Category Archives: Mindfulness

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How a Perfectionist Attitude Is a Self-Destructive Behavior

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Guest Blogger: Katy Reevesand clock

Setting unachievable goals right at beginning make you feel tired before you could actually achieve something. Try to understand that not every work can have a mark of perfection especially if you are in the learning stage. Others obsessed about perfection may consider leaving a work in the middle if it doesn’t seem good enough to earn awards. They say it is not the destination as much as the journey that counts. Try to complete whatever you start and don’t leave it just because you feel it’s not perfect. The obsession for perfection can destroy your self-esteem and prevent you from discovering your capabilities.

Setting unrealistic goals

How many times have your nose-dived into a project and soon after decided to quit? Think again! You may be setting unrealistic goals that are neither practical nor possible. Such goals will only increase your exhaustion. Go slow and steady so that you can pick up possible risks and avoid them on the way. Amanda also had one such unrealistic goal when she decided to take aerobics to trim some fat and come in shape. However, her mistake was that she went for advanced aerobics right in the beginning.

After a few days at the gym, she became so tired that she gave up the idea completely. She was so exhausted from the hard training sessions that she never bothered to join for several months. Make sure you are not in a habit of quitting too often. This could possibly mean that your goals are unrealistic. Start slow and small to work up the ladder!

Giving a tough time to yourself

In just about every aspect of life, there are some small steps involved. You have to work through them to reach the final result. However, many people just focus on the rewards and end result and we perceive that is the only success. In reality, that must not be the case. You must acknowledge all the small steps you took towards the goal. Give yourself some credit for each step you took no matter how small and effortless it was. This will prevent you from the self-defeating behavior that results from perfectionism. Behavior modification technique is another way to address this issue.

Desire and impatience to know everything

Rule out the possibility that you can find all answers in one day. Even if you do, it will only confuse you and prevent you from making a decision. Let’s consider the example of Alex who wanted to invest so that he could have savings for the future. He conducted a thorough research from books, and internet. As a result, he was more puzzled than ever before knowing all the answers. Now it was the fear of knowing everything that made him unpredictable. Therefore, he was unwilling to take risks. Knowing everything is part of perfectionism but at times, it ruins your chances of success.

I don’t need help

There is a possibility that the problems we are facing today, someone else had dealt with the same problems in the past. Perhaps, they can help you or if they can’t, there is no point in hiding simply because they may already know what you are going through. If you are trying to fool anyone, then you are fooling no one other than yourself. With every action, we send out a message that the people around us happen to pick and most of the time their assumptions are correct. Usually people hide their problems out of embarrassment and they believe that they can take care of it on their own. We assume that we are perfect and we don’t seek help. In reality, every one of us will require help.

Act what you are not

One of the aspects of perfectionist attitude is that it demands you to follow the rules of the society and do everything according to standards. This means you have to adopt career and pastimes that are acceptable around you. Nothing in your life is much according to your choice. This act of yours can often make you look what you are not. You would always have to act to be accepted in the society. This self-defeating attitude will take you away from your own goals since you will be suppressing your dreams to act according to norms.

Predicting outcomes

We never know how a given situation could unfold. However, most of us will act as fortunetellers trying to predict how bad an outcome could be. When we make decisions based on these predictions, the ending situation is disastrous. Consider the situation of Simon who sabotaged a perfect relationship just because he was confident about his predictions. Do you feel you are experienced enough to predict outcomes? Try not to test your fortune-telling instincts on relationships, or bigger matters. Let’s just say that intuition can be harmful in this case.

About the Author

Katy is an avid blogger who is deeply motivated by exercises and modern fitness tools to stay in shape. Reading through her articles is an exhilarating experience for those who seek motivation in life. Follow Katy on Twitter @KatyReeve92.

Housecleaning

Managing the Demands of Your Housecleaning to Maintain Balance

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Guest Blogger: Dave Bonner Housecleaning

It seems that the more tools available to help Americans manage their time and energy, the less time and energy they have left at the end of the day. The ability to do more has translated into a requirement to get more done, and all the shortcuts that more efficient technology or forums solutions provide only increase the amount of ground you have to cover before the day ends. Being able to find the information to get the job done isn’t enough. You also need to be able to draw the line with time management to determine what you can get done with regards to what you actually have to get done.

