Stressed about Money? Focus on this…

As the new year starts. many of us are looking at holiday bills and worrying about money. Anxiety and stress about money can cause anxiety attacks, sleepless nights and depression.

Stressed about Money? So what’s the solution?

Focus on gratitude!
The next time you start feeling poor or experiencing lack, pull out paper and pen or use your cellphone and make a list of everything in your life that you are grateful for. Include the fact that you have access to clean water, clothing, shelter, food, friends, healthcare, etc. Those are all luxuries to a large portion of the world.

You will notice that as you do this, your stress abates. It may even disappear.

There’s a simple reason for this. What you focus on manifests, and when you focus on lack or scarcity, yu create more of that. But when you focus on abundance and gratitude, you attract in more to be grateful for.

And if you’ve done this exercise several times and are still super-stressed, go volunteer at a soup kitchen, or work with the homeless. Your perspective will change, I guarantee it.

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Are You Losing Customers?

Are you so successful that you can afford to lose good, long-term customers? Most of us want to retain customers and continue to provide value for them. But inflexible policies and procedures can cost you business.

dreamstime_s_43391176 Let me share a story. I recently moved from Florida to California. I notified my banks, the IRS, my credit card companies, etc. All transferred me over to the new address except one- a gas company. I had been their customer for 26 years. That’s a long time. I typically spent $4000 a year with them, including some $500 moving across country

And they would not allow me to change my address. I called and they said I needed to provide proof of the move in writing, Which I did- to no avail. They continued to send bills to the old address, where anyone could see my credit card number and use it. (Most companies no longer put account numbers on bills for this very reason.) They were not concerned about that kind of fraud; I was.

They refused to accept the proof I sent them. They wanted something from the Secretary of State of California. They were absolutely rigid and unyielding. And so I cancelled my card. They lost a 26 year customer over a policy.

It’s the exact opposite of how a customer-focused organization like the Ritz Carlton operates. As I understand it, every employee is empowered to fix a customer problem up to $200. Above that, they can go higher and seek assistance for the guest.

That’s how you keep long-term customers. Think about your policies and the way you do business. Could some added flexibility enhance relationships?

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Energy Drains Create Stress; Try This Instead

Stressed woman pulling her hair — Are you out of energy and stressed?

All of us are subject to various energy drains from time to time. Review the list below to determine which eare sapping your vitality and positive outlook. The good news is you can change your behavior and your actions to support yourself and your energy.

• Negative people. You are the result of the 5 people you spend the most time with. They impact your energy levels. Avoid complainers, Debbie Downers and bad news mongers.

• Incompletions. Projects you have left 1/2 finished, books half read, newspapers and magazines opened but not finished. All of those are sapping your energy. Here’s what to do about it: https://firedupnow.com/could-your-incompletions-be-stressing-you-out/

• Lack of sleep. You need 7 hours a night or you are at a cognitive disadvantage.

• Sugar Check the research out yourself- sugar is terrible for you and contributes to cancer, diabetes, weight gain and so much more. That candy bar you eat at 2:00 will crash you at 3:00. Avoid it and boost your energy.

• Dehydration– 40% of North Americans are dehydrated. Drink 10-12 glasses
of pure water a day, more if you drink soda, coffee or tea. A 5% drop in hydration means a 25% drop in energy.

• Sitting and lethargy Many people are now sitting for over 9 hours a day.
(Which is why I am writing this from my stand up desk!) Get up every hour and move around, Get exercise every day. Walk frequently, take the stairs.
For more on sitting, go here: https://firedupnow.com/why-sitting-is-so-bad-for-you/

You make the choices as to who to spend time with, what to put in your body and how much to move. You can be energetic and Fired Up! starting now.

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Is Lack of Boundaries Stressing You Out?

You Must Set Limits on Your Time and Energy

Mary’s mother demanded enormous amounts of her time, even though she was perfectly healthy. Instead of declining all the requested visits, Mary spent way too much time with her mother, ignoring her job, husband and health. She ended up sick and could not work. She desperately needed boundaries.

I often see very bright, accomplished professionals who are completely overwhelmed by the demands on their lives- especially women. With high pressure jobs, families, friends, volunteer work and aging parents, most of these folks are so stressed they are close to their breaking point. How can this be fixed? By setting healthy boundaries.

