Getting TIRED So Easily?

Getting TIRED So Easily?

Oooops, gents, this is NOT  a medical bulletin.  Instead, we'd like to tackle that FATIGUE syndrome purely from a layman's perspective.  So, are you Getting TIRED So Easily?  To quote medical experts, there are multiple causes [we'll get into that shortly] and ALWAYS topping that list is INSUFFICIENT SLEEP [which we all know I guess].  And while the recommended nightly sleeping hours for adults range from seven to nine, if I will seriously take care of my health, I'll go for the minimum 9 hours [instead of compromising by getting pegged to 7 hours📘📗📙

Of course, one's situation gets challenging if one is experiencing insomnia because that has to be treated, including the need to address underlying medical conditions.  The next common culprit are nutrient deficiencies.  So, even if you're getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep, that does NOT shield you from getting tired so easily if you have nutrients deficiencies💴💷💵

Now, for the low-hanging fruit.  S-T-R-E-S-S gets into the picture.  Oh Oh, before I get wacked, medical experts advise that some level of STRESS is normal.  WHO doesn't get stressed anyways.  BUT chronic STRESS is the thing because that will lead to fatigue.  In fact, experts say that chronic STRESS may lead to STRESS-related exhaustion disorder [ED], a medical condition characterized by psychological and physical symptoms of exhaustion.  Worse, chronic stress may cause changes in your brain, leading to chronic inflammation, that leads to FATIGUE❎❎❎

A third factor points to underlying medical conditions [e.g. sleep apnea, etc].  Getting proper treatment for an underlying medical condition can help you feel better and even improve other areas of health as well.  Now, this is a real low-hanging fruit where we DON'T need medical experts.  POOR DIET.  This significantly affects the way you feel❌❌❌

And I have to quote medical experts here.  To maintain energy and get the NUTRIENTS your body needs to perform critical processes, it is important to consume a balanced diet high in nutrient-dense foods.  WHEN you DON'T obtain enough calories and NUTRIENTS like protein, your body breaks down fat and muscle to meet your ENERGY DEMANDS.  Then, this leads to losing body fat and muscle mass  which may then trigger FATIGUE.  Our takeaway?  DON'T get surprised WHY you're getting TIRED SO EASILY😌😌😌

Can You Prime Yourself For OPTIMISM?

Can You Prime Yourself For OPTIMISM?

Some of us find it easier to adopt to a POSITIVE attitude than others, which then influences how they respond to life's setbacks.  So, Can You Prime Yourself For OPTIMISM?  While an OPTIMIST with a POSITIVE mindset can face a problem as a minor inconvenience [as that allows him to remain calm and take appropriate action in a firm manner, a pessimist can simply feel HELPLESS💴💷💵

That HUGE difference in how an OPTIMIST versus a PESSIMIST will respond to events and challenges in our lives matters directly for our happiness and health.  WHEN we have more optimistic mindsets, we are better able to buffer the effects of common daily life stressors and still remain feeling happy.  One study showed that OPTIMISM is healthy for us as people ages 40 to 90 tended to live longer if they were more OPTIMISTIC, even if we take into account other factors like their diet, smoking, and alcohol use, depression and health📗📙📘

Now, for those struggling to find the silver lining, studies are giving us bright horizons ahead.  HOW?  Experts advise that we need to REFRAME STRESSORS.  While stress is unavoidable when we all experience all those daily hassles, we CAN'T eliminate all the stress because we can choose HOW we think about the challenges we face and adopt a new, more positive mindset around them.  True, some of us can be optimistic in the most natural way.  WHY?  Because they go through life seeing the positive even in challenging situations✅✅✅

In case POSITIVE REFRAMING doesn't come naturally to you, endeavor to start by trying to focus on WHAT's good about your daily life STRESSORS instead of WHAT's bad about them.  Like when getting stuck in traffic gridlock, take that time to look out the window, appreciate nature and the environment.  That's akin to the half glass seen by the OPTIMIST as half-full while the PESSIMIST sees it as half-empty😃😃😃

Segundo, this is quite easier said than done.  Try to practice SELF-COMPASSION.  While some people have the tendency to beat themselves up WHEN things DON'T go their way, which, NOT surprisingly DOESN'T make them feel better, let's try to shift our mindset in a more POSITIVE direction.  Our takeaway today?  Give ourselves a break.  If the skies and clouds are gloomy, be thankful because the weather is less hot.  WHEN you missed to achieved a sales target, LEARN LESSONS and polish your sales pitch skills.  It's NOT the end of the world after all.  So, CAN YOU PRIME YOURSELF FOR OPTIMISM?  Absolutely dude❗❗❗

Is Breaking Bad Habits That Hard?

