24 hours in a day.

4,732 things to do.

Only 1 you.

If you’re struggling with time management, you probably feel like you’re always busy, being pulled in a million different directions and there’s just not enough time to get everything done.

While there are indeed only 24 hours in the day, there are ways to make your day go smoother, calmer, and more efficient.

It all comes down to prioritization and organization.

Here’s how to prioritize tasks on your “to-do list” and get more done while still having time to relax.

* This post contains affiliate links. I am a Bluehost, Thrive Themes, ConvertKit & Tailwind affiliate, meaning that if you click on a qualifying  link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. 

3D Success, LLC. is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Please read the Disclaimer for more info.

Where Does My Time Go?

The first order of business is to evaluate your current methods of time management.

Do you have any systems, habits, or routines in place to boost your productivity and keep yourself on track?

If you aren’t sure how you manage to be so busy and yet still not accomplish much, it’s a good idea to see exactly how much time you are spending on various tasks throughout the day.

One way to do this is by logging all your daily activities on a time tracker for a few day, or at least 24 hours.  

(If it’s going to social media or TV, it might be time for a digital detox!)

In order for this to work, you must be honest. No one has to see the tracker but you.

The time tracker will show you where all your time is going. When you look at your log, pay attention to:

-What things are taking your attention away from what’s most important to you?

-Which manual processes can be automated? Are there any that can be delegated for free/low cost?

-When are you most productive/energetic? Keep that in mind when making your schedule in the future and plan to do your most important or difficult tasks during those times whenever possible.

Make Things Easier and More Efficient for Yourself

As I mentioned earlier, the key to better time management is prioritization and organization.

They go hand in hand.

You must first decide what’s most important to you and then organize your schedule around that.

Remember that you only have so many hours in a day and you are only one person so be realistic with how much you can actually do while still leaving some flexibility in your schedule for self care and unforeseeable things that might pop up.

Everything can’t be a priority, so it’s up to you to evaluate and prioritize tasks and then say no and set boundaries.

Things will also go a lot smoother if you organize your physical space as well. Clutter not only takes up space in your home, it also takes up space in your mind!

So, be ruthless when decluttering – reduce or eliminate those distractions as much as possible. Remember that it takes about 20 minutes to refocus after being distracted from a task.

And once again, it comes down to what’s more important to you? A clutter-free space in which you can be productive – or the stuff?

This reminds me of something that the ladies from The Home Edit like to say – you either get the item or you get the space. Choose wisely.

How to Schedule Your Day for Productivity (and Relaxation)

A surefire way to kill your productivity is to overload your schedule.

Then, you won’t be able to do anything at all because you’re so burnt out. Or, the quality of your work will suffer to such a degree that you might as well not have done anything at all.

So, keep that in mind when planning your to-do’s for the day.

Prioritize tasks, pad your schedule and leave some space “blank” for personal time.

It is imperative to maintain flexibility to account for the realities of life. We all know that things don’t always go as planned so “expect the unexpected” – (any fellow Big Brother fans reading this? )

Setting boundaries is a crucial skill to have when it comes to time management. You have to say no to some things in order to say yes to others. So, once again, choose wisely.

Streamline your workflow and routines whenever possible to avoid decision fatigue.

Try to prioritize tasks that will save you time and energy in the long run. For example, instead of deciding what to make for dinner each day and then cooking it, why not plan ahead of time? Maybe even do some meal prep for the week - one less thing for you to worry about.

Is It Good to Multitask?

There are some times when it’s good to multitask. Like when you are washing dishes and being mindful at the same time. Or when you are doing yoga and meditation at the same time.

And then there are times when it is not good to multitask. Like when you are spending time with your family. Or when you are driving. (Put the phone down!)

Research actually shows that it hurts your brain to multitask and actually hurts productivity more than it helps.

A more efficient alternative is task batching. Simply group similar tasks together and complete them at the same time.

For example, I post an average of 20 pins a day on Pinterest as part of the marketing for my blog… but I don’t actually pin every day. Rather, I take a few hours out of one day to schedule my pins for the entire week using Tailwind, an automated social media scheduler.

Batching tasks together solves the problem of having to switch tasks (which leads to reduced efficiency and accuracy) and allows your brain to do what it does best – focus on one thing at a time.

Take Out Threats to Your Success

When it comes to time management, it’s not all about offensive tactics – there are some defensive ones to employ as well!

Threats to your success are everywhere – your phone, your computer, Netflix, junk food, negative people in your life … the list goes on and on.

Some of the main things that interfere with success include:

-Procrastination

There is often an underlying cause of procrastination. It’s not usually just because someone is lazy (although that’s definitely a real possibility).

One of the reasons you might be procrastinating is lack of clearly defined goal. When you don’t know what exactly you’re working towards, it’s hard to focus your efforts.

Have you thought about creating a personal development plan? It can help you get clear on what you want to do with your life and what needs to change in order to make that happen.

-Stress & Anxiety

Another underlying reason for procrastination is stress. When you’re stressed out, it’s hard to focus and be productive. If this is something you struggle with, check out these articles on building resilience and natural remedies for anxiety.

-Mindset/Perception

Some experts argue that overwhelm is state of mind, just like happiness. It’s not the sheer number of things you have going on that makes you overwhelmed. It’s how you view those things.

So, how do you think about your responsibilities/obligations?

Examine your internal dialogue. Make sure you are using positive language with yourself.

Try switching your mindset from “get to” instead of “have to”. For example, I get to work out instead of I have to work out.

-Lifestyle

Lifestyle factors influence just about everything from mental health to productivity.

If you’re not getting enough sleep and you’re not feeding yourself the right nutrients, your body and mind simply cannot perform well.

Make sure you are getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Limit your sugar and refined food intake. Exercise on most days.

You’ve heard it all before – but these are the absolute most important things you can do to improve your life as a whole, not just increase your productivity.

How Do I Prioritize Tasks on My To-Do List?

If you are overwhelmed, there is a good change you have a skewed sense of priorities.

What I mean by that is - you aren’t living in alignment with your true values. You aren’t focusing your efforts on what’s most important to you.

In order to get the most important tasks done, you must prioritize your goals and then strategically eliminate the lesser priority tasks.

Keep in mind that everything can’t be important. There can only be one top priority. If you are trying to do a million things, chances are the one thing that’s most important to you is not being given the attention it deserves.

So, ask yourself what you are missing out on by not prioritizing tasks that are most important to you and eliminating what’s not. The answer to that question will help you to understand the heavy costs of continuing your behavior.

To-Do Lists vs. Long Term Goals

Some people have one giant to-do list with everything on it.

And that’s why the list never gets done.

To-do lists should only include things that can be done now and completed in one step.

Aspirational “to-do’s” and projects that take multiple steps to complete should be saved for your brain dump.  (unfinished business creates stress – try writing things down to take a load off your mind).

However, the same principle applies when it comes to completing long term goals – what’s one thing you can do right now to move yourself closer to accomplishing your goal. What’s your next action step?

If it’s something that takes no more than 10 minutes, do it immediately.  

If it’s a multi-step goal that will take a while to complete, chunk it down into smaller goals until you have one thing that you can accomplish right away.

Or else, you may become so overwhelmed by the thought of the big goal that you never actually start to work towards it. Remember,

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." - Earl Nightingale

Tackling Your Goals One Step at a Time

The Chunking Method

The formula for success when it comes to reaching your goals is to prioritize tasks and then tackle them one step at a time.

First, clearly define your goal – make sure it is SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Then, make a list of all the steps it will take to accomplish your goal.

Keep breaking those steps down until you have a list of mini-goals.

Eventually, you will have one action step that will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Do that now.

Keep moving through the list until you’ve completed all the mini goals and by the end, you will have reached your big goal!

This method works even if you are super busy. Just do the 10-minute action step and then at the same time the next day, do the next 10 minute action step, and so on and so forth.

Here are some Brain Dump Worksheets to help you prioritize tasks and goals- 

 Head over to the Freebie Library (a regularly updated collection of free downloadable self-help content) to download your Brain Dump Worksheets.

How to Stay Focused and Motivated

Motivation is not a perpetual state of being; it waxes and wanes. You have to work on staying motivated to reach your goals.

One way to stay focused and motivated is to write your goal down and keep it somewhere visible. Studies show that people who write their goals down are more likely to achieve them.

But while you should keep in mind what your ultimate goal is, only focus on what you have to do right now.

Make a prioritized list for yourself either the night before or first thing in the morning. Your list should contain no more than 5 or 6 items max, but 1-2 prioritized tasks that must get done.

Number your tasks in order of importance from #1 to #5 in order of importance. Only focus on your to-do list for that day and consciously block out future tasks until immediate ones have been completed.

These small wins will help keep you motivated over time. Also, keep track of your successes- write them down, even the smallest ones. How will you celebrate those wins? Create a reward system and stick to it.

Two Ways to Efficiently Tackle Your To-Do List

There are two efficient ways to go about tackling your to-do list – see what works best for you.

Either “eat the frog” (paid link) and do the biggest, most daunting task first. Or get some easy, smaller tasks out of the way to create momentum.

(This is similar to the strategies used for paying off debt. There is the avalanche method which involves paying off debts from highest to lowest interest rate regardless of the balance. And then there is the snowball method, which involves paying off the smallest balances first while paying the minimum on larger debts. It’s all psychology! Which one works best for you?)

