5 Steps to a Better YOU and Business

Get Motivated, Have More Confidence, & Be More Productive

Written By: Angela and Andy Ogg, CTIE

 

We all get stuck in a rut at times. It’s inevitable. Some people call it complacency and it’s in our nature to fall into the trap of ease. However, to be great, to be above, we must fight this natural response. Imagine who you could be if you just pushed harder or if you just fought a little longer.

 

One of the great mentors and leaders of Civil Rights, Benjamin E. Mays said it perfectly, “The tragedy of life is often not failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much but rather in our doing too little; not in our living above our ability, but rather in our living below our capacities.” In this article we going to discuss 5 ways on how to over come things we all face on a daily basis. Not only will we discuss how to overcome them but also how to thrive during and after.

 

Healthy Eating with Angela

One of the most common mistakes we make as individuals is not thinking very much about what we put into our bodies. I have had countless conversations about nutritionally filled eating and how hard it is for a person to do. The truth is eating healthy is very simple.

 

The number one thing is making the right choices (most of the time) on what you decide to eat. Good choices are natural food, not processed, eating mostly greens, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats. When consuming these types of food, the benefits your body receives is substantial. It can prevent diabetes, help ensure your heart is working at it’s best, manage your weight better, and improve your brain function.

 

Did you know food rich in vitamin B-6 and B-12 and folic acid can help you reduce your homocysteine levels? Homocysteine levels have been linked to increased risk of dementia, according to Harvard Medical School. Vitamin B enriched foods include leafy green vegetables, fortified cereals, and grains. Omega fatty acids helps improve memory and learning and battle mood disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, and depression says, Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of physiological science at the University of California. Foods with Omega fatty acids are fish, oils, and nuts.

 

Following a healthy diet helps you to be the best and most productive you. We should all make healthy eating a priority. After all, we are only given one body. Let’s take care of it!

 

Be Active and Get Good Rest with Angela

I don’t know about you but when I don’t workout, I am in the worst mood. I not only get grumpy, but I also just don’t feel as great. The same goes for not getting a good nights rest. Sadly, not being active or getting enough rest is normal in our society and many are neglecting the important parts that help them function as a better individual. There is a ton of research that shows all the unfavorable things that happen to you when you don’t get enough sleep.

 

Good rest is a natural therapy for insomnia and other sleep disorders. When we create healthy sleep habits it helps us to get to bed sooner, feel refreshed, and ready to take on a new day. As small children we learn how to sleep from our parents and the habits they created for us in our home environment. As adults we can make new habits, if maybe your habits need some improvement.

 

There is also a great amount of research on how being active improves the quality of your life physically and mentally. Exercise helps your sleep quality and it increases your sleep duration. It reduces stress and anxiety and those two things can wreck havoc in our lives, both personally and professionally.

 

If you are sitting on the couch watching tv or even laying in bed, set a timer on the tv so it goes off at a certain time or create a routine that helps settle you down for bed. Make sure to go to sleep at the same time everyday or at least Monday through Friday. In doing so, you create a healthy routine that not only gives you immediate but forward looking benefits to your body and mind’s health.

 

When it comes to being active simply start with a small goal like taking a walk once a week, but it doesn’t end there. You must follow through and complete your goal and continue progressing forward. Start with one walk a week, moving to two walks and so on. Before you know it you will be achieving a new level of activity, helping all aspects of your life.

 

Organization and Scheduling with Angela

This brings us to our next part of this article, organization and scheduling. Most of you think of this and either roll your eyes or probably want to stop reading. I know, I felt the same way about these two things BUT the truth is they really do work. These two elements in your life can bring you to your absolute best. It might seem like a lot to take on but just take a deep breathe, you probably only have to make a few adjustments.

 

First off, you need to do what works for your lifestyle. Some people use planners, others, like me, use notes in my smartphone and my calendar. The first thing you want to do is write/type your goals for the week or even the day. I do this on Sunday when all the dust has settled from the weekend, the kids are sleeping and I’m finally enjoying a nice glass of wine.

