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Five Boosts To Put Less Pressure On Yourself

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 3/17/21

Today’s boosts are about putting less pressure on yourself.

You Don’t Have to Work On Yourself Forever

(Shayla Love | Vice | 3400 words)

Self-improvement can become an unhealthy obsession.

Nobody’s perfect. You can always improve yourself.

This may lead to believing you’re never good enough. Or working so hard to improve that you don’t enjoy life.

I found this article in The Idea Enthusiast

Related: Don’t Challenge Yourself

How to Stop Being a People Pleaser: 7 Powerful Habits

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 1600 words)

Being too much of a people pleaser turns you into a martyr, making yourself miserable, and ultimately making those you try to please unhappy as well.

To prevent this:

  • Learn how to say “no.”
  • Remember people don’t care that much about what you say or do.
  • Learn healthy ways to handle criticism, verbal attacks, and disagreements.

It May Be Time to Give Up on Your Passion

(Brian Miller | Thrive Global | 1250 words)

Not every idea is good. A bad idea won’t work no matter how much effort you put into it.

Job is what you do for money. A Career is a job you love. A Hobby is what you do for fun. A Vocation is something you feel you were born to do, whether or not you make money from it.

Not everyone can turn their vocation into a career. It’s okay to use a boring job to fund your vocation and hobbies.

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

The Life-Altering Practice of Making Cuts

(Courtney Carver | Be More With Less | 825 words)

Write up a list of things you regularly do. Consciously choose to stop doing what’s unimportant, makes you feel bad, or doesn’t work in your life.

Do the same with your worries and regrets.

How to Stop Feeling Productivity Shame

(Jory MacKay | Doist | 3450 words)

You’ll never run out of tasks to do.

If you see productivity as completing everything on your to-do list, you’ll always feel guilty.

If you see productivity as being busy, you’ll spend too much time on unimportant tasks, and any downtime feeling guilty that you’re not working.

Instead, think of productivity as making progress toward important goals. Relaxation is an important part of progress. It’s necessary to recharge your energy and avoid burnout. (Plus live a happy life.)

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

Please consider buying me a coffee.

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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Five Boosts To Beat Negativity

Photo by Donald Tong from Pexels

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 3/10/21

Today’s boosts are about overcoming negativity in your life and yourself.

Announcement:

Only one week left to register for the Rockstar Excel Beginner to Rockstar course.

Could Excel save you hundreds of hours as an entrepreneur?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to learn how to save five hours a week, level up your efficiency, and become massively more organized, all with EASY Excel skills that anyone can master in four weeks.

You’ll save five hour a week or your money back!

Class starts Thursday, March 18. Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 16.

Learn more here.

Weight Loss Without Anxiety

(Joanne Williams & Steven Ray Marks | Anxiety Simplified | 30-minute podcast)

Those with anxiety find dieting especially difficult, because of negative self-talk and a shame-and-guilt mentality.

It’s better to take a positive approach, where you focus on making things easy and rewarding yourself for good decisions.

Note: I was a guest on the Anxiety Simplified podcast, where I discussed Weight Loss and Anxiety, and my book The Weight Loss Habit: The No BS, No Gimmick, (Sort of) Easy Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Forever.

Be Kinder to Yourself

(Alice Boyes | Harvard Business Review | 1750 words)

Self-compassion will make you happier and more effective.

Use a tone of kindness, accept pain is universal, don’t exaggerate negative emotions (but don’t suppress them either), and trust yourself to make good decisions.

I found this in Monale Alemika’s WorkLife Edit newsletter.

3 Things You Need to Stop Doing to Live a Simpler Life

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 850 words)

To avoid destructive habits that make life messy and unhappy:

  • Stop overthinking.
  • Stop making work busier/more complex than it needs to be.
  • Stop overcomplicating relationships.

Related: 11 Incredibly Easy Things to Stop Doing to Be Happier

This Small Change in Language Can Help Downplay Negativity

(Steven Handel | The Emotion Machine | 675 words)

Don’t add words of emphasis for negative qualities about yourself. “I’m very lazy” or “I’m extremely frustrated.”

