How to Make Better Decisions

Do you take enough time to make decisions and gather all the information you need to make an educated decision?  Most of us leap into decisions without the time that they deserve to have allocated to them.  These decisions not only impact us today but many of them can affect our future.   Why do we do this to ourselves?

• Time – Many of us make fast decisions because we are afraid to take the time.  Life goes at such a fast pace that we are afraid we will miss something.  Whether is it a good deal, a fun time or an opportunity.  We are also under the belief that we don’t have the time to sit down and analyze the situation so why bother waiting! 
• Positive Thinking – We also make fast decisions because many of us (thankfully) are upbeat and don’t think that in the future this might not have been a great decision.  It is hard to pause and think am I making a mistake.
• Adrenalin – We also have the tendency to get excited and move forward based on adrenalin.  We get so excited about what we are looking at or working on that we just keep going!  Stopping never even enters the picture!

So how do we stop and take the time to make the right decision?

1. Set a rule to always sleep on all major decisions.  This allows the adrenalin rush to slow down and lets all the details of your options to sink in.  Upon waking up you will have a much better idea on what the next logical step is and if the decision is right for you.
2. Ask a friend or family member for their opinion.  Sometimes seeing it from another perspective is a great way to get headed in the right direction.
3. Do a quick pros and cons list.  This will get you looking at both sides and to see the negative that might be there!
4. Brainstorm other options.  Make sure you have thought of all possibilities, and are sure the current one is the way to go!  Another solution might actually be right in front of you.  See number two for additional help in getting new ideas!
5. Most importantly just be aware of yourself when you are in the moment.  Try and tune into your inner voice for signs of likes, dislikes and warning bells going off!  Follow through with what your gut says or at least see number one and just sleep on it!

Taking the time to make decisions will help you feel more confident and sure of those decisions that you do make.  Plus you might even stop yourself from making a bad one now and then which will save you the time of correcting it down the road!

Five Steps to get Your Motivation Going

We all have days that we are not motivated to work, or to do anything for that matter.  Whether you are passionate about what you do or are struggling to find your direction in life you will still have these days!  So what do you do to change your motivation level and get headed in a better direction?  I have a variety of things that work for me, try these out:

1. Workout – always gets me going and refocused on healthy energy.  Sometimes this requires walking with strong coffee to get me going, but it always helps.
2. Build a list of good mood activities- take the time to build a list of things that make you happy that you can do easily.  For me this is includes coffee and a magazine at a local coffee shop.  Having a list ready means that when you need a lift you are ready to go!
3. Watch a motivational video or read something inspirational – I personally use the 212 movie; it is a great motivator (and short)!  
4. Change things up – start the day with something different than what you normally do.  If you typically answer emails and return phone calls first thing in the morning, but you are not in the mood to interact with people do some filing or other activity to get started.  Many times this is all it takes to get you on your way.
5. Give yourself 10 minutes – tell yourself that you are going to work on your activity for 10 minutes and then if your mood does not change you can do something else.  It is amazing how 10 minutes can turn into an hour!

Now you should be on your way to a motivation filled day!  If not, remember it is one day.  Tomorrow will be different especially when you love your direction in life!

Reach your Goals with small steps, small times and consistency

Many times we find ourselves overwhelmed with the prospect of reaching our goals.  We become focused on the achievement of the goal and try to accomplish it by going for it all at once.   We focus on the loose 20 pounds by December instead of loose two pounds this week.  This makes us feel like we are constantly working on that goal and yet not getting anywhere.  This leads to feeling defeated and wanting to stop since we don’t seem to be reaching our goals even though we are working on them!  So how do we change that?  Three easy steps: focus on the basics, take life in small segments and be consistent! 

When looking at the basics of a goal you take the smallest task that will get you to your goal and then do that.  By breaking our goals down to small basic steps we can make our goals to become a reality.  So instead of loose 20 pounds we focus on walk 40 minutes a day and not eating junk food.

Take life in small segments; break your day down to 15 minute sections.  You can get that 40 minutes of exercise in if you focus on just getting a few minutes done at a time.  It is much easier to say I am going to avoid junk food for fifteen minutes than it is to say the whole day.  Plus, once you start something you tend to stick with it after about 10 minutes. 

The third ingredient is to do the small things consistently.  You need to walk at least five days a week and eat healthy multiple days to see any affect.  You cannot try and achieve your goals for one or two days and wonder why it did not work.  It is the repetition of the activity over time that will get us to our goals.

You can achieve your goals, it just takes the time to plan the small steps, the will to focus on the here and now and the discipline to do it every day!  In no time you will be on your way!

Five Steps to more Simplicity and Happiness

Does simplicity help us lead a life filled with happiness?  I have found that as my life gets simpler, which I have been actively working on for four years now, it does get happier.  There is less stress, less stuff to do, less stuff in my way and ultimately the important part – more of what I really want in my life.  How can you make your life simpler?  Five easy steps can take you there.

1. Clear the clutter – if you have not used something in a year and don’t plan to use it then get rid of it!  Extra stuff lying around only causes more hassle; less space, more to clean and more to manage.  It is time to part with it some of your stuff!
2. Consolidate – do you have 3 savings accounts, two checking accounts and 3 credit cards?  Combine them to one of each!  It makes balancing and paying things that much easier!  Look for other areas of your life other than money that you can consolidate.  Do your three kids go to three different soccer clubs?  Choose one!
3. Reduce your scheduled commitments – this really helps you have time to do the things you want.  Limit the kids on the number of activities they can participate in.  Reduce your extra activities to only those that you really love.  Practice the art of saying NO!
4. Outsource – do you have a task that you don’t want to do or don’t have the time? Consider having someone else do it!  With someone else doing it you have more time to focus on what you want to do!  I for one know that having someone else clean the bathroom makes me VERY happy!
5. Analyze – always take the time to evaluate if a purchase is truly needed, or if a commitment is really what you want.  Make sure all of your decisions get you to where you want to go.  If they don’t they are not worth it and should be pushed aside!  Make every decision a conscious decision. 

Not sure simplicity will make you happier or that you can achieve it?  Try just one of the tips above, make a small change for a month or two and see how it goes.  You may be hooked on simplifying and be happier than you ever thought you could be!  There is only way to find out!

Staying motivated, Positive and Happy

It can be very hard to stay motivated, positive and happy.  Especially with continually negative news (even when not warranted) and the day to day responsibilities that most of us have.  I myself find I can struggle to keep going even though I love what I do.  Some days I just want to throw my hands in the air and call it quits, but I don’t.  I do keep going.  How?  Usually I take a bit of recovery time for myself and try to refocus my energy to the positive. 

Yesterday was one of those days, so I pulled out some affirmations I use, committed myself to a media sabbatical (only positive things going in), put exercise first and reminded myself of my priorities.  Amazingly after only half a day I feel more revived than sometimes a long weekend can revive me!

 I challenge you, instead of being cranky or negative refocus yourself and get back to working on what you love.