Explore the ultimate reading list recommended by our CEO, offering insights and perspectives from successful CEOs that can inspire your own leadership and personal journey.

Discover three proven strategies busy people use to create healthy habits that stick. Learn how to identify your deeper motivations, track your progress effectively, and leverage existing habits to build new ones. These actionable tips can help you achieve your health goals and transform your life.

By Georgina El Morshdy It’s exciting to think about hitting a big goal or getting to a date in your calendar that you’re excited about. Our ability to dream and imagine is one of the most powerful tools we have as a human. We’re able to visualize possible futures and fantasize about how life could feel if only we could make these desires a reality.   It’s a balancing act. If you live too much in the future, you miss out on the here and now - and that’s a problem. In the words of spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle, “The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.” This idea is supported by many other teachers too.  Zig Ziglar stresses the importance of the journey too. He said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” And Wayne Dyer said, “Your relationship with the now is your relationship with life.”  It leaves us with a question. How can you make the most of the present moment to experience more success, fulfillment, and happiness in life?  Here are THREE powerful techniques to try.  1. Practice mindfulness Mindfulness is about increasing your awareness of the present moment by noticing your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations and being ‘ok’ with what is.  When we’re mindful of the present, we’re aware of what’s occurring in the moment. In turn, we increase our personal power. When you can engage with the now and sink into the experience without judgement or distraction, you can unlock more peace, calm, and clarity.  But it’s not always easy!  The average human has around 70,000 thoughts per day. Our brains can be extraordinarily chatty and noisy; it can take time and practice to quieten the mind so you can feel the peace within.  But the benefits are proven… If you cut the amount of time you spend worrying about the past and the present, you can put all your energy into what’s truly happening NOW.  In turn, you can make better decisions as well as unlock more creativity. You can benefit from as little as 10 minutes of mindfulness practise a day. To help you cultivate this powerful habit, we created a 31-day mindfulness challenge. Thousands of people have taken this challenge so far. Now you can join them.  2. Check in with your Core values Making impactful decisions is an essential skill for your best self to master.  Every moment is an opportunity to make a new choice - the question is, in what direction will you head?  Checking in with your Core Values is a powerful practice that can help you make decisions aligned with the things you care about most. The more life you live in alignment with your Core Values, the happier you’ll feel - because more of your time will feel purposeful.  Let me show you how this works… Let’s say it’s the weekend and you haven’t yet made plans. You know you want to do something, but you’re not sure what. Your Core Values can give you an insight into what choice will make you happiest. For example, if you have a Core Value of ‘ADVENTURE’, you might enjoy taking a spontaneous road trip. If you have a Core Value of ‘GROWTH,’ you’ll probably get a lot of satisfaction attending an event or reading a book that opens a new level of thinking. The more you know yourself and what makes you tick, the more you can navigate life in a way that feels best.  You can discover your Core Values with the help of the Core Values Deck.  3. Reflect in your journal  Reflection is a powerful tool that can ground you in the present moment. When you get real with what is, you feel inspired to take responsibility for your life and control it. Sometimes, we can overlook things we know we need to resolve. It’s easier to push them off for another time rather than biting the bullet and jumping in.  Your journal is a safe space that can hold you - whatever you need to express and reveal.  The act of writing things out can be cathartic and releasing. With your truth revealed, there’s no more hiding or denying. Instead, you empower yourself into a position where you can decide in the moment powerfully.  Journaling also helps you connect to that deeper part inside that has all the answers. When you’re able to access your inner wisdom, you’ll likely uncover insights, ideas, and decisions that will help you take your next steps with more clarity and ease.  Check out this podcast to discover six reflective practices that you can explore in your journal NOW.   Alice Morse Earle said, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”  How will YOU make the best use of this present moment? I hope the ideas in this article have given you some ideas to explore.

