successful woman in healthy work environment

Lifestyle

Lifestyle Archives

Elevate your lifestyle for success and happiness

<p>Professional success is a culmination of many key factors. Your education matters—maybe not as much as you think, but a degree in your field can really jump-start your progress. Experience certainly matters, but that can only come to you after years of dedication. Talent matters, too, but aside from skills (which develop from experience) much of your talent is an innate tendency to perform better in certain areas. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-ways-to-expand-your-network-today/">Your network of contacts</a> matters, but you can’t always control who you interact with. And ultimately, at least some of your career success is going to come down to a factor of luck.</p>



<h2>5 Things That Are Keys to Your Success</h2>



<p>Looking at these things, it seems like there is little you can control. But none of these things will matter if you neglect the most important things you need to create for<em> </em>yourself. Here are five keys to success that will help boost your career:</p>



<h3 id="h-1-adopt-a-positive-attitude">1. Adopt a positive attitude.</h3>



<p>The whole “positive attitude” angle might seem like a gimmick. After all, can you think of anybody successful who got to where they are solely because they thought positively? Of course not. But look at almost any successful entrepreneur or professional’s journey and you’ll find at least one major obstacle that nearly disrupted everything. In the face of that obstacle, they remained positive, which motivated action rather than submission. Eventually, having a positive attitude was a key to their success. </p>



<p>Positive thinking is about more than helping you through the tough times. Research shows that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-be-your-own-cheerleader/">positive self-talk</a>, rather than <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8295361/#:~:text=Self%2Dtalk%20with%20positive%20contents,with%20emotional%20ill%2Dbeing10." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative self-talk</a>, can actively <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6628429/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduce your stress levels</a>, boost your physical and mental health and improve your <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7429435/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">capacity to perform</a> to your maximum potential. The best part is that neither positivity or negativity are predetermined. Your thoughts and self-talk can be controlled with practice, meaning a positive attitude is something you can, and should, create for yourself.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-audit-your-habits">2. Audit your habits.</h3>



<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-habits/">Our habits make us who we are</a>. Over time, our repeated actions become automatic, and once we’re in that groove it’s nearly impossible to break the chain. With bad habits, like sleeping through your first alarm or working through your breaks, this unbroken chain can come to destroy you. But with positive habits, like regularly reading or fact checking all of your work, this unbroken chain can lead you to success.</p>



<p>Though many habits form unconsciously, it is possible to purposefully create habits that will make you successful. The key to successfully forming good habits is consistency. If you want to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-make-your-new-positive-habits-stick/">make your new habit stick</a>, you must force yourself to engage in the behavior on a regular basis without allowing yourself to slip, at least for the first few weeks. After a few rounds of consistent effort, it will become easier and more automatic. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-change-your-habits/">Breaking bad habits</a> can be tougher, but it’s entirely within your power.</p>



<h3 id="h-3-set-smart-goals-for-yourself">3. Set SMART goals for yourself.</h3>



<p>While your job may have company goals that dictate your actions, your professional goals are entirely within your control. But be careful—create goals that are too lofty, and you’ll never be able to make significant progress. Create goals that are too easy, and you’ll never reach your true potential.</p>



<p>A reliable formula <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals/">for creating good goals</a> is the SMART criteria—an acronym that describes the five key qualities that all goals must have: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-specific. In addition, a key to success with goals is creating them on multiple scales. For example, you should have broad, flexible, long-term goals detailing your plans for your long-term success. You should also have smaller, more immediate, actionable goals that can lead you to those broader visions. In addition, you should have medium-sized goals in between the two to act as milestones.</p>



<h3 id="h-4-create-tactical-plans-it-s-key-to-success-with-goals">4. Create tactical plans—it's key to success with goals.</h3>



<p>Goals are good for helping you to hone your desires and set the tone for your career. Though, without a solid plan of execution, those desires are only pipe dreams. As an extension of your goals, you must create tactical plans that detail <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-steps-to-manifest-your-goals-in-life-yes-it-really-does-work/">how you’re going to achieve</a> those goals. That might include a list of tasks you must accomplish before reaching the goal, a series of strategies you’re going to use while pursuing the goal, or a list of prerequisites you’ll need to have before moving on to the next phase of your plan. If you’re having trouble coming up with an initial plan, you may need to do additional research before moving forward.</p>



