Author: sadellefitness

Scrolling through Pinterest, I always see posts such as “the morning routine of a mommy blogger,” and I found that the majority of routines that I looked at are about organization and getting as much done in as short amount of time as possible, because of their children. As a teen blogger, I am spending my summer with my family, so while I take more time in my morning routine, I also have a very uncertain day. (Especially since I am awake with a baby!) My morning routine is the time I have that I know is set in stone. My evenings are full of Sorry games, Zoom sports, and Schitts Creek.

Related: 9 Productive Tasks You Need to Do Before 8 a.m

Wake up

I usually wake up around 7 a.m. My alarm goes off at eight, but getting up at 7 means I have an hour with no notifications or distractions on my phone. I am able to get up at 7 without an alarm clock because that is the time for the past four or five years I have had to get up for school.

Related: How to Make the Perfect Sleep For You

Make my bed

I partially do this because I love sliding into a nicely made bed at night and partially because getting something small done in the morning sets a great productive tone for the day. I also put my dirty clothes away and make sure my phone and computer are charged.

Wash my face and do my morning skincare

Washing my face wakes me up, and I love doing my skincare right in the morning because my skin feels so dry and saggy right after I get up. My skincare is super simple, just this amazing, fresh soy face cleanser plus a moisturizer. I have noticed an amazing improvement in how soft and radiant my skin is using this cleanser. It is perfect for all skin types, and everyone in my family uses it.

Drink water

I know some people like to have a full glass of water in the morning right next to their bed, but I find that it is great motivation to get out of bed if I have to go to the fridge to get a water. I usually drink three quarters of a 17oz water bottle right when I get up.

Related: The 17 Ways Drinking More Water Will Drastically Benefit Your Life

Morning affirmations and gratefulness

My morning affirmations are usually related to the Law of Attraction. If you want to see the affirmations I use, check out my Pinterest named Sadelle’s Healthy Lifestyle. I also make a long list of what I am grateful for. This reminds me to approach my entire day with gratefulness. I also write in my gratitude journal! I love this journal so much and have preached about it a lot on my blog. Please, please check it out here. My life has changed using this journal. I am more mindful, appreciative, and overall a better person.

Meditation

Recently I have started using the free version of the app Balance. I usually do their 15-minute gratitude guided meditation. I have a very active, easily distracted mind, so a guided meditation is teaching me how to focus my mind. I also feel very calm after my meditation and I love it when that calm stays with me throughout the day.

Yoga

After my meditation, I like to get my body moving in the form of yoga. I don’t follow any specific video or lesson. I do my own practice that consists of moves I have accumulated from many classes plus all my sports. I do pretty much the same practice everyday, but every time I follow an online class, (I use the website Do Yoga With Me) I try and incorporate one move from each class into my morning practice.

More water

You know the drill, I am still dehydrated at this point so I start another water. I usually only drink half, so 8.5 oz.

Go for a run/workout

I love working out in the morning with the birds chirping. Similarly to making my bed, getting my workout done sets a tone of “getting things done and being productive” for the entire day. My workouts range from ten minutes to forty-five. I enjoy working out, but I don’t enjoy the time that it takes. Sometimes I feel like I could be doing something more productive.

Related: 5 Tips to Motivate Yourself to Work Out, and Keep Working Out!

Water, breakfast, social media and to-do list

After my workout I usually have breakfast. Lately, it has either been avocado toast or a smoothie. During breakfast, I check social media, check my to-do list, and engage in as much mindful eating as I can through water. Whenever I feel I am eating to fast or too much, I take three big sips of water to reset. I also prioritize my to-do list by importance. I make my to-do lists the night before, and review and prioritize them during breakfast. Doing it earlier takes my attention off of the present.

Work!

Once I am done with breakfast, my schedule gets a little uncertain. The baby might be going down for a nap, so I get straight to work, or I play with him more. The first tasks I do for work our check my emails, stats on Pinterest, my website, and the productivity apps I have on my phone. (Upcoming post!) Then I move on to whatever post I am working on. This ends my basic morning routine. Tell me when you get up in the comments.

(As an Amazon affiliate I receive a small commission for any purchases made through an Amazon link)

1. Hitting the snooze button

Despite what you really want to believe, ten extra minutes of sleep will do nothing for you. The hard truth is that you will only feel more tired when you finally convince yourself to roll out of bed. Hitting the snooze button makes you foggy and and affects your productivity. If you want to get more sleep that will actually make you less tired in the morning, then go to bed earlier. Don’t take those extra ten minutes, take an extra hour at night. There is no way to look at it that makes those ten minutes worth it.