“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?” - Steve Jobs There’s something beautiful and powerful about knowing your life has touched another’s in a positive way that makes us feel good. Knowing you've made an impact makes you feel valuable. It gives your life a bigger context that extends beyond you alone. It elevates feelings of connection because through impact we remember how we’re all connected and not alone.  The impact you make doesn’t need to be huge for it to matter. You might impact lives by starting a non-profit or by creating a product that transforms how people live.  But equally important is the conversation you have with someone who’s hit their limit. Or the mentorship you give to a rising star who benefits hugely from your influence.  What’s more, your impact creates a ripple effect that spreads out into the world in ways you can’t imagine or predict.  What might the person you’ve helped do for someone else?  It’s a mystery of life and a reminder that no act is too small to be significant.  So how do you maximize your chances of making an impact in the way that you want?  These ten mindsets are a great place to start.  Let’s dive in! 1. Love yourself  People aren’t only touched by what you do. They are moved by who you are and how you make them feel.  People respond to your energy and your vibe, which is why impact gets amplified by your level of self-love. There’s a correlation. The more you appreciate who you are, the less you’ll doubt your instincts - which means there’s an increased likelihood that you’ll follow through on your impact idea. So do what you can to cultivate self-trust. You’ll find it’s a lot easier to follow your heart with confidence when you’re sure you’re taking the right action.  There are plenty of ways to increase self-love.  Journaling is a great place to dive deep into the inner work and boost your self-awareness. A gratitude practice will inspire a positive mindset and switch on optimism. Have a play to see what methods work for you. 2. Expand your comfort zone Making an impact isn’t always easy. Chances are you’ll face your fears and take on new challenges. But that’s part of the magic of making your mark. In the process of inspiring others, you’ll also discover that you can do more than you ever imagined possible.  In the process, you realize you’re more influential than you thought previously.  So be brave and lean into courage.  Learn to find comfort inside the discomfort and enjoy discovering how powerful you are.  3. Go the extra mile The extra mile is ridiculously under crowded. Most people stop just before they reach the area where another step can make all the difference.  What could you do beyond the point where others stop trying or give up to make a difference?  4. Serve others  Any time you help someone out, you make an impact.  Whether you do a random act of kindness or volunteer for a charity, every act of service makes a difference in the world. Not only that, but every time you contribute, you feel good too!    5. Share your story Change starts with you.  Anytime you lead or reveal possibilities, there will be others who feel inspired by your actions and want to get involved too.   So lead the way. You never know who you’ll inspire when you choose to go first.  Share your stories, speak from your heart, and express your truth. Leverage your life experiences as examples to show others what’s possible.  It’s a beautiful way to make an impact.  6. Make a stand for the things you believe in Your voice has insane power. If you can articulate your beliefs and values in an empowered way, you can have a lot of influence - and even ignite change.  And don’t think a single voice can’t do much.  Just look at people like Greta Thunberg and Rosa Parks, and you can see the far-reaching impact that one individual can make.  Speak out and advocate for the causes you believe in.  Be the example and spark thought-provoking conversations that get others thinking. Who knows where your voice could lead.  7. Check your balance between creating and consuming We’re in the information age where information is virtually infinite.  There’s barely any room for boredom these days because entertainment and conversation are at our fingertips [literally]. There is a negative side to this entertainment on tap. If we’re not mindful, we can quickly lose ourselves in the internet abyss - emerging hours later wondering what we actually achieved.  If you spend all your time consuming, there’s less space and scope for your ideas.  So find the right balance.  Make room to get inspired with your own creativity. Get into writing, poetry, dance, painting, crafts - whatever gets you excited. Art touches people in beautiful ways. How could you impact others with your unique expression?  8. Give compliments As humans, we all long to be seen and heard for who we really are.  Don’t underestimate the impact that a well-timed, specific compliment can make on another individual. Compliments work because they show that you’ve noticed something valuable and beautiful in another person. They allow others to feel acknowledged and noticed.  • Tell your VA how much you value what they do for you.• Tell your child how great they are at hugging and smiling.• Tell your boss their leadership inspires you. Go the extra mile by being specific instead of vague. Specificity feels entirely different to receive.  9. Plan your impact It’s one thing to have an idea about how you’ll make an impact; it’s another to take action on your idea and turn a vision into reality.  Don’t leave things to chance.  Turn talk into action by figuring out the practical steps that will help you manifest your vision. Identify milestones, set deadlines, and build the habits needed to move the needle.  Magic really does happen when you see your ideas through from beginning to end. 10. Cultivate resilience  Progress can feel painfully slow at the beginning. You may even start to wonder if your effort is worth it at all. But just like a stationary car is hard to move initially, once you overcome the inertia the momentum builds.  So don’t give up!  Keep going, knowing the energy you’ve invested has to show up somewhere. And if things don’t work out as you hoped, don’t take it personally. Instead, get comfortable with setbacks and extract the lessons from your ‘failures’. This resilience will make you tougher and inspire you to weather any storm.  How are you making an impact in your life and your world?  I hope these ideas inspire you. 

