Not the kind that comes from forgetting a friend’s birthday (we’ve all been there), but the kind that sneaks in when you’re juggling work deadlines, family commitments, and self-care, yet feel like you’re failing at all of them.

As a leader, entrepreneur, or manager, this feeling might be all too familiar. You’re busy building something meaningful, but that inner voice whispers: “You should’ve done more at work today. You should’ve spent more time with your family. You should’ve hit the gym.”

Sound familiar?

Why We Feel This Way

Guilt often stems from high expectations. Society rewards being busy, and we often internalize this as always needing to be “on.” Whether it’s the pressure to succeed, the desire to be present at home, or the drive to lead effectively, it’s easy to feel pulled in all directions.

But here’s the thing: guilt doesn’t make you better at any of these roles. If anything, it drains your energy and keeps you stuck in a cycle of overwork and self-doubt.

Yes, I know….you may already know all of this, but it’s easier said than done.

And I agree. It’s hard to get rid of the feeling that no matter what you do, there’s always something else that you could have done.

My point is: feeling this way won’t help you move. It’ll just get you stuck and frozen.

The Impact of Guilt

Guilt in itself is not always a bad feeling. This can be our body’s reminder to check in with ourselves and see whether we’re still on the right path.

But if it’s there ALL the time and you do nothing about it…then, it can become an issue.

Unchecked guilt can lead to burnout, resentment, and decision fatigue. It can make you second-guess your priorities and even damage your relationships, both at work and home. And when you carry that weight for too long, it starts to feel normal – even though it’s not.

So, how can you break free from the guilt trap and find a healthier balance?

Practical Ways to Manage Guilt

Get Clear on Your Priorities

Not everything can be urgent, and not everything can be done right now. Write down what truly matters – both in work and life. Think about what aligns with your long-term goals and values.

Try this

Create two lists: “What must be done this week?” and “What can wait?” Stick to them, and give yourself permission to focus. Review the lists at the end of the week, learn from your experience and adjust for the next week.

Redefine Success

Success doesn’t mean checking every box. It’s about making consistent progress toward your goals and being present in the moments that matter.

Reframe this thought

Instead of saying, “I didn’t finish my entire to-do list,” try, “I accomplished the most important things today.” And if you didn’t, make sure you focus on the most important things tomorrow.

Set Healthy Boundaries

Saying “no” is hard, but it’s a skill worth mastering. It’s okay to let your team know you’re unavailable after a certain hour or to dedicate a no-meetings day for deep work. Boundaries aren’t selfish, they’re necessary.

Note: Setting boundaries doesn’t always mean saying “no”. It’s often more about what you do want and what makes you feel good rather than what you want to avoid or stop doing.

Ask yourself: “What’s one boundary I can set this week to protect my energy?”

Practice Self-Compassion

You can’t pour from an empty cup, and beating yourself up won’t make you more productive. If you feel drained, forcing yourself to do just one more thing may just be a tipping point that will spiral you to burnout, sickness or anything else along those lines.

Not to mention that when you push yourself to do things and you’re at your 10%, things will get done A LOT slower, more mistakes will be made and you’ll do a worse job than if you’d given yourself time to rest and then tackled the issue at hand.

Treat yourself the way you’d encourage a team member: with kindness and understanding.

Remind yourself: “I’m doing my best with what I have today.” And regularly check with yourself what your best is on any given day.

Final Thoughts

Guilt isn’t a badge of honor, and it’s not a sign that you care more. It’s a signal that something might need adjusting – whether it’s your mindset, your priorities, or your boundaries.

So, the next time guilt creeps in, pause. Ask yourself: “Why do I feel this way? What messages am I sending myself? What am I trying to accomplish?” and when you have answers to these questions, then ask yourself: “What’s truly important right now?”

Then let go of everything else and focus on what matters.

Please, remember: you’re already doing so much more than you give yourself credit for.

Over to You:

What’s one small step you’ll take today to manage guilt and protect your energy? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The post Why Do We Feel Guilty for Trying to Do It All? appeared first on Snowation.

And guess what? It’s a big one.

Soft skills are the “human” side of leadership. They’re the abilities that allow you to connect, inspire, and guide your team toward success. Personally, I’d say that they’re the secret ingredient that separates good leaders from truly exceptional ones.

But let’s dig deeper. What are soft skills, why do they matter so much, and how can you, as a leader, develop them? Let’s dive in.

What Are Soft Skills in Leadership?

Soft skills are interpersonal and emotional abilities that shape how we interact with others. In leadership, they cover everything from communication and empathy to adaptability and conflict resolution.

Think about it: being a leader isn’t just about hitting numbers or executing a vision or a business plan. It’s about building trust, motivating people, and fostering a collaborative environment. None of that is possible without strong soft skills.

Why Do Soft Skills Matter for Leaders?

Here’s the thing: hard skills (your technical know-how or industry expertise) will get you through the door. But soft skills are what keep you in the room and get your team to follow you willingly.

I learned this the hard way. Early in my leadership journey, I met people who liked to focus on “results.” Deadlines, targets, KPIs – you name it. And there’s nothing wrong with that per se because, as leaders, we need to focus on metrics and outcomes. The problem starts when that’s the only thing we focus on.

What the abovementioned people missed was how much their team’s engagement, trust and, ultimately, performance depended on how they communicated and connected with them.

When a leader lacks soft skills, it can lead to:

• Miscommunication: Team members don’t feel heard or understood.
• Low morale: Employees feel undervalued or disconnected.
• Tension and unresolved conflicts: Problems aren’t addressed constructively, leading to resentment or a toxic work environment.
• High turnover rates: Without trust and connection, employees are more likely to leave.
• Lost opportunities for innovation: A lack of inclusivity stifles ideas and creativity from the team.

However, when leaders embrace and emphasize soft skills, results come in much quicker. People feel seen, heard, and motivated to bring their best to the table.

Key Soft Skills Every Leader Needs

1. Empathy

Empathy is more than saying, “I understand how you feel.” It’s about truly listening and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.

For instance, imagine a team member missing a deadline. Instead of assuming they’re lazy or distracted, take time to understand the “why.” Maybe they’re overwhelmed or struggling with something outside of work. Showing empathy builds trust and opens the door for problem-solving.

Pro Tip: Ask open-ended questions like, “What’s been challenging for you lately?” and listen without jumping in to offer a solution right away.

2. Adaptability

Change is the only constant, including in leadership. The most effective leaders are those who stay calm and flexible when plans shift unexpectedly.

Adaptability isn’t just about solving problems. It’s about modeling resilience for your team.

Pro Tip: Instead of focusing on what went wrong, guide your team to focus on next steps. Say something like, “This is where we are, how can we move forward from here?” or “Let’s see what we can learn from that experience and how it’ll help us moving forward.”

