Perfect for planners, artists, creatives, goal-setter, and more, bullet journaling is a powerful journaling tool that offers multiple advantages. As a technique, bullet journaling combines mindfulness with planning, tracking, organization, note-taking, reflection, self-expression, and more. No wonder so many people have caught onto the craze!  Whether you want to transform your life, organize your work, or just have somewhere special to express and capture your creative ideas, bullet journaling can work for you.  And in our chaotic, unpredictable world, not only can your BuJo help you stay on top of all of life’s expectations and responsibilities, it can help you to manage stress and anxiety too because your BuJo is an easy and effective way to find clarity, which naturally helps you to feel more composed and in control.  To kick-start your new journaling habit, try these 5 quick-fire BuJo practices to try today… 1. Use a key Creatives love bullet journaling because every page is a blank canvas that can become ANYTHING you desire. Unlike a templated journal, [like the Self Journal], bullet journals are blank meaning they offer ultimate flexibility. You’re free to track, plot, reflect, and capture anything you like - in whatever way you like.  Keys are a useful way to help you navigate your unique bullet journaling style. Your key is like a series of shortcut keys - each symbol indicating a different item. For example, a dot could mean an appointment or a circle could mean a task. You can draw your key, color your key, or even use stickers - as with everything bullet journaling, the only limitation is your imagination [and what works best for you, your style, and your life].  2. Make regular entries While anything goes in your bullet journal, it pays to identify some recurring spreads that you want to keep. If you aren’t used to journaling, it’s easy to forget to keep your journal updated. This is where something like a weekly spread or a habit tracker comes into play.  Take daily action, and you’ll soon find it’s a habit that becomes second nature and the true benefits of a BuJo will soon be apparent! In terms of what spreads to keep, there are so many ideas to try. From date night ideas to financial tracking to mood boards, with a bullet journal, you can monitor, track, and reflect on anything that’s important to you.  3. Think big The flexible nature of bullet journaling means it can be tricky to know how or where to start. Rather than focusing on daily tasks, start by jotting down monthly or fortnightly entries. Often, we deem things which occur less frequently as more important, so you’ll feel a sense of relief by writing them down. In addition to this, monthly or fortnightly tasks often give us daily or weekly tasks we need to complete in anticipation. Once you start recording monthly events, for example, you’ll find your daily and weekly schedule begins to fill up too.  4. Treat yourself to accessories Bullet journaling is a stationery lover’s dream! If you want a good excuse to stock up on some more supplies, your BuJo is your permission slip. Armed with colored pens, markers, pencils, stickers, or washi tape, you can add authenticity and personality to your journal and make it as unique as you are.  If you want to get into lettering and create spreads that are ‘Instagrammable’, you’ll even find templates that can help you write beautifully.  Bullet journaling is a fun way to express your creativity and wake up your inner artist.  So get yourself stocked up - and see what magic you can create.  5. Choose progress over perfection  A pristine, new journal is undoubtedly a sight to behold but it shouldn’t stay that way for long. If you’re spending time trying to ensure your bullet journal looks perfect, you probably aren’t getting much use out of it. Make your journal your own by doodling, scribbling or enhancing it any way you choose! After all, perfectionism is just another form of procrastination!  Remember, there is no right or wrong way to approach your bullet journal. No spread is better than another. As long as you are getting out of your practice what you want out of your practice, you’re onto a winner.  Get Started with Bullet Journaling Ready to get started with a BuJo practice? If so, here are some resources to get you going.  The Scribe notebook is perfect for bullet journaling. You’ll love to create on the premium, dot-grid, fountain-pen friendly paper.   Bullet journaling templates. A selection of over 20 templates to either trace over or stick in. An easier way to enhance your BuJo practice without the stress of the blank page.  Bullet journal spread ideas. Split over 12 categories, this list of bullet journaling ideas will keep you busy for many journals to come! 

Did you know that questions help level up your life? How, you ask? Read on!

