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Round-up: Great Reminder Apps for iPhone

By on April 12, 2012 in Inspiration, Life Balance, Productivity, Time

Despite text messages, email and a constant stream of notifications, it’s still easy to forget things. We can all use a little help staying on track and bringing a little life back into our days. Any app that can help me do that is a wonderful thing.

I recently wrote a review for Lifehack.org on three reminder apps that I have personally found very helpful on my quest for better life management. Read the entire post…

Alarmed  - An all-in-one time app for iPhone/iPad that is packed with useful features; a pop-up reminder, timers, wakeup alarms and sleep timers available in the iTunes store.

TellMeLater – Simple and easy to use, it’s a great little app for all those times you want to remember something later. $.99 in the iTunes store.

Timeless Reminders – Timeless Reminders allows you capture your most inspiring photos, videos, music, audio, and text to create personally meaningful reminders that inspire you to take healthy and productive action in your life. It’s free in the iTunes store.

One is simple, one is multi-faceted, and the other is highly motivational. The most important thing is to choose which approach best works for you, so you will actually use it.

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How to Stay Productive and Focused

By on March 28, 2012 in Goals, Inspiration, Life Balance, Motivation, Personal Growth, Productivity

writingI was recently cleaning out old files and documents on my computer. I came across the transcript of an interview I was asked to give about a year ago or so, on how I stay productive, maintain my focus and enjoy life.

As I was reading through, I had to ask myself if the answers are still true and more importantly if I’m living by them. Yes and no. The answers are still true. Definitely. But I don’t consistently translate them into daily actions, and when I don’t my productivity, my connection and my happiness in life falter.

It was an important reminder to me. And I hope that by sharing, you will ask yourself the same questions and that your answers might make your path to life fulfillment and successes clearer.

Questions:

  1. How do you stay productive?

I think the key to living a productive life and making productivity a consistent practice is in having clearly defined goals or outcomes, knowing what actions you need to take to accomplish what you desire, then making it a habit to follow through to completion on tasks and projects. Then you need to make sure you have some balance in your life. There has to be some fun on the flip side.

  1. Where do you find motivation on a daily basis?

I am motivated by a burning desire to connect with others and to share any wisdom or insights I may have that might help them in some way. I see an epidemic of busyness both in the work place and at home. People are frustrated and overwhelmed in their lives and careers. We’re working harder, enjoying life less and spinning our wheels much of the time.

It doesn’t have to be that way! I think life is a journey of growth and we are meant to continuously evolve. I think we design our lives by the actions and choices we make each day and I truly believe that if I can help others make wiser choices and take better actions then I’m doing something worthwhile with my life.

  1. How long have you been doing what you do?

I have been blogging for about two years. I actually started out with a completely different blog and focus, but gradually evolved both my personal (GuardWife.com) and professional (ProductiveLifeConcepts.com) blogs until they were a more comfortable fit for me.

  1. What inspires you?

I am constantly inspired by the world around me. I read incessantly…I always have. I find people interesting and am fascinated by what makes them tick and why they behave the way, they do. I also have a genuine love of nature. The simple beauty of flowers, trees, animals, even the weather provides me with endless inspiration and ideas. I try to get out into nature every day. It calms and centers me, which allows me to be more creative as well.

  1. How did you develop a talent for writing?

I’m not sure honestly. I have always been good at writing, especially on non-fiction topics, but never pursued it professionally until I decided to get into blogging. My writing has definitely improved with practice. After writing hundreds of blog posts and writing my first book, I have gotten much more efficient and clearer with my writing, both during the writing process and in the end result.

Once I discovered my personal writing style, which happens to be very conversational in nature, I found that my writing flourished. I write as I speak, as if I’m having a conversation with a colleague or friend, share a bit of myself, break a few rules, and have fun.

Your Turn

You’ll obviously want to substitute whatever you do and what your talent is for mine, but the questions are still relevant, and I hope useful.

I’d love to know your answers if you’re willing to share. By sharing something of ourselves, we inspire others.

 

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A 2 Step Process to Generate Ideas, Cultivate Creativity, and Achieve Your Goals

By on February 22, 2012 in Health, Inspiration, Life Balance, Personal Growth, Productivity

The key to a successful life is to keep moving forward. When you face a challenge, but are unsure what step to take next, or seem to be standing still, unable to achieve your goals, pause and give your mind the time and space to generate solutions.

The best way to accomplish this is to set aside structured “Idea Time.” The initial inspiration for this process came from Todd Henry’s book, “The Accidental Creative.” I adapted this concept into a process that works best for me. You may need to adapt it further to suit you as well.

How to Use Your Idea Time

Step 1

Choose a question or problem to ponder.

