Tag Archives: successful

Kiss Procrastination Goodbye!

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By AnnA Rushton

Have you heard of K.I.S.S? It is much used in business and particularly in training, and it stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. Now I agree with keeping it simple in principle, but calling me stupid is not going to help tackle procrastination.

I prefer a much kinder, and more effective way of thinking of it that tackles one of the fundamental problems that procrastinators face, that of being overwhelmed, so that is what I use:

Keep Implementing Small Steps

Every part of that is an essential tool to dealing with procrastination. Whatever it is you are procrastinating about, I promise it will be easier to tackle if you just follow those four simple instructions.

Whatever the issue, if you can look at it as a series of small, achievable, actions you are on the way to overcoming your procrastination.

Keep is the first part and what does it mean? Well it means keep going, or keep repeating an action. Do something to move your project forward, and keep on doing it. No stopping after just one attempt, by all means rest and recoup if it has proved difficult but the key lies in consistently addressing yourself to the problem.


Implementing is straightforward enough; thinking of how to overcome your procrastination is all very well but it is action that will move you forward. I know how easy it is to get seduced into thinking over your options and debating what you ought to do. That is great, but you actually have to do it! To quote the immortal Elvis, ‘a little less talk and a lot more action’ needs to be your motto.

Small is another key word that will help you be successful in tackling procrastination. Not actions that are so huge you can?t get them done in one session, or are so numerous you get exhausted just thinking about which one to do first.

I will let you into a secret; it doesn?t matter which action you decide to do first, as long as it is small, manageable and you do it. Most procrastinators tend to see the project as a giant mountain they have to move in one go; reality is if you take a shovelful at a time it will get moved.

Yes, it takes longer, but not nearly as long as if you never start to move that earth.

Steps are where you catch up with Keep; in other words one step at a time will get you there and you keep on making them! The simplest way to do this is to write a checklist of the actions that need to be done, and put Write checklist down as the first item and keep it limited to items you can do on that day. When you have done your list cross that line out because you have done it!

You are already on your way and taken action. Even the longest and most difficult task only consists of a series of smaller tasks, which if you see them as small steps will be are easily achievable. They may be small steps individually, but they are a giant step for a procrastinator.

AnnA is the author of ‘How To Kill Procrastination And Get On With Your Life’. She is an inspirational writer and speaker on health, personal development and creativity. For free weekly procrastination postcards to motivate you, then visit http://www.procrastinationkiller.co.uk . For free email newsletters, creative resources and archives then visit her main website at http://www.catalystonline.co.uk

Want to be a Success? Change Your Life

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Is there some aspect of you or your life with which you’re not happy? Are you having difficulty achieving the kind of success you would really like to achieve – whether that’s in business, your career or your personal or sporting life? In other words, would you like to be e bigger success than you are at present? Well, if you want to be successful and happy, you’re going to have to change your behaviour. You’re going to have to take new action. As a client said to me recently, “I decided that, if I wanted to change my life, I had to change my life!”

Let me explain. I first met Billy three years ago. At the time, he was seriously stressed about his job, he suffered from chronic lower back pain, was constantly tired and, as a result, his home life was, to say the very least, less than satisfactory. More recently, Billy spent three days with me in my part of the world, the French Alps. It was the fourth time we’d worked together in three years. In those three years, he’d been promoted to what would potentially be an even more stressful job – right at the very top of his organization. His back problems had vanished and, in fact, he told me he could now do thirty minutes on his local gym’s rowing machine, a couple of times a week – beforehand, he couldn’t even bend down to sit on the rowing machine. He’d also just booked a three week holiday for himself and his family, having spent ten days on holiday at Easter – he, his wife and children were having a great time.

