What Does It Mean To Be Your Best Self?  Congratulations! You’ve decided you want to be your best self… Now what! What does it actually mean to be your best self? How will you know you’re moving in the right direction? How do you know if something really is your best?  Good news, we’re going to answer these common questions [and more] in this article.  But first things first… As far as your ‘best self’ goes, there is no one-size-fits-all definition. Instead, the description is entirely personal. Your best self will never be the same as someone else’s - so resist the temptation to go down the comparison route. That never feels good! Instead, remember that we’re all different. We all have different talents, skills, challenges, and journeys. So when it comes to defining your best self, know that you get to choose what that means for yourself.  Better still, your definition doesn’t need to be fixed in stone. Instead, it will almost certainly change over time. As you achieve goals, check through your bucket list, and revise your ambitions, you’ll uncover more and more about who you really are.  And as a result, your best self definition will expand.  I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about being human. We’re never really ‘done’. There’s always more we could do and explore. In short, our comfort zones can expand infinitely, which makes your best self a journey, NOT a destination. That’s right; there’s nowhere specific you need to reach because your best self is a state of BEING.  That said, there are ‘best self’ indicators that can help you feel confident you’re moving in the right direction. Let’s explore some of these now… Taking full ownership for your life It’s harder to be your best self when someone else is calling the shots. When you’re holding the reins, you’re empowered to make the choices and decisions that ensure your best self thrives.  Knowing you’ve given things your best shot Your best self isn’t about winning all of the time. That simply isn’t how life works. If you’re exploring the edges of your comfort zone, it’s almost inevitable that some things won’t work out the way you planned. But that doesn’t matter. You can still be your best self - even during chaos and failure - if you’re doing the best you can with the resources you have.  If you’re proud of your efforts and the way you showed up, that’s you being your best.  Moving forward with your life   As individuals, we have the opportunity to grow constantly. Every day presents earning opportunities that inspire us to make new distinctions about ourselves and the world.  Your best self wants to extract what it can from these experiences. That way, you can go to bed knowing you’re a little bit better than you were yesterday as a result of living another day.  Committed to the right habits What’s more important than the big showcase sprints, is your daily actions. How are you cultivating energy and enthusiasm to be your best self - no matter what? How are you taking care of your health and your wellbeing? How are you nurturing your creativity and excitement?  If your chosen habits bring out your best, that’s a sure-fire sign your best self is thriving.  Feeling good about who you are Are you able to pat yourself on the back, or do you rely on other people to do that for you? Self-love is a catalyst for so much. When you appreciate and love the person you are, you show up in the world in a different way entirely than someone who doesn’t feel worthy or good enough.  That’s why becoming your best self involves learning to love yourself too.  Investing in yourself Your best self is infinitely curious to know what else is possible. You can nurture this desire by investing in tools, courses, relationships, books, education, communities, and mentors etc. that inspire you to keep learning, sharpen your skills, and explore your passions. Knowledge is a key that throws open the door to new possibilities - and that potential excites your best self immensely.  Your own your strengths and talents There are things you can do better than anyone else you know. Your best self owns and appreciates these attributes instead of playing them down - because they help you show up more skillfully and impactfully in the world.  Recognize your limits Your best self knows you can’t do everything by yourself. They’re not afraid to ask for help or seek support because they know this can be a catalyst to get to the next step.  Living with integrity Your best self does the things they say they’re going to do - even if no one is watching.  This level of commitment to your promises helps fuel unstoppable self-confidence because you know you can rely on yourself to do what’s necessary.  Be kind to yourself Your best self learns quickly from mistakes - and while no one likes to get things wrong, your best self doesn’t use failure as an opportunity to be hard on itself. A little bit of kindness goes a long way - and this inspires the confidence that it’s OK to take bigger risks.  High energy When you feel physically tired and mentally drained, it’s hard to think straight and act with conviction. That’s why your best self does what it can to create and conserve energy, so you don’t get burnt out.  Time for you While you love being of service to others, your best self knows that it needs self-care time to rest, repair, and replenish too. Your best self doesn’t feel guilty for taking time out or for doing things that are just for you. Instead, your best self protects this time. It’s non-negotiable because it makes it easier for you to be your best.  Feeling good about how you spend your time Time is your most valuable, non-renewable resource. Once spent, you can't get those minutes back. Your best self respects the time and is purposeful about where minutes go. This diligence fuels a higher level of happiness and satisfaction in your life.    A life well-lived Your best self turns your bucket list and life goals into real-life experiences. You get the important things done and in turn create your best life.  Stretch goals You don’t settle for mediocrity or the status quo. Instead, your best self sets challenging goals, which excite and inspire you to step up. More importantly, your best self knows that if you can think it, you can also achieve it, so they don’t get stopped or bogged down in doubt.  Creates work-life harmony  Work is important to your best self, but it’s not everything. Instead, your best self consciously invests time and energy into all life areas because they’re looking for all-round fulfillment - not a one-dimensional life.  Being your best for others Life is better when you're around people we love - and who love us for who we are. When you're at your best, you consciously connect with the right people. You cultivate the deep connections and conversations that leave you feeling loved, seen, and heard by others for who you are.  You have time for the things you love You don't delay things you enjoy for another time. Instead, you proactively make time for your passions, hobbies, and interest on your schedule.  Be your best self The idea of unlocking your best self is a commitment that can take a lifetime [if you choose]. It’s a journey that brings you closer to yourself every single day and empowers you to think bigger and achieve more while you enjoy today.  Your best self can be anything you can imagine.  So go fun on this journey and make it your own. And remember you’re not alone, we’re here to help you wherever we can.

