13 Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful

Somebody once told me the definition of hell: “On your last day on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become.” — Anonymous Sometimes, to become successful and get closer to the person you can become, you don’t need to add more things — you need to give some of them up. There are certain things that are universal, which will make you successful if you give up on them, even though each one of us could have a different definition of success. You can give up on some of them as soon as today, while it might take a bit longer to give up on others. 1. Give Up On The Unhealthy Lifestyle “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” — Jim Rohn If you want to achieve anything in life, everything starts here. First, you should take care of your health, and there are only three things you need to keep in mind: 1. Quality Sleep 2. Healthy Diet 3. Physical Activity Small steps, but you will thank yourself one day. 2. Give Up The Short-term Mindset “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” — Mae West Successful people set long-term goals, and they know these aims are merely the result of short-term habits that they need to do every day. These healthy habits shouldn’t be something you do; they should be something you embody. There is a difference between: “Working out to get a summer body” and “Working out because that’s who you are.” 3. Give Up On Playing Small “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”— Marianne Williamson If you never try and take great opportunities or allow your dreams to become realities, you will never unleash your true potential. The world will never benefit from what you could have achieved. Voice your ideas, don’t be afraid to fail, and certainly don’t be afraid to succeed. 4. Give Up Your Excuses “It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.” ― Randy Pausch Successful people know that they are responsible for their life, no matter their starting point, weaknesses, and past failures. Realising that you are responsible for what happens next in your life is both frightening and exciting. And when you do, that becomes the only way you can become successful, because excuses limit and prevent us from growing personally and professionally. Own your life; no one else will. 5. Give Up The Fixed Mindset “The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.” ― Robert Greene People with a fixed mindset think their intelligence or talents are pre-determined traits that cannot be changed. They also believe that talent alone leads to success — without hard work. But they’re wrong. Successful people know this. They invest an immense amount of time on a daily basis to develop a growth mindset, acquire new knowledge, learn new skills and change their perception so that it can benefit their lives. Who you are today is not who you have to be tomorrow. 6. Give Up Believing In The “Magic Bullet.” “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better” — Émile Coué Overnight success is a myth. Successful people know that making small continuous improvement every day will be compounded over time and give them desired results. That is why you should plan for the future, but focus on the day that’s ahead of you, and improve just 1% every day. 7. Give Up Your Perfectionism “Shipping beats perfection.” — Khan Academy’s Development Mantra Nothing will ever be perfect, no matter how much you try. Fear of failure (or even fear of success) often prevents you from taking action and putting your creation out there in the world. But a lot of opportunities will be lost if you wait for things to be right. So “ship,” and then improve that 1%. 8. Give Up Multi-tasking “Most of the time multitasking is an illusion. You think you are multitasking, but in reality, you are actually wasting time switching from one task to another “— Bosco Tjan Successful people know this. That’s why they choose one thing and then beat it into submission. No matter what it is — a business idea, a conversation, or a workout. Being fully present and committed to one task is indispensable. 9. Give Up Your Need to Control Everything “Some things are up to us, and some things are not up to us.” — Epictetus Differentiating these two is crucial. Detach from the things you cannot control, focus on the ones you can, and know that sometimes, the only thing you will be able to control is your attitude towards something. 10. Give Up On Saying YES To Things That Don’t Support Your Goals “He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”— James Allen Successful people know that in order to accomplish their goals, they will have to say NO to certain tasks, activities, and demands from their friends, family, and colleagues. In the short-term, you might sacrifice a bit of instant gratification, but when your goals come to fruition, it will all be worth it. 11. Give Up The Toxic People “Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.”— Albert Einstein People you spend the most time with add up to who you become. If you spend time with those who refuse to take responsibility for their life, always find excuses and blame others for the situation they are in, your average will go down, and with it your opportunity to succeed. However, if you spend time with people who are trying to increase their standard of living, and grow personally and professionally, your average will go up, and you will become more successful. Take a look around you, and see if you need to make any changes. 12. Give Up Your Need To Be Liked “You can be the juiciest, ripest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be people who hate peaches.” — Dita Von Teese Think of yourself as a market niche. There will be a lot of people who like that niche, and there will be individuals who don’t. And no matter what you do, you won’t be able to make the entire market like you. This is completely natural, and there’s no need to justify yourself. The only thing you can do is to remain authentic, improve and provide value every day, and know that the growing number of “haters” means that you are doing remarkable things. 13. Give Up Wasting Time “The trouble is, you think you have time” — Jack Kornfield You only have this one crazy and precious life. That’s why you owe it to yourself to see who you can become, and how far you can go. However, to do that, you need to ditch meaningless time wasters and stop allowing them to be an escape from your most important goals. To do that, you should learn how to take control over your focus, attention and make the most out of your 24 hours within a day. Remember that you will die, so never stop creating your legacy and doing the things that will enrich your life. Source: Zdravko Cvijetic, Founder of Zero to Skill, 2/13/15.

