Want to maximize your 2017? Try these 10 things today!
1. One thing at a time.
In order to be successful
we believe we need to be constantly busy. Multitasking is believed to be a way
to increase productivity and ultimately success. People often pride themselves
in their ability to properly multitask throughout their day. Guess what,
multitasking is actually slowing you down!
Research in the field of
neuroscience actually shows that our brains can’t handle more than one task or
thought at a time. There is no such thing as true multitasking. When you think
you are doing two tasks simultaneously you are really switching back and forth
between both. The act of switching takes more time than if you focused on one
task at a time.
If you need proof, here is
a really simple test created by Dave Crenshaw, Author of “Myth of Multitasking” by clicking here! So, if you want to increase the odds of being
happy and successful, ditch the multitasking and take one thing at a time.
2. Stop comparing yourself to
others.
It is so easy to do today
with access into other people’s lives at our fingertips. Social media makes
social comparison something that can be next to impossible to avoid. We know so
much more about the day-to-day lives of everyone else by connecting digitally.
That knowledge becomes the measuring stick we use to guide the way we think our
lives should play out. To be happy and successful you want to stop comparing
your life to the carefully constructed social media posts you see every day.
It is easy to forget that
the comparison is apples to oranges, not apples to apples. What most people
share in social media is a carefully captured moment in time that is not as
reflective of the big picture of their lives. What we find ourselves doing is
comparing our entire experience to that picture perfect snapshot.
That’s when the negative
self-talk comes in and sabotages our happiness and success by downplaying our own
accomplishments and successes. If you want to maximize your 2017, stop looking
externally at others as your measuring stick. Set your own realistic
expectations for yourself and remember that behind other people’s perfect post
is a life equally imperfect, just like us.
3. Get your zzzzz’s
Did you know that being
tired and sleep deprived has a huge impact on how happy and successful we are?
When we don’t get enough sleep at night we begin to see the world from a darker
and more negative lens.
According to an article in WebMd sleep deprivation will actually hamper your cognitive process by
impacting reasoning, problem solving and concentration. It also can contribute
to depression and poor judgment, things that are important to staying happy and
successful. Remember to get your zzzz’s.
4. Surround yourself with
positive people.
The types of people we
surround ourselves with can have a huge impact on our emotions. When we
surround ourselves with negative people we take in negative messages, view and
complaints. These messages can have an impact on our own opinions and views of
the world. If you want to maximize your 2017, seek out others with positive and
optimistic attitude. You will start to see their happiness and success in you.
5. Approach instead of avoid.
We are very good at knowing
what we don’t want, but are we equally able to identify what we do want? I understand it is important to plan and be
prepared to handle problems that may come our way, however we often put a lot
of focus on what we don’t want to see and not enough focus on what we do want
to see. Take for example your kids. If they are jumping up and down on the
furniture and you yell out, “stop jumping” you can often be ignored. It almost
feels like they didn’t hear the word “stop”. The reality is, they may not have
processed it that way. Instead if you say, “Put your feet on the ground” they
are more likely to stop jumping.
If we want to increase the
likelihood of reaching our goals, it helps to stop thinking in terms of what we
don’t want to see and focus energy on what we want to see. Stay in the
affirmative and create a clear vision of what success looks like and you will
be more likely to get there.
6. Practice a Growth Mindset.
Stanford University
Psychology Professor and Author Carol Dweck has extensively researched
mindset. She found that people with a
fixed mindset are those that believe that things like intelligence or skill in
a particular area are fixed traits responsible for one’s success or failure.
People with a fixed mindset don’t like to take risks or try new things, they
stay in their comfort zone in order to avoid failure as they see it. Moving
from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset can help you to be happy and
successful.
A growth mindset is the
belief that success and new abilities can be developed through practice and
exposure to new ideas and things. This belief encourages a love for learning
and fosters growth and leadership. For a short video further explaining the
benefits of cultivating a growth mindset check out this video here.
7. Food as fuel.
Nutrition is a crucial part
of overall wellbeing and wellness. Not only does a diet filled with processed junk
food contribute to obesity, it also negatively affects our emotional health and
well-being. Healthy eating is an important part of overall health and
happiness. Think of your body and mind as being fueled by what you give it. Creating a healthy eating habit provides your
body the vitamins, nutrients and fuel you need to boost your mood and overall
health.
8. Keep moving.
Just as important as
healthy eating, exercise contributes to mood and well-being. Set realistic
goals for yourself and make moving a priority. Even if it is a few minutes a
day, keep moving. If starting an exercise routine is a bit daunting, then start
by walking a few minutes a day and slowly increase. It matters less what you do
and matters more that you keep on moving.
9. Get outside.
Did you know that the
sunlight is actually good for you? In moderation of course, the risks of
sun-damaged skin is widely known however getting outdoors more often and
soaking in the sunlight can be beneficial. Sunlight is believed to increase the
hormone serotonin, which affects mood. Low levels of serotonin are related to
depression. Spending time outdoors exposed to sunlight can also boost our
vitamin D levels in our bodies, which is good for our bones and other health
benefits.
Connecting with nature is
also a great way to recharge and reset. If you practice meditation or
mindfulness you may want to go outside and sit within nature for your practice.
Feeling stressed at work, get outside on your break and take a walk. Just like
devices work better when they are unplugged, so can you. Take some time away
from your desk during the day and soak up a bit of sunlight.
10. Stop believing everything
you think
There is a misconception that just
because we have a thought, it must be true. So often we have automatic thoughts
that come from years of negative messages. We get caught up in the belief that
these thoughts are truths and can feel unhappy and stressed. In 2017, remember
that you do not need to believe everything that you think! Become aware of you
thoughts throughout your day and identify which ones contribute to your
happiness and success and which ones don’t. Just because something is in your
head, does not make it real or valid. A great way to begin noticing your
thoughts is through mindfulness practice. Take a few minutes to focus on your
breathing and observe your thoughts as they come and go. Don’t connect, judge
or get caught up in any thought, just observe them come and go. Practice this a
little bit each day can help create space between thoughts and emotions
allowing you to stop believing everything you think.
