tips – Page 9 – Personal Growth Cafe

December 13, 2018February 20, 2018

How To Transform Your Anxiety Into Opportunity

If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, there are ways you can transform that anxiety into opportunity.

These strategies are rather like turning lemons into lemonade.

What you start out with is sour, but what you end up with is sweet!

These tips can help you deal with your anxiety in positive ways.

Plus, they can even help reduce it by providing you new outlets for your nervous energy.

Here are some techniques to help you transform your anxiety into opportunity:

1. Re-focus your excess energy.

If you have the excessive energy that comes with anxiety and its moods, focus this energy toward doing something productive.

For example, you may have been putting off doing some household tasks, such as cleaning out those closets.

Putting your energy into one of these projects will enable you to get it done in record time!

While you might have to concentrate harder to re-focus, you’re actually lowering the anxiety level in your body.

2. Write about your anxiety.

Write down everything you’re feeling.

Many times you’ll be surprised at what you’ve written and find you can share it with others or use it to help you in the future when you’re overly anxious.

3. Exercise.

We all have said month after month that we’re going to start a new exercise regimen, but have we?

Probably not, but you can use your anxious energy as the force that propels you to start your new exercise routine.

Have an exercise routine already planned so you have it ready to begin the moment you need it.

The endorphins your body releases during exercise can actually stop an anxiety attack.

4. Try painting.

Although painting a picture of pretty trees may help you, this particular technique refers to room painting!

Painting has long been known to relax people.

If you have a room that could use a new look, get out the paint and start painting.

Any big home improvement project can get you involved, diminish your panic feelings, and give you a sense of accomplishment when you’re done.

5. Sing.

Even if you don’t possess the voice of a musical superstar, the way your body reacts when you sing, the force of breathing in and out, is a natural way to heal panic attacks.

Focusing your excess energy on playing a musical instrument, or learning how to play one, can also help your anxiety.

Turn your anxious time into a musical time.

6. Help others.

Volunteer at a family shelter or senior center.

Focusing on helping others can use some of that excess energy, take your mind off your worries, give you a different perspective on life, and bring you satisfaction.

7. Do something about it.

Find ways you can help solve particular problems you worry about.

Any worrisome issues you have can be handled this way.

For example, if you worry about the environment, you can start a recycling center or hold green meetings in your home to discuss ways you can reduce your personal carbon footprint.

These are just a few of the ways you can transform your anxiety into opportunity.

Try some of these strategies today to help you use that excess energy in a positive way and reduce your anxiety at the same time.

What can you do now to be calm when challenges arise?

What is the first step you need to take to do so?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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December 12, 2018February 19, 2018

How to Shed the Winter Weight Gain

If you’ve indulged over the holiday season or cut down on your activity during the winter months, you may have packed on a few extra pounds.

Wouldn’t you like to shed that winter weight gain before the warm weather returns?

Rather than choosing the latest diet of the week, you could, instead, implement some sound strategies that have been proven to be effective in losing weight and keeping it off.

Here are some tips to help you say “good bye” to those extra pounds forever:

1. Exercise

Staying indoors more during the winter doesn’t mean you need to be less active!

Follow these exercise techniques to bring you a variety of activities to tone up and slim down.

Begin slowly.

Don’t overdo it when you begin to exercise – you’ll only strain muscles!

Invest in a good pair of walking shoes and begin by walking for fifteen minutes per day.

When you feel your body adjusting to the fifteen minutes, walk longer.

Do this with any exercise, inside or out, to build a healthy, strong, and slimmer body.

2. Enjoy variety.

Doing the same exercise over and over again is a good way to fail before you begin. Include an assortment of exercises in your plan.

Make it fun!

For example, combine yoga with strength training.

If you don’t have strength training equipment, use canned foods or other items as your weights.

Any activity that gets you moving is an exercise.

Play actively with your pets or children.

Put on some music and dance while you cook or clean house.

Instead of sitting on the couch, ride an exercise bike while you watch TV.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

3. Enlist a friend.

The easiest way to keep up with your exercise routine is to have someone by your side who also wants to lose weight.

