Whether you have just started in the world of work or a seasoned professional, establishing a successful work-life balance can prove difficult challenge. Having a good work life balance is a huge factor in your general happiness and well being. We all feel pressured to work and worry about work and we are all pressured to be out with friends or family every night. Pressure comes from all around you and before you know it you are stressed at work and not going out.

The outcome is that you will be unhappy and this will affect not just you but your friends and family. Achieving balance will mean you will be happy with your life as a whole and enjoy work and appreciate the time you have when it comes. So with that in mind, here are the three ways that can help you find your work life balance and feel better as a result.

1)Know your boundaries

An important life skill, knowing your boundaries is a instinct that you learn as you age and that you learn to trust. Knowing your limits is a highly respectable trait, one which many wish they listen to. Your body will tell you when something is wrong and listening to these signals is a sure way to helping a work life balance. When I first started work I was always meeting up with my friends after work to chat and have a couple of drinks, it normally resulted in me coming home late and although i always had a great time, I also remember being absolutely shattered everyday for work. Simply put, there was no balance. When your body says you are tired or ill or out of sync, know when to go home and relax. Only going out a few nights a week, will mean that you get a regular routine of sleep, which will help you feel refreshed at work. Also not partying ever night will save you money, this will mean you can buy that item that you always wanted or go to that place you have dreamed of. It is important to plan in advance, not weeks in advance, not even days, but just make sure you set out when you meet up, what you are going to do and when you will be heading home. This leads us onto the next point.

2) Always make time for yourself

We all love those days where we stay in bed and do nothing. Physically and psychologically having time to yourself, where you can reflect, unwind and relax, can be hugely beneficial. Sometimes a busy week can take its toll on the body and mind. A day to relax in front of the TV can do a world of good and allow you to charge your batteries for whatever the future may bring. Knowing that you are the priority means that you will take time to appreciate what you like doing and as a result you will be more independent and less susceptible to peer pressure. This is a huge step to having a work life balance as you will be able to say no and as a result gain more self respect. It would not be wise just to stick to things that you like and never go out, having new experiences is a great part of life, making time for yourself is simply a step to help you manage your time better.

3) Learn to switch off

Once you step out of the office, work has finished, relax and forget about any work issues or deadlines, taking your problems home with you or to work is always going to end badly. It is your time and you should do what you want with it. This does not mean that everyone ends up with two contrasting lives. Simply that taking a fresh look at life and putting things into perspective can mean huge things for your general well being. You could start to worry less and be more enthusiastic about life. Knowing that there is more to life than just work will liberate many people and help them achieve true happiness. I never lose sleep over work now, I turn up to work fresh and enthusiastic and I still go out a couple of times a week with friends and family. As a result, I feel I have achieved my perfect work life balance and I am happier for it.

Everyone should take a step back and ask themselves do I have a good work life balance? Is work affecting you motivation to socialise or is partying all night affecting your work. Either way a balance has to eventually occur and everyone will have a different level, but most importantly it is what works for you and at the end of the day, what makes you happy.

Bio: Written by Tom Tolladay, an event’s organiser for www.chillisauce.co.uk. Tom has also written for sports website caughtoffside and is a contributor for the International Institute of Event Management. You can contact Tom on his blog www.eventsuppliers.co.uk

No, I’m not talking about banging your head with your camera! (although that would distract you momentarily!) These tips will help slow you down and remind you to be present. When you are fully aware of this moment, it is much harder to get overwhelmed, stressed and future trip.

1. Take yourself on a photo walk with your camera. Just 10 minutes is all you will need. Go slow. Breathe. Really look. Take photos of all the details along the way. Get closer to your subject and take more photos. This is a walking photo meditation. It’s sacred time for you to be shown the wonder that awaits you right outside your door.

2. Look for power signs. The universe is sending you messages all the time. Set your intention to notice the signs. When you do, take photographs of them. What does the sign mean for you? What is the universe trying to tell you. What is it that you’ve forgotten?