<h3 id="h-5-find-a-healthy-work-environment">5. Find a healthy work environment.</h3>



<p>As humans, we are often products of our environments, and in the professional world, this is no different. If your desk is messy, your mind may be more frantic and cluttered. If you work in an area full of distractions, you’ll never be able to focus. But perhaps more importantly, if you’re surrounded with negative, apathetic or downright lazy people, you’ll never be able to motivate yourself to achieve your goals. If you’re working in a place that doesn’t acknowledge hard work, you’ll never be able to progress.</p>



<p>Create your own environment to maximize your chances for success, whether that means working within the confines of your current organization or moving on to a better opportunity. Surround yourself with the types of people who will lead you to success, and structure your work environment so you can be your most productive.</p>



<p>Once you adopt these keys to success for yourself consistently and with dedication, you will find yourself naturally gravitating toward a path of success. With a strong vision in your mind and the right attitude and environment to carry you through the obstacles that lie ahead, there should be nothing stopping you from achieving your goals.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in June 2015 and has been updated. Photo by</em> <em>GaudiLab/Shutterstock</em></p>

Education and experience may be necessary to move your career forward, but these keys to success will help you achieve goals.

Education and experience may be necessary to move your career forward, but these keys to success will help you achieve goals. | SUCCESS

Education & Experience Don’t Guarantee Success—Attitude & Habits Do

Education &#038; Experience Don’t Guarantee Success—Attitude &#038; Habits Do

Comment

5 Keys to Success That Will Help Boost Your Career | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/keys-to-success-at-work.jpg

Home

SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/success_opengraph_image.png

Larry Alton is a professional blogger, writer and researcher who contributes to a number of reputable online media outlets and news sources, including Entrepreneur.com, HuffingtonPost.com and Business.com, among others. In addition to journalism, technical writing and in-depth research, he’s also active in his community and spends weekends volunteering with a local nonprofit literacy organization and rock climbing. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1579e9970d032c4d24ad0461506e07207cf45af9f468732049b6a5bbaf59af14?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Larry Alton

Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<p>The “power of positive thinking” is a popular concept, and sometimes it can feel a little cliché. But the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950?pg=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">physical and mental benefits of positive thinking</a> have been demonstrated by multiple scientific studies. A positive mindset can give you more confidence, improve your mood, and even reduce the likelihood of developing conditions such as hypertension, depression and other <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/11-strategies-for-managing-stress">stress-related</a> disorders.</p>
<p>All this sounds great, but what does the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-power-of-positive-thinking/">“power of positive thinking”</a> <em>really</em> mean?</p>
<p>You can define positive thinking as positive imagery, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/positive-self-talk/">positive self-talk</a> or general optimism, but these are all still general, ambiguous concepts. If you want to be effective in thinking and being more positive, you’ll need concrete examples to help you through the process.</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="rteindent1"><strong><em>Related: </em><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-clever-tricks-to-trigger-positive-emotions">10 Clever Tricks to Trigger Positive Emotions</a></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here are seven:</p>
<h2>1. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/15-positive-affirmations-for-an-awesome-day/">Start the day with a positive affirmation.</a></h2>
<p>How you start the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Have you ever woken up late, panicked, and then felt like nothing good happened the rest of the day? This is likely because you started out the day with a negative emotion and a pessimistic view that carried into every other event you experienced. Instead of letting this dominate you, start your day with positive affirmations. Talk to yourself in the mirror, even if you feel silly, with statements like, “Today will be a good day” or “I’m going to be awesome today.” You’ll be amazed how much your day improves.</p>
<h2>2. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mindful-mindset/">Focus on the good things, however small.</a></h2>
<p>Almost invariably, you’re going to encounter obstacles throughout the day—there’s no such thing as a perfect day. When you encounter such a challenge, focus on the benefits, no matter how slight or unimportant they seem. For example, if you get stuck in traffic, think about how you now have time to listen to the rest of your favorite podcast. If the store is out of the food you want to prepare, think about the thrill of trying something new.</p>
<h2>3. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/use-your-humor-being-to-be-a-better-human-being/">Find humor in bad situations.</a></h2>
<p>Allow yourself to experience humor in even the darkest or most trying situations. Remind yourself that this situation will probably make for a good story later and try to crack a joke about it. Say you’re laid off; imagine the most absurd way you could spend your last day, or the most ridiculous job you could pursue next—like kangaroo handler or bubblegum sculptor.</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="rteindent1"><strong><em>Related:</em> <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-ways-to-stay-positive-when-youre-having-a-bad-day">5 Ways to Stay Positive When You’re Having a Bad Day</a></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-36130 aligncenter" title="7 Practical Tips to Achieve a Positive Mindset 2" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/7-Practical-Tips-to-Achieve-a-Positive-Mindset_2.jpg" alt="7 Practical Tips to Achieve a Positive Mindset" width="1100" height="733" /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by i love simple beyond from Pexels</span></p>
<h2>4. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-failure-is-good-for-success/">Turn failures into lessons.</a></h2>
<p>You aren’t perfect. You’re going to make mistakes and experience failure in multiple contexts, at multiple jobs and with multiple people. Instead of focusing on how you failed, think about what you’re going to do next time—turn your failure into a lesson. Conceptualize this in concrete rules. For example, you could come up with three new rules for managing projects as a result.</p>
<h2>5. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/your-4-step-plan-to-transform-negative-self-talk-into-self-kindness/">Transform negative self-talk into positive self-talk.</a></h2>
<p>Negative self-talk can creep up easily and is often hard to notice. You might think <em>I’m so bad at this</em> or <em>I shouldn’t have tried that</em>. But these thoughts turn into internalized feelings and might cement your conceptions of yourself. When you catch yourself doing this, stop and replace those negative messages with positive ones. For example,<em> I’m so bad at this</em> becomes <em>Once I get more practice, I’ll be way better at this</em>. <em>I shouldn’t have tried</em> becomes <em>That didn’t work out as planned—maybe next time</em>.</p>
<h2>6. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mindset-and-the-happiness-factor/">Focus on the present.</a></h2>
<p>I’m talking about the <em>present</em>—not today, not this hour, only this exact moment. You might be getting chewed out by your boss, but what in <em>this exact moment</em> is happening that’s so bad? Forget the comment he made five minutes ago. Forget what he might say five minutes from now. Focus on this one, individual moment. In most situations, you’ll find it’s not as bad as you imagine it to be. Most sources of negativity stem from a memory of a recent event or the exaggerated imagination of a potential future event. Stay in the present moment.</p>
<h2>7. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/why-you-need-positive-people-in-your-life">Find positive friends, mentors and co-workers.</a></h2>
<p>When you surround yourself with positive people, you’ll hear positive outlooks, positive stories and positive affirmations. Their positive words will sink in and affect your own line of thinking, which then affects your words and similarly contributes to the group. Finding positive people to fill up your life can be difficult, but you need to eliminate the negativity in your life before it consumes you. Do what you can to improve the positivity of others, and let their positivity affect you the same way.</p>
<p>Almost anybody in any situation can apply these lessons to their own lives and increase their positive attitude. As you might imagine, positive thinking offers compounding returns, so the more often you practice it, the greater benefits you’ll realize.</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="rteindent1"><em><strong>Related:</strong></em> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/what-happy-successful-optimistic-people-know-about-life">What Happy, Successful, Optimistic People Know About Life</a></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Editor’s note: This post was originally published in June 2016 and has been updated for freshness.</em></p>
<p> </p>


<p style="font-size:12px"><em>Photo by meganmeza/Twenty20</em></p>

A positive mindset can give you more confidence, improve your mood and even reduce the likelihood of developing stress-related conditions.

The more often you practice positivity, the greater benefits you’ll recieve.

7 Practical Tips to Achieve a Positive Mindset

7 Practical Tips to Achieve a Positive Mindset | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/7-Practical-Tips-to-Achieve-a-Positive-Mindset.jpg

Positive thinking can give you more confidence, improve your mood and even reduce the likelihood of developing stress-related conditions. | SUCCESS

<p>Did you know startups fail about four times as often as they succeed? Do you know why it’s so hard to get <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-tips-for-running-a-successful-business">a successful business</a> off the ground? It’s attributable to a number of factors, one of which could be the way the founders are spending their spare time.</p>



<p>The productivity you can generate in your free time often carries over into the success of your professional endeavors, and you can bet that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-qualities-of-wildly-successful-people">successful people</a> use their free time for much more than relaxing on the couch or binging on Netflix.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><em><strong>Related:  <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/3-things-successful-people-do-on-the-daily">3 Things Successful People Do on the Daily</a></strong></em></p></blockquote>



