Month: July 2017

Life can get chaotic and busy sometimes. We can bite off more than we can chew and spread ourselves too thin.

It can be a real challenge to maintain a healthy balance between our personal and professional lives. A demanding work schedule and priorities can very easily eat into precious personal and family time. It can make keeping in touch with friends challenging and leave limited time for physical exercise and relaxation.

Pursuing work goals may bring great material reward and personal satisfaction. However, having to make great personal sacrifices to achieve work goals combined with poor life balance can lead to unhappy feelings and a lack of personal fulfilment.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of saying yes to every request for help and assistance. This can mean we feel over-burdened, stressed, anxious and wondering how we will complete all the tasks that we have. This can mean that our brains get foggy and unable to see clearly and focus on what is truly important to us.

When we simplify our life and keep things simple, it helps us to feel calmer and more in control. To get to simplicity, you have to have great focus. Focus brings greater clarity and this helps you to truly understand and know what is most important. When we are focused on what is most important, we are clearer about our choices, make better decisions and become more efficient.

Here are a few thoughts on how to simplify your life:-

• Review the amount of time you spend at work. Consider if you can streamline your tasks and procedures to increase efficiency and free up some valuable personal time.
• Don’t put things off. If you can complete something in two minutes or less, seize the moment and do it immediately.
• Review your relationships. Be honest about what relationships energise you and which drain you. Think about where you are spending your time and reduce time spent with negative influences.
• Declutter your work space and home environments. An approach many people use to determine whether to keep possessions is to hold something and ask “Does this bring me joy?” Alternatively ask yourself “Do I really need this?” If the answer is no, then let it go.
• Simplify your mind by going for a daily walk. A walk in the evening helps to process the day’s events and draws out useful insights. Regular meditation or mindfulness sessions help to calm the mind and keep it uncluttered.

During this week, take a few moments out to reflect and consider what you can do to simplify your life and think about the benefits this will bring you.

This week’s quotation:

“Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.” Henry David Thoreau.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

Have you noticed that when you have a positive mindset life seems to flow better and a little easier?

When we are in a positive frame of mind, we get more from life, we are receptive to change and seize the opportunities presented to us. It helps us to feel more confident, ensures we are in a good mood and keeps stressful and anxious thoughts at bay.

It also means that we’re able to navigate any challenges and setbacks with greater ease. It enables us to bounce back from disappointment and adversity more quickly.

Unfortunately challenges and other people’s attitudes and behaviours can stop our thinking from being the most positive that it can be. It’s not always easy to stop people “raining on our parade.”

When this happens, it’s helpful to have a few strategies and habits that help positive thinking to be restored as swiftly as possible. I’ve outlined a few thoughts below on some habits that I’ve found help to develop and sustain a positive mindset:

Hang out with positive people

Be discerning about the company that you keep. Avoid toxic people and situations. Associate with people that encourage and believe in you. Socialise with people that think positively.

Count your blessings

Adopt an attitude of gratitude. Be grateful for all you have in life. Each day write down 3 things that you are grateful for. This helps you to focus on what you have rather than what you lack.

See the gift in all situations

If and when things go wrong or don’t work out as you envisage, get into the habit of finding the benefits and gift in the situation. Ask yourself “What’s the gift to me here?”

Turn negative self-talk into positive self talk

It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative self-talk. Catch yourself doing this and change your language. For instance, if you say “I can’t do this” say “I will master this with more practice.”

Be in the now more often

Our minds can create negative thinking from a past memory or anxiety about a future event. Get into the habit of focusing more on the present moment to counter these thoughts.

During this week, why not put a few moments aside to reflect and consider if you need to take any action to increase your positivity levels. If so, what will your first action step be?

This week’s quotation:

“When you think positive, good things happen.” Matt Kemp

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk