5. Set Priorities

    When planning out your week, it is important to set priorities. So, spending 2 hours on your makeup and outfit everyday may not be worth it. Write out your goals for the week, and assign deadlines to each one. For this to be effective, you have to minimize procrastination as much as possible. If you set a task for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, do it at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, not 10:25 a.m. on Monday or 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, unless entirely necessary.

    Put the most important goals at the top of your list and check them off as you accomplish them. That way, you track your progress (please note, it doesn’t have to be pen and paper, your smartphone is even much better to help with this).

    6. Condition your mind for a productive week

    They say mindset has a lot to do with how productive you are. Well, I don’t know who “they” are but “they” are right. If you go into the new week sad, anxious or worried, you are likely to have a bad week just as you imagined.

    Now, breathe. Acknowledge that you will have a number of things to do. But also acknowledge that you will do them all on time and do them well.

    Have a positive mindset about the coming week. Think of it as an opportunity to be productive, to meet and spend time with people, and to draw closer to achieving your goals. This way, you will not dread the week, but instead look forward to it, live in the moment and enjoy the moment.

    7. Pick out outfits for the whole week

    This might seem obvious but it actually isn’t. Many of us just wing it and pick the first thing we see in our closet on a Monday morning. Alas, I tell you – there is a better way. Supposing you followed the first thing on this list and did all your chores including laundry, you should have all your clothes clean and neatly ironed.

    Now, select outfits for Monday to Friday, even down to the shoes that will go with each outfit. Believe it or not, picking the right shoes is a real crisis that people experience when getting ready for work.

    If you’re going to wear a striped tie on Wednesday, do not pick out a dotted shirt for Wednesday. Knowing you look good will make you more confident to take on the week!

    8. Eating habits

    With busy schedules, it’s easy to lose track of eating healthy. You may not have time to cook during the week, but making an effort to plan your eating habits on Sunday will go a long way in helping you stay healthy.

    While your meals may most often be take outs, try to fit in healthy meals you can quickly cook when you get home or order more healthy meals throughout the week.

    You can even cook one or two meals on Sunday that you can store in the freezer and warm up after a long day at work. Of course, they may not last you the whole week, but it will give you a kick-start.

    9. Do something that interests you

    Make an effort to learn something that you find interesting and start practicing it every Sunday. By the end of the year, you would have mastered it and added value to yourself.

    This could be playing an instrument, a sport, dancing, or even spending more time with your kid, dog or that special someone.

    10. Finally, relax

    After planning out your week and putting everything in order, you my friend, deserve to relax. Treat yourself, go for a massage, take a very long bubble bath – whatever you find relaxing, do it. Without proper rest and relaxation, all the above mentioned will be in vain.

    You need to go into the week refreshed and ready to take on the world. You know what they say, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull dog,” or something like that. Similarly, all work and no play makes you an unproductive…you. Take care of you, I mean, all of you.

    Make this week a great one!

    So, you see, having a productive week has a lot to do with what your Sunday looks like.

    If you ever felt like your week starts from Monday, well, it is clear that it should start from Sunday, with a plan, a positive mindset, priorities, and relaxation. You never know how much more you could accomplish if you weren’t always tired, anxious or stressed.

    Make an effort to do these 10 things every Sunday so that you can enjoy a productive week. With consistency, you are sure to see progress. It may not be easy, and you may feel tempted to crawl into bed and stay there the whole day, but remember, a little goes a long way. A little time spent planning will go a long way in ensuring a productive week, and invariably, a productive lifestyle.

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    Remember to pin this post to your personal development board on Pinterest so you can get back to it later. You can also follow my personal development board on Pinterest for more great personal development tips and ideas!

    10 Things To Do Every Sunday For A Productive Week

    This post originally appeared on MindHerWay.com as 10 Things To Do Every Sunday For A Productive Week and has been republished with the permission of the author.

  • 10 Easy Ways To Be More Active Without Going To Gym

    10 Easy Ways To Be More Active Without Going To Gym

    It’s no news that being active and physically fit not only improves your well being, it also reduces the risk of developing diabetes and several other illnesses.

    According to research, exercise has been found to lessen depression and also serve as a mood lifter. The saying “exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind” seems to attest to that fact. In light of this, we’ll be looking at 10 easy ways to be more active and physically fit.

    1. Its Run O’clock!

    You don’t have to be Usain Bolt’s younger brother before you hit the tracks. Running in the morning on a regular comes with a lot of benefits. However, be sure not to overdo it, so you won’t end up with the doldrums and fatigue you were trying to do away with.

    You could start with 2-4 miles per run, that would take about 20-30 mins. If you have a respiratory problem or you’re the type that gets fatigued quickly, you could try substituting the run for a walk.

    Either way, you will be burning calories, improving your mood and getting a high energy boost.

    2. Cleaning is an exercise

    You won’t only be getting rid of dusty surfaces, dirty dishes and dirty laundries, but calories will also be discarded, self esteem will be boosted and you will be more productive during the day. Loads of goodness in one, whoop whoop! You will get to move around, be more flexible and do different activities at once.

    Just as charity begins at home, multitasking usually begins here. You could be packing the laundry from the washer and moving to the rhythm of Shake it off by Taylor swift. Yes, everything’s better with music!

    3. Ignore the elevator, meet the stairway

    Of course, it’s okay to use the elevator. I mean, why was it made? What is not okay is making its use your hobby. Did you know that using the stairs reduces the risk of having cardiovascular diseases by 30%?

    There are other advantages that come with using the stairs. They include increased stamina and energy, reduction of cholesterol level, increment of heart rate and control of weight gain.

    Just in case you missed your early morning workout, you could make up for it by ignoring the elevator and using the stairs. Who knows, an idea might pop in before you get to the boardroom. So meet the stairway, burn some calories, and get active today.

    4. Don’t be static

    Sometimes, the office or classroom can be a hell of a sitting show. Nevertheless, take a minute and walk around. It will prevent the soreness that comes with tedious hours of work and cramps in your feet and joints. Making movements will also come in handy during school/working hours as it serves as a good stress relief and helps you calm your mind.

    5. Get a pet

    Owning a pet is not just about all the fancy scenes presented on reality shows! Having a companion animal around helps in increasing our chances of physical exercises and other outdoor activities.

    Pets help us relax and help with lowering our stress levels.You can’t get static or stay in a place for long when there’s a pet around the house. You will either go looking for them or they come looking for you. They could tag along with you while you’re taking a walk and they learn pretty fast so it’s quite easy to play with them. The point is, they are very helpful when it comes to being active.

    6.Play

    In a life where work and seriousness is given much ado, playing as an activity should be accorded the same level of importance as well. Studies have shown that play is one of the major ways of being active.

    Playing gives us a youthful and energetic feeling. It helps the brain to function well, and serves as a relief from stress. It’s not just about the physical health benefits, research has shown how much playing helps us to bond well with others and also improve our communication and cooperation with others.

    7. Take a walk

    Walking is probably the easiest of them all. All you have to do is stand up, put on your shoes and walk. It’s that simple. Also, it’s quite easy to fit in your schedule.

    For instance, twice a week, you and your boyfriend can substitute your late night chats for a 15 min walk in the evening. It not only helps in exercising the body and burning calories, but fixing a schedule for taking a walk also gives you something to look forward to.

    Instead of ordering for a cup of cappuccino from the coffee shop down the alley, why don’t you take a walk there? You could also sign up for voluntary walks and endurance treks, it’s going to be fun!

    8. Stretch out/ flex those muscles

    Who said you can’t be active while you’re busy with other things? Whether you are in the kitchen cooking or working on your computer or seeing your favorite show on the TV, create a space and take time out to stretch.

    It improves your performance in physical activities, prevents stiffness in the joints and increases the circulation of blood to your muscles. In addition, it heals and prevents back pain.

    9. Water is a necessity

    Before you put down your glass of water, before you discard your water bottle, I’d like to give you a quick reminder, water is life!

    Water helps lubricate our joints, prevent our body from dehydration, flushes the body wastes, regulates the body temperature and takes care of skin health and beauty (don’t you want to glow?). How do you expect to be more active if you’re going to miss out on all these amazing benefits? Choose water today!

    10. Dance! Dance!! Dance!!!

    Dancing is more than what meets the eye. Improved muscle tone and strength, increased aerobic fitness, flexibility, stronger bones and improved heart conditions are a few of the great benefits you get from moving your body to the rhythm of a song.