3. Communication

If you’ve ever worked under a leader who wasn’t clear in their communication, you know how frustrating it can be. Great communication means being concise, transparent, and approachable.

Pro Tip: Practice “over communicating” when it comes to expectations. For example, instead of saying, “Let’s try to get this done by next week,” say, “Let’s aim to submit (you can also define what submitting means) this by Friday at 3 PM. Does that timeline work for everyone?”

4. Conflict Resolution

I think it’s fair to say that no one enjoys conflict. But as a leader, you can’t avoid it. The good news? Approaching conflicts with a curious and solution-focused mindset can actually strengthen relationships.

Pro Tip: Frame conflicts as opportunities. Say something like, “It seems like there’s a misunderstanding here. Let’s clarify things so we can move forward together.” And then go on to ask questions to get an understanding of what’s going on and have the parties involved come up with the next step to take.

5. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence ties all the other soft skills together. It’s your ability to manage your emotions while understanding and influencing (not in a manipulative way) the emotions of others.

Pro Tip: After a meeting or conversation, take a moment to reflect: “Did I pick up on how everyone was feeling? How did I respond to those cues?”

How to Develop Soft Skills as a Leader

Start with Self-Awareness

You can’t lead others effectively if you don’t understand yourself. Take time to reflect on your communication style, emotional triggers, and areas where you struggle.

Try This: At the end of each day, write down one interaction that went well and one that could’ve gone better. Reflect on what you did and how you might improve next time.

Seek Feedback

No one sees themselves clearly 100% of the time. Ask your team for honest feedback on your leadership style.

Ask Questions Like: “How can I support you better?” or “What could I improve about how I communicate?”

Practice Active Listening

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking about your next response instead of truly listening, you’re not alone. Active listening means focusing completely on what the other person is saying before jumping in.

Tip: Paraphrase what you’ve heard before responding. For example, “So what I’m hearing is that you’d like more clarity on your role in this project. Is that right?”

Invest in Training

Just like you’d train for a technical skill, soft skills can be improved through workshops, coaching, or even books.

All Said and Done…

Soft skills aren’t a “nice-to-have” in leadership; they’re essential. When leaders work on improving soft skills, the impact goes far beyond their immediate team. They don’t just achieve better results. They shape the company culture, improve motivation and productivity among their team members, and ultimately drive results. And the best part? 

Soft skills are like muscles: the more you practice, the stronger they get. 

So, if you’re wondering whether soft skills are worth the effort, let me tell you this: your team may remember your accomplishments, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.

So, take a moment to reflect. Which soft skill do you want to focus on developing next? Start small, stay consistent, and watch the effect it creates in your leadership and your team.

You’ve got this!

The post Soft Skills for Leaders: The Secret Ingredient to Exceptional Leadership appeared first on Snowation.

You can still say what you really mean while actually respecting other people’s feelings and needs. One thing doesn’t exclude the other. Open dialogue within your team is a must if you want to keep your business going.

When I managed a 15-member team, I quickly learned that how I communicated made all the difference. I had to set expectations, provide feedback, and address challenges without creating tension – or worse, letting things slide. That’s where assertive communication became a necessary tool in my leadership journey. 

Getting my point across without shutting others down, or blaming them, while doing it calmly, changed a lot. But this wasn’t always easy, and I know many leaders struggle to find that balance. 

That’s why I want to share what I’ve learned to help you lead with clarity and build trust within your team. Let’s get started!

What Is Assertive Communication?

At its core, assertive communication is about saying what you mean without being mean, sleezy or aggressive. You express your needs, thoughts, or boundaries directly but with respect for the other person. It’s that sweet spot between being too passive (where you hold back) and too aggressive (where you put others down).  

Basically, you say what you mean while leaving room for others to do the same.

The assertive response is calm, clear, and solution-focused. It acknowledges the situation without shaming anyone.

Practicing this isn’t just about getting your message across – it’s about showing others that you value both their perspective and your own boundaries.

But, unfortunately, it’s very easy to slip into a different communication style in just a moment. So, let’s dive even deeper into this matter. 

Assertive vs Aggressive vs Passive Aggressive Communication

Being assertive allows you to be clear and constructive without causing unnecessary tension.

What really got me personally to understand assertive communication better is this thought: 

Open and direct communication is not about conflict. 

It is not about fighting or making a drama. If you find yourself being afraid of getting into a fight, remember this: you can share your thoughts respectfully without fueling conflict.

Important note: Please, keep in mind that the conflict I refer to here is the non-constructive one; the one we get into only to argue without any wish to see and/or hear the perspectives of others. In general, conflicts can be quite constructive if we get into them with a desire to resolve things. But more on that some other time.

To be assertive is to communicate confidently and constructively. Unlike aggressive communication, which undermines others, or passive-aggressive tendencies that avoid direct dialogue, assertive leaders speak openly and directly.

For example, instead of blaming someone for missing a deadline (which would be aggressive communication or even worse passive-aggressive if you do it indirectly), an assertive leader says, “I value your contribution, but we need to meet our deadlines. How can we improve this?”

See? Simple, smooth, respectful. Although the deadline was missed, you still respect their effort and their work. You still respect your team members no matter what. But you communicate the issue along the way as well!

Like I said, it may not be easy, but it does get better with practice.

What’s the Goal?

When I got myself into a situation of giving feedback to my team members, or needed to point out some issues, I tried to remember my goal at that point. I always asked myself: “What’s the goal?” –Solving the issue. Not making things worse or putting anyone down. I wanted things to improve, not to criticize, blame, or make anyone feel small. 

When you get these things in mind, you start seeing the bigger picture. You work on finding the right words to communicate what’s needed in the best way possible, always keeping the final purpose of the dialogue in mind.

What Role Does Communication Play in Building Trust? 

If I’ve learned one thing on my leadership journey, it’s this: Clear communication builds trust. 

When you’re assertive, people know what to expect from you, and that predictability creates safety.

Your team will trust you because they know you’ll be honest, but also fair. If you shy away from tough conversations or lash out in frustration, trust can blow up quickly.

Being assertive also encourages open dialogue – when your team feels heard and understood, they’re more willing to share ideas, ask for help, or admit mistakes. That’s where the magic happens – trust becomes the foundation for growth.

Once you build that foundation with your team, everything starts to feel simple, easy and transparent. 

How to Communicate Assertively as a Leader?

Here are some practical tips I’ve found helpful along the way:

Use “I” Statements

These keep things focused on how you feel, rather than placing blame. Say, “I feel concerned when deadlines are missed,” rather than, “You’re always late.”

Listen to Understand, Not Just Respond

Every time I slowed down and gave my team space to share, I saw how it deepened trust. Active listening shows you value their opinions.

Stay Calm, Even When Things Get Tough

I’ve had moments where things got heated, and let me tell you – taking a breath before responding works wonders. A calm tone keeps the conversation productive. This one is probably by far the hardest one to achieve. At least, it was a big challenge for me. We’re humans, there’s only so much control we can have at certain moments and we all have our triggers.

