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Self Improvement

  • The 7 Principles for Successful Self-Improvement

    Life is full of challenges, many of which are beyond our control. But, when it comes to personal behaviour, and how we react to situations we have no excuses and this is where self-improvement and personal growth come into play.

    I know that Self-improvement is one of the most important of all human virtues. If there is something that should be undertaken by everyone it is “personal development.” Self-improvement is the “advancement of one’s knowledge, status, or character by one’s own efforts.”

    It takes one’s willingness and one’s own efforts to reach self-actualisation. No one can be successful or reach greater heights, without first improving themselves. That’s how important the subject of self-improvement is to our lives.

    If you keep doing the same things you will continue getting the same results. If you want to improve and grow, you must change what you do and do it differently, the choice is entirely yours.

    “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily agenda.”  – John C. Maxwell.

    Very true, if you want to change your life and start living a better life you need to change the way you do things. You need to make self-improvement and personal growth the primary focus for your life.

    Learning how to make self-improvement a priority and primary focus for your life, will help you move forward with confidence and strength toward your goals.

    It will ease the pressures of life. You will enjoy your life’s journey even more.

    In my many years of consciously practising self-improvement, I have summed up the many principles into 7 that have been very beneficial to me.

    Know Your Purpose

    The number one principle is knowing your purpose. What is your God-given purpose on earth? What is it that you were designed to give the world?

    Look, you like it or not, you have a purpose why you are on earth. It is, therefore, your responsibility to know and discover what your purpose is in life.

    Are you wandering through life with little or no direction, hoping that you’ll find happiness, health and prosperity? Find your life’s purpose and write down your mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your success every time.

    Knowing your purpose in life makes you live your life with integrity. It helps you make the right choices and decisions knowing that they will help you achieve your goals.

    When you know your purpose you will stick to your lane. Yes, you will be faced with challenges, but they will only serve to make you a better person.

    “There’s no greater gift than to honour your life’s calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.”  – Oprah Winfrey.

    Knowing your life’s purpose helps you find your true passion and this becomes an important factor for you to achieve something extraordinary.

    Whether it is a dream you have had from childhood or a newly found way of life, the passion will drive you to reach your goals.

    Your life’s purpose is the compass for your life. There is no wrong purpose if it’s what you were created for it is the right one. God created each one of us to contribute positively to the improvement of the world.

    Know Your Values

    What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development and learning.

    As you set your goals, check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn’t align with any of your top five values, you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

    Look we all have values. Values “are the principles that give our lives meaning and allow us to persevere through adversity.”

    We live our lives according to our values. The values you hold determines the quality of life you lead.

    Know Your Needs

    My number 3 principle is knowing your needs. What are your needs? Needs are the things that are necessary for making your life easy, without which life would be impossible for you.

    Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? Make sure you address these needs before anything else.

    There are so many people who live their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it’s too late!

    Knowing and meeting your needs is a fundamental human right. It is your responsibility to ensure that you know your basic needs.

    Life is much easier to navigate through when you know your needs. Generally, your lives revolve around your needs.

    Once your basic needs are identified and are met with satisfaction, life opens up more opportunities for self-improvement; opportunities to grow beyond just your needs.

    You focus on how best you can contribute to humanity without worrying about yourself.

    Know Your Passions

    You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be.

    Express yourself and honour the people who have inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.

    Embracing your passions brings back some simplicity in your life that can lead to new freedoms in your everyday life.

    There are many benefits that come with knowing your passions. When you are fully aware of your passions you live an authentic life free from the pressures of other people.

    You follow what your soul is telling you. You become the original you, that you were designed to be. Knowing your passions brings greater self-awareness and confidence which in turn improves your productivity levels.

    Often times when we follow our passions we make a career of out of them. We get paid doing what we love.

    There is a difference between an artist whose main driver is making money and one whose main purpose is appreciating and enjoying their work.

    Live From the Inside Out

    Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind.

    For most of us city slickers, it’s hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own homes. In my case, I often just sit and play some classical music. There’s sound, yes, but music does soothe the soul.

    They say all growth comes from within. What we are outside is a reflection of what we are inside. When we live from the inside out, we live from a sense of our own worthiness.