2. Having a inconsistent wake up time

The scientific reasons to break this habit involves a messed up Circadian rhythm, and a variety of sleep disorders. A consistent wake up time means you know how many hours of sleep you are getting. You also know what time you have in the morning to get things done and go through your morning routine. An inconsistent wake up time leads to an uncertain morning routine. Click here to learn exactly what should be in your morning routine. You also don’t know if you will be able to get things done in the morning or not. Overall, try and go to sleep and wake up at the same time everyday.

3. Going through social media right when you wake up

Your morning time is your time for yourself. Going on social media automatically makes that time for others, and their life. When you go on social media right in the morning you are fogging up your brain. You are exposing yourself to blue light right in the morning. A long with having an inconsistent wake up time, this will also mess up your Circadian rhythm. Keep that morning for yourself, to truly wake up and focus on improving yourself. Work on your hobby, (Hint: Check out the best hobbies and how to get into them here) do some work, or read a book.

4. Not drinking any water

If you wake up and don’t drink any water, your body is probably crying out for help. You have just (hopefully) been asleep for at least seven hours, and you haven’t drunken any water in that time. When you wake up, maybe you don’t notice the side effects at first, but your body is seriously dehydrated. Go get some water. Check out the many benefits of water here, and I highly, highly suggest this water bottle, to make sure you are drinking enough water, and makes you feel good doing it. Drink your water people!

5. Writing your to-do list

Don’t get me wrong, I love to-do lists. I know that some people do not think they are productive, and prefer time blocking and such, but my schedule is just too uncertain for time blocking. A to-do list takes your focus off of the now, and moves it into the future. In the morning you should be focused on the now. A better time to write your to-do list would be the night before, or do it as the last task of your work day. This way everything you have to do is still fresh in your mind for you to put down. In the morning if you think of something that you need to do, quickly jot it down on a small notepad. When you start your workday, look at your notepad and put down the tasks that you actually want to get done that day.

(as an Amazon affiliate I receive a small commission for any purchases made through an Amazon link)

Related: 99 Affirmations for Success, Motivation and Improving Your Mindset + How to Use Them

How to Overcome Negative Thinking and Learn to be Positive

1. What feelings do you feel the most?

This may seem difficult to track, but you can do it short and sweet. You can track over one hour, two hours, a day, or any other period of time. The way I suggest you track is by opening up a note in the Notes app on your phone, and every time you feel an emotion as a response to something that happened to you, write it down. By the end of the time period you chose, a pattern should emerge. This pattern is showing you what feelings you feel the most, and what feelings you don’t. If you feel a lot of gratitude and joy, that means you have a good mindset! If you feel more longing, anger, and pity for yourself then you should definitely keep reading.

2. What feelings do you want to feel?

This may seem obvious. Everyone wants happiness, joy, peace, but keep in mind that there are so many types of each emotion. Happiness can mean gratitude or be hyper, or calm, and sadness can mean pity or longing. I bet you do not want to feel sad, so I am guessing overall you want to feel happy. But what does that mean for you? Serenity, the feeling you get from a good meditation session, or excitement, from traveling and seeing the world. What type of happiness do you want? Let me know! If you want to learn more about how you can use emotions, I highly suggest this book, teaching you how you can use your emotions to find happiness and abundance.

3. What thoughts are clogging up your brain and dragging you down?

While we just talked about feelings, we cannot overlook thoughts. Thoughts make beliefs, and we talk more about beliefs in the next question. Some thoughts that drag you down are, “I have to wear this to seem presentable in society,” or, “I have to go to college and get a degree to life abundantly,” or even “if I become successful in my career path I will be happy.” All of these are not true, and are dragging you down. If you catch yourself thinking any thoughts along these lines, switch your thoughts to gratitude. Take a look around you at what you can be grateful for. For example, if you are shopping, take a minute to just be grateful that you have money to shop. Or if you are in high school wondering about college, be grateful it is even an option to you. Or if you are moving up in your job, be grateful for how hard you have worked and how far you have come.

4. What beliefs do you want to work towards?

This is similar to question two, but at the same time very different because we are dealing with beliefs. Your beliefs can directly impact your thoughts and feelings. A belief that you will never be successful will leave you always feeling sad and alone. This is why having beliefs such as “I can do anything” or “my body is strong and perfect” will give you feelings of happiness and gratitude. What beliefs do you want to work towards? Your beliefs should be able to cause the feelings that you chose in question two. If you recognize that you have bad beliefs that are giving you bad emotions, maybe choose to work towards a belief that is opposite your your bad existing one.

