Tag: Steven Ray Marks

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Five Boosts To Beat Negativity

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on 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

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts To Achieve Great Things
Photo by Eunice De Guzman on Unsplash

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?

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.

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 Get Back on Track

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts To Get Back on Track
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 2/16/21

Today’s boosts are about getting back on track.

There was no Five Boosts last week. Monday night, my van was totaled by a hit-and-run driver. (I’m fine) I spent the rest of the week getting a rental car, cleaning out the wreckage, and working on a replacement, while launching my Excel business, and caring for the foster dogs that took over my life. Plus I got sick for a bit. (Not COVID, and I’m better now).

The good news is we’ve placed two of the dogs, and the one remaining is much less of a time burden.

Enough about me. On to the Boosts.

Reward Good Behavior Instead of Criticizing Bad Behavior

(Self-Helping Yourself | Steven Ray Marks | 1000 words)

If you want someone to improve or change, reward and encourage the desired behavior. Don’t punish or criticize bad behavior. Punishment just makes someone unhappy and gets them to dislike you. This is true for animals, employees, family, and yourself.

If you punish yourself for flaws or mistakes, it builds depression, anxiety, and self-hatred. To improve, instead celebrate your achievements and growth.

How to Motivate Yourself When Things Are Not Going Exactly The Way You Want

(Charles Vallena | The Inspiring Journal | 1000 words)

When things don’t go right, it’s easy to lose motivation. Which makes things go worse.

To keep your motivation:

  • Pause to gain more insight.
  • Process and analyze your emotions and thoughts.
  • Take a break.
  • Focus on what you can do.
  • Find motivation from your accomplishments.

Give Yourself Credit: The Essential Habit Behind Self-Esteem

(Steven Handel | The Emotion Machine | 675 words)

People obsess over their flaws, but ignore their accomplishments. 

To fight this, give yourself points for achievements – even minor ones.

Be an easy grader, giving yourself credit for minor things like brushing your teeth or gratitude.

Related: Optimism and Pessimism are Self-Fulfilling

Creative Burnout: When the Creativity Tap Runs Dry

(Anne-Laure Le Cunff | Ness Labs | 1800 words)

Creatives sometimes burnout. Recognize the signs, and how to overcome it.

Get support. Take a break. Do some self-reflection. Look at your past work for inspiration. Do the smallest piece of creative work to build momentum. And be kind to yourself.

Even better, avoid burnout by building the right habits, taking breaks, and skipping anxiety-inducing information sources.

Related: Disembarking From the Failboat

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Goal-Setting

(Anouare Abdou | The Ladders | 850 words)

You will likely fail to achieve your goals if you make these mistakes:

  • No timeline.
  • No accountability.
  • Not being well-rounded.
  • Being too conceptual.
  • Trying to do too much.

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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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.)

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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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Five Boosts 12/22/20 – Staying Positive and Motivated

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on 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.)

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Five Boosts 12/15/20 – Loving Failure And Ignorance

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts 12/15/20 – Loving Failure And Ignorance
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

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 12/15/20

Interview With the Millennial Money Woman

(Steven Ray Marks & Fiona | Self Helping Yourself | 1875 words)

The Millennial Money Woman (also known as Fiona) is a top personal finance blogger.

She gives easy, actionable advice on getting your money in order:

  • Start saving and investing early
  • Avoid common mistakes
  • Cut spending
  • Leverage opportunities the internet gives

Related: 13 Incredibly Easy Ways to Improve Your Finances

10 Ways to Love Your Partner in a Meaningful Way

(Kimberly Brown | Purpose Fairy | 975 words)

Love is something you actively do. A bit of mindful effort keeps your relationship strong, which makes both you and your partner much happier.

Suggestions include:

  • Talk to each other daily
  • Build them up
  • Flirt
  • Be more give than taking
  • Love yourself

How to Cope With Feelings of Isolation During the Holidays

(Abby Moore | Mind Body Green | 675 words)

The holidays are especially difficult for those with pandemic-related mental health challenges.

I know it’s hard for me – I haven’t seen my mother and sister in nearly a year.

To feel a bit better, make a plan of joyful ways to spend the holiday.

Adapt traditions for quarantine, or create new ones.

Spend time outdoors, or volunteer. Charity is a great way to boost your mood.

Video chat with family. It’s not the real thing, but it’s better than nothing.

Selective Ignorance: Cultivating Intentional Knowledge in a Chaotic World

(Anne-Laure Le Cunff | Ness Labs | 1350 words)

The unlimited knowledge is at our fingertips is both a blessing and a curse.

What knowledge we consume and how we consume it can make us miserable or be a distraction.

Cultivate selective ignorance by limiting information sources that don’t provide value or enjoyment.

How to Overcome Failure and Use it as Motivation

(DJ Jeffries | Addicted 2 Success | 925 words)

Everybody fails sometimes. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Failure is an opportunity to learn and come out of it stronger.