3. Pick a time of day and schedule taking one photo. Be mindful of this time. Be present while taking the photograph. Practice awareness while you look through the viewfinder. Here is an example of a photo a day called the “Nap” Series.

4.Visual gratitude list through photography. Take photos of all the people, places and things in your life that you are grateful for. I bet you can come up with at least 5 things. But even ONE thing is a great start. Do this on a regular basis. It will shift your attention from all the stuff out there, to all the heart felt stuff that really matters most.

5. Write a list. What does a list have to do with photography? Complete the first task on the list. Then get up and walk away. With camera in hand go find an interesting view or composition and take a photo. This practice can help bring more joy. Do a task. Take a photo. Rinse and Repeat. Get creative about the photo you take. It could be a self-portrait in the mirror or of your feet outside on the grass. Be curious. Shift gears. Let go.

Photography is a great tool to end stress. It can help shift your attention. You will find yourself more centered and productive. Look through the viewfinder as a way out from under the pile of “to do’s”.  When you do, it will bring you to a place of peace and joy.

Catherine is an award winning photographer with a passion for helping others achieve their dreams. Her photos have been published on the cover of National Geographic Magazine and inside Oprah.com. She leads Soul*Full Retreats and eCourses for women, merging creativity and personal growth. Find out which one is the best fit for you at http://www.catherinejust.com, and follow her on Twitter @Catherine_Just.

Whether you enjoy relaxing by the beach, skiing down the slopes or testing your golf game, it’s important to make time occasionally to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Easier said than done, right? With appointments, deadlines, and demands of your time, it’s easy to forget what it means to take a breather. To avoid total burnout, take the following simple steps to get peace of mind so you can really unwind:
1. Step Away From the Technology
For some of us, our iPhones and Blackberrys are like members of the family. You play your games on them, you do business on them and heck, sometimes you even talk on them. But to truly unwind and de-stress, it’s important to step away from the things that can tether you to your commitments and obligations. Silence your phone, or even better yet, turn it off so that you don’t have to be distracted by alerts and notifications when you’re trying to get some much-needed R&R.

2. Volunteer Your Time
There’s nothing like engaging in an activity you really care about to help clear your mind and re-charge the batteries. Whether you want to volunteer at a soup kitchen or help socialize adoptable pets, there are few things that can have a greater impact, while also helping you along the way. It’s often low-stress and can help remind you to prioritize what’s really important in your life.
3. Crank Up the Volume
Did you know that listening to music can actually increase blood flow? Whether you’re into Kenny Chesney or Kenny G, just listening to your favorite music can help improve your mood and clear your mind. Programs like iTunes, Spotify and Pandora make getting your favorite tunes (even those from way back when) easy and affordable. Better yet, get up and move around, and enjoy a mini dance party in your living room. It’ll get your blood pumping, and you’ll feel refreshed and able to relax.

4. Write it Down
Have a million and one thoughts running through your head? If so, putting all of those ideas and worries on a piece of paper may help you sort through them and push past those that are preventing you from unwinding. Which ones can be addressed right now? Which ones are out of your control? Think it through, and when you’re done, toss the piece of paper in the trash. Tell yourself you’ve given those issues as much time as they’re worth, and that it’s time to move forward.

5. Get in Touch With Nature
When was the last time you went for a walk without purpose? Like a mini dance party, getting some fresh air, especially in an area with lots of foliage, can be invigorating and a chance to reflect on the simpler things in life. If you have a dog, take him or her with you, and get the added benefit of exercising them as well. Animals are thought to have a calming influence, so it’ll be mutually beneficial and also a great way to get a little peace of mind.

This post is written by Erica Moss. Erica is the social media outreach coordinator for the Masters in Nursing program at Georgetown University, which has one of the nation’s leading FNP programs. Outside of work, Erica is an avid dog lover who loves photography and meeting new people.

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The most common question I receive when coaching people is how to sustain motivation and how to let go of stress.

“How do you stay motivated after the initial rush of inspiration has faded and the hard work begins?”
“I have so much to do today, how can I not be stressed?”