An extra tip here: continue to learn about yourself: your triggers, pain points, unresolved issues. The more you know about yourself, the easier it’ll be to adjust your reactions when needed.

Set Clear Boundaries

If you need something from your team, don’t hint at it – say it clearly. Your team isn’t a mind-reader, and being upfront makes things easier for everyone. You also avoid misunderstandings that can result as even bigger frustration or reflect on work, and you don’t want that!

Overcommunication is much better than not sharing enough. If you’re not sure they know, say it anyway.

Invite Feedback

Assertive communication isn’t one-sided. Ask for feedback and show that you’re open to it. Ask your team: “How do you think we can handle this better next time?” or “What can I do next time to make this process easier for you?” 

Start Small and Build Confidence

Assertive communication has been a game-changer for me, both as a manager and a coach. It’s not just about getting things done – it’s about building trust and building an environment where people feel comfortable bringing their best but also all their uncertainties as well.

If assertiveness feels challenging at first, that’s okay! Start small, stay consistent, and watch how your team responds.

Please, remember that as a leader, you’re always being observed. Not in a creepy way, but people do look up to you and expect you to guide them. Your words are powerful, they have some weight, probably more than others’, so use them. 

Believe in yourself and trust that you’ve got what it takes to be the kind of leader your team trusts and respects. Keep practicing, and you’ll see how your communication transforms not only your leadership but also your relationships. 

That being said, what’s one conversation you can approach differently today?

The post The Assertive Leader: Building Trust Through Effective Communication appeared first on Snowation.

As a leader or entrepreneur, have you ever felt like the biggest obstacle to your success wasn’t external challenges, but your own thoughts?

Perhaps you’ve hesitated to take a bold step, questioned your abilities, or let self-doubt hold you back.

I know I have.

Whether in leadership, personal growth, or daily decision-making, these beliefs can prevent progress and keep us from living the life we desire.

In this blog, we’ll explore what limiting beliefs are, how they impact leadership and growth, and strategies to overcome them so you can unlock your full potential.

So let’s dive in!

What Are Limiting Beliefs?

Limiting beliefs are those nagging thoughts that tell you, “You can’t,” “You’re not good enough,” or “It’s too risky.” They’re the silent barriers we construct in our minds, often without even realizing it.

Mind you, the thoughts above aren’t necessarily negative only. They’re also there to keep us safe. It’s just that sometimes, they tend to keep us too safe.

Knowing the cause of your limiting beliefs is a great way to understand the thought process behind them and begin to manage them.

So, let’s get into some practical tips for recognizing and breaking through those limiting beliefs.

How to Recognize Your Limiting Beliefs?

Recognizing limiting beliefs can be tricky because they often disguise themselves as rational thoughts.

• “I’m not good enough to manage this project.”
• “Do I have enough time?”
• “I’m not smart enough to lead this meeting.”
• “I don’t have enough experience for this big career move.”
• I’ll never be a great leader: “I’ll never be a great leader with my lack of confidence.” etc…

If you’re reading the list above and nodding your head to some or all of them, it is very likely that you’re holding onto limiting beliefs, without even realizing.

For example, a common limiting belief in leadership is the fear of failure. You may tell yourself, “If I make the wrong decision, my team will lose faith in me.” Or, perhaps imposter syndrome kicks in, making you feel unqualified, despite your achievements.

 Most of us have had these hesitations and inner doubts, some more some less throughout our career or our personal lives.

The first step to confront these fears and doubts is to ask yourself:

What fears or doubts keep showing up in my mind?

What excuses do I make for not pursuing certain goals?

When do I hold back instead of taking action?

Once you answer these questions and identify your limiting beliefs, the next step is to catch them in action. 

Listen for them when you speak and go about your days. Every time you catch them, ask yourself “What proof do I have that confirms this statement?”

That will help your brain switch to a logical mode, which may inspire you to take action instead of holding back.

How do Limiting Beliefs Impact Leadership and Growth?

Limiting beliefs can have a huge effect on how we lead, make decisions, and push for innovation. As a leader, if you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, people notice—your team picks up on that hesitation.

I’ve been there too. You start overthinking decisions, and suddenly, the bold moves you need to make seem too risky. That fear of failure creeps in, and before you know it, you’re holding back.

When you trust yourself as a leader, it directly impacts your team’s confidence. But if you’re stuck in self-doubt, it’s hard to empower others.

4 Strategies to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

So, how can you break free from these mental blocks? Here are four practical strategies to help you overcome limiting beliefs. There are many more, but this is a good starting point.

1. Confront the Belief

The first step to overcoming a limiting belief is acknowledging it. Instead of trying to push the thought away, embrace it and be curious about it.

Have you ever noticed that we tend to do the exact opposite of what we’re told? Like, when someone tells you not to do something, you tend to reeeeally want to do it.

Same thing with our thoughts. It’s much harder to do something about a thought if you’re trying to ignore it. It just takes a lot more effort to change. If you acknowledge a belief, then you can do something about it with much less effort, too.

2. Reframe the Narrative

Once you’ve identified a limiting belief, it’s time to reframe it.

Instead of thinking, “I can’t handle conflict,” shift your mindset to, “I can learn conflict resolution skills.” or “I can’t handle conflict yet.”  The word YET is short but very powerful. You can read more about it in my newsletter post here.

Reframing our negative thoughts helps us transition our mind from emotional into logical perspective. That helps us see possibilities and we’re more likely to act on them.

3. Challenge and Test the Belief

Question the validity of your beliefs. Ask yourself, “How true is this belief?”

Often, our beliefs are based on assumptions rather than facts. What evidence do you have to support—or contradict—this belief?

Take small, actionable steps to test these beliefs. If you think you’re not creative enough to come up with new business ideas, start brainstorming every day for a week. Challenge your own limits.

4. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Find mentors, peers, or communities that inspire and uplift you.

For example, whenever I start doubting myself and can’t seem to reach anyone to talk to, I tend to watch a LinkedIn learning or a MasterClass course. I read personal and professional development books, even if it’s just a chapter. 

I tend to immerse myself in something practical that will help me get going. Once I start, I gain momentum and then it’s easy to keep going.

Surround yourself with positive, growth oriented people. Their confidence can fuel your own.

Embrace Your Potential

At the end of the day, the only thing standing between you and your goals is your mindset.

Yes, I know, easier said than done, but we have to start somewhere and starting with your mindset is a great start.

It’s a slow process, but you’ll learn so much along the way.

So, what is the smallest step you can take today to get started?

Some time ago, my accountability partner and a fellow coach, Christina Michaelidou and I did a Q&A on Limiting Beliefs in Business. You can find the recording below.

The post Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: 4 Tips for Your Growth as a Leader appeared first on Snowation.