When we first met, I had explained to Billy that the normal adult mind is in constant turmoil – it is “entertained” by roughly 50,000 random thoughts each day. You know the kind of useless stuff – “I wish this guy would hurry up or I’ll be late for my next meeting!” “I wish I was on the beach, instead of the office, it’s such a lovely day!” “I don’t know if I unplugged the toaster!” “I really am too shy to walk up to that guy and say what I feel!” And, the ones that wake you at four o’clock in the morning “What if I don’t get that sale, will I be out of a job, will I lose my house, what will happen the kids?” (‘Cos the ones at four o’clock in the morning often take us on a train of thought to imaginary ruin – more like an express train to hell!).


I also explained that Billy’s subconscious mind was even more distracted – it’s just that, because it’s subconscious, he’d never be aware of the fact that, like all normal adults, his subconscious mind was incapable of paying attention to the here and now, the task in hand, obsessed, as it was, by his childhood conditioning, the snapshots of his formative years which all normal minds dwell on subconsciously. As a result, it was little wonder that he was stressed – the World Health Organization believes stress will be the biggest killer of the 21st century. It was little wonder that he’d been crucified by lower back pain for years – your mental state is at the root of most, if not all, physical illness. And, certainly, you wouldn’t have to be a genius to work out why his home life was spinning out of control.

But Billy not only understood, as most of my clients do, the importance of changing his mind – he actually put it into daily practice – hence, the results that he could so excitedly tell me about. Billy and I worked together to enable him stop the random noise in his head, to enable him calm his mind. Most importantly, Billy practiced and learned how to pay more of his attention to the here and now, dragging his subconscious mind’s attention away from the past and enabling him be more focused on the task in hand. Billy understood that, when you’re more present, you have more presence and that makes you more impressive to the normal people around you. As a result, he’d been handpicked for his new corporate role – without even realising that he might have been in the running – he was more focused on doing just what he was supposed to be doing.

In short, Billy learned how to meditate. And it made such a practical difference in his life that he committed not just to doing it every day – but to doing it for one hour solid every morning. He told me that he realised that if he wanted to change his life, he needed to change his daily life first – get up at six o’clock instead of seven – go to bed at ten o’clock instead of eleven.

If you’re not the success you want to be, your life is not going to change without you doing something practical about it. If your life doesn’t turn you on, you’re doing something wrong – you’re going to have to do something right instead. You’re going to have to find a way to turn yourself on – to focus your attention in the here and now – so that you will stop paying attention to useless thought and so that your subconscious will stop tripping up your today by focusing on your yesterdays. Your success – your effortless success – is entirely within your own control – but you’re going to have to act.

Copyright © 2009 Willie Horton

Willie Horton’s acclaimed two-day personal development seminars have been running for thirteen years. He teaches that a clear and present state of mind creates extra-ordinary personal and business success. His vast expertise is now available in his Online Workshop at Gurdy.Net. His website also offers daily free personal development video seminars, articles and a Free Personal Development Ezine published every Monday morning.

Conflict Avoidance: Don’t Let it Ruin your Business

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By Anne Alexander

625028_lets_talk_about_itRecently I shared with my readers a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” I asked you to send me your stories about doing something that scared you in the service of your own progress and growth.

I got some great responses and want to share one that touched on an issue that is nearly universal: how to deal with conflict constructively.

This reader wrote that after reading the quote and invitation, she gathered her courage and spoke to a friend whose behavior had been intimidating her for a long time. It ended up being a productive conversation and she and her friend got back on track. Afterward, she thanked me for helping her realize she had the power in her own hands. She faced her fears and acted in spite of them.

A common issue in working with my coaching clients is how to talk with someone about a problem – whether it is about a disagreement you are in the midst of, or it is about an agreement they broke with you.

I recommend to my clients the books Crucial Conversations and Crucial Confrontations both by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan and Switzler. These are excellent books based on over 25 years of studying 20,000 people who had learned to be masterful communicators through their own trial and error.

Here are a couple of key suggestions from the books to keep in mind:

1. Start by creating safety by confirming mutual purpose and mutual respect. Mutual purpose means you both are working toward a common goal, such as growing a great company or coming up with the best sales promotion.