    Honour Your Strengths

    What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List five, if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify them.

    Are you imaginative, witty, and good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you share what you know with others.

    “Make the best use of what is in your power and take the rest as it happens.” – Epictetus.

    When you work from your strengths you work with confidence and with less effort.

    Being of Service to Others

    When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others; your spirit; your essence.

    The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed worthwhile, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.

    Being of service is really a joy because that is what humanity was designed for.

    Conclusion

    Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn’t always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room.

    The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better. Self-improvement is a personal choice and decision.

  • Why It Is Important to Do What You Love for a Living

    Work is important for both physical and mental expression. We work so that we can earn a living. The kind of work we do is what puts food on the diner table.

    Without work, we do not expect to get a paycheck. The kind of work you do should be an expression of yourself.

    Human beings were created for work. It doesn’t matter whether you are self-employed or are employed by someone else, the fact is, you do what you are doing because you love it or because you have to earn that much-needed paycheck.

    The kind of job you do can be a great source of happiness and or sadness. If your current job does not satisfy your desires or let’s just say does not motivate you, consider doing something else.

    If you do not take pride in what you do, for a living, I suggest that you leave it, you are in the wrong field. Find something that you are happy with or that makes you happy. Something that you will do with all your heart.

    Your job should be enjoyable. After all, you spend most of your time working. You must always be looking forward to getting up early in the morning and going for work.

    Nine out of ten a person who is motivated by what he does achieves more with his job than one who just looks forward to a paycheck.

    Look, I know that at the end of the day we are all expecting a paycheck. But the difference is how effective and efficient you are that will prime you for advancement.

    If you want to make a significant contribution to humanity you must be able to give more of yourself.

    To easily give more, you must be in a position to enjoy the process.

    You Get What You Give

    Life gives you back what you give it. You cannot expect to get oranges out of a guava tree. Neither can you expect to get guavas out of an apple tree.

    You give life mediocrity, you get exactly that out of it. You give it your best, expect to get the best out of it. If you want to get happiness, give it happiness.

    Your productivity is highly increased when you do what you love. You are more at peace and more confident when you stick with your lane.

    It is easy to express yourself when you’re at peace. When you are not struggling. When your mind is focused.

    I love writing. I tell my stories through this blog. Most of the content on this site is a result of my personal experience.

    I currently do not have any formal qualifications in personal development and self-improvement. Everything I write is a result of the passion and love I have for personal development.

    If you want to get maximum rewards for your efforts you need to put in extra. It is much easier and better to achieve your goals by doing what you love.

    You are Full of Confidence

    Believe me, when you love your work, you ooze with confidence. It shows even in the quality of your end product.

    Confidence ignites an increase in productivity. When you are confident with yourself you are more likely to enjoy happiness. Which is fundamental to living a better life. Which I also think is what we all want to achieve a better life for ourselves and our immediate families.

    Those who are confident are even more motivated to conquer the world. They are never satisfied with their latest achievements. They have the zeal and energy to go even further.

    Confidence is also a source of motivation that is needed to keep you going. Even when you fail the first time you will rise up and move forward because you simply love what you do. You refuse to accept failure.

    If you are an employer you will agree with me that your most productive employees are those who are confident and love their work.

    The more you achieve your targets, the more confident and motivated you become. There is a feeling of joy every time you achieve something. I always experience a sense of satisfaction every time I hit the publish button.

    Just the experience of that joy can be a major boost of energy and motivation for you to do more with your life.

    Learning is Easy

    When you love something you will do everything in your power to get it. When you get it you will be more careful in ensuring that you keep it for the longest period possible.

    You will be motivated to acquire new skills that will help improve your output.

    In this case, learning will not be so much of a challenge for you. You will be more focused knowing that you are acquiring useful knowledge and skills that will naturally pay off in the long run.

    Failure is Easily Overcome

    One of the biggest reasons why we do not succeed is being overwhelmed with failure. We fail because we allow failure to breed fear.

    This fear is even worse if the process of achieving success is not aligned with our natural talents and calling.

    However, when we align this process with what flows naturally from within, failure is not an option but a stepping stone.

    There is a natural tendency to repel failure when we are in “our zone.” There is always a way of overcoming failure by persistently pursuing our calling.