It is also important to review and edit your lists once a week because things change. It doesn’t make sense to stick to something that has become unrealistic or no longer works for you.

How to Find Time for Yourself

Through all of this, it’s important to find time for yourself.

So, what are some things you like to do? How can you make time for them?

What obstacles are in your way? How can you get rid of them?

Remember to pad your schedule and leave yourself time for self care.

Absolutely no one will die because you took time for yourself throughout the day.

You do have time for a morning yoga routine, exercise, meditation, breathing, bathing, and any other healthy habits that are important to you.

So, instead of thinking of it in terms of “finding” time, think of it as “making” time. Make time for yourself. Factor self care into your schedule.

It’s just as important if not more than everything else on your list. And what’s more, you won’t be able to do everything else on your list if you don’t take care of yourself first!

Self Care is Essential for Everyone

(Yes, even you and I don’t care how busy you are. In fact, the more busy you are, the more essential it is!)

What do you usually do in terms of self-care?

If you don’t practice self care regularly, ask yourself why you don’t make time for yourself?

Do you feel like you’re not worth it? Or that someone else deserves it more than you? That you’re just not that important? Or do you think self care is selfish?

If so, I encourage you to work on changing those limiting beliefs and understand what self care is really all about.

There are ways to incorporate mindfulness and self care into your everyday routine. For example:

-Take 5 minutes to meditate or stretch in bed

-Do a shower/bath meditation

-Meditate while practicing yoga

-Go for a walk

-Be mindful while washing dishes or cleaning

-Practice mindful eating

-Follow a Self Care Sunday routine

I hope these time management tips helped you to prioritize tasks and get more of the important stuff done while still making time for yourself.

I’m curious – do you prefer the avalanche or snowball method when it comes to tackling your to-do list? Leave a comment!

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A success mindset is key to achieving anything in life.

Your mindset is the foundation upon which everything else is built – your goals, actions, and ultimate outcomes all flow from the way you think.

That’s why it’s so important to develop and maintain an optimistic, confident mindset.

When you’re positive, life is happier and good things tend to flow your direction.

And although it does take some time and effort, you can achieve the success mindset you need to achieve your goals.

I’ve compiled a list of 30 simple activities you can do over the course of 30 days to enhance your outlook on yourself and your life.

Are you ready to participate in the 30-day success mindset challenge?

If so, let’s get started!

* This post contains affiliate links. I am a Bluehost, Thrive Themes, ConvertKit & Tailwind affiliate, meaning that if you click on a qualifying  link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.  Please read the Disclaimer for more info.*

Head over to the Freebie Library 
to download your 30-Day Success Mindset Challenge!

Free 30-Day Success Mindset Challenge: 30 Activities in 30 Days

1. No complaining

It’s easy to get into the habit of complaining. “I’m tired”, “I don’t want to”, “I don’t like this”, etc.

Often, we don’t even realize how much complaining we actually do. And that’s unfortunate because it can really have a negative effect on our state of mind.

So, try to not complain for a whole day. Mindfully monitor what you say and make sure you are not voicing complaints.

*Bonus points if you shift your mental complaints to thoughts of gratitude (i.e. instead of “I hate working out or I have to work out”, think “I get to work out”.)

2. Transform 3 limiting beliefs

Do you have any limiting beliefs?

Chances are, you are harboring some negative beliefs about yourself, others, or the world in general that are holding you back.

But you have the power to transform those limiting beliefs to empowering ones.

For example, “I can’t” --> “I can’t yet”.

Identify 3 of your limiting beliefs and challenge yourself to transform them into empowering beliefs.

Check out this post for examples of some common limiting beliefs and how you can change them.

3. Repeat 3 positive affirmations

Ever heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?”

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Words are powerful – both negative and positive.

Research shows that repeating self-affirmations can curb negative outcomes and improve education, health, and relationships.

The key to using affirmations for your success mindset is to state them in the positive and present tense.

So, for example a good self-affirmation would not be “I’m going to lose weight” but rather, “I love my body” or “I make healthy food choices and I am grateful for how my body works”.

Some other examples of positive affirmations include:

“I ... 

-love my life.”

-accomplish whatever I set my mind to.”

-am enough.”

-radiate confidence and optimism.”

4. Do a gratitude exercise

There are numerous benefits to expressing gratitude.

In today’s fast-paced, “bigger, better, more” society, it’s easy to lose sight of all the things we have to be grateful for.

But appreciating what we already have is essential to long-term happiness, confidence, and resilience.

To help adopt a success mindset, try doing a gratitude exercise like journaling. Write down what you are grateful for, such as:

• Act of kindness-
• Convenience-
• Display of mercy-
• Family member-
• Fortuitous event-
• Friend-
• Knowledge/lesson-
• Often overlooked blessing-
• Personality trait-
• Pleasant surprise-
• Simple thing-
• Skill/strength-
• Talent-
• Test of character-
• Teacher/Mentor-
• Unique experience-

Check out this article for more examples of gratitude journal prompts and exercises, which are also available for download in the Freebie Library. 

5. Meditate

There are so many science-backed benefits of meditation.

Not only does it naturally reduce stress & anxiety, enhance self-awareness, and improve self-esteem, it also helps us to maintain a success mindset.

Meditating for just 20 minutes a day will improve your mindset exponentially.

Try sitting still and allowing your thoughts to pass without judging them.

Simply acknowledge your negative thoughts objectively and let them pass, continuing to still your mind as much as you can.

Here’s a guided mindfulness meditation to help you:

6. Be mindful

Simply being mindful throughout your day can be dramatically transformative when it comes to maintaining a success mindset.

And the great thing is that you don’t need any special skills or an abundance of free time to do it.

You can be mindful while going about your daily routine.

Need some ideas on how to be more mindful? Here are 15 ways to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life.

7. Do a social media detox

Social media can really harm your mental health and put a damper on your success mindset.

Studies have shown that despite its surface appearance of connectedness, social media can actually cause feelings of social isolation and depression.

Social media can be addictive and when you’re constantly online, it can lead to less overall life satisfaction – mainly because you’re not actually living your life.

Read this article for ideas on how to cut down on your social media usage & to get a free usage tracker.

8. Unfollow negative influences

While you’re at it, why not unfollow accounts/people that are having a negative effect on your mindset?

Comparison is the thief of joy.

When we compare ourselves to others, it can breed jealousy, low self-worth, and depression.

And the thing about social media is that we may not even be comparing ourselves to something that’s real.

Plenty of people only present what they want others to see online. And that creates a situation in which you’re comparing your real life to someone else’s fake highlight reel – not healthy!

So, go ahead and remove those negative influences from your feeds.

9. Journal

Journaling is one of the best ways to cultivate a success mindset.

It can help give you clarity and insight into challenging or confusing situations.

And it can help you work through the obstacles that are holding you back from success.

If you have trouble identifying or dealing with your feelings/emotions, journaling may help you to do so.

Set some time aside at the beginning or the end of your day to journal in whatever way helps you support your success mindset.

10. Perform an act of kindness

"For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.” – Saint Francis of Assisi

In helping others, you help yourself.

To have a positive mindset, you have to be in a good place mentally – and performing acts of kindness helps you do that.

By helping others out of the goodness of our hearts, we improve our emotional well-being and open ourselves up to success.

Today, do something for someone else without expecting anything in return. Notice the healing effects it has on your soul and how it improves your mindset.

11. Challenge yourself

Fear of failure is perhaps the single biggest thing that holds people back from their true potential.

That fear stems from a fixed mindset.

Those with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities, skills, and intelligence are immutable whereas those with a growth mindset believe that they are able to improve with effort over time.

Having a growth mindset allows you to not place so much emphasis on the outcome or external praise and rather focus on the internal satisfaction that comes from the journey.

Today, challenge yourself to do something new - and rather than be scared of the possibility of failure, be excited about the opportunity to learn and grow.

12. List 3 of your unique talents/skills

Sometimes, it’s easier to notice other people’s good qualities than to recognize your own.

Especially if you are humble or you struggle with self-confidence, it can be difficult to pursue big goals/dreams.

Chances are, you are capable of much more than you think and you have way more going for you than you give yourself credit for.

Today, list 3 of your unique talents/skills. What do you excel at that most others do not?

If you have trouble with this exercise, try to think of yourself as your family or friends would – maybe even ask them what some of your best qualities are.

13. Don't judge others negatively

It’s simply not nice to go around judging others negatively – just think, would you want someone to do that to you?

Remember that it’s not really about the person whom you are judging, but rather it’s about you.

So, for example if you are insecure about your appearance, you may be more likely to judge others about theirs.

Those with a healthy success mindset do not feel the need to judge others negatively. Instead, they look for the good and give people the benefit of the doubt.

14. List 3 positive characteristics

List 3 positive characteristics about yourself.

Are you a kind and empathetic person?

Are you a loyal, trustworthy companion?

Do you have a good work ethic?

Everyone has positive characteristics that will help them to succeed in life.

Recognize these qualities in yourself and think about how they will facilitate the accomplishment of your goals.

15. Name something you’re proud of

What are you most proud of?

And what does that say about you?

Acknowledging our past accomplishments (and knowing what we are capable of) helps us to succeed in the future.

This is a great exercise especially if you tend to doubt your abilities or potential.

Download this as a PDF in the Freebie Library!

16. Learn from a role model

Having a role model to look up to isn’t just for kids.

As adults, role models can motivate us and show us examples of what’s possible.

