michaelmyersio

What does a growth mindset give you? It breeds perseverance. It trains resilience. It is intrinsic to learning. It is the combination of these qualities that enables success.

For people with a growth mindset, learning is not a chore. Learning is how we grow and improve. We embrace a life of learning, continued growth, and development in everything we do.

The perseverance that a growth mindset embodies leads to greater resilience. It means that you don't give up easily and see failures merely as temporary setbacks. Resilience helps you bounce back so you can continue moving toward your goal.

A prerequisite to perseverance is the belief that your talents and abilities can be improved with effort. It is an understanding that setbacks are a part of the process. With experience, you will master the task.

Are you afraid of failing?

Are you afraid of not being good enough or making a mistake?

It is a real productivity blocker.

Remember that everyone makes mistakes.

Every successful person, ever, has made mistakes and failed, many times over.

Mistakes are a part of the learning process.

Remind yourself that you can always fix a mistake.

Remind yourself that you can always learn and do better next time.

Don't let the fear hold you back!

Here's a question.

When a new client approaches you with a job that you know isn't going to or cannot pay what you want it to, what do you do?

Will you say yes and take the job for the sake of taking it?

Or will you say no and be fervent in only taking on projects that will advance your business?

Let me know in the comments below.

Are you ready for the second part of your RESET? Let's go get it!

The next step is to create a plan for your week.

This may seem daunting, but it is crucial to reorganize your mind and prevent bad habits from creeping in. Once patterns are in, they are very hard to break, which is why you are at this point right now.

Take 15 minutes and write down everything you need to do for the following week and prioritize the tasks as described before. The weekly plan needs to include:

- Your morning routine
- Dedicated and focused work routine
- Additional tasks or meetings
- Your night routine

Don't worry if you cannot “get it right” the first time. It will require some experimentation to figure out your flow.

Like before, if you have small tasks that need to get done, prioritize them and allocate time to them each day. This is how we avoid that overwhelming sensation that can be crippling for productivity.

The idea is to create a system for your life, so it needs to actually work for you.

We are breaking habits that have been building up for a while, so be calm, and embrace the process. As you get more efficient, things in your mind will begin to align and you will take back control of your days.

Above all else, embrace the process! We are all a work in progress, never forget it.

Do you ever find yourself flicking back through old pictures to a time when life was “better”?

These thoughts are usually brought on by big changes in your life or when it feels like you're losing all control of time as small tasks continue to crop up on a daily basis.

This is a sign that you need a RESET and I am going to show you how.

What we are going to do is basically an audit of your day-to-day activities to help you prioritize tasks better and get the things that need to be done, done!

We'll start with a simple exercise. Take a notebook (yes they do still exist) and write down:

- Precisely what you are doing on a daily basis
- How you feel in the morning, afternoon, and night

Take your time and be specific, this is for your eyes only. It will help identify the core problems and explain why you aren't getting the results you are used to:

1. You feel pressured for time
2. You are lacking the energy to achieve results
3. You have stopped doing things that got you results in the past

Think back to your notes, what on that list can you change? What needs to be there and what doesn't? What can wait for another day and what needs to be done now?

Put everything that is on your mind down on paper so you can visualize it better, prioritize each task, and get rid of anything that is neither a high priority nor highly important.

Now, how does that feel? If you have even the slightest sensation of a weight being lifted, we are off to a great start.

Stick around and we will expand this to create a plan for your entire week.

NEVER shop on an empty stomach

Have you ever headed out to the grocery store on an empty stomach?

It is SO dangerous.

Hunger overwhelms any intentions of eating healthily.

You can end up splurging on junk food.

So if you don't want to order your groceries online, make sure you only go food shopping after eating something whole and substantial.

Get your groceries delivered and stop wasting so much time doing the bs…

Being your own boss is a non-stop lifestyle. Even if you're not an entrepreneur, think of how much time you spend shopping in a whole year and what else you could do in that timeframe.