5. What are the daily thoughts you want to have?

“It’s going to be a good day.” “I can’t wait to be completely healthy today.” “Just because the sun isn’t shining doesn’t mean my heart can’t.” Okay, maybe you are not going to say that last one, but you get the idea right. What daily thoughts do you want to have? Positive thoughts that make you feel warm and cozy inside? Positive thoughts that make you excited and energized? Once again, make sure your daily thoughts connect to your beliefs and your feelings. What happens daily determines your mindset, and positivity daily leads to a consistent daily positive mindset.

6. What are you thinking everyday?

This definitely connects to question five. The thoughts you already have may be a habit, and you can’t break bad habits. You have to change the routine. If you think, “I am not sure i’ll be able to be healthy today,” or “this rain will completely ruin my day” daily, then those thoughts are a bad habit. You can replace them with the examples in question five. The cue for these thoughts, such as waking up while it is raining or feeling extra chubby in the morning are activating those bad thoughts. When this cue happens, think of the thoughts you want to be thinking.

6. How can you use your new feelings, beliefs and thoughts to improve your mindset?

Put them together. Change your beliefs, change your thoughts, and change your feelings. Your mindset is how you choose to interpret reality. Your beliefs on everything around you change how you feel you can react to your environment. Your thoughts are how you respond to your environment, and your feelings are what comes out of those responses. This may not make a lot of sense, and thats totally okay. Answer these questions for yourself, and learn to incorporate these new beliefs thoughts and feelings into your everyday life. You will notice a change.

(As an Amazon associate I receive a small commission for any purchases made through an Amazon link)

A morning routine

Small habits build big results. A morning routine is made of habits. A morning routine may seem insignificant now, but if you do your research, you will realize many successful girl bosses including Oprah Winfrey have a morning routine. A morning routine sets the tone for the rest of your day. You can have a very productive morning routine, setting the tone for a productive day. You could also have no morning routine at all.

Related: 9 Productive Tasks You Need to do Before 8 a.m

The 7 Best Hacks to Start Your Day Early and Refreshed

Life vision and goals

A girl boss has a vision and goals. She has something she is looking towards, and always working towards. She makes goals to make sure she is keeping herself working towards the future, and always becoming better. A life vision will motivate you to work, and having a life vision works nicely with the Law of Attraction to bring your dream life to you.

Related: How to Accomplish Your Goals Without Motivation

The Power of Goals & the Comparison of Long-term vs. Short-term

A plan for your goals

You can have goals, and you can have a life vision, but those are just dreams and hopes without a plan. Making a plan gives you something to do. A girl boss knows she can accomplish her goals because she has a plan for the exact way she will reach them. You won’t lose motivation because you are going to make a plan for your goals, and complete that plan, and feel amazing. 😉

Related: 7 Steps for Starting your Fitness Journey

A reading list

Reading is one of the most important things you can do to improve yourself. I am listing my reading list below:

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
2. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
3. How to Consciously Design Your Ideal Future Benjamin P. Hardy
4. The Last Law of Attraction Book You’ll Ever Need to Read by Andrew Kap
5. Practical Law of Attraction by Victoria Gallagher
6. Mindfulness for Stress Management by Dr. Robert Schachter
7. A Teens Guide to Getting Stuff Done by Jennifer Shannon

Confidence

A girl boss has a ton of confidence. She knows she snaps hard, and she knows she will accomplish her goals and get her dream life. This confidence she uses as motivation to work hard, because she believes that hard work and working smart will give her, her dream life. She has the confidence that she deserves her dream life.

Related: Strategies on How to Learn to be Proud of Yourself and your Body

A journal/tracking app

I have already talked about how a girl boss is always willing to learn. This includes learning from herself. Journaling means you can learn what works for you in all areas of your life, and you can improve your habits and your days. A journal also keeps your mind clear, because you can dump everything out of your brain onto the pages. I also use a tracking app, where I track my mood, my daily to-do’s, my goals, my plans, and my habits. I also have a journal, but I find that a tracking app is just easier to have throughout the day. I use Remente for my to-do’s, goals, and mood, and I use Productive to track my habits.

Related: Why you Should Keep a Journal, and How to Use It

The Benefits of Clearing Your Mind and How to Do It

The right mindset

A girl boss has the right mindset. Her mindset is positive, willing to learn, confident, productive, and so much more. Building the right mindset takes a lot of work, but one thing you can start with is gratitude. Writing down three things you are grateful for each day for 21 days will train your brain to automatically look for the positives in the world around you. My favorite gratitude journal is this one. Start with gratitude, and see how just a simple daily shift can change your entire outlook about life.

