Preparing for a new years resolution.

Dear Mr. Procrastinator, although you like to pretend that this isn't true, waiting is harmful to your performance. Admit it, starting right away and finishing early if you can would be wonderful. Instead of worrying about it all the time you can actually work on it. Sounds good but how?

If you would like to stick with your New Years resolution you might start by asking yourself what you would like to accomplish.
Stick with 1 task that will take 1-2 months or less.
How long would it take you to accomplish this task?
What is your reward if you complete your challenge?
What is your punishment if you fail?

If you start now and continue being proactive for at least 3 days, the next days will be a piece of cake if not enjoyable. Just keep thinking about the end result. Chunking down a task can make it easier. You may want to take the task and divide it up into a checklist so you can celebrate your successes.

There's one last thing... Have someone else you know pick their own personal challenge and bet eachother. You'll have more fun creating the punishment. Blast your challenge on facebook or tell your friends and family for more accountability. The key to success in any area is other people, even if it is just their support.

Bonus:
For procrastinators... take 5 WHOLE minutes to answer each question giving each multiple answers.
If someone managed their time wisely, how would you know?
What things would they do?
What system would they use to keep track of their time?
What feelings might they have from being so timely?
What is exciting about being a level 10 time keeper?
What level time keeper do you think you are at?
What does the next level look like?
How do you get there?
Repeat when you want to go to the next level = )

Missing something?

Remember when you were a kid and you could find silly in almost anything? Getting dressed in the morning, playing with make-up, dropping something, building stuff, bath time, and going places could all be enjoyable. Around the teenage years things become boring as you have more responsibility and less free time. A couple words that can spoil your fun are chores, cleaning, dishes, laundry, work, obligations, etc. The funny thing is that these aren't things you have to do. These are things that you actually really want to do. You want a clean house, spending money, fresh clean clothes all put away nicely, to do a good job, be helpful. By changing your attitude, you can find pockets of joy in everything you do. Going to work can be pleasurable and so can getting ready in the morning. Focusing on what you don't want to do makes things very difficult, especially when they are things that you want to happen anyways. Anything can be enjoyed if it is celebrated. Be time conscious, but don't rush. Get things done, and see them as opportunities.

Whether you are aware of it or not, you have a mental label for everything. It is best to use words that have an optimistic outlook. Think of something you've labeled with a negative connotation... even a person you know. See if you can change your mental label into something more helpful. For example... problem < challenge < situation < opportunity < goal. When you start setting mini goals for yourself life becomes more prosperous, enjoyable, meaningful, and exciting.

Going to the doctor can be stressful for many people. A lady I knew had to have a medical procedure. At first she was scared because she was thinking about cancer, losing consciousness during surgery, and other things along those lines. She decided on her second appointment that she didn't want to go through this process being scared. Instead of calling it a problem she mentally labeled the whole ordeal opportunity. From that point on she made friends with the nurses, read books during waiting periods to keep her mind from worry, and was noticed by the staff to have a pleasant personality to be around. This made the hospitals job easier and that made her feel good too.

So... find joy in everything you do. You can if you want to.

Craving Perfection?

Many of us struggle with the desire to be perfect. Did you know that the definition of perfection is actually "to finish"? Do you find yourself being concerned with the right clothes, the perfect temperature, eating the right amount, doing things the right way, or other desires that make things "just right"? If so, you are creating unnecessary stress for yourself by putting limitations on everything you do. You are feeling stressed because the idea of perfection is just an illusion. Allow yourself to put limitations on the things that you don't want and be ready to receive everything else. See mistakes as blessings and they will be. Velcro, post-it notes, and the frisbee are all mistakes that worked. The only thing that is constant in life is change... if you resist it, you will have problems. The chocolate pretzels you eat before bed are perfect for that moment. You don't have to make the same choices all the time like your perfection would have you think.
The only thing that is truly perfect is what already is in existence. If you resist what is and want it to be different you will be stuck with limitations. If you accept what is and focus on what you want then you will work towards your goals. Life will become limitless.