    So when next your homies want you to hang out in the club or when you’re invited for a party next door, please don’t stay back home. However, if you are the shy type or you just don’t want to go out, it’s all good. Now is the perfect time to burst those speakers and vibe to that new jam that’s been trending since last Sunday. Party of one, party of fun!

    Read it all? Great! Now, don’t forget it’s easier read than done. If you are a newbie, you could start by taking baby steps. If you begin with strenuous activities the first day, the thought of the next day’s activity could make you chicken out easily. So take it a step at a time.

    Or maybe you’re not new this? Nice! It’s totally understandable if you can’t do all at once, but don’t be lazy about it. I know it’s easy for your mind to drift off because of busy schedules, heavy workload and tedious activities, but remember, you can do whatever you put your mind to!

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    10 Easy ways to be more active

  • Journal Prompts For Self Discovery: 35 Questions To Ask Yourself

    Journal Prompts For Self Discovery: 35 Questions To Ask Yourself

    Oprah Winfrey once said, “I was once afraid of people saying, ‘Who does she think she is?’ Now I have the courage to stand up and say “This is who I am”. The question is WHO ARE YOU? Providing answers to this question is very important in life because if we are not careful, we could lose our true identity to situations and events around us or to what people think we are or want us to become. Journal prompts for self discovery can help you to get to know yourself better and prevent this from happening.

    When we lose our identity or fail to get a hold of who we really are, we are less likely to live a fulfilled life and we’ll be more likely to be at conflict within our inner being, give in to social pressure a.k.a following the crowd, be poor in decision-making and ultimately make a mess of our life. Okay…enough of the gory imagery yeah?

    But the question still stands, WHO ARE YOU?

    Journal Prompts For Self Discovery

    35 Journal prompts for self discovery

    To answer the ultimate question of self discovery, all you have to do is create a quiet time and space (away from all forms of distraction), get a pen and book, and ask questions about yourself and note down the answers.

    Don’t be scared to know who you are. It’s good to bear in mind that you are human and you’re allowed some flaws and mistakes, you can only strive to be a better person. So worry less about imperfect answers, this isn’t a fairy tale or Disney story line. Just let the words flow without stopping and without judgement.

    The content of your journal is for your eyes alone, so you don’t have to worry about how people will feel or what they will say about you when they see it.

    Don’t forget, “It takes courage to endure the sharp pains of self-discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives”.

    The following are 35 journal prompts I’ve put together that would serve as a guide through your journey of self discovery.

    1. Write down a description of how your ideal day would look like.
    2. What are the 5 major decisions you’ve taken in the last 5 years and how have they shaped your life?
    3. Write out 10 things that make you happy.
    4. Write out your strengths and abilities. How do you leverage on them?
    5. Note down your fears, phobias, limitations and obstacles. Take note of how they’ve hindered you in the past and write down how you want to overcome them.
    6. What are the challenges you have faced in the last 10 years? How were you able overcome them?
    7. Write down what your ideal type of life is like. Are there any similarities or differences between that and your present life? Note them.
    8. Write down 5 risks you would like to take. Take note of their implications and benefits.
    9. How often do you take risks? Note down the 5 major risks you have taken, and their implications.
    10. List out 10 major things you have done in the past 5 years that you’re most proud of.
    11. Write out the impact you have made among your friends and in your locality. Write down the impacts you’d like to make in 10 years.
    12. What are the things you’ve done that you won’t like to talk about? Do you still feel guilty about those things?
    13. Write down how you have helped someone in their time of need these past weeks and how you feel about it.
    14. Write out your most toxic trait. Jot down how you’ve been able to manage it. Take note of it’s effects on you and others and write down how you want to do away with them.
    15. If you’re given the chance to go back in time, what 5 things would you like to change 5 years earlier?
    16. What are your desires? Are they in line with your short and long-term goals?
    17. What important lessons have you learnt in the past 5 years? How did they shape your perspective about life?
    18. What makes up your comfort zone? How often do you get out of your comfort zone?
    19. Take note of who your greatest source of motivation comes from and why. Also, ask questions about what gets you on the edge, what’s your greatest drive?
    20. Do you feel a sense of responsibility/belonging towards some things or someone? If yes, kindly take note of their names and why you feel such towards them.
    21. What do you think about yourself? How do you see yourself right now? Write down your perspective about life and how it shaped your thought processes. What advice would you give to yourself right now?
    22. Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years? Is that vision realistic?
    23. Write down your short-term and long-term goals and how you want to achieve them. How well are you following the plans you laid out for your goals to be achieved?
    24. What are your hobbies? Describe 5 things you like doing most and why you like doing them.
    25. What skill(s) are you good at? How have you been utilizing this skill to make things better for yourself?
    26. Make a list of the things you’re grateful for and why you appreciate them.
    27. Write down how you handled past pain and discomfort and how you’d handle them now.
    28. Who/what means the most to you and why? List out the names of the people you can count on and write a short note on how they have been there for you.
    29. Write out 10 words of affirmation to yourself.
    30. What do you love about life in general?
    31. Take a moment and write about someone or a moment you will always treasure.
    32. Write down how you felt and what you did when people let you down and how you will handle disappointment from people now.
    33. Write a short note about a day you’ll never forget. What is the significance of that day to who you are now?
    34. Take note of the things you usually anticipate. This may include days and special events you look forward to, what food you’d like to try out, places you’d love to visit, people you’d love to meet and things you’d like to learn.
    35. Write down your biggest goal in life as well as your reasons for wanting to achieve it. What is holding you back? What are you afraid of in pursuing that goal?

    Remember, self discovery helps us to understand our weakness and inabilities and how we can overcome them. It helps us identify our capabilities, our strengths, and how we can foster them and use them to our advantage. It’s a lifetime necessity, don’t lose sight of this fact.

    Whether you are doing this for the first time or you’ve done this before, understand that knowing and expressing who you are will make you happier.

    Having a mind of your own will make social pressure less effective on you, and knowing what’s best for you will assist you in making the right decisions. Self discovery helps us understand and tolerate others and also instill self-discipline in ourselves.

    Also, note that this is not a once-and-for-all thing. As the years go by, we tend to get distracted by a lot of activities, forgetting who we are. Therefore, it is important and advisable you do this once in a while. It will not only give you a sense of direction, but it will also serve as a reminder of who you are.

    Below are some quotes you can think upon during your quiet time. Always remember, be you!

    “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle
    “When you know yourself you are empowered. When you accept yourself you are invincible.” – Tina Lifford
    “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Gandhi
    “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” – Buddha
    “Discovering who you are today is the first step to being who you will be tomorrow.” -Destiny’s Odyssey
    “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton
    “You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realising who you are at the deepest level.” – Eckhart Tolle
    “You have no need to travel anywhere. Journey within yourself, enter a mine of rubies and bathe in the splendour of your own light.” – Rumi
    “The greatest discovery in life is self-discovery. Until you find yourself you will always be someone else. Become yourself.” – Myles Munroe
    “Know thyself.” – Socrates

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    Don’t forget to pin these journal prompts for self discovery!

    If these journal prompts for self discovery are useful to you, remember to pin it to your personal development board on Pinterest so you can come back to it later!

    35 Journal prompts for self discovery

  • 20 Productive Things To Do At Home When You Are Bored

    20 Productive Things To Do At Home When You Are Bored

    If you have some time on your hands, or if you’re stuck at home without anything to do, it’s easy to start to feel bored. However there are quite a number of productive things to do at home when you are bored. And it can be pretty fun too.

    Everyone goes through a phase of boredom at one point or the other but boredom can be conquered by following these 3 simple steps:

    1. Understand what boredom is and what it can cause.
    2. Have some effective strategies in place that you can use to fight boredom immediately when it kicks in.
    3. Have a list of productive and fun activities to do that will help you break out of boredom.

    Boredom is a feeling caused as a result of monotony in daily activities, lack of energy, lack of motivation, procrastination, loneliness, being idle or not finding anything interesting to do.

    But sometimes, you could be surrounded with people and things to do but still be bored. Sigh, it’s way better to be bored alone than to have someone actually boring the remaining life out of you!

    Now, there is a difference between being lazy and feeling bored. Laziness refers to when a person is just lounging around and doesn’t put any effort into doing anything, while boredom means not having much to do or not motivated to do anything.

    20 Fun & Productive Things To Do At Home When Boredom Strikes

    Productive things to do at home when bored

    As the saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. Therefore, you need to get your hands or mind busy in a positive way as much as you can, in order to fight boredom, which may lead to having terrible thoughts or doing things you don’t really want to (like overeating).