2021 has arrived, and the new year is the perfect excuse to reevaluate your life and set goals, especially when it comes to your finances. In fact, a 2020 survey on new year’s resolutions showed that out of Americans’ 2020 resolutions, 49% wanted to save more money and 30% wanted to stick to a budget. That said, it’s time to make your finances a priority. If you want to save money, rethink your spending habits, and take charge of your money in the new year, read on to find out what you can do to achieve your financial goals.   1) Cut back monthly bills Between your wireless, phone, and streaming services, the amount of monthly expenses can become overwhelming. Factor in rent, car payments, or a mortgage, and it becomes even more important to reassess which of your bills you could live without. Eliminate expenses you don’t need or substitute with cheaper alternatives. If there aren’t any services you can part with, reduce monthly bills by eating in and cooking meals in bulk so you spend less on dining out. Find a cheaper gym or work out at home. Use less electricity. Utilize refurbished or recycled materials whenever you can. Take a look around and decide what lifestyle changes you can make to save money this year. 2) Look into refinancing Another way to cut back on your monthly expenses is to lower or refinance the loans you currently have. You can do so with your student loans or with your mortgage, depending on your situation. With refinancing, your current loan is paid off and replaced with a new one with different terms, oftentimes lowering your monthly payment. While refinancing sounds like a great idea, it is not ideal for everyone. Refinancing a mortgage in particular comes with many associated costs like appraisal fees, taxes, and insurance payments. So, it’s important that you learn what really goes into refinancing to see if your bank account and your lifestyle can support this venture. 3) Put more into your retirement fund This is an example of something you can do in the present that will benefit you greatly in the future. Contributing a certain percentage of your monthly salary into your company’s 401k program will help you earn essentially free money, so if you haven’t started yet, this is an opportunity worth pursuing. Put a comfortable percentage of your salary into your retirement fund– start by contributing up to 10%, depending on your other commitments. The fewer financial obligations you have, the higher the percentage should be. However, any amount can give you a comfortable lifestyle in your later years and will make the decades of hard work worth it. Many employers will match a certain portion and allow several different types of investments. Talk to your employer to find out what you can do to take advantage of your 401k. 4) Develop your professional skills While this might not be the first thing to come to mind when talking about ways to take charge of your finances, it is perhaps one of the most impactful. While a lot of monthly expenses are unavoidable, improving your talents at work is well within your control, allowing you to take the reins on your own professional and financial future. Take the initiative to further your own career by taking on extra projects, voicing new ideas, and learning from your peers. Stand out amongst your coworkers and find out what you can do to put yourself first in line for professional advancement. Gaining more knowledge, skills, and experience helps you become more eligible for promotions, and in turn, raises– which means more money in your wallet at the end of the day. Take control of your life in the new year by taking charge of your money. Acquire better spending and saving habits, and learn new ways to be financially savvy in 2021! Disclaimer! This blog does not constitute financial advice. Always check in with a financial advisor or coach to get advice tailored to you.

Have you noticed how willpower can only take you so far towards your goals? The reality is that grit and persistence alone isn’t the answer to crushed goals. Once you’ve confirmed the best strategy and approach, it’s your mindset that matters.  In the words of Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right?”  And positivity is the essence that fuels the ‘can’.  So how can you cultivate a positive mindset? How can you inspire yourself to see a glass half-full?  One of the easiest ways is to practice gratitude. Let me explain why… Why does gratitude fuel positivity?  Gratitude is the simple act of highlighting and acknowledging the things that you appreciate in your life. When you notice the things that make you feel good, your mood lifts instantly.  In turn, you feel more capable and more optimistic and this, in turn, influences how you tackle challenges and address problems. You’re able to do more with less, get up when you’re knocked down, and believe in yourself enough to step out of your comfort zone and do the work!  How to practice gratitude “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” —Albert Einstein Make gratitude non-negotiable.  If you want to leverage the full life-changing benefits of gratitude, you need to practice every day. Build a habit and make gratitude a part of your identity.   The easiest way to achieve this is to weave gratitude into your daily routine. For example, you could practice:  • Before you plan out your day• While you’re eating breakfast• After your meditation etc.  The trick is to tag gratitude onto something you already do daily [this is called habit stacking]. With an existing habit providing an anchor and a reminder, you’re more likely to practice daily.  Hack it!  As with any new habit, it can take time for gratitude to become an autopilot action. In the meantime, track your progress with the help of a habit tracker. As the days clock up, your habit will become stronger and stronger - until it feels too painful to break.  Write it down  While you can express your gratitude out loud or in your head, you’ll engage with the experience more deeply if you write it down. In addition, you’ll create a log of your gratitude, which you’ll enjoy reflecting over in the future.  