    Failure is easily overcome when you are busy loving to push for results.

    It Makes Life Easy

    Life, as it is, is already complicated. There is already so much stress on us as individuals. There are so many things that need to be done in a very short period of time.

    There are so many things that need our attention every day. Because of the nature of what life has become now, we ought to reduce the pressure on ourselves by enjoying our work.

    This can only be achieved by finding our God-given calling and talents that we can utilise to the fullest to achieve our life’s purposes.

    Conclusion

    The importance of doing what you love for a living cannot be overemphasised. Life is much more bearable and easier to handle when your living is mainly derived from doing what you love.

  • Never Allow Failure To Define Your Life

    One of the biggest problems we have that inhibit our progress is that we allow failure to define us. We give up at the very first encounter with failure.

    What you allow to define you ultimately shapes your life. If you allow failure to define your life then boom you are doomed to be a failure.

    Failure does not in any way define our future nor does it stop you from achieving your goals unless you allow it.

    Failure is a stepping stone to your success. In fact, the fear of failure is what drives us to do the right things.

    I feel that without encountering failure, life would not be enjoyable. It would be boring. Experiencing it allows you to dig deep.

    It’s an indicator if you like,  that simply helps to point us in the right direction. That is why it is very important to take note and learn from failure.

    When you fail you simply have discovered one way that should be avoided on your journey to personal improvement and success.

    If you want to achieve greatness you should be prepared to face temporal setbacks. That’s just the way life is.

    No one who has succeeded has done it without encountering temporal setbacks. There will always be challenges along the way.

    Even the most successful people will tell you that they failed before. The only difference is they get up when they fall. They never allow temporal setbacks to stop them from achieving their goals.

    Your duty is to ensure that you learn how to navigate through failure and come out unscathed.

    Yes, sometimes you will be pushed to your limits. Just know that after the storm the sea is calm. You will bounce back and make sure you are ready for it.

    What you may be going through now is an indication of great things to come. Just be focused and stick with your plan. Continue preparing yourself no matter how long it takes.

    Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

    Every one of us has a “comfort zone.” This is a place where we feel safe, a place where we think all is well or rather pretend that life is all good.

    But this is also a place where most of us like hiding when faced with challenges.

    Sometimes we just look or hide in our comfort zone to avoid facing reality. But guess what, if you do nothing the problem still remains an attended to.

    However, the so-called comfort zone has had some very detrimental effects on my progress as an individual.

    That is why I do not call it a comfort zone anymore but a self-destructive zone. Because honestly how do you become comfortable with zero progress?

    Over the years I have come to learn that the so-called comfort zone does not make you grow. It actually stifles your growth.

    People who are continuously improving are those who are continuously taking the risk of diving into the deep waters of life. It takes a lot of courage to do this.

    If you want to achieve more, take more calculated risks and act on them. Many of us are not moving forward because we are not prepared to make the first move, especially on unfamiliar grounds.

    We would rather remain in our so-called zones and continue grumbling about how unfair life is; about what has not happened in our lives and all the negative things going on around us.

    Life is a Journey

    I believe that we are all visitors to this place we call home. We are on an unknown journey whose destination no one really knows.

    The fortunate thing is that God is our travel agent. He has already prepared our itinerary if only we could align with it.

    The bible encourages us to believe in God and trust him with our lives. I know for sure that without God on my side my life would have been different.

    It would have been a messed-up life. Who knows what I could have ended up to be.

    Look, it is not what I would like it to be. But I thank God that I am on the right path of my life. I am making improvements and moving towards my destiny.

    The most important thing is that I live to enjoy every day of my life. I am happy with what I am.

    I think we must all learn to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself. We must stop complaining and start with what we have. Do not wait, for the right moment, starts now.

    Life was meant to be enjoyed. We were all created to give something back.

    Live in the Now

    When we were growing up we did so many things with my friends. I have both good and bad memories of my childhood.

    However, many of the things we did were just child play. Those things have remained but a memory in my life.

    They are in the past and cannot be changed. However, I have learned a great deal from my past experiences.

    This has helped me to grow up and realise that there is more to life than just play.

    You could be one that is struggling to move on and cannot let go of your past.