    Below are 20 fun and productive things to do at home when you find yourself feeling bored. They won’t just help you pass time when you’re bored, but will also be productive and fruitful for your personal development.

    1. Learn a new skill

    What better way to kill boredom than to equip yourself with a new skill? There are different types of new skills you could learn that will even help you forge ahead in whatever career you already have at hand.

    The good news is that you can learn most of these skills online for free, examples are: digital marketing, graphic design, photography, content creation, e.t.c. The bad news is…well there’s no bad news, you have no excuse not to learn that skill now, especially if you’ve got the time!

    Learning a new skill can be a very exciting and fun thing to do. It could even make you money in the long run if you decide to offer it as a service to other people (which I’m pretty sure you want to do because it seems in 2020, everyone wants to make a bit of extra money )!

    2. Improve your existing skills

    You probably have a certain skill you have learnt before, but you just abandoned it or you haven’t made any move to find out the new development in that field—now is the time to find ways to improve on that skill.

    Times are always changing, as change is the only constant thing in life. The only way to stay on top of your game with any skill you have is to constantly change with the times by learning and practicing the newly introduced developments in that are. And the best time to do this…is…drum roll…when you’re bored, since you know, you’ve got the time.

    3. Learn a new language

    Learning a new language is a very interesting practice to engage in and it might come in handy for you at anytime. A lot of people have always had the intention to learn a new language but they always postpone it due to lack of time.

    Learning a new language broadens your mind, and gives you a view of other cultures and ways of life. You might even decide to visit the place where the language is spoken someday and you will be able to actively communicate with the people.

    You don’t necessarily have to go to a language learning center or take a physical course in school to learn a new language anymore, everything can be learned online. And some platforms even offer it for free (whoop whoop)!

    4. Read

    Reading is a very exciting thing to do, be it fiction or non-fiction. You either learn a thing or two, get entertained or possibly get more motivated. In times when you are bored or don’t have anything to do, reading can be a good way to pass time effectively.

    5. Do a physical workout

    Physical workout is not just a way to help you fight boredom, it also helps you stay healthy and fit.

    Have any unwanted belly fat? You can actually get rid of it when you’re bored!

    You can go for a run or do indoor exercises, whichever works for you is fine. There are plenty of free exercise classes online. The end result is what matters.

    6. Keep your mind busy and brainstorm

    Great ideas are born out of mere thoughts and as Napoleon Hill said, “Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes”. The best time to brainstorm and formulate new ideas is when you are bored and doing nothing productive.

    Let your mind wander, bring up different scenarios, think about what a certain action you implement will lead to. Just free your mind and think strategically.

    Who knows, you could come up with a brand new business idea, or a best seller book idea. Or if you’re stuck with a particular problem in some area of your life, you might finally come up with a good solution.

    7. Empty your mailbox or messages and send responses

    Clean your inbox - Productive Things To Do At Home When You Are Bored

    Reading through your messages and mail can be tiring sometimes. And even when you read them you might not have enough time to send back responses immediately. That’s why it’s so easy to just let the messages pile up. And pile up. And then you see the number of messages keep growing, and it makes it even more daunting to tackle that inbox. (I’m definitely guilty of doing this).

    The perfect time to get your inbox back in order is when you are bored. Open your mailbox or messages, read through the important ones, delete the unimportant ones and respond to those you should.

    Before you know it, you have gotten that out of the way and you also beat boredom all at once. And your future self will thank you for it. Definitely one of the more productive things to do at home when you are bored. 

    8. Check up on family and friends and spend time with them

    Caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, we don’t always have the time to check up on those dear to us or even spend time with them. Pick up your phone to call them today and ask how they are doing. Visit them if you can and spend quality time with them.

    9. Adopt a new hobby

    Hobbies are things we love to do and find joy in doing. Everyone has one or two hobbies, but it doesn’t hurt to have more up your sleeve in order to beat boredom.

    There are a wide variety of hobbies a person can choose from; singing (basically everyone’s hobby in the shower), swimming, photography, writing, reading, sightseeing, cooking, painting, drawing.

    The list is endless and all you have to do is try some out (or all of them) one at a time in order to decide which one works best for you.

    10. Take a walk

    Taking a walk is a very therapeutic thing to do, it helps you clear your head, think better and breathe in fresh air (or run into that cute boy down the street).

    One of the best things you can do for yourself when you are bored is to take a long walk down your block or to a serene place, appreciate nature in all it’s glory, breathe in fresh air and be refreshed.

    11. Plan your next trip

    We all deserve a little bit of fun and there are places we can go to in order to make that a reality. But just going to places isn’t all of the fun. Planning your trip can be just as much fun!

    So plan that next a fishing trip, a boat cruise, a mountain hike, or visiting a new place you really want to see. Anything fun that catches your fancy. 

    12. Watch an informational movie or documentary

    Watching movies or documentaries that you can learn something from is a very fun way to alleviate boredom. Not only are you getting entertained, you also get to learn one or two things. So grab some popcorn, put on something interesting and chill.

    13. Listen to music

    Who doesn’t love some beautiful sounds and lyrics to the ears? As Billy Joel said, “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”

    You want to kill that boredom? Plug in your earphones, put on that stereo and play that music you love. If possible dance to it, reflect on it and let it warm your heart. You will be glad you did it.

    14. Create something

    Creation is the whole essence of life, the world was created and so were we.

    There are different things you could get your hands on and create. It could be as simple as planting a new flower, creating a photo book, or a drawing.

    You are not limited, all you have to do is create something, anything. It doesn’t just cure boredom, but it also heightens your creativity level and gives you a sense of achievement.

    15. Evaluate your progress

    One very good time to reflect and evaluate how far you have gone with your plans, goals and aspirations is when you are bored.

    You’ll be able to critically think about all that you have done to work towards your goals, how successful your steps have been, and what you need to stop doing or start doing more of. This way, you give yourself a fresh perspective and a new start if needed.

    16. Socialize and network

    The truth is, you will always need people in whatever endeavor you choose in life. And what better way to meet more people than to network and socialize.

    This can be done in person by attending events or shows, but it could also easily be done via the internet if you’re stuck at home. The key is to reach out to people, spark interesting conversations, tell them what you do, exchange contacts and keep in touch.

    17. Meditate

    Meditate - Productive Things To Do At Home When You Are Bored

    Meditation is the exercise of the mind.

    In the words of Pema Chodron, “Meditation is a process of lightening up, of trusting the basic goodness of what we have and who we are, and of realizing that any wisdom that exists, exists in what we already have. We can lead our life so as to become more awake to who we are and what we’re doing rather than trying to improve or change or get rid of who we are or what we’re doing. The key is to wake up, to become more alert, more inquisitive and curious about ourselves.”

    By meditating, you are training your mind to focus, redirecting your thoughts positively and letting go of stress. It is a very effective and productive way to overcome boredom.

    18. Take a Nap

    Okay, this does not look so productive at first glance, but the body (and mind) need adequate rest to function well. Instead of worrying about how bored you are, why not just lay down and take a nap?

    Not only are you eliminating your boredom by doing this, but you are also giving your body and mind the adequate rest that it deserves. This can be especially helpful if you don’t normally get a good night’s rest.

    19. Write something

    Writing - Productive Things To Do At Home When You Are Bored

    Anais Nin said, “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect”, and I absolutely agree.

    Writing helps your mind to travel far away with imagination. It helps you to understand things that are blurry and helps you put tiny shattered pieces of thought together.

    You can write about absolutely anything.  Putting pen on paper or typing out those words helps you free your mind. Just keep scribbling without stopping and without judgement. You’ll be surprised that the words make so much sense to the next person. Writing is a therapeutic way to beat boredom.

    20. Eliminate procrastination

    Procrastination has always been said to be “ the greatest thief of time”.

    Sometimes you have so much to do, that it starts to seem overwhelming, and then you abandon it all and instead begin to complain of boredom. You need to stand up now, motivate yourself and get back to what you really should be doing instead of moping around and complaining of boredom.

    Postponing what you should do now till later won’t make you any better or more relaxed, because you still have that particular thing hanging over your head. Get up and start doing something.

    So, dear friend, it’s okay to get bored, don’t we all? But the right thing to do is find a way or ways to get out of it before it eats you up.

    How much better if it’s something that will also end up being productive for you in the end. Explore new things, find new ideas and build on existing ones. Doing the things highlighted in this article will be your easy way out of boredom.