Dedicate a specific journal to record your gratitude. If you’re a Self Journal or Self Planner user, you can use your daily pages or freedom pages respectively for this purpose.  Vary what you acknowledge Lots of people start their gratitude practice well, then run into a wall! When you’ve listed out all the obvious things, you can find yourself wondering what to write down next! This is a problem because if you’re simply running through the motions, you’re not getting full value from your gratitude practice.  Fortunately, there’s an easy solution to this common problem!  Simply lower the bar. As Robert Brault reminds us, “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.”  It’s easy to get caught up in the myth that only the big things matter - but that’s simply not true. Instead, use gratitude as an opportunity to become more observant. Gratitude isn’t about acknowledging the big things alone - such as your health or your family alone. It’s also about appreciating the small details of everyday life - such as the song that moves you to tears, the feel of the sun on your face, or the awe-inspiring beauty of a magnificent sunset.  The more you take notice of the minute detail, the more you’ll find you have to be thankful for. Then see how you feel as a result.  Be specific Your gratitude practice is a brilliant opportunity to magnify and understand at a deeper level why you appreciate certain things. So get specific.  • You’re not grateful for your partner... you’re grateful because they took care of an errand they know you hate to do. • You’re not grateful for the gift… you’re grateful because the gift demonstrated that the giver really knows you.  Feel it.  It’s one thing to write down that you’re grateful for the sunrise, the stranger who help open the door, or the perfect cup of joe made for you by your best friend.  It’s quite another to fully acknowledge how those experiences made you feel.  So as you write, allow the emotions to flood through you. Feel the love. Feel the generosity. Feel the joy or the bliss or the elation.  Let gratitude become a gateway to a rich spectrum of feel-good emotions - and unleash positivity as a result.  Practice - even on a bad day [in fact, especially on a bad day]  It’s easy to practice gratitude when life is going great. It’s a lot harder when you’re feeling down, after you’ve made a mistake, or if life has dealt you a curveball.  Don’t underestimate the temptation to throw it all in when the bottom falls out of your life. This is THE most important time to lean into your habit and somehow find the silver lining - however small.  When you can rely on your gratitude practice to unlock positivity - even when life sucks, you’ll equip yourself with a feel-good switch that you can choose to turn on.  Variations for practising gratitude Start a gratitude jar Make gratitude a family affair. Allocate a jar and fill it with gratitude notes to each other. Read through them together once a month or even once a year. It’s a great way to share the love and create a shared experience.  Share your gratitude Don’t keep everything to yourself! Tell your loved ones why you appreciate them. Again, be specific.  The magic number Three Musketeers, Three Little Pigs, three primary colors… Good things come in 3s! Apply this rule to your gratitude practice by writing down three things you feel grateful for each day.    The 1 + 3 practice Write down one thing you feel grateful for and three reasons why. This is a powerful, but simple way to add depth to your practice. Bookends Start your day with three things you’re grateful to have in your life. End your day with three things you’re grateful to have experienced in the day.  Ready to commit to your gratitude practice?  “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” —Zig Ziglar An attitude of gratitude will make a significant difference to the way you feel, act, and achieve. To help you broaden your gratitude practice, download the PDF - and start practising today!      

Who doesn’t love a brand new notebook? All those blank pages hold so much possibility, but how best to use them to get meaningful results for your life? The truth is, your notebooks can become far more than a collection of random scribbles. Pick any of the 20 ideas on this powerful list and you’ll turn your habit for note-taking into a practice that unlocks your potential, unleashes creativity, and helps you become your best self. Here’s how... 1. Capture ideas Jim Rohn said, “Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea.” The problem is ideas aren’t predictable. They may not flow when you want them to. Instead, they appear when you least expect them and if you don’t capture immediately, you risk losing the best ones forever.   A notebook solves this problem by keeping your ideas safe. Carry one wherever you go and you’ll always have somewhere to capture those insights. There are other benefits too. Carrying a notebook tells your subconscious you expect ideas to come, so more flow. Also, get those aha moments onto paper and not only will they be ready to pick up later, but you’ll take your ideas a step closer to reality. 2. Create an external brain As a high-achiever, your head is full of ideas, to-dos, and project tasks all wrapped up in a million other thoughts. With so much going on, there’s not a lot of bandwidth to crack on with the ‘real’ work! You can cut through this mental clutter by emptying your head onto paper. Fill your notebook all the things you’ve got to remember, and all the filler thoughts that take over your head. With a notebook serving as an external brain, you’ll free up capacity to crack on and get more done in less time. 3. Journalling Your inner thoughts are a vast source of inspiration, clarity, and ideas. Most of the time this gold remains untapped because it’s not turned into tangible thoughts on the page. You’ll unlock a treasure trove when you start journaling about your thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a notebook. You’ll discover things about yourself you didn’t know. You’ll process your way out of challenges, write your way through roadblocks, and think yourself the confidence needed