Is Breaking Bad Habits That Hard?

The Apple company says that the iPhone is less than two decades old.  Yet the psychology behind WHY it is so hard to put your phone down has been understood for almost a century I guess.  Apparently, there is a purported LAW OF EFFECT which states that REWARDED ACTIONS TEND TO INCREASE.  Does this explain why  Breaking Bad Habits That Hard❓❓❓

Apparently, conventional wisdom dictates that if you know something is bad for you, WHY can't you just stop?  Studies show that about 70% of smokers say they would like to quit.  Meanwhile, drug and alcohol abusers struggle to give up addictions that hurt their bodies and even tear apart families and even relationships and friendships.  And we have to admit that many of us have unhealthy excess weight that we could lose IF only we would eat right and exercise more.  So, WHAT's going on?  Scientists have been searching for the right answers [because previous answers didn't seem right] and they studied WHAT happens in our brains as habits form📗📙📘

They have found clues as to WHY bad habits, once established, are so difficult to kick [OUT].  Sadly, various studies show that as much as rats get rewarded with food when it pushes a lever and they tend to push the lever more often, every time we check our phones and get a viscerally rewarding stimulus, it strengthens our habit of phone-checking.  Given that proven relationship, probably a reasonable assumption would be that the more consistently an action is rewarded, the more durable the behavior will be✅✅✅

Yes we might expect that a rat that gets a pellet every time it pushes a lever would push the lever consistently, we can probably assume as well that a 'burst of entertainment' every time we open our phones ought to make us thoroughly obsessed with them.  BUT psychologists warned that unpredictable rewards tend to result in far more durable behavior.  And the rat that only sometimes gets a food pellet will persist in pushing the lever long after the machine stops dispensing pellets❌❌❌

Studies tell us that habits can rise through repetition.  And they are a normal part of life and are often helpful.  We can drive along familiar routes on 'mental auto-pilot' without really thinking about the directions.  And when behaviors become automatic, it gives us an advantage because our brain does NOT have to use conscious thought to perform the activity.  Our takeaway today? YES WE CAN BREAK BAD HABITS❗❗❗ 

What Else Is Missing? Some Needed Juice?

What Else Is Missing?  Some Needed Juice?

What Else Is Missing?  Some Needed Juice?  It's a Monday, your alarm buzzes, you hit snooze two or three times until, finally, you knew you'll breach your threshold so you rise up with the unimaginable struggle we are all familiar with.  You rushed up everything.  Here you are driving through the same old narrative of traffic gridlock and as early as that time, while driving, you felt drained and zapped already.  WHAT❓❓❓

Come next day, it's the same vicious cycle you will go through [for the umpteenth time].  There you are.  seemingly feeling miserable over and over again?  At work, you seem to go through the motions, then taking your lunch, then grind for the afternoon work then by end of day, there you are about to drive again for the next two hours and by the time you reach home, it's like deja vu.  WHAT you felt early morning, being drained and zapped, you felt the same things again by the time you reached home.  WHAT else is left for you to engage your family when you reach home?  I guess you're NOT even a shadow of WHAT you are.  Mentally, physically, emotionally absent❎❎❎

At that point, if I may guess, you're still waiting for HAPPINESS.  And that was what, 10m years ago?  That time, you were waiting for something to happen for things to get better.  SURPRISE?  That NOTHING happened at all?  Then you confront yourself.  You've done all the things society taught you.  To study, to get good grades, find a job and be happy at work, then be happy in life✅✅✅

Problem is, you are NOT happy.  And I could sense something is missing.  Now how long, if at all, will you get out of that miserable life and be HAPPY?  Now, before we run a full circle back, we would hear often times that, first and foremost, we need to find and earn money.  Then, everything follows!@#$%?  Even so, I would even ask myself now, IS IT REALLY MONEY that we need to achieve?  In order for us to achieve HAPPINESS?  And when you look around those monied folks, they ain't HAPPY, right❓❓❓

So, HAPPINESS comes from work?  We are confused by making money to gain freedom and happiness.  And if you are trying to find freedom, focusing on money is an important goal.  BUT if you are trying to find HAPPINESS, focusing on money is NOT the most important goal.  Because psychologists claim that the most important goal is WORK.  Why does Elon Musk still work 15 hours a day till now?  It's because he LOVES work and that keeps him HAPPY.  How would you feel going on vacation whole year?  WHAT's our takeaway?  Figure out the very root that will make you happy [and that's NOT money]❗❗❗

When Do You Start With The NEGATIVITIES?