Seeing and emulating their habits of success is extremely useful when it comes to self-improvement.

Who’s your role model?

If it’s someone you don’t personally know, research everything you can about them to see how they got to where they are today.

If it’s someone you do know personally, ask them questions. Gaining insight into their trials and tribulations, failures, and inspiration can help you form a powerful success mindset.

17. Learn from past failures

Every failure is a learning opportunity.

So, think about a time when things didn’t go as you desired.

What lesson did you learn from that and how can that benefit you in the future?

Today, reflect upon your “failures” and rather than ruminate on the negative aspects, focus on the valuable lessons they taught you.

18. Write down your definition of success

If you’ve been a reader of this blog for a while, then you know that I believe in having your own definition of success.

Society would have you believe that certain things make you successful like money, possessions, popularity, looks, etc.

But, those things are not fulfilling for everybody.

Each person has their own vision of happiness, success, and fulfillment.

It’s important to identify what that vision is for you so that you will know what you are working towards and when you have achieved it.

So today, write down your definition of success.

19. Get inspired 

Nothing puts you in a success mindset like motivational/ inspirational content.

So, watch a TED Talk, listen to a podcast, or read a book.

No one can stay motivated all the time – it waxes and wanes. But, in order to reach your goals, you need to make sure your motivation doesn’t disappear entirely.

Read this article for more tips on how to motivate yourself to chase your dreams.

20. Declutter your physical environment

It’s hard to maintain a positive mindset if your physical environment is cluttered.

Mess creates stress!

So, clean up your space. You need an environment that promotes success. Especially if you are working from home.

Depending on how big or messy your home is, you may want to tackle only one room at a time.

Today, clean and organize at least one room.

21. Do a brain dump

Your physical environment is not the only thing that needs regular clean-ups.

Your brain does as well!

One of the biggest causes of overwhelm is when we have too much on our minds.

Getting all that information out on paper really helps to reduce the stress that comes with day to day life.

Check out this post for instructions on how to do a brain dump and download your free brain dump worksheets from the Freebie Library.

22. Write down 1 goal

Research shows that writing down your goals makes you significantly more likely to actually achieve them.

So today, write down one goal that you have for yourself. Getting clarity on exactly what you want to achieve is the first step towards achieving it.

Stick to only one big goal. Even if you have several, focusing on only one at a time will help ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed and wind up dropping the ball or perpetually having lots of unfinished goals at once.

There are some goal setting worksheets in the Freebie Library to help you set SMART big goals and break them down into manageable mini-goals.

23. Find the silver lining

“Character is forged in the fires of adversity.”

Think of a negative event that happened to you and find the silver lining.

Usually, it’s not all bad and you can identify something beneficial about the situation.

Did it provide you with an opportunity to learn something?

Has it made you stronger, wiser, better in some way?

Did it pave the way for something better to come into your life?

Personally, what helps me get through bad times is remembering that even the most stressful, uncomfortable, or heartbreaking situations provide opportunities for personal/spiritual growth.

24. Identify an opportunity for improvement 

One of the best ways to increase your confidence and enhance your success mindset is to improve yourself.

Self-improvement comes in many forms – it can relate to your physical being, intelligence, habits, mindset, career, or whatever aspect of your life you want to improve.

Check out this post for guidance on how to create a personal development plan.

25. Get active

There are tons of mental health benefits to exercise.

Research has shown that it relieves stress and anxiety, boosts happiness, improves sleep and memory, increases self-esteem, and helps with overcoming trauma.

So today, get those endorphins going!

If you already exercise regularly, try something new and challenge yourself.

I recommend yoga and walking/hiking/running outside for their mood-boosting effects.

26. Listen to music

Music is uniquely powerful in its ability to affect our mood.

It can not only lift the spirits but music has also been shown to enhance athletic performance, promote a state of flow, alleviate stress and anxiety, and even accelerate healing.

It doesn’t have to be any particular type of music; simply listen to whatever motivates you.

27. Contact a supportive friend

Studies show that friends help us to stay healthy, perform better, and achieve more.

So, reach out to someone who is supportive of you and your life goals.

Just talking to that person and reminding yourself that there are people who believe in you can give you a much-needed mental boost.

28. Get at least 8 hours of sleep

Lack of adequate sleep affects your body and mind in several profound ways.

To name a few, being sleepy impairs memory and reaction time, makes you more likely to make poor decisions, and makes it more difficult to learn.

Additionally, it can put a damper on your mood, making you more cranky and negative – not good if you’re trying to maintain a success mindset!

So tonight, make sure you get a full 8-9 hours of sleep (and don’t be scrolling on your phone before bed! The blue light interferes with your circadian rhythm and inhibits your body’s production of melanin, the sleep hormone).

29. Name 3 good things that happened to you today

Today, write down 3 good things that happened to you.

It doesn’t have to be something huge like winning the lotto. It can be small things like having a moment of peace, sharing a moment of laughter, or enjoying a meal.

Being more mindful and appreciating the simple things in life leads to an improved mindset and a happier life.

This goes hand in hand with gratitude – taking time to savor your experiences and celebrate your accomplishments will help you to develop a positive, success mindset.

30. List 3 inspirational quotes

Quotes, like music, can evoke emotions within us and inspire us to take action.

Keeping certain quotes in mind can really go a long way towards maintaining a success mindset.

Put yourself in the right frame of mind today by either reminding yourself of some of your favorite quotes or learning some new ones.

Here are a few I love:

Inspirational Quotes

- “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.” -J. K. Rowling, The Harry Potter Series

- “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”  – Albert Einstein

- “The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

- “Men spend their lives in anticipations, in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time. But the present time has one advantage over every other – it is our own. Past opportunities are gone, future have not come. We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer the tasting of them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age.”- Charles Caleb Colton

- “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

- “Don’t wait; the time will never be just right.” -Napoleon Hill

Check out this article for more inspirational quotes about life, love, and happiness.

Are you planning on participating in this 30 Day Success Mindset Challenge? Which activity are you most looking forward to? Tell me in the comments!

Share this & help someone else!

Share this & help someone else!

OK, so you've come up with your 3 personal development goals.

And now, we are ready to dive into the second and final part of the Personal Development Plan Ultimate Guide.

In Part 1, we discussed:
-What is Personal Development?
-Why Do You Need a Personal Development Plan?
-Defining Your Personal Development Goals

In this blog post (Part 2), we will discuss:
-How Are You Going to Reach Your Personal Development Goals?
-Personal Development Planning 101
-Implementing Your Personal Development Plan

* This post contains affiliate links. I am a Bluehost, Thrive Themes, ConvertKit & Tailwind affiliate, meaning that if you click on a qualifying  link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.  Please read the Disclaimer for more info.*

Head over to the Freebie Library 
(a regularly updated collection of free, downloadable self-help content)

So, now that you have your personal development goals, you have to make a plan for how you’re going to reach them.

Because as I mentioned in the first part of this series, a goal without a plan is just a wish.

And you don’t want to just wish, right? You want to see the changes actually happen in your life!

Well, guess what - you can accomplish the goals you set for yourself.

And you can make the whole process a whole lot easier by simply coming up with a plan of attack.

How Are You Going to Reach Your Personal Development Goals?

Set a SMART Goal

When crafting your goal, think about whether it meets the SMART goal criteria:

• Specific- Your goal should be clear, detailed and specific.
• Measurable- You should be able to track your progress and realize when you’ve achieved it.
• Achievable- It should be a realistic goal (some goals are just not achievable, but then again, that's often a result of how they're framed. For example, “Lose 20 pounds in a month” … It’s not that you can’t lose 20 pounds, but you probably couldn’t – and shouldn’t! – do it in just one month.)
• Relevant- Is your goal relevant to your life purpose/definition of success/intrinsic desires? Make sure it’s not an externally-driven goal but rather one that is truly based on your own personal growth.
• Time-bound- Set time limits for yourself. You can always change them later.

*Positive- There is one more element I’d like to include when it comes to setting your personal development goal – word it in the positive, not the negative.

For example, “Learn to control my emotions” or “Take 10 deep breaths when I start to get angry” is better than “Stop getting so angry”.

Personal Development Planning 101

Write It Down

If you want to increase your chances of reaching any goal, write it down.

Writing down your goal may seem like a small step, maybe even one that you don’t think is important enough to do.

But, it can actually mean the difference between reaching your goal and falling short. Here’s why:

• When you write your goal down, you give yourself a tangible source of motivation. You will never forget what you are working towards because it’s written down and you can look at it every single day. There are even studies showing that people who write their goals down achieve them at a much higher level than those who don’t.
• You have to process a whole lot of information on a daily basis. In a process called encoding, our brain decides which information will be stored long-term and which information can be discarded. Writing down your goal helps the brain to encode it – essentially, to realize that the information is important enough to hold onto.
• It helps to keep you accountable. When you write your goal down, especially when you use positive language, you make a written agreement with yourself, which (as with actual, legal contracts) is a lot harder to break than a verbal one.

Do a SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis is typically used in a business/professional context in order to gain a competitive advantage.

But I think it has relevancy when it comes to personal development goals as well, especially if you are trying to figure out whether your goal is Achievable.

The SWOT analysis helps you to see where you’re at now and what’s standing in your way of where you want to go in the future.

SWOT stands for:

Strengths- What do you bring to the table? Think of all the strengths that will help you achieve your personal development goal. Also, how might external factors (other than your personal strengths) help you to achieve your goal?