It doesn't matter how much you schedule and manage your time, it can feel relentless.

The last thing you want to think about is going food shopping!

That's why you should get your groceries delivered.

Do you remember what I said about prepping your meal plans on your day off?

Why not put an order in at the same time to have all of your food delivered for the week?!

It's a no-brainer. Plus it's pretty damn cheap for delivery in most places.

Prep those meals.

Before you say “But it's my day off” remember, FOOD IS FUN and living an unhealthy life is not.

And believe it or not, eating healthily is fun too.

Wait, what?

When you eat well, you feel significantly better afterward.

It's simple biomechanics.

You are feeding your body what it wants and craves, so it rewards you with energy and endorphins.

Planning your food prep or meal plan for the week is a great way to get ahead of your busy schedule taking the stress out of thinking about what to eat each day.

It will take a little getting used to but is SO worth the effort.

DRINK WATER

Before we go onto anything else, step one. Drink some damn water.

Especially if you are a caffeine fiend.

Maintaining sufficient hydration will help stave off tiredness and improve focus and will help everything be better...

One big brain tip that I just discovered:

Add a little bit of Himalayan salt to your water at least once a day. You'll get an extra boost of minerals and the salt will aid water absorption.

Think of it like a hydration hack.

Eating healthy is a real challenge when you are busy.

It is a struggle to organize and prepare your meals each day.

But keeping up with a healthy habit is easier than you might think!

This week, I want to preach how to make better food decisions and be healthier.

It's worth it…

The key to productivity is adopting a productive mindset.

What is that?

It's a results-focused mindset.

It's a focus on inputs, not just outputs.

It finds efficient and effective ways to get things done.

It recognizes that the quality of work is as important as the quantity.

It knows that success comes from planning and proper ex*****on.

Setting your phone to work mode is a great way of reducing distractions and being more efficient with your work day.

Why stop there though?

We all know how toxic endless scrolling on our phones is, so why not reduce the temptation?

Do yourself a favor and switch off ALL notifications for your social accounts.

A trick with coffee.

So many of us wake up and the first thing we reach for is a cup of coffee.

Some of us use it to p**p (address your fiber intake for this one instead) and some of us are convinced we “need” it.

Don't forget, coffee is actually a drug!

Your body has a natural waking cycle that for most last until around 10 am. That's the time when you need that little caffeine hit to fight off tiredness.

So if you find yourself already three coffees in by midday, give this a shot (pun intended).

It will be a little tough at first but it does work.

Fuel for success!

Can you fuel for success and eat junk food?

The clue is in the name really.

Junk food generally contains minimal nutrition for our body, but sometimes we have a craving to indulge in it.

Don't beat yourself up about it!

Maybe limit it to a maximum of once a week though.

Ensure that your diet is otherwise healthily varied, balanced, and most of all, fresh!

Living healthily doesn't mean you need to turn your body into a temple of health.

Anybody you see on Instagram claiming this is true has made it their entire life's work to be that way.

Don't forget, you already have a direction in life.

Eat healthily 90% of the time and allow yourself to have some fun.

Protein is important, but…

You do not need as much protein as you think.

The average person should be consuming around 1.6g per kilogram of weight per day. But don't expect to take it all in one hit because it takes a while to digest and any excess is peed out. So if you regularly consume more than you need, your kidneys will be under a lot of strain.

Don't get suckered into the protein obsession and consume an amount that is relative to the training and exercise you do.

Be smart about your protein intake.

Fuel for success!

When was the last time you thought about your gut health?

Your gut affects so much about how your body functions physically especially your ability to self-repair. (That's why people who participate in holistic medicine see such a transformation.)

But it also affects your emotions. The production of serotonin, dopamine, GABA, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine can affect mood, motivation, focus, and reward.

These are all areas in which entrepreneurs strive to manage and excel.

Eat a diverse range of fresh foods. Avoid pre-packaged and pre-cut fruit and vegetables, go for the real thing instead.

