Self Confidence Boosters

Having self-confidence means having confidence in oneself.  It means you believe or trust in your own powers.  You’re positive, but also realistic, in your assessment of your strong points and abilities. Not everyone is born with self confidence yet they find self confidence boosters to help build up how they feel about themselves.

Self-confidence is also an attitude.  You know people who exude confidence in themselves.  They know they’re in their element, their supreme strength, and it’s like an invisible glow encircling them. 

Having confidence in yourself is something learned and many people rely on good self confidence boosters to build up the confidence they have in themselves.  Yours was probably first shaped in childhood by your experiences, including the feedback from those close to you.  But the good news is that it is not an inherited trait, so that means if you don’t feel good about your level of confidence, it’s something you can change. 

There are good reasons to have a positive attitude about yourself.  You are willing to play to your strengths and have more success and you’re more willing to get outside your comfort zone and try something new.  With extreme confidence the whole world looks inviting and you feel you can do anything you set your mind to.  

If you’d like to increase your confidence, I’ve listed some self confidence boosters below.  Of course, what works for one person might not work for another.  Give them a fair shot and then concentrate on the ones that resonate with you.

1) Look the part: Don’t save your favorite power tie for special occasions, wear it often.  In fact, dress in the clothes that make you feel powerful and successful.  Don’t forgo the makeup and hairdo just because you work at home.  If you want to be the successful marketer, speaker or art gallery owner, then dress the part.  If you put on the clothes, it will change your attitude.

2) Take stock: Often times, people are so busy thinking about what they’re too afraid to do that they don’t take stock of what they have accomplished.  A big self confidence booster is to start a list of all the things you’ve had success with and pat yourself on the back.  Add to your list every time you come up with a new one and take time to congratulate yourself.

3) Give back: This one is easy… volunteer your time and expertise.  When you stop thinking about yourself for a while and pay attention to those who have it worse, it helps you see you’ve got a lot more going on than you originally thought.  Help others and it will have a positive impact on you.

4) Exercise: A hard workout may kick your rear-end, but you’ll be happy and proud you’ve done it.  Not everyone can run 2 miles can they?  You struggled but you did it, and that feels very good.  Plus exercise tones you and you end up looking great.  Looking great makes you feel more confident about yourself.  In addition, exercise helps fend off negative self-talk and stress.

5) Body language: Stop and look at yourself right now.  Are you sitting slouched with your shoulders hunched forward?  Sit up straight and throw your shoulders back and notice the difference in how this makes you feel.  Walk with a confident air; head up, long strides, fast pace, and smile at people.  It’s amazing how the world changes around you… or is that you changing?

Becoming self-confident does not happen in an instant, but it is something you can improve if you work at it.  Try these self confidence boosters listed above and then concentrate on the ones that help the most.

If you need help in boosting your self confidence,  simply sign up for one of our affordable coaching packages. You can also grab your free 20 minute coaching consultation to find out more about how a life coach can assist you.

Effective To Do List Tips

Are you lost under piles of paper–each one containing a list of things to do? Are you so overwhelmed by all of you lists that despite drowning in a sea of lists, nothing is getting done? Take heart–you aren’t alone. Don’t despair, you can conquer the lists AND get things done.

Here are a few suggestions to show you how to make effective to do list and accomplish the items on your lists.

1. Consolidate and Conquer: Do you have many different pieces of paper containing your lists? This in and of itself can be discouraging. So, the number one tip on how to make effective to do lists is to consolidate your lists. There are many ways you an consolidate. One way is to consolidate by room. Another way is to consolidate by type of task. Whichever way you choose, consolidate your lists onto a Master List under the categories of your choice. For instance, categorizing by room makes it easier to complete tasks within each particular room in your house. Some of your categories can include organizing, decluttering, repair and redecorating. You get to decide the categories. Your Master List can be in a spiral notebook so that you can have a few pages for each room. Set it up in a way that makes sense to you.

2. Do a Reality Check: How many of the things on the list are things that can only be done by you? Chances are there are many items on your list that you can delegate in some way to someone else. We often hold the mistaken impression that we have to do everything ourselves. That mindset often sets us up for failure. We simply can’t do it all! It’s time for that reality check. Realistically look at what you can delegate and then assign it to a family member or hire someone to do it for you.

3. Cull the Lists: Once you have gathered all of your different lists together, take time to go through the items on each list and decide which items really need to be on each list. Many times we end up with items on our list that shouldn’t be there. Your list should only include items that are relevant to YOU. They should do one of two things: directly affect you or your family OR be the result of a commitment by you. Don’t take on someone else’s responsibility. You have enough of your own priorities to work on without taking on anyone else’s.