When you read a motivational quote, you get to borrow someone else’s wisdom. You get to step into a different mindset or perspective - even if the moment is fleeting. But sometimes it’s just enough to turn the wheels of change in your favor… because change can happen in a micro moment, fuelled by:   • A new choice. • An inspiring goal. • An empowering conversation… The smallest nudge can ignite something new and push open the door to a new chapter of life.  Which is why inspirational quotes are so powerful.  We curated this collection of 50 quotes to speak to your best self and spark something new inside of you.  See which one speaks to you today - and let the energy of success fuel you in the most beautiful of ways.  "The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same."  — Colin R. Davis "Opportunities don't happen. You create them."  — Chris Grosse “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”  — Harriet Beecher Stowe "Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better."  — Jim Rohn “Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have or do.”  — Brian Tracy "Stop chasing the money and start chasing the passion."  — Tony Hsieh "Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that's where you will find success."  — Thomas J. Watson “We cannot be more sensitive to pleasure without being more sensitive to pain.”  — Alan Watts "The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do."  — Steve Jobs "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."  — Thomas Edison "All progress takes place outside the comfort zone."  — Michael John Bobak "If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time."  — Steve Jobs "You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it."  — Oprah Winfrey "There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality."  — Anthony Robbins “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  — Maya Angelou "Success isn't just about what you accomplish in your life; it's about what you inspire others to do.”  — Unknown "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  — Mark Twain “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”  — Mae West “Do one thing every day that scares you.”  — Eleanor Roosevelt  “Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.”  — Sara Blakely  “A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.” — Madonna “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” — Amelia Earhart. “You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.” — Indira Gandhi “You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.” — Barbara De Angelis “Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” — Audrey Hepburn “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” — Coco Chanel "If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”  — Roald Dahl  “Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.”  — Mahatma Gandhi "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."  — Jane Goodall "One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."  — Abraham Maslow "The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development." -- Robin Sharma "Don't go through life, grow through life."  — Eric Butterworth "We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are."  — Oprah Winfrey "Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are."  — Bernice Johnson Reagon "What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do."  — Ralph Waldo Emerson "Recognizing that you are not where you want to be is a starting point to begin changing your life."  — Deborah Day "Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure."  — Paulo Coelho "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."  — Maya Angelou "We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started." — Henry Ward Beecher "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."  — Ella Fitzgerald "You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness."  — Diane von Furstenberg "It is never too late to be who you might have been."  — George Eliot "When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful."  — Malala Yousafzai "The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential...these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence."  — Confucius "We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it."  — Rick Warren "Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground. There's no greater investment."  — Stephen Covey "Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else."  — Les Brown "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."  — Warren Buffett “The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.”  — Henry Ward Beecher We never know what circumstances we’ll face. We can’t know for sure what decisions we’ll be invited to make today. We don’t know what a chance meeting or unexpected experience can open up.  All we know for sure is that today holds the potential to change and transform things for the better - if you’re willing to bet on yourself and step out of your comfort zone.  Which of these quotes will inspire you to think bigger and achieve more while you enjoy today?  You’ve got this!    Other quote articles you might like… 15 Quotes About Forgiveness That Can Set You Free 40 Intimacy Quotes That Will Leave You Feeling More Connected 18 Entrepreneur Quotes To Keep You Motivated 10 Mindfulness Quotes To Improve Happiness & Eliminate Stress 52 Gratitude Quotes That Inspire An Attitude Of Gratitude

By Georgina El Morshdy The BuJo buzz is spreading! More and more people are turning a blank notebook into a powerful tool to get organized, juggle multiple balls, and take back control of their life. More in depth than a diary or calendar, you can use your bullet journal to track, plan, or schedule as little or as much as you like. But how to start a bullet journal in the first place?  In this detailed article, we’re going to take you step by step through the process of getting started so you can hit the ground running and take advantage of all the juicy benefits that bullet journaling offers you.  Let’s go!  What is a bullet journal?  OK, so let’s start at the absolute beginning. In case you’ve heard of bullet journaling, but aren’t entirely sure what a bullet journal actually is, here’s a quick definition.  A bullet journal is a combination of a diary/calendar/to-do list/planner/general organizer! Using bullet points as the core way of capturing and recording information, a bullet journal is a tool that helps you organize your life and get stuff done.  It differs from diaries, calendars, and other planners because you create your BuJo in a blank notebook. In other words, you’re not restricted by someone else’s methodology or layout - instead you’re free to create your own. It’s why bullet journaling is a big hit with creatives and artists as well as those who are productivity obsessed!  And best of all, it’s SUPER simple to get started. All you need is:  An idea of what you want to track, measure, schedule, and plan A blank notebook  And a pen  And then you’re good to go.  You don’t need to stop there. If you’re a stationery lover, then bullet journaling is a brilliant excuse to stock up on all sorts of accessories and tools including washi tape, stickers, and stencils. But you don’t need these to get started, that can come later as you find your flow and create your style.  Why start a bullet journal?  When you have too much to remember, too many things to do, and too many places you need to be, you can’t rely on your memory alone. The human brain is amazing. It can create, solve problems, and formulate ideas, but it’s not so good at remembering!  In fact, it takes a lot of bandwidth to remember stuff so if your head is full of memos and to-dos, you end up reducing the amount of space you have for everything else.  Far better to empty your head and get your life organized on paper so you can free up much needed headspace. But that’s not all… plan on paper and you can see your commitments and tasks reflected back at you. In turn, you can juggle things around and see the big picture without giving yourself a massive headache!  