Remind each other how important your weight loss goals are.

4. Set goals and keep track of them.

Get a diary or notebook and write down your goals.

Keep track of how much weight you’re losing and what types of exercises you’re doing.

How to Eat Well Year-Round

Eating nutritiously year-round is the best way to keep off those extra winter pounds.

It will also help you lose excess weight, give your body the nutrients it craves, and make you feel good!

Here are some simple healthy eating tips:

1. Try to stick to a 1,500 to 2,000 a day calorie diet.

Yes, calories do count.

If you’re unsure what your caloric intake should be (as it can vary from age, sex, and even height), enlist your doctor’s help or ask a nutritionist.

2. Eat a well-balanced variety of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

You don’t need to become a vegetarian, but including as many fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet as possible will bring you a plethora of benefits.

Substitute fruits and vegetables for unhealthy snacks and calorie-laden desserts.

Can’t find fresh fruits during the winter months? Frozen fruits with no added sugar are a good backup choice.

3. Keep your portions at acceptable levels.

Don’t pile on that food!

Just because fast-food restaurants are supersizing everything, it doesn’t mean you should too.

4. Eat good carbs.

Many fruits, veggies, legumes, and grains are full of the good carbohydrates your body needs.

They’re also high in vitamins, fibers, and minerals and free of cholesterol.

5. Drink water.

Every cell in your body needs water to function properly.

Drinking lots of water will not only keep you well hydrated, but it also can help you lose weight.

For example, a glass of water before a meal can help you control overeating.

Shedding that winter weight is a reachable goal if you follow these tips.

However, don’t feel like you have to make each of these changes tomorrow.

Sometimes when people make too many drastic changes at once they have a harder time sticking with their plan.

Work on making one or two of these changes each week to get used to them.

Before you know it, these weight loss strategies will be second nature to you and you’ll avoid those winter pounds altogether!

What steps do you take to get your weight back?

What motivates you to continue to do so?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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December 11, 2018February 19, 2018

How to Resolve a Disagreement with a Colleague

Workplace conflicts do more than cause stress among the people in conflict; that stress can spill into other relationships at work and affect the atmosphere of the whole office.

It’s important that all employees learn how to resolve a disagreement with a colleague.

When you encounter disagreements, try these tips to help resolve conflicts and bring peace back to your workplace:

1. Remember that most disagreements are a perceived problem.

One person expected that the other would act, react, or respond in a particular way.

When the expected response wasn’t given, the first person feels annoyed, slighted, frustrated, or angry.

The person you have a disagreement with is not the problem.

Can you explain to someone not involved what the conflict is about without blaming the other person?

2. Gather each person involved in the disagreement, plus someone who can act as a mediator, and discuss the issue at hand.

Brainstorm together and try to find a number of solutions for the problem.

Write down all the solutions you discuss.

Instead of attacking the person, attack the common problem.

Go back to the solution list and analyze each possible solution until you reach one that will benefit both parties.

3. Address conflicts as soon as possible.

Allowing a conflict to continue will only worsen it.

Conflicts are bound to happen when groups of people work closely together.

The trick is to stop the process before it has a chance to snowball into something more.

4. Never assume that people act a particular way or say something just to annoy you.

They may not have realized their action, inaction, or speech affected you the way it did.

If in doubt, ask the person to clarify their actions rather than assuming why they did it.

5. If you’re not involved in the problem, avoid taking sides.

Instead, look for common ground that both parties share.

Finding common ground on as many things as possible will help both parties see that they aren’t so different after all.

This will pave the way for finding a solution that both can be satisfied with.

Similarities don’t have to be only work related; however it would be better if they were.

At this point, find and write down anything that you can think of that is shared between the people involved in the conflict.

6. Use specific, appropriate terms when talking things out.

Coming in five minutes late regularly is much different than never being present for meetings.

Be sure to use facts to back up statements rather than making generalities.

7. Focus on finding a solution to the problem.

Don’t keep re-hashing what happened over and over until emotions get riled up again.

By keeping the focus on the present, it will keep communications from becoming heated or destructive.