to take big decisions. With everything written down, you’ll also have a reference point to refer back to as your personal journey progresses. Dip into an old journal and you’ll turn back time. It’s a gift to see for yourself how far you’ve really come. 4. Write your master to-do list With the amount on your plate, you can’t manage it all in your head. That simply leads to overwhelm and anxiety because you won’t be able to remember everything and function at your peak. Instead, write your master to-do list in a notebook. That’s a complete list of EVERYTHING you have to take care of. From work tasks to appointments, to banking - even birthday cards. If it’s out of your head and on the page, you won’t waste bandwidth remembering. This cuts the anxiety of worrying about what you’ve forgotten and boosts productivity by removing the faff of remembering what’s next. It’s a practice that boosts your motivation too. How amazing does it feel to put a big cross through something that’s done and dusted! Try it for yourself and see. 5. Practice gratitude A goal-fuelled life will be a challenging life. When you set out to achieve things that are outside your comfort zone, fear and doubt will show up. It’s why a positive mindset is so powerful and important. If you can see the possibilities instead of the roadblocks ahead, you’re much more likely to win. Gratitude is a practice that nurtures this positive mindset and it’s something you can practice daily in a notebook. Bookend your day with things that you’re thankful for and you’ll unleash a wave of positivity. Even when you’re at rock bottom, there’s always something you can feel grateful about - even if that’s just the beautiful sunrise. 6. A little book of wins When you’re struggling with your goals and things aren’t going the way you want, it’s easy to beat up on yourself. It’s where your little book of wins can give you a much-needed boost. Get into the habit of writing down all the things you’ve accomplished. Include the big stuff (such as a goal crushed or a fear overcome) - all the way down to the little things (like not reaching for chocolate when you felt stressed!) Create a positive reference for how awesome you really are and you’ll give yourself the fuel you need to sail through those inevitable dips when self-doubt gets the better of you. 7. Make a bucket list Life is short and it’s our job to make the most of the time we’ve got. This is where your Bucket List comes in. What are all the things you really want to do before you… well, kick the bucket! Write them down in a notebook then you can tick them off when they’re done or keep adding items as the ideas flow. Keep your bucket list in your head and your dreams are less likely to happen. Make them tangible with pen and paper, and you’re that little bit closer to doing it all. 8. Log your affirmations Have you noticed how your goals require you to grow into a new identity? When you set a goal you have to do things you’ve never done before. It’s time for an inner belief system upgrade. Affirmations will help you do that and you can make a note of them in a dedicated notebook. Simply write down what you need to be, have, and do and read them to yourself on a daily basis. It’s a powerful positivity practice you can do with a notebook that is going to help you thrive. 9. Write notes to yourself The way you feel about yourself has a HUGE impact on what you do (and what you think you can do). Love notes to yourself are a simple way to boost self-esteem, self-worth and self-love. You can write about anything (this notebook can be for your eyes only!) What do you love and appreciate about yourself, what you do well, and why you deserve a pat on the back. Sure, it may feel a little uncomfortable to start with, but keep up the habit and you’ll soon feel different inside. Then get excited about how your shift in identity will empower you to think bigger and achieve even more. 10. Track your habits What you do on a daily basis will transform the results you get out of life. So get into the habit of tracking the routines and rituals that empower you to be your best self. Track your exercise, the amount of water you drink, the steps you take, the social media posts you write, the sales calls you make, the books you read, and the minutes you focus. Pin down the habits that will close the gap to your goal, start a chain of action, and use your notebook to track it all. Bed those new habits in and you’ll be a new person in no time at all! 11. Keep a shopping list With big fish to fry, it’s easy to forget and overlook the little, but important things in life. How did you not remember to replace that empty milk bottle in your fridge! A notebook dedicated to your shopping lists can be a lifesaver! You don’t have time to waste dashing to the grocery store before it closes. Instead, you want to ensure the essentials are always to hand. A shopping list will also help you manage your budget and ensure you eat well. With all the ingredients you need to prepare the food you love, there’s no need to rely on takeouts. It’s a notebook practice your health will thank you for. 12. Sketch and doodle Notebooks aren’t just for words! If you’re the visual, arty type, dedicate a notebook for those random drawings and ideas. With a creative outlet to help harness your mood and creative direction, you’ll constantly nurture the skill that lets you perform at your best. 13. Save your future your goals Trying to achieve too many things at the same time just gets overwhelming. Water down your focus and you’ll get nowhere, fast! That’s why a notebook to park your future goals can be so valuable. With your goals for a later date captured, you can stick to your current priorities while sowing the seeds for what comes next. This practice also serves as a goal incubator. With the idea written down, your subconscious can start figuring out how to make it a reality. This practice creates space too. You know how easy it is to get carried away on the initial excitement of a new goal idea. But will the idea really take you closer to where you want to go? Park your goal and you can take a more informed decision when the time is right to plot your next steps. It’s a powerful way to protect your valuable time and energy. 