Bullet journaling also helps protect your sanity. When you’re juggling multiple roles and a ton of other commitments and tasks, it’s easy to get overloaded and overwhelmed. But with your BuJo to get you organized and scheduled, you can crack on with the task at hand - knowing you’ve got everything covered later.  This is how to start a bullet journal and get more done! There’s nothing more frustrating than feeling like you’re squandering time and falling behind because you’re forgetful or keep dropping the ball. A BuJo can help you keep it all together so you can crack on and live your best life.  In short, bullet journals are great for getting organized, boosting your productivity, and enhancing your performance. It helps you create work-life harmony too because when you plan for everything you can fit in everything.  There’s another angle too.  One of the things bullet journalers love most is the blank page - because it can become a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g. You’re not restricted by a particular layout or structure. Instead, you can create your own spreads to suit your particular lifestyle and goals. This creative aspect gives you freedom for doodling, hand lettering, stencils, stickers, and all sorts.  So unleash yourself onto the page and create something unique that works for you.  How to start a bullet journal - the essential spreads Your bullet journal can track anything - the only limit is your imagination. I’ll share some ideas to inspire you a little later, but first let’s explore how to start a bullet journal by discussing the essentials.  1. Your MONTHLY spreads 2. Your WEEKLY spreads 3. Your DAILY spreads If you’re using your bullet journal to get organized and increase your productivity, then you’ll want to plan your time at these three levels. MONTHLY SPREADS  @planningroutine   @mabujork   @bahcampos   @oikawastudies   Use your monthly spread to create a big picture of your month. In this spread, you can capture:  ● Appointments and meetings● Deadlines● Social or family commitments ● Key dates (such as birthdays or anniversaries) ● Courses, vacations, and days out Put everything in one place to create an easy reference point. It’s a simple way to ensure you never double book yourself, take on too much, or forget to be in the right place at the right time.  Whenever a new commitment or request crops up, simply add it to your monthly spread - remembering to juggle things around if you need to.  Even better, have a few months on the go so you can plan further ahead. WEEKLY SPREADS © habitsbuzz.com   © thepetiteplanner.com   Next up are your weekly spreads. This is where you’ll create a big picture overview of your week.  It’s a cliche, but time is precious. There will be a lot of things you want to do, but maybe struggle to find the time. It’s not as if you’re sitting around twiddling your thumbs either! Instead, you’re always busy - juggling work, running around after your kids, and taking care of stuff in the home as well as trying to make more quality time just for you.  Your weekly pages can help you make the most of your minutes - so you can get more done in less time. You have plenty of options for layouts. You can go super simple where you just create space for the days of the week. Or you can create an organizer planner where you include features such as: ● Days of the week● A list of priorities● A to-do list● A habit tracker ● A meal planner● Health, wellness, and movement● Self-care commitments  An organizer/planner works because it helps shape your thinking too. Instead of just lumping tasks to different days, you get to figure out your priorities and ensure you’re always working on the right stuff. DAILY SPREADS Now we come to my favorite part of how to start a bullet journal.  Before I started planning my day with a journal, I used a to-do list. It seemed to work. I enjoyed checking off completed tasks and I felt more organized knowing everything was written down. My problem was staying on top of that to-do list! Even when I was working full out, I’d still finish the day with too many tasks unfinished and untouched.  It didn’t feel good. I hated feeling behind and I found myself sacrificing more and more of my free time in an attempt to keep on top of it all.  Turns out it wasn’t my workload that was the problem. It was the way I was managing it.  Time is like money in the sense that you need to spend it within a budget. Instead of giving tasks an open ended time window, force yourself to get stricter with how long you expect each task to take. It’s the same with the tasks you do take on. Are you always working on the top priority task, or are you filling your day with stuff that keeps you busy but doesn’t make you productive?  My daily spread helps me set up my day for a win.  I still have a to-do list on the go, but I now schedule tasks in the same way I schedule meetings. That way I don’t knowingly overrun and I don’t set myself up to fail.  I also use my daily spreads to keep my goals top of mind and to figure out my priorities. It’s a powerful strategy that ensures you get all the important stuff done - without feeling overwhelmed or burned out.  Here are some suggestions for your daily spreads: © forevergoodlife ● A daily timeline split into 30-minute sections - so you can get granular with your planning● Free space - to write out your to-dos● Note space - for jotting random ideas and reminders as they crop up ● Today’s targets - for getting clear on your priorities● Space for errands● Space for a daily gratitude practice● Room to record your wins and successes Don’t forget your index Before long, your bullet journal is going to start to fill up. Your index will help you find everything quickly and easily. Simply number your pages as you go and make a note of what’s on each of them in your index. And to cut down on writing, consider using a key as well.  From color-coding, to stickers, to hand drawn symbols, a key makes it easy to mark things in and join up the dots.  How to start a bullet journal - creative spreads With the basic spreads covered, you can then allow your creativity to roam free.  You can turn those blank pages into ANYTHING that you want to track. Here are some examples to inspire you:  ● Books to read● Gratitude● Goals ● Shopping lists● Habit tracker● Bucket list● Braindump ● Savings tracker● Review of the month/week/year● Travel plans● Meal planning● Mood tracker ● Future log How to start a bullet journal routine  We’ve looked at how to start a bullet journal, but how do you make this powerful practice a part of your life?  The more you put into your bullet journal the more you’re going to get out of it. It’s true; bullet journaling is a flexible system that you can dip into whenever you like and whenever inspiration strikes.  But when it comes to your productivity and performance, you’ll get the best results if you BuJo daily.  This is where your routine comes in.  We recommend you plan your weekly spreads on a Sunday - as this will give you an edge for the week. Rather than wasting time on a Monday morning, you can hit the ground running.  If you can, plan your daily spreads the previous evening as this will give your subconscious mind time to process everything you’ve got coming up (ever noticed how you wake up with a solution to a problem you went to bed with?)  And for your creative spreads, you can dive in as and when you like - or whenever you get inspired to try something new. The key is to find a system that works for you.  Play with it, explore it, and above all enjoy it! Get inspired by what other bullet journalers are doing too, but don’t allow yourself to get side-tracked or disheartened by all the beautiful spreads that you see.  If your practice helps enhance your life then that’s the right system for you.  Bullet journaling can be a game-changer. It’s a way to save your sanity, enhance your productivity, and boost your performance.  And now we’ve solved the problem of how to start a bullet journal in this article, you can get cracking. I promise you won’t regret your new habit for a second.