Instead, use words to show they only apply some of the time, and downplay the negative quality. “Sometimes, I’m a little bit lazy.” “I’m kind of frustrated for now.”

This shift in language will shift your mindset.

Related: Take Control Over Your Life With These Two Phrases

7 Mantras That Will Stop You From Taking Things Personally

(Marc Chernoff | Marc and Angel | 1000 words)

Some key takeaways:

  • People do things because of themselves, not because of you.
  • You don’t need others to validate you. You’re already valuable.
  • Give others the benefit of the doubt you’d want to be given on your worst day.

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.

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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Five Boosts To Achieve Great Things

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 3/2/21

Today’s boosts are about getting out of your own way so you can achieve the things you want.

A quick announcement: I’ll be a guest on this Friday’s episode of the podcast Anxiety Simplified, discussing weight loss and anxiety, and my book The Weight Loss Habit.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear my voice or see my face, that’s your chance.

What’s Easy for Some is Difficult for Others

(Steven Ray Marks | Self-Helping Yourself | 1125 words)

You may struggle to learn something others find easy. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.

When seeking help, be clear about your struggles. Those skilled enough to give help often speak from their perspective of assuming it’s easy, and talk past you.

And when giving assistance, recognize people struggle because it’s harder for them than for you. Your advice should be helpful from that perspective.

How to Take Action: 12 Habits that Turn Dreams into Reality

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 1775 words)

Different motivational strategies work for different people:

  • Do the most important thing at the start of the day.
  • Or start off small to build momentum.
  • Keep a reminder of priorities and goals.
  • Have accountability partners.
  • Cycle focused work and relaxing rest.

Steal These Advertising Secrets to Manipulate Yourself

(Nir Eyal | 1500 words)

People hate being told what to do and tend to push back. That includes when you tell yourself what to do. Instead:

  • Offer yourself the right rewards.
  • Give yourself choices to feel more in control.
  • Create narratives to support your goals

Related: Take Control Over Your Life With These Two Phrases

Are You Task-Oriented or Goal-Oriented? How to Improve Both

(Barrie Davenport | Live Bold and Bloom | 1150 words)

Some people focus on the task at hand; others focus on the end goal.

It’s important to keep both your goals and your tasks clear.

How to Do the Thing You’re Avoiding

(Leo Babauta | Zen Habits | 675 words)

If you’re avoiding something you know you need to do:

  • Set an alarm to do it at a certain time.
  • Psyche yourself up.
  • Do it with someone else.
  • Get small victories

Related: 10 Things to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed

Excel: Beginner to Rockstar

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?

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.

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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Five Boosts For Life Satisfaction

Photo by Anete Lusina from Pexels

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 2/23/21

Today’s boosts are about being satisfied.

The easiest way to improve your life is to be happier about the life you already have.

Daily Happiness: 13 Simple Ways to Find it In Your Life

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 1,050 words)

There’s a lot of happiness to be found in regular days. Suggestions include:

  • Appreciate your partner, friend, family member, or yourself.
  • Take 5 minutes to help someone out.
  • Smile more.
  • Say yes to something new.
  • Take a 2-minute laugh break

Related: 10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Be Happier

5 Questions to Deepen Your Joy

(Ingrid Fetell Lee | Aesthetics of Joy | 2,200 words)
  • How did adults demonstrate joy when you were a child?
  • Who are you when you’re most joyful?
  • When did you struggle, then change and find more joy?
  • What will your joy be like when you’re 80?
  • How would you change your life to make joy a priority?

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

How to Be Happier About Your Money

(Nicole Andrews | Happier Mindset | 1,850 words)

Struggling to make ends meet can make you miserable. But wealth doesn’t necessarily make you happy. You need to use money the right ways:

  • Don’t prioritize money over time.
  • Give yourself a safety net.
  • Learn to budget.
  • Buy experiences instead of things.
  • Spend on others.

You’re Never Going to Feel Good Enough

(Holly Riordan | Thought Catalog | 500 words)

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone feels inferior to others’ social media highlight reels. Nobody’s life fits the pattern they planned. Nobody’s perfect. Nobody’s 100% satisfied with themself.