Mutual respect applies, as well, even if you have different opinions about the situation. If people feel that you don’t respect them, it’s impossible to have a productive conversation. They will start to defend their dignity.

2. Avoid what is called the “fundamental attribution error” (what a mouthful!) where you decide the reason someone is acting they way they are is because of a permanent character flaw, rather than situational reasons. Better to assume this person has good reasons for acting the way they are by asking yourself: “Why would a rational, reasonable person be acting this way?” Better yet, talk to the person and don’t assume you know why they are acting (or have acted) the way they are.

3. Use nonjudgmental, factual language that is based on observable facts. We often confuse our story with the facts. The authors ask you to ask yourself: “Can you see or hear this thing you’re calling a fact? Was it an actual behavior?”

Example:

Fact: Your co-presenter gave 95% of the presentation and answered all but one question. Story: Your co-presenter doesn’t trust you.

Conclusions are subjective, so be careful with your language and also see the next tip.

4. Use tentative language: “It sounds like perhaps…” I’m starting to wonder if…” “I’ve noticed something that seems like…” “I know this is probably not true, but…” This is not being timid; rather it helps prevent a strong reaction in the other person. When we use strong black or white language, we can usually count on a strong reaction back.

Check out these books for a lot more guidance on skillfully handling challenging conversations. But whatever you do, don’t avoid challenging situations for too long. As with my subscriber who emailed in, you have business and personal relationships which depend on your doing just that. At the heart of successful business is great communication.

The only way to get great at communication is to practice! That includes stumbling along the way, but like any skill, you do get better. So whether something happened a long time ago or you’re in the midst of it right now, gather your courage, take some new skills, and practice. You have only your limitations to lose and amazing breakthroughs to gain.


Anne Alexander is a coach who works with business owners, executives and professionals as their strategic partner to grow their business or career, improve their effectiveness and reach their goals. For Anne’s free, popular 8 part e-course “Maximize Your Professional Success,” send a blank email to mailto:maximize@authentic-alternatives.com or visit http://www.authentic-alternatives.com

The Disempowering Side of Personal Development

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By Tony Rush

I heard it again today.
James (not his real name) had called and asked me for some input on how he could achieve more success in his life. After about 5 minutes he said, “I’m thinking about hiring a life coach. Y’know, someone who will look at my life and tell me the areas they think I should work on.”

I’ll tell you the same thing I told James: the LAST thing you need in your life is someone telling you what to do. But, it brings up an interesting concept that most people don’t get.

One of the most overlooked success principles that I see when looking at the personal development industry is this: no one seems to be talking about personal certainty.

In fact, I think that the greatest strength of personal development is sometimes it’s biggest weakness: in an effort to teach other people how to be more successful…

…we unknowingly ALSO teach them that they need a guru. Or a “life coach”. Sometime to tell them what to do. Which — if you think about it — is one of the most invalidating things that you can do to another person.

Imagine how incapable your child would be if you taught them that they weren’t able to know anything for themselves. Imagine how confused they would be in life if you told them that red wasn’t their favorite color…that they should like blue instead. Or that art isn’t really where they should spend their time…they should spend their time reading.

Eventually that kid wouldn’t have a clue how to live. They’d be constantly seeking the approval of others and looking around to make sure that what they’re doing is the “right” and “accepted” thing to do.

If that seems like nonsensical examples, they’re not. “Personal development” has been my professional career for the last 4 1/2 years and I cannot count the times that people have come to me asking for assistance in how to move forward in their lives……and they seem completely disempowered and invalidated.

Why? Because society — including many people in the personal development industry — has taught them that they cannot succeed with the resources God gave them. That they need a coach, a guru or a leader to follow.

It’s a subtle but insidious misuse of what personal development is supposed to be about.


Personal development IS about learning from others. It IS about masterminding with people who’ve achieved the results you want. It IS about being able to tap into other people’s experiences. It IS about being supported by a community.