    Also check out:

    Don’t forget to share and pin these 20 productive things to do at home when you are bored!

    If you found this post helpful, please remember to pin it to your personal development or productivity board on Pinterest. If you think anyone else could benefit from these 20 productive things to do at home when you are bored, please share it with them too!

    You can also follow me on Pinterest for more ideas and posts like this!

    Productive things to do at home when bored

  • 30 Easy Ways To Improve Yourself Little By Little Every Day

    30 Easy Ways To Improve Yourself Little By Little Every Day

    Humans in general have so many limitations most of which are set by the human brain. So basically, they are limits set only by your mind and can completely be overruled if you work on your mindset. You can totally turn your life around with little ways to improve yourself bit by bit every day.

    Limitations of the body such as not having an extra arm to help you clip your toenails while you brush your teeth might be impossible to beat, but when we talk about limitations of the mind, the only limit that actually exists is the one you impose on yourself.

    The mind has unlimited possibilities and if you can unlock these, well, you may just be able to fly (or run really fast, if we’re being realistic).  Each of these little ways to improve yourself will help set every aspect of your life on track, with end results that are beyond satisfying.

    1. Read a good book

    Reading a book generally adds more value to your bank of knowledge. Books contain a lot of information that often you never knew you needed but right after learning them, you start to wonder how you ever lived without them. Try reading a book which has a great stream of reviews or based on recommendations (not something like Fifty Shades Darker of course). You never know what you may gain to improve yourself in the process.

    2. Zone in…or zone out (either way, find your zone)

    Think of your zone as a kind of head space where you get comfortable, a place where you feel the most relaxed with as minimal worries as can be. Visiting this head space often expels negativity while procuring positivity, and having a positive mind will inevitably improve your general self.

    3. Defy fear

    Fear often stops a person from reaching his or her full potential and that’s the very reason I refer to it as the natural enemy of progress. Having fear of a particular outcome will definitely limit your view of solutions to a problem so it’s advised that when in fear, do the exact opposite of what fear is telling you to do. Go all out and explore all possible options, this has proven to help boost the success of many individuals in life.

    4. Perfect your skill set

    Having a set of skills is so important that you may just be irrelevant in the world without one. Improving or honing such skills has helped so many individuals achieve unimaginable feats in their various fields. It’s better to be a one trick pony and be a master of your skill than being a jack of all trades but a master of none. Doing this daily would drastically improve you as a person.

    5. Get accustomed to waking up early

    Getting up during the early hours of the morning gives you an edge over those who wake up late everyday and rush through every morning. It provides you with extra time to get something done or maybe complete unfinished business or better yet practice a certain skill in order to perfect it. This process will open up its benefits to you after performing it for just a short period of time.

    6. Exercise daily

    Working on your physical body has a great impact on your mental health (besides giving you tight abs of course). Physical fitness helps you get to places faster (yes, if you’ve been wondering why you’re slow and get tired after walking a few blocks, well, I hate to break it to you but…you need to exercise!).

    It also helps you look better which is all we really want even though we won’t all admit it. Daily exercise is definitely a necessary step in improving yourself as a person.

    7. Try new challenges

    Taking on new tasks challenges your brain to come up with better ways of solving a problem, generally improving your faculty of thinking, boosting morale and taking success levels higher than before.

    8. Accept your flaws

    Identifying areas where you lack the capability of performing well is the first step in acquiring the skills to solve that problem. The instant you can identify your flaws, you gain the ability to turn them into areas of strengths and we all know that every person out there has his or her flaws. I myself have a few and by few I mean a thousand or so. The moment you actualize this step, you will watch yourself improve beautifully in different areas.

    9. Control your vices

    Every human on earth at the stage of puberty will likely develop a vice or two, unless of course you’re little miss perfect. Vices are sort of bad habits we indulge in at certain times in our lives and most stick with us throughout our life span. An example of a vice would be smoking, drinking, gambling or maybe something seemingly harmless like eating too many sweets or candy. Cutting down on this will improve your health and general well-being.

    10. Learn tolerance

    Sometimes in life, we face complicating circumstances and how we deal with them or respond to them could drastically improve or reduce the quality of the result. That’s why in certain cases we need to learn to be patient, for instance, while waiting on something or receiving an annoying response from another individual.

    11. Learn a strategic game

    Learning a game like chess or checkers will help you improve your ability to think on the spot and come up with valuable solutions to various problems. This skill comes in handy when you are faced with challenging problems, seeing as the game would have trained your brain to think faster.

    12. Cut down TV time

    Yes, television (TV) can be educative sometimes but definitely not all the time. While watching things like news programs on TV can update a person on what is going on in their surroundings, it could also serve as a distraction and can turn into a bad habit pretty quickly.

    Cutting down TV time is necessary in order to create enough time to be productive in other aspects of our lives.

    13. Set a personal challenge

    Putting certain obstacles in front of you slows you down for a while but once you can pull through such challenges, facing them in reality would be ten times easier because you have already faced such a challenge before. This step will improve your problem solving skills.

    14. Cling to top innovators

    When I say cling to top innovators I don’t mean stalk them on their social media pages, monitor their movements and lurk in the shadows behind their homes. Now, that’s just creepy. I mean, cling to the advice they give to the general public since that’s what has gotten them to such heights.

    15. Focus on your goals

    If you have identified goals or feats you are hell bent on achieving make sure no one out there slows you down or tries to stop you from reaching them. Give your goals your full attention and time.

    16. Find inner peace

    The human mind is the base or the foundation of all the processes that go on in the human body, think of it as the engine room in a train. Without it being in perfect order, the train would have difficulties performing at maximum potential.

    That’s the same thing that would happen in the human body. Training your mind is essential in trying to improve yourself everyday and to be able to do this, inner peace must be found and this can be done through different processes like coming to terms with past events or meditation.

    17. Idolize your mentor

    A mentor is someone you look up to and want to be like in life. Achieving this is possible if you follow in his footsteps and do things the way he would, make decisions he would make and even eat things he would eat (okay, maybe don’t be too stalker-ish).

    18. Try writing a book

    Writing a book might sound like a very long and complicated process but it’s actually really possible. Several people over time have done so. Writing helps you explore a whole different world of information, improving many things within you, especially your vocabulary. Try this out and see the fun parts of it start to unravel right before your eyes.

    19. Avoid bad vibes

    When around people or with company, there are certain feelings which can be felt in the air. These can be referred to as “vibes.” A vibe can either make or break a situation depending on whether it’s positive or negative, good or bad. So avoiding people with bad vibes is a great way to protect your own positive vibes. Bad energy…stay far away!

    20. Execute ideas

    Ideas are very good things to have but having an idea and not acting on it defies the entire purpose of coming up with one. If you have an idea, stop coming up with excuses not to act on it. Stop procrastinating. Write that business proposal today, call that acquaintance today, go for that trip today…and shave those legs today!

    If you always come up with ideas and never act on them, you won’t see your ideas become a reality. It’s just so easy to go through life this way, and pretty soon you’re old and looking back on your life wishing you started doing everything sooner.

    21. Realize next to impossible goals

    When setting standards, set them high, even if they are too high for you (not unrealistically high, but you get the point). Doing this will help you grow yourself in order to actualize the goal you have set in place.

    Think of it as putting money on a high shelf so each time you need it you have to do a little hop to get it. With time, you would gain the ability to jump higher than you could before.

    22. Create a schedule

    Being busy is not a bad thing as long as you’re busy improving yourself. Try to allocate different times to different activities in your life, making sure each one gets the required amount of time to see a positive impact.

    23. Ask for reviews or feedback

    Never be too shy to ask another person what they think of your progress or your work so far and don’t feel bad if you get negative reviews. You either win or learn, there’s no losing.

    Negative feedback just means there is a little more work to be done and if all your reviews come out positive then that’s a win-win situation for you as a person, and it proves that what you have been doing actually works.

    24. A little competition is healthy

    Rivalries are common in various fields and have shown more positive results than negative. A rival is someone you would try to beat when giving a solution to a problem, for instance, or just generally try to be better than.

    Now I’m not referring to a batman and joker kind of relationship but something healthier, such that you would both push each other to the point where each of you would have to improve to a certain quality in order to match one another.

    25. Say no to late nights

    Many believe staying up late and even pushing up to the early hours of the morning gives the desired result concerning work or study. On the contrary, doing this may reduce the quality of whatever solution you’re looking to procure. The human body requires 7 to 8 hours of sleep and depriving yourself of that would definitely take a toll on you after a certain amount of time. Instead, go to bed early and start your mornings early.

