So, you’re going to be a SINGLE parent…

So you’re a single parent, and by single I mean doing it all by yourself because for whatever reason the other parent is just gone. Hey, me too! I want to make sure to give love to the single dads... Read More ›

I have forgiven someone without getting an apology, I chose to move on

There were times when I have forgiven someone without getting an apology. I chose to forgive so I could move on with my life and not be burdened with resentment. More often than not, I can walk away from the... Read More ›

5 Tiny Habits That Can Change Your Life and Career

When it comes to the daily grind, time seems to keep passing by – yet many things remain the same. We are so busy trying to get things done, keeping our heads above water, that we don’t take real time to think about things like balance, self-care, or making necessary changes.

Little do we realize that small tweaks at home and at work might create opportunities for us to have true balance, and even achieve that elusive success.

Let’s look at five tiny habits you can implement today to control the chaos – and start changing your life and career.

 

Tiny Habits That Can Change Your Life and Career

1.) Embrace the concept of a “clean slate” at work.

This involves implementing a few simple routines and organizational tools upfront. This will save you time in the long run, and will leave you feeling satisfied at the start – and end – of your day.

For example:

• Create folders in your e-mail inbox by person and topic. Be sure to move applicable items there. The feeling of a clean inbox can reduce anxiety and enables you to find important material faster!
• Write phone messages on a notepad next to you each day.
• Return each call.
• Note the status of what you were able to do, what needs to be done, and cross out which ones have been taken care of.
• Complete your list before you leave work.

Nothing feels better than looking at the list and knowing that you have attended to every person, every item, and every task you started with. Yes, more may come in later. But these were your starting tasks.

You are leaving with everything crossed off, a clean slate for the day. You can start tomorrow with a clean slate as well. You’re more organized: able to look at a detailed history of each item you did, each person you spoke to, each item you completed.

A well-structured system and way of doing things is mentally good for you. It’s also a nice feeling to walk away with a complete sense of accomplishment for the day.

 

2.) Surround yourself with people who nourish your soul, NOT people who infect it.

Think about the people you chose to be with. Don’t feel guilty about setting boundaries, no matter who they are. Be honest if someone is a “toxic” person in your life. Surround yourself with folks who build you up, support you, are honest but fair with you, and those who have your best interests at heart.

We of course need people who are going to tell us the truth. But remember that truth can be told with kindness. We can give ourselves permission to distance ourselves from, or let people go. These are individuals who make us feel bad about ourselves, or take every chance they can get to criticize our every choice.

There is enough negativity in the world. We don’t need to have it in those closest to us. You will be amazed at the difference when you give yourself permission to set healthy boundaries. So surround yourself with healthy relationships. Stop feeling like you must endure unhealthy ones.

 

3.) Clutter creates anxiety more than you realize.

Whether it’s your home or your workspace, getting organized makes a huge difference in your state of mind. So start practicing tiny habits that create structure.

At work:

Get those piles into drawers and desktop storage. File folders are your friends! Label by topic, date, etc. Having things organized and at your fingertips will save you time and a great deal of anxiety.

Have trays for things that are needed on a daily or weekly basis. Organize your office supplies neatly. Remember that your desk is also a presentation of who you are.

You may think that those piles make you look busy – but they really make you look disorganized. Create your own system so that you can locate anything instantly. That, is more impressive than a pile.

At home:

Think more in terms of scaling down to get organized. Make it a goal to make you space your solace. Organize, donate, and find a place for everything. If you have not used it in a year, consider donating. If things belong together, group them. Get the right storage to hold things.

Group things where they make the most sense. Move things where they work and function best. Get rid of things that no longer work, are expired, are outdated, or that could benefit someone else more than sitting in a pile at your home.

You will not miss them. You will probably feel pretty good for sharing the love. Nothing feels better as having a fully functional home where you can live and breathe; where there is no clutter, and where everything has a place.

 

4.) Practice good, daily self-care.

It may seem so simple, yet we all seem to fall short when it comes to this vital area that impacts our lives and our careers. If we practice tiny habits of self-care, we function better, perform better, and surely, improve our opportunities for success.

Good self-care includes things, such as:

• Getting enough sleep each night. This includes going to bed and getting up at the same time, seven days a week. When going to bed, there should be NO electronics, including screens or cell phones, as they stimulate the mind and keep you awake.
• Eating food that nourishes you – such as whole foods, not processed foods.
• Drinking eight glasses of water each day.
• Enjoying treats in moderation, no need to crash diet!
• Be sure to wake up 30 to 60 minutes earlier than usual to ease into your day, and allow yourself to practice your morning routine.

Whether it be reading the paper, listening to a podcast, watching a TV show, yoga, or morning meditation, how you begin sets the tone for the day. So set aside time in the morning so you are not rushed. This is an essential part of your day.

If you start rushed, you are going to feel that way the whole day. Starting with balance, leads to a balanced day.

 

5.) Self-talk is one of the most powerful habits we can change.

If we think about how often we thought something negative about ourselves, someone else, or about a situation, we would see how powerful negative self-talk can be. Now think about how better our lives could be if we stopped ourselves before doing it. It’s possible – but it takes effort and conscious work.

You simply need to pay attention and catch yourself. But as you do, the difference can be profound. You start to see how by removing negativity and replacing it with realistic thinking, you feel more balanced. Imagine the impact it can have on your work and relationships, to not see things in the worst possible light?

By implementing these tiny habits, you can bring about tremendous changes to your work and personal life. A few would only be one-time tasks. While others require minimal, but – hopefully welcome – effort.

If things are not working well in these areas of your life, why not give these tiny habits a chance? You will at least be a little more organized. And hopefully, be well-rested at the end.

