5 Positive Habits Proven to Upscale your Life and Business
Many of us are bombarded with different messages about productivity and the grind. But what happens when the gas in your grind tank runs empty? Or do you start noticing yourself slowing down?
In his book Atomic Habits by James Clear, the author explains how tiny habit changes can lead to better results over time. The main goal is to be successful over a long period rather than a quick win and eventual burnout.
Here are some tips we’ve compiled to help you focus on forming positive habits for your life and business.
Boundaries
The upside of working for yourself is that you can do it anywhere and everywhere. The downside? Boundaries for work and home life become seriously affected.
Knowing when to set boundaries for yourself is essential. The advent of working from home may be new and exciting until we realize that a house is no longer a place to ‘escape.’ The boundaries of where work begins and ends become blurred, and people soon experience burnout–fast.
This is where setting time boundaries for yourself comes in. For example, upon waking up in the morning, if you answer e-mails and make big decisions before grabbing a cup of coffee, you’re not allowing yourself the time to structure your day. The same goes for social media. Let’s face it, the news and what’s on our feeds isn’t getting any better.
If you’re someone easily affected by bad news or distracted by the latest Buzzfeed quiz, you’re losing time to do something productive for yourself.
One tip in creating boundaries is to start small. Maybe don’t check your e-mail first thing? Have breakfast first, and spend time with your family. Another tip would be to identify your productive hours and spend those time slots working on those e-mails or doing creative tasks for an hour or more. By scheduling your time, you create your daily schedule with how you want not to be overwhelmed.
By setting boundaries about what you do and choosing to consume first thing in the morning or before work, you’re creating a safe space for yourself not to get overwhelmed by news and e-mails all day.
Consume Quality Content
It’s so easy to get lost in cat videos. No shame. They’re adorable and funny, but are they adding value to your life? Sure, sometimes you need to see a kitten meowing or getting into trouble, but other than sharing it with friends, what else is there?
You can increase your productivity by researching while doing other things. If you’re faced with a long drive, why not listen to a podcast related to your business niche instead of music? You never know. It might even help you get energized to work.
Some of our favorites to listen to are by:
Gary Vee – here
Hidden Brain – here
Philosophize This! – here
When you do this, you’re cutting down the time needed in research or experience because you’ve already learned about it. That’s the beauty of quality content; you’re not pressured to understand and consume knowledge when it’s done right.
We didn’t say this to conflict with setting boundaries; you don’t have to watch all the videos or read many books. Pace yourself with one video or podcast and a few pages of helpful books. This is one way you can keep your boundaries while consuming content.
Establish a Routine
The Oxford Dictionary describes the meaning of the word routine as follows:
noun
noun: routine; plural noun: routines
- a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.
adjective
adjective: routine
- performed as part of a regular procedure rather than for a particular reason.
Here we see that routine is a set of habits we do every day. When we have a fixed pattern, good or bad, we set ourselves up for what may or may not be a productive day.
This is why setting up a system is better for long-term productivity than just setting a goal. In Scott Adams’ book, How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, he highlights the importance of systems over goals.
“A goal is a specific objective that you either achieve or don’t sometime in the future. A system is something you do regularly that increases your odds of happiness in the long run. If you do something every day, it’s a system. If you’re waiting to achieve it someday in the future, it’s a goal. If you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize you just lost the thing that gave you purpose and direction. Your options are to feel empty and useless, perhaps enjoying the spoils of your success until they bore you, or set new goals and reenter the cycle of permanent pre success failure. All I’m suggesting is that thinking of goals and systems as very different concepts has power. Goal-oriented people exist in a state of continuous pre success failure at best and permanent failure at worst if things never work out. Systems people succeed every time they apply their systems, in the sense that they did what they intended to do. The goals people are fighting the feeling of discouragement at each turn. The systems people are feeling good every time they apply their system. That’s a big difference in terms of maintaining your personal energy in the right direction.”
― Scott Adams, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life
When you create a system that brings your energy up, you can be productive and not think about it. This allows you to go on “auto-pilot” and still be helpful because you’ve worked those good habits into your daily routine.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
― James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Meditate
When did you last take a moment to quiet things down? Do you remember when you didn’t have music playing in the background?
Being productive and working towards long-term goals means knowing when to step back and quiet it down.
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport talks about how we are going through solitude deprivation. The author explains this by saying that we haven’t allowed ourselves to stop being influenced by outside forces. A few ways to regain your solitude healthily is to meditate or journal.
Just be with yourself.
You can reduce stress with the help of meditation apps like Headspace. A clear, rested mind is a focused one.
Invest
What we mean by that isn’t marketing, although that’s important too. It’s investing in yourself. If you spend all day giving your ideas, opinions, and time to your goals, you need to return some of that to yourself.
