I produce mental and physical traction through time management and constant activity.

Consistent action and good time management skills keep me focused on where I want to go.

Therefore, I take the time to plan my day according to my priorities and then follow my schedule to the best of my ability.

It’s like having enough traction on the tires of my car.

Traction keeps it from slipping and sliding on the road so I don’t end up in a ditch somewhere.

Likewise, time management is like a set of good tires.

They keep me from slipping off into distractions.

I find that the more I improve my time management skills, the easier it is for me to stay on track.

For example, scheduling some easy tasks first allows me to get started quickly and build momentum.

Building in flexibility in my schedule gives me the time to deal with important distractions so I can get back to my tasks with time to spare.

Constant activity enables me to be productive.

One of the laws of physics states that a body in motion tends to stay in motion, while a body at rest tends to stay at rest.

It takes more energy to get a body at rest going again than it does to just keep it going.

With this knowledge, I limit my periods of inactivity, like sitting on the couch watching TV.

I know how hard it is to get back up and get motivated for my tasks again, so I rest when my body or mind needs rest, and I stay active the majority of the time.

Today, I am taking the time to create an efficient, flexible schedule so I can stay active until my tasks are done.

How can you include some flexibility in your schedule?

How much time do you spend watching TV when you could be working toward your goals?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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I use time management to create fresh opportunities.

Developing my time management skills not only makes me more efficient, giving me more time for the things I want to do, but it also brings new opportunities for success.

Each day, I am sure to include some time to complete tasks that move me closer to my goals.

On my daily schedule, I leave some wiggle room.

This gives me the time to break away from the normal daily tasks to handle distractions without putting me behind schedule.

I find that I am well prepared for distractions and can easily get right back on track.

My wiggle room also gives me the time to pursue new opportunities when I see them. I can keep myself open to recognizing and taking action on new opportunities as they come up, rather than be a slave to the tasks on my list.

Good time management also lets me include time for myself, which brings all sorts of possibilities.

I can develop new interests, skills, and hobbies, and each one creates its own brave new world of fresh opportunities!

Managing my time well gives me the time to keep myself healthy, both mentally and physically.

It allows for variety and excitement and it keeps me alert to new possibilities.

Today, I plan to arrange my schedule according to my priorities and include plenty of wiggle room so I can get things done, while still having time to pursue new interests.

How can you use good time management to help you with your busy day?

How can you include more wiggle room in your schedule?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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Living in the Moment – Succeeding One Moment at a Time

When you live consciously in the present moment, you’re free from the stresses of life.

It enables you to feel calm and to think with an astounding clarity.

Living in the moment sounds easy, but it will take some effort until you get into the habit.

After all, with so much going on around us, it’s easy to get distracted by fears, worries, frustrations, and stress.

But once you get used to it, though, you’ll wonder how you could have lived any other way!

What can you do to make living in the moment your way of life?

Try these steps in order to gain present-moment thinking:

1. Meditate. The very point of meditation is to live in the present moment and accept things just as they are.

It’s a practice that you’ll get better at the more you do it.

To help quiet your mind, the best thing you can do is focus on your breathing and keep striving to release your thoughts with each breath you take.

2. Accept the past. You’ll feel better about yourself once you learn to accept past situations.

There’s nothing you can do to change the past.

Bringing the past into your present only clouds your present thinking and makes it harder for you to concentrate on the present moment.

Thoughts of the past will still arise, but when you learn to accept it for what it is, you’ll be able to return to the present moment without regret or grief.

3. Accept the future. On the other side of the coin, you also need to accept the future.

You ultimately have no idea about what’s going to happen, and worrying about it won’t make an ounce of difference.

How much time do you waste in a day by sitting around thinking about what you’re going to do?

When you stop thinking, you have more time to actually do it!

4. Be mindful. When you’re mindful, you pay close attention to what you’re doing in the present.

You may think it’s just a mundane chore, but it’s important to do it with an open mind.

Open up your senses to what you’re doing.

You might be overwhelmed with positive feelings that you didn’t know existed.

5. Get in touch with nature. Take some time to get in touch with nature.

You can go for a walk or just sit under a tree.

There aren’t many things that can open you up to the present moment like opening up to the vastness of nature.

Remember To Relax

As long as you maintain a relaxed attitude, you can achieve conscious living if you keep trying.

It may help to think of yourself and your brain as separate entities.

Your brain can be thinking thoughts all over the place while your “self” watches.

When you maintain the wisdom to realize that your thoughts are out of control, the self can pull you back into the present.

Of course these goals are best achieved through meditative practice, but you can also try any activity that you find relaxing if meditation isn’t for you.

While you’re relaxing, pay attention to your breathing and try to take deep breaths.

