Sunday, October 22, 2017

Take A Moment And Read This Because You Might Be Too Busy Doing Nothing In Your Life

Life can be busy. It seems like the older we get, the greater our responsibilities become. Our jobs, families, friends, and even our electronics and social media, are always vying for our attention. Sometimes it feels like we’re sprinting through life trying to keep up with everything.

Being busy isn’t a difficult status to attain. Whenever there’s a chunk of time, there are things that can fill it. The problem is, sometimes we focus on things that don’t actually add value to our lives. Many of us are busy, but we’re not productive.

It’s time to assess whether what you’re doing aligns with your mission

There have been times when I’ve completed a full workday without doing anything of value. Sure, I attended to a barrage of emails and performed menial tasks, but I didn’t tackle anything that put me on the path to advancement. It’s so easy to get stuck in a holding pattern.

Whenever this happens, I like to have some resources on hand to break the monotony and get back to doing purposeful work. One of my go-to reads is Benjamin Hardy’s If You’re Too Busy For These 5 Things: Your Life Is More Off-Course Than You Think.

If you’re too busy, you may need a course-correction

Even the most organized and driven people need to course-correct once in a while, and Hardy breaks down that thought process for his readers.

He starts by acknowledging that people today are too busy focusing on things that don’t matter in the long run. If we don’t stop to evaluate what we’re doing, we can fall into bad habits and stray from the path we’ve set up for ourselves.

Then, using a series of questions, Hardy explains the areas of our lives that usually get us into trouble. These include organization, environmental energy, financial energy, relational energy, health energy, spiritual energy, and time. The areas he focuses on have to do with our internal and external worlds. Hardy creates an invitation for you to reflect on yourself.

Finally, he sets out solutions to our most common pitfalls. The first thing we have to do is hit the pause button, and organize our lives. If you’ve ever been so busy that it seems like life is just piling up around you, you know the importance of this. Your chaotic inner world leads to external disorganization, which feeds more internal chaos. He argues that you have to stop and regroup when this happens.

Then, he recommends planning and investing in your future. He means this both in terms of financial health, personal health, and relationships, but also in terms of how you spend your time. If you don’t make a conscious effort to define who you are and why you do what you do, you won’t be able to make the most out of life. Vision setting is an important part of this. He states:

“Your vision should be based on your why, not so much your what.”

He further explains that what you do might change, but your why should remain constant.

He concludes by explaining the importance of tracking your work and moving toward your goals every day. When you don’t hold yourself accountable by keeping track of different metrics, it will be difficult to see when you are off course.

Observe metrics on your relationships, finances, and self-improvement. By keeping track of these areas, you’ll be able to accomplish more, and you’ll be more committed to the end result.

Moving toward your goals takes thought and effort every day. It’s easy to talk about what you want, but it’s another thing entirely to do the work. A famous children’s poem by Shel Silverstein concludes with this:

“But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas/ All Ran Away and Hid/ From One Little Did.”

There’s power in doing the work. Hardy reminds us that “the work” in this case is not busywork. To make progress bit by bit, you have to do the things that relate to your ultimate vision. He recommends doing these things early in the morning, before your energy is depleted by the day.

Why I keep coming back to this article

Re-reading this article is like a yoga instructor reminding you to come back to your breath. It’s the coach telling you to keep moving forward. It’s like saying a mantra over and over in your head in order to manifest a goal. It reminds us that under all the layers of social media, personal and professional labels, and menial tasks, there is a human being dreaming boldly. We have to stick to our core values and fundamentals or we risk getting lost in the shuffle.

The most successful people don’t wind up that way by sheer luck. Building a meaningful life–a life you love–requires planning. You have to monitor your progress and fine tune your methods to get where you want to go. You’ll have to think about how your personal circumstances, experiences, and priorities affect your what and your why.

Distractions are inevitable. We’re human beings subject to wants and frustrations. We take on responsibilities we don’t need to sometimes. We start labeling everything in our lives as equally important. It’s normal for this to happen, but we have to be able to step back and do some self-study to get back on course.