    Well, you are making a big mistake by hanging on to the past. The past cannot be changed.

    If you made mistakes they cannot be changed. But guess what just maybe you can make amends for them. If you cannot, just let go and move on.

    You need to let go and realise that there is more to come in the future. You have a lot more waiting for you than what you have had in the past. Look, every one of us has made mistakes before.

    Learn to deal with your present as you have a better chance of doing the right things now,  than dwelling on the past that cannot be changed.

    They say do not cry over spilt milk. True because crying will not help you get more milk. Neither will complaining or blaming anyone change your current situation.

    Instead, do something positive that will help change the status quo. Stop the blame game and change the way you think.

    Express Yourself Confidently

    Every one of us has a right to express themselves. Everything we do or say is an expression of ourselves.

    We are either expressing our thoughts or expressing our emotions most of the time.

    You are made or unmade by the things you say or do and not by the things that happen to you.

    You have the power and capacity to express yourself positively regardless of your current situation. Always remember that you are in control of yourself.

    What you say or do has a lasting impression on your character. You are defined by the expressions you portray to the outside world.

    Your life is simply a sum total of your thoughts and the expressions thereof. That is why it is important to guard your mind and your thoughts.

    Conclusion

    Failure must not be allowed to be a defining factor in your life. Do not accept it but rather use it as a springboard for your success.

    Cheers and have a wonderful festive season. Remember Jesus is the reason for celebrating Christmas.

  • Things Happen When You Make Them Happen

    We all have a fair share of adversity in life. One of the biggest reasons why things do not happen in your life is because you are doing nothing about them.

    Instead of taking a leading role you are waiting for someone to make a move for you.

    You could be looking for a job but are not putting in the applications and waiting for a job to find you.

    Or you may have put in a few applications here and there and have given up because you have not been selected. Look, when you persist you will get what you want.

    The law of cause and effects states that for every action there is an equal reaction. For every force of failure, there is an equal force of success.

    If you take the principle of cause and effect you will realise that without action there is no reaction.

    Take a rock for example, if no one dares to move it and all things being equal, it will remain in the same place for as long as it can be.

    Just like human beings will always react to someone else’s actions, be it positive or negative.

    If you set out to achieve or accomplish something it will only happen when you do something about it. If you do nothing, nothing will happen.

    In other words, you are the driver for your success. You cannot expect someone else to drive you to your success.

    Your actions will determine the reaction you get. Your success is a product of your actions.

    If you want things to move, get your hands dirty and begin to move them. If you wait for someone else, most likely you will wait forever.

    Devise a plan that you will follow through and be consistent and persistent.

    Keep Taking Action

    Your hunger will greatly determine the action you take. The more hungry you are, the more determined you are to take action.

    They say actions speak louder than words. Your actions will speak volumes about the course of your life.

    If you do not act and act decisively, your life will be stagnant. You will feel that life has not been fair with you.

    You will begin to feel left out when you see your peers progress and eventually will fail to fit in socially.

    If you are not taking action for your life do not expect things to happen in your life. Your expectation should not go beyond the level of your actions.

    Look, don’t expect anything positive to happen if your actions are negative, like follows like.

    Remember that nature is neutral; it gives you back what you give it. If you give it lemons you get lemon juice out of it.

    When you keep doing something that will improve your life, eventually improvement will come your way.

    Those who have grown both mentally and physically will agree with me that they took the first steps and they kept on until the end. The more action you take the better the chances of success.

    Have Faith in What You Do

    “Faith without works is dead” – the Bible. Believe in what you are doing. If no one believes in what you are trying to achieve you should be the first person to believe.

    Look, If you do not believe in what you are doing then who do you expect to believe you?

    Have faith that one day you will achieve that which you have set out to do. Without faith, you cannot achieve much.

    I know that sometimes it’s very difficult to go on especially when faced with adversity. When things are not going the way you want them to when it seems that you are headed for failure.

    This is the time to show your faith by sticking it out. It is the time to show your resilience and tenacity to move on.

    Develop your faith by feeding your mind with the right stuff. The more mentally positive you are, the more faith you develop.

    Your faith will ultimately play a huge role in your development as a human being.