    26. Try new hobbies

    As mentioned before, trying new things always has a positive effect on the human brain and opens it up to a whole new world of information. So, you really have nothing to lose with trying out new hobbies.

    27. Learn a new language

    This is a very beautiful and fun process to go through while trying to better yourself as a person. Learning a new language can become very useful in different situations and gives you an edge over those who can’t keep up with you because they lack the skill.

    28. Eat healthy

    You will never hear a person complain about being too healthy. With that said, you should definitely add healthy meals to your daily diet. Doing this keeps your brain in good condition to think and your body in a better condition to act, thus improving your daily routine.

    29. Observe your surroundings

    The human mind always tries to get new information from whatever it can pick up which is why whenever you go somewhere new, you tend to helplessly look around, but this is a very good attribute actually. When you observe your surroundings, you tend to know when and how to act in order to match the situation and deliver the best form of results.

    30. Have a little fun or rest period

    Having fun can be done in various ways depending on your personal preference and choices. Some prefer to sit and play games while others prefer to involve themselves in more strenuous activities like playing sports, jogging or even boxing (how random right?). Resting can be put in place of this. Just make sure you give yourself time away from all the work and stress in order to give your brain a chance to recuperate so you come back bigger, better and more attractive (wink wink).

    Try applying these steps in your day to day life and you are sure to see a positive impact in your life as a person. These steps will bring about tranquility, and even if you don’t use them all, try your best to practice at least half of them and expect incredible results.

    Also check out these posts:

    Remember to pin these ways to improve yourself for later!

    Don’t forget to pin these 30 easy ways to improve yourself to your personal development board on Pinterest. You can also follow me for more tips and ideas like these that can change your life if you let it.

    Easy Ways To Improve Yourself Little By Little Every Day

    Easy Ways To Improve Yourself Little By Little Every Day

  • Top 10 Morning Habits To Supercharge Your Day With Positivity

    Top 10 Morning Habits To Supercharge Your Day With Positivity

    There’s an old adage. If you get out of bed with the wrong foot, it will ruin your entire day. While scientists cannot identify the guilty foot, you can sway the odds in your favor. Here are ten morning habits that are free and easy enough to mush into a busy morning schedule.

    Morning habits for positivity and productivity

    How you start your mornings can have a big influence on how the rest of your day goes. That’s why putting in the work to fix your morning habits and morning routine can be a huge benefit. Below are some suggestions for you to start with.

    1. Give Thanks – Whatever That Means To You

    Morning habits - giving thanks

    Expressing gratitude is very personal. Especially when it’s a little abstract and you’re not thanking an actual person standing in front of you. For some, it’s a moment of faith and prayer. Others like writing in a gratitude journal. You can even just sit with your morning brew and thankful thoughts. No action required.

    It doesn’t matter if you’re thankful for the same things most days. Gratitude or thanksgiving isn’t a well that runs dry because you’re only allowed to name your newborn once.

    Instead, the point of the exercise is to hone your ability to spot the gems that exist in your life right now. No matter how big or small. You’re allowed to name something for as long as you’re grateful for it.

    Positive reflection brings peace in the moment and strength for the rest of the day.

    2. Wash Your Face (And Indulge)

    Let’s face it. That face is not a pretty face once you peel it from the pillow – and we tend to feel the sleep on our skin. The tightness, the not-so-rightness. Ah, that’s where the magic of a washcloth comes in.

    This habit is a great one to start with, right after you get up. It’s simple and refreshing, capable of waking even those who don’t know what species they are until they’ve had their first cup of coffee.

    While this habit is mostly about sleeping in your washcloth for a second before waking up, you’re welcome to go the extra mile. There’s plenty of evidence that suggests you can boost your confidence by sprucing up. But as important as routine hygiene is, don’t make it all about that.

    Do something that’s an absolute spoiler. That vanilla-flavored face scrub that’s not necessary but makes you feel like a queen? That one. Indulging in a favorite product is a deeply positive thing to do for your mood.

    3. One Rep, Two Reps – Or Just Stretch

    This one is entirely optional… Because we understand. Some people and exercise don’t mix in the morning.

    That being said, if you struggle with waking up then you might want to consider gentle stretching. Chances are that even a slight attempt to stretch a few muscles will clear the brain fog and provide a pleasant physical buzz. Indeed, these are the perks that drive those who love intensive exercise in the morning.

    Don’t worry, this paragraph won’t nag about the health benefits of exercising. Everyone knows how important movement is these days. But in the spirit of exercise being critical to good health, let’s cover one more benefit of morning mojo. A busy day leaves most people too tired to crawl over to that yoga mat when they get home. But when done first thing in the morning, nothing can prevent you from growing fitter, stronger, and healthier.

    4. Freshen Up With Meditation

    Morning habits - try meditation

    Meditation is like a washcloth for the mind. Sure, the Zen might not scrub the dirt off yesterday’s worst moments but that’s not the purpose of your morning routine. The purpose of being monkish in the early hours is to relax and loosen yesterday’s grip so that you can face today.

    Meditation shares a drawback with exercise – not everybody likes doing it so early. For this reason, you really don’t have to be politically correct here. There needn’t be a yoga-certified cushion, home studio or oriental music piping in the background. Meditation can be done sitting on the sofa and a five-minute session can center somebody who meditates regularly.

    To foster positivity, focus on starting fresh. Give yourself permission to let go of the emotional baggage of yesterday and try again today. If this is too upsetting for some reason, don’t do it. Instead, rely on an old faithful – just be aware of your surroundings, feelings, and thoughts but don’t attach yourself to them. Just observe. This also breaks the draining bond we share with bad memories.

    Top tip: Don’t try to be perfect. Enjoy and relax into the process. Acknowledge any frustrations and release them.

    5. Plan your day

    Here’s a gremlin that kills morning joy – feeling unprepared for a busy day. The best antidote is to work with a plan. Even a rough draft (literally just a To-Do list) can do wonders for mental tension. When you know what must be done and in what order, things no longer seem so overwhelming.

    You can devote a few minutes each morning to plan your day. If you’d rather create your schedule the night before, you can use the morning to review any preparations for the day’s meetings, appointments, and projects.

    Once again, don’t aim for perfection. You’re up against a hard fact of life – nearly every day is derailed by one or two unexpected things. The idea is to follow a realistic schedule that removes a good portion of stress from your routine.

    6. Vegetate Like A Champion

    You’ve been waiting for this one, haven’t you? Well, now you have permission to make “doing nothing” a positive morning habit.

    The best time is before the rush of the day’s first chores. For instance, while the kids are still sleeping or you have enough time before going to work. This habit is a wonderful way to ease into the day.

    If doing zilch for half an hour gives you peace of mind, then carve out that slot like you mean it. Sit in your slippers or work shoes, hold that heavenly caffeinated drink between your palms and vegetate with zeal.

    7. Ditch The News For Inspiration

    The stories we hear on the news are mostly bad. So much so that some people have abandoned listening to news broadcasts altogether. It remains each person’s choice to tune in to the BBC or buy a newspaper.

    But for the benefit of creating a positive morning habit, how about shifting your usual news slot to a later time during the day? We might not personally know that politician messing up another policy or the toddler who got caught in the crossfire of two gangs. But unsettling reports like these dampen our spirits.

    When big news is afoot, chances are that somebody will tell you anyway. Sometimes we cannot control when a friend or family member spills the beans. However, you can control the start of your day by shutting off the news.

    Read one inspirational article instead of the news. You can make it random by just searching the Internet. These reads are legion and you’ll be spoilt for choice.

    Another option is to digest a solution to something you’re struggling with at the moment. It could be anxiety, finances, your business, wanting a new bullet journal spread, or how to reignite your passion for a hobby.

    The difference cannot be overstated. Sure, the news has its place – but it rarely pushes you forward on your own journey. The news doesn’t really care about you.

    On the other hand, inspirational articles can bring a dramatic change in anyone’s life. It takes a single piece of advice to resonate with you. When that happens, blocks are removed and things move forward. They can also provide strength to survive difficult times. The good news is that these benefits are available even when inspirational articles are limited to twice or three times a week.

    8. Spit And Polish A Drawer

    Alright, don’t spit. This part does involve cleaning but you don’t have to take out the mop and energy drink.