Weaknesses- Where do you fall short? What things do you think might be a disadvantage when it comes to achieving your goal?

Opportunities- What opportunities does your goal present you with? How will accomplishing it benefit you?

Threats- Which external threats might you face when trying to achieve your goal? What could pose a threat to your success that’s outside your control?

Chunk Your Personal Development Goals Down

It’s great to set a big, audacious goal in the beginning stages of your personal development plan.

But in order to get results, you will need to chunk it down.

What I mean by “chunk it down” is break your big personal development goal down into the smaller steps required to achieve it.

Not only will this help prevent you from getting overwhelmed but it will also make it much more likely that you will actually reach your goal.

So, for example, “Lose 20 pounds in four months” becomes:

• Eat three healthy meals and 3 healthy snacks per day
• Exercise four times a week for at least 30 minutes

Which becomes:

• Plan healthy meals & make grocery list for the week
• Buy only the items on your list (do not bring junk food into the house)
• Go to zumba class on Monday at 6pm, lift weights on Tuesday and Thursday at the gym from 6pm to 7pm, do yoga videos at home on Saturday from 8am to 9am.

Which finally becomes a mini-goal that you can accomplish right now:

• Eat a salad with chicken breast for lunch
• Book your exercise classes ahead of time/ make concrete plans with an exercise buddy

When you’ve finally achieved all the mini-goals required to achieve your big personal development goal, then you will naturally have accomplished your mission!

Once you begin to really break it down, you may realize that your big goal requires more effort, skill, or time than you originally thought. And that’s OK - as long as you’re honest with yourself and you stay committed.

Implementing Your Personal Development Plan

TROVE Example

Not many of you know this about me but I like to play a video game named Trove.

If you are quarantined at home, you may want to give it a try - it's super fun!

Trove is a voxel MMORPG where players can explore different realms, collect resources, fight dungeon bosses and dragons, build cornerstones and club worlds, engage in PVP combat, customize their characters, chat with other players, level up gear, and much more.

The way this video game works is a great example of how to go about implementing your personal development plan.

For example, I love collecting dragon mounts like this one, the Gold Primordial Dragon, "Scintilla of the Sky".

The Big Goal

The next dragon I would like to have is the Bubble Dragon ("Sarsaponia, The Pristine"). 

So, let’s see what it takes to craft him:

• 300 dragon coins
• 25,000 flux
• 1800 Jumping Jadefins
• 700 Golden Seashells
• 100 Bubble Dragon Egg Fragments

Chunk Down the Big Goal

Now, let’s take each of those in turn –

• In order to get dragon coins, players can complete Hourly Challenges, win them in Dragon Caches, have them produce regularly from a Tome, or buy them (either with in-game currency called Flux in the Marketplace or for actual money in the game Store).

• To earn flux, players can turn loot which they earn from defeating bosses into the Loot Collector, win it in Adventure Chests, in various types of caches, upon completing dungeons, or from selling stuff in the Marketplace.

• To catch Jumping Jadefins, a player can either fish for them him/herself or trade them for something (flux, gear, etc.) with another player.

• To obtain Golden Seashells, players must go to the Drowned Worlds and blast open Golden Seashell crates.

• To collect Bubble Dragon Egg fragments, players must (as with Jumping Jadefins) fish for them.

Keep Chunking it Down

These mini goals can be broken down even further:

• To complete the hourly challenges more efficiently (thereby earning more dragon coins), players must raise the power rank, mastery rank and gem power rank of their character. This can be done by collecting new gear, leveling up existing gear, collecting mounts and allies, and performing tasks such as gardening and fishing.

• Higher level gear and dragon eggs yield higher amounts of flux. So, to get higher amounts of flux, players must defeat higher level dungeons and slay dragons in various biomes in order to collect dragon eggs which they may then turn into flux at the Loot Collector.

• Blasting Golden Seashell crates is a lot easier if you have either a dragon that shoots or a boat with a cannon. Boats can be purchased from various merchants for in-game currency/items, built at the Nautical Assembler, earned for gaining milestone levels of Mastery or purchased for credits in the in-game Store.

• To fish for Jumping Jadefins (and Bubble Dragon egg fragments), players must have a fishing pole and lures, both of which can be purchased with Glim (a collectable resource in each biome) from a merchant named Saltwater Sam located in the Hub.

1 Big Goal = Many Small Goals

So, you see, in order to get the Bubble Dragon, there are many mini-goals I must accomplish. It’s very methodical.

And I know that once I achieve all those little steps, the Bubble Dragon shall be mine!

It works the same way with your personal development plan – there are your big personal development goals and then there are all the little steps it will take to achieve them.

Make Time for What's Important to You

We all struggle with not having enough time.

There are only so many hours in the day and you are only one person.

But if you try to do all the things, not only will you fall short but you will also burn out.

And that’s not helpful to you or anyone else. Self-care is something you must always find time for no matter what else is going on.

So even though it may seem like “there’s just not enough time” now, evaluate your schedule. See what activities you can cut out (but NOT self-care!)

If your personal development goals are really important to you, you’ll make time for them. 

And since you are breaking your big goal down into smaller and smaller mini-goals, you should definitely have time to achieve them.

I recommend writing down 1-3 mini-goals per day that will get you closer to achieving your big goal.

Only do what you can realistically do. If you can complete all levels of an hourly challenge, turn in 1,000 flux-worth of loot and collect 25 fish today, then great!

If you are only able to complete the first level of an hourly challenge, turn in 500 flux-worth of gear and collect 10 fish, then great!

You are still making progress towards your goal. And as long as you are consistent, that’s all that matters.

Share this & help someone else!

Share this & help someone else!

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Personal development is essential if you want to reach your goals and live life to the fullest.

Consistently improving yourself and living up to your true potential benefits not only you but everyone and everything around you.

You literally have the power to change your life – and the world! – through your own thoughts, beliefs and actions.

It all starts with you.

But in order to do so, you must first have a plan.

Because, in the words of the wise Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

So, here’s how to create your own personal development plan for whatever you want to accomplish in life.

*This article is the first in a two-part series. The second part will be published next Monday.

Part 1
-What is Personal Development?
-Why Do You Need a Personal Development Plan?
-Defining Your Personal Development Goals

Part 2
-How Are You Going to Reach Those Goals?
-Personal Development Planning 101
-Implementing Your Personal Development Plan

* This post contains affiliate links. I am a Bluehost, Thrive Themes, ConvertKit & Tailwind affiliate, meaning that if you click on a qualifying  link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.  Please read the Disclaimer for more info.*

Check out the Freebie Library!
(a regularly updated collection of free, downloadable self-help content)

What is Personal Development?

“Success in life can be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.” – Deepak Chopra

Personal development is basically the pursuit of enhancing one’s life through self-improvement.

There is no end or technical completion of “personal development” as a goal in and of itself. Rather, personal development is an ongoing process that continues throughout life.

You are never done growing because there is always more to learn.

As you evolve, so do your personal development goals.

You are, and always will be, a work in progress.

Personal development encompasses Mind, Body and Spirit.

Everyone’s personal growth journey will be unique. Some people may have personal development goals pertaining to their career while others may be more focused on getting in touch with their higher self.

Examples of Personal Development Goals

Some examples of personal development goals include those relating to:

So, you can see that personal development goals are as unique as the person setting them.

It all depends on what’s most important to you.

Everybody can engage in personal development – it’s for anyone who wants to improve.

In my opinion, the only two things you need to succeed with personal development are: 1- desire and 2- self-awareness.

If you have the desire to grow and you can be honest with yourself regarding your actions, your thoughts, your strengths, your weaknesses, etc., then you are ready to create a personal development plan!

Why Do You Need a Personal Development Plan?

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.” – David Campbell

Having a concrete, clearly defined personal development plan will help you to actually accomplish the goals you set for yourself.

It’s like your own personal roadmap to an improved life and becoming a better person.

Without a plan, you probably won’t get the results you desire.

Because, as with any goal, it’s best to set your sights on something specific. If your idea of what you want to accomplish is too vague, you will not know how exactly to go about pursuing it or even be able to realize when you’ve actually accomplished it.

Although, keep in mind that your personal growth action plan is not set in stone. It will grow and change with you. Through experience (both success and failure), your perspective will change and therefore your goals will too.

This constant process of self-development increases your confidence, happiness and level of fulfillment.

It also helps tremendously when it comes to chasing your dreams and reaching your goals - whether they relate to happiness, inner peace, career, relationships, or whatever you decide.

Create Your Personal Development Plan

Where to begin? Well, that depends on what your goals are.

To create a personal development plan, you must:

• Know what your goals are
• Have a plan for how you’re going to achieve them
• Execute that plan

So, let’s start with 1- know what your goals are.

1. What Are Your Personal Development Goals?

In order to turn your dreams into reality with a personal development plan, you must first determine what those dreams are.

If you’re not sure, think about what is important to you.

Not what anyone else says should be important, but what actually means the most to you.

Society has tried to convince us that money, good looks, popularity, and other externally-driven goals are what define success.

But, we don’t have to conform to that mindset – we are perfectly capable of determining what success means to us.

What’s your definition of success? What’s most important to you? What does your ideal life look like?

Know Yourself

If you don’t know, then it may be helpful to get to know yourself a little better before you begin creating your personal development plan.

