One of the most common challenges people face when trying to make money from home is not knowing where to start. It can be overwhelming trying to figure out which job or business is right for you. Do you want to be an employee or an entrepreneur? Do you want to work in a specific industry or create your own?

If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of ideas, but don’t know how or where to begin. Well, this article is for you! In just a few easy steps, you’ll understand exactly what you need to get started.

The main points covered are finding a remote-friendly job or doing freelance, creating your own blog or website, selling products online, offering services like coaching and consulting, and starting a podcast. These are all great ways to make money from home. However, it’s important to find the right fit for you and your lifestyle.

Ready? Let’s get started.

Make Money

Find a Remote-Friendly Job and Make Money

Remote work is no longer an oddity. More and more companies are allowing employees to work from home. This helps people who are busy parents or caretakers find jobs that accommodate their personal lives. For employers, it can also be a huge benefit. Employees with the freedom to work from home are usually happier and more productive.

Working for a company from home means you’re not tied to an office; however, you may still be required to have a set schedule and interact with team members just as you would normally.

Here are five tips to help you get started with finding a remote job:

1. Make sure you know what your skills are and where they’re applicable.
2. Do your research! Figure out what companies would be the best fit for you.
3. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! Send speculative job applications to companies you think might be interested in your work.
4. Stay on top of trends in your industry and make sure you’re up-to-date with everything new that’s happening so that when jobs do come up, you won’t miss them!
5. Keep your resume current with the skills you have, and tailor your cover letter to the position you’re after.

Become a Freelancer

Working from home can be a great option for many people, but not everyone wants to work for someone else. Maybe you’re the type of person that likes to have complete control and flexibility over your work life. Offering your services as a freelancer might be just what you’re looking for.

You can work as a virtual assistant, writer/editor, social media manager, or maybe a specialist in your area of expertise. Do you know how to create or edit videos? Or maybe you’re great at drawing or illustration?

Here are a few websites where you can find freelance work:

Websites to Make Money from Home

Freelancer

Freelancer is an online platform where job seekers can find work in a variety of different fields. Freelancers bid on projects, and clients select the best freelancer for their job. Freelancer’s system is designed to allow talented freelance workers to get the jobs they deserve by placing them in front of potential employers.

Upwork

Upwork is a freelancing marketplace where businesses and independent professionals connect and work together remotely. Freelancers of all experience levels are welcome to sign up for free and begin connecting with businesses. Upwork is a great place to find freelance work online.

Guru

Guru is the leading online platform for finding freelance jobs in technology, design, and marketing. They connect top-notch independent professionals with top companies in need of their expertise. Guru has helped millions of clients and experts find each other, and the company has grown to be one of the largest in its field.

Flexjobs

Flexjobs is one of the top job sites for flexible work. You can search for jobs by keyword, category, or location. They list all types of work, which includes full-time, part-time, freelance, or temporary work. It’s a great resource that can open many opportunities.

Create Your Own Blog, YouTube Channel, or Website 

Starting your own online presence is a great way to connect with others and build a following. With the right tools, you can create a blog, YouTube channel, or website that showcases your skills or unique perspective and connects you with potential customers.

Before starting your project, make sure to research what tools you need and spend a little time learning how to use them.

savings blogger

Before starting your project, make sure to research what tools you need and spend a little time learning how to use them. You do not have to be a tech guru by any means. Most of the tools are fairly simple once you get through the initial learning curve. Don’t get intimidated. You’ll be amazed at how easy it actually is once you have everything you need in hand!

Creating Your Own Blog

Starting your own blog is a great way to share your thoughts with the world. Whether you want to build a personal brand or simply share your views on a topic of interest, blogging offers an easy way to get started.

Here are six tips for getting started with blogging:

1. Choose a niche. This is perhaps the most important step in starting your blog. If you don’t have something specific to say, it will be hard to keep readers coming back month after month. Find a topic that interests you and focus on it exclusively.
2. Make sure your blog looks good and professional. No one wants to stumble across a poorly designed blog filled with sloppy typography and jumbled-together graphics. A well-designed blog will look sleek and modern, making it easier for viewers to find what they’re looking for.
3. Build a community. If you want to build an audience for your blog, you’ll need to create a community around it. The best way to do that is by sharing interesting posts on social media and in other online forums.
4. Promote your blog. One of the quickest ways to build an audience for your blog is by promoting it every chance you get. Share interesting posts on social media, write guest posts for popular websites, and contact bloggers that might be interested in featuring your content.
5. Write well-researched and engaging posts. Successful blogs are the result of excellent writing and research, not just a list of links to other sites. Your blog posts should be engaging and interesting so that readers will keep coming back for more.
6. Connect with your audience. Connecting with your readers is key to building an engaged community that will keep coming back for more of your work. Use social media, and follow other blogs in your niche, to share interesting posts and build a connection with readers.

Create a YouTube Channel

YouTube is a great way to share your videos with the world and make money while you do it. You can start a YouTube channel with a small initial investment, and you don’t need to wait to start earning money from it. There are plenty of ways to monetize your channel without spending a dime.

If you want to start or grow a YouTube channel, here are six tips to get started:

1. Choose a name for your channel that reflects who you are and what you will be posting.
2. Create a video introduction that provides your audience with an overview of your channel and why they should subscribe.
3. Produce videos that are relevant to what you want to promote and post them regularly.
4. Engage with your viewers by commenting on their videos, sharing links to great content, and answering questions in the comments section.
5. Promote your channel through social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.).
6. Use hashtags in the comments of your videos, so people can find them easily.

Sell Products on Etsy, eBay, or Through Social Media

Selling products on sites like Etsy and eBay or through social media accounts, on Facebook and Instagram, can be a profitable way to make a living. With the right marketing strategy, it’s possible to generate a lot of traffic to your online store and increase sales.

Here are some tips for selling products online:

1. Choose a niche that you know well. If you’re new to online selling, find a niche that you’re familiar with to build credibility and trust with potential buyers.
2. Take photos that show off your product in its best light. Make sure all the photos show the product from different angles and include close-ups of important features.
3. Use effective keywords in your titles and descriptions.
4. Create a product description that’s at least 250 words and include all the important features of the product in bullet points.
5. Choose an online payment method that’s secure and easy for buyers to use.

Offer Coaching and Consulting Services

Do you have expertise in a particular field? Consider sharing your knowledge with others in that field by offering your services as an expert. Not only can you make a lot of money, but you can also help others learn and grow in their profession.

If you’re not sure what kinds of coaching and consulting services you could provide, start by looking at what other businesses in your area are already doing.

Here are five tips to help you get started:

1. Find a niche that interests you.
2. Decide how much you’re comfortable charging for your services.
3. Build a strong online presence.
4. Identify a group of potential clients.
5. Develop a marketing plan.

Start a Podcast

There are many reasons why someone might want to start a podcast. For example, some might want to create a platform for sharing their voice, while others might want to share their expertise with the world and make a community around it. There are still others who are looking for fun ways to make new friends. Whatever the reason, it’s a great way to make money working from home.

There are many ways to start a podcast. Here are five tips for getting started:

1. Choose a topic you’re interested in.
2. Find a media host who will help you get started.
3. Get audio equipment and software.
4. Edit your episodes and create a branding strategy.
5. Publish your show online and promote it.

Final Thoughts

After reading this post you should have a better idea about how to make money working from home. The key is to find something you’re passionate about, have some freedom and flexibility in your day, and enjoy what you do!

You are at the beginning of what can be an exciting journey to financial freedom. Take a good look at the options available to you and choose the one that is right for you. With a little hard work on your part, you will see results with each option and the opportunities just keep getting better. You can do it!

Most people find it difficult to create and stick to a budget. They find it hard to stay on top of their finances, which often leads to overspending. This can be a vicious cycle that’s hard to break out of.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Creating a budget can be easy and painless if you know how to do it correctly. Once you get the hang of it, you may even find it liberating. Having a budget can help you take control of your finances and give you a clear picture of where your money is going. It will help you keep track of your spending and move you toward your financial goals. With a little bit of effort, you’ll master it in no time.

Here are five easy steps to creating a budget that you can stick to:

Determine Your Income and Expenses

The first step in creating a budget is to figure out how much money you have coming in and going out each month. This will give you a better idea of where your money is going and where you may be able to cut back.

Plus, it will help you to figure out your net income. This is important as net income is the amount of money that you have left over after all your expenses have been taken care of. So essentially, it is the actual amount that you have available to spend.

Start by writing down all your income. This includes all money that comes in, such as your salary, investments, and side hustles. Then, list all your expenses. This includes everything from your mortgage or rent payments to your grocery bills and travel costs.

A good idea is to look through your bank statements from the past few months. This will help you to categorize your expenses into different groups, such as housing, food, transportation, utilities, debt payments, savings, and miscellaneous. Once you have a good understanding of your spending patterns, you can begin to make adjustments to ensure your budget is realistic.

Make sure that you are writing things down so that you can visually see the numbers and have a thorough understanding of what is going on with your money. It doesn’t matter if you want to track it on your computer or good old-fashioned pen to paper, the point is that you have it in front of you so you can look at it.

Personally, I like to use Airtable. It has become my go-to software for tracking everything to do with money.

Airtable is a software application that helps you to track data and collaborate with others. It allows you to create tables and charts that help you to visualize your data. It is especially helpful for tracking finances. You can also use Microsoft Excel or a Google Sheet for tracking.

Start by creating two columns, one for income and one for expenses. At the top of the expense column, label it “Fixed” and “Variable.” Your fixed expenses are things like your mortgage or rent, car payment, student loan payments, etc. These are costs that you have to pay every month and typically don’t fluctuate too much. Your variable expenses are things like food, gas, entertainment, etc. These costs can fluctuate from month to month.

Create a Spending Plan

One of the main reasons people fail at budgeting is because they are not realistic about their spending habits.

Savings Blogger

After you have a good understanding of your income and expenses, you can begin to create a spending plan. This will help you make sure your spending aligns with your financial goals.

One of the main reasons people fail at budgeting is because they are not realistic about their spending habits. They try to cut back too much too quickly and end up getting frustrated.

If you’ve never been good at sticking to a budget, don’t try to make drastic changes all at once. Start small and work your way up. For example, if you typically spend $100 on eating out each month, try to cut back to $80 the first month. Then $60 the next month, and so on.