Brainstorm possible solutions.

Contemplate potential actions.

Choose one or a few to implement.

Add these action steps to your task or goal list.

Step 2

Let your mind wander. Allow any and all ideas to float in.

Ask what else. What else could I do? What ideas or inspirations would I like to explore?

Record those ideas in your idea book (this can be an actual notebook or journal, an electronic document or mobile app.)

Decide if any of these ideas are useful or relevant now.

Leave the rest to marinate for future consideration.

The mind is most effective when we allow it to slow down and contemplate solutions. The answers to how to achieve our goals, find happiness, attain life satisfaction, and realize career success lie within us. We have an inner wisdom that we can tap into, if only we give it the time and freedom to come alive.

Try to schedule “Idea Time,” on your calendar each week. If you can’t find an hour, try 30 minutes at least.

Do you think this might benefit you? Why or why not?

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Why You Need This Tool to Keep Your Goals on Track

By on February 15, 2012 in Goals, Habits, Life Balance, Personal Growth, Productivity


GoalsOnTrack offers a thoroughly researched, well-designed system to achieving goals of any kind. Their website offers a systematic approach that has been shown to be highly effective for many users. What’s more, you don’t have to use all of the available tools to get results. Utilize the options that make the most sense for you.

As is my usual practice when recommending products or tools, I use them myself to assess their usefulness and determine if they are the right fit for my readers. I am happy to report that after having used this software, I am impressed by the system, the potential results, and the quick and easy customer support to answer any questions.

Some of the features of GoalsOnTrack

SMART Goals

Writing your goals in a SMART way makes it much more likely, that you’ll succeed. Follow the goal creation instructions to ensure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

Chunk it Down

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your long, complex, overwhelming goals into small, manageable chunks. Use Sub goal feature to chunk it down and stop procrastination

See Instant Progress

Seeing immediate progress on whatever you do is the most powerful motivation sources. That’s why some games are so addictive. Real time progress tracking features allow you to view instant progress on your goals whenever you complete a task.

Tame Your To-do List

Stop getting frustrated and overwhelmed by your to-do list. Setup your tasks for your goals, and see them automatically organized by goals, categories, and days. Use drag-n-drop features to quickly prioritize your Today’s tasks. Recurring tasks and email reminders also supported.

Use Your Time Wisely

If you don’t manage your time, you will surely waste time. Track how long you spend on tasks accurately and effortlessly, using animated, and offline time trackers no matter where you complete the task.

Day Planner On-the-go

Print out a Day Planner sheet with all your active goals and tasks for today. Take it with you wherever you go. You can check off your to-do list and know you are making progress on goals without using the software.

Visualize Your Success

Visualizing when all your goals are accomplished is a great way to motivate yourself. Upload your own pictures for goals and watch your dreams unfold before your eyes in vision board tool.

Start a New Habit

Nothing can help you reach goals quicker than a right set of great habits. Start a new habit today with Habits Builder tool.

Stick to it until It’s Formed

Tracking your habits is as simple as placing checkmarks on habits tracker calendar tool. The software remembers when and how many checkmarks you placed, and automatically track your habit strength and days to form.

Create Goal Journals

Use the goal journal tool to write down what you did for your goals, how you did it, and what lessons you learned. Not only will you have a written record of your goal journey, you’ll also gain valuable insights and grow personally in the long run.

Import & Export Tasks

See your goals and tasks in your favorite calendar tool, such as Outlook, Google Calendar, and Yahoo Calendar etc. You may also import tasks from Outlook and export them into CSV files.

Progress and Time Usage Reports

Everything you do in the system is recorded and you can create reports on them anytime you like. Create detailed PDF reports on goals, tasks, progress, and time usage. View 3D charts online.

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13 Warning Signs That You May Be Burned Out

By on January 30, 2012 in Health, Life Balance, Stress

Fire flame

Image via Wikipedia

Burned out, stressed out people have become so commonplace that we hardly pay attention to the signs anymore. But that is a serious mistake. Burn out has a tremendous impact on both your physical health and mental well-being.

The first step is learning to recognize the signs. We often dismiss them. We are just dedicated to our jobs or honoring our commitments, or even being a good parent, child, or friend. That is merely a lie we tell ourselves so that we can keep doing what we have been doing.

Stop doing that to yourself. Be aware of the signs and take heed.