But, it’s also about achieving a level of personal certainty in your OWN self so that you can actually have the self-confidence in life to look at things with your own two eyes and to know what you think about something. Without that thought having to be approved by someone who’s supposedly more “enlightened” than you are.

Let me make this clear: if you expect to achieve any serious result in any area of life, it will require you to KNOW FOR YOURSELF. It will require you to be self-reliant. It will require you to have a sense of personal certainty….and to acknowledge yourself as a sovereign individual.

And when you choose THAT way of living….you’ll find that YOU are your own guru. And that you’re tapping into the actual power and wisdom that was yours all along.

To learn more about achieving personal certainty, visit http://www.KnowForYourselfDVD.com . This best-selling film is not another guru or coach to tell you what to do; instead it’s a candid conversation about how to cultivate your own inner certainty.

Confidence – Keys to Success

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Improving your self confidence is perhaps the most important single step you can take to increase your chances of success in any field.

Your self image affects how you challenge yourself. A confident outlook inspires you to tackle more difficult goals. It also affects how others see you and therefore how they react to you.

How you see yourself in your mind’s eye shapes your future – it’s the closest thing to a self-fulfilling prophesy you’ll ever come across. If you see yourself as capable, in control, ready to take on new challenges and responsibilities – then you are well on the way to becoming that type of person.

As Orison Swett Marden said: “There can be no great courage where there is no confidence or assurance, and half the battle is in the conviction that we can do what we undertake.” and “Walk, talk and act as though you were a somebody, and you are more likely to become such.”

Self confidence can be simply inborn (until or unless the hard knocks of life diminish it) but more often is built through personal experiences. Succeeding in small endeavors inclines us to attempt bigger and grander things, and further achievement boosts the level of confidence still higher. So, one way to build confidence is to tackle new things, gradually increasing in difficulty. This is similar to the way you might train a muscle through lifting progressively heavier weights.

But there is a purely mental approach, too. You enlist the help of your subconscious. Positive self-talk is absolutely essential to building confidence. Successful people condition themselves to intensely bombard their subconscious mind with their chosen goals and desired self-image. This leaves no chance for the subconscious to absorb anything but these confidence-boosting messages. The subconscious doesn’t question anything. It simply accepts, then acts on whatever it is told. This may be why children who are repeatedly told by their parents and teachers that they are lazy, clumsy or sullen act accordingly and reinforce that trait. On the other hand, those who are repeatedly told that they are clever, capable, and a pleasure to be around, also live up to that message. Comments from other people may carry a particular influence, especially if these are respected or authority figures – but can still be overwhelmed by consistent, frequent, powerful inner messages.

To make the inner message as strong as possible, it requires more than just the repetition of key phrases within the privacy of your own thoughts. Attaching strongly felt emotions and, if at all possible, speaking the words out loud makes them infinitely more effective. You don’t have to turn yourself into a table-thumping, red in the face maniac shouting “I can do this!” to reap the rewards of this technique. Try something like “I lead a charmed life – I’m the luckiest person I know and I count my blessings every day. I look for the fun in every situation and I find myself laughing easily. I enjoy myself and make the most of every opportunity.” While you’re saying the words, create a mental picture of yourself in a happy situation, enjoying the success you have earned. Of course, you’ll need to construct a script tailored to your own circumstances, but remember that even if what your affirmation says is totally at odds with where you are today – it won’t stay like that for long. Your subconscious will soon take notice of where you want to go and start moving you in that direction. Once you’re happy with your own affirmations, recite them at least twice daily, out loud, putting as much emotion into the recitation as possible.

If affirmations sound completely alien to you, and you feel “that’s just not for me” – there is still a simple, effective way to use positive self talk. As an absolute minimum, every time you hear yourself questioning your ability to do something, immediately recall a time where, in similar circumstances, you obtained the result you were aiming for. Make the memory as real as possible – including the feeling of elation at your accomplishment. Then make the connection – “I did that. I can do this, too.”