To create a spending plan, you need to allocate a certain amount of money to each category of expenses. Make sure that you are realistic in your allocations and that you leave some room for unexpected expenses. For example, you may want to allocate $200 for groceries, $100 for transportation, $50 for entertainment, etc.

Once you have allocated an amount for each expense, add up all the expenses to make sure that they are less than your income. If they are more, you will need to make some adjustments.

You may also want to consider creating a savings plan. This is especially important if you have debt or other financial goals that you are trying to achieve. Make sure to allocate a portion of your income to your savings so that you can make progress on your goals.

Track Your Progress and Adjust as Needed

Once you’ve created your budget, it is important to track your progress. This will help you to see where you are spending your money and whether or not you are sticking to your budget.

There are several ways that you can track your progress. You can use a software application like Airtable or Microsoft Excel. Other personal finance software that comes to mind is Mint and YNAB, both excellent choices as well. You can also use a simple notebook or create a chart on a piece of paper.

The important thing is that you are tracking your progress so that you can make adjustments to your budget as needed. Find a method that works for you and make sure you are consistent with it.

Record everything up to the last cent. If you think that you have overspent in a particular category, figure out where you can cut back the next month. Maybe you can cook at home more often or take public transportation instead of driving.

On the other hand, if you find that you came in under budget, congratulations! You may consider using that extra money to boost your savings or pay down debt.

The key here is knowing how much you are spending; how much you have allocated for each of your categories and making sure that you are sticking to those numbers. And if one month comes in short in one area then you adjust for it the next. This way you are still sticking to the budget with some wiggle room.

The reason why most people are not able to stick to their budget is that they are too restrictive. If you are always saying no to yourself then it is only a matter of time before you give up on the budget altogether. But if you allow yourself some flexibility, you will be more likely to stick to it in the long run.

Set Realistic Financial Goals

Setting financial goals is imperative to having a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve with your budget. Do you want to save for a down payment on a house? Pay off your credit card debt? Or build an emergency fund? Having specific goals in mind will help you make wise financial decisions and help you stick to your budget.

To set realistic financial goals, start by evaluating your current financial situation. Take a look at your income, debts, and expenses. This will give you a good starting point for setting your goals.

Once you have a clear idea of your present situation, you can start setting some specific financial goals. Make sure to set both short-term and long-term goals. And be sure to make your goals realistic and achievable.

For example, if you have a $5,000 credit card debt, paying it off in one month is most likely unrealistic. Therefore, you need to set a goal that you can manage. Is $500 a month doable? If so, then build that into your budget.

When you are creating your financial goals always make sure that they are achievable. It’s better to be moving in small steps towards the completion of your goal rather than choking yourself in other areas. And most importantly, when you set realistic goals, you can stick to your budget.

Here are some helpful tips for getting started:

1. Make a list of your financial goals.

2. Determine what you need to do to achieve each goal.

3. Set a deadline for each goal.

4. Create a budget that will allow you to save enough money to reach your goals.

5. Stick to your budget!

Automate Bill Payments and Savings

One of the best ways to make sure you are sticking to your budget is to automate your bill payments. This way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to pay a bill or spending too much money in a particular category. Automating your bills also helps you avoid late payment fees and penalties.

Another great way to automate your finances is to set up automatic transfers into your savings account. This way, you are automatically saving money each month without having to think about it. And, the more money you can save automatically, the quicker you will be able to reach your financial goals.

Remember the adage “out of sight out of mind”. With automation, you don’t see your money, which means you are less likely to spend it.

If your employer offers direct deposit, you can have a portion of your paycheck automatically deposited into your savings account. Or you can set up a recurring transfer from your checking account to your savings account on the day after you get paid. You can ask your bank to set this up, so you won’t have to think about it each month. The less work you have to do the easier it will be to stick to your budget.

Think of these transfers as another monthly expense that you need to account for in your budget. Once you have allocated all the funds toward your financial goals then you can recalculate your net income. Knowing exactly how much money you have available to spend each month will help you stay on track. Plus of course, eliminate temptation and overspending.

Concluding Thoughts

So, there you have it! Five super easy tips that will help you to create a budget and stick to it.

Creating a budget can be difficult, but it is an important step in getting your financial life organized. To make sure you can stick to your budget, set realistic goals, know your net income, and automate bill payments and savings.

Life is unpredictable. There will always be times when you are forced to overspend. Make sure to plan, be flexible, and adjust as needed.

Don’t get overwhelmed. You can do this. It just requires a little bit of self-discipline and effort. Start small and work your way up. And don’t forget to track your progress so you can see how far you’ve come. You are already on your way to financial success.

There are many ways that you can generate passive income. And the best part is that you don’t need to quit your day job.

In this blog post, we’ll look at some tips for generating passive income in your spare time. We’ll also highlight some pros and cons, and most importantly look at examples, so you can get started right away.

1. What is passive income and why should you care?

Passive income is defined as income that is earned without having to put in active work. In other words, it’s money that you make even when you’re not working. This can be a great way to earn some extra cash, especially if you’re already working full-time.

There are many benefits to generating passive income. For one, it can help you to reach your financial goals faster. It can also provide you with more security and stability in your life, as well as the potential to earn more money down the line. Additionally, it can provide you with extra money to save for retirement and other necessities. Finally, passive income can give you the freedom to work less and enjoy life more!

If you’re like most women, you work hard for your money. You probably feel like you never have enough of it, and that’s because most of us are living paycheck to paycheck. Passive income will allow you to make money without working so hard.  You can finally start putting your money to work for you!

Now that we’ve discussed what passive income is and why you should care, let’s move on to some tips for generating it.

2. How do you generate passive income in your spare time?

There are several ways to generate passive income, and it really depends on what your interests and skills are. If you’re good at writing, for example, you could start a blog and sell advertising or create a revenue-sharing partnership with another website. You could also create an online course or ebook to sell. Or, if you have any unusual talents or know something valuable that others don’t, you could start a consulting business and charge by the hour.

The sooner you start generating passive income, the sooner you’ll be on your way to financial freedom!

Savings Blogger

No matter what your interests are, there’s likely a way to turn them into passive income. The key is to get started today – the sooner you start generating passive income, the sooner you’ll be on your way to financial freedom!

3. The pros and cons of generating passive income

We all know the saying “time is money” and today, it seems like we’re always looking for ways to make a little extra cash without sacrificing too much of our precious time. That’s where passive income comes in. While there are pros to generating passive income, there are also some cons that you should be aware of before diving in headfirst.

Pros:

• Passive income can help you achieve financial stability and security.
• Passive income can provide a stream of regular income that is relatively consistent and reliable.
• The “work” associated with generating passive income is often minimal, allowing you to focus on other activities.
• Passive income can make you money while you sleep.

Cons:

• There is a risk of losing money if the investment or venture fails.
• There is an upfront time commitment necessary to maintain active sources of passive income.
• You may need to continuously reinvest money to maintain a stream of passive income.

4. Examples of how people generate passive income

Earning passive income doesn’t have to be complicated or require a lot of work. Here are some examples of how people generate passive income and how you can too!

• Rent out a room in your house on Airbnb
• Investing in a rental property
• Starting a blog and selling advertising space
• Creating an online course
• Writing and selling an ebook
• Selling products you create on Etsy or other online marketplaces

These are just a few examples of how people generate passive income. As you can see, there are many ways to do it. And the best part is that anyone can start earning passive income.

So, whether you’re looking for extra income to help with bills or want to save up for a vacation, anyone can start earning passive income with a little effort. And once you start, it’s easy to continue growing your earnings.

5. How to get started with generating your own passive income

The best way to get started generating passive income is to start small and gradually increase your earnings over time. But first, you need to decide what you’re interested in. Do you like to write? If so, write an ebook. Or maybe you like teaching. In that case create a course. Perhaps you are a creative person and love to draw. What about selling your artwork as printables on Etsy? There are so many ways you can generate passive income, so make sure that you do something you love.

Next, you want to create a plan and set some goals. How much money do you want to make? What is your timeline? Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to start taking action!

And finally, don’t forget to diversify your income streams. The more sources of passive income you have, the more financial stability and security you’ll have.

So, there you have it! These are just a few tips to get you started on generating passive income. Remember, the key is to start small and gradually increase your earnings over time. And always expand your income streams for maximum security. Now go out there and start earning!

Final Thoughts

Now that you know a little more about passive income and how it can help you, it’s time to start generating some passive income of your own. Just remember to research opportunities carefully and understand the risks involved before getting started. And don’t forget to diversify your sources of income to minimize risk. But other than that, have fun and enjoy the extra cash!

Even the most successful people have problems with procrastination. It’s not what ails us, but rather what we do about it. If it is not dealt with, it can easily lead to disaster. But there are ways to stop it. Here are 5 simple tips that can help you stop procrastinating and get more done.

The next time you want to procrastinate, remember these tips, break procrastination down, and take action.

What is procrastination? Understand the problem

Procrastination is defined as the act of delaying or postponing a task or work until a later time. It can affect anyone at any time.

Procrastination can be caused by several factors. It can be triggered by an emotional state, such as boredom, depression, anxiety, or stress. It may be caused by a lack of skill or knowledge in a task, fear of failure, or it may even be caused by the amount of effort required to complete a specific task.

We are all guilty of procrastinating to a certain extent. We all have those days where we find ourselves doing something other than the task we were meant to do. It’s the nature of being human. However, procrastination can be a serious problem if it becomes a habit. As a matter of fact, there are many people who suffer from procrastination on a daily basis, which makes it extremely difficult to lead a normal life because of it.

It’s important to identify why you are procrastinating. It’s different for each one of us. That’s where the next tip comes in.

Identify why you procrastinate

Procrastination is one of the most common problems in the world. We all have our own reasons for not doing something that we should be doing from time to time. This is normal. However, it becomes detrimental when it is at the cost of our career and personal future.

As a means to stop procrastinating, we must understand why we are procrastinating. We get influenced by our environment, and we let other people determine our behavior too often. When you’re procrastinating, you need to ask yourself why you are doing so. Asking why will help you determine the root of the problem.

Here’s what to do: take an inventory of your daily habits as they relate to procrastination and write them down. You’ll be surprised by what you find. For example, is it that you don’t have the time? Are you too busy with other things? Or are you simply not interested in doing something? Then you have to ask yourself why. The reason this works is that it’s not just about doing a task but doing a task that will get you closer to your ideal life.