Some common warning signs, though there are many others:

  1. You don’t take a lunch away from your desk
  2. Either the quantity or quality of your sleep has deteriorated.
  3. You frequently forget where you put things, or what you are supposed to be doing.
  4. You are distracted when involved in a conversation.
  5. You can’t remember the last time you took time for yourself.
  6. You are exhausted all the time or have no energy.
  7. You have become irritable and impatient much of the time.
  8. You experience frequent headaches or stomach upset with no discernible reason.
  9. You work long hours and don’t take time off.
  10. Alternatively, you call in sick or come in late frequently.
  11. You have lost motivation and interest in your job, hobbies or family.
  12. You are always on, afraid to shut off your electronic shackles.
  13. You feel like you are juggling and most of the plates are crashing.

When you see the signs, pay attention. Take a step back and realize that you must make some kind of change. Sometimes it is a small change and sometimes it can be a complete overhaul. If you do not do something, your body will eventually force the issue.

Have you experienced burnout? Have you taken any steps to change your stress levels? Any signs I missed?Enhanced

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10 Minutes to a Lower Stress Life Series: Reducers to the Rescue

By on January 25, 2012 in Happiness, Health, Life Balance, Personal Growth, Stress

 

Photo by JFPescatore (CC BY-SA 2.0)

While we have acknowledged that stress cannot be avoided all together, there are some practices we can employ while in the throes of life stress that can bring our stress levels down and minimize both the short and long-term effects of stress on our bodies and minds. Again, these are different for each person; what might be work for one, doesn’t work for another. The key is in knowing what they are so that you can take them out of your little bag of calming tricks when you need them most and get back to a better life balance.

Lower Stress Strategy: Employ your stress reducers.

Stress reducers are practices that we can use in the moment of, or directly after, a stressful situation. These actions that can help to calm and bring your stress back down to a manageable level so that you can get on with the rest of your day and not get stuck in the stress cycle.

Take 10 minutes to list 5-10 strategies (more if you want) that reduce or short-circuit stress.

Some of my stress reducers:

Petting my dogs – The touch and rhythm of the action, coupled with the affection soothe my angry beast.

Listening to music – Surprisingly, the genre doesn’t matter. Classical, rock, blues, it all works for me.

Fresh air – Stepping outside or even opening the window release tension and bring me back down.

Deep breathing – This is talked about all the time, but it really works. A few minutes of deep slow breathes lower my heart rate and blood pressure.

Running – I love walking and yoga, but they do not work for me after stress has occurred. I need to get my blood pumping and burn off the stress.

Looking at pictures of my children and grandson – The smiles and simple enjoyment of life, the reminder of love and the bigger picture help me to put things in perspective.

What are your reducers? Care to share…

In the rest of this series on lowering stress, we look at more strategies to reduce stress and how to avoid it before it starts.

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10 Minutes to a Lower Stress Life Series: Eliminate the Amplifiers

By on January 23, 2012 in Health, Life Balance, Personal Growth, Stress
English: Jump! Deutsch: Spring!

Image via Wikipedia

Volumes have been written on how to de-stress, lower stress and eliminate stress, yet we continue to have higher stress levels than ever before. The truth is that we can’t completely stress-proof our lives and we shouldn’t. Some stress is good. It keeps us moving, helps us meet deadlines, and sometimes alerts us to when it’s time to step back. However, when stress takes over, life loses its joy, work is no longer satisfying, and relationships are just another burden to carry.

It doesn’t have to be that way! There are a few simple things we can do to lower our stress levels and get back to a better life balance and a higher quality of life. Here’s my disclaimer: While it may be simple, it isn’t necessarily easy. That part is up to you.

We do not have to be a victim; we do have some power to forestall stress to a certain extent. We often unknowingly cause of our own tension, by exposing ourselves to people, things, and atmospheres that exacerbate our stress levels. I call these amplifiers. Amplifiers are things that either trigger stress or elevate it. These are different for each person; what might be an amplifier for one, might be a reducer for another. The key lies in knowing what they are so that you can eliminate, minimize, or at least prepare yourself for an elevated stress reaction.

Lower Stress Strategy: Identify your stress amplifiers.

Take 10 minutes to list 5-10 things (more if you want) that amplify or trigger stress.

Some of my stress amplifiers:

Watching the news – I still know what’s going on in the world, but watching the news causes negativity and anxiety for me.

Disorder – I need order. Piles, messes, unfinished projects all distract and agitate me so that I can’t function.

Chaos – Being in the middle of a busy, hectic atmosphere (too much activity, multiple conversations, etc.) spikes my stress and tension levels.

Complainers – I really have no tolerance for people who complain and whine instead of taking action. Drives me nuts. Enough said.

Ambiguity – I feel an underlying sense of unease when I don’t have clarity. I need specifics; times, expectations, rules, processes, decisions. I need a clear path, not an open field.

Lack of sleep – This should be at the top of my list. Number one stress amplifier. If I don’t get enough sleep, I am a bubbling volcano, waiting for the slightest infraction to explode.