How to Fit Exercise into Your Work Day

Most of us know it’s not good for our health to sit all day, but many jobs involve hours of sitting. Many of us work long hours then have family and home responsibilities once we leave work. Is there a way to be productive at work and home while still getting the physical exercise we need each day? Many experts recommend getting in exercise in the morning so that you benefit from an elevated metabolism as you start your day, as well as improved sleep at night. Completing a workout before the commitments of the day begin can ensure that other activities do not distract you from your workout. However, morning workouts can be easier said than done. Many of us don’t get enough sleep as it is, so to wake up extra early to workout doesn’t always happen. Try thinking outside the box. Consider incorporating exercise into your commute. Do you work close enough to walk or bike into work? If not, consider getting off at a farther bus stop or park a few blocks away and walk from there. Discipline yourself to take the stairs or walk the long way to your desk each day. If exercising before work doesn’t seem to fit your schedule, determine when the best time is and try to stick to a routine. According to WebMD: "‘Regular exercise is clearly linked to improved health,’ says Dr. Peter Snell, an exercise physiologist and assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. ‘Still,’ Snell adds, ‘about 60% of adults do not exercise, and only 25% get the recommended amount. Exercise recommendations range from 30 to 60 minutes a day -- on most, if not all, days of the week. Forty percent of adults who don't exercise say they don't have enough time. ‘The availability of facilities to exercise at the work site removes many of the barriers to exercise,’ says Snell. ‘These include: • Finding time • Being self-conscious at public health clubs • Safety • Convenience • Social atmosphere • Weather conditions • Expense ‘Having a place to exercise during lunch can be a real bonus, especially for women with children who may find it difficult to exercise before or after work,’ says Snell.” Dedicating work time to physical activity can lead to higher productivity, according to a study conducted by Ulrica von Thiele Schwarz, PhD and Henna Hasson, PhD published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. This study claims that the same production levels could be achieved in fewer hours leading to greater productivity and better health as a result of regular physical activity. Harvard Business Review (HBR) explains how physical exercise makes us more productive at work: “Exercise enables us to soak in more information, work more efficiently, and be more productive.” There are cognitive benefits that impact our performance including: • Improved concentration • Sharper memory • Faster learning • Prolonged mental stamina • Enhanced creativity • Lower stress In addition, HBR shares the Leeds Metropolitan University study which showed that on days employees exercised during their work day they reported better time management, greater productivity, smoother interactions with colleagues, and greater levels of satisfaction. How do you get in more exercise at work? 1. Stand up at work - While on the phone, stand or pace. Take a stretching break by extending your arms over your head or swinging your arms side to side. Try a twist at your waist or a triceps stretch to waken up your body and mind. 2. Take fitness breaks - Taking a quick walk around the building, a few hikes up and down the stairs, or even a few squats or lunges at your desk can get your blood pumping to beat an afternoon slump in the time it would take to get a cup of coffee. 3. Keep fitness gear nearby - Having a set of dumbbells or elastic bands at your desk can make fitting exercise into your workday easier. Repping out a few bicep curls while on the phone or performing some abductor moves with the band around your ankles can be done while typing on your computer. Many exercises can be done without taking you away from your work. It may be as simple as establishing a routine in your workday. If you have a workout facility or gym at your workplace, be sure to take advantage of it. Usually this is offered as a free service. If you pack your lunch, you will save the time you usually spend driving and waiting for food to be prepared. This time saved will give you the time to workout at lunch. Even if you do not have a designated workout space within your building, going for a run or finding a nearby tennis court or gym will still allow you to use your lunch time to improve your health. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind that will help you stay motivated to workout at lunch time: 1. Choose physical activities that you enjoy doing - You are more likely to stick with an exercise routine if you choose activities that you enjoy. 2. Work out with a buddy - Having someone hold you accountable helps you to show up on days you don’t feel like it. You will have opportunities to return the favor with your friend as well. In addition to strengthening your health, you can strengthen relationships through this shared experience. 3. Set goals - Instead of just exercising for a set time or even a set numbers of days, set an achievement goal so that you feel that you are working towards something. Train for a race, a level of flexibility, or a weight to lift. Set realistic goals and benchmarks along the way to get yourself to your goal. 4. Participate in group activities - Consider participating in a sport, like doubles tennis, where others depend on you. This will help keep you motivated to show up. 5. Bring your lunch - If you know you have a healthy lunch ready to eat after your workout, you will not feel like you need the time to run out and get lunch. It’s already there. 6. Keep a set of workout clothes at work - The easiest excuse to not workout at lunch is that you have the wrong clothes or shoes. Always keep an extra set of active clothes and shoes at work. 7. High intensity for a shorter duration - Results keep us motivated. If you have limited time to work out, make the best use of it. If you are cleared by your doctor to do so, workout at a higher intensity so you gain the same benefit in less time. For example, run for 30 minutes instead of walking for 60. If your job is staying home with growing kids, include them in your workout routine. Kids need exercise too and will love the attention. Play active games. Roll a dice and let each number represent an activity. Do workouts in the park. If the kids fade out, they can play on the playground while you continue your routine. Conclusion Active lives may require a little creativity in the beginning. Once you find a system that works for you, make it a routine. Consistent exercise will reap the biggest reward. Most of us have busy lives. It may be very easy to come up with reasons why you can’t fit exercise in your daily routine, but with a little effort and determination, you will be able to come up with solutions on how to fit exercise in your life. Your increased productivity and improved mood will make the time invested in your health well worth it. Source: medishare.com/blog, 1/1/18.