By the time you’ve finished your workday, worrying about housecleaning can be overwhelming. There are great options for a housecleaning guide to help you focus your efforts across the week, so that a little bit can be taken care of each day. If you let it slide one day into the next, you may find your unfinished housecleaning tips the scales and forfeits what little free time you had available to relax.

There are a lot of ways to make your housekeeping needs fit into even the most demanding schedule. Timing your day so that small chores can be knocked out as part of your morning routine can help lighten the load. Having quick solutions ready in the event of an immediate need can save you in the long run too. Some simple stain removal tips can go a long way, rather than having to worry about all the time you lose cleaning up a stain once it’s really set. A stain removal guide can be a useful tool, but sometimes your workload calls for a lot more than that.

For a lot of Americans, bringing in expert help can prove the most efficient solution to a workload that can be overwhelming. Just like any other task that you would routinely call in an expert to handle, hiring a cleaning services professional can save you both time and money in the long run. Whether you invest the time you’ve saved back into your job or into a well-deserved break, you’ll find out what many Americans have already learned: a little help goes a long way toward maintaining your sanity. With all the many things that demand your attention, keeping a good balance can prove difficult. But with the right help, you’ll find balance is worth more than you might think.

About the Author

Dave Bonner lives with his beautiful wife in the western Philadelphia suburbs. His wife is completing her PhD, while Dave holds the walls up doing double duty as a small business owner and, when possible, “stay at home dad” to their adorable eleven-month-old puppy, Ally. A recovering workaholic, Dave’s wife and puppy have helped him realize the incredible value of taking a day off once in a while.

 

 

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Living at Its Potential: How to Adopt Self-Awareness & Mindfulness

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Guest Blogger: Emily Smith ?????????????????????????????????????

Does moving through life seem robotic? You’re not alone. Our existence can be put on automatic — even to the point where we forget what a gift it is to be alive. Mindfulness and self-awareness are not default conditions for humanity. Active effort helps humans attain a heightened sense of existence, and the effort is well worth it. Truly experience life by adopting conscious awareness with these happiness pointers:

Know Yourself.

It seems simple to know who you are, but people thoughtlessly live and make decisions without recognizing and tapping into core values, personal philosophies, and identities. Do you feel lost personally, professionally or ethically? Feeling lost is a sign that you need to understand your own basic values on a deeper level. Ethical displacement ceases to be a dilemma if you’ve thoughtfully determined what you feel is right and wrong in your heart.

Exert Mental Energy Wisely.

Fixating on “whys” and “what ifs” is a waste of your mind’s processing power. Commit yourself to focusing on the moment and clearing your head of anything else. Many future events and situations resolve themselves without major intervention and just a little minor attention. Keep this in mind as you conserve your energy for the moment and task at hand.

Prioritize Your Thoughts.

The mind filters through all types of noise. As your mind races, be smart about what you choose to tune in and out, and subsequently act on and not. Decisive awareness can improve all areas of your life, whether you are learning how to protect personal information with a vishing overview or you’re inspired by a yoga class to end a negative relationship.

Stop Worrying.

Worry is a wasteful emotion. If something requires action from you, then take that action. If there’s nothing you can do presently, then eliminate worry because it’s not changing anything for better or worse. Take some deep breaths, force yourself to relax, and let it be.

Learn Relaxation Methods.

Do you feel like you can never get answers for why something happened or didn’t? Relax! Relieve internal tension through deep breathing techniques. MindBodyGreen.com says that deep breathing can clear your head, force your heart rate to slow, and the rest of your body will follow. Also, try using visualization techniques to imagine the best, rather than the worst, possible outcomes.

Adopting inner and outer awareness and mindfulness after many years of running on automatic is challenging. Ease into this lifestyle by observing, rather than reacting. Give attention to your surroundings and emotions. Then move on with control and avoid those unwanted thought patterns. Practice will turn into habits and eventually disruptive and disturbing thoughts will feel foreign — you’ll naturally avoid them. Taking precautions against possible dangers can also alleviate stress. Signing up with a security service, that will protect you from identity theft and bank fraud, can at empower you to live without fear.

About the Author

Emily Smith is a writer, yoga teacher, and fitness instructor from New Mexico.

Hoarding

Overwhelmed with Clutter: 5 Steps to Overcoming a Hoarding Habit

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Guest Blogger: Dixie SomersHoarding

Clutter is a problem for many Americans. When it goes from clutter to chaos, it becomes hoarding. While it can seem nearly impossible to clean up a home that is overwhelmed with clutter, you aren’t doomed to a life in a messy house. Follow these five steps to overcome your hoarding habit.