Without motivation, producing quality results is near impossible.
With motivation you can accomplish extra-ordinary things and become hugely successful.
I have had times when I have barely been able to get myself out of bed, because I didn’t feel as though I had a reason to get up.

I have been through times when I can’t sleep because there is so much fun to do!

Motivation comes and goes, but there are a lot of things we can do to keep it for a longer time and keep the lowest levels of motivation from getting too low.

Motivation at work
When I got my first sales job I was very, very motivated. I couldn’t wait to get started.
I started working hard from day one and pushed myself harder than I ever had before.

Things went well for me, for about six months. Then I realized that this job wasn’t really for me, there were a lot of reasons I didn’t like the job, but the main one was the atmosphere at the company. The business plan was to “trick” customers into buying, which didn’t sit well with me.

My motivation started to wane and so did my results.

I stayed at the company much too long, over a year before I quit, but when I found a new job with a better culture and product, my motivation came back.

Since then I have learned several techniques that help keep motivation high.

You cannot motivate someone; they can only motivate themselves
This is both a true and false statement (at least in my belief).
Motivation comes from within, it is our own driving force, but there are tools that can be taught to help you increase and focus you motivation.

Clarity

The clearer your goals are the more motivated you will be, you will have a sense of purpose, a reason to work harder and to produce results.

As we progress through this book we will be working more and more on bringing clarity to your goals, this will bring you the greatest burst of motivation and the strength to achieve them.
Before we get to that stage though I want you to read these 5 exercises on how to increase your motivation, by using these before and after you have set your goals and made your plans, you will get an even stronger effect from it.

Write down all your projects
To get a better overview of why you are stressed it is important to know where you should start.

Two years ago I was having an introductory meeting with a new student and she told me something very interesting:

“I really want to become better at time management and I have worked at it a lot, I have a weekly plan, I prioritize it, but still when I get ready to start I just feel like there are so many other things I should do. I feel overwhelmed and start running in circles in my mind. All of a sudden an hour has gone by and I haven’t done anything, is there any way to cure this”

This is a very common problem, I am sure you have felt it yourself at one point or another.

Know everything that needs to be done
Keeping an overview of everything that needs to be done makes it easier to focus at one at a time.

This might feel stressful
The first time my wife listed everything she needed to do it was because I had told her to do it about 2000 times, too shut me up she finally did it. The reason she didn’t want to do it was that she was afraid that looking at that list would make it all more real and make her even more stressed.

It is keeping it in your mind that makes you stressed.

When you have to constantly think about and remind yourself about everything that needs to be done you become stressed, you can never put anything away.
Getting it onto a list makes it a lot easier, you can put it aside for the time being knowing you will come back to it soon.

You know what you are working on
Listen to your mind, what are you thinking about? What projects need to be done?
Write down everything, small and large on a list.

Identifying next actions
By identifying next actions you will have an easy actionable list. Things become smaller; you can do these small things to move the project forward. It also helps you from having to think about what needs to be done every time you pick up a new task.

You know you aren’t missing something
When you know you aren’t missing anything you can focus and start working on task number one. This will make you much more efficient and make that list smaller making you even less stressed.
Quickly you can start to get into a positive spiral and become more and more efficient.

Daniel M. Wood is a personal development coach and trainer. He has a background in Psychology, Sales, marketing and sports. Through his work with students around the world he has created the course “The Time Management Expert Course” that has helped hundreds of people decrease stress, increase their motivation and become a lot more efficient.

The course teaches you how to get control over your life and make room to be both spontaneous and relaxed.

Check out the course and see how it can help you.

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It’s gossip, turf wars, water cooler talk, and the chronic complainer no one can stand. When you talk with people about the organizations they work for, it’s common to hear about the “Drama” plaguing their companies: the energy-draining behaviors that keep people from focusing on the creative projects and basic business practices that make the company successful.

If we could just get through the drama, the business decisions and real work isn’t that hard…

It’s easy to blame drama on others.  After all, you’re the good guy in these dynamics; why don’t they get it?  One of the most difficult challenges for aspiring leaders is to “own their stuff”—to acknowledge that they are equally responsible for creating any situation where drama exists.

