Tag: Just BE Better

Effective Habit Development: One Step at a Time

Keeping habits is hard, and developing habits is harder. Right now, I am focusing on getting 100 oz of water. Some days are easy, and others are impossible. As I age, I am learning about new things that I can do to make myself healthier, wealthier, and happier. I have a few rules to help me adapt them smoothly. 

First, I only add one new habit at a time. Trying to change too much too soon is a recipe for disaster. I prioritize the changes I want to make and then add them to my list.

Second, what gets measured gets done. I have a checklist that I have developed over the years using a spreadsheet. I find that I am more successful when I have a To-Do list to track my actions toward my new habit. For instance, I am working on my flexibility. I have a protocol that I want to repeat twice daily. I use the checklist to track my progress toward developing a new habit.

Lastly, I practice patience with myself. I used to get frustrated trying to add new habits, and I could not figure out why I could not add them to my protocols with ease. Change is hard, and change takes time. Some say it takes 21 days, and others say 6o days. I have not found a timeline that works for me. Regardless, without patience, the new habit will never take root.

I wish you luck in developing your habits. Take it slow, measure your progress, and realize that you are human.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Strong, Stay Healthy.

Be Prepared: The Expert

When someone asks me a question about my area of concentration, I expect to be able to give them a great answer. I pride myself on being the expert on my topics. When I cannot provide a great answer, it is because I am unprepared. I strive to be the expert in the room on my topic, and I work on this daily.

Preparation is the key to success. The more you prepare, the more you develop your expertise. Keep working so that others can rely on you as their expert on your topic.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Strong, Stay Healthy

Anticipating and Preparing for Negative Conversations: A Key to Stay Calm and Focused

I hate negative conversations. When I am unprepared and in a negative conversation, I get emotional. I am neither rational nor productive when this happens, and the outcomes are always frustrating. However, instead of avoiding negative conversations, I work hard to anticipate and prepare for them.

Anticipating negative conversations takes time to learn. I do not want to waste my time thinking that every conversation will be negative. I use my past experience to predict which ones will be negative and prepare for them.

Preparing for a negative conversation allows you to stay calm(er) and more focused during the presentation. A negative conversation aims to correct things to force the future you want by realigning the present course of action with your vision. This cannot happen if you are unprepared and emotional.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Be Prepared

Memorial Day Appreciation: Remembering the Sacrifice

As many of us enjoy the last few moments of the opening weekend of summer, let us remember why many of us have off from work and school. Take the time to reflect on those who gave their lives as part of our military.

“All gave some, some gave all.”  ~ William Osterkamp

Enjoy this Memorial Day. To all veterans and active service members, thank you for your sacrifice.

#Just Be Better

#StayStrong, Stay Healthy

Front Loading

Significant tasks require great effort.

When I have a goal that I want to accomplish, I front-load the work.

Why?

1: Life Happens – Life events will always interfere with the best-laid plans

2: I want to get to the part of the journey where I make the journey to my destination a habit. – The journey is the most important part of the goal. It is what you will learn about your goal, your flexibility, and your resilience. Making the work to achieve the goal a habit will help you get closer to who you want to be, which is why you have goals.

Embrace this positive mentality this week, and let’s see how it transforms your journey towards your goals. I’m hopeful and optimistic about the positive changes it will bring.

Just Be Better

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy

  1. #FrontLoading
  2. #GoalSetting
  3. #ProductivityTips
  4. #HabitBuilding
  5. #LifeHappens
  6. #Resilience
  7. #JourneyToSuccess
  8. #PlanAndAchieve
  9. #StayFocused
  10. #PersonalGrowth

Be Prepared #2

What do you do, and how do you act during an emergency? Are you prepared to handle it? The more prepared you are, the calmer you will be. 

In an emergency,

  • Do you know what to do? 
  • Who to call?
  • Have you practiced? 
  • Have you planned? 

No matter the scenario, the more you prepare, the better you deal with the situation.

Case in point: Who would you call if there was an emergency at work? I am not just talking about first responders. I am talking about communicating with those in your work community who can help you. Do you have any first responders you work with? Anyone with medical training? Who can direct the first responders to the emergency? Who can take charge? Who can follow? Know who these people are so you do not have to figure it out when push comes to shove. 

Your mind must focus on one challenge if you want to maximize success. To better accomplish this, be prepared by thinking through the situations and formulating solutions.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Be Prepared

Be Prepared

Nothing is worse than saying no to an opportunity because you didn’t complete everything else that needs to be done. Procrastination will interfere with opportunities and take away your ability to grow. Front-load everything you can so that when “Life Happens” or “Opportunity Knocks,” you are ready to say yes.

#Just Be Better

# Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

Force the Future #6 – Compete

If you want to Force the Future, you must always compete—not just when things are good, not just when you are winning, not just when the weather is good, not just when you had a good night’s sleep. 

You must always compete.

Competing is the process. It is the journey. It is what allows you to force the future.

# Force the Future

# Just Be Better

# Stay Strong, Stay Healthy

  1. #ForceTheFuture
  2. #CompeteAlways
  3. #ContinuousImprovement
  4. #NeverSettle
  5. #Persistence
  6. #Resilience
  7. #GrowthMindset
  8. #ChallengeYourself
  9. #StayDetermined
  10. #SuccessMindset

Reaction

At the end of a wonderful weekend, the power went out suddenly around 8 p.m. The blackout was only the third time we had one in seven years. Unfortunately, all three occurred within the last calendar year. It was not what we wanted, and it threw a wrench into our plans to prepare for the new work and academic week. We could have easily chosen to play the victims and complained until our power was restored. We didn’t. This challenge was our time to shine. Instead of complaining about the situation we had no control over, we could take control, find backup lanterns, get a good book, and spend the evening reading or talking. It is amazing what can get done without 21st-century technology. However, this could only happen with having already developed good habits to rely on and the mindset that a challenge is an opportunity to get better (and having the right batteries for our lanterns).

What would you do in this situation? Either way, be prepared; implementing your answer will be much easier.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Strong, Stay Healthy

Force the Future #3

The best route to success is forged with your preparation. Preparing has significantly influenced my accomplishments, and not preparing is one of the biggest reasons for my failures. I believe in “Force the Future” because it encourages us to prepare for the future we want by working today to develop the habits we need to be successful. No matter what you desire for your future, the better your preparation, the better your chances for success. If you want it in the de, force it by preparing for it today.

#Just Be Better

# Stay Strong, Stay Healthy