1. Analyze Why You Hoard

Figuring out why you have so much clutter is the first step toward getting rid of it and breaking the habit. Many people keep things “just in case” they’ll need them later. Others keep unnecessary clutter because of emotional attachments to objects. Determining why you keep things you don’t really need will help you immensely during the cleanup process.

2. Examine Each Item in Your Home

Clearing clutter from your home won’t be a fast process. It’s okay to take your time and examine the items in your house to determine whether or not you really need them and why you’ve kept them for so long. As a general rule of thumb, items that you haven’t used in more than one year should be sold or given away if they don’t have considerable financial value. Start by examining one room or one section of a room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

3. Get Rid of Easy Things First

Most people that hoard realize that they have some items that they simply do not need once they start the cleanup process. That’s because unimportant items like junk mail just tend to accumulate when your home is full of clutter. Take the time to get rid of those items first. It will be easy for you to do, and you’ll start to see how much better your home will look when it’s finally completely free of clutter.

4. Rent a Storage Unit

If you have items that you don’t need in your home but you absolutely want to keep – items like pieces of antique furniture passed down by family members for example, renting one of the many Baltimore MD storage units can be very helpful. You’ll be able to keep the things that matter to you for a low cost, but they won’t be in your way and creating clutter on a daily basis.

5. Ask for Help

Cleaning an entire house on your own can be a really difficult task. In fact, most hoarders that want to overcome their problem simply aren’t up to it because it’s just so overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to ask friends and family members you can trust to pitch in. Ask a friend to get rid of recyclables or toxic items; ask another to take care of old furniture that you don’t want to keep. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to help you build a better life in a clutter-free home. If you feel your hoarding problem is serious enough, it is advised to seek help from a mental health professional.

About the Author

This article was written by Dixie Somers. If you’re looking for a good place to store your necessary belongings, visit  http://www.extraspace.com/Storage/Facilities/US/Tennessee/Memphis/501756/Facility.aspx.

exercise

Get Fit at Home: 5 Habits to Change at Home for a Healthier You

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Guest Blogger: Dixie Somersexercise

Getting fit can seem like a daunting task. But getting into better shape can come with only a few simple changes. Reducing stress, eating healthier food, and getting a moderate amount of exercise are among the things that make a big difference without being a huge hassle. Below are five habits you can change in your home right now to improve your health and live longer.

1. Eat food that makes you feel good

It’s not hard to eat healthier when you pay close attention to how food makes you feel. You’ll find that low-quality junk food only makes you feel worse, not better. Nutritious foods that appeal to you often have the vitamins and minerals you need and less of the things you should avoid, such as added sugar and hydrogenated oils. If you cultivate this habit, it will eventually become natural.

2. Keep your exercise interesting

Monotonous jogging or working out for fitness can be boring and reduce your drive to exercise over time. With this in mind, try to be creative when choosing how to be active. Race events, group rides, and charity events can all give you variety and extra satisfaction that make you want to exercise more, not less. Find something you love like basketball, golf, or walking with friends around the neighborhood, and do that for exercise.

3. Spend less time on TV, the Internet, and phone

It’s common for people to spend hours on their mobile phones or home internet services every day, and this sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for heart disease and other problems. Scientists have shown the more you sit, the higher your chances are for health problems. In trading those activities for more active pastimes, you’ll not only be healthier but you might even save money on internet or telephone services.

4. Focus on sleeping well

Poor sleep is associated with bad health and higher rates of accidents. Making efforts to relax before bed, avoiding eating late at night, and keeping the bedroom darker can all make huge differences in your quality of rest. If you have trouble with the worries of the day after you lay down to sleep, try making notes of these issues so you can handle them in the daytime and drift off with peace of mind.

5. Cultivate healthy relationships with others

You’ll have an easier time staying healthy if you fulfill your need for healthy ties with friends or family. Science is showing that loneliness carries numerous health risks, including higher inflammation and increased risk of illness. By making friends who share your interest in eating carefully and staying fit, you’ll also have an easier time sticking to a healthy lifestyle.

 About the Author

This article was written by Dixie Somers. Dixie is a freelance writer and frequent blogger for health, family, business, and home niches. Make sure your home is set with the best internet and telephone services.