4. Prioritize: Does everything on your list seem as though it is screaming `TAKE CARE OF ME RIGHT NOW’? In reality, while there are many things that may be important, very few of them will be urgent and need immediate attention. Besides, if they’d needed immediate attention you would likely have attended to them immediately! Many of those considered important are actually only masquerading as important. So take the time to prioritize the items on your list. Some potential categories that may be more meaningful than `Priority A, Priority B or Priority C’ could be Must Be Done Now, Need To Be Done Soon, Need To Be Done, and Nice To Be Done. These, or similar categories should cover everything on your list and help you to separate the wish list from the need to do list.

5. One and Only One: Whatever you do, don’t make more lists. The key to creating an effective to do list is to be sure that there is only one of them and that everything you need to do should be on the one list. Items you chose to do can go on your calendar, into your planner or on your smart phone under tasks for that day. Making more lists only gets you right back to where you started– drowning in paper. If you use an electronic calendar program or smart phone, you can add your tasks of choice for the day to your e-calendar. Just make sure when you sync up your smart phone to your computer, you’ve included tasks in what syncs up.

6. Work Your Priorities: Another way to cut down on numerous lists is to work your priorities. Rather than working randomly based on the closest sticky note, work from your list of priorities. Obviously, those categorized #1, A or Must Be Done Now should be worked soonest. Then you can schedule the other lower priority tasks as you have time and inclination. Don’t work randomly, work with purpose– highest priority items first, followed by the lower priority when time allows.

By using all of just some of the above effective to do list tips, you will be well on your way to getting more things gone in an organized manner.

If you need help in tweaking your time managment, simply sign up for one of our affordable coaching packages. You can also grab your free 20 minute coaching consultation to find out more about how a life coach can assist you.

Talk and Overcome Problems, Stress and Anxiety

What do you struggle with? Losing weight? Managing finances? Relationship problems or issues? In my career as a Life Coach, I have found the three things listed above are the issues most people seem to deal with at some point in their life. Chances are, you’ve dealt with some or all of these things at least once in your life if you’re 20 years old or over. Am I right? …Thought so. (*smile*).

Well, as I said, you’re not alone. These and other issues are common everyday occurrences in most people’s lives. So, what’s a person to do? If these and other issues are common occurrences, how does one overcome them? Good question!

There are several different methods I use as a Life Coach to help someone overcome a particular issue, and one of the best methods I’ve found is by letting the person talk it out. In other words, I let them “vent” if you will or “talk through it”. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our thoughts that we lose sight of what the real problem is, and by talking through it, we can actually clear our heads and start to see things in a whole new light.

Another reason talking it out helps is because when we actually hear what we’re saying to and about ourselves, we may begin to hear things differently and that we didn’t recognize before. Audibly hearing what’s going on inside our heads may help us get to the root of the problem a whole lot quicker. Once we get to the root, the problem is usually much easier to solve.

I have a friend who is a worst-case-scenario thinker. Her thoughts often go down a path of destruction which causes her excessive worry and anxiety. But once she begins to talk her thoughts out with someone, she realizes that what she thinks is going to happen is hardly ever what actually happens.

If you’re someone who tends to have “worst-case-scenario” thinking, or know someone who does, talking through your thoughts with a trained professional is probably one of the best ways to overcome anxiety and stress, as well as the problem itself.

Need someone to talk to? Someone whom you can trust will keep your information private and confidential? Someone neutral, who won’t judge you, who truly wants to help you overcome certain obstacles and help you be as successful as you possibly can? Please contact me for a free 20 minute consultation to see how I can help you overcome whatever is stopping you from being all that you want to be.

Time Management Tips – The Easy Way

Ever have one of those days where you never have enough time to get done all the things on your to-do list? If you’re a normal person living in the free world today, you’ve no doubt experienced this…and probably on numerous occasions. What happens is we know what we need to get done and what we would like to get done, but the problem is we don’t usually calculate the time it will actually take to get certain tasks completed and crossed off the to-do list. This is because something else usually comes up that we either didn’t plan for or that we forgot about. And sometimes the task entails further instruction or detail we were unaware of.

For instance, a typical morning in your planner might look something like this:

• 8:00am-9:00am Coffee with a new client
• 9:00am-10:00am Grocery Shopping
• 10:00am-10:30am Take groceries home, put away
• 10:30am-11:30am run errands

This is just an example, but right away I can see there is room for mishaps. The coffee hour with your new client will probably go over a few minutes; you most likely will run into a friend or two at the grocery store, which will chisel into the time you’ve set for grocery shopping; you’ll probably get a phone call while trying to put the groceries away or your kid might get hurt (God forbid) helping you carry in the groceries; and we all know no matter how much extra time we set aside for running errands something always comes up that eats up the time we’ve set aside, like long lines, or down computer systems.

The best way to schedule your time so that it’s easy and reasonable to manage is to automatically schedule yourself extra time. So for example, extend the coffee time with your new client by a half hour. Extend your grocery shopping time by 15 minutes as well as the time to put them away. Then if you don’t use all that extra time, when you get stuck in a long line at the bank you will still be on schedule for the rest of your day.