14. Quotes Quotes are brilliant for two main reasons. Firstly, they give you an insight into the mind of someone else (and you can learn a lot from that). Secondly, they spark motivation and inspiration. That’s why your own library of meaningful words can be so powerful. Create a notebook that inspires you to step up and you’ll have fuel that ignites your passion on the days when you’re struggling to be your best. 15. Brainstorm The best ideas need stretching before you’re ready to take action. So dedicate a notebook to brainstorming. Use it to see where an idea could lead, to explore other options, and to uncover solutions to pressing problems. Once you’re committed your thoughts to paper, you’ll uncover a heap of valuable insights that will help you build momentum and deliver results faster. Plans are always more robust when you’ve figured them out on paper first. 16. Books you’ve read Books are among the best mentors out there. There is no cheaper way to tap into the brain of a high-performer and extract insights to inspire your next steps. But are you taking enough away from the books you read? A notebook is an easy way to maximize what you get from the time you invest. Simply dedicate a page to each book you read and write down the key takeaways, ideas, and actions. Over time, you’ll build up an incredible bank of nuggets that will make you smarter and empower bigger success with your goals. 17. Things you’ve learned A mistake is never a mistake if you learn from it. In fact, your low points can quickly turn into big highs if you extract the lessons and use those insights to inform what you do next. It’s why you should proactively capture your key learnings - whether that’s things you’ve learned about yourself or knowledge that you’ve picked up. If you don’t take the time to crystallize these insights, they’ll get lost in the flow of life. Instead, dedicate a notebook and turn life into a teacher that inspires you to get better every single day. 18. Remember conversations When you step up and step into your potential, you find yourself around higher calibre people. The next level conversations you have can change everything for you. That’s because you’ll be surrounded by ideas, mindsets, and belief systems that will shape you, influence you, and inform how you think and what you do next. There’s just so much to be learned from talking with others who are further ahead or who bring an entirely fresh take on life. So leverage these powerful insights by writing about them in your notebook. 19. Places you’ve been Life is so busy and fast-moving. You do and see so much, but how many of the highs do you actually remember? Your notebook can safeguard those memories for good. Get in the habit of writing down where you’ve been and what you’ve seen (even write down some of the highlights). You’ll create a beautiful record that will remind you just how much you’ve squeezed out of your life. Just imagine the memories and conversations you’ll have when you open this notebook in years to come. 20. Questions you want to answer The questions you ask yourself (and answer) directly impact what you believe, what you think, and what you do. Ask better questions and you’ll get better insights, make smarter decisions, and ultimately get closer to your best self. A dedicated notebook that keeps these questions (and your answers) safe will soon become an invaluable self-development tool that you’ll wish you started sooner. Introducing the perfect notebook Notebooks can change your life in so many ways. It’s why we created the Sidekick. Compact enough to fit into your pocket and with the right amount of pages to get busy practising any (even all) of these ideas, a set of Sidekicks is an easy way to boost your productivity, creativity, and performance. So invest in a pack of three today and pick three notebook strategies to try. Your life will be all the better for it. Sold out

I couldn’t avoid the truth any longer! After completing the BestSelf Co.’s Benchmark Quiz and seeing written evidence that my life wasn’t where I wanted it to be, I knew I had to do something. And top of my list was my health. As a writer, I spend a LOT of time sitting at my desk. I love my work, but it’s very sedentary. Worst of all, sometimes I get so lost in my imagination I can be static for hours! The problem was I wanted a better work-life balance and that meant I had to change a lot of things… I wanted to feel stronger and healthier. I wanted to drink more water and move around more. I wanted to try and practice yoga daily, but I was worried I was taking on too much making the whole transformation too overwhelming. Which begged the question… Is it possible to take on multiple good habits -without compromising my work or burning myself out? I gave myself 30 days to find out. Armed with my BestSelf Co. Habit Roadmap and Self Planner [plus my commitment], I wanted to know if I could successfully integrate the following TEN good habits [all new] into my life - without overwhelming myself. Daily yoga practice Drink at least 2 liters of water Journal Read State affirmations Eat no chocolate! Close all three activity rings on my Apple watch Do something that makes me happy Take deep breaths Answer a deep-dive question Keep reading and I’ll share the results I achieved and how I was able to achieve them. The results! Over a 30 day period [the equivalent of 300 checks], I missed: - A day of reading - 2 days of questioning, and - A day of affirmations Other than that, I achieved a 100% hit rate. What’s more, I noticed some big transformations taking place as a result of these good habits: - I’m getting stronger and more flexible. My muscles are toning, I can hold certain yoga poses for longer, and I’m not shaking like a hurricane in a leaf when I do plank pose! - I have a lot more energy to run after my three kids. - I’ve been much more productive. Rather than squandering my time, I’ve been filling it with my habits - and I feel a darn sight better for it. - I feel more confident in myself - because I’ve done what I said I