    Just pick a small area to organize, like a shelf or drawer. The bedside stand or the dog’s basket. Pack things away, throw away what you don’t need, arrange items in a useful and aesthetic way, and wipe the area down. Eventually, they’ll add up. For example, if you do this every morning then around 30 spaces a month inside your home gets organized. That’s a lot!

    This is a positive habit for several reasons. A neat room calms the mind. A messy environment tends to do the opposite. This is also an effective way for busy individuals to get a handle on clutter. The same counts for those without the energy or physical strength to spring clean an entire house or room.

    You’ll feel inspired knowing that you organized so much in a single month and barely spend five minutes on the task every day.

    PS: You can check out these great bedroom organization ideas if you’re looking for tips!

    9. Slay An Epic Goal

    Morning habits - work on your goals

    You don’t have to devote hours a day to achieve your biggest dreams. To be honest, it’s not always feasible to spend that much time on a goal when you have a family, career, and problems that need tending to. But before you know it, the years pass without any significant personal milestones. Your first-draft novel sits in a box for a decade. That degree never materializes. And your life becomes filled with regrets.

    Epic goals are hard to achieve. Believe it or not, but there’s a higher chance of success when you whittle that monster down with achievable steps.

    The biggest mistake people make is to get carried away with excitement and then rush things. They invest massive amounts of emotional or time-bound actions. Most either burn themselves out or end up resenting the effort. What used to be a dream suddenly feels like a chore. One without any rewards. This is one of the reasons why people give up on major goals.

    A 10 to 15-minute slot in the morning could prevent such frustrations. It could make you more excited to work on the goal because you know there’s only a tiny window allotted every day. This keeps the work interesting and fresh. Additionally, you can also go about your day knowing that you contributed a meaningful step towards something that’s personally important to you.

    10. Have A Positive Conversation (Or Avoid A Negative One)

    For this recipe, you’ll need another person. Only add a positive human being to the mix and stir.

    Alright, reality check. Not everyone lives in a house full of perky people. There’s bound to be a grouch in the home. Hey, sometimes you’re the crabby one. But don’t underestimate the power of putting negativity on the shelf for just one conversation.

    Keeping a talk on track takes practice. But when two people can just be together in the morning and hold a conversation that they know won’t get weird, what happens? They feel safe. There’s a sense of camaraderie and relaxation. The loneliness fades.

    A morning can also be peaceful without a conversation. No talking is sometimes better than a fight. We’ve all experienced that regrettable moment right before work when a talk went south. An argument so early (and probably unresolved) often ruins the rest of the day with icky feelings.

    For this reason, mornings should only be filled with a hearty topic or golden silence – or even a hearty-golden-thingy in between.

    Reclaim Your Mornings And Make A Difference

    Modern life consumes time with an insatiable appetite. There must come a point when you say, “Enough,” and put your foot down.

    It’s critical to devote time to yourself, your family, and personal goals. Since most things are mapped out for later hours, the morning is a forgotten haven where life can change. You can lose weight, become fitter, get a grip on anxiety, write a novel, relax, and get to know your loved ones. The list is as endless and long as your own imagination.

    As you can see, cultivating positivity in the morning and developing good morning habits isn’t about grand gestures. There’s no need to strain an over-stretched budget. The best things are free and available at home.

    This list is packed with good ideas but you can add anything, really. But remember, when you experiment with your perfect mornings – only keep the activities that lift your mood and energy!

    You might also enjoy these posts:

    Don’t forget to pin these morning habits!

    If you found these morning habits for productivity and positivity helpful, don’t forget to pin it to your personal development board on Pinterest to share it with others!

    You can also follow me on Pinterest for more ideas and tips like these.

    Morning habits to supercharge your day with positivity and productivity

  • 20 Deep Self-Reflection Questions To Ask Yourself

    20 Deep Self-Reflection Questions To Ask Yourself

    Amidst all the issues happening in the world today, from crime to the little problems we are facing in our homes, we are all striving to keep a sane mind regardless of how difficult it appears to be. There is always some form of negativity we are exposed to every day, and we all build coping mechanisms in the process which allow us to live our day to day lives. Today we’ll look at some deep self-reflection questions you can ask yourself to get to know yourself better.

    Do you remember the day when you were sitting alone, staring out the window and waiting for the “ding“ of the microwave? When you were lost in your thoughts, asking yourself questions, trying to evaluate and give meaning to everything happening around you?

    If yes, then you have had a session of self-reflection.

    Self-reflection has proven to be a very effective way for us to evaluate our lives, question our decisions and understand the things that are happening to and around us. It helps us remain connected with ourselves and makes us more powerful and in control of our thoughts.

    In every aspect of our lives; physically, socially, mentally and emotionally, we need to undergo self-reflections because it helps us give better meanings to our thoughts and actions. If you are working towards self-improvement, the first step on your list should be self-reflection. (There’s just something cool and mysterious about looking deep within yourself and not just because your therapist said so!)

    Take a look at these 20 deep self-reflection questions to ask yourself below:

    Deep self reflection questions to ask yourself

    1. Are you truly living or just existing?

    There is a clear difference between living and existing, the former means you are doing what you love and working towards a better version of yourself, while the latter describes you as a person who has lost hope in everything and just takes all the things that life throws at you without fighting back.

    Life comes with challenges, but what’s the fun in just sitting back and moping in tears instead of finding ways to surmount these challenges? Now ask yourself, which of these options do you want to settle for? Do you want to be that fun and happy person that people run to, or the person who always sees the glass half empty?

    2. What does success mean to you?

    To the person next to you, success could mean being able to go on vacations every month or having luxurious cars and houses, and to me it could mean being able to eat my favorite chicken wings every single day without any problem. But to you it might mean attaining the highest educational qualification and speaking at world conferences on topics that would change the world.

    Different people define success in different ways, which is why you need to find out what it means to you and work towards achieving it!

    3. What is your biggest fear?

    Whether or not we admit it, everyone on earth has that one thing that they are afraid of. Have you discovered what your biggest fear is? Until you discover your biggest fear and admit it, you can’t confront it and without confrontation it will continue to haunt you. Fear is what you make of it, so you could decide to overcome it or live in its shadow forever, the choice is yours.

    4. How much time do you spend with the people you love the most?

    Until you show your family and friends how much you love and cherish them, they really can’t know that you do. And one way to do this is by spending quality and happy time with them. No man or woman will live forever, which is why now that you are alive, you need to show those whom you love how much they mean to you.

    And I’m not talking about buying them expensive gifts or anything (but if you’re considering that, I’m available to be spoiled so hit me up), but the simple things like checking up on them and even that random bar of chocolate can put a smile on their faces.

    5. Can you boldly voice out your opinions in public?

    Public Speaking is one act that a lot of human beings dread so much. According to research, 75% of the population of the world is affected by the fear of public speaking. So many people have allowed their valuable opinions to be silenced because they are afraid of rejection and ridicule.

    Now I’m not saying you should go out and become a public speaker. But ask yourself whether you truly allow your opinions to be heard, even by people close to you. Or are you someone who would rather agree with someone simply to avoid conflict or because you’re afraid of being judged if you disagree with them?

    Your opinion matters and you shouldn’t be scared to voice it out peacefully. Face your fear of speaking up and take steps to overcome it.

    6. Are you spending your time wisely?

    Ever heard the saying “time waits for no one”?

    That simply means if you don’t do what you should do on time, it will pass you by. You need to learn how to prioritize the most important things you have to do and get them done fast. Cut back from doing unproductive things and focus on the things that are worthwhile.

    7. What don’t you like about your life?

    No one has a perfect life, no matter how wealthy or beautiful they are. Heck, even the most beautiful girl in the world sometimes has to cover up a zit or two. Identify those things you don’t like about your life and work towards correcting the ones you can correct as soon as possible.

    There will always be obstacles, but your job is to surmount them.

    8. What actions can you take daily to become a better person?

    There is a saying that “Little drops of water make an ocean”, meaning the little steps and actions you take daily are the ones that eventually manifest into mighty things.

    Identify those things that will make you a better person and do them consistently, then watch the great turn around it will make in your life.

    9. What motivates you the most?

    Motivation is what propels us to do better in life and there are certain materials and people we come in contact with that actually serve as a form of motivation for us. In order to excel in anything you set out to do in life, you need to build the right frame of mind towards it.

    In your pursuit for motivation, the right thing to do would be to find and consistently stay in contact with the things and people who motivate you.

    10. What is standing between you and your main goal?

    Until you identify an obstacle, you can’t confront it!