The best way to stop procrastinating is by starting from the root cause of the problem and by taking action on it.

savings blogger

The best way to stop procrastinating is by starting from the root cause of the problem and by taking action on it. Sometimes it’s difficult to identify the real reason why we procrastinate. It’s easy to look outward and blame others, but here’s the challenge. Look inward and you will find the answers.

Quite often we get overwhelmed by the number of things that need to get done so it is just easier to keep putting them off. This is one of the biggest reasons why so many procrastinate, but there are others we need to examine as well.

Some people find themselves procrastinating because of distractions, while others procrastinate because they find it hard to get started.

Therefore, the best way to stop procrastinating is to identify the reason why you are procrastinating in the first place. Start by tracking your daily habits. How are you spending your time? How much time is spent on unplanned activities? How much time during the day is being wasted?

Assess your tracked activities daily and weekly. Look for patterns. And keep asking yourself why. Getting to the root cause is like peeling back the layers. Once you have identified the reason, it is easier to take the necessary steps to stop procrastinating.

Pinpoint your triggers towards distraction

So far, we’ve defined procrastination and identified the causal factors. Now we need to look at what triggers procrastination and keeps it going. Is there something specific in your environment that moves you away from getting your work done? Are you easily triggered by a phone call or text message?

According to Nir Eyal, the author of Indistractable, we have both external and internal triggers. The external ones being “…the pings, the dings, the rings, anything in our outside environment that can lead us towards distraction”. He says that people look outside of themselves, and they think that the phone buzzing is the reason they are distracted from their work. However, it turns out that the opposite is true.

According to Eyal studies have found that “…90% of the time that you check your phone, you are checking your phone because of an internal trigger”. He continues, “An internal trigger is an uncomfortable emotional state that we seek to escape from boredom, loneliness, fatigue, uncertainty, stress, or anxiety. We look for an escape from these uncomfortable sensations. Distraction overwhelmingly begins from within. And we have to understand this point first, because look, whether it’s too much news, too much booze, too much football, too much Facebook, we will always get distracted by something”.

So, if we think about that for a moment and we examine our own reasons for procrastinating can we then say that we are trying to escape from something that is uncomfortable.

To simplify it even further think about this. If you have planned to do something and you choose to do something else, then you are being distracted. Period.

Here’s a great example from Eyal. He says, “For years, I would sit down at my desk, and I would say, okay, I really have to work on that big project today. Okay. I really need to focus. I’m not going to let myself distract you. Get distracted. No more procrastinating. I’m going to work on that project right now. Here I go. I’m going to get started, but first let me check email, right. Let me just do those easy tasks on my, to-do list”.

Does that sound like you? I certainly can relate. I often purposely avoid the bigger tasks that require more effort and try to get the smaller ones out of the way. In my head I have convinced myself that this is “my strategy”, but it is nothing more than a cleverly disguised distraction tactic.

“…even though you may be checking things off your to-do list if it is not what you had planned for at that time then it is still a distraction.”

NIR EYAL, THE AUTHOR OF INDISTRACTABLE

While you may feel that you are getting a lot of work done, and maybe you are, the truth is that you are avoiding what you should be doing. Eyal continues that even though you may be checking things off your to-do list if it is not what you had planned for at that time then it is still a distraction.

“And in fact, it’s the most dangerous form of distraction, because it’s the kind of distraction that tricks you into prioritizing the easy work, and the urgent work at the expense of the hard and important work that is essential for moving your life and your career forward,” says Eyal.

In summary, distraction, therefore, moves us towards some type of pleasure (even if it is short-term and has consequences), while the task at hand moves us towards pain and discomfort.

A distraction is anything that takes your attention away from what you’re trying to get done. It might be something as simple as watching TV or having conversations with friends that keeps you from focusing on your work.

So, what do you do?

You start by identifying your own personal triggers towards distraction. You see the type of triggers that cause people to procrastinate can vary from person to person. Some people find themselves procrastinating on certain types of tasks, while others on any activity.

It is therefore important to understand who you are and what your triggers are. Once you have identified your triggers, you can then overcome procrastination by removing them from your daily routine.

Create an action plan to beat procrastination

Procrastination is often described as a fear of failure. If we believe that we are not ready to do something or we think that we cannot do something, then it is easy for us to give up. According to Joseph Ferrari, PhD., Professor of Psychology from DePaul University, “Everyone procrastinates, but not everyone is a procrastinator. We all put tasks off, but my research has found that 20 percent of U.S. men and women are chronic procrastinators”.

So, if we consider that everyone procrastinates at least once in their life is it a problem? Well, there is a difference between procrastination and delayed gratification. Delayed gratification is choosing to do something that you want in the future instead of choosing to do something right now. Procrastination on the other hand is about avoiding the unpleasant task and this means that you are deciding to do something that you don’t want to do.

To beat procrastination, it is important to understand why you are avoiding tasks. The reason people procrastinate is not just because they feel they lack the ability or don’t want to get something done, but because avoidance has become a habit. And we all know habits are hard to break.

So, basically, procrastination is the act of putting off doing something you should be doing. If you can do it right now, you will instead, wait until the last minute to even start. It’s a negative habit that can cause you to miss out on valuable time and opportunities. Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do right now to beat procrastination.

The best way to break this nasty habit is to set realistic goals and give yourself a deadline for those goals. You should write out a plan of action and a list of things that you need to do to complete each task. You can also get someone else to keep you accountable.

This may not be a great answer for everyone but try to change your perspective of the tasks that you need to complete. This can be easier said than done, so it is important to reframe your mind and change how you think about the tasks at hand. If you are analyzing your tasks from a positive perspective, then it will lead you towards taking action and completing each task in a timely manner.

Here is the 5-step action plan to stop procrastinating:

1. Make an action plan for your tasks

2. Get rid of the triggers that make you procrastinate in the first place

3. Create a breakdown of your tasks, sections by sections if necessary

4. Stick to your work schedule and time allocation wisely – this is one way to avoid slipping into an automatic-pilot situation where you complete low-value tasks first and with time left over, tackle bigger but more important ones last (meaning you won’t even be able to start the big ones!)

5. Make sure that your healthy habits help keep you disciplined – for example, make sure that when you put something off, you make an appointment with yourself to follow through on the task at a later date

Closing Remarks

Procrastination is something that virtually everyone has dealt with at some point in their lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of the day and forget about the things that you need to do, but in the long run, procrastinating can lead to many problems. Therefore, you must be prepared to take this challenge head-on.

Take the time to understand why you are procrastinating. Track your daily habits so that you can see not only the tasks that are getting done, but as well what you are avoiding. Know your triggers and avoid those. Make your goals small and specific. Create a plan of action and stick to it. Set realistic deadlines for yourself, instead of postponing tasks to the next day. And, most importantly, be accountable to yourself so that you can take on this challenge and succeed in conquering procrastination.

Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

1.     What are the top reasons why people procrastinate?

Feeling overwhelmed: They are overwhelmed by the amount of work that they must do. You can fix this by breaking the tasks into smaller, manageable parts. What is it that needs to get done? What are the steps to get there? Write it down. Use a planner or checklist and then just go for it.

Too many distractions: Sometimes people don’t want to do the work because other things distract them. Emails, social media, friends messaging, and so on. Staying on task can feel like an uphill battle. Turn your phone off, block the time in your planner and get to work. That’s the only way to get things done.

Disorganized: Some people are disorganized, which is why they are unable to finish their work. Organize your space, decide one day to do one thing. Do it, and then move on to the next. Make a plan and stick to it.

2.     What makes it hard for you to get started on something?

Most people procrastinate because they have a strong emotional connection to the task, or they are afraid that if they start the task, it will be difficult and take up a lot of time. To become more productive, you must find ways to make the task at hand less emotional and more fun. Tell yourself that no matter how hard the task will be, you are going to make it fun. Be disciplined and learn how to say no to procrastination.

3.     How to get yourself motivated even when you don’t feel like it?

Motivation comes from the same place as a purpose in life. It is very hard to motivate yourself without a purpose. That is why you have to set a goal, something to aim for. Until you set a goal, you cannot be motivated to achieve anything.

Setting a goal will change your life because without a goal you will spend your days just wasting time. Make your goal SMART. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

4.     Do you think procrastination can be a good thing?

Yes, absolutely. In some cases, it can help to identify a bigger underlying issue, such as depression or anxiety. While in other cases you may discover that overwhelm shuts you down, or that you are simply not organized. Regardless of the reason, it is important to identify the cause. Once you know where it comes from you can create a plan that addresses the root of the issue.  

There are a lot of factors that affect how much money we earn. How hard we work, the hours we put in, our skill set, and the amount of education we have are just a few examples. However, there’s one factor that can affect how much money we make that most of us believe we have very little control over. And that’s our money mindset.

Having the right money mindset is the most important factor in determining if you will become financially free. This is because your money mindset is what determines your behavior. And you do have full control over it. We can change our money mindset and when we do so we also affect how much money we can make.

In this article, we look at how we can change our money mindset by examining the top behaviors of self-made millionaires. 

But before we begin, let’s take a look at some commonalities of wealthy people.

Common Traits of Wealthy People

Wealthy people have a few things in common. They know how to make money grow. They invest in themselves and their businesses. They understand the power of compound interest. And they’re more productive than the average person (hmm…possibly?). But what is it that makes them so successful? It’s their money mindset.

True wealth seldom comes without having a strong belief coupled with intention and drive.

savings blogger

True wealth seldom comes without having a strong belief coupled with intention and drive. Wealth will come to you through the power of positive thinking, but you must also put in the work. Think ‘reap what you sow’.

Of course, it’s possible to become wealthy by being lucky, but it’s pretty unlikely. And certainly, the odds are not in your favor. I wouldn’t bank on it.

Wealthy people are those who think positively and put in the hard work needed to achieve their dreams. However, a money mindset alone is not enough to create wealth, but it is a necessary ingredient and makes it possible. It is the starting block that helps build the foundation for financial stability.

Now what we know is that self-made millionaires share some common behaviors. If we understand these behaviors, then we too should be able to benefit from them and use them to improve our financial situation.

So, what are they?