Remind yourself that, in this moment, the past and the future don’t matter in the least.

After you’ve successfully added present moment thinking to a relaxing part of your day, it’s time to spread the awareness to other times of the day.

The more time you can spend in the present, the better.

Live in the here and now, and enjoy a more fulfilling life!

What can you do now to start enjoying life?

How can this help you become a better person?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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Pressed for Time? Delegate!

The only way to make sure things get done right is to do it yourself, right?

Well, there comes a time when you can only do so much in one day.

Learning to delegate allows you to grow as a person.

When you delegate effectively, you can improve your life all around because you’re no longer a one-man band that’s trying to entertain the world on your own!

Delegating At Work

You might find it tough to delegate at work, especially if you feel like no one can get the job done as well as you.

Rest assured, though, that others can do a quality job, but only if you give them the opportunity.

They may not do it in exactly the same way as you would have, and that’s okay!

At some point you need to let go of perfection and allow others to help.

If you have staff available at work, or the ability to outsource work to other companies and individuals, then you have the makings of a great team that can help you grow and succeed.

Consider delegating these tasks:

Anything that involves data entry.

Repetitive tasks such as photo copying or filing.

Fact finding missions and data collection.

Writing.

Design work.

It’s up to you to decide which functions can be fulfilled by someone else.

Once you’ve chosen a person capable of the task, it’s time to consider some detailed plans.

Always ensure that your instructions are clear.

Provide details and examples of the end result that you expect and don’t focus so much on the steps they need to use in order to get there.

If it’s technical work, you can create short video tutorials using free software called Jing, or provide templates and checklists.

If needed, you can check up on the people doing your tasks.

Ask how things are going or tell them that you expect progress reports every day or week.

This will help you to maintain a handle on whether or not things are on track.

In the end, you must maintain trust that everything will turn out right.

While everything may not be exactly as you expected, delegation can still save you lots of time, stress, and headaches.

Delegating At Home 

You can apply your delegation skills to your home life as well.

You certainly don’t need to come off as a dictator, but you can have family meetings in order to get a better idea about everyone’s expectations.

Write out a list of all the home tasks that need to be completed.

Decide a fair distribution of who will do what and maintain some clear deadlines.

Don’t forget that your children can complete some of the simpler tasks as a part of a chore schedule.

Consider some type of reward, especially if you expect the little ones to be active participants.

It’s a great motivator to reward each other every so often.

If everyone has done a great job, consider a family dinner out to relax and let loose.

Evaluate The Results

Whether you’re involved with a plan for work or home delegation, it’s important to evaluate the results.

If you’re especially upset about how something has turned out, think about what you can do differently next time in order for things to go according to plan.

Remember to maintain trust and awareness about what is going on around you.

Delegation can be a full time job in itself, but when done right it can provide an improved lifestyle for you and everyone around you.

What tasks do you need to delegate at home?

How about at work?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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My commitment to my loved ones is building forever roots.

My highest priority is for those I love.

Showing them my love in all that I do and say is a positive force that brings lasting happiness to us all.

I show my commitment to my family even in my everyday, routine activities.

When I cook a meal, I do it with love.

Not only do I foster good nutrition in my choices, but I also put special touches on it to let them know I care.

Little things like pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse or heart-shaped cakes bring more fun and love into our life!

When I work, I know that I am doing it not only for myself, but for my family in order to provide the things we need and want.

This gives me motivation and patience to persevere even when work may be irritating.

When I am at home with my family, I make time for each and every person.

This lets them know how special and loved they are.

They know that, no matter what, I’ll always be there for them.

The way I treat my loved ones nurtures and supports them.

I purposely build their confidence in themselves and avoid ever saying anything that berates them.

I respect them and their thoughts and ideas.

As a result, my spouse is happy and my children are growing into confident, joyful adults, making the same commitment to nurture their loved ones as well. It’s a never-ending cycle of love!

Today, I plan to spend some time with each member of my family and let my love shine through in my thoughts, words, and actions.

How can you show your love to your family in your everyday activities?

How have you included time in your schedule for family activities?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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How to Get More Done in Less Time

Do you find yourself wishing there were more hours in the day?

Our lives are so filled with work, family, and appointments that we often can’t seem to fit in everything we need to accomplish in a 24-hour day.

But what if we could accomplish more in less time?

If this were actually possible, it would allow us more time with those we care about and more time to focus on ourselves.

The good news is: there are simple strategies you can use to make the most of your days!

These tips will enable you to get more done in less time:

1. Make a list. Write out everything that you need to accomplish, and then joyfully cross off each task as you complete it.

As you see your list dwindling, it’ll provide the needed motivation to get the rest of the list done, too. 

Put your list on the refrigerator, in your daily planner, or on the computer. Keep it somewhere handy so you can look at it often and stay focused.