A self-care routine

A girl boss knows that she needs to treat herself every now and then. Hot baths with bath bombs, face masks, a good book, and some hot chocolate. There are so many types of self-care. Self-care rejuvenates you, and will also help with your confidence. Self-care reminds you that the most important person in your life is yourself. You can do nothing else if you don’t care for yourself.

Related: How to Overcome Negative Thinking and Learn to be Positive

The Easiest Ways to Self-Care With No Effort

Flexibility

No, I do not mean the type that comes from stretching every day. I mean that girl bosses are flexible and willing to adapt to new experiences. If you are rigid and unmoving in your beliefs, you will rarely be happy because the world is always changing. A girl boss is flexible and able to succeed no matter the ever-changing environment. Having a positive mindset will help you to be more flexible.

A mentor and a support system

A girl boss knows that the best way to learn, besides reading, is from other people who have already succeeded in the path you are on. A support system helps you build confidence and makes you feel like you can do anything. A mentor does not need to be someone you actually have a relationship with, they can be anyone. If you are an aspiring singer, your mentor can totally be Ariana Grande. It might take more work to learn about her journey because you can’t actually talk to her, but she is an amazing girl boss.

Self love and respect

This goes along with confidence, but you can’t have confidence without self-love and respect. You can create self-love and respect through self-care, positive affirmations, a self-love workbook, and so much more. You also have to have respect for your self. To build this respect, look at all your previous accomplishments and successes.

A willingness to learn and improve

You need to be willing to always learn and improve. If you fall down, get back up again. If you feel like there is no hope, look for inspiration. The world is full of it. And always remember, you are a girl boss, no matter what.

(As an Amazon associate I receive a small commission for any purchases made through an Amazon link)

1. Learn to value your time

Our time is valuable as teenagers. We need to use that time wisely, because there is so much opportunity for growth in our teenage years that it is unbelievable that we spend hours each day on social media. Every minute is a chance for a new experience, and to make new memories. It is also a chance to make mistakes, and to regret. I think that at least for me, this makes me afraid of new experiences. You can’t change the past. You can change the future. Value your time, and everything you could do during it.

2. Don’t trust your brain with everything

Our brains cannot carry all of the information that we collect and use during the day. You might think you would remember something that you need to do later, but you won’t. Make lists. Brain dump. Let all of it out of your brain. Especially as teens, there is so much information coming at us that we cannot process it all. Make a to-do list in the morning, and brain dump in the evening. Don’t trust your brain. (With information, your brain is amazing.)

3. Learn to be a productive procrastinator

Procrastinating is tough. It is very hard to get over, so I am going to tell you about productive procrastination. Let’s say you have a huge paper due, and you need to do at least three paragraphs now. You don’t want to do them, and while you could procrastinate and go on social media, instead you workout. Or you read. Or you work on another assignment. This is productive procrastination. You are getting something done that will make you feel satisfied when you complete it. That satisfaction will turn into motivation which you can use to get your three paragraphs done.

Related: How to be Productive While Stressed

4. Remove toxicity

Toxic friends, toxic jobs, toxic ideas, toxic social media, there is so much toxicity in the world that is designed to make you feel small. You need to clear out your social media of people who are toxic, you need to get rid of toxic friends, and if you are in a toxic job than you need to quit. Being surrounded by toxicity will give you a bad mindset throughout your life. To make that good mindset for yourself, getting rid of anything toxic is a must.

Related: 5 Tips on How to Use Social Media Positively to Improve Your Life

5. Dedicate time to improve yourself

You know how I said value your time? Well improving yourself is a great way to value your time. Setting time away each day to focus on goals, skills, and improving yourself is a great use of time. Our brains are still developing, so when we learn new things, our brain eats it up. Watch a Ted Talk, read a book, find a hobby or journal.

6. Don’t be afraid to take risks

These are our fun years! If we make mistakes it’s all right. We are learning. Do those fun things. You will regret passing up amazing opportunities when you are in your 20’s and 30’s. Sneak out with your friends, go bungy jumping, take that risk, and reap the reward or the consequence. It is all part of being a teenager. I can’t accept the opportunity for you. You have to take that leap. This is a reminder to enjoy these years.

7. Ask for help

We are still growing. Sometimes we feel that our parents know nothing, or that we have to be independent all the time to prove ourselves, but this isn’t true. We are still learning and growing, so leaning on other people to help you grow is not sacrificing your independence, it is helping you reach your goals. Asking questions and being curious is part of life. Appreciate that and learn from the people around you.

