Month: January 2021

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Five Boosts for When You Struggle – 1/26/21

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts for When You Struggle – 1/26/21
Photo by Kat Jayne from Pexels

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 1/26/21

Today’s Boosts are about when you struggle.

A personal note: Things have been tough for me lately.

We recently rescued a special needs dog with two puppies from a neglectful situation.

Photo by author

Caring for and cleaning up after three large, untrained, unhousebroken dogs, who need to be separated from the cat we’re already fostering, is extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming.

I’m already in crunchtime launching my new business, plus some other things haven’t been going right for me. The added exhaustion and sleep-deprivation make everything harder.

I always say it’s okay to admit you’re having difficulties, and you shouldn’t feel bad about feeling bad.

If you’re also struggling, here are some articles that may be helpful.

10 Tips to Look After Your Mental Health During a Crisis

(Rachel Stray | 1200 words)

When you go through a mental health crisis, keep it from spiraling out of control:

  • Create a daily routine.
  • Limit news consumption.
  • Keep a sleep pattern.
  • Keep your mind active.
  • Connect with others.

How to Bounce Back From Failure

(Michael Hyatt | 450 words)

Resilience is a choice. Inevitably things go wrong in life. To overcome adversity:

  1. Keep a written record of wins.
  2. Stay focused on objectives.
  3. Take care of your health.

Overcoming Learned Helplessness

(Anne-Laure Le Cunff | Ness Labs | 775 words)

When bad things repeatedly happen, you may start expecting them. Feeling helpless prevents you from succeeding, even if you otherwise could.

Get out of this trap by remembering:

  • Problems may have external causes and not be your own failures.
  • Problems may be temporary and solvable.
  • Problems may be specific to certain situations, and not apply to others.

Related: Optimism and Pessimism are Self-Fulfilling

How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Move Toward Your Goals

(Azubike Eze | Spirit Times | 1700 words)

Tactics to beat self-doubts, such as:

  • Ask what’s the worst that can happen.
  • Don’t wait to feel confident.
  • Look for opportunities to say yes.
  • Attribute success to your own merit.
  • Give yourself permission to be imperfect.

Here’s When Self-Improvement Becomes Ineffective

(Jasmine Rice | Addicted 2 Success | 950 words)

Sometimes self-improvement books, seminars, blogs, etc. become a toxic addiction instead of helping your life.

If you constantly chase self-improvement because you think you’re not good enough, instead of actually doing things that genuinely make life better, or actually living life, take a step back and be happy with who you are now.

Related: Don’t Challenge Yourself

Self Helping Yourself Tweet of the Week

Excel: Beginner to Rockstar

As I mentioned in the intro, I’m launching a new business.

Before switching to Self-Improvement and Weight Loss, I spent 20 years in Accounting and Finance for start-ups, rising to the level of CFO. Now I’m putting my expertise to use teaching Excel.

Could winning at Excel win your next job?

Or save you hundreds of hours as an entrepreneur?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to increase your Excel skills 100% or more in four weeks. You’ll be able to get twice as much done in half the time, amaze your boss and potential employers, and enjoy unparalleled job security.

Rockstar Excel Presents

Excel: Beginner to Rockstar Course

Starting March 18, 2021

Are you an entrepreneur who struggles to finish everything?

Are you an employee whose career is stuck in neutral?

Are you looking to become more efficient and organized?

Would you like to get more done in less time?

Mastering Excel could be the solution!

Imagine taking minutes to complete what used to take you hours. Picture what you could do with five extra hours a week. What if you never had to worry about layoffs, because your skills made you too valuable for your company to lose?

I want to rock Excel
and get my free Expense Tracker

Be sure to follow @YourselfHelping on Twitter.

Enjoy Five Boosts By Self Helping Yourself? Be sure to Subscribe and check out the Self Helping Yourself site.

Enjoy Five Boosts? Please consider buying me a coffee.

I work hard reviewing hundreds of articles a week to find five that contain the best advice on easy ways to improve your life.

As well as writing the posts for Self Helping Yourself, and Rockstar Excel.

If you can’t donate, you can always help by subscribing, recommending Five Boosts, Self Helping Yourself, or any articles to your friends, or by rating/reviewing The Weight Loss Habit on Amazon. (If you’ve read it.)

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Take Control of Your Life: Five Boosts 1/19/21

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Take Control of Your Life: Five Boosts 1/19/21
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 1/19/21

This week’s boosts are about taking control over your own life.

Last week was the first time in nearly a year that I missed writing a regularly scheduled post for Self-Helping Yourself.

Part of controlling your own life is replacing the phrase “I don’t have time for…” with “I have chosen not to prioritize…”

That’s what happened last week. I’ve been busy launching a new business, and focused my time on that.