Everyone has room to improve. It’s great to strive for improvement. Don’t think this means you’re not good enough.

How to Be Lucky

(Christian Busch | Psych | 2,850 words)

“Luck” is more mindset than chance.

Lucky people aren’t favored by fate. They’re better at noticing opportunities, understanding how they’re opportunities, then acting on them.

To become luckier:

  • Prepare for the unexpected.
  • Challenge how you do things to see if there’s a better way.
  • Start journaling, declutter your life, and carve out “me time.”
  • Use “serendipity hooks” – questions or comments that may lead to something.
  • Reframe mistakes and setbacks as opportunities.

Bonus Boost

It’s not entirely on topic, but this will make you feel good about the world. Watch this amazing POV footage from the Perseverance rover landing on Mars.

Excel: Beginner to Rockstar

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?

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.

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 for Overcoming Overwhelm

Photo by Atul Choudhary from Pexels

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 2/2/21

Today’s boosts are about dealing with times when life seems overwhelming.

Whether it’s work or family responsibilities, stress from the global situation, or your personal emotions and mental health, sometimes we all feel like we’re drinking from the firehose and it’s too much to handle.

Hopefully the advice from these articles can give you some easy ways to cope.

Five Questions to Eliminate Overwhelm

(Sue Hawkes | Thrive Global | 250 words)

When feeling overwhelmed, ask:

  1. How can/will I succeed?
  2. Make a prioritized list.
  3. Are these real deadlines?
  4. What can I let go?
  5. What can I delegate or simplify?

Related: 10 Things to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed

How to Overcome Victim Thinking

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 800 words)

Seeing yourself as a victim gives you attention and validation, makes you feel right, and keeps you from having to take responsibility.

But leads to a life of overwhelm and misery.

For a happier life you control, replace a victim mentality with:

  • Gratitude
  • Taking action
  • Learning
  • Giving value
  • Forgiveness

How Hard Should I Push Myself

(Dan Shipper | Superorganizers | 1675 words)

To handle stress with less overwhelm:

  • Increase control and predictability
  • Find outlets for frustration
  • Increase social support

I found this in the Gradual Daily newsletter.

14 Ways to Make Chores More Joyful

(Ingrid Fetell Lee | Aesthetics of Joy | 3400 words)

Life is less overwhelming when chores are fun.

  • Dance while doing chores
  • Listen to podcasts/audiobooks, or watch TV
  • Incorporate a reward
  • Be ok with ok.

Even adding googly eyes to cleaning tools makes a difference.

I found this in Nir Eyal’s Nir and Far newsletter.

3 Ways to Practice Emotional Agility When Everything Is Up In the Air

(Vanessa Loder | Mind Body Green | 1100 words)

Uncertainty adds to overwhelm, especially in trying times.

To build emotional agility:

  • Accept emotions without making them your identity.
  • Have self-compassion.
  • Be curious about your emotions

Related: Disembarking From the Failboat

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?

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

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?

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 12/22/20 – Staying Positive and Motivated

Image by Derek Robinson from Pixabay

Before getting to the boosts, I have a favor to ask.

I’m always trying to make Five Boosts more useful.

You can assist by completing this two-minute survey.

I’d truly appreciate it.

And don’t forget to subscribe to get Five Boosts in your inbox every week, as well as your free copy of 24 Ways to Improve Your Life.

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 12/22/20

Optimism and Pessimism are Self-Fulfilling

(Steven Ray Marks | Self-Helping Yourself | 1150 words)

If you have an optimistic outlook, you’ll act in ways that make good things more likely to happen.

While if you have a pessimistic outlook, you’ll act to make bad things more likely to happen.

Not through anything mystical – because of psychology and choices.

Optimism leads to better results in love, career, personal interactions, resilience, achievements, and overall happiness.

Fostering an optimistic attitude will make your life much better.

What to Do When you Feel Unmotivated

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 825 words)

Sometimes it’s hard to start a task. To get that motivation, try:

  • Picture your life if you pick the path of doing things versus not doing things.
  • Get inspired by the motivation of others.
  • Just start, and let the motivation catch up to you.