How to Set Boundaries:

• Start valuing your own time. Before you commit to anything, personal or professional, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I want to do this?
2. Am I capable of doing this?
3. Is it the highest and best use of my time?
4. What do I have to give up to do this?
5. What happens if I don’t say yes?
6. Will this stress me out further?

• Learn to say NO. When yet another volunteer opportunity comes your way, say “I appreciate your thinking of me., I only want to give you my best effort, and right now, I can’t. May I recommend…. for this?”

• Value Your Own Need for Downtime You cannot be effective at your job, at home, as a parent, partner or friend if you are burnt-out. Play time, quiet time, nap time, meditation time- all of these give your brain critically needed detoxification. Furthermore, you are more likely to come up with new creative solutions when you step away from the work and relax.

Set boundaries and don’t allow others to take advantage of you- you will be much happier and less stressed

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Reduce Stress with the 5 minute Rule

As I speak around the country to CEO’s, leaders and managers, I am often asked what quick things can be done to reduce stress. One of my favorites is the 5 minute rule.

As you look around your workspace, what could you handle in 5 minutes or less? Could you clean off your desk, write an important thank you note, file essential papers, wash out a coffee cup? Any of those things would give you an immediate sense of completion.

The brain craves completion. Whenever you have thought and you don’t take action in it, you have incompletion. This drives parts of your brain crazy. If your whole office is a mass of piles and incompletions, you will never want to go in there. If you wake up at night thinking of all the things you did not do, this could be the reason.

Solution: whenever you have a thought and you can take action on it in 5 minutes or less, do it. You’ll reduce your stress and be far more productive.

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Protect Your Family’s Health with this Beverage

It’s cold and flu season in the US, and having had pneumonia myself over the past few years, I wanted a powerful immune system builder. After much reading, I’ve come up with a hot drink that I love and that actually boosts my immunity.

Here’s what it takes:
1 full cup pure boiled water
1 teaspoon organic coconut oil
1 capsule turmeric
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
a sprinkle of cayenne pepper
a sprinkle of fresh ground regular pepper
2 droppers full of ginger extract

Let all the ingredients sit in the hot water and stir. You may want to add additional honey or stevia for sweetness. Some people prefer to put this in plain almond milk, too. It works great and here’s why.

Honey is a natural antibacterial agent. I take a spoonful if I ever begin to think I am getting sick. http://www.medicaldaily.com/liquid-gold-7-health-benefits-honey-could-heal-your-whole-body-325932
Lemon in water clears your liver and cuts mucus. It’s rich in Vitamin C. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/13-healing-powers-of-lemons.html
Turmeric has a host of anti-inflammatory qualities and is activated best in hot water with fresh ground pepper. http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6873/25-Reasons-Why-Turmeric-Can-Heal-You.html
Coconut oil is great for you. I use it as a moisturizer and healing agent. It contains lauric acid, which kills bacteria. http://www.youngandraw.com/42-healing-ways-to-use-coconut-oil

Try this with your family and see what a difference it makes. Always consult your doctor for medical issues.

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It’s National Hug Day!

Start Hugging Now: Celebrate National Hug Day

Hugging is an essential key to health and well-being.

“We need 4 hugs a day for survival.
We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance.
We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” Virginia Satir

We all need to be touched. Babies who are not held and touched die. Since it’s national hug day, I thought I would share a few benefits of hugging:

• it lowers stress levels
• it improves sleep
• it strengthens internal body systems like digestive tracks
• it boost seratonin, the feel-good hormone
• it builds trust
• it promoted feelings of well-being and safety

Nick Ortner has a new book on hugs for children that you may want to check out: www.barkleythebear.com/hugs

So spend some time today hugging others and see what magic results!

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See Yourself Succeeding with a Dream Collage!

How to Create a Dream Collage That Actually Works

In a world of constant distraction and pressure, visualization remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to regain focus, direction, and momentum. There’s a new trend out in creating a vision board or dream collage. I first wrote about them 20 years ago and I learned that they had been used for decades. That’s because they work! Dream collages are powerful visual tools that truly help you make your dreams come true. For leaders and high achievers, this kind of visualization is often the first step in building long-term clarity and resilience under pressure. You can explore how this connects to sustained leadership effectiveness in our Leadership Resilience Hub.

My first dream collage in 1989 had so many positive results that I was hooked. Everything on that collage came true within 2 years, including me finding the love of my life, getting married and receiving high profile media coverage for my book. The example shown here is from one of my students who later built a multi-million-dollar business with Avon.