8. Make your routines

If you have routines set when you are a teen, can you imagine how productive you are going to be when you are an adult? Imagine it now. No more hassle over your habits or stuff you have to get done in the morning because your routines are already created and you are already used to them. Being a teen means you can try different things, to find exactly what works for you.

Related: Small Steps That You Can Do Now To Have Successful Habits as an Adult

9. Look nice for yourself and feel confident

Find your style. Being confident in yourself is so hard as a teen. Finding ways to be confident in yourself and follow your own style and passion can make you feel so much more confident in yourself and who you are. While the inside matters most, for your confidence wearing cute clothes and having a nice haircut is a great boost for your confidence.

10. Learn from others

This is very similar to asking for help, except if you have any passion, then you can learn from those who are already successful in that area. Or you could learn from billionaires, and successful people in general. If you want to get up earlier, there are thousands of videos how on youtube that you can learn from. Anything you want to learn how to do, there are videos and articles on it. Don’t make it up on your own, look for people who are already a success.

11. Make goals and learn how to work towards them

There is so much to gain during our teenage years. Make goals, and figure out what type of goals work for you. To help you out I have a post on comparing short term goals to long term goals here. Trial and error is part of life. What goal setting and completing techniques work for you? Making a plan, daily reminders, there are so many techniques. If you want any help at all, email me at sadellehealthylifestyle@gmail.com.

By now I have talked about habits so much, that this intro will be short. Habits keep you organized so you are ready and prepared for your day. They will also make your day more predictable, which is reassuring for some, and annoying for others.

7 Easy Steps for Developing a Healthy Habit

The Power of Goals and the Comparison of Short Term Goals and Long Term Goals

1. Meditation

By now you have probably already heard about meditation, if not from my blog then at least from other blogs. You might be sick of hearing how meditation can change your life, make you happier, make you more successful, and make you more mindful. Well, I am going to talk about it anyways. Meditating will also make you calmer, and more ready for the day or night. I meditate in the morning, which makes me more focused throughout the day. It also gives my day a purpose and makes me feel ready for a productive day.

2. To-do lists

To-do lists make sure that your day will be productive while also giving you a chance to take a look at everything you have to get done that day. No one can keep all the tasks they have to do in a day in their head. Putting everything together will not only make you much more productive with planning out your time, but you will also be able to see what tasks you can batch so that it is easier and quicker moving from one task to another. Batching also means when you are done with one group of tasks you are able to take a break, meaning your body will get enough breaks throughout your workday.

3. Reading

Productive people are always expanding their minds and learning new things. Reading is the best way to expand your mind! You can learn everything from how to hike to productivity to science. Even if you are reading a fantasy book you are still expanding your mind and learning new things. I know that reading may seem like a bore, but in reality, you just haven’t found the right book yet. Personally, I enjoy reading self-improvement books. I also found that reading goal-setting books were not for me, and I realized I need to read more books that interest me and relate to my life. I am now reading mindfulness books, books about habits, and the Law of Attraction books. Find the right books for you and expand your mind.

My reading list:

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
2. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
3. How to Consciously Design Your Ideal Future Benjamin P. Hardy
4. The Last Law of Attraction Book You’ll Ever Need to Read by Andrew Kap
5. Practical Law of Attraction by Victoria Gallagher
6. Mindfulness for Stress Management by Dr. Robert Schachter
7. A Teens Guide to Getting Stuff Done by Jennifer Shannon

4. Decluttering

This is a very important hobby for organization and productivity. A clean space means a clear mind. You will have no junk that will distract you from the task at hand. Decluttering is also checking something off your to-do list and will stop you from worrying about all the stuff that you have to do within that junk. When you declutter, you are also decluttering your to-do’s, and figuring out what you need to get done, because all your to-dos will be shown while you declutter. Cleaning resets your mind and gets you ready for a very productive day.

5. A hobby

Hobbies are an amazing time user. They allow you to develop skills that you can use later in life, while also giving you a purpose in your boring time. I have already said that productive people love expanding their knowledge, and when you are bored there is nothing better to do than expand your mind. A hobby is a skill you will keep, and who knows, could maybe turn into a job one day. Click to this post to learn exactly how to build a hobby, and I give great hobby ideas too!