By Georgina El Morshdy Creativity is the art of producing something new through innovation and imagination. Through thinking, play, and connecting things in novel ways, something new is formed.  It’s a powerful experience…  And one that helps us grow and evolve as a species - as well as empowering us to make our unique mark on the world as we choose to be our best selves.   As Edward de Bono - a Maltese philosopher, psychologist, and author who coined the term lateral thinking - said “There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.”  This leads us to a critical question… How do you cultivate curiosity and use it to craft your best life?  Here are three ways that work… 1. Be expectant of incredible ideas How many times have you had a great idea, only to lose it again in the flurry of life?  The fact is, creativity isn’t always convenient! It doesn’t always show up when you crave it. You can’t force it, and it will surprise you.  Who else has had ideas in the shower, when you’re out on a walk, or when you’re sitting doing nothing!  You can unlock creativity when you see yourself as a creative person.  Allow yourself to own that label - and then intentionally create an environment that proves you’re right. For example, create space for ideas and innovation by scheduling time for uninterrupted thinking and exploration.  In addition, carry a notebook with you.   [Here are 20 different ways to use your notebook.] With a notebook in hand, you won’t lose thoughts when they show up. Instead, you can let your notebook be an external brain that keeps the ideas safe - for when they’re needed.  But that’s not all… When you write down an idea, you can explore it in detail. You get to unravel it - to see where it goes. You don’t get left with the surface level thought, but you can dig into the details and depths; then magic happens.  Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”  Just because you’ve had one great idea doesn’t mean you won’t have another! In fact, the more you trust in your thoughts, the more you’ll have because the more confident you’ll be that something incredible will show up.  2. Get yourself inspired Creativity often follows inspiration.  This is why it’s powerful to surround and immerse yourself with things that light you up and fuel a line of thinking that has the potential to go somewhere.  With this in mind, get to know what switches you on - and make it a habit to give yourself this inspiration as often as you can. For example:  ● Spend more time in nature and learn from the natural world. ● Visit new places and explore new environments - let the adventure open something up.● Listen to podcasts that challenge you and elevate the way you feel. ● Watch TED talks and similar videos that leave you with fresh insights and new dots to connect. ● Read poetry, read books, listen to music that takes you into your body and changes the way you feel.  On the flipside, turn off external influences that make you feel bad. Be intentional about your choice of media diet. As much as possible, create a feeling of possibility - and see what difference that makes to your creative flow.  Finally, remember that inspired people have inspired thoughts.  And the power to inspire yourself is something you can access and switch on - whenever you choose.  Master this skill.  3. Listen to yourself We’re living in an age of information abundance. We’ve never had access to so much knowledge so effortlessly and quickly.  Virtually everything you could want to know is available with a few clicks.  Which makes these times incredibly powerful. And while you’ll find plenty of answers outside of yourself, don’t lose sight of the unique source of inspiration that only you can access.  YOU.  As an individual, you have a unique perspective on life.  You walk with a unique body of knowledge and wisdom because of the life you’ve lived - because of what your experiences and choices have taught you about life.  I like to call this the Lens of YOU.  And it’s through this lens that you can access, unlock, and unleash a style and flavor of creativity that’s uniquely yours.  This is where practices such as journaling and meaningful conversations can add so much value.  The more you cultivate self-awareness, the more you’ll capture and work with the wisdom that is yours.  And who knows what you’ll envision and create from this perspective.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul." What will you choose to create next? 