Ever wondered why some people achieve all their goals while other people struggle to get out of the starting blocks? It’s frustrating to have big dreams only to see them fall by the wayside - especially when something inside you knows you can do it. So how can you make success ‘inevitable’? How can you make it more likely that you won’t fail? If you’re ready to smash your next goal and feel the high that comes from achieving something you craved, these three power principles will help you get there. Implement them into your life today and see how much further they take you. 1. Break your goal into bite-sized steps Overwhelm is one of the most significant goal killers. When the thing you want is way over there, and your starting point is way back here, it’s all too easy for the doubts to creep in. Big goals will stretch you, and they will push you out of your comfort zone. A big goal will require you to do things you’ve never done before, and this soon feeds your doubts. You wouldn’t climb Everest in one step. It’s the same with your goals. Instead, you have to identify the baby steps needed to take you across the finish line - then work on those instead. This power principle changes the game. Instead of feeling daunted by that mountain, put one foot in front of the other - every single day. Pretty soon, those baby steps compound into something significant and before you know it, you’ve arrived! What are the bite-sized steps towards your goal? For example: - Writing a book - write 500 words a day - Building a business - make three sales calls a day - Increasing your fitness - run once a day Your goals are more about the journey than they are about the final result. Figure out how to chip away at your target a little every day, and you’ll be surprised how much further and faster you move. 2. Foster a positive mindset The way you think about yourself en route to your goal will have an overwhelming impact on how far you can go. If you believe you can do it, you probably will. If you think you won’t, then that’s your likely result. Your mind is insanely powerful, and your thinking patterns are a crucial indicator of your success. When you’re working towards a stretching goal, your fears will come out with a vengeance. That is a given! Fear is your automatic response to perceived danger and a warning sign to keep you safe. In short, fear will do everything it can to keep you stuck in your status quo. If you want to make success inevitable, you have to cultivate a positive mindset. You need to foster the self-belief that knows you can overcome any setback and push through any hurdle. This transition will take work and commitment, but it’s doable. To help boost your positivity, try these three techniques: - Practice gratitude - when you’re thankful for all the things you already have, you realize how abundant you already are. This practice guides your mind in a positive direction and helps unlock the confidence you need to win. - Own your wins - train your mind to acknowledge when you’ve crushed it. Appreciate yourself for success and use the boost this gives you to propel yourself forward. - Affirmations - your mind is very suggestible. So if positivity is not yet your default, hack it with the help of affirmations. Look yourself in the mirror and repeat positive phrases daily until they become part of your inner dialogue and your belief system. 3. Prioritize what matters You say your goals are essential, but do you give them the time and attention they deserve? It’s all too easy to be busy, but not productive in today’s society. When you have a million and one things to juggle, it’s not unusual to start chasing your tail while burning the candle at both ends. Social media steals your time, notifications keep you from deep work, and distractions throw you off your train of thought. If you’re not careful, you’ll hit your pillow wondering what you achieved! If you want to move the needle on your life, invest more time doing the things that matter. You can do this by prioritizing your to-dos to ensure you’re focused on activities that make the most impact. When goals get the leftovers, you’ll always fall short, but give game-changing tasks the time they deserve and watch how this shift propels you forward. Daily time planning is a powerful principle that helps you get the most important things done. - First, decide your priorities - what are the three tasks that will move the needle the furthest? - Next, schedule these activities into your day. Give them a fixed time window and the space you need to do them correctly. Make success inevitable with the Self Journal It’s easy to get yourself into habits that don’t serve the bigger picture. It’s easy to fall into poor routines that slow us down instead of helping us move at pace. It’s why you need a Self Journal! This 13-week Goal Planner helps to make your success inevitable. Use it to break your goal into bite-sized chunks, then plan to close the gap every single day. Your Self Journal also helps foster positivity with its gratitude and reflection practices. And with productivity-sparking daily pages designed to move the needle at pace, you’ll soon be working smarter [not harder]. Get ready to uncovering plenty of quality time to do work that makes big dents. Don’t leave your goals to chance. Instead, plan to make them happen with the tool, thousands of others use to practice the three power principles that make success inevitable. Now it’s your turn.  