I learned this lesson working on a writing project with another author – my dad. He had some great ideas that I was happy to work with. But then he became controlling. It was easy for me to see how things were falling apart – and it was his fault! He was the one who wasn’t listening. He was the one who was setting impossible deadlines. I was ready to take all I knew about eliminating drama and apply it to him.

Most drama is caused by four primary energy-draining personalities that sabotage workplace collaboration and synergy: the Complainer, the Controller, the Cynic and the Caretaker.  The Complainer is the one who is never at fault – not enough time, resources or support. The Controller has to be in charge – perhaps micromanaging, sometimes being the bully. The Cynic must be right; often pointing out how others’ ideas will never work and making fun of the person who brought it up. The Caretaker wants to be liked so much that they say yes to everything, which becomes a problem when they bite off more than they can chew and they miss deadlines.

Like me, most people want to start with the question: how to I help others change? But, we have found that before you can guide others, you have to take inventory of your interaction strengths and the ways you sabotage relationships. The strength inventory is usually easy. It’s fun to appreciate your talent and amazing ability to do what you do. The sabotage inventory is more difficult. It requires the vulnerability and courage to seek others’ candid observations and advice about your behavior.

Taking my own advice, I asked myself what my part was in creating the drama. I wondered which Drama personalities I was using that were sabotaging us. I noticed how I had fallen into Complainer. I didn’t have enough time to do everything he asked and his requests were too hard. I realized that I would have micromanaged someone acting the way I was. Then I saw my Cynic. The enthusiasm I had at the beginning of the project had become critical… I saw everything wrong with what we were doing, but didn’t offer any suggestions to change. Once I saw myself in these drama roles, I could shift into taking responsibility – renegotiating our deadlines and making suggestions for how we could change the writing to be better.

By identifying and correcting the four drama roles (Complainer, Controller, Cynic, Caretaker), you are well on your way to eliminating drama. If you want even more clarity, invite your work colleagues, family members, and friends to give you timely, direct feedback.

Here is a quick way to start looking at how these drama roles show up for you.  Ask friends and coworkers:

-       Where do you see me complaining? Not taking responsibility for my situation?

-       Where do you see me controlling? Taking over and micromanaging?

-       Where do you see be being cynical? Discounting others or being sarcastic?

-       Where do you seem me caretaking? Rescuing others instead of letting them do things on their own?

You can also take a free drama assessment for yourself. Let me know what you find out about yourself. And what can you do to change?

Kaley Klemp and Jim Warner are the authors of The Drama-Free Office: A Guide to Healthy Collaboration with Your Team, Coworkers, and Boss. You can get a free sample of the book on Facebook. Follow them on twitter. Read more about them at www.dramafreeoffice.com. Or, just get the book on Amazon.

You’ve met them.  You probably even have a few in your family that you see at barbecues every summer.  It’s the 65 year old uncle that has the memory of an elephant and can recall small details from events in the 1950’s.  Perhaps you have a relative that can quote specific dates from their childhood, or even experiences they had overseas in another “life.”  If you are like me, you wish that you had a magic formula to improve your memory power to have the same abilities as these impressive individuals.  Well, I’m here to tell you that with the tips I’m going to give you in this article, you’ll have the information to improve your memory, and you can get started right away!

Tip #1:  Reduce Stress

Stress is one of the greatest enemies of the mind, and increasingly more common, the health of the entire body.  Stress can cause heart attacks, strokes, and the long-term degradation of one’s health.  Specifically, it kills your brain’s cells, and has a negative effect on the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for recording and storing long and short-term memories.  Some of the best improve your memory information I ever received was to get ahold of stress, and eliminate as much of it as you can.  There are many ways to do this, but one of the techniques I’ve found to be most effective is meditation.  Meditation is effective in calming your nerves, finding your inner quiet and peace, and producing a deep state of relaxation.  It’s easy to learn some basic techniques, and these will go a long way in helping reduce your overall stress levels, thereby improving the power of your mind.