If so, then, my dear reader, your resilience muscle is strong.

In my recent podcast conversation with a fellow coach, Annemarie Janssens, we briefly discussed resilience and why it matters, especially when we talk about building a work-life balance. According to Annemarie,

Resilience helps us be the best person we want to be. By having the emotional and psychological flexibility, we are more likely to bounce back from life events.

Annemarie Janssens

There are so many aspects of resilience that we can work on and improve in order to help us live a more fulfilled life. I decided to use this opportunity and write a little on how coaching helps us build resilience.

If you’d like to learn more about building work-life balance and how resilience plays into it, feel free to listen to the podcast episode I did with Annemarie.

Now, let’s get back to coaching and resilience.

What is Resilience?

In a nutshell, resilience means being able to bounce-back from difficult or challenging situations in life. It involves adapting positively to stress, trauma, or significant life changes. Resilient individuals are better equipped to maintain their mental well-being, make effective decisions under pressure, and persevere in the pursuit of their goals.

Why is Resilience Important?

Resilience matters because it helps us navigate challenging situations with a positive outlook. It helps us thrive in uncertainty and keeps us going towards our goals when it gets tough.

Here are some reasons why developing resilience should be on your list this year.

Mental Well-Being

Building resilience is closely linked to maintaining good mental health. The more resilient you are, the more equipped you are to cope with stress and adversity. This, in turn, reduces the risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Resilient individuals tend to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Effective Decision-Making

In general, resilient individuals are more likely to make sound decisions under pressure. As you build your resilience, you increase your capacity to stay calm and focused during challenging situations. That helps you use your problem-solving skills to be able to find solutions rather than get overwhelmed and drown in stress and anxiety.

Enhanced Relationships

Resilience can be very important in interpersonal relationships. Being able to bounce back from conflicts and setbacks makes it easier to maintain healthy connections with others. The ability to communicate effectively, show empathy, and handle disagreements constructively contributes to building and sustaining meaningful relationships.

What is the Role of Coaching in Developing Resilience?

Self-Awareness

Working with a coach is all about getting to know yourself better. You get to explore your strengths and weaknesses and you learn about your triggers. This deeper understanding of yourself is essential for resilience. Coaches help you identify patterns of thinking and behavior which gives you the ability to adapt and respond positively to challenges.

Goal Setting and Planning

One of the first things you do with a coach is set goals. Coaches encourage individuals to set realistic and achievable goals and guide them to then break those goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This process helps build a sense of accomplishment and progress and it encourages resilience by instilling a mindset focused on continuous improvement and success.

Cognitive Restructuring

Through coaching, you learn to reframe negative thought patterns. Coaches guide individuals in challenging and changing unhelpful beliefs, fostering a more positive and resilient mindset. This cognitive restructuring empowers you to face challenges with a constructive outlook, promoting adaptability and perseverance.

Skill Development

Working with a coach often involves skill-building exercises customized to your needs. As you acquire new skills or refine existing ones, you become more confident in your abilities to handle diverse challenges. This increased competence contributes significantly to building resilience.

Emotional Intelligence

So many of us struggle with uncomfortable emotions and feelings and we try whatever we can to avoid them. All we want for them is to go away and often develop unhealthy habits in trying to shove them under the rug.

Annemarie Janssens

If you feel like that often, then working with a coach can be so beneficial. A coaching process can help you develop or improve your emotional intelligence. That means that you’ll be able to better recognize and manage your emotions. Understanding your emotions and those of the people you interact with promotes better communication, conflict resolution, and overall emotional resilience.

All Said and Done

As we go through life, we face many challenges and setback, even on a daily level. Developing resilience can help you thrive in life because you’ll be able to address those challenges with a more positive outlook and less stress and anxiety.

One way to develop resilience is to work with a coach. By fostering a supportive and safe environment for you to work on your growth, coaching not only enhances your ability to navigate challenges but also sets you on a path to long-term success and fulfillment.

If you’d like to work with a coach who will help you develop your resilience, click on the button below to schedule a free call with me. Let’s make 2024 your best year so far.

The post From Setbacks to Success: The Role of Coaching in Developing Resilience appeared first on Snowation.

Yet, these small successes, often referred to as “daily wins,” play an important role in shaping our overall well-being and success.

I had the pleasure of speaking with a fellow coach and a book author, Christina Michaelidou, about daily wins. Christina puts a lot of focus on daily wins in her work and I wanted her to share some tips and tools with us. This post has been inspired by our conversation, which you can listen to in the video below.

However, if you prefer to just read about it, stick around.

What are Daily Wins?

According to Christina, daily wins are small the small, incremental achievements that warm our hearts, make us smile and build our confidence on a daily basis. They can be anything from completing a task to keeping up with a good habit to being present and finding joy in little things. Unlike long-term goals, daily wins are immediate and tangible, providing a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

Why is it Important to be Aware of Our Daily Wins?

First and foremost, being aware of our daily wins promotes mindfulness and gratitude. By acknowledging and appreciating the small victories, we cultivate a positive mindset that can improve our overall mental well-being. Additionally, recognizing daily wins helps us stay motivated and focused on our larger goals. As Christina says, they make our long-term goals seem more tangible and achievable. Daily wins remind us that progress is being made, even if it’s incremental.

What Are the Benefits of Daily Wins?

Personally, daily wins help me stop and think about my progress. They remind me that I keep learning and growing, especially in the moments when it doesn’t feel like it.

In general, there are many benefits of daily wins, but here are some that I find important:

1. Boosts Motivation: Celebrating daily wins provides a psychological boost, motivating us to tackle more significant challenges and pursue our long-term goals with renewed energy.
2. Builds Confidence: Every win we score and become aware of contributes to a growing sense of self-confidence. Over time, this confidence becomes a powerful tool in overcoming obstacles and setbacks.
3. Improves Mental Well-Being: Focusing on daily wins encourages a positive outlook, reducing stress and promoting mental well-being. It shifts the focus from what’s lacking to what has been achieved.
4. Enhances Productivity: Regularly acknowledging daily wins creates a positive feedback loop, fostering a more productive mindset. It helps us build momentum so that once you get going, seeing your progress will inspire you to keep going and tackle more important tasks.

How Can We Celebrate Daily Wins?

According to Christina, the first step to celebrating our daily wins is to actually recognize them. Once you do that, here are some ideas on how you can celebrate your daily wins in practice:

1. Keep a Journal: Maintain a daily journal to record your achievements, no matter how small. This practice helps reinforce a positive mindset and allows you to reflect on your progress.
2. Share with Others: Celebrate your wins with friends, family, or colleagues. Sharing accomplishments not only spreads positivity but also strengthens social connections. Success generates more success, no matter how small.
3. Treat Yourself: This one is my favorite. Every time you have a win, you treat yourself somehow. The treat can be getting your favorite cup of coffee, buying your favorite snack, having a long bath or anything else along those lines. The point is that it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. It should be a treat that says “you did well, today”.