Also, another trick to managing time well is to NOT over-schedule yourself. Learn to say “no” to certain activities or events that aren’t imperative to your success or to reaching your goals and dreams. And finally, don’t forget to schedule date night with your spouse, for your kids and personal time for yourself!

If you need help in tweaking your time management, simply sign up for one of our affordable coaching packages. You can also grab your free 20 minute coaching consultation to find out more about how a life coach can assist you

Guilt Free Me Time

Many of us are super busy, trying to balance work and family, not to mention household chores or errands. Unfortunately, often our own needs and wants fall by the wayside. But the reality is that in order to perform all your duties every day, sometimes you need a little bit of a break and that’s where ‘Me Time’ comes in.

We all need and deserve some time for ourselves each and every day. It does not have to be long–sometimes even 5 or 10 minutes is enough time to rejuvenate and recharge our batteries. So from a cup of tea, to a good book, to a half hour walk, or a bubble bath or anything in between, let’s all make an effort to incorporate ‘Me Time’ into our schedules.

1. Mind set: realize everyone needs some downtime: Sometimes it’s hard not to be a ‘super person’ who is constantly on the move. Instead, we all need to take a break. Everyone needs a break now and then and it’s important to recognize when you are feeling stressed, tired, or anxious. Taking time for one’s self daily will help lessen the possibility of burnout, stress, and anxiety.

2. Delegate: Not every chore or errand must be handled by you. Spouses, teenagers, older children, and even friends or neighbors can handle some of the daily activities around the house. For example, your spouse may agree to clean up the kitchen after you have made supper. Children may agree to help clean the bathroom or their own bedrooms each week. Teenagers may help by looking after younger siblings or if they have their driver’s license may be willing to pick up dry cleaning or run to the store. We must keep in mind, of course, that people are not mind readers. They must be asked politely to help out around the house.

3. Find an activity you enjoy: You must find an activity you enjoy, so you might want to join a hobby group or organization. Most of all you should be doing an activity (crafts, baking, gardening, physical activity, etc.) that you enjoy. If you do not enjoy it, will it really seem like a break or a reward for all your hard work?

4. Use as a reward: After a hard day at work or doing housework, use ‘Me Time’ as a reward or relaxation. You deserve a nice break, so make some time for you every day. Set up a system that gives you, for so many hours worked or so many chores accomplished, an appropriate much-liked activity.

5. Hire help: Sometimes in order to squeeze out a few extra minutes a day, we must hire help. For example, a neighborhood teenager may be willing to help with outdoor chores, walk the dog, or baby-sit. The 5 or 10 dollars is a great investment, if it helps you find time for yourself.

6. Find a partner or someone to make you accountable: If you are finding it difficult to make ‘Me Time’ a habit or part of your routine, why not hire a coach or ask a friend to hold you you accountable. ‘Me Time’ must become a part of your daily life or routine. Remember to make it a habit (which takes 21 days, so give it time).

There are many ways to enjoy your ‘Me Time’ while allowing yourself not to feel guilty and keeping in mind the above guidelines. You just need to remember the saying, ‘You are important, and you must take care of yourself in order to help take care of others.’

So take a break and enjoy a few minutes just for you every day! Your body, mind, and soul will appreciate it.

Need More Balance In Your Work and Family Life? Click here for easy-to-follow strategies you can use right away.

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

There is a quote by Brian Tracy that says “You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” I believe that quote is very true.

One of the biggest causes of people feeling stuck in life is the fact that they are afraid to take action and make changes because of the fear of stepping out of their comfort zones. Stepping outside your comfort zone is a must if you are trying to grow. Whether you are trying to grow in your business or personal life, being able to step out of your comfort zone and feel a bit awkward or uncomfortable for a while as you do something new and different is key.

Here are a few steps to help you with stepping outside your comfort zone:

Take Small steps – Just as some people dip their feet into the pool before jumping in, you can take small steps in life. If you are trying to break out of your comfort zone, you can start little by little. By taking things slowly what you are doing is allowing your comfort zone to get wider and wider as you try new things.

Do something different – Why not shake up your routine just a little bit. I promise you, the sky will not fall. Take an alternate route to work, school, the store, etc. Be sure to try new things or learn to take new challenges one step at a time. Why not sign up for a class of some sort? It can be frightening at first but once that boundary is extended, your courage will grow. Many times, we are our own worst enemy when it comes to boundaries and limitations.

Begin to see “risks” as opportunities – The reason why your comfort zone is so comfortable is because it’s the one place where you know what to expect. There are usually zero surprises in your comfort zone. I mean, why go out on a limb or take a risk at something? You just may fail, right? Well, what about if you gain something? Each time you don’t begin to see what you may call a risk as an opportunity, you might lose out on something valuable. Start seeing what you normally would consider to be a risk as a chance for positive change.