Try answering these 71 insightful questions (available in the Freebie Library) that may help you discover your goals- such as, “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”

The Wheel of Life

To really pinpoint the areas of your life that you’d like to improve, you can use an assessment tool called the Wheel of Life (originally introduced by Paul J. Meyer).

The Wheel of Life is basically a pie chart representing different areas of your life.

Rating your level of satisfaction in each will help you to see which areas of your life you are satisfied with and which need more attention.

The categories can vary according to personal preference; feel free to change them to whatever suits you best.

I have chosen 8 main categories for my Wheel of Life:

• Physical Health
• Mental Health
• Finances
• Career
• Fulfillment
• Fun/creativity
• Spirituality
• Relationships

Free PDF in Freebie Library: Wheel of Life Assessment Tool for your

Personal Development Plan 

How to Use the Wheel of Life

Rate your satisfaction with each slice of the pie from 1 (extremely dissatisfied) to 10 (fully satisfied). The areas that rank the lowest are the ones that need the most work.

Notice which areas you are neglecting and which are getting the lion share of your attention – for example, scoring a 10 in Career/Fulfillment at the expense of Relationships, in which you scored a 3.

Completing the Wheel of Life can help you to not only see which areas of your life you want to work on but also to prioritize your goals (it’s important to limit your focus – having too many goals often results in accomplishing none).

Define Your Goals

Once you see which area of your life you want to improve, narrow your focus towards a particular goal.

For example, let’s say you scored lowest on career. Your personal development goal could pertain to advancing in your current career path or quitting your job and pursuing your passion.

Examples of Personal Development Goals

Here are some more examples for each category:

Physical Health

-exercise 3-5 days a week

-eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day

-cut out soda, sugar, junk food, etc.

Relationships

-learn to control your anger

-devote more time to your partner

-improve your listening/communication skills

Finances

-start a side business

-open a retirement account

-deposit $x into savings each month

Spirituality

-forgive those who have hurt you

-spread unconditional love

-come to terms with your own mortality

Mental Health

-make a self-care box

-practice mindfulness

-meditate 20 min./day

Career

-enroll in relevant training/school

-network/improve and increase professional relationships

-quit your 9-5 and become an entrepreneur

Fulfillment

-complete a gratitude exercise or journal prompt each day/week

-travel, start a blog, have children, or do more of whatever brings you joy

-volunteer for an animal shelter, environmental organization, homeless shelter, food bank, religious charity, historical society, or whatever other cause you are passionate about

Fun/Creative Outlets

-learn to play an instrument

-read 2 books a month

-develop your artistic talents

Hopefully this gave you some ideas and you are now able to identify a few personal development goals!

*Get access to all these tools (and much more) in the Freebie Library:

• Get to Know Yourself: 71 Insightful Questions
• List of 100 Core Values
• Wheel of Life Assessment Tool
• Goal-Setting Worksheets

Go ahead and complete your Wheel of Life and write down 3 personal development goals - they don’t have to be in the same category.

Next week we’ll dive into how to reach your personal development goals (part 2 of this personal development planning series).

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I can’t believe it but it’s true – 2020 is almost here!

Are you setting any big goals this year?

If you want to make some changes but aren’t sure where to start, here’s a list of New Year’s resolution ideas.

With 50 ideas pertaining to all aspects of life, you’re sure to find some inspiration to chase your dreams and reach your goals in this New Year’s resolution list!

Leave me a comment at the end and let me know if you decide to try any of them.

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3D Success, LLC. is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Please read the Disclaimer for more info.

New Year’s Resolution Ideas

1. Make a self-care box

Self-care is the most important thing you can do for yourself – and those around you! A prepared DIY self-care box for anxiety can really come in handy, especially during the hectic holidays.

2. Make exercise a habit

3. Travel to one of your bucket-list destinations

4. Be more mindful

Mindfulness is an essential component of mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. There are plenty of easy ways to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life in the new year which makes this one of the best New Year's resolution ideas.

5. Drink more water

6. Breathe better

7. Social media detox

Technology is a significant source of stress in our modern lives – especially when it comes to social media, the perfect breeding ground for insecurity. Consider doing a digital detox or setting certain times that you will stay off social media.

8. Volunteer for a cause you are passionate about

9. Wake up earlier

New Year’s Resolution Ideas

10. Adopt a pet

There are so many health benefits to having a pet, including decreased blood pressure, reduced physical pain, decreased feelings of depression, and lowered cortisol levels. Consider adopting a pet from your local shelter this year– there are so many sweet animals who need homes!

11. Watch less TV

12. Floss more

13. Do more brain dumps

Dumping all the contents of your overwhelmed mind onto a piece of paper can be so cathartic. This year, do a brain dump more often to increase your productivity and reduce stress and anxiety.

Check out the Freebie Library 
(a regularly updated collection of free, downloadable self-help content) 

14. Quit smoking

15. No soda

16. Be more self-confident

Confidence is a skill that can be learned and improved – and some psychology experts believe that self-efficacy is the most powerful predictor of success. So, this New Year’s resolution idea involves gaining mastery experiences, developing emotional control, and other confidence-boosting strategies.

17. No cursing

18. Improve vocabulary (I signed up for the Merriam Webster word of the day and I absolutely love it!)

19. Be more resilient

Your stress levels depend heavily on your ability to adapt and thrive amidst change. Fortunately, resilience (like confidence) is a skill that can be trained and strengthened.

New Year’s Resolution Ideas

20. Eat an anti-anxiety diet

The food you eat – or don’t eat – can make your anxiety worse. So, this New Year’s resolution idea involves incorporating some more anti-anxiety foods into your diet to improve your mood.

21. Do more acts of kindness

22. Organize your house

23. Keep a gratitude journal

There are so many benefits to expressing gratitude, including that it promotes lasting happiness. Try incorporating some gratitude journal prompts and activities into your daily routine this year.

24. Create a will

25. Take the stairs

26. Conquer your limiting beliefs

Your belief system is the foundation upon which all your thoughts and actions are built. If you have self-limiting beliefs, they could be holding you back from achieving what you want in life. Transforming your limiting beliefs to empowering beliefs is one of the most life-changing New Year’s resolution ideas you can implement!

27. Park far away from the entrance

28. No alcohol

29. Define success for yourself

Don’t let anyone define success for you – develop your own definition of success. This year, make it a priority to set and achieve intrinsic goals that will make you happy.

New Year’s Resolution Ideas

30. Get to know yourself better

How well do you really know yourself? Being aware of your core values, strengths, and innermost desires can help you to improve your life. Here are 71 insightful questions to help you get started on this New Year's resolution idea.

31. Practice yoga

32. Spend more time in nature

33. Be more creative

Creativity ranks third on the list of the top 10 skills employers want in 2020. Being creative helps you with things like problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and social skills. So, this is one of theNew Year’s resolution ideas that has the potential to improve pretty much all aspects of your life.

34. Eat less sugar and gluten

35. Complain less

36. Improve your time management skills

If you often find yourself feeling overwhelmed, you may want to brush up on your time management skills. Here are some strategies for getting more done in less time so you can finally relax and enjoy your life!

37. Improve your communication skills

Being able to communicate effectively helps us to establish relationships, be good at our jobs, and enjoy better physical and mental health. Here’s how to communicate effectively under pressure.

38. Stick to your budget

39. Meditate more

40. Toss out your microwave

Microwaving your food not only strips the nutrients out, but it also has many negative health effects. I don’t own a microwave – I cook all my foods on the stovetop or in the oven. And I think microwaves are one of the things you should avoid for a happier and healthier life.

41. Read more books

42. Grow your own vegetables

New Year’s Resolution Ideas

43. Simplify your life

Trying to juggle your job, your family, your side hustle, and your endless to-do list can be exhausting! Simplify your life to achieve more balance and peace in the new year.

44. Learn a new language

45. Get more sleep

46. Quit your job

If your soul-sucking job is making you miserable, consider this brave New Year’s resolution idea – quit your job. Work stress can be absolutely unbearable and you owe it to yourself to get out if you have any of these warning signs.

47. Start a blog

Whether you have social anxiety, you’re an introvert, you want to work from home, you love teaching people, or you have a message to spread to the world, you may want to consider starting a blog this year! You don’t need any special experience, education or connections to get started – take this quiz to see what kind of blog you should start. 

48. Open a savings account

49. Write a book

50. Create a stress management plan

Of all the New Year’s resolution ideas, this one may truly be the most life-changing.        In today’s modern world, we are under constant pressure to do more, better, faster. So, if you find yourself feeling stressed out and overwhelmed all the time, consider creating a stress management plan.

Over to you ... which New Year's resolution idea will you try? Leave a comment!

If you’re a regular reader of the blog, you know that I believe in achieving your own definition of success.

Not a version of success that someone else thinks you should achieve or one that society has dictated.

Only you know what you truly want out of life.

You are the one who has to be at peace with yourself and your decisions.

So, it’s important to make sure you are living your life by design, not by default.

In order to do so, you must identify some life goals and then set out to achieve them.

And while specific outcomes are never guaranteed, there is a specific formula for success.

If you follow this success formula, you will be successful no matter what life goals you choose to pursue.

I call it the 3D Success Formula. It’s what I follow and recommend when it comes to chasing your dreams & reaching your goals.

There are three elements to this success formula. We’ll discuss them each in turn.