8. Take the high road and apologize, even if you don’t feel that the conflict is your fault.

You can still apologize for your part in the disagreement.

It’s not necessary for you to take the entire blame, but you do share a certain amount of responsibility.

Your best bet in resolving a disagreement with your colleague is to sit down calmly, with a mediator, and discuss the perceived problem.

Allow each person to speak without interruption.

Working together to find a mutually beneficial solution is not only in the best interest of each party, but it’s also in the best interest of the workplace.

What kind of relationship do you have with your colleagues?

How can this help you work more efficiently?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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December 10, 2018February 19, 2018

How to Overcome Addictions Safely and Effectively

Addictions affect nearly every part of your life.

Unfortunately, addictions also become progressively worse the longer you have them.

Some of the most common addictions include addictions to alcohol, drugs, food, smoking, shopping, and gambling.

No matter what addiction you’re dealing with, you’re trapped, and that addiction will continue to control your life until you learn how to overcome it.

Even though there are many different kinds of addictions, they’re all similar in one respect: they control you instead of the other way around.

When you’re addicted to something, you may actually feel like a slave to the addiction, but you are the one who should be in control of your life!

If you’re suffering from an addiction, it’s good to know that there are techniques that can enable you to safely and effectively overcome it.

Here are several key tips that can help you effectively overcome an addiction:

1. Commit yourself to change.

First of all, if you’re tired of living the erratic life of an addict, make a commitment to yourself to change your life.

Yes, it’s a difficult road, but you are worth the effort! You deserve to have a better life.

Look at all the benefits of beating the addiction to see clearly how much better your life will be without it.

Write these benefits down on paper.

Choose the better life! Commit to making this positive change.

Make a solemn contract with yourself to do everything in your power to overcome your addiction.

Designate your life as your top priority.

2. Request the support of family and friends.

One of the most important things you can do to succeed in your goal is to get support.

If you try to do this all on your own, you’re more likely to fail. You need all the support your friends and family can offer.

They can keep you accountable for your actions.

They can guide you to any help you need.

They can provide emotional support to bolster your resolve.

If you find that your family and friends aren’t giving you the support you need, either distance yourself from the negative attitudes, or explain what you need from them in order for you to succeed.

3. Consider joining a good support group.

Joining a local support group can be helpful as well, especially if your friends and family don’t fully understand the challenges you’re facing.

It’s enlightening to talk with others going through the same experience as you.

It helps to give you a better perspective on what’s happening in your life and shows you that if others can do it, you can do it too.

Don’t be afraid to speak up and tell your story, struggles, or fears to the group.

Most support groups require their members to maintain privacy so the participants will feel comfortable sharing.

4. Look for professional help.

Seeking professional help is an excellent choice, and for some serious addictions, it may be the only way to recover.

Medications are available that can help with certain addictions, but in order to use them, you’ll need to have a doctor prescribe them and oversee your treatment as you progress.

Even if you’re not using medications, having a professional guide you through a treatment and therapy plan can ensure your success.

Many insurance companies will now pay for addiction treatment.

In addition, some doctors and clinics offer their rates on a sliding scale so your payments are based on your income.

Don’t let a lack of funds prevent you from getting the treatment you need!

5. Don’t quit when you make a mistake.

You may stumble from time to time, but this doesn’t mean you should throw up your hands and quit.

Remember it’s a step in the process, and if you fall, you need to get up and keep on going.

It is possible for you to overcome your addictions safely and effectively!

Using these techniques can help you conquer your demon once and for all and bring you a better, happier life.

What worthwhile activities do you do as a family to prevent addictions?

How can this help strengthen your family?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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December 9, 2018February 19, 2018

How to Organize Your Workspace

Does your workspace look like a tornado hit it?

Reports are on one corner of your desk; current work is spread across the keyboard; you know you have an appointment coming up, but you can’t find your calendar under the mess.

It seems you may need to learn how to organize your workspace!

Having an organized workspace can do more for you than make your desktop look better.

Being organized can help you be more productive and reduce the amount of stress you feel when you get to work, during the day, and when you leave for home.