By Georgina El Morshdy According to science, only 8% of people achieve their goals. This statistic begs the question, how do you increase the odds in your favor?  These ten simple checks go a long way.  1. Is your goal S.M.A.R.T?  There’s a difference between a goal and an aspiration. In the words of Napoleon Hill, “A goal is a dream with a deadline”. S.M.A.R.T goals take this definition further…  S stands for Specific. When you get specific with your goal, you remove any ambiguity because you know exactly what success looks like. M stands for Measurable. If you can’t measure your goal, then how will you know whether or not you’ve achieved it? A stands for Attainable. Strike a balance between challenging and attainable, and you’re more likely to win. R stands for Relevant. Does your goal link into your vision for life?  T stands for time-bound. Without a deadline, you’re more likely to procrastinate, squander time, and keep putting off the actions you need to take. 2. Do you have a big enough WHY?  You can do virtually anything, but you can’t do everything. We live in a world of possibilities, and our job as humans is to explore our unique corners of potentiality.  Goals are supposed to be challenging. It’s how they inspire us to grow and develop new skills. It’s also the reason that goals put us on a collision course with our fears.  Can I do this?  What if they think I’m stupid?  What if I make a mistake or get it wrong?  There will be times when you’ll want to throw in the towel. You will get knocked down and find yourself wondering if you’ll ever get up again.  When your WHY is big enough, you can overcome anything. When the desire to cross the finish line burns in your heart, you’ll find a way through any roadblock.  That’s the power of your WHY.  3. Have you made the time?  If you choose to adopt the belief that there’s enough time for everything that matters, you will find space to fulfil your goal.  It’s so easy to fall back on the excuse that there’s not enough time.  But if you were to do an inventory of your life, you’ll surely find pockets that you can leverage for a bigger purpose than social scrolling and Netflix binging!  What gets planned gets done!  That’s the true power of your planner [we recommend the Self Journal!] When you can see that dedicated space exists in your day to work on your goal, suddenly the time excuse goes out the window!  4. Have you identified your habits? A goal always creates a gap in front of you.  And that gap can be intimidating! It can also become a factor that keeps you from your goal - especially if you allow the magnitude of what you have to achieve to get under your skin.  Did you know there’s another way to accomplish big goals that’s far less intimidating and a lot easier?  You simply focus on the step in front of you; taking one step at a time and one day at a time.  That’s the power of your habits.  Do a little every day, and you’ll achieve far more a lot quicker. For example, it’s easier to make one sales call a day over a month than try to cram 30 into an afternoon.  Plus, habits eventually sink into autopilot, meaning they require less and less energy to get them done.  Your daily habits are your shortcut to goal success. Be sure to leverage them to your fullest advantage.  5. Are you accountable to anyone?  It’s easy to make big declarations about what you’re going to do. But in the excitement of the goal setting moment, we can feel unstoppable.  Then reality kicks in… and our fears, doubts, and insecurities can get the better of us!  Enlisting the help of an accountability coach or buddy can pay dividends. When you know you have to report your progress to someone else, you have a stronger incentive to take action and get stuff done.  There’s something about the power of saving face that spurs you into an implementation mode. In turn, more goals are achieved.  6. Can you see yourself achieving your goal?  Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't -- you're right.” In other words, if you can perceive something in your mind, chances are you can create that in reality too.  It’s why top athletes and performers practice the art of visualisation. It turns out your brain can’t always tell the difference between a real experience and an imagined one.  Both create a reference of success in your brain and you’ll unleash the motivation and self-belief to go after your goals and dreams.  Try creating a vision board.  Or simply allow your imagination to take you to a point in time when the dream you’re working on is in your hands.  Notice how it feels - and allow that feeling to drive you forwards.  7. How’s your self-belief?  One of the most common stumbling blocks that people face when moving towards their goals is their self-belief.  Check-in with yourself.  Do you believe you can do this - or is the voice of self-doubt stronger?   Your belief creates the lens through which you look at the world and tackle your goals. If you expect failure or disappointment, you’ll subconsciously take the actions that create this experience.  In comparison, if you know the goal is as good as done, you’ll show up with a fierce determination that sparks a little bit of magic.  Then before you know it, the ‘impossible’ becomes your reality.  8. Can you be grateful for the journey to your goal?  When moving towards our goals, we’re called to dance between excitement for what’s to come and appreciation of the present moment.  You’re invited to think bigger and achieve more while enjoying today.  It’s tempting to get lost in the future - telling yourself that life will be amazing when your goal is finally achieved! But if you put all your time and energy onto that future point in time, you’ll miss out on the magic that’s happening now.  This quote from Zig Ziglar sums this dance up for me. He said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” In other words, it’s not just the goal itself that matters. It’s the skills you develop, the courage you cultivate, the experiences you have, and the way the goal changes YOU.  So while you walk towards your goal, make space for a daily gratitude practice. Heighten your awareness of the magic that’s in your life TODAY - and allow that positive, abundant feeling to fuel your actions and switch on joy.  9. Have you set milestones?  The finish line may be a long way off, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait for the point of completion to celebrate!  Milestones are a great way to break up the journey. They give you a reason to celebrate your progress and provide a point to check in and ensure you’re headed in the right direction.  Not sure what milestones look like; here’s an example to help.  Imagine you want to climb Mount Everest. The summit would be your goal, and the various camps would be the milestones.  Remember, every time you hit a point where you’re able to acknowledge your progress is a chance to give yourself a shot of dopamine.  