But first, let’s talk about what a life goal actually is …

Head over to the Freebie Library to download these Goal Setting Worksheets. Plus, get instant access to the entire Freebie Library (a regularly updated collection of free, downloadable self-help content) 

What is a Life Goal?

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.”

You must know what you want to achieve or else time, opportunities –life will pass you by.

So, chart your course!

Setting life goals will help keep you on the right track.

If you’re not sure about what your life goals should be, do a little brainstorming.

Your life goals will be based on what you want out of life.

Imagine your ideal future. What does it consist of?

Think about your passions. What you’re good at. What makes you happy.

Imagine having only one day left to live … what would you regret not doing? If you suddenly had more time, what would be your top priority?

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

The answers to these questions can guide you towards the right life goals for you.

Here are some examples of life goals:

The 3D Success Formula

My formula for success is three-dimensional (as you might have guessed!)

That’s because there are three elements to achieving success.

None of these elements stand alone; they are necessarily interconnected.

The synergy of all three is where the magic happens.

Here are the three elements to the 3D Success Formula:

1. Motivation (your why)

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

What’s your reason for living – your why?

That purpose will guide you when it comes to setting and achieving life goals.

If the goal you are pursuing is important to you, then it is easier to face your fears and trudge through obstacles along the way.

Remembering your why throughout the process is key.

It will serve as your motivation when your willpower is taxed and you’d otherwise feel like giving up.

When you know your why, it also helps you to set intrinsic life goals.

Not sure what your “why” is? Check out this post (includes free PDF download):
 71 Insightful Questions to Get to Know Yourself Better. 

Also available in the Freebie Library - The Wheel of Life Assessment Tool

3D Success Formula

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Goals

Intrinsically-based goals are motivated by personal desires.

As opposed to extrinsic goals, they are inherently satisfying to pursue.

They’re personally meaningful to you, no matter what anyone else thinks.

By way of comparison, extrinsic goals such as “get rich”, “be famous”, or “impress others with my beach body” are all based on the approval of others.

These types of goals will not garner you long-lasting happiness. You’ll always be chasing the next shiny thing.

There’s no end to that hedonic treadmill – even when you achieve extrinsic goals, your satisfaction will always be shallow and short lived.

Whereas, the pursuit of an intrinsic goal is inherently satisfying in and of itself, regardless of the outcome.

The value lies not only in the achievement of the goal, but also in the process of achieving it.

When you are enjoying the journey and getting value out of the work you put in along the way, you succeed. Whether you wind up achieving that goal or not, you are winning.

That’s why the first element of the success formula is Motivation.

Only intrinsic motivation leads to fulfillment – to achieving your definition of success.

So, if you want to be truly successful in life, make sure the goals you set are intrinsically motivated.

2. Discipline (your habits)

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Aristotle

Success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s usually the result of hard work and dedication over time.

So, Discipline is the second element of the 3D Success formula.

Action and consistency are extremely important when it comes to reaching your life goals.

Examine your habits - are they facilitating or hindering your progress?

For example, having to make sure something is “perfect” or avoiding challenges because you aren’t “sure” you will succeed are habits that will not help you to achieve your life goals (or anything else for that matter).

So if you are a perfectionist, remember that done is better than perfect.

You’ll probably never feel ready; the important thing is to get started.

Everything will likely change as you gain knowledge and experience anyway!

You’ll gain valuable information from your blunders. Your ability to adapt and be resilient will only increase your chances of success.

3D Success Formula

The Most Important Habit of All: Self-Care

One habit that is essential to reaching your life goals is self-care.

As human beings, we need to look after our physical and mental health or else we will become overwhelmed and experience burnout.

Remember that time is our most valuable commodity.

It is limited, nonrenewable, and irreplaceable.

So, make sure you are spending your time wisely.

Don’t surround yourself with negative people. Don’t over-commit and say yes to everything. And don’t neglect yourself.

Your health should be your number one priority. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone or anything else.

So, make sure you are eating healthy foods, keeping your body active, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough sleep no matter what’s going on.

If you want to achieve your life goals, be disciplined and unyielding in this regard.

The other elements of the success formula will not matter much if don’t practice self-care. Here are some ideas for what to do during your self care Sunday routine.

Here are some ideas for what to include in your anxiety self-care box!

3. Mindset (your perception)

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” - Buddha

The third and final element of the success formula is Mindset.

Your perception has a great deal to do with your success (and happiness).

My views on this align with stoic philosophy: You can only control your behavior, not the outcome. 

The truth is that life’s not fair.

Sometimes things don’t work out.

Even if you tried your best, you deserved it, or it wasn’t your fault.

But trying your best is all that matters because it is literally all you can do.

As I mentioned in 12 Life Lessons I Learned in Law School, hard work and determination do not always equal success.

External factors always play a role in the outcome – you cannot guarantee with 100% certainty that you will achieve a goal based solely on your own efforts. You can only try your best.

So, when things go wrong, how do you take it?

Do you see failure as something bad, something to be ashamed of? Or do you see it as an opportunity?

Viewing “failure” as an inevitable steppingstone on your way to ultimate success is the mindset that will help you achieve (not hinder you from achieving) your life goals.

Head over to the Freebie Library to download these
Limiting Beliefs to Empowering Beliefs Worksheets. 
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3D Success Formula

Self-Efficacy & Growth Mindset 

To a large extent, the way you perceive yourself and the things that happen to you in life determines whether you have achieved your definition of success.

This brings me to two important concepts: self-efficacy and growth mindset.

Self-efficacy is the type of confidence that is key to your success. It refers to your belief in your ability to achieve your goals.

In fact, some psychologists believe that self-efficacy is the single most powerful predictor of success. 

The concept of self-efficacy has a lot to do with the concept of a growth mindset, which is based on the belief that certain qualities such as intelligence can be developed.

Those with a growth mindset believe that their talents and abilities are not fixed traits, incapable of improvement.

They believe in the power of neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change and adapt based on what we learn and experience.

Believe in Yourself

Both self-efficacy and growth mindset are premised on the belief that you are effectual.

Your knowledge, skills, and behavior can all be improved through your own efforts – they are not set in stone.

You can grow, change, and become better.

Just because you can’t do something now doesn’t mean you can’t do it period. It just means that you can’t do it yet.

When you have this positive mindset, combined with the other two elements of the success formula, you’re bound to achieve your life goals!

Over to you … what life goal(s) are you focusing on right now? Leave a comment!

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There it goes again.

Time, that elusive foe.

It always seems to slip through your fingers no matter what you do!

Despite always being busy, you don’t get the results you want or the success you work so hard to achieve.

And you never have time to relax.

You’re feeling overwhelmed, overworked and over it.

You just want to know how to get more done in less time so you can finally enjoy your life. 

Trust me, I feel you.

If you’ve been trying to reach your goals but it seems like life keeps getting in the way, you’re in the right place!

I’ve got some helpful tips on how to manage your time, energy and attention so you can unleash your productivity potential.

Here are my 6 steps to getting more done in less time:

* This post contains affiliate links. I am a Bluehost, Thrive Themes, ConvertKit & Tailwind affiliate, meaning that if you click on a qualifying  link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. 

3D Success, LLC. is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Please read the Disclaimer for more info.

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(a regularly updated collection of free, downloadable self-help content) 

1. Spend Your Time Intentionally

The War Against Time

Ever notice how we always seem to be battling against time?

“Racing against the clock...”

“If time permits...”

“Killing time...”

But, time is not our enemy.

It’s actually our most valuable (and limited) resource.

No matter how much money we make or how successful we become, we will still have the same 24 hours in a day that everyone else has.  

The fact is, we can’t get more time.

But, we can feel like we have more time. 

You Are the Steward of Your Time

As the steward of your time, you get to choose how you will spend it.

The key to feeling like you have more time is experiencing new things.

When our days are pretty much the same and we do the same things in the same way over and over, our brains don’t remember each individual day.

One just blends into the next.

And then we’re left wondering where all the time went.

We can help our brains remember how we spent our time by creating memories.

Of course, we can’t always do something “big” and that’s ok.

We can still find joy in the little moments and cherish the simple things. 

Often, we don’t notice how special certain times in our life were until they’ve already passed.

Probably because we were so busy trying to get things done.

So, remember that life is not a race to the finish line – be mindful and grateful for each moment you have.

Even the bad experiences are valuable because you almost always learn something in hindsight.

The sooner you are able to glean that “hindsight lesson”, the sooner you’ll be able to move on, unencumbered by the past and with a greater chance of success.

So, to make the most of your time, don’t just sit idly while it passes you by.

Make some memories. Learn some skills. Try some new things.

One study even suggests that you can slow down your perception of time by experiencing awe (my suggestion => the great outdoors).

Seize Overlooked Opportunities

Also, look for opportunities to spend your time wisely. 

Many of us waste a lot of time mindlessly engaging in mundane tasks like waiting in line or driving to work.

I guarantee there is something productive you could be doing with a few minutes here and a few minutes there … they really add up!

Don’t “kill” time or let it rule you.

Utilize it. Invest it.

It could be something as simple as listening to an audiobook/podcast/TED Talk while you’re cleaning, mentally organizing your to-do list while waiting for an appointment, or just taking a few minutes to consciously breathe.

Seize those precious opportunities!

Being mindful and intentional with how you spend your time can help you to:

2. Get Organized

If you want to maximize your time, you’ve got to get organized. 

Research shows that clutter leads to overwhelm.