Organizing your desk may take more time than you have available during your workday.

Ask your boss if you can come in on your own time to clear and organize your desk.

They’ll appreciate your desire. After all, organizing your workspace benefits them as well as you.

These steps will help you organize your workspace:

1. Remove everything from the top of your desk and out of the drawers.

Of course, you can leave large items such as your computer or printer where they are.

Everything else should be put into boxes.

2. Wipe down the entire surface of your desk and inside each drawer.

3. Sort through the items you removed from your desk and drawers.

Group items together such as office supplies, filing materials, items to be filed, reference materials, and desk accessories.

4. Get rid of paperwork you no longer need. Do you have unnecessary duplicates of reports or files?

Recycle them.

Are there items you still need?

Keep those items and set them aside until later.

5. Make a plan for where you’ll put things back.

You’ll want items you use frequently to remain within reach, so those items will take precedence on your desk.

6. Create an area where you can keep current papers handy.

Paper trays are often used. Vertical files are another option if you have quite a bit of paperwork.

Establish a tickler file for various activities you perform regularly – To Read, To File, To Pay, To Do, and others.

7. Put items back into place after you’ve gone through them and purged what isn’t needed.

Only the items you need at your desk should be put back.

Maintaining Your Organized Workspace

The old saying goes “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

Decide where each item goes and then leave it there unless you’re actively using it.

If you’re in the middle of a big project and it’s taking up much needed space, don’t be afraid to remove an item and then put it right back when you’re finished with the project.

Remember that your goal is to have an organized desk.

This doesn’t mean it has to be totally cleared off, but you do want to have space so you can function.

If you’ve noticed something that will help you become more organized, don’t be afraid to ask your boss to pay for it.

In the long run, your increased productivity will more than pay for the item.

After you have your desk organized, do what you can to keep it clean.

Decide what you’re going to do with each item as it’s placed on your desk.

Use the tickler file if you have paper, or write important dates on your calendar instead of setting things aside to deal with later.

It can be so easy to keep your desk clear once you’ve learned how to organize your workspace and put things back in their home when you’re done with them.

Take the last five minutes of your day to straighten your desk and it will hopefully stay that way from here on out.

What do you have displayed in your workspace?

How does this help you become more efficient at work?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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December 8, 2018February 19, 2018

How to Organize Your Kitchen

Depending on the size of your kitchen, you may sometimes have difficulty finding what you need.

Could it be that you have too much stuff?

Or is your kitchen disorganized?

Organizing your kitchen can make things much easier for you, and it’s not the daunting task you may have imagined!

Here are some ways to free up space in your kitchen and organize items more efficiently:

1. Get rid of old food in your pantry.

Start by removing everything from your pantry or food cabinets.

Go through every product and check to make sure the expiration date hasn’t passed.

While you might be able to still use a container of frosting that expired six months ago, you definitely don’t want to use pancake mix that has been open since 2005.

For your health and that of everyone in your family, if in doubt, throw it out.

If you find you have too many cans of pumpkin or too much of another item that you’ll never use by their expiration dates, take them to your local food bank, rather than throwing them out.

They’re happy to accept donations at any time of the year.

What you donate could be the difference between a family going hungry or feeling nourished when they go to bed tonight.

2. Organize the food. Separate items according to kind.

Gather all your canned goods together: soups, vegetables, sauces, fruits and others.

If you place each type of canned goods together, such as all fruit cocktail in one spot, you’ll be able to see at a glance whether you need to add an item to your grocery list.

Do the same thing with boxed or bagged foods like cereal, crackers, and dessert mixes.

3. Consolidate. If you have more than one box of mashed potatoes open, they may have the same directions.

If so, you can mix them together in one box. This will help you maximize the space you have in your pantry.

Follow the same process as above for the refrigerator and freezer:

Get rid of expired items.

Toss anything that may not be good any longer.

Store like items together.

4. Go through your dishes. Do you have too many glasses, bowls, or plates?

If you do, not only are they taking up cabinet space, but it also means more dishes to wash.

5. Pack away old dishes or serving items that you can’t bear to part with, like your grandmother’s old dishes, and any dishes that you don’t use regularly.