It’s powerful!  10. Is your goal achievable within 13 weeks?  Finally, consider how long you’re giving yourself to achieve your goal.  We recommend 13 weeks as the goal-setting sweet spot because this timespan is long enough to achieve something significant and short enough to fend off procrastination.  13 weeks creates the perfect blend of urgency and spaciousness for action.  Give yourself too long, and you’ll push things off.  Give yourself too little, and you’ll panic!  Give yourself the right amount of time, and you’ll be amazed how far and fast you’re able to move.  And if your goal doesn’t feel as though it can be achieved in 13 weeks, simply extract a piece that can and focus on that part first.  Meet the Self Journal  The Self Journal is a comprehensive planning and productivity tool designed to help you achieve a meaningful goal in 13 weeks.  Use it to manage your time, project manage your goal, and take inspired daily steps towards the things you desire.  Used by 1,000s and rated five stars, this tool is tired, tested, and proven by people just like you.     GET A SELF-JOURNAL

By Georgina El Morshdy Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. It’s the result of prolonged, overwhelming stress and it’s miserable. Burnout zaps your joy for life by leaving you feeling permanently exhausted and overwhelmed. In turn, you lose motivation and enthusiasm - sometimes in all areas of your life.  Burnout is a big problem.  Indeed’s recent survey found that 52% of the US workforce feel burned out.  The good news is that burnout needn’t be inevitable.  Keep reading to explore FIVE things you can try today to help fend off burnout in your life.   #1. Listen to your body Your body will tell you when you’re pushing and hustling too hard. You might feel physically tired and emotionally drained - even if you’ve had enough sleep. You might have headaches or muscle pain. You might feel demotivated, uninspired, and completely overwhelmed. Your body has your back! It will always send you information about what’s ‘real’ for you in the moment. When we choose to listen, we won’t miss the signs.  We need to get better at respecting the body’s communication so that we don’t burn out. It’s not ‘weak’ to say that you’ve had enough and choose to take things a bit easier. It’s not quitting to take your foot off the gas and redirect your energy to something that will replenish and refresh you.  Working all the hours doesn’t have to be the badge of honor that you choose to wear.  Remember, the quicker you respond to signs of burnout, the faster you can reclaim your balance. You don’t have to wait to hit rock bottom before making changes to your life and routine.  You can choose to act now.   #2. NO is a complete sentence Burnout is often a symptom of overwhelm and overload. One way this happens is when we forget to instil and protect boundaries in our lives.  You have a finite amount of energy and attention to use every day. Demand too much, and your energy gets diluted.  Take note of the things you agree to - especially if you’re a people pleaser or an over-giver. Too many yeses, and either your life will have no breathing room, or you’ll start dumping the things you wanted to do in favor of the demands that others placed on you.   It’s worth remembering that NO is a complete sentence. What’s more, you don’t have to justify your decision or make excuses either.  If you don’t have the time and energy available, you don’t have to overwhelm yourself with more.  Take back your time from unreasonable requests and demands. Give yourself the freedom to take back control over your valuable minutes and priceless energy.  When more of your life is taken up by the things you care about, the likelihood of burnout begins to decrease.  #3. Don’t wait for a vacation!  When your life is crazy busy, it’s tempting to push off the reality by relying on vacations for rest and replenishment.  The question is, are you living to work - or are you working to live?  Do you really want your precious free time to be taken over with recharging your battery because everyday life is overwhelming and exhausting? That’s not what vacations and weekends are for! Instead, choose to make space for rest, relaxation, and replenishment in your everyday life.  • Make self-care a routine instead of a once-in-a-blue-moon treat. • Carve out space for exercise - choosing the activity that feels best for you, whether that’s walks in nature, yoga, running, cycling, or the gym. • Get in the habit of having enough sleep every day. It’s a productivity hack, I guarantee! • Make it a priority to eat nourishing, nutritional foods.• Invest in mindfulness - whether that’s meditation, breathwork, or journaling. If there’s protected space in your everyday life when you can come back to yourself, you’ll find it easier to keep overwhelm under control.  #4. Feel supported We’re not supposed to do life alone.  We’re better together, and we’re stronger when we have friends and family that we can lean on during times of challenge.  Cultivate your support team now. Find those people with who you can be honest and vulnerable. That way, when you do feel the heat rising in your life, you have somewhere safe to go.  They say that a problem shared is a problem halved - and it’s true.  Talking to someone about what’s really happening can take the edge off.  Knowing you’re not alone can help reduce feelings of isolation.  Getting it off your chest and having a bit of a moan can help free up the space and perspective you need to reclaim your power and autonomy.  You’ve got this.  #5. Check-in on your priorities Finally, check in on your priorities.  Reviewing your calendar/planner is an excellent way to work through this. For example, if you say that your relationship is your top priority, yet there’s no space on your calendar for quality time together, it’s probably worth looking at how you schedule your life.  We live in a world of infinite possibilities and limited time.  We can do ANYTHING, but we can’t do everything.  The more we understand ourselves, the more we can realign with the truth of who we are. The more we know what matters most, the more intentional we can be about organising our day and creating our lives.  Take some time to get clear on what’s most important to you.  Then be radically honest… What are you prepared to do to ensure your life reflects the things you say matter most?  Your life seen through this lens can sometimes be just enough to spark the organizational changes that put you back into the driver’s seat.  Buddha said, “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”  Embrace this philosophy in your life.  Give yourself permission to protect your time and energy; allocating these precious resources in the direction YOU want. In the process, you might steer clear of the misery and pain of burnout.  You’ve got this. 