For many of us, change is a paradox. We want it, but also we don’t!  On the one hand, we resist change because it’s so uncomfortable! Change requires us to get out of our comfort zone and do something different. But sometimes, change is non-negotiable - especially when you reach a point in your life where the status quo no longer satisfies. Whether it’s your health, your finances, your career, your relationships - even external circumstances - you feel called to do something different.  This creates a tipping point.  When the pain of things staying as they are exceeds the pain of creating something different, change happens.  But did you know that you can impact the pace at which change happens with the conversations you have? Keep reading to discover FOUR proven techniques that will help you spark conversations for change in all areas of your life.  Start with yourself  The most important conversations you have are the ones you conduct with yourself - and this takes a commitment to inner work.  Studies say that around 95% of the brain’s activity is subconscious. In short, our default thinking and responses happen on autopilot in reaction to our ingrained habits and belief systems.  If you’re unaware of your instinctive behaviors and thoughts, it’s harder to know who you are and what you want.  Journaling can help you discover the truth of who you are. Through the safety and privacy of your journal, you can: • Explore your thoughts and feelings• Challenge your preconceptions and work through your blocks and triggers • Get clearer on what you really want and what you stand for In turn, when you do have important conversations, you can come at them from a place of self-awareness. You’ll have more confidence too because you’ll be able to express your thoughts and feelings to other people with more clarity and conviction.  And that certainty can help inspire other people to believe in the change you want to see.   Active listening Most people listen to speak, NOT to understand.  There’s a big difference.  If you only listen to speak, you’ll miss out on the nuances of the conversation. You’ll overlook important body language clues and facial expressions too - all of which could give you a more in-depth insight into how the other person is thinking and feeling.  In the absence of active listening, you also subconsciously communicate to the other person that you’re not overly interested in what they have to say - which could cause them to shut down and hold back.  Active listening can open doors because it makes people feel seen and heard. You practice active listening when you concentrate fully on the other person. You make eye contact, ask clarifying conversations to ensure you understand, reflect what you hear, and avoid getting distracted.  Master active listening, and you’ll create space where the conversations that matter can really go somewhere.  Deep conversation How often do we settle for surface-level chitchat when talking with another person?  It’s tempting to stick with those comfortable, easy topics that don’t push any buttons, but it’s not necessarily the right thing to do.  As people, we are deep.  Each of us is a rich plethora of experiences, insights, and passions - and meaningful, purposeful conversations allow us to get to know each other better.  In-depth conversations are a great way to uncover someone else’s objections and fears. Digging below the surface can help you better understand someone else’s motivations and behaviors too.  And all this knowledge will empower you to spark conversations that matter.  So take a risk!  Ask questions that dig below the surface - and see how much more connected you feel as a result.  Be willing to be vulnerable Conversations can feel exposing - especially when we’re sharing something controversial or talking about topics and issues that feel uncomfortable.  As social beings, we have an inherent need to feel included. This is why the fear of rejection, judgement, and criticism can cause us to hold back from what our heart wants to say.  Conversions for change DO take courage.  You have to be willing to be vulnerable and step out of your comfort zone. You’ll want to speak your truth - even if it feels confronting.  So let your guard down. Take a chance [this becomes easier once you’ve done the inner work outlined in point #1]. Speak your truth and share from your heart.  Allow your emotions to infuse your words and be real. As Maya Angelou said, “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”  As well as recruiting support for your vision, conversations are an incredible way to resolve issues, get clarity, and identify your best next steps.  In this way, conversations have the power to change who we are, what we think, what we do, and what other people do.  So let’s get talking 💕 Let’s talk - even when it feels uncomfortable.  Let’s share - even when it makes you feel scared.  Let’s go deeper - even though it’s vulnerable.  Because when we talk, empathy and compassion increases.  Understanding rises.  And positive change can emerge. Discover Conversation Tools    