I’ll tell you more about my new business after the boosts.

5 Simple Behaviors You Can Start Today to Make People Respect You More

(Anthony Moore | Ladders | 1375 words)

Respect comes from taking ownership over yourself, which you choose to do.

  1. Show your mind can be changed.
  2. Invest time and money in your future.
  3. Admit when you don’t know something.
  4. Take responsibility for choices and actions.
  5. Don’t share other people’s secrets.

5 Habits to Combat Loneliness

(Gretchen Rubin | 600 words)

Loneliness stems from how you relate to other people. Only you can take actions to fix it.

  1. Nurture others.
  2. Connect with others.
  3. Get better sleep.
  4. Stay open.
  5. Ask what’s missing in your life.

For a Happier Healthier 2021, Ditch These 6 Habits

(Karen Nimmo | On the Couch | 900 words)

Your actions and mindset determine your happiness. These are things you control.

To be happier, avoid:

  1. Complaining into the void.
  2. Waiting for someone to give you a break.
  3. Trying too hard to do the right thing.
  4. Looking over your shoulder.
  5. Eroding your health.
  6. Chaining yourself to the safe road.

I found this on Tuseet Jha’s Happier Today newsletter.

Related: 7 Ways to Make 2021 a Year of Growth and Joy

How to Brighten Your Morning (And Whole Day): 7 Powerful Habits

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 975 words)

The habits you build are how you live your life.

Habits to start the day with positivity make your life happier.

Give yourself reminders to be positive.

Compliment people.

Take in positive information, and avoid negative information.

Do the right thing.

Blaming Your Circumstances Makes You a Loser Part 1 and Part 2

(Jens Boje | MindfulDevMag | 1250 words)

Ignore the title of this piece – insults aren’t helpful. But the content is excellent.

Blaming circumstances for your problems makes your life worse.

Focusing on what you can do to improve your situation makes your life better.

If your circumstances seem overwhelming, focus on one small thing you can do, and build from there.

Related: Optimism and Pessimism are Self-Fulfilling

Self Helping Yourself Tweet of the Week

Excel: Beginner to Rockstar

As I mentioned in the intro, I’m launching a new business.

Before switching to Self-Improvement and Weight Loss, I spent 20 years in Accounting and Finance for start-ups, rising to the level of CFO. Now I’m putting my expertise to use teaching Excel.

Could winning at Excel win your next job?

Or save you hundreds of hours as an entrepreneur?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to increase your Excel skills 100% or more in four weeks. You’ll be able to get twice as much done in half the time, amaze your boss and potential employers, and enjoy unparalleled job security.

Rockstar Excel Presents

Excel: Beginner to Rockstar Course

Starting March 18, 2021

Are you an entrepreneur who struggles to finish everything?

Are you an employee whose career is stuck in neutral?

Are you looking to become more efficient and organized?

Would you like to get more done in less time?

Mastering Excel could be the solution!

Imagine taking minutes to complete what used to take you hours. Picture what you could do with five extra hours a week. What if you never had to worry about layoffs, because your skills made you too valuable for your company to lose?

I want to rock Excel
and get my free Expense Tracker

Be sure to follow @YourselfHelping on Twitter.

Enjoy Five Boosts By Self Helping Yourself? Be sure to Subscribe and check out the Self Helping Yourself site.

Enjoy Five Boosts? Please consider buying me a coffee.

I work hard reviewing hundreds of articles a week to find five that contain the best advice on easy ways to improve your life.

As well as writing the posts for Self Helping Yourself, and Rockstar Excel.

If you can’t donate, you can always help by subscribing, recommending Five Boosts, Self Helping Yourself, or any articles to your friends, or by rating/reviewing The Weight Loss Habit on Amazon. (If you’ve read it.)

Posted in: Uncategorized

Five Boosts to Handle Tough Times – 1/12/21

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts to Handle Tough Times – 1/12/21
Image by Bluehouse Skis from Pixabay

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 1/12/21

This week’s boosts are about handling tough times.

The last few weeks have been difficult for many.

Let’s get through these struggles with compassion for one another. And remember that lashing out in anger will make any problem worse.

It’s Okay to Quit – Sometimes That’s a Good Thing

(Steven Ray Marks | Self-Helping Yourself | 950 words)

Quitting gets a bad rap.

It’s a GOOD thing if:

  • What you’re doing is a bad idea.
  • It’s not working.
  • It’s not right for you.
  • You’re miserable.
  • There are better uses for your time.
  • The chance of success is too low.
  • the consequences of failure are too high.

Related: Eight Things to Consider When Evaluating Risks

Saying These Words When Someone is Upset is the Best Thing You Can Do

(John Anderer | Ladders | 775 words)

When someone is upset, the key to helping them feel better is validation.