Claim your free copy of the “Marden’s Keys to Success” mini email course and download a complimentary chapter from Brendan McKeogh’s latest book at http://www.MardensKeysToSuccess.com – the website based on Orison Swett Marden’s philosophy where you can read biographies of Dr Marden and other “Masters of Success”.

Accept the Crisis

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‘Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.’ Benjamin Disraeli

I have developed 7 steps to enable you first to determine whether you are in crisis at work and then to give you a kick-start to taking the actions necessary to change the situation.

Step 1 – Identify

Answer these 7 questions quickly and without thinking about the answers too much:

Do you constantly feel stressed or anxious at work?

At the end of the day do you often think ‘I have added little or no value today. I have made little or no difference.’?

Is there always too much to do and no time to do it?

Do you think you are unworthy for or unlikely to get a promotion?

Do you think your boss does not respect or value you?

Does it feel as though you have little or no support at work?

Do you think often of resigning or of losing your job?

If you answered yes to 5 or more questions, then you are in crisis.

Step 2 – Accept, Face, Decide

Now that you’ve realised it the next step is to accept it and face it. Until you do nothing will change. Ask yourself these questions:

Do I accept now that I am in crisis at work?

Am I now willing to face the fact that I am in crisis at work?

Now you have a decision to make:

Are you going to take control and do whatever it takes to change the situation and yourself (because undoubtedly changes are required in both)?

Or are you going to stay as you are and allow things to take their own course without your influence and regardless of your wishes?

Congratulations! You have just taken the first couple of steps towards changing the situation. They were difficult and even scary steps I know. So take a moment to pat yourself on the back and give yourself the positive feedback that you have started the journey towards where you want to be.

Now let’s start working on getting you from the situation you are in to the one you want to be in.

Step 3 – Set the Main Goal

We need to start with a very clear idea of what you want.

Pick a time frame for when you want to have resolved everything successfully. Is it 1 month? 3 months? 6 months? 1 year? Or something else? Make sure the deadline seems right for you, that you believe it is possible at the same time as giving yourself a slight stretch. Work out the exact date and write it down.

Now what is your goal for that day? You need to come up with a sentence that is phrased positively, is specific and is measurable. Imagine yourself on that day. Think about what you want to see, hear and feel. Again ensure that you believe it is possible at the same time as giving yourself a slight stretch. Write the goal down next to the date.

It is vital to be truly honest with yourself when setting your goal. You would be amazed at the number of my clients who say they want one thing, set that as a goal and start moving towards it when in their heart of hearts they truly want something completely different!

Once more imagine yourself on the day your goal is achieved. What are you seeing? What are you hearing? What are you feeling? Take a few moments to completely immerse yourself in that vision of the future. And then ask:

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is not at all and 10 is completely and utterly, how much do I truly want to reach this goal?

If something isn’t quite right or you realise that goal really isn’t what you’re after, then re-visit the goal and tweak or re-write it until you can answer the above question with a minimum score of 8.

If that goal seems like the summit of a mountain right now, relax. We’re not going to try to fly straight to the top.

In Part 2 of this article  we will take the next 4 steps to break the journey up into manageable bite sized pieces and start to move you forward.

© Emma Wortt of Em-powering Executives, 2008. All Rights Reserved. Em-powering Executives help leaders and their teams to achieve excellence through executive coaching and training. To receive similar articles direct to your inbox, you can subscribe to the FREE monthly Em-powering Executives newsletter at http://www.em-poweringexecutives.co.uk

5 Points To Consider To Set Up Your Own Business

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Lately you have been thinking of a new direction in your life – because you don’t want to work for a boss anymore, because you want to get out of the roil of that endless routine, because you want to have more time for yourself and your family, because you are seeking new horizons, or simply because you know you are worth more than what a job is worth and want to get fulfilled by achieving something that satisfies you. This is the entrepreneurial voice in your head.

