motivation

Four simple ways to reduce distraction and increase productivity

Four simple ways to reduce distraction and increase productivity

On a scale of 1-5, how well do you get (and stay) focused at work?

To what degree do you find it difficult to stay mentally focused on any one task for extended periods of time?  When was the last time you can point to that you were able to “get in the zone” and be truly productive for an extended period of time?  You know.  Those moments when you look up at the clock after working on a project for a while and say to yourself, “Wow!  I can’t believe it.  Two hours have gone by and feels like five minutes.”

As I began my morning scripture reading, affirmations, and reflection the other day, I realized how challenged I am.  I literally had to reread one particular passage 5-7 times before I could truly focus on the message.  I’ll bet you can relate.

Thoughts of what I needed to do, appointments I anticipated, and responsibilities I needed to take care of kept me bombarding my mind.  It felt like I was experiencing the phenomena that author John Ortberg describes as “the monkeys are jumping around in the trees”.  Ha!  You know what I’m saying?  And that was BEFORE I started my workday.

It’s no secret that we are growing increasingly distracted with the rise of social media, the always-on mentality of email and cell phone communication, and the hurried paces of our lives. 

But do we stop to consider the actual cost of distraction and how to protect ourselves against it?  

How to motivate an unmotivated person

How to motivate an unmotivated person

Is there someone in your workplace who isn’t pulling their weight?

Or how about at home? 

Do you know a couch surfer – or someone who’d rather operate the remote than the dishwasher?  

Let’s face it – we’ve all known an unmotivated person at one time or another – and if we’re honest, we’ve all probably felt unmotivated at one point in our life. 

So whether you are feeling unmotivated at this moment – or are looking to motivate someone who seems unmotivated, the question becomes – how do you motivate an unmotivated person?   

How to find motivation, when you're feeling unmotivated. 🚶

How to find motivation, when you're feeling unmotivated. 🚶

What happens when you need to be motivated but can't find the power to get up and get going? 

 

What happens when it's just a struggle to find the want to be motivated? 

 

Some of us find this especially true when it comes to personal growth. 

 

We all have seasons where we are more or less motivated to take the action we need to take. 

What if I told you that YOU can do the impossible?

What if I told you that YOU can do the impossible?

What if you were just a few steps away from doing the impossible?


Sure, it may not feel like it from where you're at right now, but imagine with me...


No matter how average, boring, and predictable life may feel, you may be just a few steps away from doing the impossible.


And, doing the impossible begins with seizing the moment right before you.

4 Questions to Help You Conquer Fear

4 Questions to Help You Conquer Fear

Do you struggle with fear?


When decisions need to be made -- or when an opportunity comes, does fear become a primary influence?


As a person who has struggled with fear for most of my life, I can tell you that fear can be a crippler of dreams, a limiter of potential, and a robber of opportunities.

If you don't like where you're going, change!

If you don't like where you're going, change!

Have you ever felt stuck?


According to vocabulary.com, the word “stuck” describes something frozen or fixed in one place and can't be moved.


"Stuck" is that feeling you get when you're unable to gain traction. It's a paralysis of progress -- and many of us experience it from time to time. And this feeling keeps us from developing into our full potential, robs us of opportunities, and steals our joy.


I've said it before -- and I'll repeat it—stuck stinks.

Are you frustrated and about to quit? 😤

Are you frustrated and about to quit? 😤

Are you discouraged when small, incremental changes don’t lead to big dividends?

Is it frustrating to have your desired future (job, marital status, education, goals, etc.) a long way away in the distance?

Is it worth it to keep exercising and eating right when the pounds don’t seem to be coming off?

Powerful strategies to actually get out of bed at 5AM (Part 2)

Powerful strategies to actually get out of bed at 5AM (Part 2)

Just last week I conducted a poll on Facebook and LinkedIn to find out what time people get up in the morning and got a huge response. I could tell I hit a nerve.

But how many of us make strategies around this subject? 


I’ve learned that if I really want to succeed at what’s most important in life, I have to develop strategies. 

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Today's big question: how will you find significance in each moment?

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Today's big question.

How many times have you heard someone say, “Wow! Where has the time gone?”  Maybe it was after a great evening with friends or when you watched your child graduate from high school or turned 50 (like me…)?


As November kicks off and I look back over another summer that has come and gone, I find myself asking this question once again.


Your time...whatever your perception of it is, whether dragging along (like my son in school right now) or flying by (like I feel at 51) is your life.  Your time IS your life.


Although we cannot control the speed at which life approaches, we CAN control our intentionality to be fully present in each moment.


I had a conversation with a very close friend this past week who longs to be able to have more time with her grandchildren.  She felt frustrated that her time with them never seemed enough.  I could tell that she was feeling a sense of lost opportunity and regret.  I told her, “The reality is you have very little control (because of your unique circumstances in life) over how much time you have with them, but you have total control over making the most of the moments you do have.  Just embrace those moments.  Let your heart be completely open.  Be fully present.  Make these moments as intentional as you can and be grateful for every interaction you have with them, even if they are brief.”

There is a life to be lived in each present moment.  

Tolstoy said it best in his short story called "Three Questions." He said, “Remember then: there is only one time that is important. Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.”  


If being present in each moment is of utmost importance -- how will you find significance in each moment today?