    Identify the elements that are standing between you and your main goal, it could be your action, inaction or a person that has made your goal look unfeasible.

    Once you have found what the obstacles are, then you can work towards defeating them. Use your obstacles as a road map for achieving your goals.

    11. What does love mean to you?

    We all perceive love in different forms, this influences how we show it to others and receive it from them (for foodies, just buy them food and they’ll love you forever).

    You need to find out what love means to you in order to truly embrace the essence of it.

    12. Are you healthy?

    Sometimes we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that we forget about living a healthy lifestyle. We all want to be rich and successful but we forget that if we don’t have good health, we can’t happily spend the money that we made.

    Do you eat good food or survive on just junk food?

    How often do you drink water or do you prefer processed drinks to natural fluids?

    When last did you get a medical check-up, or are you just taking pain relief pills without actually knowing the cause of that persistent headache?

    How well do you rest your body and brain?

    Do you exercise to keep your body in shape?

    Remember, “Good Health is wealth” and a man who is lying on a sick bed cannot make or even think about money.

    13. How good is your mental health?

    It’s not enough to be physically healthy, your mental health is also very important. The challenges we face in life sometimes get to us and we begin to fall into the world of depression, self-doubt, anger and suicidal thoughts.

    In times like this, we have to find a way to be happy regardless of what the situation is, find a trusted person to confide in and unburden your mind. Always remember that it is okay to fall and cry but what matters the most is that you get back up and keep moving on.

    14. When last did you lend a helping hand to someone selflessly?

    Every day presents us with the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, no matter how small the help you are rendering might seem, you might directly or indirectly be saving the person’s life.

    Mother Theresa once said, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Do you remember the joy and fulfillment you felt the last time you lent a helping hand to someone without expecting something in return? That’s the beauty of helping selflessly.

    15. Do you hold a grudge against anyone or yourself?

    How do you feel when you see or hear about a person whom you hold a grudge against? Your heart skips right? And definitely not in a good way!

    Or are you unable to forgive yourself for that action you took or didn’t take and you always beat yourself up whenever the thought crosses your mind? It is high time you put a stop to it. Until you let go of the past, you can’t see the future. It is important that you let go of that grudge today, forgive that person or yourself and welcome peace into your life.

    16. How often do you procrastinate?

    How many times have you heard the saying, “Procrastination is the thief of time?” Hundreds of times I’m sure. You’re probably bored of it but guess what…procrastination is the thief of time (you weren’t expecting that, were you?). Truth is, time is a very precious commodity that can’t be bought.

    Do what you have to do as soon as possible, do not postpone what you can do today till tomorrow because tomorrow is not even assured. Do away with procrastination and start doing productive things that will push you to a higher level in life.

    17. Are you really happy?

    Happiness is the true essence of living. An unhappy man can barely accomplish anything in life. Once you find the things that make you happy, stick to them and keep on doing them. Be with the people who make you happy, smile often and live your best life!

    18. Do you truly love yourself?

    You can’t give what you don’t have, therefore it is impossible to love anyone else if you don’t love yourself. Even the Bible says “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

    Reflect on how much you love yourself and the regard you have for your own happiness, then learn to love yourself better and watch how your life will take a positive turn.

    19. Are your friends truly your friends?

    We all have one or two people who stand as friends in our lives, but sometimes these people we think are our friends, smile to our face but say and do terrible things to us as soon as we turn our back.

    Sometimes your friends may even lead you to do things you don’t want to, hence the need to know who your friends truly are and choose your company wisely.

    20. Do you have regrets?

    We all make mistakes, that’s part of what makes us humans. Your mistakes shouldn’t define you, rather you should learn from them and move on.

    Don’t let your past mistakes dictate how you should live your life, the consequence of your actions should not make you sad, instead, you should use it as a stepping stone to achieving better things in life. Free your mind from regrets and move on to the next phase.

    Give honest answers to these deep self-reflection questions

    Now, it’s not enough to just ask yourself these questions, the true essence of it all is to answer the questions that you are reflecting on honestly and work on the areas you need to be better in.

    Self-reflection is a form of checking in with yourself and balancing your life, it helps you to work on correcting the things in your life you’re unhappy with, and only then can you add more meaning to your life. The thing about life is…no one’s going to make it out alive. So don’t waste your one chance here!

    Remember to share these deep self-reflection questions with others!

    If you feel like someone else could benefit by also going through and answering some of these deep self-reflection questions, please take a moment to share it with them.

    You can also pin this post to your personal development board on Pinterest for easy access to it later. Also follow my personal development board on Pinterest for more posts and ideas like this.

    Deep self reflection questions to ask yourself

  • 10 Valuable Things You Will Regret Not Doing Sooner

    10 Valuable Things You Will Regret Not Doing Sooner

    Regret. Seldom is there a more persistent pain than our “if only” memories. It might not be a blazing agony, but this tiny monster claws at the same spot for years. Soon enough, regret sucks the joy from our lives.

    Jeepers, that was depressing. Now, here’s the good news. There’s still plenty of things that you can do to prevent regret.

    10 Things You Will Regret Not Doing

    The following suggestions can also help anyone to deal with any baggage they might already be carrying. Pick a flower, make a cup of tea – and then read this list. Your life is about to get better! Promise.

    1. Treat the Passage of Time as a Gift

    Here’s the thing. You can fight it, deny it or fear it – but that clock is going to keep on ticking. No matter what we feel or do, time goes by. Growing older and watching things change can be scary. But it’s important to shift the way we look at this. You know, regretting the things one might miss out on because time’s running out. This “future regret” comes with a price – you don’t see the wonderful things you already have in your life right now.

    The passage of time doesn’t have to be a fatalistic countdown. It can be a gentle reminder to value what brings happiness in your daily life. More importantly, the things and people that won’t always be there. A few examples are youth, a beloved pet, and our families. Children grow up and fortunes change.

    This is a hard one. Most of us look at our age in a negative way. But the outcome is worth the effort. Be kind to yourself as you start looking at the passage of time as a reminder to appreciate what you have now, instead of fearing the future.

    The moment you start doing this, the grip of regret weakens. At the same time, joy has more space to blossom. You’ll suddenly start finding happy moments in spades – just by having a conversation with a loved one or even watching your child explore mud!

    2. Shake Hands With Discomfort

    The Stone Age mind doesn’t like discomfort. Nope. The Stone Age mind wants shelter, safety, snacks, and no conflict. Oh, dear. Modern times slap that part of our brain with so many unwanted signals, it’s no wonder that people are so stressed out. We worry over family and bills, work situations, our weight, and mortgages. Discomfort in different grades, but they’re all unpleasant.

    Here’s the thing. Feeling that small twinge of dissatisfaction or fear will always be there. It’s human nature. But such feelings can stop people from chasing their dreams and that’s why it’s so important to put a little distance between yourself and discomfort.

    When it comes to doing something important, like taking the next step with one of your goals, chances are that discomfort will loom nearby like a toxic friend. That’s exactly what it is. Our Stone Age brain wants to protect us from risks. It cannot tell the difference between a T-rex chasing you and feeling nervous over starting your own business.

    Remind yourself to shelf discomfort in situations where it’s not needed. Your mood will be more focused and positive, and the task at hand might not seem such a mountain.

    3. Never Underestimate the Power of Patience

    What does patience have to do with regret? Sometimes, a lot. A short fuse or impulsive decision can lead to moments we wish had never happened. Buying the wrong stocks, feeling tired from work and then snapping at one’s spouse or child. Impatience can ruin relationships, finances, and health.

    Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a monk with a diploma in Zen. There’s a simple exercise that can save you a world of trouble. In the beginning it’s hard, especially in the heat of the moment. But chin up, the more you remember to do it, the more you’ll remember to do it.

    Pause. That’s it. When a toddler smears fish-paste over the carpet, most parents are ready to explode. Pausing between a trigger (that fish-paste is not coming out…) and reacting (yelling so hard that people in Russia can hear you) is what prevents regrets. At that moment, you might realize that toddlers are not adults. They often do things they don’t realize are wrong. You might see the benefits of hiding the fish-paste in the future and not leaving it on the table. You might calmly discuss the no-no with them instead of angrily giving in to a punishment that makes you both feel bad when it’s over.

    Pausing gives you the power to choose your best options during volatile moments.

    4. Letting Go of Unhappy Memories

    The past is a major source of regret. It’s filled with big mistakes, tragedies and the times when other people harmed you. Unhappy memories suck, plain and simple.