But then your mind gets back to more “realistic” considerations like the global economy in turmoil, the uncertainty of investments and the gambling-like rules of running a business : if it works out for you, you hit the jackpot, but if you fail, you have everything to loose. Then you realize you have to place yourself on the secure side of the fence, searching for guarantees, risk 0f investments, stable businesses and of course predictive outcome. At that point you go back to your old job full of resignation – leaving your ideas in that pending box to “another day”.

The truth is, it is all about LACK OF ACTION. Blaming lack of time or lack of money is a disguise which suits your mind and keeps you satisfied with your decision. But let’s face the facts, you have made no decision – you have just gone the way it has always been.

Building up your own business and reaping the benefits of being self-employed requires effort and investment, but that investment is in reality in YOUR own future. Here are some hints for you to know if a business is right for you or not – just take a notepad and a pen and write down these few points, then sit comfortably in a calm place, open your mind and the answers will pop up in your head as clear as a revelation :

1- What does the business outcome represent for you? Money alone is not a goal – is it going to bring you more freedom in your life, more time to spend with your kids, more travelling around the world? The list is endless. If you know what you want to achieve, the road will be simpler to show.

2- Will you get self-satisfaction by running this business? Will you be able to help others, will you have a smile on your face everyday? Do you like to work on your own or do you prefer being part of a team of like-minded people who join their efforts for the benefit of everyone involved? Imagine yourself in action, and see if you like it.

3- Do you have that burning desire for change? Do you KNOW you deserve success? No business is going to make you successful, it is you who make a business successful, and that is by knowing you are a successful person. What chance do you have of being successful? I can answer that for you – exactly the same as everyone else, you just have to take ACTION. Successful people are not just lucky – they put themselves in a position to be “lucky” and then work hard to make the “luck” show up.

4- Are you ready to take action and make decisions that will somehow make your palm sweat? Are you ready to get out of your own way? Nothing is at risk 0, and if a baby could talk before he could walk, he would probably never walk, it is too dangerous.

5- Have you got the correct business owner mindset? Are you ready to invest in order to get a phenomenal return on investment? Can you stay consistent and focused to run your business at its best? Do you know that your dreams are worth more than other people’s opinions?

Once you have answered these questions, the whole “huge unsurmountable commitment” you depicted to yourself in the beginning just vanishes away. If it is so, then you do believe in what you aspire to, and you should probably take the actions that will make your life be what you want it to be.

People looking for businesses for sale believe that getting into complicated plans and systems makes it look more realistic and achievable. That is because they believe it is the “way everybody does, so it is the good way for me too.” Again, don’t let your neighbor or your work colleague be your advisor – be YOUR OWN leader and you will achieve things you would never have thought possible.

“All progress depends on unreasonable people” – George Bernard Shaw.

Walid Bouthour is a home business entrepreneur who wakes people up to the possibilities in their lives. He teaches motivated people how to generate an executive-level income by working from home. For more information please visit http://www.incomeimprovinggroup.com

Size DOES Matter! Motivation Lessons From A Mosquito

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1197436_gods_bug1It is a frailty of the human condition that many people have. Perhaps it is lack of self worth, or a lack of self esteem that drives it – that “I’m just not good enough” persona. For example, how many times have you been to a party, social event or restaurant and felt that you were not up to the same level as all of the “beautiful people” there?

Maybe their suits or dresses were flashier.

Or they were slimmer.

Or their hair was less gray.

Or perhaps these people drove up to the front door and left the keys to their expensive, new Mercedes, BMWs and Cadillacs with the valet attendant while you “self parked” your tired, 10-year-old car w-a-a-a-a-y in the back of the lot so that no one would notice.

Does this mean they are any better or successful than you are?

Of course not!

It all comes down to what I call – THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR MIND. The attitude of your mind affects many things including the expressions of your face, determines the actions you make, impacts your physical health and regulates your life.

