It’s All in the Willpower

Some say willpower is the single most important habit for individual success. Just like losing 10lbs takes hard work and dedication, so does willpower.

Here are some simple early morning routines that will help strengthen your willpower.

• Set your alarm clock for the same time (every day) – the scientific benefits of this simple tactic are astounding. It improves mood, limits caffeine dependence, improves alertness and much more. Give it a try!
• A morning workout routine – yes, we’re all busy, but exercise should be at the top of your priority list. You’re doing yourself a favor when you exercise by increasing the production of hormones that make you feel happy and sleep better.
• Always be learning – learning doesn’t stop when school is over. Throw a book in your bag and commit to reading 15-30 minutes every day.
• Say good morning to people – while it’s easy to get caught up in our own headspace, taking time to greet folks at work is a great way to start the day. A good mood is contagious.
• To-do list – we all have 24 hours in a day. It’s important to make the most out of those. Start your day by prioritizing what you plan to accomplish. Some folks swear by scratching off their to-do lists with pen and paper.

To read more on strengthening your willpower, check out the full article on Forbes. 

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Need to Break Away from Social Media?

How many times have you gone down a rabbit hole by logging onto Facebook or some other social media outlet? It can be a time-sucking drain on your productivity.

Sarah Peck from Harvard Business Review conducted a few experiments on how to break away from social media.

Here’s what she found out:

1. A 30-day break: Sarah deleted all social apps from her phone and installed Freedom (a website blocking tool to restrict social sites) on her computer.

Pros: her book reading skyrocketed
Cons: she needed to use social sites for research and discovery at work

2. Social hour: Sarah allowed herself to only be on social media from 4p-5p everyday.

Pros: much more efficient with her time on social
Cons: it wasn’t as exciting as scrolling through the feed during a dedicated window

3. 24-hour breaks: Sarah went cold turkey from Friday evening until Saturday evening on all machines. She’d simply turn off her phone and computer.

Pros: felt a sense of freedom by not being attached to a device
Cons: it felt unnatural walking out the door without a phone

Takeaway: we all like being on social media. It’s become a normal part of our culture. As social media continues to evolve, it’s important to take some of the above experiments into consideration.

Give it a try this weekend. Turn your devices off and embrace your natural surroundings. Let us know how it goes!

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