What Are Your Daily Wins?

As wonderful as it is to celebrate big events and accomplishments, they are few and far apart. Most of our life is spent in details and incremental changes. That’s why being aware of your daily wins and celebrating them can help you lead a more fulfilling life every single day. Over time, your motivation and confidence will increase and you’ll develop a more positive attitude towards life.

So, what daily wins have you become aware of today?

Are you looking for a way to grow, but can’t seem to figure out how to do it? Want to take your business to the next level but can’t see clearly the way to get there? I can help! Click on the button below to schedule a free call. Make the change today!

The post Celebrating Daily Wins: The Key to a More Fulfilling Life appeared first on Snowation.

I know. Many of you will say that it doesn’t work, that it’s just popular psychology mumbo-jumbo, that there is no success without work. And let me tell you: you’re right. You won’t get anywhere just by creating a vision board. That’s not how it works. Creating a vision board is just the first step on your journey to success. However, it is a valuable step because it helps you gain clarity and present your goals visually. It is a great reminder of why you do what you do.

In this article, we’ll dive into the concept of a vision board, its purpose, benefits, and how to create one to help you make your dreams come true.

What is a Vision Board?

A vision board, also known as a dream board or goal board, is a tangible representation of your goals, dreams, and desires. It’s a collage of images, quotes, and affirmations that resonate with your aspirations and create a visual reminder of the life you want to live. The idea behind a vision board is to harness the power of visualization, where you use imagery to stimulate your mind and emotions, thereby influencing your actions and decisions.

Remember, if you can see it, you can do it.

The Purpose of a Vision Board

The main purpose of a vision board is to serve as a powerful tool for visualization and goal-setting. By regularly exposing yourself to images and words that represent your goals, you’re sending a clear message to your subconscious mind about your intentions. This process helps shift your mindset and behaviors in ways that align with your values and the goals you want to achieve.

A vision board acts as a constant source of inspiration, reminding you of what you’re working towards, even when challenges arise.

Benefits of a Vision Board

Clarity and Focus

Creating a vision board helps you clarify your goals and aspirations. By selecting and arranging images that depict your desires, you bring clarity to what you truly want to achieve in different areas of your life, such as career, relationships, health, and personal growth.

Additionally, a vision board serves as a reminder of your goals and helps you set specific intentions for your future. By regularly viewing your vision board, you keep your goals in focus and are more likely to take actions aligned with those goals.

Increased Motivation

Visualizing your goals in a positive and exciting way can boost your motivation. A vision board keeps your spirits high, even when faced with setbacks.

What is more, looking at your vision board regularly can inspire and motivate you to take consistent steps toward your goals. The visual reminders can boost your determination and remind you why you’re working towards those aspirations.

Enhanced Confidence and Positivity

A vision board fosters a positive mindset by focusing on what you want to achieve rather than dwelling on what you lack or fear. It shifts your focus from potential obstacles to potential opportunities.

As you witness your goals becoming a reality over time, your self-confidence and belief in your capabilities grow.

Accountability

Sharing your vision board with others or placing it in a visible location can create a sense of accountability. It encourages you to stay committed to your goals and track your progress.

A study done in the US showed that people are 65% more likely to reach their goals if they’ve committed to someone that they will do it and 95% more likely to accomplish their goals if they have a specific accountability appointment with the person they’ve committed to. Not sure about you, but I think those are pretty high numbers to just pass the opportunity.

Your accountability buddy can be your partner, friend or even an accountability coach. Regardless of who you choose, make sure it’s someone you won’t be able to ignore.

Law of Attraction

Some people believe in the “law of attraction,” which suggests that focusing on positive thoughts and intentions can attract positive outcomes. A vision board is a tangible representation of your positive intentions and can help you align your thoughts and actions with your desired outcomes.

Here’s another way to explain that.

The brain believes anything you say. So, if you keep reminding yourself of all your failures and mistakes, the message you send to your brain is how limited you are. On the other hand, if your thoughts are geared towards learning from mistakes and trying in different ways, your brain will see that as a challenge to find solutions to potential problems and obstacles.

Whichever perspective you choose, you’ll be right. But only one of the two will help you move forward and grow. You get to decide which path you want to take.

Overall, a vision board is a tool that helps you define your goals, visualize your desired outcomes, and work toward making your dreams come true. It’s a personal and meaningful representation of your future aspirations that can have a positive impact on your mindset and actions.

How to Create a Vision Board

Creating a vision board is a creative process so let your imagination and creativity run wild. You can create it physically on a piece of paper/poster board or digitally in an online tool like Canva. I like to create my vision boards in Canva and then print them off as a poster.

Regardless of where you create your vision board, make sure you have some fun while creating it. And in case you’re not sure how to go about it, below are the steps you can take to create your vision board.

• Set Your Intentions: Clarify your goals across different areas of your life, such as career, relationships, health, and personal development.
• Gather Supplies: Collect magazines, newspapers, printed images, quotes, scissors, glue, a poster board, or any other materials you’d like to use.
• Collect Visuals: Look for images, words, and quotes that resonate with your goals and aspirations. They can be anything that sparks excitement and motivation.

Pro tip: Instead of using random images, find your own photos that reflect the goals on your vision board. This may not be possible for every goal, but give it a try for the ones where it is doable. For example, if one of your goals is to eat healthier, find a picture of yourself drinking a smoothie or eating a salad and add it to your vision board. It’ll be way more motivating to go after your goals once you see yourself achieving them rather than some random person.

• Arrange and Create: Arrange your chosen visuals on the poster board in a way that’s visually appealing to you. Get creative with the layout and design. Remember, this can be both on paper or digitally.
• Affirmations: Include positive affirmations that reinforce your beliefs and intentions. These can be handwritten or printed out.
• Place it Strategically: Put your vision board in a place where you’ll see it daily, such as your bedroom, office, or any other area you frequent.
• Regular Review: Take a few moments each day to gaze at your vision board. Imagine yourself living your dreams as you look at the images.
• Update and Evolve: As you achieve your goals or as your aspirations change, don’t hesitate to update your vision board to reflect your evolving desires.

To Sum Up

In a world filled with distractions, a vision board offers a potent way to keep your goals and dreams in focus. By creating a visual representation of your aspirations and regularly immersing yourself in it, you harness the power of visualization to manifest the life you desire. The journey of creating and nurturing a vision board is not only fulfilling but also empowers you to take charge of your future, one inspiring image at a time. Start creating your ultimate vision board today and watch your dreams come to life.

The post Visualize Your Success: Creating Your Ultimate Vision Board appeared first on Snowation.

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.

Earl Nightingale

In this article, we will go through the importance of setting your goals, as well as the importance of your mindset while setting them. After providing you with the necessary information on different types of goals and how to actually utilize this process, I think the benefits of setting goals will finally show how valuable this can be for your personal, but also very much for your professional growth.