Related: 29 Ways to Spend Your Free Time More Productivity

6. Journaling

Journaling is a great way to stay productive. From putting your to-do lists in your journal to writing nightly about your day to using a habit tracker, a journal is a boundless opportunity. If you are a beginner to journaling, I have a whole guide on the why and how of journaling here. You can also track your time blocks in a journal. This is a great technique for time management. You can also write your routines, morning and night, in your journal to stay productive. Productive people keep a journal because you can notice patterns in your behavior, such as when is the best time for you to exercise or work. I suggest at least just putting your to-do list in your journal so you can track how much you can get done.

7. Set goals and deadlines

Without goals and deadlines, you will never feel the need to head on the right path. You will feel lazy and procrastinate everything because nothing is important for you or your journey. If you make deadlines for your tasks they will get done because our brains hate missing deadlines if it will make us feel guilty. Productive people set their own deadlines to make sure that they have time to get all of their tasks done. They also set goals to make sure that they are always improving and working. Goals are another form of a deadline, except with not just one task. Goals also usually have a plan for accomplishment, while tasks with a deadline are just tasks. Tell me in the comments whether you prefer deadlines or goals.

(As an Amazon associate I receive a small commission for any purchases made through an Amazon link)

7 Easy Steps to Developing a Habit

How to Accomplish your Goals Without Motivation

I am going to teach you how to build discipline and turn your flaky motivation into something concrete and useful. You might wonder why this is so important, or why this is useful at all. Motivation is not something you have endless amounts of. You will also not always feel motivated or want to get out of bed at 6 a.m. That is why you need to have discipline. The dictionary definition of discipline is “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.” This is boring as heck. Discipline is doing things when you don’t want to get them done. I would also like to add that rewards for success are better than punishments for failure. Discipline is a brain-muscle like motivation, but it is a muscle useful in every way to get you to do that task that you just don’t want to do.

Repetition

You can’t build and use self-discipline in one day. It doesn’t work like that. You have to repeat your habit enough times, day after day until it is not a drag to do and you don’t think about it. You might dread it right now, but your body will adapt, and so will your mind. Repetition is key. I have talked about this in this post. One day of skipping your habit will lead to two days, three days, and so on and so forth. Breaks will also lead your brain to believe that your habit is something that needs to be taken breaks from. If you are building a healthy lifestyle, you don’t need breaks. Repeat your habit for at least a week. Journal every day, about how you are feeling, and after that week reread your entries. If you want to learn how to journal and more on why check out this post.

Habits

Habits lead to discipline because they are not consciously thought about tasks. Your habits you just do. Whether it’s a daily to-do list or weekly goals, habits are something you no longer have to think about or force yourself to do. When you are a beginner to making good habits, you might rely on motivation to do your habit every day. What you really need is discipline. A strategy for using habits to turn motivation into discipline is setting a certain time of day to complete your habit or a certain cue. If your habit is to read from a self-improvement book every day, maybe at five p.m you read your book, or you read whenever you make your coffee. My favorite habit book is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Check it out!

Practice

Practice. You know what that means. Pretty much everything requires practice. Do not give up, and you will reach your goals. I am not going to say that much about practice because it is very similar to repetition, but more about persistence. Keep practicing your discipline. Over time you will be disciplined enough to be disciplined about practicing your discipline! (lol) Leave a comment below about any time in your life you have used discipline, or could have used discipline.

Accountability

Keep a journal, tell someone, videotape yourself… I know it is awkward telling your parents or your siblings about your goals, (trust me I’ve been there,) but there are many ways to keep yourself accountable. I really like videoing myself. Though this does make my family think I am dying in isolation, (especially since I am pretty extroverted) really I just enjoy talking to a camera and I can’t wait to have a whole quarantine “vlog” album at the end of quarantine. Grab your phone, turn your camera on and talk. I prefer to talk instead of write, and that is why I am telling you about this method. Although I also have a journal that I love to use visually, I really like talking because it is so much quicker to get your feelings and thoughts out. Are you introverted or extroverted?

How to use affirmations

1. Take three deep breathes, breathing in long, and breathing out long
2. Stand in front of a mirror and look yourself right in the eyes
3. Say your affirmation or list of affirmations (Hint: I suggest 3-5) slowly and clearly, enunciating every word
4. Repeat the affirmation or list of affirmations around 3-5 times
5. Internalize and focus on the meaning of each word, and the whole affirmation
6. Think about what the affirmation means to you and for you