Being goal-driven and results-oriented are great traits to have, but there’s a catch: the bigger your goals, the better you need to be at managing your stress and taking care of yourself. Being able to switch gears from work mode to leisure time is a critical skill, and mastering it is essential to both your productivity and peace of mind. Having tried-and-true relaxation techniques that you stick to consistently is the easiest way to achieve this.Ridiculously successful people like Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and Dave Rubin juggle way more things than even I do; I guarantee that they are masters, not only of their respective trades but of effective downtime. What are their secrets? You may be surprised to hear that learning to relax effectively is much more about your ideas than drinking tea or taking a bath. Your beliefs about the roles of work and rest in your life ultimately dictate how you will react to each concept. Once you’ve clarified your own understanding of what work and rest actually mean, specific relaxation techniques will be much more effective. Check Your Premises: What is Work? Work is not merely what you do to get money in order to finance other stuff you’d rather be doing. In order to be truly successful and happy, you must love your work, and there’s no way around this fact. Since a flourishing life is composed of many distinct but integrated aspects, your work must be enjoyable to you, and it must balance and complement your downtime. Successful, integrated people work long hours because they love their productive endeavors, but they also don’t neglect their hobbies, or have occasional afternoons spent doing nothing but napping on the couch. Shifting your focus from work to rest doesn’t mean you don’t take your work seriously - quite the contrary; taking regular “me time” demonstrates that you want to be refreshed and ready to bring your absolute best to your work, each and every day. You'll see that by implementing these relaxation techniques, you'll actually become more productive, not less. 5 Relaxation Techniques to Wind Down Effectively Relaxation Technique 1: Take a moment to be present Your work and your personal life should complement and enrich one another; both should be more or less equally enjoyable and refreshing to you, in different respects. You work in order to gain self-esteem and independence, trade value for value, and to live well.Living well means succeeding, creating win-win relationships, and being psychologically healthy in all areas of your life. What do these things look like in the specific context of your life, and how might that standard affect the way you work?When in doubt, zoom out; remember that work is one (very important) part of your life, not the totality. A great worker regularly takes time off, which in turn recharges them for the next superbly productive work day. Always keep this integrated, comprehensive standard in mind when thinking about work and relaxation.Living well includes taking moments out of your day regularly to appreciate all that you’ve achieved. Taking these moments can help you stay grounded, check your priorities, and remember that, even in the worst times, the good (almost certainly) outweighs the bad. Setting alarms on your phone throughout the day or using triggers, such as the Breathe Band, are a great way to remind you to take these moments to step back. Relaxation Technique 2: Set firm (but flexible) rules An eight-hour workday isn’t quite yet an artifact of the past, but it’s getting there for many people. If you have to work ten or twelve hour days to stay on top of your tasks, you probably have too many of them. Most people react to an increased workload by buckling down and putting in extra hours to get it all done, but rarely stop to reevaluate their priorities. A good chunk of your work may be tasks that can be delegated to others or tasks that aren’t even necessary at all. Periodically check that you’re devoting most of your effort to the true essentials of your work and planning accordingly.Commit to being truly done for the day after a certain time, and stick to it. You can work late if you must - for major clients or projects only - but don’t make exceptions more than 10% of the time, and take your own rules seriously.Make sure you:- Communicate with your boss, clients, and coworkers. Ensure that they know when you’re on the clock and when you aren’t - Consistently incentivize yourself with (small and reasonable) rewards for not working overtime - Accept fewer new tasks if you regularly find yourself unable to finish by clock-out time - Are open to asking for help or delegating things you don’t necessarily need to do yourself. Relaxation Technique 3: Eat well I’m sure you already know that it’s important to have a healthy diet; I want to challenge your understanding of what a healthy diet actually is. The vast majority of people don’t eat as well as they could. It shows, in their mood and sometimes in the quality of their work. Maintaining a high energy level throughout the day that winds down near bedtime is crucial to both productivity and relaxation.Properly understood, eating for productivity and for relaxation are the same thing. If you’ve never heard of Mark’s Daily Apple, it’s full of fantastically useful advice about diet and exercise. If you’re more of a listener than a reader, this episode of the STEM podcast has a lot to say about why conventional dietary wisdom is anything but wise.A diet high in carbs, sugar, or caffeine wreaks havoc on your energy level, making it spike and dip chaotically throughout the day. A carb-rich dinner may make it difficult to relax before bed, and even harder to get going the following morning, once all that