To do this:

  • Understand what went wrong.
  • Look to friends for advice.
  • Listen to constructive feedback.
  • Keep moving forward.
  • Don’t be afraid of failure.

I always say: “If you failed but learned how to do better next time, you haven’t really failed.”

Related: Disembarking From the Failboat

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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Five Boosts 12/8/20 – Laziness for a Better Life

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts 12/8/20 – Laziness for a Better Life
Image by AnnemarieDeloo from Pixabay

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 12/8/20

Take Control Over Your Own Life With Two Phrases

(Steven Ray Marks | Self-Helping Yourself | 975 words)

Whether you believe you have control over your life is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You can build the mindset of controlling your life by changing two common phrases:

Instead of saying “I have to” say “I get to” or “I choose to.”

Instead of saying “I don’t have time for,” say “I have chosen not to prioritize.”

Remind yourself that your choices are your choices.

3 Habits for Creating a Better Work-Life Balance

(Thomas J Frank | 1975 words)

Picture your time/energy as four burners on a stove, representing work, health, relationship, and hobbies. The brighter one flame burns, the less gas available for the others.

To set the burners to the balance you want:

  • Create obligations
  • Remind yourself of what makes you happy
  • When you work, work with intensity

I found this article in Brandon Zhang’s newsletter.

What to do When You Have Too Many Ideas and Not Enough Time

(James Clear | 675 words)

Ideas are like rosebuds. They have potential to flourish into something wonderful, given time and energy.

However our time and energy are limited. If we try to pour them into all our good ideas, then none will succeed.

Like with a rose bush, we must prune ideas that are good but not great, so our best ideas have room to reach their potential.

The Benefits of Laziness

(Anne-Laure Le Cunff | Ness Labs | 1225 words)

Self-help gurus tell us to have contempt for the lazy. But laziness is often better than being busy for the sake of business.

  • Lazy solutions can be clever.
  • Lazy time allows the brain to think of less-obvious solutions.
  • Laziness allows the body and mind to recharge, manage stress, and avoid burnout.

40 One-Sentence Communication Tips

(Josh Spector | 525 words)

Reading this will help you write, speak, and express ideas better.

Some top ones:

  • The main character in any story is the person you tell it to.
  • The point of an argument isn’t to win.
  • Before you tell someone they’re wrong, tell them they might be right.
  • The more interested you are, the more interesting you’ll be.
  • It’s easy to win over a room that believes you have their best interests at heart.

I highly recommend Josh Spector’s For The Interested 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.

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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Five Boosts 12/1/20 – Be Thankful for Imperfections

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on 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

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

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Five Boosts 11/24/20 – Change Minds and Get Beter

Written by Steven Ray Marks Leave a Comment on Five Boosts 11/24/20 – Change Minds and Get Beter
Anger and hate - Fist punching through glass

Five Easy Ways to Make Your Life Better for 11/24/20

Anger and Hate Hurt You More Than The Target of Your Rage – But You Don’t Have to Feel Them

(Steven Ray Marks | Self Helping Yourself | 1075 words)

Anger and hatred consume your thoughts, mindset, and soul, while doing nothing to improve the world or change those you’re angry at/hate.

To feel anger and hatred less, and take ownership over your own happiness:

  • Minimize exposure to triggers
  • Build the mindset that anger is a choice
  • Stop complaining to break the anger habit

How to Get Better

(Mark Manson | 1425 Words)

Therapy helps because talking over problems separates negative thoughts and feelings from your sense of self, changing unhappiness from the subject to the object.

The same is true of journaling and meditation, which is why they’re effective as well.

Be Specific

(Josh Spector | For The Interested | 725 words)

Specificity forces you to be clear, focused, and unique. Your life will be better if you’re more specific about:

  • Goals
  • Audience
  • Communication
  • Requests
  • Success

Change Someone’s Mind: 6 Secrets From Research

(Eric Barker | Bakadesuyo | 3375 words)

To change someone’s mind, you need to get them to change their own mind. Be a respectful partner, not an adversary.

Ask why they believe their beliefs with genuine curiosity, not to find “gotchas” or attack. Ask how certain they are, and to make comparisons on a scale of 1 to 10. What evidence would change their mind?

And be open to learning from them and changing your own mind.

I found this article in Josh Spector’s For The Interested newsletter. (Josh Spector also wrote the “Be Specific” article above.)

Related: How to Win Allies and How to Stop Making Enemies

The Mistake Smart People Make: Being in Motion vs. Taking Action

(James Clear | 925 words)

Motion is planning and research. Action is doing and creating things.

Sometimes you need to plan and research. But you’ll never accomplish anything without action.

Often people get stuck on motion, thinking it’s productive when really they’re procrastinating.

Set a schedule or hard deadline to take action.

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 the five that contain the best actionable advice on easy ways to improve your life.

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

If you can’t donate, you can always help out 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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