Fermented foods like yogurt (natural sugar-free and kefir), kimchi, kombucha, and sauerkraut contain bacteria that are beneficial for your health and help stave off bad bacteria. Look out for a label saying “contains live active cultures.”

Fuel for success!

I know a lot of successful people who struggle with their eating habits.

They're prone to that post-meal-heavy feeling that makes you feel sluggish and drains your energy for work.

Maybe it's the lavish dinners trying to entertain clients, or cravings for practical and fast food during or at the end of a busy day.

Let me tell you something.

You need to re-address how you're fueling.

And if you are always feeling heavy, you need to be getting a lot more fiber in.

If you ain't p**ping, it's a problem.

Fiber helps regulate how your body uses sugars keeping your hunger and blood sugar levels in check.

There is a great old saying to eat your fruit and drink your vegetables. So remember, if you're going to go for a smoothie, make sure it has a lot of vegs. The fiber in fruit is lost when it is blended leaving you with mostly sugar, but not with vegetables.

Fuel for success.

How many fad diets have you tried?

A bunch I'm guessing.

As entrepreneurs, we're often looking for new things and fad diets are tempting.

I am not going to tell you to vegan or keto or cut out sugar.

Why?

Because polarization does not work for everyone.

It often leads to excessive distraction and obsession, and it is not sustainable.

Let me give you an example:

I can't tell you how many successful people I know have set themselves sporting targets and gone on crash diets and periods of intense training to hit their goals. 6 months later they have piled on the weight again, stopped physical activity, and are miserably seeking out the next challenge.

This drive is great, but it doesn't need to be such a rollercoaster ride. Finding an activity you enjoy like cycling, running, walking, pilates, or climbing is a great way of maintaining yourself.

I find that the rush of endorphins and the sensation of exercising leads to cravings for better quality and fresher foods anyway.

Instead of limiting and creating barriers in your diet, enjoy food and prioritize quality, freshness, and variety.

Fuel for success!

Your brain and body will thank you for it.

Being a successful entrepreneur often means that you neglect things that are not important.

Let me hit you with some facts.

Your diet is important for your success.

Proper nutrition provides you with fuel for the day and helps you rest better at night. It will boost your focus and help you become more efficient.

Fuel for success!

It's time to start giving your body the respect it deserves.

You might think it's easy to know if you are a workaholic.

The fact is that becoming a workaholic is a slow-creeping process, so if you are one, you're most likely oblivious to it.

Here are some signs to look out for:

- You're totally preoccupied with work
(it dominates your thoughts)
- You find it difficult to take breaks
(you keep changing tasks instead of stepping away)
- You feel guilty when you're not working
(so you never switch off mentally)
- You always postpone vacations
(and then take work with you)
- You cannot delegate tasks
(because you refuse to relinquish control)
- You try and tie in non-work activities with your work
(so socializing turns into work-related networking)
- You neglect other important areas of your life, such as family, friends, and hobbies
(you even skip family and social occasions because you're “too busy”)
- Your identity is tied to your work
(it is all people know of you and all you are proud of)
- You are a relentless perfectionist
(where nothing you do satisfies your craving for perfection)

If you identify with any of these signs, it might be time to re-evaluate your relationship with work and make some changes to find a better balance.

Being a workaholic is no badge of honor.

It destroys the pleasures that come with wealth and success often leading to burnout, strained relationships, and ill health.

Remember to practice self-care and relaxation.

Make time for activities that bring you joy and help you recharge, like exercise, reading, or spending time with loved ones.

Don't end up with a diminished quality of life.

Achieve success with a healthy balance.

Are you struggling with workaholism?

Here are some tips to help you avoid it:

- Set boundaries for your work hours and stick to them.
- Make time for hobbies and other activities outside of work.
- Take breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge.
- Learn to delegate tasks and ask for help when needed.
- Prioritize self-care and make time for exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep.