Tip #2: Exercise Your Brain

If you were planning on running a marathon next summer, would you train your body to increase its performance and improve your chances for success?  Of course you would!  You’d specifically train your body to target the muscles and organs necessary for successfully completing a 26 mile run.  Well, your brain is no different than the rest of your body.  If you require increased performance and reliability from your brain, you have to continually use it and train it in ways that you don’t normally use it.  Try things like brushing your teeth or writing with your non-dominant hand.  Learn a foreign language or a musical instrument.  Read about or study a new area of interest that you have little knowledge of.  All of these things will require your brain to create new neural pathways, which will improve memory power and overall brain performance.

Tip #3: Listen and Actively Engage

How many times have you met someone at a party, a business setting, or any other situation, and five minutes later you can’t remember the person’s name that you just met?  It happens to all of us, and can be embarrassing, but it is an easy faux pas to avoid if you know how to do it.  Any time you are performing a task, speaking to someone, meeting someone for the first time, etc., make it a point to block out all other distractions and pay attention.  We humans make so many errors, and fail to remember a lot of important information because of the failure of this basic skill.  Try to pay close attention to detail in all aspects of your life and you will see that it becomes second nature, and pretty soon you won’t even have to try.  When you are meeting that new person, engage him and repeat his name back while you are being introduced.  This will help reinforce the name into your brain for future recall.  Be more engaged in all of your conversations and make an effort to listen more attentively and you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll be able to remember later.

By putting this information to improve your memory into use, you will soon see that your brain is sharper, and you will be recalling important information more quickly and accurately than before.  This improvement in memory power might not put you in the league of your 65 year old uncle, but the rest of your family, friends, and colleagues will think that you are one of the sharpest people they know!

Timothy Romano is the author of Secrets to Improve Memory, a complete memory improvement course from basic, to advanced techniques.  For further reading, and the opportunity to sign up for his free e-mail mini-course, full of helpful information to improve your memory Secrets To Improve Memory.

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Guess what? The use of life-enhancing devices such as cell phones and laptops has not changed the fact that you have too much to accomplish each day. And, with only twenty-four hours available, you try your best to get the most from each hour.

That would be easy if you only had one hat to wear in life but you don’t. You’re a parent, partner, worker, student, and friend to many, many people. All these hats usually fit well and are ones that you wear with pride.

However, there are days when the number of hats feels a little too tight to be comfortable. Days when the need for down time is overwhelming and the desire to do things that bring joy into your life grows stronger and stronger. When time to refresh and energize takes center stage, schedule a mental health weekend. Toss your hats in a corner and take a break to restore some of the calm, clarity, and focus in your life.

Step #1: Make yourself a priority.

Too often others receive the attention that we neglect to give to ourselves. Schedule time for yourself and guard this appointment as carefully as you would a medical exam or client meeting. Don’t answer your cell. Unplug all but the most necessary electronic devices. If you have small children and can only manage to take a few hours or a single day, do it. If you are a busy executive, close your office door and daydream for a few minutes. Tell your family, friends, and everyone else that you are not available during this time. Don’t feel guilty and don’t cave in to outside pressures; give yourself time to adjust to the freedom to just be.

Step #2: Dress comfortably.

This is the time to chill-out and be comfy. Kick off those shoes. Wear clothing that signals it’s okay to relax with no other purpose than to take it easy. Slip into those warm flannel jammies that Aunt Lou gave you a few years ago. If you get the same feeling from jeans and a tee shirt, go for it. Dress to please yourself not others.

Step #3: Get the glow.

Choose to focus on an activity that creates delight in your soul. Sit back and view classic movies, crank up the volume of your favorite music, or paint a watercolor landscape. Begin a journal, practice a musical instrument, or take a bubble bath. Missed the most recent episode of Glee? View it now. Whatever you choose should give you a warm happy glow.

Step #4: Eat simple.

Foods should be low-key and relaxed. Fresh fruits and salads or take-out meals are quick, easy, and clean up in a few minutes. See how creative you can be using foods already in the fridge.  Save your energy for activities that will leave you feeling invigorated and recharged. Leave the dirty pots and pans for another day.