    Be Proud of Your Achievements

    Whatever you have achieved, you must be proud of yourself. Don’t wait for someone to be proud of you.

    Most of the time people will never appreciate your accomplishments.

    Yes, it may be a small achievement just be proud of it, at least you have achieved something and there is more to come.

    There will always be negative criticism especially when your achievements have an impact on a larger scale.

    The more proud you are about yourself the more motivated you are to accomplish even more.

    The motivation you get when you have successfully achieved a target drives you to achieve even more.

    That is why it is always important to celebrate your small achievements along the way. It is the small achievements that make up the bigger ones.

    Every successful project is broken down into smaller pieces that when joined or connected together makes the bigger one.

    Start With What You Have

    You cannot control what is not in your power but you can control and sometimes influence what is in your power.

    If you want to achieve something start where you are and with what you have.

    There is no better time to start than now. You may not realise it but you have the necessary tools and ammunition to start.

    If you wait, the opportunity may just pass you by. There will never be a time when you have everything you need to start something.

    The small things you have are just about enough to get you started. As you go along the way things will start falling into place.

    In fact, some of the things you think are needed may actually not be useful on your journey.

    God always gives us what we can handle. The more you grow the more responsibility you take on.

    Work diligently with what you have and learn to use your resources wisely. From my experience, the start is always difficult.

    Once you get started and things are flowing to a certain degree or direction, there is always an inner motivation to improve on what has been started.

    It is very refreshing to see the works of hands in action. It gives you a sense of pride so work hard and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

    Conclusion

    Life does not just happen, we make it happen. We have a bigger role to play in charting the course of our lives. Those who succeed are those who try and those who fail are those who do not try.

    So you can either decide to fail or you can take action and have the best chance of success the choice is entirely in your hands.

  • How to Act on Improving Your Personal Development Goals

    The time to act is now. There is no better time than now to start doing what you love. Start working on what you have been planning to do for your life now. If you wait for another time you may just miss the opportunity. 

    There are times when it feels not right to pull yourself and do something to improve your life and well-being, well it’s fine. But, just force yourself to wake up and do something, anything. No matter how small it may be, believe me, it adds value to the growth of the project you are working on.

    Slowly, but surely the small things begin to add up and within a short period of time they seem like they are much more than you had bargained for.

    That is the power of doing something, that will help you move closer to what you want to achieve on a daily basis. Remember that Rome was not built in one day. Also, know that every good thing comes at a significant cost.

    What makes the big things big, are the small little things we do. Equally, your character is the sum total, of the small things you do every day. The small things like what you eat, how you perceive things and how you pick yourself up when faced with a challenge, all makeup how much growth you will achieve in the long run. 

    So look out for the very small and seemingly unimportant things you do. They are what will eventually make or break you. People do not see the inside of you, they see what you give them. They see the outside of you.

    In fact, most of them will only be preview of the final end product without even knowing exactly what went into making the product they are seeing from the outside. 

    Keep It Simple and Easy

    Life can be complex at times. But it was not meant to be so. I think it was meant to be simple, not easy but simple. For, if it was easy I am sure it would be boring. I feel that, what makes life more interesting and worth living, is the fact that we are faced with challenges and when we overcome these challenges we experience a sense of satisfaction and joy.

    The simpler your life is, the easier it is to navigate through. Try as much as possible to keep it simple and take it easy. You are not competing with anyone. Remember, they say speed kills.

    I know that life can sometimes throw things at you that may derail you. Those things that come your way are there for you to provide solutions. They are a measure of how you will handle greater things to come.

    I believe that God knows what each and every one of us is capable of doing. He also knows our limitations. That is why he allows us to endure certain challenges. I also think that we experience certain challenges in preparation for bigger things to come.

    The more challenges we can handle the more growth we can expect and experience, and the more joy and happiness we can also enjoy. So do not despair when you are faced with challenges but, brace yourself for what is coming your way. For after every storm there comes joy. 

    Focus on What You are Doing

    The world we live in today is full of distractions. It can sometimes be very difficult to stay focused on doing what is necessary to help achieve your dreams. This is more especially when you have something good going. 

    It is, therefore, important that you stay focused on doing what is right so that you may succeed and continue being on the right path. Sometimes, we may lose our focus over small things. Brace yourself for them. It is part of the process.