Your health is one of the most important things when running your business. If you’re not operating optimally, how can you be sure you’re making the right business choices?
Adjusting your goals can also help. Knowing when to take a step back and get some me-time is essential. Preventing burnout is much easier than burning out and trying to make a comeback.
The thing about being a business owner is it’s about the journey and not just finishing a sprint.
“I’ll be happy if running, and I can grow old together.”
― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
It’s not just your business that you should be thinking long-term. It’s also your health.
BRIGHTSAND Designs may be young, but we care about our partners’ quality of life, online and offline. Working towards a goal in life and business isn’t always about the hustle and grind. Life is a marathon, after all. We want you to be around with us for the long term.
By having us on your side, we can take the burden of complicated strategizing and executing plans away from you. Our team of professionals can help you get back on track and refocus on what’s essential –getting sales. The best part is that you get to do less and have great results. BRIGHTSAND Designs works with you to translate and transform your vision into transactions.
“The person who knows HOW will always have a job; the person who knows WHY will always be the boss.” – John Maxwell.
Brightsand Designs: Reaching Milestones
Without a doubt, Eleanor Roosevelt's wisdom echoes true: "Courage is the most important of all the virtues because, without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently."
The inception of BRIGHTSAND Designs, much like the birth of any enterprise, was seeded in a dream, nurtured by hope, and driven by unwavering faith. My partner and I embarked on this journey just months before the pandemic cast its somber shadow. While doubts and setbacks began to creep in, we clung steadfastly to our strategy, for we held a resolute belief that the present moment was ripe for businesses to recognize the paramount importance of our service – Digital Marketing.
Even before the world underwent this transformative shift, the Internet had its place but was not fully harnessed. It served as an arena for entertainment, social media escapades, viral YouTube videos, and personal video calls. However, as the tides of global change swept over us, it was the businesses equipped with online platforms that radiated with resilience. Amidst this upheaval, an avenue of possibilities emerged for entrepreneurs across diverse industries – a chance to thrive, expand, and flourish online, transcending the confines of brick-and-mortar establishments. Regrettably, it took a health crisis to awaken our collective realization of this immense potential.
Personally, I witnessed the growing urgency. With each passing day, my phone buzzed incessantly, each call seeking advice on how to steer businesses through these tumultuous waters. Reflecting on our humble beginnings, we started with just two clients. Yet, almost inexplicably, our clientele burgeoned to six before the first month's end. Sharing this isn't an exercise in self-congratulation; it's a testament to the power of courage and determination. While empathy flows deeply for the struggling enterprises of today, I believe that fostering hope is equally imperative. The terrain may be rocky, but the summit is attainable when bolstered by courage and unwavering resolve.
Our timing, it seems, was serendipitous. The crucible of experience my partner and I endured has imparted invaluable lessons. Engaging with clients spanning various sectors, listening to their narratives, and crafting tailored solutions have catalyzed our own evolution. Had we hesitated or faltered in our resolve, every moment squandered would have been more than a loss; it would have been an opportunity forsaken for us and those we serve. Armed with our expertise, we have been catalysts in elevating our clients' businesses. Our efforts have been focused on restoring their voices, guiding them to embrace the digital realm's ever-evolving landscape, and adapting to the paradigm shift we now know as the 'new normal.'
Today, I stand at a juncture marked by profound pride. Guided by a dedicated and indefatigable team, we have crossed our inaugural milestone! As we embarked on this venture, my partner and I, brimming with hope, aspired to someday touch the realm of six figures. Remarkably, within a month, we achieved this milestone. In the process, we welcomed new clients and team members who have sculpted BRIGHTSAND Designs into what it embodies today – a dynamic, evolving entity that surpasses our initial aspirations.
So, what lies ahead for BRIGHTSAND Designs, you may wonder? Having etched this milestone into our narrative, my aspiration is for our enterprise to burgeon further, generating new employment avenues for fellow professionals in our field. We've discerned that services like ours hold profound significance when the world encounters impasses. Our mission now extends beyond growth to embracing the role of a conduit for others, facilitating seamless adaptation for fellow businesses. As our entity expands, new opportunities shall emerge, not only for us but for the communities we touch.
One poignant email from an applicant resonates deeply. She expressed how her mere application with us instilled hope – a reminder that despite the crisis, avenues of possibility remain. Looking back, her words illuminate the impact we're sowing within our community during these trying times.
In essence, amidst uncertainties that slam doors shut for many, we aspire for BRIGHTSAND Designs to stand as a beacon, continually prying open windows of opportunity – for prospective team members and fellow enterprises alike.
So, let's raise our glasses to courage! Here's to two resounding cheers for BRIGHTSAND Designs! The future, indeed, shines bright.