Step #5: Have Fun.

Your mental health weekend has to be what you want it to be. It should generate positive spirits and strong feelings of contentment.

• · It should not be a chore
• · It should not be another item to tick off the to-do list
• · It should not create frustration or disappointment

A lot can be accomplished in a weekend by using these simple but effective ways to decompress from a busy life. You’ll return to your regular activities with renewed focus and vigor – ready to retrieve your many hats from the corner and face the world again.

Wilma Fuller is a freelance writer and teacher. You can read more about her at http://about.me/wilmafuller

Let the gift shopping, wrapping and giving begin: the holidays are here! Soon everyone will be walking around, humming holiday tunes and acting jollier than usual. However, underneath it all, everyone will be STRESSING!

The holidays are notorious for adding a large amount of stress during an already stressful time. When can you shop for gifts when you have to finish a report before New Years?  What do you buy your parents? Can you afford an expensive gift for your spouse in this economy?

Stress. Stress. Stress.

But it doesn’t have to be this way! Here are four tips that will help you stay stress-free this holiday season:

Spend more time with family, and less with work.
The countdown to the New Year has begun and you see your work deadlines creeping up on the calendar. It’s natural to want to finish your work responsibilities as soon as possible but don’t let it interrupt family time. Instead, try heading into the office earlier, rather than bring your work home with you. That way, you have more time at the end of the day for family and even holiday shopping.

Take a dip.
After working 10-hour-days (to make up for the extra vacation time) you can feel yourself physically and mentally start to break down; your body begins to ache and your brain hurts. Get rid of these pains and make yourself sit in your local gym’s spa or relax in your own hot tub.

Hot tubs and spas are a great way to escape from a hectic day – even if it’s just for a half an hour. You will feel refreshed both physically and mentally in minutes.

Turn your hobby into a habit.
Remember those days when you loved playing golf on the weekends? Or going out with your girlfriends to get your nails done? Well, turn that distant memory into a date for next week. Spending time doing the things you love will be a nice break from shopping for gifts and decorating the house for the holidays.

Make time to exercise.
There are a number of reasons as to why you should stay healthy and fit: it will help you lose weight, add years to your life and prevent colds during flu season. More importantly, going to the gym this holiday season will keep you sane.

Aerobic exercise and weightlifting produce endorphins, the “happy” chemicals in your body. These chemicals are much needed during holiday season when the stress tries to take over. Don’t let it!

And don’t worry; you don’t have to run five miles to reach the “happy place.” Instead, sign up for a Yoga class to relieve stress. Kundalini Yoga is a great way to relieve stress naturally.

Remember, the holidays are a time to look forward to, not dread. Follow these four tips and you’ll be relaxed and ready to enjoy delicious food and time with family from the second you clock out.

Sylvia Rosen is a writer for buyerzone.com

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Ever had one of those days when you’ve got such a ridiculous amount of stuff to do that even the idea of unpacking the groceries makes you feel frazzled and teary? When you frantically flit from task to task, never quite completing anything and in most cases not really doing anything useful at all? When by night-time it’s hard to escape the somewhat depressing fact that although you’ve been stupidly busy all day you’ve actually accomplished precisely zip?

Of course you have, right? We all do. At least, those of us with a ticking pulse. Stress is part of our culture. Perhaps for some of us more than others, but my bet is that if you’re at all active in the online world then you are, by nature, a goal-driven person. Which makes you perfect prey for the claws of the stress beast.

Myself, I have those days all the time. Mainly when I’m doing something totally normal like oh, I don’t know, trying to juggle my wriggly 6-month old on my lap (feeling guilty that I’m not engaging with her) while simultaneously writing a blog post, checking my emails every 5 min, suddenly realizing that  it’s 11.17 and I have a client arriving at my house in 13 minutes and yet for some reason I’m still sitting in a café waiting for a coffee to show up. And I haven’t, in fact, actually been very creative at all even though I’ve been working for the better part of the day.