short-acting glucose has been used up. That's why eating properly is such a critical relaxation technique - it keeps everything else in your life in balance.It takes several weeks of consistent changes to the way you probably eat now, but retraining your body to use fat as its primary energy source (as opposed to carbs) has myriad benefits, including a more stable energy level. You’ll feel more awake while working and find it easier to relax and fall asleep at the end of the day, several hours after your last meal. Relaxation Technique 4: Unplug & recharge Technology is great for productivity, but sometimes not so great for R&R. Most screens and light bulbs emit light of a similar intensity to daylight; this kind of light tells your brain that it’s time to be active and moving around.A couple relaxation techniques when it comes to technology: Put away your electronics at least an hour before bedtime (although two or three would be better). Use an app like f.lux to dim your screen and make its light less harsh as you’re ending your workday. Turn off most of the lights in your house after dinner, or replace them with much softer amber bulbs. Candles are also acceptable, especially if they smell nice. Try not to do anything too physiologically or psychologically stimulating in the few hours before bed. Instead, read (a paper book) or talk to a friend on the phone. The idea is to inform your body and brain that you intend to be asleep soon. Relaxation is more of a mental process than a physical one, but that doesn’t mean there is no physical component. Work on shifting your mindset to one of relaxation first, but be sure to follow up by being gentle to your body, too. (This is where tea and bubble baths might help.) Relaxation Technique 5: Get the next day ready Many hard-working people start to get stressed out in the evening as they think about all the stuff they have to do in the morning which hurts your ability to sleep well. Nip this habit in the bud and plan ahead in order to make your morning as easy as possible. You can do this easily and efficiently by employing two simple strategies. End Each Day by Planning for the Next One Set aside 30 minutes at the end of each work day to plan for tomorrow. If you can do it now instead of first thing in the morning, then do it!Pack your lunch, feed the cat, and put your freshly repacked bag of stuff in the car. The less you have to remember tomorrow morning, the more readily you can relax tonight.Master Your Morning RoutineHave a plan for the first hours of each day and take your time; you’ll find it much easier to relax at night knowing that the next morning is already squared away. Begin each day deliberately, slowly, and with purpose, even (especially) in the little details.- Ditch the cereal and muffins for breakfast, and give yourself a full hour to cook some steak and eggs, a veggie omelette, or even just heat up last night’s (protein and fat-rich) leftovers. Throw some butter in your coffee - it’s not as insane as it sounds. - While cooking (and eating) your delicious and healthy breakfast, watch an episode of your favorite TV show, read a chapter of a book, or just spend some time with your pets on the patio. Ease into the day with something you love, instead of a series of tasks you need to check off. - Get ready at a measured, relaxed pace. Running around trying to eat and shower in 15 minutes is already stressing you out first thing in the morning. Stop it! Tools & Takeaways There are any number of gadgets and strategies you might use to keep your new relaxation techniques on track; here are a few that I recommend.- Physical triggers, like the Breathe Band, are a great way of regularly checking in with yourself to be present, stay grounded & take a step back. - Set a “done for the day” alarm on your phone, and obey it! - A flexible calendar or to-do list - that is, one that doesn’t micromanage you or restrict you to time slots that aren’t easy to change. - The Self Journal is, of course, designed to keep you flexible but on task. - If you prefer a digital solution, Cozi’s to-do lists can be easily rearranged as your priorities shift. - Consider setting aside one or two days of the week, every week, where you don’t work at all. Having regular long breaks to look forward to is a great way to avoid burnout. Every time I wonder if something can really wait until Monday, it turns out that it totally can. - Schedule a weekly fun event with friends or family - a board game night, dinner at your favorite restaurant, or a round of golf. Making a commitment to yourself to relax is a great starting point; making such a commitment to other people reduces the temptation to flake on your own downtime. Think long-range and big picture. Success and prosperity are not defined by however you feel right this moment; each day of your life does not exist in a vacuum. The fact that something feels good doesn’t mean it’s actually good for you (so stop browsing Facebook in bed!). Using even just one of the relaxation techniques in this article will help you sustain your peak performance for longer. Always remember why you work to begin with: to master your goals and live the best life possible. Adding these relaxation techniques to your evening routine will have a surprisingly big impact on how you feel, function, and live.So how about it? What little (or big things) do you find yourself doing that make it hard to relax?