was going to do [even when no one has been watching.] In conclusion, it IS possible to introduce lots of changes at the same time. In short, habits work as a tool to create a big transformation relatively quickly. Here’s why… 1. The power of autopilot Good habits really come into their own when you no longer have to think about doing them. Instead, you reach the point where you feel weird or uncomfortable if you don’t do your habit [think not cleaning your teeth before bed!] The reality is humans like the status quo. Safe within our comfort zone we know who we are and what we can do. Everything is predictable and that feels secure. But shake things up, and we can feel a bit antsy and uncertain! It’s one of the reasons change can be hard - and why we resist change [even change that’s good for us]. But done regularly, good habits become something you do on autopilot. In short, they become part of your identity. Take my habits… I used to be a sedentary person. Now I’m a person who practices yoga daily, drinks more water than tea, and always closes my activity rings! In short, habits on autopilot change you at your core. It’s much like Zig Ziglar implies in one of my favorite motivational quotes. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. When you get to this point, habits stick because you just do them on autopilot. You no longer need willpower or motivation to get to the yoga mat or do your daily writing. You don’t suffer from decision fatigue because you’re wondering how to fit them in. Instead, you just do it because that’s who you are and what you do. 2. Consistency is king You can’t become a hydrated person by drinking 10 liters in one go. In fact, that’s dangerous!Similarly, you won’t be able to write an entire book in one sitting. Your brain will fry! But you can achieve both of those goals if you take daily steps CONSISTENTLY. For example: - You can drink 2 liters a day - every day. - You can write 500 words - every day. - You can fit a 30-min power walk into your day - so you can chip away at those activity rings in a manageable fashion. Bite-sized steps don’t feel overwhelming. In fact, they are entirely do-able. What’s more, when you take action consistently, your results multiply because of the compound effect. When you turn your goals into daily habits, you’re ALWAYS moving the needle forward - because you program yourself to take the right actions, every single day. 3. Schedule it We all lead busy lives! The challenge with taking on new things is figuring out where to slot them into your day! You know how it goes… if you don’t plan time, it just doesn’t happen. Thank goodness for my Self Planner! Looking through my list of chosen good habits I knew some would be easy - and some would be more challenging. For example, when was I going to do a 30-minute yoga session? And what was the best time to read? Here’s how I jigsawed together my day: Scheduled yoga for 1 pm. I decided this would be a good way to break up my day and boost my energy for the afternoon. MOVE activity ring - this one was easier. I started to walk the kids to school instead of taking the car. Journaling & deep dive questioning - I rearranged my work schedule to spend the first hour of my working day doing these tasks. Reading - before bed. Something to help me wind down and feed my subconscious. Deep breathing - after I wake up and before I get out of bed 2 liters of water - keep a liter bottle on my desk and note down on my Self Planner each time I finish one In other words, I planned my good habits around my day - and where possible tagged them onto things I was already doing. I used my Self Planner to schedule habit time - to ensure it didn’t get swallowed up by anything else. This created a bonus win… By squeezing my time, I became more productive too. With fewer minutes to waste, it became a lot easier to focus on the work tasks at hand. Double win! 4. Habit tracking In the earlier days of this experiment, I needed a motivational boost. It was hard to find the energy to walk the kids to school [especially after arguing over lunch boxes and teeth cleaning!] Being so stiff and inflexible, I felt embarrassed when doing my yoga. It was hard to say no to chocolate as it had become such a staple snack for me. I needed something more to boost my confidence and keep me going. And I found that daily motivation in my Habit Roadmap. The Habit Roadmap is a powerful tool that allows you to track up to 12 daily habits and 8 weekly habits. With 90 days of tracking, you can create a three-month visual of your performance and achievements. Simply write down your good habits and put a big check each time to complete them. Before long, you start to build up a chain of wins that inspires you to complete another day. I love seeing my checks lining up and filling my wall. I’m proud of my discipline and my commitment to keep showing up for myself. One day at a time, I’m recreating the person I want to be with the help of this powerful tool. You can do this too Over the last 30 days, I’ve transformed from someone who lived from the neck up and spent all day drinking tea and writing into someone who enjoys moving and wants to make healthy choices. Thanks to a collection of good habits, I’m more connected with my physical body. I feel stronger and more flexible. I feel detoxified and healthier from the inside out. And I have so much more energy. What’s more, this doesn’t feel like a fad. This transformation doesn’t feel like something that’s going to stop when I’ve lost a few excess pounds and toned up. Instead, these good habits have helped me align more closely with the person I really want to be - and that feels powerful. Ready to see how good habits could transform your life? When you’re ready, your Habit Roadmap is here to provide daily motivation, support you, and inspire you - every step of the way.

Want to hit the new decade running and lay the foundations for your best year yet? If so, make some time to complete your New Year Review. In the same way that shareholders review a business’s performance, you can review your life to unlock the clarity you need to mastermind and execute your next steps.