 

Look at your week ahead and see what’s on the calendar, then simply jot down what you would like to accomplish this week or on a specific day. Another good habit is putting everything in your calendar. This is especially good for the family or business with multiple participants because you can share a calendar and everyone can know what is happening on certain days and can plan accordingly.

 

Now when you are thinking of the things you would like to accomplish, remember to acknowledge your limits and not over plan or overwhelm yourself. Sometimes it is hard to know your own limits but with time and attentiveness, the limits will tell themselves to us. We are all unique individuals that do things differently and we must take the time to know ourselves and what we are capable of..

 

You’ll want to make sure the goals you set are ones you can definitely achieve.  This will change over time as you get better at this. Like everything, we start small and then get bigger. When you do accomplish a goal don’t forget to celebrate it! No matter how small it may be, celebrating the small wins in each day can make you a more productive, positive, and confident person. And who doesn’t want or need confidence especially when it comes to business!

 

Organization and scheduling doesn’t end with goals, work, or calendars, it is also necessary in all the things you do in your life. I like to call it a lifestyle change. From your home office being organized, to your closet, or your kids playroom. The whole goal of this is to let organization and scheduling seep through all facets of your life because when you do, you will be a better version of you. As Amelia Earhart once said, “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” Be efficient, go out there and do what needs to get done.

 

Time Management with Andy

There are hundreds of ways to manage your time spent working and with the power of being your own boss, comes the reward of finding what time management method fits you best. Use your imagination and work style to find the fit that is best for you and your business to ultimately increase your productivity and success as a Travel Professional.

 

For the past 2 months, I’ve been utilizing a block schedule. Basically a Block schedule sets your days up into 2 or 3 hour increments of activities. For me, I am most productive and alert in the morning so I address all of my most challenging tasks first thing, leaving the not so challenging tasks for the afternoon and/or evening block. My schedule is much like this:

 

8 AM – 9 AM
Addressing emails, inquiries and completing all day to day operations

9 AM – 10:30 AM
Concentrated work on projects and more focused work

10:30 AM – 12 PM
Break time from work. Focusing on other tasks (chores, errands and so on)

12 PM – 1 PM
Break time from work.

1 PM – 3 PM
Work on non-concentrated work (emails, responses to social media, news)
3 PM – 8 PM
Break time from work. This is the time I get to enjoy my family and time with them.

8 PM – 10 – 11 PM
Concentrated work on projects and preparation for the next day.

 

This latest time management change has resulted very positively for myself and my family. It allows me time to complete my work, both day to day and long term while still being able to be an active father and husband. Before this style of block scheduling, I was feeling overwhelmed, both professionally and personally with the amount of time needed compared to the amount of time available.

 

A simple tweak in your day can go a long way and I encourage you to look at your day, work style and lifestyle to find a time management that not only assists you but betters you.

 

When We Fail with Angela and Andy

Here’s the truth, we all fail.

 

We all make mistakes. It’s going to happen and that’s just fine. Failure is another, not so pleasant, part of growth and success. Especially when we try to do things out of our comfort zone. We have to grow the confidence beforehand. It doesn’t magically appear, although, we both would absolutely love that, it’s just not the way life is.

 

Today, we wanted to present you with some options to help you get back on the horse when failure occurs. One very obvious thing you can do when dealing with failure is to do what you are good at, whether that is gardening, networking, social media, running or going shopping, just do whatever you are really fantastic at so that you can gain some confidence back.

 

Another good option is to go outside and explore nature and all the wonderful things it has to offer us. Take a hike, or go stroll in the sand and watch the waves crash. Have the things you see bring you gratefulness and help you get back to being centered. Our loved ones are another great option. They can really turn the day around with a simple hug or laugh. Our little girls are always the light in our lives even when they drive us crazy, they always turn my day around in the best of ways.

 

Meditation/prayer is also a good practice to settle the mind. Try a yoga class and force yourself to just slow down for an hour. It can help more than you know. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

 

We can’t be individuals that make an imprint on peoples hearts without taking care of who we are and how we feel first. Be the person who exudes confidence, positivity, and happiness. Be the person that everyone wants to work with. Be the person who makes a difference, even in the smallest of ways.

 

That is how you will be successful in every way.