Why Is Setting Goals Important?

All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be or do.

Norman Vincent Peale

Setting goals has an undeniable importance in every aspect of life. No matter if your goals pertain to your professional or personal life, the impact of clearly defined goals will be seen in your success, as well as your own well-being. Setting goals is important because it makes you assess yourself and your present situation and provides you with direction and clarity for your future. Overall, it can lead to improvement in your mental health and satisfaction with your work and life relationship, all beginning with the same small steps towards achieving your goals and success. 

End Goals vs Means Goals

If you were to look up different types of goals, you’d find many different classifications. Personally, I like the classification of goals into means and end goals and have been using those two for a while now. For those of you who are not familiar with these two, let me give you a bit more details.

There is a tendency to use the term goals in a very broad sense. Someone’s goal might be to finish a report that is due by the end of the week, while another person would say their goal is to be happy in life. This is why we have to differentiate two equally important types of goals before we decide how to set them for ourselves – end goals and means goals.

In line with what was already mentioned, we can look at means goals as directions and end goals as destinations. Means goals are flexible, often short-term goals that help you achieve your end goals. They should be SMART — specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound. On the other hand, end goals are more vague, long-term objectives for your life that reflect your values and ideals which you should never compromise for. With this in mind, means goals should be set and adapted according to the already set end goals. 

This is where differentiating the two types is crucial. Let’s say a means goal isn’t working out or isn’t getting you closer to the outcome you’ve been anticipating. This can often seem like a failure or you just get caught up with the little things. The ability to recognize this situation and change your means goals will help you avoid this frustration. After all, it only distracts you from getting to a place you wish to be. 

What Are the Benefits of Goal Setting?

We have talked about the importance of goals themselves and the ways we set them, but what about the real benefits that are expected after? Well, closely looking at some of the many benefits it offers should help you realize your situation, take action, and achieve your goals.

Clarity & Direction

First of all, setting precise goals enables you to get more clarity and focus towards your desires. This means you get a clear view of what to do next, making it easier to take the first step towards changing your approach to help you on your way. It gives you a direction to focus on, instead of you being unsure of what to spend your time on. With a clear focus, you will have peace of mind knowing that your time is being used efficiently. Meaning, when you clarify your goals, your energy won’t be spent on decision-making, because you will be spending your energy on actively working towards your goals.

Increased Motivation

Having clear goals gives you something to aspire for, instead of just hoping something will happen eventually. When you start working towards your goals, not only will you get the feeling of accomplishment through the small victories in your path, but the fact that you are getting closer to your desired end keeps you motivated throughout. What’s more, you will realize the importance of setting both your means and end goals. Every small action you take and succeed in continually motivates you and helps you strive.

More Productivity, Less Procrastination

Another benefit is that there will be more time for productivity and, in turn, less procrastinating. According to The State of High Performing Teams, 59% of tech workers see clear goals and expectations as the most important factor contributing to productivity. Time is a very important resource so being able to manage it properly and knowing how to allocate it makes you more efficient. As we mentioned before, when you have a clear direction, there is no reason to take that road. With clear goals that keep you motivated and excited about finishing even the smallest tasks, procrastination won’t be a problem. In case you do still struggle with being productive, I recommend you check out my article on how to get rid of procrastination.

Continuous Improvement

The momentum of your success begins with your excitement when defining your goals and continues to inspire you to continue and persevere. If you write your goals down and take a look at them after some time, seeing your progress will make you see how good of a decision defining them was. Your improvement here refers to both the achievement of the goals themselves and the personal growth that leads you to better decisions and setting future goals.

Commitment & Accountability

Setting goals for yourself makes you feel responsible and accountable, which is obviously important for both your work and personal life. Commitment to achieving your goals means that when you decide you will do something, you stick to it and find a way how, despite all the setbacks that show up along the way. In turn, this makes you an accountable person for yourself, and as importantly, accountable for others in your possible professional endeavors.

Increased Confidence and Satisfaction

Finally, like a domino effect, you will find yourself consistently progressing and improving in your life and career. This opens the door for new systems and behaviors that will sustain the upclimb to satisfaction. You will feel increased confidence when measuring your progress from the beginning with only a list of goals, and then seeing the fruits of your efforts. On an even bigger scale, the end of this process could help you identify a purpose through deep introspection that, in the long run, is needed to achieve this stage of fulfillment in your life.

What’s Important to Keep in Mind When Setting Goals? 

Now that we know the difference between means and end goals and the benefits of setting them, let’s talk about some tips you should know on goal setting before you start.

Think About the Emotion

When defining your goals, they will inevitably be tied in with emotions. Whether this is the determination to finally achieve something you have always wanted, the anticipated happiness of getting to your dream outcome, or even excitement about what the future holds for you, it is important to always hold onto these emotions. This emotional investment into your goals is exactly what will push you to strive to achieve them. Additionally, it comes in handy to remind yourself of the positive aspects that await, especially when it seems like your plans are failing or you realize the road to achieving these goals is not as easy as you expected.

Remember Your Why

Another aspect to consider, not only when defining your goals, but also on your way to achieving them, is the reason why you set them for yourself. You should always keep in mind why you set this goal and why it is important for you to achieve it. Tying in with what was said about end goals, they should be in line with your core values and something you believe in. When we believe in something to be a good outcome, we are more likely to take action and achieve it.

Have an Accountability Buddy or Group

It is probably no surprise to hear that being held accountable for your goals influences your results, but it should be pointed out exactly how much this can be beneficial towards success. Having a person or multiple people made aware of your goals increases your chances of achieving them because they offer support to get you there. Being in an accountability group means you are over 80% more likely to reach a goal, meaning that being accountable for a goal to someone else is proven to be very important. These people may be particularly significant during the times when you feel unsure or think about giving up, as they offer encouragement and the motivation you need. 

Sometimes this may be a friend or work colleagues, but a lot of the time, it may feel like this isn’t enough to help you overcome the struggles on your journey towards your goals. In this case, it may be time to consider consulting and working with an accountability coach. In case you’re not familiar with accountability coaching, feel free to read my article on what an accountability coach does. Additionally, if you’re a business owner, I recommend you read my article on benefits of accountability coaching for small business owners to get a clearer picture of what you can get out of it.

Time to Set Your Goals

At the end of the day, there is no reason why you shouldn’t consider all of the benefits goal-setting can have on your career and life. Now, knowing the basics of different types of goals such as end and means goals and what to keep in mind when defining them, I hope you feel more prepared to dive into assessing and thinking about what’s next for you. Hopefully, it’ll also make you more aware of all the good things a simple change like goal-setting can bring. 

Remember, if you have some questions or feel you might need guidance in defining motivational goals for yourself that will drive you to success, feel free to schedule a free chat with me.