Takeaways from the article that you can use right now

All this talk does us no good unless we can commit to clearing the clutter from our lives to focus on what matters.

1. Write down your goals and think about your circumstances. Thinking about your goals is great, but when you write them down, it forces you to define exactly what you want.[1]Your written goals can remind you of your purpose when life gets complicated.

Making your goals more concrete can also help you think about circumstances in your life that could affect your outcomes. You’ll be able to anticipate bumps in the road instead of stumbling.

2. Trim the fat. Once you know what you want, you can remove things that don’t fall in line with your why. Think about it like this: The more time you spend on unrelated tasks, the less time you have to do the things that matter to you.

3. Get organized. Setting goals is only one part of the equation. If you want to achieve your goals, you’ll need to break them down into small, actionable steps. When you do this, you can also determine what metrics you will use to establish whether or not you’re making progress. By making a plan and monitoring how well you’re sticking to it, you’ll have a greater chance to succeed than when you fly by the seat of your pants.

4. Don’t be afraid to make changes. Remember that your plan and methods may have to change depending on what’s happening in your life. Perhaps you have encountered a new challenge, or you realized that your original actionable steps are not reasonable. Adjust your plan so that you don’t lose motivation. Like Hardy explained, what you’re doing can always change, but why you’re doing it should not.

Stay focused on your vision

The static of modern life can muddle our efforts and intentions until we find ourselves working without real purpose. It can happen without warning, and before you know it, you’re unhappy, unhealthy, and questioning your value.

I’ve been there before, and sometimes I just need a reminder to get back on track. If You’re Too Busy For These 5 Things: Your Life Is More Off-Course Than You Think helps me ground myself in my vision, and I hope it will do the same for you.

Reference

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The Art of Krisztian TejfelKrisztián Tejfel is a self-taught...





















The Art of Krisztian Tejfel

Krisztián Tejfel is a self-taught Hungarian painter, focussing on classical portraits. His works reveal the darker side of life, exploring emotions such as melancholy, depression, sorrow, and loneliness. Many of his pieces are traditional-digital hybrids. Krisztian skillfully portrays these feelings behind the facades of strong, beautiful woman. You can find more of Krisztian’s work on his website and Instagram.


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The Art of Krisztian TejfelKrisztián Tejfel is a self-taught... crss





















The Art of Krisztian Tejfel

Krisztián Tejfel is a self-taught Hungarian painter, focussing on classical portraits. His works reveal the darker side of life, exploring emotions such as melancholy, depression, sorrow, and loneliness. Many of his pieces are traditional-digital hybrids. Krisztian skillfully portrays these feelings behind the facades of strong, beautiful woman. You can find more of Krisztian’s work on his website and Instagram.


Discover more of these gems on our Facebook.

posted by Margaret

crss

crossconnectmag: Brain Mash “Brain mash” is an art design...





















crossconnectmag:

Brain Mash

“Brain mash” is an art design studio from Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.  

We prefer to define ourselves not asа “company” but as а “community”. We have teamed up free artists and designers; each of them has his own art vision, professionalism, and huge experience. They are devotees of their business and perform set tasks with the utmost seriousness and dedication. 

Our masters apply all their skills to transform creative ideas of clients into stunning work of art. If you want your artistic fantasy to come true, just enquire to “Brain mash”; the rest will be done by the artists and designers of the studio.

For more check out website: brain-mash.com/en/


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posted by Margaret

crossconnectmag: Brain Mash “Brain mash” is an art design... crss





















crossconnectmag:

Brain Mash

“Brain mash” is an art design studio from Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.  

We prefer to define ourselves not asа “company” but as а “community”. We have teamed up free artists and designers; each of them has his own art vision, professionalism, and huge experience. They are devotees of their business and perform set tasks with the utmost seriousness and dedication. 

Our masters apply all their skills to transform creative ideas of clients into stunning work of art. If you want your artistic fantasy to come true, just enquire to “Brain mash”; the rest will be done by the artists and designers of the studio.