At this point many of you, especially those who are “set” in your ways, may ask: “How can I change the attitude of my mind? How can I, after months and years of discouragement and of going through the motions, suddenly conceive and carry out a plan for doing something that will change my current situation and make my life more rewarding?”

The answer is that it can be done, and others just like you have done it.

Even if you consider yourself of AVERAGE ability, you can be successful, independent, free of worry, and be your own master, from this point forward, if you can commit to do these two things.

1) Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. How about what you are doing? If you are not getting what you want, when you want it become AND remain forever dissatisfied with what you are doing and your situation today. In other words, shoot for the moon.

2) Develop in your mind a belief that the word IMPOSSIBLE was not intended for you. Build up in your mind the confidence and courage that enables the mind to use its power.

Bette Reese once said, “If you think you are too small to make an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room”.

So in conclusion, here’s the moral of my story to you…

Size DOES matter. Within you, even at this very moment you have the power to take action and make an impact.

It is up to you…

Copyright © 2009 Mind Body Spirit Central, LLC

Keith A. Shaw, President of http://www.MindBodySpiritCentral.com is headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Keith is an authority on motivation, success, self improvement, health and wellness.

Choosing Exercise Over Depression and Anxiety

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Did you know that studies about exercise and depression have been going on for almost two hundred years? Most recently research has shown us strong evidence that regular exercise is very successful in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety seem to affect almost every person around the world in some degree. For some it is a loved one that suffers from such afflictions. And for the rest of us it is something very personal and sometimes it completely changes our lives.

How does exercise help?

Research indicates that 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise five days a week reduced depression in some individuals. Other evidence suggest that being physically active can increase certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Working out also releases endorphins which are proven to make you feel better. As you exercise your muscles release tension and that can reduces anxiety. It also raise your body temperature which for some, has a calming effect.

Exciting Benefits of Exercising include: Self Confidence, Distraction From Negative Feelings And Thoughts, Increased interaction With Others, Coping Skills, New Healthy Habits, and Weight Loss.

Why choose exercise over depression and anxiety?

Because it just makes sense. It is something that anyone can do no matter what shape they are in. Increasing physical activity gets you out of isolation and keeps your mind on the positive aspects of living. As you lose the weight you will become aware of how much you’ve allowed the depression to fuel the unhealthy habits that led to your obesity. That will get you motivated to make changes before it is too late. Instead of anxiety as a major way to deal with life you can use exercise instead. It really does help when you are faithful to a workout program.

With each day of physical activity depression seems to subside. You will realize that exercising needs to become a steady and permanent part of your life. You can actively make choices to let go of the depression and anxiety and embrace a more healthy state of mind. We all know that exercise is not a magic solution to depression and anxiety but it is a alternative to feeling hopeless and helpless.

Setting Realistic Goals

This is very important so as not to become overwhelmed and just give up. Starting slowly with attainable goals is the way to be successful at overcoming depression and anxiety when you are using exercise as part of your treatment. You can start by walking where ever you can to run errands. But you also have to make a conscious effort to keep track of what you eat by starting a food diary. Believe it or not some foods can contribute to depression and anxiety.

Workout with a personal trainer.

Every time you workout, you will feel better and better. Your confidence will increase and your depression and anxiety will veryl likely decrease.

One other important thing to remember is if you are on medication for depression or anxiety do not stop taking it without your doctor’s approval. If it’s a goal to be off medication talk with your provider and ask him about making exercise part of a complete treatment plan to deal with the depression and anxiety.

So is today your day? Will you give yourself the opportunity to live a life that is full of joy? Or will you sit on your couch full of anxiety or lay in your bed depressed and miserable? Make the right healthy positive choice: start exercising. Today is your day make the most of it!

Call a personal trainer today to start down the road of a healthier, happier life!

Zach Hunt is a Living in Spokane WA expert and the owner of Physzique, a personal fitness coaching company in Spokane, WA helping people to look and feel great. Go here: Spokane personal training for more info on these services and more great fitness tips.