If your work area is disorganized and scattered, you are likely to be too!

So, get your physical environment in order.

If you’re not sure where to start, just get everything into a big old messy pile.

Once you have it all out in the open, then you can see what you are working with and:

This system works not only for physical clutter but also for mental clutter.

In today’s "everything needs to be done yesterday" society, it doesn’t take long for mental clutter to accumulate. If you don’t address it, sooner or later you will eventually burn out.

So, take a few minutes every so often to do a brain dump.

It will help you to see the big picture so you can cut out what doesn’t belong and focus on what matters.

Establishing priorities in this way will definitely help you to get more done in less time.

Getting your mental “to-do” list out on paper is also extremely cathartic! I always breathe a sigh of relief afterwards.

Here are some free worksheets from the Freebie Library to help you get started!

3. Manage Your Energy

An important part of time management is managing your energy.

We are human beings, not machines.

We’re not always in a great mood, we don’t always have high energy, we can’t always focus.

So, work with yourself.

Notice when you have the most energy.

Maybe it’s when you first wake up in the morning or maybe it’s when your day has gotten underway, in the afternoon.

Or maybe you’re a night owl so you do your best work at 1am.

Use whatever time you are the most energetic and focused to complete your most mentally demanding tasks.

If you find that you have the most energy at 5am, make sure you tackle priority #1 at that time and save the rest of your to-do list for later.

Give yourself the advantage of peak performance when it comes to your most important tasks.

Also, switching between tasks drains an incredible amount of mental energy so whenever possible, finish what you start.

Completing a task frees up mental energy whereas starting several tasks without finishing them leaves loose ends for your brain to stress over.

4. Improve Your Efficiency

One of the biggest lessons I learned in law school is that there is a difference between being busy and being productive.

To get more done in less time, you’ve got to work smarter, not harder.

If you’ve read other stuff on productivity and time management strategies, you’ve probably come across Parkinson’s Law, which basically states that work expands to fill the available time for its completion.

In other words, if you give yourself 1 hour to complete a task that really should take only 20 minutes, you will wind up using the extra 40 minutes anyway.

So, give yourself tight deadlines. Focus on results, not efforts.

Try to meet (or beat) those deadlines in order to improve your efficiency – or the ability to do things well without wasting time.

Maximize Your Time

There are several lifestyle habits that will improve your efficiency, such as healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and meditation.

Additionally, there are other things you can do to improve your efficiency so you can get more done in less time, including:

• Preparation- Prepare your daily to-do list ahead of time and be as specific as possible (ex: “format my blog post for this week”, not just “work on the blog” so you’ll know when you’ve completed each task.
• Chunking- To reach a big goal, chunk it down into smaller and smaller tasks. Each small task you complete will motivate you to complete another. Because the tasks are manageable, you wind up doing way more than you would if you were faced with the whole daunting task at once. And when you're done with all the small tasks, ta-da! You've reached your big goal. 
• Single tasking- When I was applying for jobs back in the day, the ability to multi-task was considered a huge plus. I used to always put "ability to multitask" on my resume and mention this "skill" in interviews. Now, we know that the multitasking myth has been debunked! To get more done in less time, focus on one thing at a time.

5. Minimize Distractions

Handle Your Triggers

Distractions are a huge threat to productivity.

When you’re distracted, it can take you alllll day to do something that should have taken an hour.

Often, there are certain triggers that will prompt you to begin doing those things that are not getting you closer to your goal.

If you want to be productive, know your triggers and handle them ahead of time.

For example, if you work from home and you often procrastinate by cleaning (guilty!), then be proactive – clean the night before so you’re not tempted to get distracted while you're working.

Use Time-Constraints

To get more done in less time, you could also give yourself a certain amount of time to complete a task.

When that time is up, take a break before moving on to the next task.

Experts suggest setting a 90-minute timer and taking 15-30 minute breaks to make the most of your time.

Also, consider this: the average person watches 30+ hours a week of TV and spends 5 hours a day on social media!

These are both passive activities that get you no closer to reaching your goals.

Passive/ “mindless” activities (as opposed to mindful, productive pursuits) will only make the feeling of “having no time” worse.

So, it’s best to limit the time you spend on those as well.

If you’re not sure whether you need a social media break/detox, track your social media usage.

You’ve got to measure it to manage it.

You might be surprised to discover how much of your time is getting sucked away by Facebook, Instagram, etc.!

Try limiting the time you check your emails/ go on social media/ watch TV/ play video games to certain times of the day like during breaks or after you’ve finished for the day.

6. Evaluate & Adjust

To keep getting more done in less time, you need to evaluate your performance and adjust your strategy when necessary.

People change. Things change.

Sometimes, the goals you initially set for yourself are no longer serving you.

When that happens, your productivity can suffer because your “why” is no longer a strong motivator.

So, conduct periodic reassessments of your goals to make sure they are still in alignment with your definition of success.

If they’re not, don’t be afraid to make some adjustments and keep it moving.

Track Your Progress

It may help you to keep a record of what you did and recap every week.

If you keep track of your progress, you’ll be able to see what you didn’t get done and where you should be putting more effort.

Keeping a record of all your accomplishments will also help you to see how far you’ve come, which will motivate you to go even further!

*An additional note:

It’s important to remember that you’re aiming for progress, not perfection.

You’ll never be perfect anyway.

It’s all a matter of degrees. There will always be someone better – and worse – than you at any given thing.

Your 50% could be equivalent to someone else’s 100% and vice versa.

If you want to get more done in less time, you’ve got to stop trying to be “perfect” – there is no such objective truth.

There is only your best. 

And it's good enough.

*Related Post: How to Create a Personal Development Plan- Your Ultimate Guide

Over to you … what do you struggle with the most when it comes to productivity? Let me know in the comments!

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This is it.

Life is not dress rehearsal.

It’s the main event. And you’re the star of the show.

You’ve got this one precious (and fleeting) opportunity to create a life you love.

So, I have one question for you:

Are you happy with your life?

If your answer isn’t a resounding YES, then lucky you!

You get to practice the magical art of reinvention.

Here’s how to overcome the barriers to your personal development so you can live the life you want to live.

* This post contains affiliate links. I am a Bluehost, Thrive Themes, ConvertKit & Tailwind affiliate, meaning that if you click on a qualifying  link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. 

3D Success, LLC. is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Please read the Disclaimer for more info.

1. Be Open to Change 

The first step in creating a life you love is being open to change.

Like most people, I’ve always been scared of change.

It makes sense.

Our brains naturally prefer for things to stay the same.

If we maintain the status quo, we know exactly what to expect and everything is at least comfortable and settled.

New things might be dangerous, our brains figure.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Which is generally a pretty good philosophy.

But this kind of a mindset can also hold you back from great opportunities in life.

Because change is obviously a huge part of reinvention.

So, do you want to survive or do you want to thrive?

If everything stays the same, then you’re not transforming. If you’re not transforming, you’re stagnating.

And if you're stagnant, then are you really even living?

3. Understand That Happiness is Not a Destination

Happiness is not a destination.

It’s not a reward we get for doing all the things society tells us to do.

You won’t “be happy when” you land that dream job, buy a home, win the lottery, get married, have kids, or when you reach any other isolated goal.

Not forever, anyway.

After a while, your initial exuberance will wear off and you’ll go back to your happiness set point – the psychological theory known as hedonic adaptation.

So, getting a degree, landing your dream job, having a family, making money – none of these things in and of themselves is the golden ticket to eternal happiness.

Accomplishing any one goal will not make you happy forever.

Happiness ebbs and flows, much like life in general.

It must be that way – without the “bad” there is no “good”.

So, seize opportunities for happiness all along the way!

Don’t save your happiness up for some illusory time in the future.

If you hinge your happiness on accomplishing the next extrinsic goal like making more money or gaining popularity, you will forever be chasing short-lived, shallow happiness.

To create a life you love, instead focus on setting goals that are based on intrinsic rewards like your own personal development.

Not only will you be more likely to accomplish them but you will also achieve a greater sense of fulfillment and joy.

Create a Life You Love

4. How to Bridge the Gap Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be

To create a life you love, you must bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

In order to do this, you must:

Let’s address each one in turn:

Understanding Brain & Behavior

There used to be a consensus among the experts that our brains were fixed.

That we were stuck with the skills, talents, intelligence, etc. that we were born with.

Now, we know that the brain can rewire itself – a concept called neuroplasticity.

Our brains are constantly changing based on our experiences, thoughts, behavior, and daily habits.

We literally have the ability to program ourselves for success.

So, think about what you want most out of life. Who you want to be. What kind of legacy you want to leave.

Make sure you are sending your subconscious the right messages so it can help you accomplish those goals.

To create a life you love, you need to program your subconscious mind for success.

Create a Life You Love

Getting into a Success Mindset

Are you facilitating or sabotaging your success?

Your mindset, whom and what you expose yourself to, your internal dialogue, your limiting beliefs, your level of optimism, whether you expect success – all these things influence your reality.

There’s already enough that can go wrong that’s out of our control – don’t stand in your own way!

You are more likely to be successful if you have a growth mindset, meaning that you believe your talents can be developed through your own efforts.

Compared to those who believe that their talents are innate gifts (fixed mindset), those with a growth mindset:

Biohacking Yourself

What’s biohacking?

If you’ve never heard of biohacking, it is a term (similar to “life hack”) used to describe the process of using biology to your advantage.