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in your work, your goals and your obligations to other people that you neglect your own well-being. It can feel selfish or even self-indulgent to make time for yourself. You’re focused on achieving great things, so why waste time with yourself?However, this is the wrong attitude to have. To achieve external success, you have to start within and learn how to focus on yourself. How to Focus on Yourself in 6 Ways Here are six strategies we’ve found to help you focus on yourself (in an unselfish way). 1. Practice Self-Love “Self-love” may sound like a sentimental concept that only long-haired hippies in tie-dyed shirts practice, but it’s actually something that can benefit everyone. Self-love means being kind to yourself, minimizing negative self-talk and making more room for positive self-evaluation.As an entrepreneur, your ability to identify areas that need improvement is one of your most valuable skills. But while this can work well for business, the same attitude can be disastrous for your emotional well-being if you apply it too personally. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to become a better person, but you have to approach it from a place of growth and positivity, not self-loathing and dissatisfaction. 2. Try New Things If you’re only working on your job, you risk getting stuck in a rut. Your job becomes your only identity, with nothing else existing outside of work. While we’re all for commitment to your job (especially if the work is meaningful and in line with your values), it’s important to continue to try new things beyond it. Doing so keeps you creative and energized, which not only helps you do good work in your job, but also live a richer life overall.One of the best ways to try new things is to take up a new hobby. This could be something related to your job, but we encourage you to think beyond that. Maybe you want to learn a new language, try a new sport or build things with your hands. Go with whatever hobby you want — just be sure to focus on the learning and self-improvement that will come with it, not worrying about whether it will make money. 3. Make Time for Loved Ones The people in our lives have a massive effect on the quality of our lives. Yet, we often forget this when we set goals, focusing only on making more money or gaining recognition. In the process, we neglect the people closest to us. What’s worse, it’s easy to rationalize this single-minded focus as an act of love towards our family members. For we think that if we can just achieve a certain level of success, we’ll be able to provide for them and ensure their security.In reality, however, this isn’t a tradeoff worth making. You have to make time for the ones you love now, no matter where you are in your career or business. Life is passing by either way — better to spend it with the most important people in your life while you can. The dying don’t wish they’d spent more time working (quite the opposite). 4. Cultivate a Healthy Lifestyle Good health is at the root of all other successful endeavors. You can push your body hard in the short term, going without adequate rest or good nutrition. But this isn’t sustainable behavior over the long term. Eventually, your body will get sick and fatigued, taking you out of work until you recover. It’s better to operate at a healthy, sustainable pace than to burn out in pursuit of fleeting gains.The first big thing you can do to improve your health is to get enough sleep. Sleep may seem like a waste of time, but it’s quite the opposite. It’s what you need to keep your body strong and your brain energized. Aim for seven to eight hours per night (longer if you have a demanding workout program).Speaking of working out, every healthy lifestyle includes some sort of physical practice. We prefer this term to “exercise” because most of us tend to associate exercise with running or lifting weights. While these are both fine forms of exercise, they represent just a small sample of the physical activities available. Pick one that you really like, and do it every day (just don’t overdo it, as injuring yourself is counterproductive). Finally, a healthy lifestyle requires healthy food. The specifics of what you eat will depend on your dietary preferences and level of physical activity. But everyone can benefit from eating more whole foods and less processed, packaged food. Oh, and you should probably drink more water than you currently do (keep a glass or bottle by you while you work to make this easy). 5. Nurture Your Self-Esteem We already mentioned the importance of self-love in learning how to focus on yourself, but we can’t forget another essential self-quality: self-esteem. Feeling good about who you are and where you’re going are crucial for success in other areas of life, as well as your general happiness. And it goes beyond you: The positive energy that comes from high self-esteem is contagious, powering up the people you come into contact with.To boost your self-esteem, you need to focus on the positive. Think of the good things you’ve accomplished, whether at work, in your family, through a hobby or in your community. This will help remind you that, no matter what you’re struggling with, you can achieve the things you set out to accomplish.Additionally, remember that you are more than your accomplishments. You have intrinsic value as a person that goes beyond money or utility to society. You must recognize this in order to truly have high self-esteem. 6. Keep a Journal Self-reflection is a key part of focusing on yourself. And there’s no better way we’ve found to self-reflect than keeping a journal. The right journal will help you organize your thoughts, notice patterns in your emotions, and feel more in control of your life’s direction.Not sure what to write about? Pick a journal that has prompts. Or just write about how you don’t know what to write about. Journaling isn’t about producing masterful prose that other people will read. The value comes from the process and the self-reflection that journaling enables. Don’t Neglect Yourself We hope you now see how important it is to focus on yourself. Far from being selfish, this activity will help increase your effectiveness in all areas of your life, as well as boosting your happiness and well-being. Try just one of the above ideas today and see what impact it has on your life.

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?