How would life change if you DID achieve that goal you can’t stop thinking about? No more talk or procrastination, disappointment or regret. Just an epic win to celebrate. Imagine how success would boost your confidence and unlock fresh opportunities. Imagine how you’ll feel knowing you do have what it takes to be successful. That’s the thing with goals. There’s more at stake than the outcome alone. It’s who you become because of your win. And while science says 92% of people WILL fail, you CAN enjoy the level of success you admire in others - even if past experience says otherwise. Remember, your past doesn’t have to equal your future. The people you admire aren’t smarter or more motivated than you. Instead, they make failure impossible by getting the support, which makes success inevitable. This is the power of embedding the right accountability structures in your life. When you’re held accountable to your commitments and your goals, there’s less wriggle room. In turn, this means there’s less chance of falling short or giving up too soon. What’s more, accountability can also help you tackle some of the challenges that get in the way of you achieving the things you want. How accountability works 1. Lack of confidence Thinking big with a desire to achieve more is always going to stretch you. You’re going to have to thrive in discomfort and take on things you’re not sure how to do [even wonder if you can actually do them.] Accountability offers that gentle nudge to step up and do it anyway. Sure, you may not win every time but the more times you put courage over comfort, the more you strengthen that muscle. The more your confidence grows, the more you can try, explore, and ultimately achieve. 2. You lose sight of your goal Life is full of distractions and temptations. You may be crystal clear on your goal one day, then find yourself chasing different priorities the next. Accountability can help keep you laser focused on the choices, tasks, and commitments that move the needle in the right direction. It’s like an airline pilot charting their course. The longer you stray off your path the harder it is to get back on track. Accountability offers those checks that encourage you to question your rationale for exploring distractions. 3. You panic, get overwhelmed, and risk giving up too soon Totally stuck? Losing the plot? Can’t see the wood through the trees? Life happens and it does throw stuff into the court that can send you into a tailspin. Accountability can help you take stock before you throw in the towel. With accountability, you can regroup and get a fresh perspective on your situation - then keep moving. When you have support to cut through the overwhelm and replace clarity with chaos, you move the needle towards your goals. 4. You have so much to do, you don’t know where to focus Struggling to focus on your goals because your to-do list keeps piling up? When the pressure is on, it’s tempting to switch to fire-fighting mode and tackle the tasks that shout the loudest. Accountability inspires you to not lose sight of your priorities. It keeps you laser focused on what’s most important and helps you manage your time and your calendar to make the most important stuff happen. When you know where to focus, it’s harder to waste time and bandwidth on tasks that don’t move the needle. In turn, success is easier to create. 5. You need a boost Let’s be honest, we all have good days and bad! The path to your best self never runs smooth. Instead, there are ups and downs. Loneliness and isolation can be big goal killers - especially if the people around you don’t entirely ‘get’ what you’re doing. Accountability can offer that motivational support when you need a boost. It can remind you of the bigger picture and spark the knowing that you really have got this. 6. You don’t do the work! It’s easy to brush things under the carpet and pretend they didn’t happen when nobody's watching. It’s easy to drop the ball, let deadlines slip, and settle for less when you’re in it by yourself. Accountability doesn’t give you that luxury! Instead, it ensures you can’t fall off your game quite so easily. When you feel called to show up because you’re being held to account, you can go further - faster. How to stay accountable Your planner is a powerful tool that can help you stay accountable to yourself. Take the Self Journal. This planner contains a proven structure that can help you 4x your annual output and even achieve more in 13-weeks than you usually achieve in a year. The Self Journal keeps you accountable by guiding you to leverage your time - ensuring your minutes are allocated to the tasks and goals that serve you most. You can also use this tool to identify your priorities and ensure you’re always working on the most important things. You can record your wins to give yourself a motivational boost and also reflect on your performance making it easier to keep the needle moving. It’s easier to show up as your best self when you have accountability structures in place to support you. For that goal you absolutely want to achieve, accountability is here to give you the extra nudge to cross the finish line.

With 2023 open, there’s a blank canvas in front of you. The question is, what will you paint onto it? What adventures will you have? What goals will you achieve? What memories will you make? What people will you meet?  A new year gives us the chance to be intentional with our next steps.  We get to try on new beliefs and routines. We get to play with new ways of being and inspired ways of living.  We get to create life anew inside the context of the desires we hold for our lives.  These nine tips and practices will inspire you to create your best year yet.  1. Reflect on 2022 You can’t move forward until you’ve first looked back to see how far you’ve come. That’s what reflection is all about. It’s developing the self-awareness that helps you consolidate everything you’ve done and learned in the past 12 months. If you jump straight into next-step planning, you’ll miss out on all the insights and knowledge the past 12 months have gifted you. In turn, you’re more likely to make needless mistakes, move forward slowly, and even make the wrong decisions. Reflection is a skill promoted and practiced by some of the world’s top performers and athletes. They know it ensures you learn from your mistakes and make better choices and decisions in the future. Discover how to reflect on 2023 with this downloadable workbook.  