For more check out website: brain-mash.com/en/


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posted by Margaret

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Meow! Use "Q-chan" app and Your Cat Will Love You More Than Ever

Cats have a stereotype that seems to be true more often than not. They are independent and sassy, only seeking humans when they need something. This description certainly differs from that of dogs. K9 breeds are of course known to be affectionate to a fault. Studies have long existed showing that, like humans, dogs release the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin [1].

In fact, scientists are just as curious as the rest of us as to whether cats even like their owners, especially compared to dogs. Dr. Paul Zak decided to conduct a study to measure the oxytocin levels in dogs and cats after interacting with their owners.

“He took saliva samples from 10 cats and 10 dogs on two occasions – 10 minutes before a playtime session with their owners and immediately after – and tested both samples for oxytocin.”

The results show the hormone increased by an average of 57.2 per cent in dogs but only by 12 per cent in cats.

So in theory, dogs are scientifically proven to love humans more than cats do.

However, while the research (and cliches) may indicate dogs love all, not all love dogs; some people prefer felines and would like a way to improve relationships with their snoody and sassy cats. While it can be frustrating to try to build a relationship with a cat, especially if it is well past kitten age, there is hope.

Taking care of the basics

Cats don’t require much, but in order to cultivate a happy and successful bond between you and your whiskered companion, it is important to ensure he or she has everything they need.

1. Litter Box

Make sure your cat’s litter box is somewhere they like it and is easy for them to find. Keep the box clean, or your cat may take to leaving you surprises in other places.

2. Quality food and clean water

Quality pet food often comes at a price, but it’s worth it to know that your cat is healthy and taken care of. Consult your vet to determine the appropriate food for your kitty, and of course make sure they always have access to clean water.

3. Help your cat entertain herself

Cats, much like people, don’t want to be bored. Make sure your pet has lots of fun toys to play with to satisfy their curiosity. Buy different treats and determine which your particular cat prefers. Once you’ve identified it, keep some on hand all the time.

4. Give them a good bed, or at least the option of one…

Cats are pretty independent, so they will likely find their sleeping space on their own. However, while cats often prefer to choose their own sleeping place, it’s a good idea to buy a cat bed or some soft bedding. While you may feel a little silly doing so, rub her bedding on you so that it picks up some of your scent. She’ll associate her safe, resting area with your smell [2].

5. Provide a scratching post

A scratching post can calm your cat’s nerves and prevent her from ruining your furniture!

It can be challenging to understand any animal, because they can’t tell you what they want. For instance, if you have ever owned a cat before, you know you could be petting them one moment and listening to them purr, only to suddenly be attacked by your precious pet for seemingly doing the same thing! While the cat obviously felt justified in biting or clawing at you, you were left trying to understand the sudden change in attitude. Undoubtedly, you wished there was a way your cat companion could tell you what happened. If only there was a cat to human dictionary you could reference. But wait, there might just be an app for that…

Introducing the Q-cat App

This innovative app is designed to help you capture your cat’s attention. The adorable technology is easy to use and filled with over 250 quality meow sounds!

 

Your cat will love feeling you understand him every time you press a button so signal a new meow. Plus, in an effort to start your day off right, the Q-Cat app even offers a meow alarm that allows you to play meow sounds at a set time to wake up you and call your cat to your bed. You two will feel closer in no time [3].

Attract your cat will be more simple than ever

To select different meow sounds, simply swipe up or down and tap the desired effect.

 

To set the alarm, navigate to the alarm menu of the app and chose the time and sound you’d like. Just make sure your phone isn’t on silent or do not disturb mode.

The Cat-App and you

Along with making sure your cat has all of its basic needs met, the cat-app is an ideal next step in really bonding with him or her. While it may not technically translate what your cat is telling you, it may help your cat to feel more understood by you. This further aids in a comfortable, loving environment for your feline friend and can help the two of you to trust each other more.

Download the app today for iPhone or iPad and let us know here at Lifehack how you and your cat fare!

Reference

The post Meow! Use “Q-chan” app and Your Cat Will Love You More Than Ever appeared first on Lifehack.



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