Self-made millionaires set goals and make sure that they do what it takes to achieve them. This requires self-discipline which is one of the behaviors we will examine further. They also have a strong work ethic. They never give up and always keep going no matter what happens. They have a positive attitude towards money and know-how to make it work for them. Self-made millionaires are lifelong learners and have a genuine interest in self-growth.

Now let’s further examine these common behaviors.

Four Behaviors of Self-Made Millionaires

1. Self-Discipline

Self-disciplined people can put aside their wants and needs and instead focus on achieving their goals. They resist temptation and do not procrastinate.

They do what needs to be done, even when they feel like doing something else. Self-discipline allows people to remain focused on their goals. In other words, create a strategy, execute it and don’t give up until it’s done.

Those with self-discipline understand the importance of their commitments and know the consequences of their actions, both positive and negative. They aren’t easily misguided by the trivial things in life that are often just distractions.

Everyone can discipline themselves to do something they want at least for the short-haul. Just think of a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. You have great willpower and discipline for the first few weeks, but then it starts to get harder. You are tempted to go back to your old ways. You miss that ice cream or chocolate cake that has your name all over it. Do you fall to temptation?

Having self-discipline is not easy. It requires work. Self-discipline can only be achieved when you apply the same amount of effort to everything you do, regardless of feelings or emotions.

2. Strong Work Ethic

Wealthy people tend to work hard. They understand the value of money and time, which is why they try to save as much as possible and make the most of the money they have. It’s not easy to become wealthy, but it can be done if you put in the effort.

A strong work ethic is crucial to becoming a self-made millionaire. It consists of two parts. First, you must work hard on your business and strive to reach your goals. Second, you must save and invest your money to ensure that you are leveraging your income to build wealth.

If you don’t have a strong work ethic, you’ll struggle with drive and motivation. There’s no way around it, you have to work hard and put in the time and effort if you want financial freedom. 

Most self-made millionaires will tell you that they work 24/7. Long days and weekends are a normal part of their lives. They’ll tell you that they barely ever see their loved ones. But they will also tell you that the hard work is worth it because it pays off in the end.

3. Lifelong Learners

Self-made millionaires are lifelong learners. They love reading and are highly knowledgeable not only about their own business but current affairs, health, entrepreneurship, etc. Their knowledge base is well-rounded.

Learning doesn’t necessarily come in the form of formal education, but rather in self-education. They see learning and growth as synonymous. That doesn’t mean however that they don’t have two or three University degrees under their belt, but rather that the education does not stop after graduation. 

Education is important to self-made millionaires and many see it as integral to their success. It contributes to making connections with other professionals that can often lead to new business opportunities.

Lifelong learners are people with a high degree of curiosity. They don’t just want to know something on the surface level. They want to understand how something works, how they can replicate it, and how they can use it either personally or in business.

They love reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, going to seminars, and ultimately learning from their mistakes. That means learning about personal growth, acquiring new skills and finding innovative opportunities to make money.

4. Positive Money Attitude

Self-made millionaires are very careful with their money. They don’t spend money on things they don’t need. They don’t buy new cars or expensive clothes. They don’t even buy expensive homes. Instead, they invest their money in assets that grow their wealth.

They have a positive attitude towards wealth and money. Self-made millionaires understand how to make their money work for them instead of them working for money. They don’t harbor negative feelings or beliefs which is all too common among the masses. Most of us want more money and when we don’t get it, find ourselves feeling anger and disdain for those that have it.

Just think of your own thoughts towards wealthy people. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it negative?

It’s important to be aware of your subconscious thoughts and actions when it comes to money. What is your reaction when you think about money? More specifically those that have money versus those that do not.

 If you have a negative association with money, you’re going to sabotage your efforts. For example, you might spend a lot of time thinking about it, and this will distract you from what you need to be doing.

When you believe you can be wealthy you will attract money to you. Self-made millionaires have a strong attitude towards money that then naturally translates into activities they need to focus on to attract money towards them. It is a simple, yet powerful truth in life.

Money is energy and money is attracted to positive people.

SAVINGS BLOGGER

If you think you can’t be wealthy, then you won’t attract money to you. Money is energy and money is attracted to positive people. If we choose to adopt a millionaire mindset, we will begin to behave in ways that will directly benefit our finances.

 A lot of people think that self-made millionaires are smart with money and are good with numbers, while this is true to some degree there’s much more to it than just that. In fact, their money mindset is the biggest factor in how they handle your finances.

Therefore, if we know that the money mindset of a millionaire is infinitely more positive and powerful than that of the average person then how can you change your mindset so that you can start to think like a self-made millionaire?

Closing Remarks

Self-Made millionaires share common behaviors. They have a strong work ethic, are highly disciplined and work towards their goals without distraction. They are continually learning and seeking out new opportunities to make money.

Most importantly, they have a positive money mindset which attracts more money to them. They respect money and careful with their spending. They let money work for them as opposed to working for money.

If you want to change your financial situation you may want to examine your relationship with money. Do you have negative feelings or associations? If so, start by working through those. Once you do that you will find that you are more open and positive, which will help you begin incorporating behaviors that are directly aligned with your financial goals.

There are plenty of ways to make money online for free. From paid interviews to writing articles, watching videos or evening listening to podcasts.

The Internet has changed the way we live. It is a great way for us to communicate with one another, but it also allows us to be more productive and more efficient in our day-to-day work. People are increasingly looking to the Internet as a means to make money and for good reason. If you are interested in making money online, then this is the article for you.

Here are 15 websites that will help you make money online for free. There is something for everyone, no matter what your skills or interests may be.

1. Site: Redbubble (Print-on-Demand)

What is this site: Create your own custom products and sell them online (i.e. artwork and designs).

How to make money:

Start by creating an account on Redbubble. It’s completely free. You just need to add your name and email address.

Then you can choose which types of products you would like to sell (for example, t-shirts). You select which colors, sizes, add your product description and title. Upload your artwork and voilà you’re done.

Redbubble then takes care of everything for you. They will create the t-shirt and send it to the customer. The best part is that you don’t need to do anything.

You get paid a commission for everything that is sold. The standard amount is 20%. There are no fees. Your payments are either made to PayPal or directly to your bank.

Now you may be wondering about traffic and how much work you will have to do. The answer: NOTHING. Redbubble gets tons of traffic. People search on their site and if you are offering what they are looking for then you will make a sale.

Learn More Here: https://www.redbubble.com/

2. Site: Naming Force

What is this site: Naming Force is a naming contest company. They help their clients come up with names for their website, products, and business. You submit your ideas to the contests.

How to make money:

Sign up for a free account and become a registered “namer”.

You can participate in several contests or projects by submitting your suggested names and slogans. Click on each project to learn more about the business, their requirements and the award or amount they are willing to pay to the selected name creator.  

Make sure that you are submitting unique, relevant names and slogans so you will have a higher chance of winning and earning. Naming Force has been widely used by many so there are lots of names that have already been submitted to each project posted. So, give your best ideas in naming and get selected.

Learn More Here: https://www.namingforce.com/

3. Site: Slogan Slingers

What is this site: Somewhat similar to Naming Force, but instead of names, clients or business owners are looking for slogans and tag lines only.

How to make money:

Create your account and sign up as a writer.

Slogan Slingers has a ton of available contests for you to join. Submit your most creative and catchy slogans and taglines. Read through the company information so that your ideas will fit the marketing and branding needs of the business owners.

If you’re a beginner and you want to know what a good slogan is, you may want to check out some free slogan generating websites such as slogangenerator.org, Oberlo.com and slogangenerator.co.

With Slogan Slingers, you can earn as much as $999 for every contest you win (minus their admin fee).

Learn More Here: https://www.sloganslingers.com/

4. Site: SkillShare

What is this site: An online learning community where you can share your skills and expertise with others. Film your class and publish it.

How to make money:

If you are passionate about design, photography, freelancing or have a specific skill set, and you want to make money at the same time, Skill Share is one of the best platforms you can use.

You start by choosing your area of expertise and begin an online course by teaching through an educational video. For you to earn, you must have a minimum of 30 premium minutes of watched video. An average of $200 can be earned monthly by new teachers and up to $3,000 for top-level teachers.

It is also encouraging to know that you don’t have to be an expert in editing videos for you to start your online class. Just make sure that your content showcases your expertise and adds value. This will ensure that your students will benefit from the content, which in turn will result in more income.

You can also create multiple courses to increase your earning potential. There are millions of people visiting their courses so if you want to inspire, teach and make money online, start by publishing your first class today.

Learn More Here: https://www.skillshare.com/user/teachonskillshare

5. Site: Udemy

What is this site: A global marketplace for learning where you can create and sell your digital courses online.

How to make money:

Compared with Skillshare where you earn through royalties and subscriptions, Udemy will get you paid for each individually sold course.

Once you have created your course, you can select the price range and publish it to Udemy. Multiple courses are allowed and the topics you can teach are limitless, which means that you also have an endless opportunity to make money.

Learn More Here: https://www.udemy.com/

6. Site: Envato

What is this site: Sell your graphic designs, stock photos, music tracks, website themes and templates online.

How to make money:

Become an Envato Author by signing up and creating an account.

Easily upload your digital assets and let potential buyers choose from your creative designs. Envato has a huge following with tons of customers from all over the world increasing the probability of you selling even more.

The amount you earn for each item sold is calculated by taking the item price and deducting the Envato Author fee.

Learn More Here: https://envato.com/

7. Site: Payhip

What is this site: Sell your digital downloads & memberships.

How to make money:

Get started by simply registering a free account.

You can sell ebooks, software, videos and other digital assets. Creating your own digital products is a great way to make money online.

Learn More Here: https://payhip.com/

8. Site: Kartra

What is this site: All-in-one online business platform where you can sell your digital products.

How to make money:

One of the best ways to earn money through Kartra is by selling a course. Create a course that will enable you to provide helpful videos to your potential audience and viewers. Another way is by providing services such as advertising, SEO, or content creation. You can also sell ebooks which can be sold easily by creating campaigns directly in the platform.

Monitoring your digital product sales is super easy and done right inside your account. If you want to go a step further, you can explore even more opportunities to make money through Kartra’s marketplace.

Since there are so many people using this platform to make money, you should aim to leverage your skills and expertise in order to create something unique This will allow you to become more effective and competitive with this platform.