For example, we know that:

There are plenty of things you can do to use your own biology to your advantage.

So, what kind of fuel are you running on?

Are you maximizing your potential to get more done in less time?

How are you using your own biology to help yourself create a life you love?

Create a Life You Love

Being Brave & Developing Confidence

You don’t have to be confident to chase your dreams.

You just have to be brave.

If you can just gather enough courage to take the first step, confidence will come later.

Some people just naturally have what I think of as unsubstantiated confidence.

Their self-confidence doesn’t stem from triumph or accomplishment.

There’s nothing to back it up. No evidence to support the confidence.

It’s not earned.

Which, don’t get me wrong – unsubstantiated confidence is still a great attribute!

Earned or not, you’re still putting yourself out there and that’s half the battle.

But, self-confidence that is hard-won by overcoming adversity is simply a more powerful type of confidence.

When you earn your self-confidence, it strengthens your resolve.

Which helps you to take the risks necessary to create a life you love.

Courage => Failure => Lesson =>   Confidence => Success

Remember that failure is an inherent part of success.

It’s simply “the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently”, as Henry Ford said.

If you’re going to reinvent yourself, expect there to be a lot of obstacles and setbacks along the way.

You can let them deter you or you can use them to strengthen your resolve.

Resilience is paramount when it comes to creating a life you love.

So, think about what you would do if you knew could not fail … and set about doing that.

Welcome the opportunity to show yourself how strong you are.

Prove to yourself that you can do it and live to tell the tale.

You’ll be more likely to put yourself out there in the future … with increased confidence and a greater likelihood of success!

Taking Action

What are you doing to create a life you love?

It’s important to have a clear vision of what success looks like to you, but don’t get too caught up in the ideas phase.

If you read my other goal-setting posts, then you know I’m a fan of setting a big goal and then chunking it down into manageable, bite-sized tasks.

Avoid analysis paralysis!

Doing is what gets things done.

So, take action! There’s no time to waste.

If you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself why.

Is it because you are afraid?

Often, artists and entrepreneurs are scared of judgment and rejection. It takes courage to create despite that fear.

When you’re ok with being uncomfortable and you’re ok with failure, you’re unstoppable!

So, experiment often.

Document your progress.

And celebrate your failures – they’re getting you one step closer to success!

Following Up

Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending on how you look at it!), your work is never done.

You must constantly follow up with yourself.

When you do, you may find that because of who you’ve become along the way, you now have a different vision of success.

Or, a once-reliable method is now outdated and you have to take the time to learn a new, more effective method.

Things change.

This reminds me of an economic theory called creative destruction, a term used to describe the process of transformation that naturally occurs in a capitalistic society.

Joseph Schumpeter, the man who coined the term, argues that capitalism is an evolutionary process that eventually phases out obsolete markets.

As entrepreneurs create disruptive companies, they destroy the old economic structure.

Essentially, out with the old and in with the new.

We can see examples of this all around us (and we can see how it will continue to happen in the future):

So, check in with yourself now and then just to make sure that you are still on the right track.

Ask yourself whether your goals still align with your true desires and whether you are still working towards them in the most beneficial way.

Constantly reassess and pivot to make sure you are creating a life you love!

Over to you ... 

A happier and healthier life.

I think that’s something we all aspire to, right?

Well, it’s no secret that diet, exercise and meditation can help us live longer, fuller lives.

But, what things should we should be saying “no” to?

While some habits help us to achieve our goals, other habits make our lives worse and hold us back from our true potential.

Here are 10 things that I generally try to avoid (and you should too!) to improve my health and happiness:

* This post contains affiliate links. I am a Bluehost, Thrive Themes, ConvertKit & Tailwind affiliate, meaning that if you click on a qualifying  link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. 

3D Success, LLC. is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Please read the Disclaimer for more info.

1. Clutter (Physical and Mental)

Are you surrounded by stacks of papers, heaps of clothes or just piles of random stuff you’ve been meaning to go through?

That seemingly innocuous clutter may be hurting your health more than you think. Studies have linked physical clutter to:

The bottom line is, our brains’ ability to process multiple stimuli is limited.

Too many things in our visual field prevents us from being able to really focus on what’s important.

So, getting rid of those unused or unwanted possessions may be the first step towards increasing your productivity and getting more done in less time.

Mental Clutter Can Lead to Overwhelm

And don’t forget about mental clutter – it needs to be addressed too.

Our brains can become overwhelmed by our never-ending thoughts and to-do lists.

Something that works wonders for me is the brain dump.

Transferring all that pent up information from your brain to a piece of paper works wonders!

Once you see what you’re working with, you can better determine how things should be organized and in what order tasks should be tackled, if at all.

Plus, it always makes me feel better to just get it all out. The brain dump is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress with self care and a great thing to incorporate into your self care Sunday routine. 

 I created these brain dump worksheets. Be sure to grab them from the Freebie Library if you’d like to give it a try!  

Things to Avoid for a Happier and Healthier Life 

#2. Sweating the Small Stuff

One thing I try my best to avoid is sweating the small stuff.

If you can learn to not get stressed out over every little thing, I promise you will live a happier and healthier life!

There are already enough stressful things going on that are in our control.

We don’t need to make things worse by stressing over the things that aren’t.

If I notice that I’m overreacting, what helps me is to put things in perspective.

Sometimes all you have to do is take a step back and look at the situation through a different lens to realize – it’s not that serious.

So, ask yourself:

If not, then simplify your life and let it go!

Your health is way more important.

By now, we probably all know the harmful effects of stress on both our minds and bodies.

But just as a reminder, chronic stress can cause accelerated aging, cancer, depression, heart disease, reproductive problems, weight gain, and a whole host of other health issues.

Consider making yourself a self-care box to open when you're feeling stressed out. 

Gratitude Increases Happiness

Another thing that helps is gratitude.

Because your happiness, to a large degree, depends upon your perception.

Remember that only 10% of happiness is determined by life circumstances like how much money you have, how healthy you are, what you look like, etc.

And 50% is determined by genetics.

The other 40% is up to you.

Your mindset is truly the key to living a healthy, happy life no matter what.

Bad things happen to all of us. We don’t have much control over that.

What we do have control over is how we react.

So, how will you frame that experience? How quickly will you bounce back from it? What valuable life lessons will you take away from it?

3. Negativity/Toxic People

I cook every single day and rarely go out to eat.

It’s something that I really enjoy doing and I think it’s a huge part of having a healthy, happy life.

When you cook your own meals from scratch, you know exactly what – and how much – is going into them.

Whereas, when you go out to eat, you don’t know what/how much oil or butter the chefs are cooking with, where the meat came from, etc.

So, you may be consuming more calories without even knowing it!

According to a study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, when we eat out at restaurants, we consume about 200 calories more than when we eat at home.

Save Time & Money By Eating at Home

Also, going out to eat can quickly become very expensive if it becomes a habit.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 67% of Americans are “somewhat or extremely anxious” over finances.

You can save a lot of money by shopping for, and preparing, your own meals.

And I bet you can make way more delicious dishes than the ones you’d get at a restaurant or fast food joint!

Also, don’t forget about all the extra time it takes to get ready, travel to the restaurant, wait for your meal to be prepared, pay the bill and make your way back home.

Don't get me wrong, I love going out to eat! But, it's a special event, not a regular occurrence. 

Fast food is another thing I generally avoid, especially since it’s one of the worst things you can eat if you have anxiety.

There are plenty of stress-reducing alternatives that are good for your health and your taste buds.

7. Microwaves 

One surefire way to live a happier and healthier life is by limiting your time on social media.

Constantly checking social media steals your attention away from more important things, which destroys your focus and productivity.

Not only that, but social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram notoriously cause self-esteem issues, anxiety and depression.

But, it’s important to realize that people tend to put only what they want others to see on social media.

So, you’re not getting the full picture.

There’s no sense in comparing your “behind the scenes” to someone else’s “highlight reel”.

You’ll be much happier and more confident if you avoid getting sucked into the social media obsession.

So, put your cell phone down!

Spend some time in nature. Improve your relationship with yourself and others. Create your own self-care routine. Leave room for serendipitous occurrences.

Do you think it’s time for a social media detox?

Start by tracking your usage to see how much time you are spending on social media and where you should cut back.

9. Animal-Tested Beauty Products / Products That Contain Harmful Chemicals 

One way to avoid getting stuck on the hedonic treadmill is to switch it up.

Variety stunts adaptation.

Two things that help tremendously when it comes to beating hedonic adaptation and living a happier, more peaceful life are:

-mindfulness, and

-gratitude.

Simple things can be the most miraculous – allow yourself to be amazed by them.

Inexpensive things in life can feel luxurious – take time to savor them.

Switch up your normal routine.

Getting out there and gathering new experiences will help you to enjoy a happier, more fulfilled life.

To summarize- 10 Things You Should Avoid for a Happier, Healthier Life:

1. Clutter
2. Sweating the small stuff
3. Going out to eat/fast food
4. Eating processed/GMO/factory farm food
5. Drinking milk, alcohol, tap water, energy drinks and soda
6. Negativity/Toxic People
7. Microwaves
8. Social Media
9. Animal-tested beauty products /products that contain harmful chemicals (sulfates, parabens, phthalates, aluminum)
10. Spending money on things instead of experiences

Over to you …  what things do you avoid in order to live a happier and healthier life?

Share this & help someone else!