40 quick tips – towards your best self and a great year

January 15, 2013

40Well, we’re half way through the first month already! No doubt, you may have read umpteen articles on New Years resolutions – this is not another long drawn out one of those-  no, honestly!  Just some general,  handy, quick(ish), readable tips on making this a great year, better than last year ..and of course the cycle will continue. Remember, the concept of Kaizen– continuing self improvement. And don’t forget that “You can always become more”. 

Here’s 40 useful little tips for the New Year ahead (not in any particular order):

  1. Today is a fresh new opportunity – don’t get disgruntled if you’ve already starting steering off course- or haven’t even started yet!  Its ok!- Each new day, wipe the slate clean and start again.
  2. Imagine its now December  2013 and ask yourself what you would have liked to have achieved in different areas of your life- Health, Emotional, Spiritual, Relationships, Career/Business, Finances- and of course, Fun/Adventure/Things.  Brainstorm this. Then set monthly milestones and action steps that allow you to check you’re on course and get back on track if you veer off.
  3. Don’t look at the rear view mirror. “Never look back unless you are planning to go that way” ~ Henry David Thoreau
  4. List 5 things you definitely want to achieve by the end of the year. Be specific- Remember, clarity is power.
  5. Your body is your temple– treat it with the respect it deserves- what you feed it and do to it!
  6. Have a Holy Hour – first thing in the morning, have an hour to yourself- no distractions, no noise, no FB/wi fi!- read, meditate, exercise, plan your day, be in silence – whatever calls to you. You will eventually get into a routine that works for you.
  7. Daily exercise– at least 20-30mins. this will set you up for the day, a rush of endorphins to energise you.
  8. Eat your veggies! – ensure you’re having the equivalent of 5-7 servings of different veggies a day. An easy way is get have fresh veggie juice daily (not fruit juice- too much fructose)
  9. Hydrate!- drink at least a  couple glasses of water first thing in the morning to rehydrate your body and maintain your intake throughout the day. Even slight dehydration can affect your performance, mood and energy levels.
  10. “OM”! Start the day off with a meditation to get your mind off to a positive start. Be patient and over time you will see its effects. Silence is nourishing to the mind as food is for the body.  Try just 5-10mins to start off with if you are new to this.
  11. Practice gratitude – before retiring to bed, get into the habit of stating at least 5 things youre grateful for- mentally or write in a journal.
  12. Eliminate limiting beliefs. These will affect every aspect of your life.  “All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs”  – Anthony Robbins
  13. Make a vision board– think of what you want in your life, cut out the pics on a big bit of cardboard- get excited about achieving all this. Look at it daily.
  14. Vitamin N- get out into nature. Nourish your soul. Make it a weekly habit (or daily depending on where you live!)
  15. Create SMART goals– specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and tangible. Have weekly, monthly and quarterly meetings with yourself so you stay on course and can review your progress – and make any necessary adjustments. This will help to ensure tht you don’t get to the end of the year again, and think “what went wrong?!”
  16. Try something new, go somewhere different- at least quarterly, preferably more frequently.
  17. Do something your scared of- fear can only be overcome by doing the very thing we are afraid of.
  18. Hara Hachi Bu! Fabulous  Japanese saying for “Eat until your 80% full”. (It takes stomach’s receptors about 20mins to tell the  brain it’s full).
  19. A job is not just a job- it’s a chance to let your brilliance shine whatever you do.  I believe we are judged not  just by the position we fill, but by the way we fill it.
  20. Keep in touch with the family and friends that matter. “True friends are families which you can select” ~ Audrey Hepburn
  21. Read a book a month. Feed your brain good stuff daily- and no, that doesn’t mean “50 shades” and the likes or trashy magazines!  (Suggestions?- please see the Book section on blog)
  22. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic.
  23. Invest in your learning– course ,seminars at least quarterly. This is not a cost. “80% of success is just showing up” -Woody Allen
  24. Be the change you wish to see in the world–  Mahatma Gandhi
  25. Never, never, never give up. Persistence principle – “Plugging away will win the day”
  26. Don’t let the people who do so little for you, control so much of your feelings and emotions.
  27. Love and respect yourself.
  28. When faced with adversity, know that “this too shall pass” and say to yourself  “I can handle all the changes that come my way”.
  29. Remember the Four Agreements– Be impeccable with your word, Don’t make assumptions, Don’t take anything personally, Always do your best (from the book by Don Miguel Ruiz).
  30. Failures are just stepping stones to success- so keep on keeping on.
  31. Stand out, don’t just fit in.
  32. Every day do something that you will get you closer to a better tomorrow
  33. Trust your intuition. It is speaking to you – tune into it. This is where silence and solitude is important.
  34. Make sure you get enough sleep – no amount of  expresso’s and latte’s is going to replace lost sleep.
  35. Don’t judge yourself from the past- you don’t live there anymore
  36. Ask, believe and receive – don’t forget the Law of Attraction- or the Bible- whatever your preference.
  37. Find someone who will change your life and not just your relationship status. “Don’t wait for someone else to complete you. Jerry Maguire was just a movie” – Oprah
  38. Repeat this daily affirmation- ” Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better” – Emile Coue
  39. Feel comfortable with uncertainty. It’s OK.  “The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably live with”- Anthony Robbins.
  40. Remember you are a diamond deep down inside. A pure soul of love, joy, peace and happiness-that is your innate nature.  Don’t forget that.

Until next time, eat well, be well, stay  healthy, positive and amazing!

Ciao  X