Face your Fears Head On - Facing your fears is one of the single greatest things that you can do in order to improve your life. If you know that fears are holding you back, why not ask yourself the following: “What is the worst thing that could happen if this “fear” were to come into my zone“? You may find out that you are surprised at how small most of the consequences of your fears actually are and you may be equally surprised at how easily you can learn to live with the results of your biggest fears.

Our comfort zones work well to keep us safe but they also stunt our growth. They hold us back and prevent us from becoming who we could be if we stepped out of them.

 So, let me ask you… what is your comfort zone holding you back from doing?

If you need help with stepping outside your comfort zone, simply sign up for one of our affordable coaching packages. You can also grab your free 20 minute coaching consultation to find out more about how a life coach can assist you.

Secrets of Productive People

We’ve all seen them. We probably have envied them at some point or another. We’ve also all wondered that their secret is. Who are they? Productive People!

They are the ones who seem to be getting so much done every day. We wonder, as we seem to fall further and further behind, how these people are able to accomplish so much. Follow along as we share some of their secrets with you.

1. Just do it!

It sounds so simple but it’s amazing how many of us don’t follow through on this one. We procrastinate. We come up with multiple reasons why we can’t. We justify not doing it. The secret of productive people is that they don’t procrastinate. They don’t come up with any reasons why they can’t. They don’t justify not doing it. It doesn’t matter what IT is. They just do it!

2. Prioritize.

Productive people also spend time prioritizing their tasks so that those that are most critical get to the top of the list. It’s good to make sure that we do the same thing also. Take time the night before to prioritize your tasks for the following day. See what a difference it makes in your day.

3. Do the most dreaded task first.

Let’s face it, there are many things we dread doing. Productive people are the same as we are. They have tasks they dread doing. The difference is that productive people get the most dreaded task done first. By getting the dreaded task, chore or activity done first, it’s over with! Then you can get on with those things you enjoy.

4. Have a CAN DO attitude.

Having a CAN DO attitude sounds simple, but we tend to overlook it. Productive people have an attitude similar to that of the book ‘The Little Engine That Could.’ If you know the story, you’ll remember the famous line, ‘I think I can, I think I can, I thought I could.’. Productive people go into things with that Can Do attitude instead of immediately thinking they can’t. Can Do = Productivity!

5. One bite at a time.

You’ve heard the old joke, ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!’ Productive people use this same principle when working on a project of any size. Break it down into manageable tasks. We can apply this same principle to all of our projects. Just figure out the things that can be broken down into manageable pieces and work one manageable piece at a time.

6. Schedule it.

One way that productive people make sure they get things done is to schedule time on their calendars. The thinking behind this is that if it’s not put on the schedule, too many other things can come up and crowd it out. So, follow the example of productive people and schedule your tasks on the calendar.

7. Avoid distractions.

Once you have something scheduled and it’s time to do it, do not answer the phone, do not answer the door, do not check email, do not…do not…do not. Stay focused on your task and you’ll be amazed at how much more productive you can be. Productive people do this daily. It’s part of why they are productive.

8. Change the focus.

Productive people have a tendency to think in a way that is counter to the norm. They think outside of the box. They don’t waste time thinking of all the ways something can’t be done. Instead, they ask `what CAN I do?’. It’s a matter of looking for things that can be done when everyone else is saying nothing can be done. This mindset also enables productive people to be very creative in their solutions!

9. Delegate.

Another secret of productive people is that they don’t try to do every part of a project by themselves. They aren’t afraid to delegate whenever possible. In fact, they are experts at finding people to do some of the job, whatever the job may be. Take a cue from people who accomplish a lot. Delegate wherever you can!

10. Get help.

Just like they delegate, productive people know when to ask for help. As in delegating, they don’t try to go it alone. When trying to go it alone, we end up doing far more than we should. Productive people not only know when to ask for help..they do ask for help when they need it. They don’t see it as a sign of weakness but rather, they see is as letting others use their strengths in areas we aren’t as strong.

11. Evaluate the value.

Another secret of productive people is that they realize that there is a difference between the things they should do, and the things they could do. There are many things we could do. What we need to do is follow the example of productive people and evaluate whether the task or project is something we could do, or something we should do. If it’s something you should do, then by all means, do it. If it’s something you could do, it’s very likely OK if you don’t do it.

12. About all else, have fun.

Make sure that you have fun in your day. Productive people manage time to be both productive and to enjoy the day. Don’t take it all so seriously. Do the work, but have fun doing it!

If you need help in learning how to reach your goals in life, simply sign up for one of our affordable coaching packages. You can also grab your free 20 minute coaching consultation to find out more about how a life coach can assist you.