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy this journey!

The post 6 Reasons Why Setting Goals Is Important appeared first on Snowation.

Regardless of whether you learn new skills formally or informally, there are many benefits that this process brings along. In this article, I explore the importance of learning new skills as well as the benefits of learning something new. Very briefly, at the end of the article, I also explore the psychological benefits of learning.

As someone who invests a lot of time and energy in learning, it has been such a pleasure writing this article. I do hope you enjoy reading it as well.

Why Is Learning New Skills Important?

In addition to being fun and engaging, there are many beneficial aspects of learning new skills. Most reasons can be grouped into emotional, psychological, and cognitive categories.

Emotional benefits refer to the feeling you get out of learning new skills. You can feel motivated, inspired or even more self-confident when you acquire new skills. From the psychological perspective, you may experience greater happiness, be less anxious and more open to new experiences. Finally, your cognitive abilities develop as you learn new skills: your reasoning may improve, your intelligence may grow, and of course, you’ll be more knowledgeable in the field you’ve chosen with your new skill.

When it comes to your professional growth, the importance of learning new skills is quite obvious. The more you know, the more valuable you are to the company. This can refer to your speciality, which comes with experience, not only hours invested in learning in the traditional sense of it. In addition to that, it can refer to a variety of skills that you acquire over time. For example, you can be very knowledgeable in your field, but also have developed communication skills or other soft skills, which will enable you to get promoted or even change companies and find a better, more fulfilling role.

How Often Should You Learn Something New?

As often as you can so long as it’s not causing you more stress or anxiety. Learning something new should be fun and challenging, not stressful. You shouldn’t feel pressured to learn something new, be it skills or any other type of learning. If you feel desire, curiosity or inspiration to learn something new, that’s the right moment to find that something and get into it.

When we’re forming new habits, then learning is going to be more frequent, on a daily basis, really. It takes a bit of time to form new habits, which is why continuous learning is so important. On the other hand, if you’re just thinking about learning something new or acquiring a new skill, you can do it monthly, quarterly or even annually. It depends on the time you have available and the need and/or desire to explore something different. 

In any case, it is good to challenge your brain and keep getting out of your comfort zone. The important thing is to set the pace you’re comfortable with.

What Are the Benefits of Learning New Skills?

As already mentioned, there are numerous benefits of learning new skills. The list below presents some of the benefits I find most appealing. However, there are many more advantages of acquiring new knowledge and skills that can be added to the list.

Boosts Confidence

Novelty sparks curiosity and poses challenges. Every learning experience consists of ups and downs. Some aspects of the new thing you’re trying to learn can be easy to understand and acquire while others may be more difficult and require more time, energy and effort. Nevertheless, once you conquer the new skills and actually learn something new, there comes the feeling of accomplishment. This, in turn, boosts your confidence. You feel more qualified or equipped to deal with new challenges. 

Needless to say that this confidence transfers to all areas of your life. Not only will you feel more confident at work, but also at home, in relationships and your sense of self will improve.

If you engage in a new skill, you’re going to thicken the brain’s prefrontal cortex. As you develop a new skill, you’ll gain courage and confidence, which helps you override fear and anxiety. You’ll feel more empowered.

Dennis Buttimer

Makes You More Adaptable

Learning process is rarely straightforward. It usually takes time, effort, and consists of many small wins and failures. It exposes you to novelty, new perspectives and it asks for persistence. Most of us learn through trial and error, which requires patience and thinking outside the box (whatever our current box is). Now, the more we do it, the more we become open to changes. The more open to changes we are, the more adaptable we become.

Being flexible and accepting of change enables us to approach new situations calmly and with curiosity rather than fear and anxiety. What is more, it enables us to detect new opportunities more often and be more willing to try them out. This is crucial for both personal and professional growth.

Fights Boredom

Doing the same thing repeatedly is monotonous and eventually leads to boredom. Learning new skills breaks the cycle of the same old and introduces novelty to your everyday life. Furthermore, learning new skills keeps your brain active and increases your interest levels, thus preventing boredom from settling in.

Please, note that this doesn’t mean that boredom is a negative thing. From time to time, we need to let our mind be idle in order to process new information or enhance creativity and new ideas. What’s important here is that we shouldn’t let our mind wander for too long. The right balance between being lazy and engaged is necessary for growth and development.

Rewires Your Brain

If presented with a challenging environment, our body and mind changes. Muscles gets stronger, hearts and lungs get larger and brain connections become faster and more focused. This reorganisation of the brain is the basis of all skill acquisition and development.

Erik Hamre

Every time we learn a new skill, our brain changes a bit. New naturopaths are created and neural connections are being strengthened. Rewiring our brain is what makes us more adaptable and it enables us to perform better, faster and with more accuracy. 

Moreover, as our brain gets rewired, we are able to change habits and grow in so many ways. That’s why inactivity and unwillingness to learn and change leads to our brain withering slowly, thus causing numerous illnesses and conditions, including depression and dementia to appear at an earlier stage of our lives.

Makes You More Appealing to Others

It’s really simple: people are drawn to those they have something in common with. This stands for life in general, but work environments as well. More and more companies are shifting to hiring attitude and willingness to learn rather than know-it-alls.

More often than not, your versatile skills will come in handy when applying for jobs. Employers love meeting candidates who show interest in learning and growth. The more skilled you are in your field or the more skills you have that make you a well-rounded person, the more attractive a candidate you will be for different job positions. 

Similarly, the more interests you have, the more conversations you can have with other people. There’s nothing wrong with being well-versed in one or two topics, though. Nonetheless, if you’re interested in a variety of topics, you’ll be more likely to connect with others. What is more, you’ll enjoy meeting people you otherwise might not have the opportunity to meet.

In addition to general benefits, there are some psychological benefits of learning something new that make it so much more appealing to acquire new knowledge and skills.

Psychological Benefits of Learning Something New

Everything that you experience leaves its mark on your brain. When you learn something new, the neurons involved in the learning episode grow new projections and form new connections. Your brain may even produce new neurons

eLife Sciences

As your brain changes, you become more flexible and open to novelty. In addition, your life improves in so many ways. You’ll find my top three psychological benefits of learning new skills, but just like mentioned before, lots more can be added to the list.

Reduces Fear and Anxiety

Learning new skills takes you out of your comfort zone and exposes you to challenges and uncertainties. The more you’re presented with novelty, the more you become accustomed to change, which greatly reduces fear and anxiety of the unknown.

The quality of your life will significantly improve when you don’t live in constant fear and anxiety. Moreover, you will be ready to face unexpected circumstances with a greater calm and positive attitude.

Potentially Postpones Dementia

People who learn a new skill are less likely to develop dementia, which has been linked to demyelination of your brain. People who actively learn new skills don’t give their brains a chance to demyelinate, and their neural pathways are ready for new impulses to travel along them.