Remember that your worth is not tied to your productivity or your job. Taking breaks and setting boundaries can actually make you more productive in the long run, as you'll have more energy and focus when you do work.
Let's commit to avoiding workaholism and living a more balanced, fulfilling life.

The idea of a “work-life” balance is toxic.

Wait, what?

Let me explain.

The term work-life balance suggests that when we are working, we are not living.

But this is totally wrong.

Our work and our lives are intertwined.

On average, a third of people's lives is spent working!

So don't aim for a “better work-life balance.”

Aim for a better quality of life.

Aim to work smarter, not harder.

Aim for health and sustainability.

Aim to keep moving forward.

Three final tips to focus and avoid distraction:

7. Wake up one to two hours earlier for distraction-free work time.

This probably seems like an impossible task for some, but bear with me.

You would be surprised at how functional your “sleepy brain” is.

It may just take a few days of adjustment but it will be worth it.

Nobody will be calling, texting, or distracting you at this time of the morning.

Make it sacred.

8. Prioritize quality rest.

We need to start realizing the importance of rest.

This is when you regenerate your mental state.

By rest, I don't mean sitting on your butt, although that is OK sometimes.

Do physical activity, take up a new hobby, read a book, and socialize.

Stimulate your body and mind.

And always get proper sleep at the end of the day.

9. Refine your system.

Working four hours a day is not something that will happen overnight.

You will struggle at the start.

But don't be discouraged.

Adopt a problem-solving mindset and work on the barriers that are preventing you from getting your work done within this time. Re-think your schedule and delegate tasks if you need to.

Put yourself in control of your time.

Three more tips to focus and avoid distraction:

4. A few times each week, switch lever-moving tasks for ones that generate clarity.

What does this mean?

You can't always be creating and doing. You also need to be learning and planning.

Think of it as a constant cycle: To do you must plan. To create you must learn.

It is how you avoid just doing what others have done before.

It is how you stand out.

5. Use 90-minute work blocks.

I have found this to be the perfect length period for focussed work.

Work blocks are separated by 15-30 minute breaks.

These are chances to perform remedial tasks or some sort of physical activity.

You can use the breaks to mentalize how you will tackle the next block of work.

Feel free to play with the exact timings and find what works for you.

6. Manipulate your environment to improve concentration.

Stop surrounding yourself with distractions!

Small things can be triggers.

A great place to start is limiting your browser tabs (or grouping them), clearing your workspace, and setting your phone to work mode.

Set yourself up to focus.

Three tips to focus and avoid distraction:

1. Create a Minimum Viable Vision for your future.

Sit down and think about these four questions:

- Who do you want to be?
- What do you want to do for work?
- What does your ideal day look like?
- How will you contribute to the world?

Don't second-guess your answers. This is a sign that you are curating them to other people's expectations of you. Be honest!

In your work day, if there is a task that does not align with your vision, scrap it.

2. Deconstruct your vision into 10-year, 1-year, and monthly goals.

Setting these goals is designed to anchor your attention on completing tasks. They do not need to be perfect, they merely need to keep you focused on the end game.

3. Write out three tasks each day that will move you toward your goals

These are your lever-moving tasks. They make you get things done!

For example, it could be to write 1000 words or identify and act on two new leads.

I find they are best done in the morning when my mind is freshest, plus I don't end up overthinking things while trying to go to sleep.

Let's flip your mindset on a normal working day.

You do not need to work eight hours a day.

All you need is four hours of focused work.

Let me explain.

Work that takes more than four hours is work that can be made more efficient through time, patience, and systemization. By reducing distractions and tasks that do not contribute directly to our goal, we can focus better and achieve more in less time.

It should be made clear from the start that every person's work situation is different. Working four hours a day isn't possible for everyone. You can still use these tips to increase productivity and reduce distractions in any work setting.

Our goal is to work smarter, not harder.

Stick around for the nine tips you need for focused work.