Learn More Here: https://home.kartra.com/

9. Site: Swagbucks

What is this site: A reward’s membership site where you can earn points for watching videos, searching the web, answering surveys, etc.

How to make money:

What’s interesting with this website is that you can make money for everyday things that you already do online.

Just create your Swagbucks account by signing up and providing the required information. You can redeem points for gift cards or even get cash back from PayPal by simply watching entertaining videos, completing surveys and answering trivia. An average of $100 per week can be earned by regular daily users of the site.

It is one of the best ways to monetize the things that you do online, while maximizing your daily free time.

Learn More Here: https://www.swagbucks.com/

10. Site: Teachable.com

What is this site: Another educational platform to sell your online courses.

How to make money:

The concept for this educational and coaching platform is almost the same as Skillshare and Udemy. The main difference is that you can sell your online courses at a much higher price. Since online education has become more in demand, you should consider publishing your online courses on this website as well. 

You can establish your expertise by carefully choosing your ideas and the type of content to be published. Create something unique and different.

Learn More Here: https://teachable.com/

11. Site: 99Designs

What is this site: An online platform where you can sell your logos and designs.

How to make money:

Sign up so you can join available contests for each category they offer.

As you level up your talents, you can grow your own global community. Share your designs and win multiple contests. Earnings will depend on the rates per contest. There is also a platform fee of 5% for top-level, 10% for mid-level and 15% for entry-level.

Learn More Here: https://99designs.com/

12. Site: Anchor.fm

What is this site: A free site to create and monetize a podcast. Publish your episodes and distribute them to all the popular listening apps.

How to make money:

Sign up for free.

If you want to begin earning from creating a podcast, then this is a great place to start. Audio files are the most commonly used file type and are a great way to reach an audience that might not be easily reached. Create and publish your podcast through Anchor.fm. The best part about this site is its easy-to-use tools, which help you create your first podcast without worrying about technical expertise.

You can simply record and edit your audio and video and then arrange it into podcast episodes. To monetize, you can earn every time people listen to your podcast. You can also earn through Anchor sponsorship ads that are now available.

Get paid for your podcast episodes using this effective yet easy way for podcast creation.  

Learn More Here:  https://anchor.fm/

13. Site: Upwork

What is this site: A freelancing platform where businesses can post jobs and hire suitable candidates.

How to make money:

Register to create your free account.

Start by completing your Upwork profile with details about your skills and experience. Include a portfolio where businesses can see and review your work. Your profile and proposals must be approved first. Once you have done that then you can apply for any of the jobs that match your skills or wait for businesses to contact you directly.

The earning opportunity has no limit as you can do multiple jobs and projects. Payment is based on each individual project and the terms that have been agreed upon.

Note that there’s a 3% processing fee charged by Upwork for every payment to freelancers.

Learn More Here:  https://www.upwork.com/

14. Site: User Interviews

What is this site: A focus group-based research company that helps businesses with their decision-making.

How to make money:

Sign up for free and get paid for your feedback.

Start by creating a profile and tell User Interviews a bit about yourself. This helps them to select a mix of people for the user groups based on different demographics. Search through the different studies to find ones that might be of interest to you. Then complete the survey to see if you qualify for the study.

You can get paid up to $50/hour by providing feedback on products and services. Some studies can even go up to $200 or more.

Learn More Here: https://www.userinterviews.com

15. Site: Wonder

What is this site: An on-demand research company for businesses that gets them answers to pressing questions and data quickly.

How to make money:

If you love doing research and working when you want, then Wonder will be perfect for you.

Apply by completing the online application through their website. You will then be given a quiz and trial assignment to show your research skills. Once you’ve been approved then just login to the dashboard and you will be given a task to work on.

You can earn an average of $15 per hour, which can increase based on your research skills. This is a real online job where you are paid for your time and effort. Make sure to provide quality results to make more money.

Learn More Here: https://askwonder.com/

Final Thoughts

Making money online is a great way to earn a living. Thousands of people make money each and every day by doing what they love. Some are working as freelancers, others selling digital products they’ve created or even just watching videos, listening to podcasts or doing a bit of research.

There are many ways to make money online and the best part is that you can do it for free. Plus, you get to work when you want from the comfort of your own home. If you have not started yet or are looking to earn a little more on the side, try one of the websites listed.

If this sounds like you then you are in exactly the right place. It’s time to revisit your relationship with money. Saving money is about your mindset, financial habits, and the decisions that you make.

Saving money should not be a burden, but rather a well-planned effort.

I went through a really bad time financially and it was these lessons that changed my life. I only wish that I had learned them when I was much younger.

Go through them, apply the techniques and strategies that I’ve included, and you may just discover that you have a lot more cash available than you thought.

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

Only Buy What You Can Afford

Living within your means can be extremely challenging, but it’s a must if you want to get your finances under control.

You may think that you can’t live without that latest gadget, or whatever it is that pulls at you, but if you can’t afford it then don’t buy it. The financial difficulties that it will create will overshadow the satisfaction that you get. Plus, in most cases, it’s just an initial high followed by buyer’s remorse.

Consider using the good old fashioned cash envelope system. Make a list and categorize all of your monthly expenses. Label the envelope with the category name. Add additional categories for saving money, such as an emergency fund or saving for a holiday.

Allocate the amount of money that goes into each envelope. Then fill the envelope with the budgeted amount on payday or at the beginning of each month. Pay for everything from the envelopes. Once the envelopes are empty you have finished spending on that category for the month.

If you have money left over at the end of the month that should go into the saving envelope. Be mindful of your spending and stay focused on your savings goal. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the money will start to add up.

Know the Difference Between Needs and Wants

Needs are easy. They include anything that is required to live. Food, water, shelter, clothing are the basics. Of course, we have to add into this list electricity, phone, cable, internet, etc.

Wants, on the other hand, include all that stuff that makes you feel good.

Learn to differentiate between the two and you’ll start making decisions that will help you save money. Each time you want to buy something ask yourself, “do I need this?”. If the answer is ‘no’ walk away.

Each time you want to buy something ask yourself, “do I need this?”. If the answer is ‘no’ walk away.

kristy shaw, savings blogger

One of the things that I have found to be especially helpful is to plan ahead. Prioritize your spending. For example, if I’m going grocery shopping, I plan out my menu for the week. This way I know what I need to buy.

I also assign myself a grocery budget. I know exactly how much money I have per month towards food. This ensures that I don’t overspend.

But what if I see something really good on sale? How do I avoid impulse buying?

The truth is I don’t. That’s where what I refer to as “wiggle room” comes into play. I allow myself enough flexibility so that if I see something that I need I can buy it while taking advantage of the sale.

Just last week I was in the grocery store and the coffee that I normally buy was on sale (three for the price of two). As it’s a staple item in my home I’ve already budgeted for it at the higher cost. However, I have not budgeted to buy three packages in one week. This will push me over my budget.

So, what should I do? Should I buy the coffee while it’s on sale or wait and pay the normal price?

Obviously, I’m going to buy it on sale knowing that I will go over budget. But that’s o.k. because I look at the month as a whole. As long as I don’t go over the monthly food budget that’s fine.

And what about wants, how do I build in wants so that I don’t feel like I’m losing out on things. Again, budget for them.

Set aside a small amount of money each month for wants. That does not mean that you must spend that money every month. Put the money into an envelope labelled “wants” and if there is nothing you want this month then carry the money to the next. Now imagine if you go three months without buying anything. That means that you can buy something bigger, more expensive. Think of how good that will make you feel.

It’s not about depriving yourself but rather becoming a good money manager. Know what you need. Know what you can afford. And reward yourself with wants.

Control Your Money Rather Than Your Money Controlling You

You need to be in control of what you are spending your money on. We so often spend frivolously that we have no idea where our money goes. If I asked you right now to write down every single thing that you spent money on last month would you be able to do that? Probably not.

For the next month, I want you to record and track every single penny that you spend. Microsoft Excel is great for this or any app that allows you to build lists. You can even just write it out with pen and paper.

In the first column, I want you to describe what you bought or paid for. Let’s say you paid your mobile phone bill. Write it down. Then in the second column record the amount.

Now take a look at the type of items that are in the first column. Are there entries that can be categorized together? For example, let’s say you bought a pair of shoes and a jacket. These are two separate items bought on two separate days, but they both are clothing. So, in the third column, you would write clothing.

Go through all of the list items and divide them into categories. Some examples may be travel expenses, groceries, household payments, car-related expenses, etc.

At the end of the month add up the total amount spent on each category. You may be shocked to see where your money has gone.

How much did you actually spend on things that you don’t need? Are there categories where you can reduce costs and save money? Look at the information logically and create a plan to cut costs for the following month. Write it down.

Once you’ve done this analysis and you have identified where exactly you were overspending take that amount of money that you’ve overspent and put that directly into your savings fund.

Find Ways to Have Fun Without Spending Money

Have you ever noticed how we socialize to a large degree revolves around money? Why is that? Whose interests are we really supporting?

We all know that money doesn’t bring you happiness, but rather the life experiences that we have. It’s our family, our friendships, those special moments that make us happy. It’s the memories that we create and the bonds that we build with others.

Happiness comes from the life that you live not the possessions that you own.

kristy shaw, savings blogger

Happiness comes from the life that you live not the possessions that you own.

So, how do you have fun without spending money?

For starters, invite your friends to your home for a potluck dinner. Have everyone come with a dish to share. Make it a theme night.

Or what about a movie and popcorn night with that special someone? There’s no rule that says you have to go to the movies and spend $100 bucks for a night out. Plus, just think of how cozy staying at home can be.

Make a list of things that you enjoy doing. Are you an outdoor person? What about going camping or hiking? Maybe you’re into sports. Why not join a community sports team? Volleyball, soccer, baseball, bowling…anyone?

Or maybe you like board games. Try hosting a board game night at your house.

Whatever it is that brings you joy write it down. Ask your friends to make their own lists. Then choose an event when you want to get together. You’re all going to have fun and save money too!

A $20k Car Takes You from Point A-to-B the Same as a $5k Car

I learned this important lesson from my Economics Professor. I remember the lecture as if it was yesterday.

He said, “I’ve never understood why people buy cars they cannot afford. It just does not make economic sense. A $20,000 car will take you from point A to point B just the same as a $5000 car will.”

He went on to talk about how the price of cars is such a wide spectrum that there is a car for every single budget. Know your numbers.