So get yourself some poster board, maybe wrap it in your favorite colored wrapping paper, get scissors, double sided tape or Spray mount, and magazines from your favorite hobbies, interests, or places you like to visit.

Here’s what should be on your dream collage:

• key words and phrases that inspire you

• images of your ideal life, personally, financially, spiritually, professionally

• a picture of yourself right in the middle, and if you are married or have a family, include them in the picture

• images and words that inspire you

I’ve seen people put sparkles and glitter over their posterboard. Do whatever you can to make it exciting and beautiful for you. And only share it with people who will encourage and support you.

Put the collage somewhere you see it every day- like on your refrigerator or mirror. Take a photo of it can keep it on your phone. Look at it regularly. See yourself living your dreams. That’s the key- if you can see it, you can be it. You deserve to live the life of your dreams!

Good luck. Now is the perfect time to get started!

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Overwhelmed? How to Regain Focus

Do You Have Cognitive Overload?

“Information overload is a symptom of our desire to not focus on what’s important. It is a choice.” Brian Solis

We receive so much data that we can barely comprehend all that is coming into our minds. Right now, you may be thinking about your next meeting, responding to a text, planning your tweets for the day and answering a call. Whew- no wonder we have information overload. Our brains are overwhelmed with stress with all the distractions.

A recent Stanford study found that those who spend lots of time on social media, surfing the Internet and multi-tasking had poor cognitive skills. They could not distinguish well between what was important and what was trivial. “They are suckers for irrelevancy.”

How to Regain Focus:

In his book, Search Inside Yourself. Chade-Meng Tan of Google, shares some keys to regaining cognitive clarity.

• Monitor what you read and how you do it– If you find your mind wandering while reading, bring your attention back to what you are doing. Keep practicing this skill.

• Use active listening Have someone speak for 3 minutes and you listen, Then repeat back to the person with the preface ” What you said is important. Do you mind if I repeat it back to see if I have it right?” (People LOVE this- they love to be heard.)

A few tips from me:

• Do 1 thing at a time. That’s it. One thing and do it well and complete it. Take satisfaction and then move on to the next one thing. Your focus will improve. Multi-tasking is terrible for your brain.

• Go tech free for a day this weekend. Lots of research show the value of this. It’s like rebooting your brain.

• Get quiet and go outside in nature. Life becomes much simpler away from the office and computer.

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Here’s an Instant Stress Reliever

Stress is occurring at an alarming rate, and with our 24/7 world. more and more people are experiencing stress, anxiety, overwhelm and depression. So what can you do, right now?

The Astonishing Power of Breath

Try this. Hold your breath for as long as you can- until it almost hurts to let it out. Unless you are a professional athlete or extreme yogi, you probably couldn’t hold it for long. Without breath, the body, mind and spirit cannot function.

And yet we all forget what an incredible resource this is. Breath literally keeps us alive, fuels our interactions and enables us to function. Without it, we are severally hampered. Having had pneumonia a few years ago, I learned quickly how very debilitating lack of breath can be. We all take it for granted.

The Instant Stress Reliever: Breath

• Breathe deeply at least 3 times. Put your hands on your lower belly, fill it up all the way and let it out…slowly. Do this several times to regain control and calm your system. Notice how you feel.

• Use breath to monitor emotions. We are not our feelings and when our emotions take over, we are not our best selves. When experiencing anger, upset, frustration, fear, stop and breathe deeply. Visualize a positive scene in nature, perhaps mountains or beaches. Focus on that. Let go.

• Learn how to meditate. Meditation is a powerful healing agent; it:
-lowers blood pressure; increases circulation
– improves immune function and memory
-shortens hospital stays
-decreases insomnia
– helps relieve stress, ADHD
-helps reverse heart disease

There are many different ways to meditate. Here’s one:

Start with the deep breathing above and focus on the breath. If thoughts come up, observe them, let them drift by like leaves in the wind. Picture a beautiful nature scene in a forest, visualize a waterfall. Imagine you are standing in the gentle waterfall and let all your worries and fears wash away. Practice this over and over until you can meditate for at least 10 minutes. It can make a huge difference in your well-being.

You can control your stress rather than having it control you. Try deep breathing as a solution. It’s fast, easy and free!

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