The world has told you that the more you do the more productive you will be. Sadly, you then are more than willing to trade your valuable time and energy for the possibility of increased happiness and gratification from your life.

You fill your calendar and To-Do list with far more than you are capable of completing. You take great pride by staying in a perpetual motion and work hard to push through your life each and every day. Then, after you have worked yourself to complete exhaustion, feeling totally empty and unrewarded you ask yourself one of these questions: Why am I so unhappy? Why don’t I like what I am doing with my life? When will it get better?

Fortunately, you can change! It is possible to slow down. You can keep your focus. You are capable of prioritizing your life. All it takes is your decision to make better choices. You can start by saying “no” to all those things that just don’t matter. It is possible for you to be a participant in your own life, which will strengthen your overall productivity. Make a schedule for your life. Give yourself permission to take time off. But, most importantly, schedule yourself that necessary breathing room needed to enjoy every day, not just some days.

Start making a difference in your own life this week and enjoy the magic you create for yourself. Remember the steps below for success.

• Start by doing less – choose to identify the things in life that matter most to you. Then, do that!
• Participate in your own life – Be single-minded and focus on one thing at a time.
• Remember to create breathing room – schedule that free time on your calendar.

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

It is far too easy to fall into the belief that being busy somehow creates productivity. When you look at it from the outside, keeping yourself busy often gives the false impression of advancement, intention, determination and emphasis. The facts are that being busy has no inherent value.

If you are not busy taking action toward the life you desire for yourself, more than likely you are spending this time distracting yourself. I know that is what I have done in the past. I even catch myself doing it now from time to time. We keep ourselves so busy that we don't even have the time to see that we are avoiding the situation all together.

However, when you are serious about taking the steps to move your life in the right direction you WILL make time to reflect, learn and apply. The first step is to take an honest look at whether your actions, time and energy are in alignment with the vision you have for your life. Then, you will need to “look under the hood” to see what's really driving you.

Four keys to success in this area are:

• Make time daily to  do a personal check-in for 5 minutes.

• Were your actions in line with your vision?

• Were your actions the best use of your time?

• Finally, take your own advice and keep doing more of what works and do less of what does not work!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

originally posted October 7, 2013

Many times we jump into choosing a life reflecting the positive changes we want for ourselves with an intensity that is, well, not sustainable. We make the decision that it is time to take charge of our lives and things need to change, and now! It is at this time that the internal renovations begin.

And yes, we stay focused for a week or two taking a clear cut action towards change. But, after those two or maybe even three weeks of inspired action our enthusiasm begins to disappear. Both the emotional as well as the mental energy that it takes to sustain this growth and stay focused begins to feel overwhelming at times. Sadly, we lose our confidence and fall back into our old ways of thinking. All that work for nothing! However, there is an answer…

The trick to creating sustainable life change(s) is to take your time. Take baby steps! When you start small and build off those baby steps you give yourself time to save the energy to move forward. It is like drinking water on a long desert travel. Small, consistent sips will get you to the other side. So, take those small, consistent steps one at a time. Stop to breathe and reflect, and take another step towards your goal … a new, healthy you!

Start this week. Look ahead to the finish line. See where you want to be. Then, begin to take those small consistent steps towards your future. Start experiencing how small consistent changes can create big changes in your life.

• Start by looking at the finish line. Where do you want to be?

• Then, take one small, simple step toward the goal. Maybe it is just smiling at a stranger? Whatever it is, take your time. Remember, the tortoise beat the hare!

• Third, continue on your journey by working a little each day to get you there.

• Finally, don’t look back. This is about where you are going, not where you have been. You are moving forward, not backward!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Over the years we have all been trained to believe that a fast paced life will make us more successful. After all, faster is better, faster helps us to be even more productive and when we work faster we will certainly be respected and praised. Or is all this just something we have been led to believe for others personal agendas? You need to take care of yourself. A healthy you will always be the most successful you!

So, while you are always willing to push through life, day in and day out, fill your calendar with more appointments than are humanly possible and trade the happiness you could have today for the happiness that tomorrow “might” bring, you are missing out on what is there for you now!

Fortunately, you, and I, can change. We can get out of this rut we have put ourselves in!

It is possible to learn to slow down. We can be more focused and become there for ourselves, living our own lives. It is possible to create the routines needed to actually strengthen our productivity as well as our efficiency making it possible to enjoy each day.

This week, practice the art of slowing down. Then, you will experience how much more fulfilling life is when you are actually involved in it.

• Start by choosing to make space to breathe each and every day! Take a little “me” time four or five times every day. You can read, meditate, do a puzzle, whatever you find calming to your daily pace.
• Then, create and maintain your To-Do list(s). Manage your time, schedule your life in such a way that you will be able to handle the events you choose to handle. Remember; slow down does not equal death. In fact, slowing down might just equal life!
• Finally, be sure you are always present in everything you choose to do. It is your life, so live it!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Technology is a great tool. It provides an amazing freedom and flexibility to our lives. However, technology can also keep us tied down to work 24/7 if we do not make the choice to separate ourselves and be present in our lives.

When we choose to be constantly plugged in, there is a portion of our energy and focus remains attached on the future. This attachment makes it difficult to connect with the people we love. Additionally, the anticipation of what is yet to come minimizes the moment we are in.

This Memorial Day weekend give the gift of being present. Make the choice to experience the fullness of your life. If you can, take time to notice how time slows down when you are in the here and now.

• GOAL #1: Completely unplug for at least 24 hours
• GOAL #2: Pay close attention to what you experience during this time
• GOAL #3: Repeat as often as you can make time
• GOAL #4: Make the time!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

The world has trained us to believe that more we do the more productive we will be. Because of this, we voluntarily trade our time and energy today for possible joy and satisfaction tomorrow.

We fill up our calendars and over fill our To-Do lists with more events than are humanly possible. We make the choice to stay in constant motion and push through, day after day after day. Then we wonder why we are always exhausted, burned-out and unfilled.

Fortunately, we can change. It is possible to slow down, focus and prioritize. It is possible to make the choice to say “no” to what does not matter. We can choose to be fully present, which will actually increase our productivity. It is possible to create the breathing room we need and still enjoy each and every day.

When we make the choice to remain present in our own lives and stay focused, time magically feels as if it is slowing down. Make the choice to experience the magic it this week.

• Start by doing less – identify what matters most and focus on those things
• Be aware of your actions – only focus on one thing at a time
• Take time to breathe – choose to create space in each and every day
• Finally – enjoy the magic of slowing down to go faster!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!