By Georgina El Morshdy Do you wish you felt successful and fulfilled in more areas of your life?  If so, you’re not alone. In our fast-paced world, there are always new opportunities to explore. No wonder there’s a part of us that wants more money, better relationships, optimum health, more peace of mind, more success in work etc.  But maybe these desires are inevitable? After all, humans are built to grow and evolve, which means it’s normal to have a gnawing sense of ‘what next’ and ‘what else’. The secret is to find your perfect balance. I.e. To craft a life that feels full across all the things you care about [knowing there will always be space for more].  These are powerful times.  We live in a world of infinite possibilities and a finite amount of time. You can’t do everything, but you can do the things that get your time, energy, and resources.  Here are three powerful ways to create the work-life balance you desire for your life today… Key #1. Remember what’s most important Here’s a great quote from Dolly Parton. “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”  At the end of your days, it’s unlikely you’ll wish you spent more time at your desk or in your inbox. Instead, you’ll wish you’d had more adventures, quality time with your loved ones, or time spent doing the things YOU love.  We have to keep this perspective front of mind - because it’s so easy to let our priorities shift when a deadline is looming, or a pile of to-dos remain unfinished or untouched.  It can be helpful to spend some time exploring and writing about what you desire.  What do you want?  Ask yourself this question and get some clarity on your answers. Journal. Go deep. Uncover the self-awareness that reveals what work-life balance looks like for you.  When you know what you want, it will be crystal clear what’s working and what isn’t. This knowledge gives you power - because you’ll see where your focus is needed.  Key #2. Plan for work-life balance You’re right; this key is so obvious… but are we leveraging this key to its fullest potential?  As the saying goes, “what gets planned gets done”.  Time is your most precious, non-renewable resource. Each day, your time bank fills with 1,440 minutes. The question is, are you squandering that time, or are you allocating minutes intentionally across all the things that matter?  It’s hard to create a work-life balance if your relationships and hobbies have to make do with whatever’s left after you’ve finished your work.  This is why we need to create protected space in our schedule for ALL the things we care about.  Allocating time to tasks and activities helps us stay focused on what matters in the moment. Scheduling keeps us more time aware too - meaning we’re less likely to disappear into a social media abyss and come out feeling pressured and behind!  A good plan will show you how you can make space for it all.  Giving you more control, success, and fulfillment in your everyday life.  Key #3. Start creating work-life balance TODAY Mañana, mañana! How many times have you promised yourself that?  It’s so easy to push things off until another time. Kicking the can down the road reduces pressure and creates some breathing space.  But that’s not all...  It’s easy to convince yourself that things will be different in the future. It’s easy to believe that your circumstances would have changed enough for work-life balance to be easier to find.  For example:  When I have more money, I’ll be able to make more space  When the kids start school, I’ll have more time to get healthy When I’ve got a promotion, I’ll have more control over my schedule When I’ve refitted office, I’ll be more productive Etc. etc. etc!  Heads up! Some tough love is coming... These words aren’t promises to your future self. Instead, they are excuses that your present self can use to eliminate the need to do anything different today.  The reality is if you can’t reshape your schedule [or switch up your priorities] to focus on what really matters now, chances are you won’t be able to in the future either.  Especially because the future isn’t real anyway.  It’s just another moment of NOW.  In the words of Eckhart Tolle, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”  With that in mind, pull out your journal and get to writing… What tweaks and shifts can you make - starting NOW - that will create the work-life balance you desire?  Remember, you don’t need to change everything overnight. Work-life balance can emerge as a transition as you get more aligned and clearer with what you want.  What’s more, your definition of work-life balance is a moving target that will change - because you will change as you move through your life.  The key is to do something now. As James Redfield said, where “attention goes, energy flows”. Set that intention for yourself, and things will change and transform as a result.  But don’t take my word for it.  Apply these three keys for yourself and see what magic emerges for you as a result.  You’ve got this. 