WGREICOMEDIASHOWERCOM

In a nutshell, your brain cells are less likely to die out (or slowlier to do it anyway) if you actively learn new skills.

Increases Happiness

Every time you achieve something, you feel better about yourself. As you keep learning new skills, you tend to feel happier because your sense of self worth improves. Remember how every time you succeed at something, you tend to smile and there’s this positive feeling rising in your chest. Well, that’s what happens every time you learn something new. You won’t be euphoric all the time, but the feeling of accomplishment and self-efficacy will last for some time. If you keep doing this, your base level of happiness will eventually increase. In other words, the more you learn, the happier you are.

What’s Next on Your To-Learn List?

There you have it. With so many advantages, there are really no excuses not to actively learn something new. You define the pace and the skill or knowledge you would like to acquire. Just make sure that learning is an ongoing process in your life. I encourage you to create a to-learn list and visit it occasionally for inspiration.

There is so much out there that you can gain from opening up to new experiences and opportunities. I wish you all the best on your journey of learning and growth and if you feel like sharing some of it with me, I’ll be more than happy to listen.

The post 5 Benefits of Learning New Skills appeared first on Snowation.

Honestly, I don’t think I even have to mention the amount of distractions we’re faced with on an hourly basis, let alone on any given day. The good news is that there are tools we can use and habits we can develop to help us get more productive and less distracted.

Here’s my list of 10 tips on how to be more productive. I’ve personally tested all of them and they work, some to a greater others to a lesser degree but they work. So keep reading and once you’re done, let me know your thoughts.

10 Tips on How to Be More Productive

1. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Usually, I keep my phone somewhere on my work desk, in case someone needs to reach me. Recently, I’ve noticed that I started looking at my phone out of habit, just checking if there are any notifications. You can imagine what that does to my productivity. So, I decided to remove the obstacle and keep my phone in my bag. At first, it was hard not to reach out for the phone, but after a while, I actually felt a lot better and my focus improved greatly.

If there’s something in your surroundings that keeps distracting you and can be easily removed, try it out. And if you do, let me know how it goes.

2. Use Your Mornings to Focus on Yourself

This one comes straight from the Forbes’s 9 Habits of Productive People. According to the author, Ilya Pozin:

Start your day out right by ignoring your emails in the morning and getting in a good breakfast, reading the news, meditating, or working out. This will ensure you’ve got the necessary fuel for a productive day.

For a bit, I used to start my mornings by writing several pages in my notebook, kind of like a brain dump and I felt amazing. Whatever it is that you can do to make your mornings about you, just give it a go. You might end up enjoying it more than you thought you would.

3. Write Daily To-Do Lists

This one is a cliche but it works. If you manage to break down your goals into smaller chunks, chances are you’ll be more likely to get them done and get closer to your goal. Our brain has a tendency to close the loops so checking tasks of your list gives your brain the motivation it needs to stay focused and keep going.

4. Do More Important Tasks First

When you think about your daily tasks, make sure to assign priorities. Usually, more important tasks take longer time to complete and we tend to put them off precisely because they take up more of our time. However, the more important a task is, the more of our focus it requires so postponing it until later in the day when it’s harder to focus in general may actually backfire.

Yes, I know it might be easier to start with answering a pile of emails, but if you don’t address your most important tasks first, you’ll just end up being busy and not productive.

5. Make Your Workspace Comfy

Regardless of where you work from, it is very important that you feel comfortable in your workspace. If possible, make sure there’s a lot of natural light. Yet, if this is not doable, just bring a plant, a framed photo of your family or friends, anything to make the space more personal and more you. These little touches will make it more inspiring for you to work and get your tasks done.

6. Stop Multitasking

Even though we think we can multitask, we actually cannot. We can only focus on one thing at a time. What happens when we think we’re multitasking is actually that we are slacking with all tasks we think we’re getting done. Given that this is the case, you’re much better off with not even trying to multitask because when you do, you end up not being focused on any of the two or more tasks you’re trying to get done.

The constant task switching is making us more tired and reducing productivity. It’s taking up brain energy to switch and change that often. We aren’t being more productive, we’re skimming over the surface of things.

Steve Pogue, How to Be More Productive: 18 Top Tips to Help You

7. Take More Breaks

In my article on Takeaways from Jim Kwik, I talk about the importance of breaks for learning. Needless to say, breaks are important for focus as well. In his book Deep Work, Cal Newport states that even the most trained people can stay focused for about 4 hours. Therefore, working eight hours straight without a break doesn’t mean you stay focused for all that time.

Even breaks that are just a few minutes long can help you recharge and come up with new ideas. Be proactive about taking breaks. When you take breaks, it’s important to make them structured and deliberate. 

Benyamin Elias, 18 Habits of Highly Productive People

You can stretch your legs, go get a cup of coffee, or just stare at a window. Anything along those lines will help, really. However, I’d advise staying away from your phone and social media because that’s more a distraction than a break that your brain needs.

8. Get Your Exercise

Mind work can be exhausting. Add to that the fact that you’re tied to your chair most of your day and you should be able to see why it gets harder to focus. Being physically active can actually help improve your focus and productivity.

When you exercise or play a team sport, your body releases endorphins. This break is essential for your mental health!

Business-Essay

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to workout or play sports only to be able to increase your productivity. A simple walk will do the trick as well. The important aspect here is that your body is moving. Yes, you got it! Dancing will do the trick, too.

9. Learn Something New

After some time, our brain gets lazy. In order to keep it active, we should try to learn new things from time to time. Every time we try a new activity, our brain gets into the let’s-figure-this-out-mode, which in turn helps increase your regular productivity. In other words, you don’t let your brain get lazy and you help it stay young and active by introducing new challenges.

10. Eliminate Inefficiencies

Several months ago, I started tracking my time at work. I time-tracked every single task I did. The reason I did this was to see how much time I spend on each task and whether that is a time well spent. This little exercise helped me structure my work day better so that I could focus more on the more important tasks.

I know that it can be daunting trying to time every task you do, but once you see the results, it’ll all be worth it. Additionally, you’ll develop a habit of checking whether a task if worth your time even before you get it started, thus helping you prioritize better.

As I’ve already said, these are just a few tips on how to be more productive, but there are many more your can find out there. Now, before you start searching for more tips, maybe you can try one or two from this list. The reason I suggest this is because by trying something from the list, you’ll actually get into an active mode, instead of staying in the passive mode which is what would happen if you just kept searching for tips and not applying them to your life.

Give one of these activities a go and see what happens. If it doesn’t work, then try something else. In order to improve your productivity, you’ll have to find something that works best for you and the best way to do that is to keep testing ideas you run into. So, good luck and let me know how it goes

Until the next article, keep learning and growing.

Sneza

The post How to Be More Productive? 10 Tips to Get Things Done appeared first on Snowation.