2. Prioritize effectively. Determine which tasks are most important and what can possibly wait until later on in the day, week, or month.

If this is something you’re having trouble with, you may be trying to squeeze in tasks that can actually be put on hold for a future time. 

Note the deadlines for your tasks.

If your in-laws are coming to visit, then cleaning the guest bathroom takes priority over re-organizing the basement.

3. Avoid procrastinating. Far too many people put things off to the last possible minute.

When this happens, we rush frantically to accomplish everything, but we end up doing a cruddy job and get ourselves all worked up for no good reason.

There is a better way! 

Use your morning hours wisely and get tasks started early in the day.

Chances are you’ll finish them in one day rather than having it drag into a second day because you didn’t have enough time to get things done.

For some, this may mean waking up an hour or two earlier instead of sleeping an hour or two later. 

4. Do the unpleasant tasks first. A great time management trick is to get the things you dislike out of the way first.

If you keep putting it off, you’ll attempt to squeeze it in somewhere, and you’ll get the feeling of being overwhelmed. 

Schedule something fun after you finish your to-do list. This will motivate you to complete the list quicker.

5. Multi-task if you can. If you’re able to accomplish two things at once, then by all means do it.

If you can put dinner on the stove while making a doctor’s appointment or wait for a load of laundry to finish while you mend a pair of pants, you can cut your time in half.

6. Don’t sacrifice the quality of the tasks you’re performing.

If you burn dinner because you were looking at the calendar to make an appointment, this only wastes more of your time in the long run. 

Unfortunately, there are days where it seems like we don’t have enough of the precious gift of time.

Thankfully, we can improve our time management skills so we’re able to accomplish more in any given day.

Improving these skills will reduce your stress level and give you more time to do the things that make you happy, leading to a more peaceful and fulfilling life.

How successful have you been lately about time management?

How much time have you given for yourself, your family, and your responsibilities?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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I am tipping the scale of time management in my favor by removing stagnation and adding motivation.

My time management skills weigh in with a lot more benefits when I replace the activities that waste my time with the things that inspire me.

This one replacement allows me to be more productive in less time and still have plenty of room in my schedule for rest and relaxation.

When I do the things I enjoy, they rejuvenate me, making me even more motivated when I return to my tasks!

I recognize that stress and worry are the heaviest causes of stagnation.

They waste my time, distract my focus, and turn productive energy into harmful effects.

The more stress and worry I can remove, the better off I am.

I choose to replace worry with optimism and a joyful outlook on life.

When I know deep down that everything will turn out for the best, I have less stress.

When I remember to look for the silver lining, I am choosing to appreciate the best that life has to offer.

Instead of worrying about things at night before I sleep, or starting off my day worrying what is to come, I use this time to meditate, relax, and revive my motivation.

Instead of spending so much time watching television, I actively engage in self-improvement activities to boost my body, mind, and spirit.

Today, my plan is to take note of all activities that I feel are wasting my time and replace them with something that inspires me.

How much time do you spend watching TV?

How can you change your outlook of life to appreciate more of the good things it has to offer?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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How to Avoid Procrastination

Procrastination is an issue a lot of us deal with (or put off dealing with) for as long as possible.

Procrastination usually happens when you’re faced with doing something you don’t like to do, don’t know how to do, or fear.

When you procrastinate, it can upset a lot of things in your life.

Delaying completing projects can affect your income, relationships, and self-esteem – not to mention your credibility!

In addition, it doesn’t just affect you; it affects everyone else close to you:

It can irritate your spouse and children and teach your kids to put things off, too.

Your friends might decide they can no longer trust you to do what you say.

It causes issues with your boss and co-workers who have to step in and do your work for you (until you get fired)!

It frustrates anyone who has to wait on you to get something done before they can do their part.

As bad as it seems, however, there are ways you can overcome your procrastination!

Even if you’ve been putting some projects off for months, or if it has become a daily habit, you can still get back on track.

Follow these tips to transform yourself into someone who gets things done:

1. Divide and conquer.

Most tasks are composed of several different pieces, which is why you’ll want to divide the task into a series of attainable action steps.

Breaking it down this way makes it seem a lot easier.

Put some easy steps at the beginning that you can accomplish quickly.

Jump right in and complete those first easy steps.

This will give you the confidence to continue, build momentum, and motivate you to get it finished.

2. Get some help. Don’t let pride get in the way of letting you get something accomplished.

If your time is short, ask someone to help with some of the tasks for you, especially the easy ones that can be dispatched quickly.

This will give you more time to focus on the more difficult portions of the project.

Form a team and divide up the project.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work!

Learning to delegate helps make you more successful.

If your delayed projects are at home, let your children do the parts of the project they can handle.