    To boot, negative emotions are clingy creatures. But here’s the prickly truth – we also cling to them. As painful as these memories are, there’s a tendency to keep vigil over them as if our emotional energy can somehow change something and make it all better. Unfortunately, the past cannot be changed or erased. Pouring emotional energy into such desires only brings fatigue and depression.

    That being said, when it comes to the past you can change two things. First, learn all you can from what has happened. This is to prevent it from happening again. Chalk it up as experience. Secondly, you are allowed to disconnect your feelings from a memory. A past event will always be there. The emotions don’t have to be.

    5. Tweaking Your Life Plan

    A life plan is just a document keeping all your dreams and goals in one place. It also shows the steps you have chosen to realize them.

    Some people write their life plan in a journal. Others prefer something like Google Docs. Whether you go old school with paper or use an online file, do whatever feels right for you.

    A weekly review is a good idea. Think about it. Seven days bring a heap of chores and challenges. There’s a good chance that they’ll derail the steps that you’ve scheduled for your dreams that week. A review can identify the bruised goals and readjust their steps. This tweaking keeps you on track to living your best life ever.

    6. Staying Healthy And Fit

    This tip is all over the internet and with good reason. Without your health, life becomes a lot harder. Good health includes eating well, staying hydrated and getting enough pillow time. Physical exercise is another must, but don’t forget the mind!

    Mental health plays a big role in keeping the body in peak condition. That’s right, relaxation is no longer a treat. It’s a must (hey, who’s going to complain about curling up with a good novel or binge-watching movies?). Our favorite things are like islands in the storm, offering moments of rest and enjoyment. Without them, stress can boil over and fry the immune system. Hello, colds and flu.

    The earlier you start to take care of your health, the better. Then again, starting at a later age is also better than never! Have fun with this one.

    7. Avoiding Toxic People

    Standing your ground is one thing. Trying to reason with online trolls and toxic friends is another. People who push your buttons – the most hurtful buttons – and then blame you for both the push and your reaction are not worth your time. Engaging with them is like being stuck on the hamster wheel from hell. The more you try to reason with them, the worse they behave.

    There is a toxic person in every office, school, and organization. They ruin romantic relationships and friendships – often to the point of devastating their victims. If there’s serious trouble with such an individual, please get the help and support that you need. Indeed, while not always easy or safe, you’ll never regret banning toxic people from your life.

    8. Balancing Work and Life

    There’s nothing wrong with working hard. Jobs keep food on the table and provide for our families. But beware of the lure of overtime at the office or bringing your work home. That’s when an epic regret comes knocking.

    Imagine looking back and thinking, “Where did my life go? How did the years pass so quickly?” Try as you might, you could find yourself struggling to recall the good times with clarity. The last decade could become something of a blur.

    Here’s a scary thought. Anyone is replaceable in the workplace, but YOU have only one life. The lucky ones earn money with hobbies and jobs that they love. But the majority of people hate going to work every day.

    If you cannot jump to a better ship, there’s no reason why you cannot balance work with fun things. Start small, then push back the unnecessary hours that you’re sacrificing at the office. The pay-off is beautiful. The more time you spend with soul-nourishing activities, the slower the years seem to go by – because they’re packed with meaning and enjoyment.

    9. Having a Healthy Relationship With Money

    Another biggie! Having a good relationship with money includes dealing with finances in a responsible manner (whether you have enough moolah or not) and also to reduce any financial pressure. You need a strategy to get out of debt, stay debt-free, put away some savings as well as other assets.

    Needless to say, the more dismal one’s finances are, the longer it might take to form a healthy relationship with it. However, it’s something that can be corrected over time. There’s nothing a good dose of patience and commitment cannot fix. The alternative – a life burdened by financial need – isn’t something that anyone deserves.

    10. Being Independent

    Independence takes many forms. But you’ll never regret the effort to teach yourself the skills to manage on your own. Self-sufficiency makes life easier because you can get things done without having to wait for others or asking for help. That last one can be embarrassing if the person doesn’t really want to assist or uses it as a means to abuse power in a relationship.

    Learning to be independent is natural and a never-ending process. As youngsters, we learn to dress ourselves and later on, learn how to drive a car. But independence is perhaps most valuable in adulthood. Having your own place, keeping up with technology and being able to do small (and big) things for yourself is personally one of the most empowering things that you can do for yourself.

    Sometimes, we don’t have the necessities to become more self-sufficient. There might be no funds to study or move into your own apartment. Perhaps due to health issues, you must also rely on others.

    However, being independent doesn’t mean never needing anyone else, or living alone. When families and friends work together to tackle a problem, it’s a wonderful bonding experience. Plus, teamwork makes difficult things easier to deal with. But independence is a great gift during the times when only you can do a certain task or you prefer to do things on your own.

    Go On, Make Your Life Amazing

    A great life doesn’t need exotic locations and fireworks. Sure, those things add pizzazz but you can have a happy and satisfying life without all the elite trappings. Indeed, sorting out the personal things – your finances, family, goals – bring a more lasting joy than going to the Bahamas for a week.

    A big step is to see regret for what it is. A hungry time-eater and a waste of lives. Another is to remember that regret can be resolved. Even better, you can avoid it in the first place. This list is a great place to start. You are welcome to pick and choose the most useful suggestions and then apply them to your daily life. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy learning how to take back your time, passions and life from the Murky Pool of Regrets!

    You might also want to look at these posts:

    Don’t forget to pin this post!

    Don’t forget to pin this post to your personal development board on Pinterest or share it with your friends. You can also follow my personal development board on Pinterest for more great tips and ideas like these.

    10 Things you will regret not doing sooner

  • 30 Easy Ways To Practice Self Care You Need To Try This Year

    30 Easy Ways To Practice Self Care You Need To Try This Year

    Life is stressful sometimes, we can’t get around that. So it’s important to practice self care as often as possible. And self care can be about the simple things you enjoy. Simple things that make you happy. So I’m sharing some 30 simple ways to practice self care that you can work on each day.

    So what is self care?

    Self care is all about identifying the things that you need in order to nurture your mental, emotional and physical health. It seems self explanatory, but so many people forget to focus on their own needs. It can become so easy to put everyone else first and to forget to focus on yourself for a bit.

    Self care is not selfish. It is something that is needed for you to take better care of yourself. Without it, you can easily become worn out, stressed and filled with anxiety. Life can sometimes become overwhelming, so it is completely fine (and necessary!) to spend some time on yourself.

    30 Easy Ways to Practice Self Care

    Emotional

    1. Find a quiet, comfy place and meditate
    2. Learn to say NO to things that doesn’t serve you
    3. Treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion as you would others – learn to forgive yourself for small mistakes
    4. Listen to your favorite song or playlist and put it on repeat
    5. Learn to accept compliments without embarrassment, guilt or negativity
    6. Spend time with your loved ones
    7. Practice gratitude daily – take note of all the small things in your day you are grateful for
    8. Do something creative each day
    9. Don’t attempt to do everything yourself, let others know if they can help
    10. Stop criticizing yourself, become more aware of you the things you tell yourself

    Physical

    1. Go hiking or join a walking group
    2. Play with a dog or cat (or any pet animal)
    3. Learn to fly a kite or take up a new sport
    4. Reorganize your room or closet
    5. Go dancing
    6. Start doing yoga
    7. Go to bed early and get enough sleep
    8. Make healthier food choices, give up soda and drink more water
    9. Get 15 minutes of sun, especially if you live in colder areas
    10. Take a long hot shower

    Mental

    1. Start journaling, write out your thoughts
    2. Read a book
    3. Take a break from social media
    4. Listen to calming music
    5. Turn off your phone
    6. Help someone, it will help you feel good too
    7. Plan a mini holiday for your next weekend
    8. Create a zen space for yourself where you can relax
    9. Go through your closet and donate all the clothes you don’t wear anymore
    10. Try some adult coloring to release stress and anxiety

    I hope you enjoyed this post on ways to practice self care and that maybe you got a few new ideas. Let me know in the comments below.

    And remember, self care isn’t just for some of us, but for all of us. Everyone should take some time to take care of themselves. So use some of these ideas and remember to practice self care daily. In a few weeks, you’ll see how different you feel!

    You might also enjoy this post of 15 bad habits you need to break for a happier life.

    Don’t forget to pin these ways to practice self care!

    If you enjoyed this post please pin it to your self care board on Pinterest or share it on your favorite social media platform. I would be so grateful!

    30 Ways to practice self care