 

 

The post 5 Tiny Habits That Can Change Your Life and Career appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.

35 lessons for my young self (and other girls)

I turned 35 today, and like a few other milestone birthdays, this one brought with it an irresistible charge to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned throughout the years. Here are 35 of them I’d relay to my younger self... Read More ›

How a mindful smile improves your happiness and health

Babies smile – a lot. Beauty queens smile – on cue. Winners smile – most of the time, in between all that jumping and high-fiving. Smiles are a way of expressing our happiness, our joy, our pride, our gratitude.

More than that, smiles are a way of connecting, of saying – without words – ‘I’m with you on this, I acknowledge you as a fellow human, or as a delightful animal, or a beautiful flower; someone or something I’m in sync with’.

All this you already know. But did you know that smiles are really good for your health and well-being?

 

What a Smile Does To Your Health

One research by Hewlett Packard used electromagnetic brain scans and heart-rate monitors to measure the “mood-boosting values” for a variety of stimuli including sex, chocolate, and money.

Their findings are astounding: one single solitary smile can provide the same level of mood-enhancement as up to 2,000 chocolate bars, as stimulating as getting up to 16,000 pounds sterling (roughly $20,000), and smiles are more likely to produce a better short-term high than either sex or shopping!

So if your credit cards are maxing out – try smiling! If you’re too hooked on chocolate – find something or someone to elicit a smile from you! Dogs always work for me. Of course so do flowers, sunsets, and Carol Burnett re-runs.

But here’s the thing. We’re not talking New Age feel-good stuff here. Smiling has well-documented physiological impact on your mind and body. For example, neurotransmitters relay messages to your body on how to respond and react, given various situations.

Dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitters, are all released from your brain into your body when you smile. Not only do these neurotransmitters relax you, and make you feel better emotionally, but they can also lower your heart rate and blood pressure – two significant contributors to your physical well-being. The very act of smiling makes us feel better, all around.

Children smile way more than adults do – the number most commonly given is 400 times a day. This is compared to the happy adults who smile 40-50 times per day, and average adults who smile 20 times per day.

Now you may say, well, kids have less worries; and thus have a lot more to smile about. True. But just like anything else, you can get better at smiling with practice.

 

Smile More Mindfully

No, I don’t mean to affix a phony smile to your face. You can’t fool your brain; it knows the difference between the real thing and a fake. Rather, I mean to become more conscious about the many opportunities to be happy about that you may let go by unnoticed.

You might think of it as smiling-mindfulness. Because that’s really what it is. Becoming more mindful of occasions that – for you – genuinely merit a smile, and allowing yourself to indulge in that very life-enhancing act.

For example, the barista hands you your coffee. Add a smile to your “thanks.” As a matter of course, any time you say “thanks” or “thank you,” add a smile! That includes when you thank spouses, significant others, children, and other family members: too often we forget to smile at those closest to us.

Or, the sky is dotted with little puffy clouds, a sight which pleases you: smile. Someone’s yard is awash in white roses, your fave: smile. The traffic eased up: smile!

There are a gazillion opportunities to smile each and every day.

You may never make it up to the children’s’ 400-smiles-per-day mark. But for sure, your body and mind will most decidedly benefit from this change. What could be better?

The post How a mindful smile improves your happiness and health appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.

30 Inspirational Buddha Quotes on Karma and Happiness To Guide You Through Life

No matter what your personal belief, no one seems to touch a chord so consistently with people as much as Buddha. There is something about the messages, the tone, and the inspiration of Buddha’s words, which rings true with people.

Everyone seems to have their favorite quotes – and there are so many I could not possibly list them all here. They have a tone that is encouraging in nature. That is what I want to gather here, in hopes that you have a list at your disposal to motivate you when the need arises.

So, please enjoy some of my favorite inspirational Buddha quotes below:

 

The Best Buddha Quotes On Being Present

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha

 

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha

 

“I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering.” – Buddha

 

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha

 

“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.” – Buddha

 

“You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.” – Buddha

 

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha

 

“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” – Buddha

 

“When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.” – Buddha

 

“If you are quiet enough, you will hear the flow of the universe. You will feel its rhythm. Go with this flow. Happiness lies ahead. Meditation is key.” – Buddha

 

Buddha Quotes On Happiness and Health

“Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha

 

“Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.” – Buddha

 

“You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.” – Buddha

 

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.” – Buddha

 

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha

 

“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.” – Buddha

 

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha

 

“What we think, we become. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” – Buddha

 

“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.” – Buddha

 

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” – Buddha

 

More Inspirational Buddha Quotes about Life

“Remembering a wrong is like carrying a burden on the mind.” – Buddha

 

“A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.” – Buddha

 

“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

 

“Hate is never conquered by hate; hate is only conquered by love.” – Buddha

 

“Nothing is permanent.” – Buddha

 

“Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.” – Buddha

 

“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.” – Buddha

 

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.” – Buddha

 

“A jug fills drop by drop.” – Buddha

 

“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” – Buddha

 

Which of these Buddha quotes struck you the most, and why?

Hopefully, you enjoyed reading some of the common, but also lesser known Buddha quotes. Hang them on your mirror, keep them on your fridge, hide them in your desk drawer, or keep them in your planner. Anywhere they might come in handy.

There is just something about Buddha that has a way of saying something in a way that resonates. I hope that something here did that for you.

The post 30 Inspirational Buddha Quotes on Karma and Happiness To Guide You Through Life appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.

When a Friendship Ends: 5 Steps to Healing the Sadness

A girlfriend I’ve known for 14 years has abruptly ended our friendship. She blast-emailed a photo of herself holding her new puppy and wrote a long paragraph about how “deformed” she looks because a cancerous spot was removed from her... Read More ›