The dirty little secret behind success in the modern age is that it’s tougher to achieve than ever before. Sure, there are more tools now to help you along your way, but that often results in more distractions. Throw in the fact that we’re all charged with doing more with less, and successful time management is more difficult than it ever has been.But there is a secret that high-achievers use to manage and avoid the sheer overwhelm: setting a daily routine.It’s a time-tested practice of successful people of all types, as you’ll see below.But it’s about more than just ticking off the items on your daily to-do lists; setting a routine and establishing helpful habits can lead to greater achievement. It can also help you feel a deeper sense of meaning in your life. Even better, we’ll show you the steps you need to get started on your new goal of developing a successful routine. But first, WHY is it important to set a healthy daily routine? Simply put, following a daily routine benefits our brains by cutting down on multitasking and decision fatigue. By following a structure, you’re able to turn daily tasks into habits while spending less mental energy in the process. It also promotes focusing on single tasks, which conserves your mental load for the more complex issues that pop up during the day. As this article in the New York Times points out, that actually optimizes your brain for more creative and innovative thinking.If you need further proof, there’s actually science behind the benefits of having, and sticking to, a daily routine.For starters, they’re vital to our development as humans. Experts have found that giving a child a consistent schedule builds confidence, organization, self-control and independence while also helping the brain develop properly .The benefits certainly don’t end in our infancy as researchers have recently discovered that subjects who lived by a consistent schedule also tended to attach a greater meaning to their lives. Don’t believe a daily routine is important? Check out these daily routine examples of top performers. Winston Churchill woke up at 7:30 am. He stayed in bed to eat breakfast, catch up on the news and dictate to his assistants. By 11:00 am, he’d head out to take a walk and start work for the day (always with a whiskey and soda!). At 1:00, he’d take a break for lunch and often play cards with his wife until 3:00 pm. After working for a few more hours, he’d take a quick 30-minute nap at 5:00 pm to recharge in time for dinner. Then he'd be off for drinks with friends at 5:30 pm. At midnight, he’d squeeze in an hour of reading before heading to bed.But that’s just one man. Mason Currey has compiled the daily habits of some of the world’s most successful people in his book, “Daily Rituals: How Artists Work”,Maya Angelou woke up at 5:30 am and had coffee with her husband at 6:00 am. She then would be off to work by 6:30 am in a small hotel room she reserved for writing only. By 2:00 pm, she’d wrap up for the day and head home to re-read her work, disconnect, and prepare dinner.Novelist John Grisham would wake up at 5 a.m. in order to arrive at his home office desk by 5:30. There, he would write one page before heading to his day job as a lawyer.Toni Morrison drinks a cup of coffee and watches the sun come up before she sits down to write.But it’s hardly just writers who stick to a schedule. Presidents (Barack Obama, George W. Bush), Philosophers (Immanuel Kant) and visionaries (Benjamin Franklin) -- some of the world’s great do-ers -- have used well-defined daily routines to accomplish more in their 24 hours. The Secret To Making Success A Habit A routine is simply the set of habits that help you get things done. Chances are, you already have one -- think of all the things you do before you begin your workday.The key to establishing a daily routine for success is to create new habits based on your higher-level goals (we call these Result Goals). You can make them as automatic as getting dressed in the morning (or early afternoon).While it may sound daunting -- we all know habits can be hard to break -- studies show that goal-based habits are actually easier to establish.And if you’re the type who has trouble sticking with something like this, the 13-Week Roadmap section of our Self Journal points out that scientists have found that “goal setting is one of the easiest ways to increase motivation and enhance performance.”So, start by identifying your goals. They’ll let you know which habits you’ll need to make AND provide the motivation to do it. Use Your New Habits to Make Your Own March Let’s say your Result Goal is to double your quarterly revenue. It’s nice and actionable. By breaking it into a smaller chunk than a year-long goal, you’ll be less likely to become distracted.But how do you create habits from that?Using our Self Journal as a guide, you’ll then break that goal down into Progress Milestones, which are the trackable, measurable benchmarks you’ve identified that will lead to achieving your goal. Following our revenue example, your progress milestone might be to convert 13 prospects into new clients.The goal is to figure out which day-in, day-out Actions and Tasks are needed to get you there. Then, you can turn those tasks into daily habits.We call this the “20-Mile March." It's a reference to the story of two teams racing to the South Pole in 1911. The team that trudged through 20 miles per day, regardless of weather, bested the team that bunkered down during blizzards and tried to make up ground when the conditions improved. That 20 miles per day turned out to be a pretty successful daily habit.It’s that consistent progress that we modeled our 13-Week Roadmap after. In order to land 13 new clients this quarter, your “20-Mile March” could be to make 15 cold calls per day and attend two networking meetings per week. And with consistency, those actions will turn into the habits that lead you to your Progress Milestones and Result Goals. Make Time for Your New Habits With Time Blocking A routine is only as successful as your willingness to adhere to it. The countless distractions that fly your way throughout your day can make it especially hard. The best shield against this onslaught is time blocking. It’s a topic worthy of its own post, which we covered here.We recommend a well-rounded routine, so be sure to make time for your Personal and Health-related goals, too. Don’t forget to block out time for some helpful habits before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Make Sure You are Rigid, but Your Routine is Flexible Adherence and discipline are key. But don’t be afraid to admit if something isn’t working. If you just haven’t been giving yourself enough time to connect with your employees or get your busy work done, you can adjust. If you’re consistently missing your Progress Milestones, develop a new plan. Your daily actions and progress milestones aren’t your destination, they’re the steps toward it. And as with any road map, there are many ways to get where you’re going.Some vital steps to follow:Actively track your goals and progress dailyReflect on your progress dailyIf you’ve been successful, reward yourself. This will give you the positive reinforcement you need to keep going, especially if your ultimate goal is still a month or two away. This will keep you engaged.If you haven’t been successful, figure out why and adjust. Rather than get discouraged by your lack of progress, let the ability to adjust your direction energize you.Setting up an actionable routine, and giving yourself attainable, measurable steps toward your goals not only makes your day and duties more manageable, it optimizes your brain for success. By using these techniques, you can take control of your time and success by developing the habits of a successful daily routine.