Affirmations for success

1. I am successful.
2. I am a magnet for success.
3. Love, health and success are attracted to me.
4. I have unstoppable confidence within me.
5. Life just feels great all of the time.
6. There is always a way if I am committed.
7. I am so excited because all of my dreams are coming true.
8. Great things always seem to come my way.
9. I am a naturally happy person.
10. I am a naturally confident person.
11. Opportunities just seem to fall right into my lap.
12. I am full of energy and life.
13. I am a good person who deserves success and happiness.
14. I love myself for who I am.
15. Everything always works out for me.
16. I am highly motivated and productive.
17. It doesn’t matter what others think of me, for I know who I am.
18. I am a center for positivity, joy and love.
19. I am incredibly grateful for all of my success.
20. I use positive thinking to manifest a positive life.
21. I choose to think positive and create a wonderful life for myself.
22. I find it easy to succeed at everything I do.
23. People look at me and wonder how I so naturally attract success.
24. I think BIG.
25. I act fearlessly.
26. The universe always provides for me.
27. I am so happy and grateful for my life.
28. Things have a way of working themselves out.
29. I have such an amazing life.
30. I am so lucky.  Life is rigged in my favor.
31. I love who I am and I love my life.
32. My goals and dreams always come true.
33. I am passionate about constantly being better and more successful.

Affirmations for your mindset

1. I have the power to control my thoughts
2. I allow myself to be who I am without judgment
3. I am confident I can achieve any goal
4. I choose to be happy right now
5. I am letting go of all negativity
6. I welcome positivity every day
7. I am good enough
8. I have the power to change my story
9. I know my worth
10. I can do anything I put my mind to
11. I am capable of great things
12. I love myself as I am
13. I am letting go of doubt and fear
14. I trust in my abilities
15. I am prepared for and welcome new challenges
16. I am loveable
17. I am capable
18. I am strong and confident
19. I am grateful for my life
20. I am proud of myself
21. With every breath, I exhale fear
22. I believe in myself
23. I am worthy of my own love
24. I am at peace with myself
25. I deserve to feel good about myself
26. I am becoming the best version of myself
27. I am talented
28. My talent is worthy of value
29. I am living the life of my dreams
30. I deserve happiness
31. I attract abundance
32. I choose to be happy today
33. I am intelligent

Affirmations for motivation

1. I am in the process of positive change.
2. I am deeply fulfilled by all that I do.
3. I know that I am already successful.
4. My day begins and ends with gratitude.
5. I am healthy, whole, and complete.
6. I release all negative thoughts of the past and all worries about the future.
7. My life gets better all the time.
8. I am constantly discovering new ways to improve my health.
9. I trust the Universe to help me see the good in everything and in everyone.
10. Money comes to me easily and effortlessly.
11. I trust the process of life.
12. I don’t sweat the small stuff.
13. I am in charge of how I feel and today I choose happiness.
14. I am enough.
15. I have the power to create change.
16. I let go of all that no longer serves me.
17. I am brimming with energy and overflowing with joy.
18. My body is healthy; my mind is brilliant; my soul is tranquil.
19. I am full of creative energy and new ideas.
20. I can overcome any challenge I face.
21. I feel joy and contentment in this moment.
22. I feel happy and enthusiastic about life.
23. Every day in every way, I am becoming more and more successful
24. I know exactly what I need to do to achieve success.
25. I fully accept myself and know that I am worthy of great things in life.
26. I am whole.
27. I fill my mind with positive and nourishing thoughts.
28. I am grounded in the experience of the present moment.
29. I am focused and engaged in the task at hand.
30. I accept and embrace all experiences, even unpleasant ones.
31. I observe my emotions without becoming attached to them.
32. Every day I am more and more at ease.
33. I am calm, happy, and content.

Related:

1. Wake up

This may seem simple, but just getting up early needs to be a whole step. Without getting up, you can’t do the other eight things that will make your morning productive and mindful. Just getting up early will set the tone for your entire day, leaving you with a productive and energized mindset.

2. Drink a glass of water

After around (hopefully) eight to ten hours of sleep, your body is dehydrated. That is certain. No matter how much you drank the night before, your body is thirsty in the morning. Right when you get up drink a bottle of water to wake your body up and start getting hydrated. This will also set you on the right path for drinking a lot of water throughout the day. You can find the many benefits of water here. This is a favorite water bottle of mine, that you should definitely check out.

3. Wash your face and do your skincare

Washing your face does not only help your skin, but it also wakes you up and rejuvenates you. Read about non-product ways to clear your skin here. Also, do your skincare. Having done your skincare early while you still have motivation makes sure that you will not have to worry about it for a while. It’s also great to just have that feeling of clear skin as you go about your day. My skin has drastically improved using this cleanser. It is light and airy on my skin, and I use it every morning and night.