A few months prior to that lecture I had just bought a $20,000 vehicle. And exactly 2 weeks before, to the day, my best friend at University bought a $5000 car. True story. I couldn’t believe it!

In case you’re wondering how that story ended that car got me into a huge financial mess. I bought into this idea that if I had a more expensive car it would be more reliable. And it was. The car was fantastic, but it was way beyond my means. I put myself into a chokehold with my finances and I will never forget that.

Fast forward a few years to when I had lost everything. I needed a car to get around. I had $1,500 cash in my account and not a penny more. That was the budget. It took a few months of actively researching used car websites until I found my car. I called her my little red “putt-putt”.

And I must say that is the best car I ever owned. I had that car for 5 years and when I think of the amount that I spent on maintenance and repairs it was nothing. I couldn’t believe it. Boy, were my beliefs wrong.

So, I want you to think about the car that you are driving. Is it within your budget? If not, you may want to consider making a change.

Do you want to struggle every single month with a huge car payment you cannot afford as I did? Believe me, it’s not worth it.

Don’t become a prisoner of vanity or false beliefs.

kristy shaw, savings blogger

Work your numbers and figure out how much of your income per month can you realistically afford towards a car payment. Or maybe you are better off just buying a car outright like I did. Don’t become a prisoner of vanity or false beliefs. There are tons of really amazing cars out there with super low-price points. Look around and you will find your little “putt-putt” too.

Avoid Becoming House Rich Cash Poor

Let’s face it we all have to live somewhere. But I ask you is it worth it to take a huge portion of your income and put that towards house expenses at the cost of being deprived of everything else?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying a house, especially for first time home buyers, that you can be leading yourself right into the house poor trap.

Remember this…

A smaller house has a smaller mortgage, which means a lower monthly payment. Plus, you can pay it off faster. Would you rather be a homeowner, or someone indebted to the bank?

Moreover, let’s not forget that the cost of repairs and renovations will be lower. But most importantly is the upkeep. That includes all your utilities. Your electricity, heating, water, and insurance. All of it…lower.

Do you see where I’m going here? Are you seeing all of the money that you can save? Money for retirement, for an emergency fund, for that holiday that you’ve been dreaming about taking for the last 10 years. Finally, you can have it all.

If you’re spending more than 50% of your income on housing, then you need to downsize. The magic number is somewhere between 25% to 35%.

I recommend that you get some help doing this. Talk to a Financial Advisor. Find a Real Estate agent that will help you find a home within your budget. Downsizing is very common nowadays and there are tons of professionals that know and understand how to do this the right way.

Now I often get asked the question…

What about renting? So, let me answer that here.

In some situations, I do believe that it is a good idea to rent. Maybe you need to completely cut down all of your expenses or maybe you need to save for a down payment. However, I do think that renting should be a short-term solution.

I believe strongly in the importance of building your asset portfolio and real estate should be one of those assets.

Being Frugal Does Not Mean You are Cheap

When I think of the meaning of frugal, I think of someone that is wise with their spending. Someone that is not wasteful with their money and thinks through their money decisions.

Is it really a good idea to eat out every day? Or to get your coffee fix at Starbucks? Why not take all that money spent on fast food and coffee runs daily and put it into your savings? Try putting it into a savings envelope daily and see how much you have at the end of one month, two months, and so on.

And what about all of those TV channels that you are paying for? Do you really need them all? Realistically how much TV are you watching? Try free streaming platforms online. Many TV channels now include a video library on their website that you can watch for free.

Go through all of your current spending. Everything. Are there places where you are being wasteful? Where can you cut down? Really dive deep into the decisions that you have made. Just because you have expenses locked in it does not mean they cannot be changed.

Think about your phone bill, TV, gym membership, etc. Maybe you are not using your phone enough to justify an unlimited plan. I recently got rid of my monthly plan and got the 500 minutes per month option instead. This cut my phone bill by half. I did the same with my cable plan. I was paying for two box rentals (one for the bedroom and one for the living room). I have not turned on the TV in my bedroom for over a year so why am I paying for that. And with the gym how often do you go? Is a pay-as-you-go option better than the full access membership?

Do you see where I am going here? Question each expense. Is there a way to reduce the cost? Negotiate your contracts when possible.

Then take that extra money that you save each month and put it towards your money-saving goals. For example, transfer it directly to a savings account. With some banks, you can even automate the whole process. Set and forget.

Final Thoughts

Saving money should not be a hassle. Set up systems that are easy to follow. Manage your money and let it work for you. Focus on the big picture. What do you want in life? How important is your financial freedom?

Learn to make good money decisions based on your income. Don’t live beyond your means and put yourself in a financial chokehold even if that cute little $20,000 red sports car looks good.

Be patient with your savings efforts. Build good money habits. Know your limits and buy only what you can afford. And make sure to get on top of your spending by recording and tracking. Remember we’re in this for the long haul.

There are two types of digital products. The first is a digital download that you use in its existing format. For example, this can be a Canva template. You would download the template and then upload it to Canva. Alternatively, you can have a digital download that is printable. Both do exceptionally well on Etsy.

You can also create products that vary in customization. For example, on one end of the spectrum you would have no customization. This means that you sell the product as an instant download that is delivered as is. A second alternative is to create a product that the buyer will customize. Again, think of Canva. And lastly, a product that you customize. For example, a book cover. You may provide the additional service to update the title and author name.

Digital products offer a low time and monetary investment to get started. Plus, the margins can be quite high depending on what you make. You also do not need to carry inventory or ship products to customers.

But what kind of products should you sell? What is the most profitable? What is the easiest?

In this article, I’ve put together 25 of the top selling digital products on Etsy. They are from a variety of niches and cater to different types of buyers. I’m hoping that this list will get you inspired so that you can start selling today.

Ready? Let’s go.

Journals

Downloadable journals have become increasing popular over the past few years. People love them. They are great for self-reflection, planning, getting organized and just about anything. There are tons of options and uses. So, be creative. Think of solopreneurs, stay-at-home moms, travel bloggers, etc. These fun journal pages can be offered both in a digital or printable format.

Business Planners

Business owners are always looking for products that help them with various tasks. Whether it’s to manage cash flow, track milestones, expenses, or set priorities there is a need for a planner. Make sure to include sections for ideas, notes, to-do’s, etc. where each page is multi-functional. Find specific niches, like MLM or real estate, and then target the pages specifically to their needs.  

eBook Templates

Both ebook and workbook templates are growing in popularity. These are a great tool that helps authors and content creators speed up their workflow. This way they don’t have to worry about the design part of their project so they can focus completely on writing the content itself.

Done-For-You eBooks

The difference between the ebook templates and the done-for-you ebooks is that the content has already been written. There are some niches that this works incredibly well with. For example, look at the image below, this ebook is the ultimate Airbnb host bundle. It includes a welcome guidebook, essential house items, a cleaning checklist, and printable signs. It is created in Canva so it’s extremely easy for the buyer to edit and make their own.

PowerPoint Templates

PowerPoint templates have become the gold standard of presentations. Plus, they can be used for project proposals, creating brand guidelines, webinars, a sales pitch and so much more. Templates are a huge timesaver for presenters. You could create an entire shop just with presentation templates.

Excel Templates

Excel templates are highly sought after, especially by solopreneurs and small business owners. The most common types include invoices, budgets, bookkeeping, expense reports, monthly tracking, and to-do lists. The key to a good template is the auto-calculation function. This allows the user to just input the data, which is a huge stress relief.

Instagram Highlights

If you’re not on Instagram, then you may not even be aware of these cute little highlight icons that are super easy to make and extremely popular among users. Essentially, they are a coordinated group of little icons that help to showcase and tell a story. Highlights are extremely effective in promoting a brand. They are added to the front of an Instagram profile and help users to navigate and learn more about a company.

Instagram Templates

Instagram posts and story templates are in huge demand right now. With over 100 million people on Instagram its popularity has exploded, however, while so many want to jump on the bandwagon, they struggle with creating a brand and style that is coordinated. As Instagram is image heavy it’s important that they have something that sets them apart from others. And that’s where you come in. You can help by creating packages of templates that include quotes, stories, and posts.

Pinterest Templates

Why not help businesses go viral with professional looking Pinterest templates? Pinterest is a great traffic source for bloggers, but quite often finding a way to stand out of the pack is difficult. Create beautiful designs so that your customers can finally stand out and be noticed and get the traffic they deserve.

Social Media Templates

Following along the same lines as Instagram and Pinterest there are a number of other social media channels that you can also create templates for. Just think of the popularity of Facebook, Twitch, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and so on. You can create packages that include multiple channels so that the branding is cohesive across channels. Extremely popular with businesses.

Graphics & Design Elements

Design elements, clip art, shapes, illustrations are all needed for creating designs. These can be used for websites, book covers, invitations, and so on. If you’re extremely creative, then you may be the one to design the elements that other people will then use to create their own commercial products.   

Wall Art Prints

One of the most popular product types on Etsy is art prints. If you’re a graphic designer or photographer this might be the perfect option for you. Wall art can be created for any room in a house. Think about children’s rooms, hallways, living rooms, bedrooms and even kitchens.

Greeting Cards

What about creating high quality print ready cards for any occasion. Just think about all the holidays there are in a year Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Easter, and so on. Plus of course birthdays. You can create an entire shop for just birthday cards. And let’s not forget special occasions like anniversaries, graduations, baby showers, etc.

Tip: Funny cards that are not commonly seem in card shops do extremely well. So, if you have a witty sense of humor this might be for you.

Gift Tags

Gift tags are super simple to design, while making a huge impact on wrapping any present. Plus, they are great for shop owners, event planners, and weddings. So, the reach is far beyond the obvious. Be creative. You just might tap into something extremely profitable with this one.

Invitations

Baby shower, graduation, wedding, the list of events throughout the year is endless. And what’s more exciting than receiving an invitation? These can be either digital or printable. There is a market for both. However, the largest demand is invitations for weddings. Make it easy for the buyer to edit the names so they can quickly make their changes and send it off to the printers.

Party Banners & Décor

Themed parties are tons of fun for both kids and adults. You can create party banners, signs and posters, cupcake toppers, centerpiece cutouts, etc. Bundle them into one large package or sell each of the items separately.