    Find a way of keeping yourself busy to stay focused on yourself. Sometimes it may require you to make radical and drastic changes that may include cutting off some toxic relationships. Or it may require that you relocate to a new place or town altogether.

    Yes, we all need friends, but some relationships can be very distractive and may be very detrimental to your progress. Look around yourself and re-evaluate your current relationships, bad relationships could the reason why you are not growing.

    Find a way to cut ties with those who aren’t true friends. By now, you probably know who your real friends are and who isn’t.

    When you focus on your goals nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams. The sky is not even the limit. You are the head driver of your destiny and so get your act together and stay laser focused working towards achieving your dreams.

    It is better to sacrifice now and have a better future than have a good life now and experience a not-so-good life in the future. Create the right balance between your current and future financial needs. 

    Have the Courage to Do

    Courage is what distinguishes you from the rest. It is the fuel that makes you motivated to achieve your goals and sometimes it comes in very short supply. Most of us fail because we lack the courage to do. 

    Those people who have succeeded have had the courage to take the risk and leave their “comfort zones” to sail into unfamiliar territories. These are territories that they have never experienced before. Unfortunately, there are very few people who are willing to take the plunge and take the risk.

    If you stay in your “comfort zone” you may not achieve as much. But if you take the plunge and dive into the “deep zone” you will most likely achieve your dreams. 

    For it is not crowded in the deep zone. This is where you find the big fish. It is like when you go out swimming, the shallow end is always crowded and it’s not fun to swim there. Here you mostly find those who do not know how to swim or are still learning the ropes.

    As you swim further towards the deep end the crowd reduces. The further you go the less congested it becomes. The deep end is usually very spacious. 

    It may take a little bit more effort to swim there, but if you want space and you want to enjoy the swim it is worth it. Remember also that the deeper you go the riskier it becomes. It takes courage and skill to stay afloat in the deep end. 

    It is exactly the same with life. The more risks you make the better the rewards and the more effort needed to reap those rewards. The beauty of life is that we learn on the go. No one can claim to have mastered the art of living. Every day is a learning process. 

    Without courage, you will not be able to take the risk and therefore, you will never know what you may have missed out on.

    Conclusion 

    Personal development and self-improvement are not as easy as some people put it. It is a continuous learning process and requires a lot of discipline and dedication. The beauty is that there is no time frame and it is not a competition, all you have to do is make the decision and have a positive mind set.

    Have a wonderful day working on your goals. Cheers for now.

  • How to Manage Your Time More Effectively and Efficiently

    Time management is a critical aspect of life that many of us have not mastered. Most of the time we are not overwhelmed with work, we are just disorganized.

    If you take just a little time every morning to organise and prepare for the day you will spend the rest of the day being very productive. You will have planned to succeed for that day.

    Most of us just wake up and get going without actually planning for what we want to achieve for the day. Believe me, not planning is actually planning for failure.

    Planning ahead helps you manage your time effectively and efficiently. It helps you focus on your daily goals and reduces time wastage. Remember that time is always in short supply.

    Yes, things may not go accordingly but you will try as much as possible to stick with what you want to achieve. When you have a plan in place you are more focused on achieving your goals than wasting time on nonproductive issues. 

    There are many ways you can utilise to help manage your time, but here are a few suggestions that you can add to your current list. 

    Wake Up Early

    Waking up early gives you a heads start, it provides you with more time and energy to get things done early when your mind and body are still fresh. It also gives you ample time to plan your day and start working on preparing your mood for the day.

    Yes, I know that sleep is equally important, but the body also needs to be worked. There are many things that can be achieved and accomplished early in the morning when your body is usually at its best and is well rested. 

    You will have all the sleep you need in the world when you have achieved your goals. Remember that if you sleep too much you will have very little time to accomplish your goals.

    If there is one limited commodity that is common to all human beings it is time and time is always in short supply. How you utilise it will largely determine how much you will accomplish with your life. 

    The more you spend time sleeping the less you will achieve with your life. That is why even at an early stage in life we wake up early in the morning to prepare for school. There are very few schools that require you to attend in the afternoon.

