I have a friend in Texas who lives his life at two hundred miles and hour, never seems to sleep and is one of the mega-achievers in this world.

Yet when you speak with him he is always cool, calm and collected. He recently wrote this article and it is for those of us who live at a hundred miles an hour, are too stressed to sleep and really struggle to hit those daily targets.

Enjoy!
One way to have a direct and immediate impact on your peace of mind and productivity is to orchestrate an environment that seduces you into peace and hypnotises you into being productive.

You preparedness for life’s challenges is directly link to your state of mind. If your state is one of peace and you’re productive, you can handle life’s challenges as they come.

While there are many ways to manufacture an environment to support your peace and productivity, here are some quick suggestions.

Creating a Peaceful Setting to Position Yourself For Productivity:

1. Select a soothing colour scheme. Blue may be the most obvious choice, but there are plenty of tranquil hues including rose or earth tones. In fact, you can probably find a soft shade in any of your favourite colours. Save more dynamic tones for accent pieces.

2. Maximise your space. If space is at a premium, look for furniture that doubles as storage and seating. Take advantage of wall space by installing shelves and hooks. Strategically placed mirrors can open up any room, and careful furniture placement will make things feel less cramped.

3. Light up your office. If you have a window, make the most of the natural light and outdoor view. Adequate lighting around your workstation will minimize eyestrain. Adjustable lamps add additional comfort. Remember, the darker the room, the more light you’ll need.

4. Introduce some fragrance. If you have windows for natural light, try some easy-care plants like lavender or mint. Aromatic oil diffusers are also simple to use and long lasting. Scents such as chamomile, frankincense, marjoram, and sage are known for their calming and centering qualities. When you need something more invigorating, try lemon or wintergreen.
5. Play music. One of the nicest things about working alone is being able to enjoy music without disturbing anyone else. Instrumental music is best when you’re trying to concentrate. For routine tasks, play anything you want. Internet radio stations give you a huge selection.

6. Add personal touches. Spread around some treasured photos or vacation souvenirs. Post inspirational sayings or keep a book of favourite quotations on hand.

Getting Organised To Be More Productive:

1. Banish clutter. Plan for sufficient filing and storage space to help you keep clutter under control. Go paper-free whenever possible. Regularly sort through your materials for things you can discard or archive.

2. Clean regularly. Vacuum and dust every two to four days. Do a thorough cleaning at least once a month. This will help protect you from germs and create a more hospitable environment.

3. Separate your personal and business activities. When you work from home, it’s helpful to create boundaries to keep your life in balance. Keep distractions like laundry out of the office, and office items such as files out of the rest of the house. This will help you to focus and will also reduce the risk of losing things.

4. Minimise interruptions. Some people may have trouble understanding that you’re busy when you’re at home. Let your family and friends know the hours when you need to minimise calls or other interruptions. Resist the temptation to check email too frequently and put your phone on voice mail when you need some quiet time.

5. Stay connected. Take steps to avoid feeling isolated. Go out to lunch with colleagues at least once a week. Find local chapters of organizations relevant to your business and attend the meetings. Networking is good for your career and personal happiness.

6. Give yourself a break. When you set your own schedule, you need to plan your own breaks. You’ll be more effective at work if you stay active and refresh your mind. Go to the gym before you settle down to work in the morning. If you find yourself working long hours, pick one afternoon to take off and see a movie.

Create a setting that dispels fatigue and tension. Use these principles of design and organisation to feel better and work more effectively.

With peace of mind and a productive environment, I prepare myself for anything that life brings my way.

Life is about change and change often brings challenges. I accept challenges and prepare for them. Because I am ready for what comes my way, I can handle anything. Even joyful change can be stressful, but I have peace through all of life’s changes.

I am prepared and ready for life. I spend time thinking about where my life is going and map out what I want next. I prepare for change and realize that my plans may turn out differently than I expect. By being prepared, I can shape more of my own destiny.

Each day, I reaffirm my desire to accept life as it comes. I avoid becoming fearful or angry when there’s change in my world. Change is important and something that feels challenging at the time may turn out to be in my best interests.

I avoid judging each experience by itself and put it into the bigger context of my life as a whole. When I put challenges in context, they are often far different than I first thought.

In the midst of a storm, I remain calm. I think clearly and decide what the next step should be. Because I plan my steps, I can avoid getting off of my path. I make adjustments easily because I embrace change instead of fearing it. Being ready for life keeps me joyous and happy.

Today, I am prepared for my life, regardless of what it brings.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1.    What can I do to increase my peace, productivity and be more prepared for life?
2.    How can I stay positive when negative things happen to me?
3.    How can I help others who are struggling with events in their own lives?

You can visit Stephen on his Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/StephenPierceLive

About James McRoy

Web marketer, entrepreneur, traveller

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