4. Yoga/exercise

Your body has been laying down for a while now, and exercising will get your body moving and help wake you up. Do some light meditation to get focused and energized so you are ready for the day. Also getting outside and going for a run gets you some early morning sunshine and gets your body moving.

5. Meditation

Many great people including billionaires and celebrities meditate in the morning. It is a great way to focus your mind, get your body and soul ready for the day, and is a breeding ground for great ideas and motivation. Just sit down for a minimum of three minutes in the morning, and focus on your breathing. See where your mind takes you.

6. Eat breakfast

Get your body nutrients and protein and everything it needs right in the morning. Have you ever thought about the word breakfast? Break, fast. You are breaking the fast. That fast is your sleep. That is why when you “break the fast” you should be eating healthy nutrient full food that will keep you sparkling throughout the day.

7. Drink another glass of water

Yes. I mean it. For all the reasons you should drink the first glass of water, drink another. Your body will still be dehydrated even after one glass. Drink more water. I like to drink one when I get up, and one with breakfast.

8. Write your To-DO list

Maybe you already wrote your To-Do list the night before, but if not then look around your desk, and write out your To-Do list. Sit for a minute and try to think of everything you might need to do. Write it all down, and only put on your To-Do list what is top priority and important. I would suggest not having more than five items on your To-Do list unless you have broken up a bigger task, such as a blog post.

9. Plan out your day and look at your schedule

This is similar to making your To-Do list but different. Take a look at your schedule. I suggest using google calendar to plan your day. Look at your meeting times, and lunch with friend times, and any prior commitments. Compare your To-Do list to your schedule and plan out time blocks for each of your tasks. If you enjoy this planning, then definitely check out this journal. Tell me how you plan your day, or what is holding you back in the comments below.

The Easiest Way to Self Care With No Effort

How to be Productive While Stressed

Learn to say no

Say no to negative thoughts. The longer you allow them to rot into your brain, the harder it will be t get rid of them. Even if you are reading this post a relatively short time after the negative thoughts have entered your brain, it is nearly impossible to get rid of your bad habits. You have to replace your bad habits with better habits. You also have to say no to everything that makes you sad, angry, or depressed. This may seem like an obvious, but really think about it. Are there any friends, hobbies, activities that just aren’t making you happy? If there are, you have the right to say no to them. Don’t let any fears, failure, disappointment, keep you from letting go of what is keeping your thoughts negative.

Find the good, it is always there

Just like bad things seem to always be there, good things are too. Our brains are wired to look out for threats in our world, so we tend to only see the negatives. It is completely possible to train your brain to see the positives in our world, and that is the purpose of the next three points. Over time as you learn to automatically see and find the good in your world, you will be a more positive person, and those bad thoughts that are responding to your environment will leave.

Assume the best

Did you know that our brains are hardwired to fill in the gaps of what we know about someone with assumptions based on our experiences? Thats a lot. Basically, if you have spent your entire life hanging out with cheaters and backstabbers, if you don’t know that much about someone you are going to assume that they are a cheater and a backstabber. This is a habit that you have to break because one, we live in a world where not everyone is a cheater and two, this is a great way to ruin relationships. Trust me I know. Think about someone and truly try to get to know them before you make assumptions. Or make good assumptions! You will start to see the positives in everyone, which will make you a more positive person.

Gratitude

Being grateful trains your brain to be more happy and positive, as talked about in Shawn Achor’s Ted Talk, The Happy Secret to Better Work. Shawn talks about how if you just write three things you are grateful for for twenty one days, you will begin to notice the good in the world instead of the bad. I highly suggest this gratitude journal, because it will help you develop a mindset of gratitude, and help you stay positive.

Affirmations

What is an affirmation? The dictionary term of an affirmation is, “the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed.” The way we use affirmations basically means a statement that we repeat to reinforce a mindset or a belief. A simple affirmation could be “I am beautiful,” or “I love myself.” Using affirmations is a ver effective way to turn your mindset from negative to positive. Some affirmations are “I see good in the world and I embody that good.” “I am going to breathe out the negativity and breathe in the positivity.” Choose your affirmations, and say them everyday. You will notice a mindset change. Tell me what affirmations you like to use, and how they have changed your life?

Surround yourself with positivity

Do you ever joke about having “toxic friends,” or you feel you have them? This is causing a lot of negativity in your life. You might believe that you HAVE to keep them, or you just couldn’t let them go. You need to ask yourself if whatever reason they are still your friend is worth your positivity and glow. Along with getting rid of toxic people, try to make your life more positive. Fill your room with positive vibes, and fill your social media with the positive. Spread love and joy in the world. Tell me in the comments how you help the world?