<p>If you’re struggling to find success as an entrepreneur, you might want to take a closer look at how you spend your time away from the office. Consider replacing some of your less productive habits with ones with better benefits:</p>



<h2 id="h-1-exercise">1. Exercise</h2>



<p>Working out is good for both the body and the mind. According to various studies, people who exercise 30 minutes a day, five times a week, enjoy better overall <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/how-dr-daniel-amen-repairs-the-brain-with-healthy-living">brain health</a>, including uplift in mood, reduced stress, increased creativity and clearer thinking. Exercise is the best thing you can do to stay alert and alive while you run your business.</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/why-exercise-makes-us-happy">Here's why exercising shapes a happier you.</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-2-hobbies">2. Hobbies </h2>



<p>Have you ever noticed that some of the most successful people you know also lead rather interesting lifestyles outside of work? That comes largely from the personal pastimes they choose to enjoy. Hobbies are a good outlet for stress and an excellent source of creativity.</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-find-time-for-your-passion">Here's how to find time for your passions.</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-3-learning">3. Learning</h2>



<p>Success often means fostering <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/22-ways-to-become-a-relentless-learner">a love of learning</a>. If you want to inspire a love of learning inside yourself, learn something new. Some people like to learn languages; others like to keep up with the latest technological investments. Most learn something that will be useful to them in their careers, such as IT basics. A strong atmosphere of learning new things can help increase personal and business productivity by 37 percent.</p>



<p>With online tutorials, web-based informational courses and apps that offer assistance with just a few taps, you don’t have an excuse not to learn something new.</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/3-techniques-to-never-stop-learning">Use these three tips to never stop learning.</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-4-mindfulness">4. Mindfulness</h2>



<p>There’s a reason yoga has become one of the most popular health practices today: Mindfulness can help you relax, improve productivity, facilitate creativity and maintain your general overall well-being.</p>



<p>It’s important to note that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-5-simple-ways-to-practice-mindfulness">practicing mindfulness</a> does not necessarily mean doing yoga or even meditating, though both of those practices will do the job. It could simply mean sitting in stillness for 20 minutes twice a day, or leaning back in your chair, staring up at the ceiling and forgetting the world for 10 minutes.</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-make-mindfulness-part-of-your-daily-routine">Here's how to make mindfulness the center of your day.</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-5-service">5. Service</h2>



<p>If you’re losing sight of perspective and what matters to you most, take an opportunity to serve the less fortunate. Giving back to your community helps you to think about things besides work, which may enable you to evaluate how to improve your business. It’s the best way to put your life into perspective and reduce the stress that comes from constantly focusing on your own problems.</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/true-success-begins-the-second-you-start-giving-back">Here's how giving back can make you successful.</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-6-reading">6. Reading</h2>



<p>The best way to stay up to date with the activities of prosperous individuals is to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-read-all-the-books-to-rise-above-the-ordinary">read</a>. Whether you’re keeping up on the latest news, studying a business-oriented <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/13-must-read-books-on-success-and-being-successful">self-help book</a> or reading the biography of a successful person you admire, reading can help boost your creativity, improve your thought processes at work and enable you to de-stress after a long day.</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/25-books-for-success">Build your personal collection with this&nbsp;book&nbsp;list.</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-7-family">7. Family </h2>



<p>Take a break every now and then to devote your entire attention to those you love most. For just a few hours a week, stop thinking about the things that happen at work and enjoy what’s going on at home. Healthy, happy and profitable people understand that taking a break with their loved ones keeps them sane as they climb the ladder of success.</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/4-rules-of-a-healthy-work-life-balance">Find your balance with these four tips.</a></li></ul>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><em><strong>Related:</strong> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/to-be-successful-focus-on-your-personal-growth">To Be Successful, Focus on Your Personal Growth</a></strong></em></p></blockquote>



<p style="font-size:12px"><em>Editor’s note: This post was originally published in July 2015 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness. </em><br><em>Photo by&nbsp;Chawki/Twenty20</em></p>

Replace your less productive habits with more beneficial ones to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Replace your less productive habits with more beneficial ones to succeed as an entrepreneur. | SUCCESS

Want to Be Successful? Do These 7 Things in Your Spare Time

Want to Be Successful? Do These 7 Things in Your Spare Time | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Want-to-Be-Successful-Do-These-7-Things-in-Your-Spare-Time.jpg