They say that if you want something done, give it to a busy person. Well the truth is I’m constantly getting asked to ‘help out’ with projects and rarely would I refuse. I pride myself on getting things done. Even if it means doing other people’s stuff and letting my own pursuits gather dust. And on the rare occasions when I do actively switch off; take a few hours to relax sans technology I feel – lost. Unsure of myself. I’ve forgotten how to just be me because me has become a person with not just a head, two arms and a leg, but an always-attached laptop, an often anxious or worried stare, and constantly flickering eyes as I revise and revise and revise my to-do list.

Can you relate?

If you’ve read this far I’m guessing yes. In which case I don’t have to tell you the flipside of all this (I’ll tell you anyway). Sometimes it all comes together and you feel AMAZING. Right? You actually do manage to check 35 tasks off your list, all the while being incredibly creative, and even attempting reasonably normal social engagement with anyone whose path you might cross. On a really good day you might even get time to eat properly or have a workout.

But those days can be all too few, can’t they? More often than not you just end up feeling exhausted by the never-endingness of it all. Tired but wired.

So here’s a question for you:

Are you driven by stress or by productivity?

You do realize they’re not the same thing? I’ll admit, it’s taken me a while to figure this out and truth be told I’m still getting there, but the following six points work really well for me.

Don’t Kid Yourself

You know those days when you do actually get something big and important done? Feels pretty good, right? So maybe you are managing okay after all? Maybe your busy lifestyle is just the way things have to be in order to achieve your goals and manage the day-to-day necessities. Don’t kid yourself. Living life like a typical busy person may allow you to be productive from time-to-time, but let’s be honest. Never being fully present in the task at hand due to all the other things you could or should be doing is still no way to live. Is it? From now on I want you to actively choose a handful of items that you know you won’t do each day. Cross them off your list and actually focus on your one or two big things.

Take A Day Off For Evaluation

“Take a day of?!! Is she freakin’ insane? Think of all the catch up I’ll have to do. The very idea of it makes me reach for the nearest paperbag!”

The more that little rant resonates as something that might actually cross your mind, the greater the need for said day off. The purpose of the day off is to allow you to take a mental step back and re-assess what’s really important to you. I like to do this by first categorizing every area of my life. Anal, I know, but it works for me. You might like to put together a weekly plan; a template of the perfect week. If you can’t realistically slot in all your ‘must-dos’ and still have room to breathe, then something’s gonna have to go. If you find (like I did) that everything is important to you, then you’re just going to have to prioritize.

Cut Back Your Wish List

I’ve heard it said that most people seriously overestimate what they can do in a year, and then – as a result of rushing around all year like a headless chook – seriously under-accomplish what they’re capable of in a decade. Avoid this by acknowledging that you can’t and never will do everything. It’s realistic to have 2 or 3 big projects for each year. THAT’S IT. Accept that some – if not most – of the rest of your list is going to have to get the chop. My 3 big things are to sell 100 copies of my new holistic weight loss book, to pay off my credit card debt, and to achieve my pre-pregnancy weight. There’s a lot of other stuff I’d like to do, but if I get those 3 the year will be a success.

Control Your Daily List

If you’re anything like me then you pretty much have to have a list to work with each day. Even when I’m being organized my life is super-full. It’s in my nature, and it’s impossible to avoid. But I can do it well or I can do it poorly. What works for me is to list pretty much every little task, from read my daughter a book, to remember to take my multi-vitamin, to follow up a bill, and so on. As a result I do often have over 30 items on my list, but it works well as things don’t get forgotten. Still, it can be overwhelming. If long lists are your thing then take charge of them by numerically prioritizing your tasks for the day. Do it the night before. For example, task ‘0’- time with God, task ‘1’ – take supplements, task ‘2’ read book, task ‘3’ finish guest post for Pick The Brain. This helps you to stay focused and know that if you do run out of time later in the day you will have completed the things you chose as priorities.