2. DON’T set New Year’s resolutions!  If you do nothing else after reading this article, this is the tip to pick!  According to science, 92% of people never achieve their New Year’s Resolutions. The problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that they're too vague. For example, I want to lose weight, I want to start a business, or I want to write a book.  These resolutions don’t hold you to account for your results because there’s no deadline and no specificity. If you lack clarity, it’s all too easy to stay in the status quo. After all, we’re creatures of habit and given a chance we’ll revert to what we know [and where we feel comfortable].  So this year, set SMART goals instead of New Year’s resolutions. It’s the most effective way to set yourself up for success. Your Self Journal can help you with this.  3. Create a vision With a vision, you have an overarching context that you can live into. When you know who you want to be (as well as what you desire to have and do), it’s easier to step fully into your best self.  Use visioning to jump into the future and get a sense of what you want to create. When you know your destination, you can work backwards to figure out your next steps.  20/20 vision is a powerful tool for creating your best year yet. Spend some time crafting yours with the 20/20 Vision Workbook.  4. Plan your time It’s risky business to leave your New Year plans to chance. Despite your best intentions, when your time feels short and other priorities demand your attention, it’s all too easy to procrastinate on your goals.  A planner will help you manage your time and your priorities. In turn, you move the needle consistently on what matters most.  Use your planner to map out your day with the same diligence and detail that you budget your money.  Schedule tasks in the same way you would appointments - to ensure you optimize the time it takes to do everything on your to-do list.  When time feels as if it’s on your side, it’s easier to work smarter [not harder], so you can accomplish more.   5. Discover your Core Values.  What’s most important to you? Define your core values, and you’ll activate an inner compass that empowers you to head in the direction that’s most aligned to your best self.  One of the easiest ways to define your core values is through the intuitive process of sifting through words and picking those that resonate most with you.  You can do this with the help of the Core Values Deck. With your values defined, feel into what each value means for you (because we all have a personal take). Finally, infuse your values into your day intentionally. In turn, you’ll feel empowered to live a life in alignment.  6. Aim for work-life harmony It’s tempting to put all your time and energy into one specific goal.  But true happiness comes from feeling fulfilled in all areas of your life. Work-life harmony means success in your relationships, your finances, your health, and your hobbies - as well as your career/business.  When your work gets the best of you, it’s easy to let other areas slip.  But you can push back against this trend through daily 10-minute practices. For example:  • Schedule a regular walk/run/yoga class• Commit to a 10-minute meditation [Headspace has a free course to get you started]• Make time for an in-depth conversation with your partner or your children with the help of the Intimacy and Little Talk Decks, respectively. • Increase your knowledge and skills by reading or listening to podcasts • Small daily actions soon compound into something meaningful.    7. Create a Live List We all have a list of things we’d love to do at some point in our lives. But how many of those items have you planned to do?  At some point, there won’t be ‘time’, or you won’t have the energy or health.  Don’t leave things to chance. Instead, create your live list and set the intention to experience some of them in 2023: • Figure out the budget needed to pay for them. • Schedule time on your calendar.  • Decide what preparation is necessary and plan it. Imagine how you’ll feel this time next year, knowing you achieved some life dreams.  Best of all, with these checked off, as well as a host of incredible memories, you’ll also create space to add new experiences and adventures to your bucket list.  [Need the inspiration to add to your Live List? We’ve got you covered with these 103 ideas.]  8. Use self-reflection to hold yourself accountable Life is unpredictable! You never quite know what’s around the corner. Your best-laid plans can face disruption - even if you write them into your planner.  Self-reflection is a powerful practice that can help you differentiate between the things you can’t control and the things you can. By reflecting on your daily performance and approach, you can see where you’ve been procrastinating vs fire-fighting.  Your best self requires you to stay committed to your path - and that’s not always easy. Doubts will creep in, and leaving your comfort zone can send you into a tailspin.  When you hold yourself to account through your reflection practice, it’s easier to differentiate between excuses and reality. You’ll discover plenty of reflection questions in the Writing Your Best Self podcast.  9. Write down your wins Your big-thinking goals will push you out of your comfort zone. There’s no doubt about that. Things can get hairy when you’re thriving in discomfort. Doubts and fears can hold you back and make you question yourself. Before you know it, you’ve become stagnant!  The good news is there’s a super simple way you can inspire yourself to keep moving - even when you don’t want to, and even when the path ahead feels too hard.  Make it a habit to write down your wins every day - no matter how small. You can use the Win The Day pads to help with this.  Over time, you’ll create a catalogue of successes, which you can refer back to anytime self-doubt creeps in. When you have proof that you've done it before, you’ll find it easier to believe that you can step up again.  Ready to make 2023 an incredible year?  With the help of these seven tips and techniques to kick-start your plans, you can mastermind your best year yet. You’ve got this!