Statements such as “I understand why you feel that way,” create positive emotions.

Doubting their emotions by saying things like “Why would that make you so mad?” makes them feel even worse.

6 Reminders for When You Stop Feeling Strong

(Holly Riordan | Thought Catalog | 500 words)

Strength doesn’t mean perfection. It means persistence when times are tough.

But it’s okay to admit you’re struggling.

Better to ask for help than pretend that you’re stronger than you really are.

Weak moments help you grow and build yourself up to something better.

Related: The Coronavirus Lazies are Nothing to Be Ashamed Of – And Some Tips to Fight Them

5 Questions Smart People Ask Themselves Before They Speak

“Am I adding to the panic or being a calming influence?”

(Michael Thompson | Forge | 800 words)

Thoughtless words make a bad situation worse.

Before speaking, ask yourself:

  • Do I need to say this now?
  • Is this actionable?
  • What’s this person going through?
  • Am I creating stress or calming?
  • What could I learn if I just kept listening?

How to Create Psychological Distance Between You and Your Past

(Steven Handel | The Emotion Machine | 1600 words)

Creating space from your past helps you grow.

  • View the past from an outside perspective.
  • Change your environment.
  • Seek new experiences.
  • Remind yourself of what’s changed.
  • Go through a mental door.

Self Helping Yourself Tweet of the Week

Be sure to follow @YourselfHelping on Twitter.

Enjoy Five Boosts By Self Helping Yourself? Be sure to Subscribe and check out the Self Helping Yourself site.

Enjoy Five Boosts? Please consider buying me a coffee.

I work hard reviewing hundreds of articles a week to find five that contain the best advice on easy ways to improve your life.

As well as writing the posts for Self Helping Yourself, and Rockstar Excel.

If you can’t donate, you can always help by subscribing, recommending Five Boosts, Self Helping Yourself, or any articles to your friends, or by rating/reviewing The Weight Loss Habit on Amazon. (If you’ve read it.)

Posted in: Uncategorized

Five Boosts to Rock Your 2021 – 1/5/21

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts to Rock Your 2021 – 1/5/21
Photo by nappy from Pexels

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 1/5/21

7 Ways to Make 2021 a Year of Growth and Joy

(Steven Ray Marks | Self-Helping Yourself | 1050 words)

Growth and joy come from attitudes and choices, not circumstances.

Keep a positive attitude, instead of complaining.

Be content with what you can’t change, and take action on what you can change.

Form plans, but be ready to adapt.

Maintain connections with friends and communities.

Related: Optimism and Pessimism are Self-Fulfilling

How to Master an Important Habit in 2021

(Gretchen Rubin | 1075 words)

Habits are the foundation of how we live.

Every person is different. There’s no one-size-fits-all method of habit change.

To find what works for you, learn from your past successes.

6 Unconventional Ways to Build Focus, Resilience, and Calm in 2021

(Jory MacKay | RescueTime | 2650 words)

Focus and resilience are necessary for happiness and achieving goals. These skills can be developed.

Become indifferent to things you can’t change. Deprioritize stressful things that don’t help you.

Rebuild passion and curiosity.

Experiment with working habits. If working remotely, match your internal clock to your workday. Create boundaries on work.

The Future Belongs to the Focused: These 7 Unconventional Tips Can Help

(Michael Thompson | Ladders | 1425 words)

This is the same topic as the last article, but has different suggestions.

It’s worth considering multiple perspectives to find what works for you.

Focus on doing your best for 5 minutes at a time.

Save your worst work task until last.

Keep a “worry” journal.

Related: 10 Things to Do When Feeling Overwhelmed

10 Personal Finance Tips That Changed My Life

(The Millennial Money Woman | 2775 words)

Money is a topic many are afraid of. But having finances in order makes life easier.

The Millennial Money Woman explains how to cut spending, invest the right way, avoid bad debt, set monetary goals, and adopt a growth mindset.

Related: Interview With The Millennial Money Woman

Self Helping Yourself Tweet of the Week

Be sure to follow @YourselfHelping on Twitter.

Enjoy Five Boosts By Self Helping Yourself? Be sure to Subscribe and check out the Self Helping Yourself site.

Enjoy Five Boosts? Please consider buying me a coffee.

I work hard reviewing hundreds of articles a week to find five that contain the best advice on easy ways to improve your life.

As well as writing the posts for Self Helping Yourself, and Rockstar Excel.

If you can’t donate, you can always help by subscribing, recommending Five Boosts, Self Helping Yourself, or any articles to your friends, or by rating/reviewing The Weight Loss Habit on Amazon. (If you’ve read it.)

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