10 Things To Do This Summer

Looking for a summer project? How about working on who you are, and what kind of life you really want to live? Here's some ideas.

1. Focus on the "who", not the "what".

If you find that you've been stuck in a goal for a while, try restating it in "who" terms instead of what. For example, instead of saying "I want to lose 10 lbs.", say "I want to be someone who is at a healthier weight for my age." Instead of "I want to spend time with my kids", say "I want to be someone who is a devoted parent." Then ask yourself what actions would be fit with your desire to "be" instead of "get".

2. Control-ability.

Get clear on what you can really control and what is out of your control. You can't control world politics, but you can vote. You can't control terrorism, but you can be prepared in your own home. You can't control the construction crews on the freeway, but you can control how much time you allot for a trip. Knowing what you can control and exercising that, and letting go of what you can't, reduces stress related feelings immensely.

3. Be Generous.

You know you haven't worn that shirt in 2 years. Someone needs that shirt to keep warm on the streets this winter, don't let it just sit idle in your closet. Live from abundance, not lack. You'll have other shirts. Share. Feel good about yourself for helping others less fortunate.

4. Give it a home.

The biggest culprit for chronically lost items in the home or office -- keys, remote, phone, scissors, batteries -- are that they don't have a home. Just like teenagers, if you know where they are going to be, you don't have to waste time looking for them!

5. Establish routines.

While they sound boring and confining, routines are actually freeing. Instead of being worried and anxious on Monday morning wondering if your credit-card bill is late again, you'll feel calm knowing that you always pay bills on Wed. evening, so you have nothing to be concerned about. Routines take the stress out!

6. Analyze it.

Did you know that a full 80% of your problems come from 20% of your life? It's true! Determine what that 20% is that's affecting so much of your life, and start working to make it more efficient and orderly.

7. Consolidate.

Consolidate means to "merge, combine, unite, join". Look for something in your life that is scattered and consolidate -- group of small bills, hand lotions, hobby supplies. I'm using consolidate in this case to mean either to literally combine as all into one container, but also in collecting like items together. Instead of spreading your collectibles all over the house, combine them into one beautiful cabinet for impact. Consolidate toys or reading material/bills/papers by type. You'll be able to see the duplicates easily and free up some time and space.

8. Do the opposite.

If you find that you're constantly having to run to the next room to retrieve a pair of (for example) scissors, that's a clue that you need to *add* a pair where you need them. This is the opposite of consolidate. Just be careful with this one, and make sure that you really use the item enough to make it worthy of taking up the valuable real-estate in your home or office or closet.

9. Predictability

We can't know the future. No one can. But about everyday things, it's usually pretty easy to make a fairly accurate prediction of what consequences of your actions will be. A first 'mistake' is simply a learning experience, finding out information that you didn't have originally. A second 'mistake' is not exercising your skill of predicting. Practice predicting, and make informed choices to go in a direction you want to.

10. Assign Value.

A big mistake I see in my coaching clients is not assigning a true value to your time, to your energy, to your money, and to the "real estate" (space) of your home or office. Realize that for each thing you say Yes to -- from a pair of shoes to watching a movie -- you have said No to something else. Always ask yourself - is this *valuable* enough to me to bump something else from my closet, my schedule, my money?

Make Summer 2005 your best yet!

Professional Life Coach Kathy Gates specializes in helping people who are ready to create a simpler, less stressful, more joyful and meaningful lifestyle. Visit http://www.reallifecoach.com for information, products and services, and sign up for a free newsletter.

---

Discover the Hidden Power of Self Motivation

Many studies have been done to research the effects of... Read More

Hey CyberJunkie, Clean that Booger off Your Nose!

Well....., I got some good news and I got some... Read More

Dont Let Failure Go To Your Head

I watched as an 8-year-old All-Star slid dramatically into second... Read More

Success: 10 Easy Success Tips To Help You Achieve Your Ambitions In Life

I want to wish you good health, long life, success... Read More

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - Before Its Too Late

Think about what you're doing each day and ask yourself... Read More

A Quick Observation of the Low Class

We can all learn a valuable lesson about the types... Read More

Three Fs and a Challenge

It's no secret that life is a tricky animal to... Read More

Are You a Right-Fighter?

Are You a "Right-Fighter"?Do you find yourself struggling to "win"... Read More

The True Cost Of A Lack of Motivation

And what a lack of motivation means..As you read this... Read More

Every Passing Minute Is A Chance To Turn It All Around

Every passing minute.When I first heard this line, in the... Read More

The Toughest Decision of All: Get Out or Get Going!

Many of us are influenced by the sports ethic: Never... Read More

Discover The Upside of Anger

Most of us are prone to anger! As we grow... Read More

Even Though

As often happens following one of the Best Year Yet... Read More

How Much Risk Is Too Much To Take?

The ladder was braced against the railings going to the... Read More

Ambitiously Pursuing Your Own Self

(Excerpted from The Power of Ambition series)What is the origin... Read More

Make Motivation Stick

Motivation is the elusive elixir. Not only does it help... Read More

Break Free

I received an email the other day from one of... Read More

Questions for the Game of Life

"If you could eliminate one day from your past so... Read More

Motivation: No Finish LInes

There is a saying that goes something like "getting to... Read More

Optimistic Vs Pessimistic

Studies have shown that on average an optimist will have... Read More

Dont You Quit!

"A man who has nothing to die for is not... Read More

How To Win Over Your Fears

If you really want to do something you will always... Read More

9 Great Ways To Change Your Life By Changing Your Motivation Style

If you are not as productive as you'd like or... Read More

Struggling With Juggling

'The trick to juggling is determining which balls are made... Read More

The Thrivers Secrets to Success?: It Starts With Your Attitude - Get a Grip and Go®!

What impact would it have on your professional and personal... Read More

Motivation To Change, Why Is It So Hard?

We encounter constant changes throughout our life; it could be... Read More

How To Beat Procrastination At Work

Listen. If you don´t beat procrastination at work the long... Read More

What Google Can Teach You About Success

I just finished dinner and the segment was about to... Read More

The Reason Nothing Happens - Is Because Nothing Is Happening!

I hear many clients declare how boring and stagnant their... Read More

Motivation - The 4 Most Potent Ways To Awaken Your Enthusiasm

...it is in this whole process of meeting and solving... Read More

The IDEAL Problem Solver

The IDEAL Problem Solver is an effective tool you can... Read More

Words that Inspire: PASSION

What is your PASSION?Dictionary says: strong liking for or... Read More

Trust Your Intuition!

How many times have you been faced with a decision... Read More