By Georgina El Morshdy The problem with a funk is you end up procrastinating. Wasting time can push you behind, which can spiral into feelings of more stress and pressure.  Days like these don’t feel too great - especially when you have deadlines to meet and things you want to get done.  The goods news is there are inspired ways to kick-start motivation and get yourself going.  And if you’re one for introspection, you’ll love how some simple self-questioning can not only get you unstuck but ensure you emerge with more clarity and self-awareness.  Keep reading because I’m going to show you how - in three simple steps.  Step 1. Acknowledge your feelings.  First up, it’s super important that you don’t make yourself wrong for how you’re feeling. ALL feelings are valid. As humans, we have the privilege of experiencing a spectrum of emotions - and we can take something from all of them [even the ones that challenge us]. A positive aspect of feeling demotivated is you can understand how it feels in your body. This can become a learning experience because you get to figure out how to support and guide yourself through these emotions.  In practice, this means owning where you are and dropping the judgement, criticism and any temptation to beat yourself up! After all, it’s tough to get motivated when you’re stuck in negative thoughts and emotions - you don’t need to dig that hole any deeper than it already is!!!  Then, once you’ve allowed yourself to feel the emotions [without guilt], it’s time to understand better what’s driving them.  Step 2. Get to the root of what’s causing the lack of inspiration and motivation.  If we don’t get to the root cause of procrastination, we get distracted by the more obvious surface level causes.  Here are some common reasons for getting into a demotivated place:  1. Boredom. You’re bored. You just can’t find the energy or the ideas or the creativity. You feel lethargic, your brain is foggy, and you just can’t get yourself fired up no matter what you do.  2. Too difficult. Whatever you’re procrastinating over feels too hard. For example, you might tell yourself, “I can’t do this”. You might feel defeated before you’ve even started, and you may fear the consequences of not being able to do said task.  3. Lack of purpose. You don’t feel purposeful, and part of you is wondering, “What’s the point?” 4. Lack of control. You’ve been asked to do something that you don’t want to do [but you have to], and your rebellious streak is resisting!  5. Fear. You know what you have to do, but your own limiting beliefs and stories hold you back and get in your way.  What is the reason for you?  Step 3. Use introspection to reframe and refocus Finally, have a conversation with yourself to take back control of your energy and emotions. Your journal is a great place to do this because you have the space to untangle your thoughts and feelings and discover all the nuances.  Here are some prompts to help direct your introspection for each of the procrastination causes we explored in step 2.  Boredom.  If you’re not feeling it, trying to push through the boredom can make a task take you ten times longer than necessary.  A more effective strategy is to put your energy and attention on something that inspires you and lightens you up.  Ask yourself in your journal what things you can rely on to change your mood. For example, read, take a walk, get into nature, reward yourself to get a shot of dopamine.  Learn more about YOU and what you can do when you know you’re in a funk to change your mood so you can move forward with your life more powerfully.  This mini wins tool can help.  Too difficult.  Too difficult is often a story that’s rooted in a belief about our skills and capabilities.  Turn to your journal and ask yourself why it’s too complicated.  • Separate the facts from the fiction. • Where is your proof? • What are you making the difficulty mean about you?  Then flip the meaning and see the situation as a challenge instead of a problem.  Finally, work through your strategy for getting it done. For example, can you ask for help? Is there some training in which you can invest? Do you simply need to start believing that you do have what it takes?  Overcoming difficulties is one way to make yourself stronger - essential for the journey of your best self.  Lack of purpose. This one can take some soul-searching.  As humans, we have an instinctive desire to feel purposeful. If you feel demotivated because you feel a lack of purpose, you may have some tough choices to make. Maybe it’s a sign that you need to remove this from your life - you can explore your thoughts further in your journal.  Alternatively, look for ways to inject purpose into the task.  • How does your WHY factor in? • How can you infuse your passion or connect the situation with your mission? If you can change the story to reframe the meaning, you can unlock a rush of inspiration that can take you ANYWHERE.  Lack of control.  You may not be able to influence external circumstances, BUT you are in complete control of your reaction to them.  Get introspective about this and have the conversation in your journal…  • What can you say to yourself to give you the feeling of control?• How can you create an environment where you feel autonomous and in the drivers’ seat of your life? • What aspects of the situation are under your influence? Use your journal to help reclaim your personal power because your motivation will soar as a result.  Fear.  This is a BIG one… And also the one that holds the most growth potential.  It’s normal to feel scared when circumstances don’t feel certain. As humans, we thrive on the feeling of safety, BUT growth always happens outside of our comfort zone.  The truth is you can do SOOOOOOO much more than you give yourself credit. The human spirit is amazing. We are so resilient, creative, and brave.  The secret is to transform your relationship with fear so you can embrace it, rather than running in the opposite direction.  After all, how often has your fear been the compass that shows you the way forward into your next realm for growth?  Use your journal to get clearer on what you’re afraid of. [Here’s a cool downloadable tool with guided exercises to help you do that].  Be radically honest with yourself.  It takes bravery and courage to be specific because you have to go deep, but when you can define the demons, it’s a lot easier to face them.  Time is your most valuable, non-renewable resource What’s more important than the amount of time we have is the way we use our minutes.  Sure, you will have days when you feel off and just can’t find your flow. That’s all part of being human. But understand how to unleash inspiration, and you’ll access a power source for life.  Introspection is a powerful skill to master because it helps us to understand better who we are.  And when we know what’s happening under the surface, suddenly, you can move through whatever is sapping your energy with self-compassion, understanding, and empowerment.  That’s personal power.