Printable Games

Printable games are especially sought after for bridal showers but can be for any event. Just think about a scavenger hunt for a children’s birthday party or Pictionary at a baby shower. They’re super easy to create and loads of fun at any event.

Checklists

Checklists are another easy to create product and are extremely useful. You can create generic checklists where you leave all of the content blank so the user can fill it in based on their needs. Alternatively, you can make them super targeted. For example, checklists for weddings, cleaning, saving money, paying off debts are just a few ideas to get you inspired.

Coloring Books

Coloring books can be created for any age group, which includes adults due to their growing popularity over the past few years. Health professionals have been instrumental in pushing this product. Coloring has been found to be helpful with improving sleep, reducing stress and anxiety, improving concentration and focus, just to name a few.

Digital Paper

This is one product type that people don’t often think about, however, it is a huge market space. Digital paper can be used in numerous ways. You can print it and use it for scrapbooking or as wrapping paper. As well, it can be used digitally in web design, backgrounds for social media, advertising, and even to create other crafts and decorations. These are usually sold with personal and commercial licenses.

Crochet and Knitting Patterns

Crafting is a huge market and there is so much that you can do in this space. If you love to knit and crochet, why not put your patterns to paper and sell them. Most people love to create from an easy-to-follow guide but struggle with creating one themselves.

Resume Templates

Landing an interview is just as much about presentation as it is experience and education. But not everyone knows how to design a professional looking resume, so that’s where templates come in. If this is something that you are good at then it’s definitely a niche worth investing your time in. These can be created in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or even Canva.

Meal Plans

Do you have an expertise in keto, paleo, or low carb diets? If so, this option might be just what you’ve been looking for. Many people struggle with creating a meal plan that is both nutritious and healthy and this is where you come in. You can create meal plans for weight loss, fitness, or simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Meal Planner Templates

This goes along the same lines as the meal plans the only difference is that here we are talking about creating fill-in-the-blank templates. This can include a grocery list, daily menu, food diary, a kitchen inventory checklist, and so on.

Stock Photography

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to create stock photography. If you’re fairly good at taking photos and can do a few edits in Photoshop or Lightroom that’s all you need. You can even take this a step further by creating mockups. There’s a huge demand for mockups right now, plus you can charge a lot more for them so it’s worth learning how to create them.

Book Covers

Kindle ebooks are great, but how do you make yours stand out. With a great cover of course! But cover design is a much bigger market than just Kindle. You can create book covers for both print, as well as, a number of digital formats ranging from PDF, to ePub, and .mobi.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully, this list of digital products has given you some ideas for generating passive income. Think about what kind of products you would like to create. What interests you? After all, you want to have some fun doing this as well. Start small. And who knows this might even turn into a full-time venture.

Do not stress about your skill level. As I have noted several times many of these products are easy to create. Plus, there are tons of free tools online, so you don’t have to spend money on software like Photoshop or Illustrator.

Start by creating something simple. Maybe pick one niche and create a small collection. See what sells and then create some more. Have fun and happy selling!

Let’s face it, there are only 24 hours in a day and when you’re working as a solopreneur every single minute counts. But what if you are working non-stop yet nothing seems to be getting done. Maybe you need to re-strategize and try something new.

In this article, I want to walk you through some very specific actions that you can take right now to help boost your mental power so that you can actually get more done during the day and give yourself more time off.

1. Take Regular Breaks

Taking regular breaks during your workday is extremely important to maintain high levels of productivity and concentration throughout the day.

Now before I move forward, I want to dispel a common myth. Some people say that they are worried about taking too many breaks, because they think that they are going to get behind in their work. The truth is actually the complete opposite of this. If you work for long periods of time without taking a break your concentration will lag, which then negatively impacts your productivity. Therefore, you get a lot less done during the day.

So, let’s move forward and take a look at when and how many breaks you should be taking.

In an article by Stephanie Vozza, she cites Pozen who suggests that we should be taking a break every 75 to 90 minutes. Essentially this means that you would work on a task without disruption for approximately 1 to 1.5 hours and then break.

The length of your break can vary to some degree.

If you follow the Pomodoro Technique, which I have talked about in a previous article, then you are working in 25-minute blocks separated by 5-minute breaks. And then a longer break of 15-20 minutes after you have completed four blocks.

Another common method is the 52/17 rule. That is working 52 minutes on a specific task and then taking a 17-minute break.

This ideology comes from a social networking company called Draugiem Group, who conducted an experiment using a time tracking productivity app called DeskTime. They wanted to see the habits of their most productive employees. What they found was that the 10% of their employees who had the highest level of productivity didn’t actually work longer hours, but in fact we’re taking regular breaks throughout the day. In reality they didn’t even work their full 8 hours as they were taking these increments of 17-minute breaks for every 52 minutes that they had worked.

What does this tell us?

Julia Gifford in The Muse, wrote that it turns out the secret of retaining the highest level of productivity over the span of a workday is not working longer, but working smarter with frequent breaks. Essentially the employees who had the highest level of productivity were working these 52-minute blocks with an intense purpose, then rested up with their break, allowing their brains to rejuvenate and prepare for the next work period.

How long should you break for?

The answer is … it depends. What you need to do is figure out what works best for you. Personally, what I have found is that my breaks are dependent on the task that I am working on. For the most part however, I do follow the 52/17 rule. I find that working intensely for approximately one hour and then taking a short break keeps me moving productively throughout the day.

Of course, you have to factor in approximately 45 minutes to one hour for a lunch break. So, if we break this down for an entire day it’s a few hours with a few shorter breaks, a longer break, and then back in the afternoon for a few more hours with a few shorter breaks.

The important thing is to experiment with different break frequencies and durations. Find the best option that works for you. Don’t worry about the minutia. It does not matter whether your break is 17- minutes or 25-minutes, or even just five minutes. What’s more important is that you get up from your desk at certain intervals during the day to give your brain a rest. Once you have discovered what works best for you stick with that. And most importantly find tools that help you achieve your goal.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Water is essential for so many metabolic processes in our body and especially our brain. We need it to be able to properly function and thrive.

But what happens to your mind when you don’t get enough water?

You become dehydrated and essentially unable to work.

According to 101MrHealth the following ailments can all be a direct result of being dehydrated:

1. Headaches
2. Dizziness
3. Cloudy mind
4. Loss of concentration
5. Irritability
6. Lethargic  

He continues to say that it is more so that our brain is dehydrated and that is why we experience these symptoms. It is a way of our body communicating with us that we need water.

When you drink enough water, your concentration improves. You are more alert, focused and think more clearly. Essentially, everything that you need in order to be highly productive.

So, how much water do you need?

Medical professionals say that we need an average of eight glasses of water per day. That is certainly a good starting place and it’s something that you should strive towards daily. However, keep in mind that this too varies depending on the type of activity that you’re doing.

For example, if you are exercising then of course you need more water so that you can replenish what you’ve lost.

But did you know that intense concentration also means that you need more water. So, if you want to be highly productive you need to make sure that you are drinking enough water throughout the day.

3. Alternate Between High and Low Activities

Some of the tasks that we do throughout the day can be considered low level activities, whereas others require more concentration and effort which would-be high-level activities.

Alternating between high and low intensity activities is like interval training for the brain.

savingsblogger.com

By alternating between these two types of activities what we are doing is giving our brain a rest. Essentially, allowing it to recover from a highly focused activity.

Low level activities can be anything from returning emails and phone calls, answering comments on your blog, getting caught up reading emails, etc. Whereas high level activities may be putting together your business plan, developing a marketing strategy, or even writing a blog post.

Just think of interval training where you are alternating between high and low activities, except here we are doing it for your brain.

4. Control Negative Thoughts

Does self-doubt and worry creep into your daily thoughts? Do you find yourself drifting and wondering if you can actually achieve all of your business goals?

Mel Robbins says that, “…we worry about stuff because it’s a habit, cause when you’re not paying attention your brain shifts from you being a decision maker and paying attention to you just spinning things on autopilot, and one of your habits is worrying…”.

But when you actually wake up and recognize that you are in this negative headspace, she says that you should say the numbers 5-4-3-2-1 out loud.

She continues…

What this does is shift the part of your brain that you are using. You move from your basal ganglia, which is where all of your habit loops occur to your awakened prefrontal cortex. Plus, you have interrupted the negative pattern.

Because of the counting your mind is now ready to receive a new thought. This can be a vision of your business as you would like it to be in the next five years, a positive mantra or thought that resonates with you, etc.

5. Work with Intention

The concept of working with intention means that you are working towards a specific objective, with an intended result that you want to achieve, in a specific amount of time.

Most people struggle with focus not because of their inability, but because they don’t understand or really know what it is that they are supposed to be doing. What is the end goal? The aim or objective? And when should it be completed by?

When you are creating your daily tasks, you need to attach a time frame to them. For example, if you are writing a blog post and on average it takes you four hours then block off that time in your calendar. You will most likely do this over a few days.

So, let’s say you will work two hours per day on your blog post. Assuming that you want to write 2,500 words that’s 625 words per session. Now decrease that timeframe to 1.5 hours.

That means that you need to produce 625 words in 1.5 hours. Your objective and time frame has been clearly mapped out. Now when you work on this task you know exactly what needs to be done, by when. You have given clear instructions to your brain and in turn it will do it’s best to deliver. That is working with intention.

If we go a step further, what we are really talking about here is Parkinson’s Law.

Parkinson’s Law states that the time it takes to complete a work project depends on how much time you allot for it.

Hansaj, Readwrite

According to Hansaj, from ReadWrite, “Parkinson’s Law states that the time it takes to complete a work project depends on how much time you allot for it. In other words, if you give yourself eight hours, you’ll slow down and make it take eight hours. If, however, you only give yourself five hours, you’ll block out distractions and get it done in five hours”.

6. Manage Tasks with To-Do Lists

I absolutely love to-do lists. I can’t think of anything more satisfying than knowing that things are getting done.

While I do still use pen and paper with some task management, I do believe that using either a mobile or online app is the better way to go…at least for the overarching tasks.

Most apps allow you to prioritize by moving the tasks up and down, in some cases color coding for importance, and also setting them as completed. Plus, you can add tasks in advance which is helpful for deadlines and repetitive tasks.

Brown cited Productivity Guru David Allen stating that, “Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.”

He continues to say that he realized that if he could actually finish what he was working on then his to-do list would get shorter. Essentially, “do what you’re doing now” or DWYDN.