<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-secrets-of-insanely-successful-people">Everyone wants to be successful.</a> Most want to be wealthy. So why don’t we ever end up getting there? Although most of us face detours to our big dreams, it’s typically not external factors keeping us from achieving our dreams. It’s internal barriers that stop us.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><em><strong>Related:</strong></em> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-5-reasons-why-dreams-dont-take-flight">5 Reasons Why Dreams Don’t Take Flight</a></strong></p></blockquote>



<p>If you want to build wealth and be successful, you first need to have the right mentalities.</p>



<h2 id="h-1-goals-are-golden">1. Goals are golden. </h2>



<p>It’s no secret there’s a positive correlation between <a href="https://smallbusiness.chron.com/set-goals-productivity-workplace-23191.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">setting goals and overall productivity</a>—professionals who have a measurable goal to work for are far more productive than those who are just “winging it.” But being goal-oriented and treating goals as “golden” is about more than just setting them in the first place. You have to treat them as a major priority, making heavy sacrifices to achieve them and breaking them down into smaller chunks when necessary. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals">Creating your goals</a> is just the first step of the process—you also need to have the follow-through to make them count.</p>



<h2 id="h-2-the-future-is-more-important-than-the-present">2. The future is more important than the present. </h2>



<p>This concept, from a subjective standpoint, is debatable. You could easily argue that living “in the moment” is more important than worrying about the future, but <a href="https://chalcedon.edu/research/articles/future-orientation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">people who are future-oriented</a>, that is to say, people who make decisions based on future payoffs, are far more likely to be successful. Future-oriented people aren’t afraid to make short-term sacrifices if it means a long-term gain, and they aren’t tempted to engage in momentary pleasures that would rob them of some future payoff. Their future selves are the main priority.</p>



<h2 id="h-3-failure-isn-t-a-bad-thing">3. Failure isn’t a bad thing. </h2>



<p>The <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/why-you-need-to-stop-worrying-about-failing">fear of failure</a> permeates our society and it leads millions to live their lives in complacency. For example, you’re working in a job you hate with a pay and advancement ceiling. You have the option to quit and start your own business, but you’re so afraid of failing that you never give it a real shot. Failure is always a possibility and as a society we need to stop decrying it. Successful people see failure as a necessary step of the process and a valuable learning opportunity. Moreover, few plans are executed smoothly—how you handle them when they go wrong is more important than when they go right.</p>



<h2 id="h-4-opportunities-exist-everywhere">4. Opportunities exist everywhere.</h2>



<p>Opportunities arise when you least expect them. They may take the form of hidden strengths in an idea you were about to toss, or a potential partnership with a stranger you met in a coffee shop. When you adopt the mindset that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-how-do-you-attract-opportunity-into-your-life">opportunities truly exist everywhere</a>, in every moment of every day, you’ll be on the lookout for them. By that virtue alone, you’ll discover more opportunities for yourself, and you’ll end up earning far more value in your life.</p>



<h2 id="h-5-calculated-risks-are-important">5. Calculated risks are important. </h2>



<p>Risks are scary, but without them, there’s substantially less room to grow. Studies suggest that the wealthiest, most successful professionals of our time are ones who <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/seven-reasons-why-risk-taking-leads-to-success_n_3749425.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">weren’t afraid to take a calculated risk</a>—they went against the grain, gambled on an idea they thought was worth the investment and weren’t afraid to stake possible sacrifices. If you aren’t taking any risks, you aren’t making the move toward possible rewards, and, of course, without the rewards, you’ll never get anywhere.</p>



<h2 id="h-6-consistency-is-good-until-it-becomes-prohibitive">6. Consistency is good, until it becomes prohibitive. </h2>



<p>This is a complicated mental state to try and achieve, but it’s an important one. For the most part, consistency is incredibly important. For example, if one of your goals is to accrue wealth through investments, you have to invest a certain amount of money every month or you’ll lose momentum. However, there’s a point at which consistency does more harm than good—when it starts to lead you down the wrong path, such as when you’ve developed a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/7-steps-to-break-your-bad-habits">bad habit</a> or an unproductive routine. It’s hard to spot when these “bad” kinds of consistency crop up, but you’ll need to closely watch for them.</p>