You can always pull them back out if you have a larger number of people at your home.

6. Match plastic containers with their lids. If you can’t find the lid that goes with a particular bowl, remove it from your cabinet.

You may still get use out of bowls without lids.

Use them for mixing craft paints or for storing things

7. Decide if the flow of your kitchen is adequate for how you cook. Dedicate an area of the kitchen for your essential cooking and baking tools.

Keep spices near the stove within easy reach and your small baking utensils or trays in the same cabinet.

8. Store cookbooks in one place for easy access. You may want to keep these close to the baking center of your kitchen.

Go through your cookbooks and get rid of any that you don’t use.

If they have sentimental value, store them someplace other than the kitchen.

9. Re-think your table and chairs. Are your table and chairs adequate for your needs?

You may want to replace the chairs on one side with a bench that can be pushed under the table when you’re not using it.

This might open up some floor space as well as provide more seating when you have extra people at your table.

If you think about how you use your kitchen and the atmosphere you’d like to convey, you can organize it so that you can better enjoy the time you spend there.

It may take some effort, but when you have an organized kitchen ready for use, you’ll be so glad you took the time to do it.

When can the kitchen become your favorite part of the house?

What memories have you shared there?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 24, 2018February 16, 2018

Top Five Ways To Apologize

Apologizing isn’t an easy thing to do.

If you’ve never been taught how to apologize, it makes the task even harder.

Sometimes simply saying, “I’m sorry” doesn’t adequately communicate your regret for having done something that was hurtful.

When you’ve done something you shouldn’t, here are the top 5 ways to apologize:

1. Express regret by saying: “I’m sorry for…” Be specific in expressing yourself.

What are you sorry for?

This isn’t merely a way to say you’re sorry that you got caught, but rather that you’re sorry you hurt another person.

Perhaps your intent wasn’t even to hurt someone, but it happened anyway, and expressing your regret can ease the hurt.

2. Accept responsibility by saying: “I was wrong.” It’s important to accept responsibility for what you’ve done.

If you can’t take responsibility, it will be hard for people to forgive you.

Don’t try to shove the blame off on someone else; admit that you’re the guilty party and tell the person what you did was wrong.

3. Make amends by asking: “What can I do to fix this?”

After you’ve expressed regret and accepted responsibility, it’s important that you do what you can to make amends.

If you want to re-establish trust with the person you’ve hurt, making restitution is vital.

4. Express genuine repentance by promising: “I’ll do my best to never do this again.”

You may regret having done what you did, and that’s good. However, it’s crucial that you don’t repeat the offense again in the future.

The old saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

It’s harder to forgive someone who’s done the same thing for a second time.

5. Request forgiveness by asking: “Will you please forgive me?”

Be sure to ask the person you’ve offended to forgive you.

Neither of you will be able to let this go, put it in the past, and move forward if there isn’t true forgiveness on the one part and true repentance on the other.

If you follow these steps, does that mean the person you’ve hurt will always forgive you?

There’s no guarantee, and depending on what caused the pain, it may take them a little while to get to the point of forgiveness.

However, your chances of forgiveness when you give a sincere apology are much greater than if you merely gloss over it with a curt “I’m sorry.”

Part of the reason your apology may not be accepted is because of the way it’s given.

If you tell them, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, but…” it’s a pretty good bet they’re thinking the apology may not have been heart-felt.

There’s no wonder they may not be so quick to forgive you.

When your apology isn’t sincere, there may be forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean the relationship has been restored the way you hoped it would be.

What if you don’t feel like what you’ve done requires an apology?

Why should you offer one if what you did wasn’t wrong?

Well, if a person perceives it as being wrong, you may still want to offer a sincere apology for how they’re feeling.

This will help you reconnect with someone who’s important to you and strengthen the trust between you, which is always a good thing for your relationship.

Learning these top 5 ways to apologize will give you an important skill you can use to improve your relationships.

Use them sincerely and enjoy the benefits!

How important is making amends for you?