Related: Disembarking from the Failboat

3 Psychologists Share Their Tips for Staying Positive Through the Winter

(Kaitlyn McInnis | Ladders | 925 words)

Short days, holidays alone, and being stuck at home can be tough.

To keep your mood up:

  • Take on a short-term project
  • Create a routine
  • Watch comedy shows
  • Spend time in nature
  • Don’t compare your happiness to others

Related: 7 Easy Strategies for Seasonal Affective Disorder

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

(Jory MacKay | Rescue Time | 2650 words)

While we hope things will get back to normal next year, there’s still a need to adapt to uncertainty.

  • Build an indifferent attitude toward what you can’t change
  • Deprioritize unproductive tasks
  • Find your ideal working habits and boundaries

I found this article in Greg Roth’s The Idea Enthusiast newsletter.

Related: 10 Things to Do When you Feel Overwhelmed.

It’s Scientifically Impossible to Make It Through These 17 Wholesome Tumblr Posts Without Smiling

(Compiled by Kelly Martinez | BuzzFeed | 500 words)

Cute thoughts and encouragement that will brighten your day.

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 12/1/20 – Be Thankful for Imperfections

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 12/1/20

Before getting to this week’s boosts, I want to thank Lynn DeLong for her lovely review of The Weight Loss Habit. Please do check it out.


5 Reasons to Embrace Your Imperfections

(Josh Spector | For the Interested | 700 words)

Imperfections make us unique. They make our creations interesting and relatable. And give us room to grow.

Perfect is boring.

Moreover, there’s no such thing as perfect. It’s an unattainable standard. Chasing perfection is an excuse to avoid finishing our work.

Related: Perfectionism Paralysis Can be Beaten by Half-Assing It

The Power of Thankfulness: 5 Essential Tips

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 725 words)

Gratitude hugely increases your happiness.

  1. Think of three things to be thankful for today, and 3 people to be thankful for in life.
  2. Tell people you’re thankful for them.
  3. Think of 3 aspects of yourself you’re thankful for.
  4. Be thankful for things you take for granted.
  5. Start and end your day with thankfulness.

Delightful December Can Make You Happier

(Steven Ray Marks | Self Helping Yourself | 825 words)

Delightful December is a month-long challenge to dramatically improve your mood.

  1. Avoid posting anything negative on social media.
  2. Instead, every day in December, post:
  • Something you’re grateful for.
  • Something that made you happy.
  • Something you’re looking forward to.

5 Tools to Manage Anxiety When it Arises

(Kristina Hallett, PhD, ABPP | Mind Body Green | 875 words)

A certain amount of anxiety is normal. To manage it:

  1. Stop with the “what-ifs.”
  2. Return to the present moment.
  3. Engage your senses.
  4. Practice progressive muscle relaxation.
  5. Go for a walk.

What Successful People Know About Failure

(LaRae Quy | laraequy.com | 1300 words)

Everyone experiences failure. It’s naturally unpleasant, but it’s also an opportunity.

  1. Failure feeds the starving brain. Is this a challenge to keep pursuing, or should we shift focus to something else?
  2. Failure gives us humility.
  3. Failure leads to new discoveries.
  4. Failure gets our attention.

Bonus Boost

15 Ways to Avoid Gaining Weight Over the Holidays

(Steven Ray Marks | Self Helping Yourself | 1750 words)

The holidays are an especially difficult time for those of us who struggle with weight.

Here are some tips to avoid common pitfalls, without relying on willpower. Including:

  • Skip less exciting dishes.
  • Serve yourself tiny portions.
  • Compliment people while declining their food.
  • Use a smaller plate.
  • Don’t sit or stand near food.

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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Hedonism, Civility, And Useless Days: Five Boosts 8/9/20

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 8/9/20

15 Things to Do When You Have No Idea What to Do

(Barrie Davenport | Live Bold and Bloom | 1900 words | Subscribe )

What to do when you just can’t seem to kick your brain into gear. Suggestions include:

  • Do mindless tasks
  • Try meditation
  • Help someone else
  • Take the logical first step
  • Do nothing and take the day off

Related: Disembarking From the Failboat

In Defense of Hedonism

(Kyle Shnitzer | The Ladders | 350 words)

Hedonism gets a bad rap.