<h2 id="h-7-nothing-is-ever-perfect">7. Nothing is ever perfect. </h2>



<p>Accepting the reality that nothing is perfect helps you in countless areas. You won’t be as worried about taking risks. You won’t be as hesitant about <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-whatever-the-project-is-start-today">starting a new project</a>. You won’t be as deterred when something goes wrong, or when you overlooked a major flaw. You won’t find yourself perpetually waiting for the “perfect” time to launch a product, and you won’t abandon your goals just because you didn’t achieve them in the way you first expected.</p>



<p>It’s not easy to achieve these mentalities. Don’t expect to adopt them instantaneously. You’ll most likely have a hard time accepting some of them, especially if they conflict with your inherent and learned views of the world. But if you can slowly integrate them into your ongoing mental state and accept their maxims as truth, you’ll <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-ways-to-make-sure-you-dont-regret-your-next-decision">start making better decisions</a> and forming habits that will one day lead you to the success you’ve always dreamed of. Remain patient and never stop moving forward.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><em><strong>Related:</strong></em> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-learnable-mindsets-of-highly-successful-people">5 Learnable Mindsets of Highly Successful People</a></strong></p></blockquote>



<p></p>

There are no substitutes if you want to accomplish your lofty goals.

There are no substitutes if you want to accomplish your lofty goals. | SUCCESS

7 Wealthy Mentalities of Successful People

7 Wealthy Mentalities of Successful People | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/deep-in-thought_t20_EOYpZQ-scaled.jpg

You can accomplish anything with hard work, they say. You can make your business a success, earn a promotion, master virtually <em>any</em> skill… if you just <em>work hard</em>.

Except working your butt off is <em>not</em> always enough. Need proof? You can’t inflate a flat car tire by blowing into it as hard as you can, the same way you can’t effectively mow a lawn with a pair of household scissors. No, you need the right tools, the right strategies, for the right tasks. You need to work <em>smarter</em>, not harder.

How though? By finding shortcuts.

Here are seven tips to help you work more efficiently and more productively without expending any additional effort—aka here’s how to work smarter, not harder:
<h2><strong>1. Walk away. </strong></h2>
Walking away from a complex task might seem counterintuitive, but breaks can actually make you more productive. Removing yourself from the work environment immediately reduces stress and gives your brain a chance to “catch up.” If you’re working on a hard problem, your subconscious mind will continue working on it even if your conscious mind is trying to relax—which is why sometimes, solutions magically pop into your mind when you aren’t thinking about the problem. Either way, you’ll come back refreshed and in a healthier, more focused mental state for work.
<div>
<h2><strong>2. Recognize and eliminate distractions</strong></h2>
This should be obvious, but <a title="5 ‘Do Not Disturb’ Tips for Avoiding Tech Distractions | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-do-not-disturb-tips-for-avoiding-tech-distractions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the most dangerous distractions</a> are the ones you don’t even realize are distracting. Maybe you’re working on a new marketing plan with a couple tabs of research open, and a third tab that’s, conveniently, open to Facebook. You get a new notification, so you click out of your Word doc to check it real quick. You spend 20 seconds looking at the post you were just tagged in (or the event you were just invited to or the “like” your status just got) before you minimize it again. Twenty seconds isn’t a long time, but it breaks your focus and forces you to restart your last train of thought, possibly costing you a few minutes or more. Compound that happening several times an hour, and you’ve instantly reduced your overall productivity.
<h2><strong>3. Ignore low-priority items. </strong></h2>
Low-priority items sneak up on you, artificially increasing the length of your to-do list and distracting you from more important work. Say you’re working on a big project when a co-worker emails you about a quick change you need to make on your company’s website. Logging on and making the change won’t take much time, but it <em>will </em>distract you from the project and stress you out if you have to postpone it until later. The best way to fight against these low-priority items is to ignore them altogether. Go into “do not disturb” mode by working offline if you can and don’t write them down on <a title="8 Ways to Effectively Prioritize the Things on Your To-Do List | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/8-ways-to-effectively-prioritize-the-things-on-your-to-do-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">your to-do list</a>—they aren’t worth your immediate concern, so you’ll get to them when you get to them. (Just don’t do the same for high-priority tasks.)
<h2><strong>4. Create routine habits. </strong></h2>
Habits happen naturally after they’re formed—they become a ritual, something you can slip into automatically, something you don’t even have to think about. For example, if you have to update an editorial calendar every day, make it an unconscious habit, sparing you the necessity of remembering it in a desperate scramble. <em>Forming</em> habits is the hard part—a good rule of thumb is to force yourself to commit the action every day, with no breaks from the routine, until it comes naturally (some people say it takes 30 days, but the evidence is iffy and subjective).
<h2><strong>5. Work in chunks. </strong></h2>
Instead of sitting down to complete an entire project, sit down to accomplish one goal element or work for a certain number of hours. Forcing yourself to complete the entirety of a project or complex task will stress you out and make you less productive. Instead, allow yourself to <a title="Want to Get More Done? Know the No. 1 Productivity Tip | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/want-to-get-more-done-know-the-no-1-productivity-tip" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">work in shorter “bursts”</a> to keep your mind fresh and reduce your anxiety. That way, you can work to the very best of your ability.
<h2><strong>6. “Multitask” (not in the traditional sense).</strong></h2>
No matter how busy you are, there are always “negative spaces” in your day—and these gaps are when you should “multitask.” Try to fill the empty spaces with productive work: On your lunch break, watch a tutorial video or catch up on your emails. On your drive into work, listen to audiobooks or podcasts. During your workouts, catch up on some voicemails or watch a <a title="The most popular talks of all time | TED.com" href="https://www.ted.com/playlists/171/the_most_popular_talks_of_all?gclid=Cj0KEQiAsNyxBRDBuKrMhsbt3vwBEiQAdRgPsno7lEtTs5TubizDeY1Ur0Db61FU24NMFrS844cfmoIaAq8r8P8HAQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TED Talk</a>. The more you learn and work in these negative spaces, the more you’ll get done overall.
<h2><strong>7. Work around your strengths and weaknesses. </strong></h2>
You know yourself better than anybody. You have strengths and weaknesses inherent to your being, and they’re going to affect how you work. Navigate around these by taking on more tasks that you’re good at and staying away from ones that slow you down; don’t try to do them all yourself. Delegate or work together with others to shoulder the burden of your weakest tasks or skills, and spend more time doing what you do best.