How easy or difficult is it for you to apologize?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 23, 2018February 16, 2018

Tips to Overcome the Fear of Speaking in Public

Somehow, you’ve suddenly found yourself responsible for giving a speech!

Don’t fret; you can learn how to overcome the fear of public speaking.

While some people seem to have a natural propensity for public speaking, no one is exempt from nervousness.

What can you do?

There are specific action steps you can take to help alleviate your nerves, even if you’ve never stood in front of a group of people before.

Here are some things you can do to help you get through your presentation:

1. Be prepared. The best thing to do to help you overcome your fear of speaking is to be prepared!

Once you know your material and have your speech ready, you’re ready to prepare for the final part – speaking.

Having a well-practiced speech will give you confidence.

You’re the expert on this material, after all, or you wouldn’t be speaking in the first place.

2. Practice making your presentation so you can get into a rhythm and know how the presentation will flow.

Say your speech aloud to practice difficult words or names and to time yourself.

If you have other presenters, practice as a group and be open to feedback from others.

Practice using any slides or power point presentations you’ve included in your speech.

3. Strengthen your presentation. There are simple things you can do to make your speech go from ordinary to extraordinary.

4. Making eye contact, pausing at certain points, and having visual aids are things that will bring your speech up a notch.

Learning these things ahead of time and including them in your practice sessions will alleviate some nerves.

Find one or two things to focus on the first time you speak.

Very few people make the perfect speech every time so the key is to learn from each presentation to make future speeches even better.

5. Be proud of doing your best. Keep in mind that everyone who speaks gets nervous ahead of time, some more so than others.

Once you consider you aren’t alone in your feelings, it makes it easier to deal with them.

6. Refrain from comparing yourself to others. There will always be someone better and someone worse than you. Just do your personal best and be happy that you’ve given it your all.

Find a mentor, or someone who is more experienced in public speaking, to ask advice. Learn from their mistakes.

7. Practice speaking in public. If you’re going to be speaking frequently, you can find ways to get more practice.

8. Take a class on public speaking, or volunteer at a community organization. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.

If you care about animals, kids, or social issues, there are many venues for you to speak, go find a local club or school and volunteer your time.

9. Start off small. Practice speaking in a classroom full of children first.

Read aloud during religious services at your place of worship.

If you have a favorite hobby, volunteer to teach a class about that hobby at your local library.

Don’t worry about how perfect your speech is. In six months, it won’t matter.

What will matter is that you’ve done your best, improved, and possibly inspired one person with your words.

That’s what it’s all about, anyway.

How confident are you with speaking in front of a crowd?

How do you feel before the speaking engagement?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 22, 2018February 15, 2018

The Art of Organization: Seven Time Saving Tips

Organization is more important in your life than you may imagine.

Organization is so difficult for some people that they feel as if they’re just meant to be unorganized.

The truth is, however, is that none of us are meant to be unorganized!

We’re a species that functions better when we have structure in our lives. Without structure, we live in utter chaos.

All is not lost, though, if you have trouble organizing things!

Organizing only one aspect of your life helps you to begin on the rest of it.

This nice chain reaction helps things fall into place the way they should.

Time Saving Tips to Organize Your Life

The worst part about organizing your life is that it seems like it can take so much time.

That’s one reason why so many people refuse to find an organization strategy.

They feel like it will take too much time out of their day.

However, it doesn’t have to take much time at all!

The strategy is to work it into your life in ways that don’t take so much time.

Once your strategy is in place, it can actually save you time.

Here are some time saving tips to help you get organized:

1. Pace yourself. You don’t have to do everything all at once. Take care of one thing at a time.

A lot of unorganized people have clothes lying across the floor and shoes in strange places.

You could contain such a mess by picking those things up as you pass by them.

Don’t wait to do it all at once; otherwise it may never get done.

2. Set achievable goals. Make a plan to do only certain chores each day so that an entire day isn’t taken up by trying to do it all.

For example, set the goal of cleaning off your computer desk one day.

That’s a task that may take only ten minutes.

That’s a whole lot more manageable than resolving to clean your entire house in an afternoon!