It’s so easy to avoid tasks that we don’t like or to simply jump from one task to another always trying to do the easiest one first. The problem with this is that nothing ever gets completely done and the to-list just keeps growing.

Helpful tips for working with to-do lists:

1. Prioritize your tasks
2. Add a timeframe to each task
3. Alternate between low and high activity tasks
4. Finish what you’re doing now (use the DWYDN method)

7. Track Your Time

Time tracking is a great way for you to understand where you are spending your time during the day. As well, it allows you to identify how long specific types of tasks are taking so that you can manage them more effectively.

My favorite time tracking tool is Toggl. It keeps me accountable so that I can continually be moving through my tasks.

Each of my projects is organized by tasks and color. For example, if I am working on a blog post I make sure to select that activity. While it does take some remembering to turn on and off the timer with each new task I start, it is well worth the effort. At the end of the week, I am able to pull a report that shows me exactly how I have spent my time.

Closing Thoughts

Productivity is the cornerstone of running a successful business. How well you spend your time matters. If you’re not getting enough done during the day, then you need to make a change right now.

Maybe you are working on one task for too many hours and losing your focus. If this sounds familiar, then try taking regular breaks throughout the day. Make sure to drink plenty of water so that your mind is alert and focused. Remember, loss of concentration, a cloudy mind, and irritability are all signs that you are dehydrated. All of which will negatively impact your productivity.

Make sure to alternate between the type of task that you are working on as some work require less intensity while others require more.

Create a to-do list and assign time frames for each task. And whatever the time frame tighten it up a bit so that you push yourself to achieve more in less time. And make sure to track your time so that you know exactly where and how you are spending your working hours during the day.

Your mindset and attitude directly dictate how you manage adversity in your life.

If you have a negative mindset it will be more difficult for you to overcome problems. Your thoughts can lead you down a slippery slope of despair, feelings of hopeless and helplessness, and even depression. Simple challenges can easily grow into bigger problems.

When you have a positive mindset, you feel empowered. You are confident in your abilities to manage problems and are continually working on improving your coping mechanisms.

It’s time to re-evaluate and assess your mindset and attitude. In this article you will discover the exact areas you need to focus on to change your mindset. This will directly help to change your thoughts and attitude towards challenges.

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Believe in Yourself

Life is full of adversity and challenges. And as tough as it is, we somehow always manage to get through.

Just think of a difficult time you had in the past. How did you handle it? Were you stronger from it?

Now more than ever it’s time to put your best foot forward. Show yourself what you are made of. Believe in yourself and what you are capable of.

You are a strong resourceful woman. Believe it. Own it. You will get through this.

It all starts with your first thought…

Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.

Roy T. Bennett

In the words of Roy T. Bennett, “Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine”. Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart¹

Tell yourself these words over and over again until they become a part of who you are. This is your first step to changing your mindset and attitude.

Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude

The first time I heard the words ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ was on the Oprah Winfrey show. I’d never heard that before. It spoke to me in a huge way. It was a real ah-ha moment in my own journey.

Oprah went on in her show to talk about the importance of having a gratitude journal. Writing down what you are thankful for each day.

Oprah says, “when you think you don’t have anything I always say go back to your breath. If you just start with your breath and start being grateful for that…its thinking about what you have versus what you don’t have. Focusing on the one thing that you are grateful for increases the energy of gratitude and rises the joy inside yourself”.²

Have a listen:

When you adopt an attitude of gratitude you become thankful for everything you have in your life. If you see the world in a positive light, you will attract light into your life.

I want you to go a step further. As difficult as it might be, I want you to find light in your hardships as well.

Think of adversity as opportunity. Think of opportunity as growth. What is it in this tough situation that you can be grateful for?

You are a survivor. Be grateful for that. You will be stronger because of your challenges. Be grateful that.

Let Your Past Guide You

Your past should not dictate who you are or what your future will become, but it is important in changing your mindset and attitude.

Drawing on past experiences allows for reflection. Just as it is helpful in believing in yourself, it too speaks volumes for your abilities and strengths.

Focus on a challenge that you have overcome. Put yourself back to that time. Reflect. How did you get through it? Is there something in that experience that can help you today.

Are you able to use the same solution? Mimic it or adapt it in some way?

There’s also the other side of the coin…

Maybe the lessons from the past have taught you what not to do.

It’s not about opening up old wounds or unresolved issues, but instead finding the tools from the past and using those to push through difficult times.

Be Mindful

Mindfulness is the intentional practice of awareness. It is when you purposely tap into your thoughts, feelings, surroundings, and your body.

It can help you focus on the here and now, to decrease stress, improve your mood and ultimately to change your mindset.

When you become more aware of your thoughts and how you react to various stimuli and events in your life you can learn to make better choices. You can assess and improve your coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills. This will help you to better manage adversity and challenging times.

Mindfulness allows you to make better decisions. Rather than simply reacting you can teach yourself to step back, analyze, plan, and execute.

Rather than just seeing the negative consequences of feeling stressed, mindfulness offers you the space to think differently about the stress itself.

Shamash Alidina

Shamash Alidina says, “Rather than just seeing the negative consequences of feeling stressed, mindfulness offers you the space to think differently about the stress itself. Observing how the increased pressure helps energize you has a positive effect on your body and mind”.³

Your mindset is directly influenced by your thoughts and when going through a difficult time it is easy to get lost in helplessness and hopelessness. There is a tendency to preoccupy your thoughts with negativity.

Through mindfulness you can train your brain to be in the present. Recognize what you are feeling and thinking and use that to change your reactions.

Choose to be Positive

From the moment you open your eyes each morning your life is a series of choices throughout the entire day. Should I get up or hit the snooze button. What should I wear today? What should I eat?

Most of your choices are easy, especially if you follow a daily routine. But have you ever stopped to think about choosing your mood?

Our mood is based on things that happen in our lives. We can be positive one minute and negative the next. These fluctuations are based on triggered experiences or events that we go through.

“You probably know that you feel good when you are in a positive mood (such as when you feel content, loving or excited). And you probably know you feel much worse when you are in a negative mood (such as when you feel anxious, disgusted or annoyed) …Your moods are useful to you. And they are a big part of how you choose to behave and think.”⁴

Practicing mindfulness is important as it will help you quickly tap into your moods. A negative mood should always be examined. Why am I feeling this way? Is it warranted? Is there something bigger going on?

In most cases your negative mood is pointing you to fix something in your life. Pay attention to that. Identify the problem and work though it.

However, while doing this you can choose to be positive. Does it sound like an oxymoron or being counter productive? Maybe.

But here’s the thing…

Awareness allows you to identify the mood. A negative mood is a sign that a problem may exist. Take action to rectify the problem. Now you can choose to do all of this under a cloud of doom and gloom or would you rather consciously choose to be positive.

A positive mood will tap into your happy hormones, which in turn will affect your attitude and mindset. Plus, it will energetically attract good things to your life.

Take Action

When things get tough, I normally want to hide under my blanket and not get out of bed. When we are confronted with any obstacle that brings pain our instincts kick in telling us to retreat to our personal cocoon. It’s a natural reaction.

But we need to teach ourselves to do the opposite. Deal with adversity head on.

Our challenges should not intimidate us, but rather turn on our strengths and coping skills. We need to act immediately. The longer you wait the bigger the situation becomes. Debt is a great example of this.

Be proactive. Plan. Have an emergency fund.

Even though it is impossible to predict the challenges that may come your way you can still put in place measures that help to deal with urgent situations. Quite often money is key so having that emergency fund in place is a priority.

When confronted with a difficult situation. Think it through. Weigh the pros and cons of different options. Only you know the right solution. You are the one in charge of your life.

And once you have made your decision stand behind it. Feel proud. Your life is your own. Your decisions are your own.

Care for Yourself

Taking care of your mind, body and spirit will directly affect your mindset and attitude. The healthier you are the easier it is to deal with challenges.

Make self care an important part of your day-to-day life. It’s the small things that matter. Those quiet moments that are just for you.

Create healthy habits. Eat well. Exercise. Journal. Mediate. Love yourself.

If you are going through a difficult time write down your feelings. Get your thoughts out on paper. Just releasing and letting go will often help you to find the answers.

If you find yourself slipping into self doubt or feeling helpless read something that is uplifting, listen to music, or pray. Find what works for you. What makes you feel good.

What is that one thing that can put a smile on your face even when times are tough. For me it is my dog. If I am sad or crying, she will bring a toy to me. She’s always there giving me kisses and wanting belly rubs. I just love her so much. Sometimes I just hold her in my arms and she makes me feel like everything will be o.k.

Final Thoughts

Everyone goes through difficult times. We all get our fair share of challenges in our lives. It’s inevitable. But how we handle our hardships, how we get to the other side, is wholly dependent on our mindset and attitude.

It all starts with believing in yourself. When you do that you can conquer anything. Tap into your past experiences and let them guide you.

Be mindful and grateful for your journey (even the parts that are hard). Learn to make better decisions. Remember, to step back, analyze, plan, and execute.

Make a conscious choice to be positive. Be aware when you are slipping into a negative mood. Know that this is a sign that there may be a problem. Teach yourself to deal with adversity head on. Take action and rectify it.

And to close off…

In the words of Mark Victor Hansen, “Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful”. ⁵

Embrace your journey. Trudge forward.

References:

1. Believe In Yourself Quotes (602 quotes), Believe In Yourself Quotes, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/believe-in-yourself
2. What Oprah Knows About the Power of Gratitude | Oprah’s Lifeclass | Oprah Winfrey Network – YouTube, What Oprah Knows About the Power of Gratitude | Oprah’s Lifeclass | Oprah Winfrey Network, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5sSB2bVCsE&feature=youtu.be
3. Nine Ways Mindfulness Reduces Stress – Mindful, Nine Ways Mindfulness Reduces Stress, https://www.mindful.org/9-ways-mindfulness-reduces-stress/
4. Monitoring your mood – Better Health Channel, Monitoring your mood, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/monitoring-your-mood
5. 55 Motivational Quotes That Will Inspire You to Believe in Yourself | Inc.com, 55 Motivational Quotes That Will Inspire You to Believe in Yourself | Inc.com, https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/55-motivational-quotes-that-will-inspire-you-to-believe-in-yourself.html