<a title="8 Ways to Balance Your Workload for Max Productivity | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/8-ways-to-balance-your-workload-for-max-productivity" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Good time management means that you maximize the daily return on the energy and mental effort you expend. Learn 8 ways to balance your workload and make the most of your time on the clock.</strong></a>

</div>
<style type="text/css">.form-style-8{ /*font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', arial, sans;*/ width: 100%; padding: 30px; background: #FFFFFF; /*margin: 50px auto;*/ box-shadow: 0px 0px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.22); -moz-box-shadow: 0px 0px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.22); -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.22); } .form-style-8 h2{ background: #4D4D4D; text-transform: uppercase; /*font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', sans-serif;*/ color: #ffffff; font-size: 26px; font-weight: 100; padding: 20px; text-align:center; margin: -30px -30px 30px -30px; } .form-style-8 input[type="text"], .form-style-8 input[type="date"], .form-style-8 input[type="datetime"], .form-style-8 input[type="email"], .form-style-8 input[type="number"], .form-style-8 input[type="search"], .form-style-8 input[type="time"], .form-style-8 input[type="url"], .form-style-8 input[type="password"], .form-style-8 textarea, .form-style-8 select { box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; display: block; width: 100%; padding: 7px; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; background: transparent; margin-bottom: 10px; font: 16px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 45px; } .form-style-8 textarea{ resize:none; overflow: hidden; } .form-style-8 input[type="button"], .form-style-8 input[type="submit"]{ -moz-box-shadow: inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #45D6D6; -webkit-box-shadow: inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #45D6D6; box-shadow: inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #45D6D6; background-color: #2CBBBB; border: 1px solid #27A0A0; display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; color: #FFFFFF; /*font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', sans-serif;*/ font-size: 16px; padding: 8px 18px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase; float:right; margin-top:20px; } .form-style-8 input[type="button"]:hover, .form-style-8 input[type="submit"]:hover { background:linear-gradient(to bottom, #34CACA 5%, #30C9C9 100%); background-color:#34CACA; }<br />
</style>

They say you can do anything if you just work hard. Well, they’re wrong.

They say you can do anything if you just work hard. Well, they’re wrong. | SUCCESS

7 Shortcuts to Work Smarter, Not Harder

7 Shortcuts to Work Smarter, Not Harder | SUCCESS