3. Storage. Invest in some functional storage containers.

There are also some nice storage boxes that are decorative, too. Fill them as needed and when convenient.

Keep a storage box handy in your closet.

As you find things you don’t use or wear anymore, put them into the box.

Before you know it, your closet will be cleaned out!

4. Make a game out of it. Get the whole family in on it. This will save a lot of time if everyone pitches in.

Tell the kids if they help that you can have a special pizza night.

Present them with a reward and they’ll work hard, saving you time and getting your home organized quickly.

5. Change habits. Changing some of your habits can make things easier on you.

Instead of waiting for days to wash those dirty dishes, pick a time at the end of the day to wash them or do it in the mornings.

That will save you time because it only takes a few minutes to wash a few dishes, instead of a heaping pile.

6. Make the entire family responsible. Give everyone in the house responsibilities so that things can become organized and stay that way.

Put up a chart on the refrigerator or on a wall that outlines the weekly responsibilities and who’s supposed to do each chore.

It’s not your responsibility to clean your child’s room, make sure they take ownership of their own tasks.

7. Use racks and shelves. Make a place for everything so that everything has its own place.

Use a spice rack for your spices.

Invest in shoe organizers for the closets.

Hang stuffed animal hammocks in the kids’ bedrooms.

The Importance of Organization

The importance of organization cannot be underestimated because it carries over into other aspects of your life.

Without it, it’s hard to see clearly what’s going on around you.

When your life is organized, you can better point out the solution.

You can also feel better about yourself and your environment.

Plus, you’ll be able to find more time to do things you actually enjoy.

How do you manage your time to have enough for all of the things you need to do?

When was the last time you were able to set time for yourself?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 19, 2018February 15, 2018

Solutions to Overcoming Addiction

When you think of the word addiction, the first thing that comes to your mind may be alcohol or drugs.

However, there are many other types of addictions that you may experience, including addictions to food, cigarettes, shopping, gambling and many other things.

These addictions seem to have power of their own.

They can control your thoughts, actions, and your very life, if you let them.

If you think you might be suffering from an addiction, it’s great to know that there are techniques you can use every day to help you overcome your addictions and take back control of your life.

Here are some helpful solutions:

1. Have faith. In order to overcome addiction, the first thing you need is faith. Faith has been described as the “hope of things unseen.”

This means you should have hope for tomorrow, recovery, and success.

Hope can bring you through challenging times and allow you to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

2. Believe in a greater power. Having faith can also mean believing in something bigger than you, like God.

If you have nothing to believe in, it may prove quite difficult to win the war against your addiction.

It’s never too late to reconnect with your faith.

3. Develop a courageous attitude. Courage will help you face your addiction and then battle it through, regardless of what that addiction is.

Your sense of courage is stronger than you probably know! Look deep within yourself to find it and bring it out.

4. Draw on your inner strength. Like courage, we all have an inner strength that makes us stronger than we realize.

When you draw on your inner strength you have greater power to face challenges and overcome them.

5. Be patient and persevere. Patience and perseverance will help carry you through the long journey to recovery.

It takes time to overcome an addiction, but it can be done.

Take things one day at a time and fully believe that things will get better.

Keep your end goal in mind and persist in your efforts to get there.

If you can’t take it one day at a time, then begin with one hour at a time.

Hours will become days, days will become weeks, and before you know it, you’re cured of the addiction that plagued you.

6. Request help and support. Support from your friends, family members, neighbors, clergy, coworkers, social groups, or any other type of support system is crucial to your recovery.

There are likely many support groups – both online and in-person – that focus on your particular addiction.

Seek out this type of support group. You’ll find specialists in overcoming your specific addiction, as well as those who’ve experienced your pain.

Don’t forget to support yourself! Give yourself rewards at different milestones of your recovery.

In order to succeed at your endeavors, it’s important to understand that you do have an addiction.

Once you’ve accepted this, you’ll be ready to take the necessary steps to achieve power over your addiction and take back your life.

Yes, overcoming an addiction is a challenging task. However, when you use these solutions to help you each day, success can be yours!

How can addictions cause you pain and sadness?

How can you help someone recover from their addictions?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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