They’ll learn some valuable life skills, too.

If you’re unsure of what to do, ask someone who’s done something similar before.

They can quickly bring you up to speed.

Once it’s no longer a mystery, you’ll find it’s not as much of a challenge as you thought! 

3. Make a list. Write down all the things that you’ve been putting off so you have a concrete listing of exactly what you need to complete.

Put them in order of their priority. This way you’ll be sure to get the most important ones done first.

Divide each project into attainable tasks as explained above.

Post it where you can see it throughout the day.

Cross off each task as you finish it. Just the action of crossing something off that list makes you feel good and motivates you to get more done.

4. Reward yourself after you complete the full project.

5. Start some new habits. Now that you know some easier ways to get things done, use these same tips each day for every project that comes up.

Instead of just putting it aside for later, divide your project immediately into attainable smaller tasks, delegate what you can, and do something on it right away.

Make it a point to do this consciously for a few weeks and it will become a habit.

Most experts agree that it takes three weeks to turn a conscious action into a habit.

Bernard Meltzer said: “Hard work is often easy work you didn’t get done at the proper time.”

How true! The longer you put off doing a task or project, the harder it’ll be to get it done because more work has piled up, conditions have gotten worse, and others involved are now irritated with you.

Make your work easier and your life more enjoyable by following these tips to overcome your procrastination and avoid it in the future. You’ll be glad you did!

What are some considerations that you have when you try to put something off for another day?

How can you push yourself to start doing those things now?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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10 Practical Time Saving Tips

Are you looking for practical ways to save time without cutting corners?

Then you’ve come to the right place.

Here are 10 practical time saving tips you can start using today.

1. Menu Planning: Planning meals in advance not only saves time, but it also saves you money.

When you plan your meals for the week, you won’t be running to the grocery store every day to get the things you need.

Another plus to meal planning is not being tempted to eat out as often.

Meal planning is simple and easy to do and, with a little research for recipes online, you can plan something different for every meal for a month or more.

2. Scheduling: By creating and sticking to a daily schedule, you’ll save enormous amounts of time because you can stay focused on the task at hand, instead of what’s next.

You’ll also want to add events to a family calendar on the fridge, that way you’ll know when and where each family member needs to be for their different activities.

Plus, you’ll avoid the last minute rush and forgotten appointments when your schedule is centralized.

3. Keep Lists: Having lists of all the things you need to do in a day will help you stay on task, while giving you a sense of accomplishment as you cross off each item.

Without a list, you tend to be more scatterbrained.

You’ll find yourself repeating unnecessary steps or thoughts in order to get things done.

4. Organization: Being organized is one of the biggest time savers there is. When you’re organized, it’s easy to find what you need and be on your way.

When you’re physically organized, you’ll feel mentally organized, too.

Also, once you get used to putting everything in its place, the stress of losing your keys or phone vanishes.

The key is that, once you’re organized, you’ve got to stay organized!

5. Complete Your Errands In One Trip: When you need to get some errands done, try to schedule them into one morning or afternoon.

The biggest waste of your time is the “in-between” time while you wait for the next task or appointment.

As you know, frequently stopping and starting tasks stifles your productivity and wastes precious time.

6. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate! Whenever possible, delegate the daily chores or appointments to other capable family members or colleagues.

We have the strength of communities, families, and teams for a reason. You don’t have to do everything yourself.

7. Get Rid of Distractions: If you spend most of your time on the computer, turn off the programs that easily tear you away from the task at hand.

Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook can be a huge distraction that sucks up valuable time.

When you focus more intently on getting things done, you’ll find that you’ll have more time for social networking and fun.

8. Learn to Say No: Once in a while, you’ll be asked to do more than time allows.

In these moments, you must learn to say no politely, and then either delegate the task or re-schedule for a more appropriate time.

By respecting your time, others will respect you, too.

9. Utilize Idle Time: While sitting in a waiting room or during your daily commute, use your time wisely.

You can catch up on emails, work on that important report, or plan out your shopping list.

Whatever it is, when you use idle time, you’re giving yourself more quality time with your family when you’re home.

10. Group Similar Tasks: Learning to incorporate tasks together that you can do at the same time will save you lots of time in the long run.

Do the dishes or pick up around the house while chatting on the phone.

When you go to the restroom, spray some cleanser in the sink and quickly wipe it down when you’re finished.

When you de-clutter a table or countertop, dust it off at the same time.

When you go to turn off the TV the kids left on, take a dust cloth with you and give it a couple of quick swipes.

Saving time doesn’t have to cut into your lifestyle.

By adopting and incorporating just a few of these ideas, you’ll soon spend more time doing the things you want to do!

How much time do you save in a day?

What activities can you do more of if you had the time to do it?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

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