    They say “the earthly bird catches the worm.”  Usually, the early risers achieve much more than the late risers. They are the pacesetters. They also say that “latecomers eat bones.”

    So there is always an advantage when you start your day early. 

    Create A To-Do List

    Another good practice is creating a to do list. This is probably a game-changer. A do-to-list acts more or less like a compass. It directs what you should do at a particular time or after a certain activity.

    A to-do list is a very good way of organising your time. Most of the time when you have a guide you will try as much as possible to stick with it. You may deviate at some point but you will eventually drift back to your guide.

    It is best to create a to-do list in the morning before you do anything else. Better still it can be done in the evening before going to sleep and read it in the morning before you step out. 

    Tick off the list as you go along the way. Start with the most important items and move on to the least important. If it can be delegated please go ahead and delegate. If you have to maximise your efficiency learn to delegate. 

    Delegation is not a sign of weakness but is a sign of having confidence and trust in other people. It promotes group relationships if you are a leader. It also motivates the people you work with and makes them feel relevant to your life. 

    Set Deadlines

    Deadlines deadlines deadlines. Most people do not like to hear about deadlines. They dread them. But, nothing in this life lasts forever. Everything comes to end at some point or the other and this is where deadlines come in. Even your life will come to an end one day just be prepared for the afterlife.

    If you have worked in an environment like audit firm, where deadlines are strictly emphasied and adhere to, you should have no problem setting and meeting deadlines. You will also agree with me that deadlines act as a barometer to gauge your performance. 

    Always set deadlines for your goals and try as much as possible to beat them. When you set a deadline your mind is tuned in and is constantly reminded about the approaching deadline. 

    Setting deadlines also helps to monitor your progress. I know that sometimes we miss our deadlines for various reasons. Don’t worry or panic, simply reevaluate why you missed them, adjust and start working on them again.

    You will achieve more when you set activity deadlines. You will also easily progress to the next task at hand. Remember that doing the same things over and over can sometimes be very boring, so finish quickly and move on to something new. 

    Your aim should be to set realistic goals and deadlines that can be achieved and measurable. This should, however, not be a limitation to challenge your capability and capacity to handle more complex challenges.

    Work Your List

    Writing down lists is a very good thing. But without taking action, lists are useless. They become an academic exercise. Just like anything else without action, there can never be any meaningful achievement.

    You must have an actionable list every day. Find the motivation and courage to work your list. It is only by working your list that you will know how far you can go.

    Every day gather enough motivation and keep focused on taking action to working your list. Slowly but surely results will begin to flow in.

    Review your list in the evening to see what has been accomplished and what is still to be done. Roll over the leftover to the next day. Don’t worry about what hasn’t been done. There could be a thousand reasons.

    Only worry about those items that have not been done because of you. Remember you have control over what you can do.

    Don’t live your lists un attended to but make them an integral part of your life. Learn to carry a small notebook around that has your to-do list.

    Be Consistent

    Consistency is the mother of all success. You cannot be successful without being consistent. If you are consistent in doing the small things regularly, within a short period of time they will amount to many things.

    Being consistent is usually what makes the difference between success and failure. Those who are successful are very consistent with what they do. They do not stop even when they are faced with challenges.

    They never give up but instead, they find solutions to the current challenges. In the end, the challenges give in or they are subdued.

    Create the tenacity and ability to always be consistent when pursuing your cause for life.  

    Conclusion

    You may be surprised at how much time you spend being on social media reading gossip or watching video clips that do not add much value to your life. Managing your time requires you to reevaluate how you spend it and on what you are spending it on. 

    Only time will tell if you have been successful with your life or not. Your job is to master how to manage your time efficiently and effectively. Be time conscious. 

  • 7 Tips for Home Improvement on a Small Budget

    Embarking on a home improvement project with a small budget can be a very daunting and challenging exercise. What with sky-rocking prices of materials and tools, the challenge becomes even more difficult to undertake. 

    However, this is possible with some planning and creativity. With prudent management and a bit of creativity to ensure that the right materials are in place, it is doable.

    You will be amazed at what can be achieved on a merger budget. Most of the time we are too shy or rather scared to start something, especially when we are low on resources.

    We always think it can be done only when we have saved enough resources. But life as it, never gives you enough from the start. 