What makes this list will be a matter of personality type and preference. Your list is your own; whatever is real for you. What matters is that you know what affects you, causes you more stress, or sets you on edge. The extent to which you can avoid your stress amplifiers or at least be aware of their contribution so that you can consciously minimize them will determine the level of stress in your life.

What are your amplifiers? Care to share…

In the rest of this series on lowering stress, look for more strategies to reduce stress and enjoy a higher quality of life.

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Create a Life Plan in 30 Minutes or Less…and Why You Need to

By on January 2, 2012 in Happiness, Life Balance, Mood, Personal Growth, Questions, Work

Do you have a life plan? If not, it’s time to think about creating one. We are not talking about some 20 page research paper with charts and graphs and maps. Just a general snapshot of where you are right now in all the areas that matter and where you’d like to go in the future.

This should take no more than 30 minutes. This is your life we’re talking about…you can find 30 minutes. And if you can’t …we need to talk, you and I.

How would you rate your life on a scale of 1 – 10? – Are you satisfied with that rating? What would you be satisfied with?

Write a brief description of the current state of your life. – Health, relationships, work, finances, spiritual or emotional well-being, community, etc. Whatever is going on. Just briefly jot it down.

What makes you happy? – There must be some good things, some things that bring you joy and make you laugh.

What are the drains on your energy and happiness? – What people, situations or behaviors are your kryptonite? We all have these things (or someones) that suck the life out of us like vampires draining our life force.

What isn’t working in your life? - These are the obstacles to living a satisfied life of fulfillment…Do you need to lose weight, be more organized, find a different job, end or change a relationship, manage your stress better or maybe just learn to laugh again.

Now describe your ideal life. - I’m not talking about a commercial for the “Rich and Famous,” some Hollywood fairy tale. I’m talking about what kind of life would truly make you happy to get out of bed in the morning. What would you be doing? Who would you be with? How would you be feeling?

What do you need to do to get that life?  – What needs to happen for you to get from point A to point B? Again, not a detailed outline of actions for the next 20 years, just some general goals to work toward, a few habits to adopt or a change in attitude or surroundings to adopt.

Something to think about…Why? Why do you want whatever it is that you want? What do you really want to accomplish in this life? What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want to be remembered for?

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Why You Need a Clean Sweep if You Want to Improve Your Success

By on December 30, 2011 in Energy, Goals, Life Balance, Personal Growth

Photo by Jesse Gardner

Every once in a while I get the urge to just dump everything…well almost everything… that I’m doing and clear the decks. Just sweep them clean. Create a blank slate on which to write our aspirations, goals and dreams. We get so tied up and bogged down in everything we have on our plates; projects, commitments, habits, that we have no room to breathe. No space to experiment. Not even the tiniest crack in our schedule to stop and think.

Do I truly care about the projects I’m involved in?

Why am I doing this again?

Do I really need to do that thing?

Here’s the harsh reality. If you haven’t made any progress on those goals you set earlier in the year, you need to question if they really matter.

Now take a deep breath and let them go. Make room for new goals, fresh ideas, creative projects.

What would you do if only you had the time?

It’s almost a new year, time for a fresh start.

Time for some house cleaning, both literally and figuratively.

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Slow Down! You May be Missing Something Important

By on December 16, 2011 in Energy, Happiness, Life Balance, Relationships
English: Slow Road.

Image via Wikipedia

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” Eddie Cantor

Slow down! You may be missing something important…your life.

This time of year it’s more important than ever to slow down and enjoy your life. Unfortunately for most of us this is also the busiest time of year; shopping, wrapping, socializing and we still have to keep up with our work obligations and family responsibilities. It doesn’t leave much time for holiday cheer, let alone, time to take in the scenery.

Unless we make a conscious decision to do so. You can make excuses all day long. In the end the choice is yours. As a “busyholic in recovery” I can tell you that I get it. I understand the avalanche of tasks, the never-ending demands, and the bottomless inbox. I get it. I really do. But to what end? Where are you going and why?

I can tell you where I am going!

I am going to sit and enjoy one more Christmas concert and actually listen to the children singing and playing their hearts out instead of lamenting over the chores that are waiting for me at home and what I could have gotten done if I didn’t have to attend.

I am going to sit and play Othello and Battleship with my son in front of the fire instead of making one more trip to the mall for that “perfect” present.

I am going to cuddle and rock my smoochable grandbaby instead of trekking back up to my office late at night for one more work session.

I am going to drink coffee with my husband and watch the snowflakes fall instead of checking my email on a Sunday morning.

Where are you going? Can you slow down and enjoy your life more?

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