Month: June 2020

First of all, you are only asking this question because you have the wrong mindset of stress. If you are able to change your mindset to see stress as a challenge instead of a threat, you will have 23% fewer stress related symptoms. Seeing stress as a mountain you can climb instead of a pitfall you fall into, you are already on your way to being more productive while stressed. I have learned many of the strategies below from this amazing productivity book that is personalized especially for teens that is very cheap on amazon. check it out here and I promise your life will be changed.

1. Change your perspective

When theres a mountain of tasks you have to face, identify the positives and negatives of each task. For example lets say of your tasks is doing laundry. You might start describing this task as “boring” and “mind numbing” but then you’ll start to say, “makes me feel productive” and “it’s nice to do a mindless task.” Change your perspective on how you see the tasks and you will realize they are not as daunting as they seem.

2. Don’t think about the stress, think about the opportunity

If you only think about the negatives of a certain task, you will only reap the negative effects. If you think about the positives, you will reap the positive effects. For example if you are stressed about a big presentation you have to give, think about how much your grade will raise if you present with confidence. Your brain will enact what you are thinking about. So if you are thinking about all the negative things that could happen, your brain will automate to get that outcome.

4. Decrease noise

Did you know that when your brain is overwhelmed with information it is less able to think positively? That means that taking sometime during your day to turn off your phone and computer to start thinking positively is one of the best things you can do to relieve your stress. I suggest this in the form of meditation. Taking some time in the day to meditate is hard for many people, but you can make it a habit. Here you can find a post on how to easily make a habit.

5. Set yourself up for success

When you are stressed about something you have to do, remember all the times you have succeeded at it before. If you are taking a test and are stressed by your number of “competitors” don’t think about them, only focus on you. if you are facing a challenge instead of starting with creating many contingency plans in case you fail, think of all the ways you can succeed first.

6. Train your brain to be more positive

There are five great ways to be more positive I have learned from Shawn Achor’s Ted Talk, The Happy Secret to Better Work. These are; write gratitude lists, journal daily about a positive experience in the last 24 hours, exercise, meditate and perform acts of loving kindness. A great place to write your lists and journal is a bullet journal. have a great guide to bullet journaling here.

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1. Determine your goals

Starting a journey without a destination in mind is very close to self destruction, and feeling like you will never accomplish your goals. You have to have a goal, or at least a checkpoint in mind where you can allow yourself to feel proud an accomplished. Having goals will also keep you on the right track, and will keep you from getting side tracked. As humans we will never be satisfied not accomplishing our goals. We want to be lazy, but also get things done. As you might be able to tell, it is not easy to work with your brain. That is why you need the next step.

2. Have a game plan

Create a plan. A plan is something you can stick to. Your plan is leading you to your destination, which is completion of your goal. Without a plan, you can have that goal but have no idea how tot get there. Some components of a good plan are:

3. Commit to yourself

You have to take that first step. It will seem scary, but that is not bad. Something you can do is imagine yourself at your destination. Imagine how you will be different. Imagine how you will think, and imagine how you will feel. Now imagine yourself if you don’t take that first step. Do you see the difference? So take that first step, commit to yourself. Your motivation, your willpower , and your self discipline. You can do this. YOU CAN DO THIS. If it is hard for you to find motivation for your workouts you can find that here.

4. Start small and build up

If you have never done a workout, or drunk a lot of water daily, that don’t expect yourself to be able to jump right in. Start where you are able to be consistent. If that is ten pushups and ten squats a day, just do that. If that is one yoga session weekly, go to that session. Build up so you are always able to be consistent. Don’t do so much that you are overwhelmed. There is no one forcing you to be the best at that yoga class. You don’t have to be! You can be exactly who you want to be, but on your own terms, and your own pace.

5. Something is always better than nothing

This step closely relates to the one before it. Doing something is always better than doing nothing. What I mean by this is that if you take a yoga class, and then have time to go on a ten minute walk, but you don’t because you think it won’t anything, think about the future. Those ten minutes could turn into an hour. Or five miles of running. There is no limit to what a simple ten minutes could turn into. There is also no limit to what ten minutes a day could do for you. You could be happier, healthier and more satisfied, all with ten minutes. Doing something, anything is always better than doing nothing.

6. Have a fitness journal

A fitness journal is the best place to keep track of your progress, and keep you on course. If you want to learn more about the how and why of fitness journaling, you can find that here. A fitness journal can be helpful for almost all the steps. You put your plan and your goals here, you plan out your steps and growth, and so much more.

7. Celebrate yourself

Celebrate yourself! Rewards, cheat days, vacations. Celebrate your process. Celebrate how far you have come. Allow yourself to feel proud and happy without feeling guilty. For example, get a facial after thirty days of consistent exercise. Choose a reward at the beginning of your journey and put it in your fitness journal. try not to be completely rewards based, and enjoy the journey. But a reward is also a great incentive. If you want to learn more about the rewards system check out this post.

Enjoy creating and experiencing your fitness journey!!