But a big part of happiness is the ability to take time to just enjoy yourself, without being distracted by worries over long-term goals.

Obviously focusing on long-term goals and enjoying yourself are also important. But you should have a balance.

10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Improve Your Health

(Steven Ray Marks | Self Helping Yourself | 2050 words)

Ten ways to lose weight and be healthier that take no effort or willpower, and minimal to no time. Including:

  • Switch to diet soda.
  • Use smaller plates.
  • Look up how many calories are in your favorite dishes at restaurants.
  • Buy your own exercise equipment instead of going to the gym.
  • Use chopsticks when eating chips.

Turning Violent Disagreements Into Civil Discourse

(Michael Hyatt | Michael Hyatt & Co. | 575 words)

We live in polarized times, where screaming and hate have replaced civil discourse.

Here are some excellent suggestions on how to better communicate with people that disagree with you:

  • Begin where you agree.
  • Keep an open mind.
  • Get your facts straight.
  • Be willing to state your view but with humility.

I especially like that this article gives no indications of the author’s own political views. That’s how it should be, since this advice applies to people of all beliefs.

If you like this piece, I suggest you check out the organization Braver Angels, which is dedicated to political tolerance and depolarization.

Related: How to Win Allies

7 Small Habits That Will Steal Your Happiness

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 1625 words | Subscribe)

To be happier, stop doing these things:

  1. Immersing yourself in negative voices.
  2. Waiting for just the right time.
  3. Letting criticism get under your skin.
  4. Focusing on envy, powerlessness, and the wrong people.
  5. Not allowing yourself peace and rest.
  6. Never trying anything new.
  7. Taking things too seriously.

Self Helping Yourself Tweet of the Week

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Fear, Investing, And Impostors – Five Boosts 8/2/20

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 8/2/20

The Incredibly Simple, One Sentence Guide to Investing

(Steven Ray Marks | Self Helping Yourself | 1700 words)

The one sentence is:

Once you’ve paid off all your credit card debt, invest as much as you can in your 401k, and park your money in an index fund without paying any attention to the market.”

That’s all you need to know about investing.

Anything more complicated will give you worse results.

The article gives more detail on why this is the case, what an index fund is, and how to pick which index fund, so it’s definitely worth reading. (If I do say so myself. 😉)

21 Ways to Overcome Impostor Syndrome

(Kyle Eschenroeder | Startup Bros. | 3100 Words)

Impostor Syndrome is the feeling that you’re not qualified to be doing your job, and that everyone will realize you’re a fraud. It’s shockingly common, even among elites and experts.

It’s hard to summarize this lengthy article, because each of the 21 diverse suggestions will resonate with different people.

But if this is something you ever suffer from, or you ever haven’t pursued something you wanted because you thought you weren’t qualified, I highly recommend reading this.

I found this article in For the Interested, which gives advice mainly directed toward online creators, but is useful for everyone.

Optimism 2020: A Manifesto

(Trevor McKendrick | How It Actually Works | 450 Words | Subscribe)

Fifteen suggestions on being more optimistic, including:

  • Focus on things you can influence.
  • Do something today instead of daydreaming about tomorrow.
  • Move fast. Most decisions can be reversed later.
  • Recognize the pie is not fixed and life is not zero sum.
  • Believe we can solve any problem.

6 Strategies to Overcome Fear

(Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog | 1400 Words | Subscribe)

  1. Ask what’s the worst that can happen.
  2. Write out the fear.
  3. Change your perspective.
  4. Question your fears and what they’re based on.
  5. Breathe and take a moment to accept the fear.
  6. Take small steps forward.

How to Change Your Personality For the Better

(Olga Khazan | Next Big Idea Club | 600 Words | Subscribe)

Most people assume that their personality is fixed.

But you actually can change your personality if you want.

All you have to do is act the way you want your personality to be, and eventually your personality will change to follow your actions.

I found this in Nir Eyal’s Nir and Far newsletter.

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.

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