    But, rather it allows you to grow with what you have and not what you do not have. Sometimes a little confidence is all it takes to start working on something.

    If you are resolved to undertake the project but are low on resources, here are some tips to help you implement a home improvement project. 

    Planning Ahead

    Before you start any project, create a plan of what you want to achieve with what resources you have available. This will help you stay within your budget and avoid unexpected expenses.

    Planning ahead makes things a little bit easier. It gives you a proper direction of what you want to achieve and how you will go about it.

    With limited resources at your disposal, there is very little room for error, hence the need to create a plan that is solid. 

    A plan that will really guide and help you achieve your objectives with a small budget. However, do not over plan. 

    Many of the time we tend to over plan as a result, nothing gets done in the process as we lose focus and are bogged down with life issues. 

    However, this is not to undermine the importance of planning. It should be the first thing to be done. A good plan surely guarantees a good start.

    Prioritise

    Decide on which home improvements are most important to you and tackle them first. This will help you avoid spending money on unnecessary upgrades.

    Some improvements may not be regarded as a priority. Yes, they may need to be worked on but they could be regarded as non-priority.

    Organise your work in such a way that you first tackle the ones that really need attention and move to the least on your list.

    This way, you will be able to deal with urgent repairs and or improvements effectively. Funds permitting you then start tackling the least urgent ones. 

    Rather than work on everything at the same time, start small with what you can afford. Betters still, target a section at a time.

    Don’t be tempted to work on everything at once bearing in mind that you are on a shoestring budget. Work on what your money will allow for now. Leave those that need more resources for a later stage.

    Do It Yourself

    Doing some of the work yourself can save you a lot of money on labour costs. There are many tutorials and resources online that can help you learn how to do various home improvement tasks.

    For sure DIY can save you lots of money. If you have kids, involve them. Kids just love getting dirty and involving them is also one way of teaching them how to work. 

    Give them tasks that they will be able to do in a fun way. Motivate them by giving them an incentive. Depending on how old they are, you will be amazed by what they can do.

    Personally, I enjoy and love doing things myself. It has actually saved me a lot of money on labour and besides its good exercise.

    When you do things yourself you take time and do them the way you want. Some of these home improvements can actually be done without much difficulty.  

    Shop Around for Materials and Tools

    Compare prices at different home improvement stores or online retailers to find the best deals on materials and tools.

    Before committing to spend on materials, shop around and take note of the prices. Make decisions such as replacing branded materials and tools with non-branded substitutes.

    You will agree with me that branded items are usually more expensive than unbranded ones.  And sometimes, the unbranded items are also of good quality yet less expensive. 

    Shopping around could save you tons of money. Yes, it could be tedious but it’s worth it. It also gives you an idea of how much you will need to spend on materials and tools.

    Use Recycled Materials and or Tools

    Look for ways to repurpose or reuse materials and tools from other projects or items in your home to save money.

    Some materials could be reused or recycled. Look around your home for leftover items from previous projects.

    If you are undertaking a painting exercise for example, am sure the paint brushes and rollers from the previous project could still be reused.

    Things like leftover paint, if you are not changing the colour could be reused. Such items and materials would really go a long way in reducing your overall cost.

    Also, try as much as possible to improvise where you can. Most of the time we do not want to think outside the box. 

    Make Small Changes

    Sometimes small changes can make a big difference in the look and feel of a room. Consider things like painting, updating light fixtures, or adding new accessories.

    Get rid of the old stuff that is not being used. Free up some space and reorganise the room to give it a new look and feel.

    It is the small things that end up making the big things. Change a few things here and there and see if they are what you are looking for. Home improvement does not necessarily have to be a wholesale change. 

    Get Creative

    Look for creative solutions to problems. For example, instead of replacing an outdated bathroom vanity, consider painting it and adding new hardware.

    Being creative can help you find solutions to problems, improve your mood, and increase your overall sense of well-being. 

    In the context of home improvement, being creative can involve finding innovative ways to use materials or repurposing items you already have to achieve the look and feel you want for your home without spending a lot of money.

    Conclusion

    By following these few tips, you can embark on a home improvement project on a small budget and still achieve great results.

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