Accept Failure As A Good Thing

With that in mind I’d suggest you make it okay in your mind to not get things done. Embrace the idea not just as realistic, but as positive. Failing to complete the faffy items allows you more time and mental energy to focus on the stuff that really matters. And if you can take an evaluation day every 4-6 weeks then you’ll be able to rest easy in the fact that you are focusing on the stuff that really matters.

And you know what? When the inevitable happens, when life intervenes and you do end up stuck in overload then it won’t matter as much. It will be little more than a blip on your road to success, and you’ll be able to face it and move on. Don’t forget that stress is supposed to be a positive thing – it challenges us, drives us to achieve and conquer. But you’re only going to enjoy those benefits when you choose to control your use of time rather than let it control you.

What do you do to feel productive and in control of your life? Comment below!

Kat Eden is a Personal Trainer, nutrition coach and freelance writer from Melbourne, Australia. Visit her blog for regular nutrition and motivational tips to drive you to your goals faster. Kat recently released her e-book Secrets Of Lasting Weight Loss Revealed. It took her 26 months to complete because she was stuck in overwhelm for most of that time. Fortunately Kat is slowly but surely learning to follow her own advice and is now hitting her goals faster than every before.

Interested in beginning meditation but don’t know where to start? The good news is that all you need is 5-10 minutes a day to get started.

Are you thinking to yourself, ‘Ten minutes, I don’t have an extra ten minutes a day! My life is already jam packed with work, family, social obligations, and I’m not even mentioning my growing to-do list”?

Well, what if I told you that the benefits of meditation include a reduction in stress, sharpened concentration, improved circulation – and as you get further into your practice you’ll experience a quieter mind, a more open and receptive heart, a sense of inner freedom – and perhaps even a streak of creativity that’ll help you make films like David Lynch. (Lynch has been practicing Transcendental Meditation for over thirty years.)

Sound good?

Here are six easy tips and meditation techniques for beginners that will help get you started. These tips worked for me when I began my practice – and although I’m a lot further along then I was a year ago when I first started, I still have a way to go – as it’s important to remember that meditation is a process.

1. Be comfortable in a quiet place. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. To get started, it doesn’t matter whether you sit or lay down as long as you are comfortable. You can sit cross-legged, on the floor, or on a chair. If you can sit erect, then great. If not, it’s just important to have your body in a somewhat stable position. Then have the palms of your hands face the sky.

2. Become “present”, i.e., become totally aware of your current surroundings. What do you hear? How does it feel to sit? Do you feel tension in a specific body part? Where are your thoughts? Are your thoughts running? (That’s perfectly fine, it happens to the meditation pros, too). Just try to sit and “smell the roses” as best you can.

3. Focus on your breath. Breath, breath, breath. Meditation (and yoga for that matter), is all about the breath. Try to take long and deep breaths, and feel your breath move throughout your body — from your lungs and out through your nostrils or your throat. (Breathing through your nostrils is better though either will work). Your mind will wonder (which is okay), just try your best to be as focused as possible.  And as meditation guru, Sharon Salzberg always says, “bring it back to the breath.”

4. Feel your body. Once you’re focused, take notice of your body and how each body part feels. Start with the toes and work your way up to your head. If your mind continues to wonder then bring your thoughts back to your breath. Breath 5-10 times with full concentration on each breath. Take it a step further and hum “Om” as you breathe out if you feel like it. If not, no biggie.

5. Learn from the pros. Deepak Chopra does a lot of things well – including meditation. Check out his 11-minute video where he walks through some great meditation techniques for beginners. Not into video, and you’d rather read? Jack Kornfield’s book, Meditation for Beginners, is one of the best, quick-reads on meditation you’ll find. And if you’re ever in New York City and would like to check out a class then there’s none better than Sharon Salzberg’s beginner meditation classes at the Tibet House.

6. Practice, practice, practice! Like anything, practice makes perfect. Make sure to carve out a time each and every day to practice. You’ll hopefully find all your practice totally worth it as meditation can be life-changing!

Happy meditation!

This post was written by Jason Wachob. Jason is the Curator of MindBodyGreen.com, a site that provides tips, news, and interviews on better, healthy, and green living.

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