When Do You Start With The NEGATIVITIES?

How often do you find yourself getting bogged down by NEGATIVE thoughts that seem to literally TAKE OVER your mind, no matter HOW optimistic your circumstances seem?  MAYBE you're constantly worrying about the "WHAT IFs" OR start feeling anxious about the possibility of something bad happening, even WHEN there is NO real reason for you to feel that way.  So, When Do You Start With The NEGATIVITIES? And if you're constantly defaulting to NEGATIVE conclusions, there is that probability that you may be suffering from NEGATIVE thinking patterns in your thought process.  Now, can we consider what experts advise that from their studies, NEGATIVE thinking is a survival technique💵💴💷

Thing is, there are always two sides to a story.  And the first one is so damn generic and popular that we sometimes forget about the second one.  POSITIVE and NEGATIVE are two faces of a coin.  And each one is equally important.  You just need to use your brain cells and allow them to work in your favor.  BUT if you are confused now, it's NOT your fault because the overthinking brain thinks a lot of 'crap'📗📙📘

Time and again, WHAT we always focus on WHAT we want to become.  WHAT we have to achieve.  The focus is always on the wants, the needs, the desires.  And it should be.  And if your desire to achieve something is strong enough, you will get whatever you work for.  BUT some people DON'T know WHAT they want with their life,  Quite some only have a vague and faint idea and if you ask them to be specific enough, bluntly, some are as 'clear as mud'📌📌📌

WHAT gets glossed over by many of us is that the lack of clarity creates an obvious delay in our SUCCESS [if we are to succeed in the first place].  It's because clarity and routine are so freaking important.  Without it, you would just end up like wandering here and there.  So, the bottom line here is that if you DON'T know WHAT you want to be, make a list of WHAT you DON'T want to be.  MAKES SENSE?  In the simplest terms, if you DON'T know what you want, then, you got to figure out what you DON'T want in the first place.  BUT be cautioned with what experts call COGNITIVE distortions❌❌❌

Topping the list of COGNITIVE distortions is the ALL-or-NOTHING THINKING.  Seeing things as black OR white, with NO shades of grey.  So, when things are NOT perfect, you would see them as FAILURE.  Sometimes, we tend to over-generalize.  When something happens, you would blurt out 'THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS TO ME'.  So, if nothing POSITIVE comes out, yes, you got to drill down the NEGATIVITIES✅✅✅

BTW, What's Your STANDARDS

BTW, What's Your STANDARDS

Famous American author and coach TONY ROBBINS is one of the most vociferous advocates for us to raise our own STANDARDS.  And he goes farther with this huge ASK:  ARE YOUR BELIEFS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM THE LIFE YOU DESERVE?  So, this brings our feet back to the ground and ask ourselves, BTW, What's Your STANDARDS❓❓❓

I'll throw this [quite] irritating question.  How often have you heard these curt statements.  I SHOULD lose weight.  I SHOULD be more confident.  I SHOULD be financially stable.  I SHOULD ensure I meet all expectations both at work and at home.  So, indeed, people have an endless list of things they believe they SHOULD do OR SHOULD follow through📗📙📘

And all these "SHOULDs" seem to carry about the same weight as a New Year's resolution [oh, oh, how many times we heard that, albeit annually?].  Then, with all the "SHOULDs', things seem to be that exciting UNTIL disappointment creeps in because, all along, you knew VERY WELL that that was NOT going to happen anyway📌📌📌

BUT, then, WHAT happens WHEN you decide something is an absolute "MUST"?  What happens WHEN you cut off any other possibility than you succeeding, WHEN you upgrade your STANDARDS and decide that you will never settle for less?  And WHEN you raise your STANDARD for your life and turn "SHOULDs" into "MUSTs", you are making an inner shift to take control over the QUALITY of your life.  Only WHEN you decide to accept nothing less than your ultimate goals will you achieve them✅✅✅

WHERE do we go from here?  Primero, determine WHERE to raise the STANDARD.  Most of us have the numerous areas of life WHERE we could raise our standards.  According to Tony Robbins, the three most common are creating healthy relationships, finding a fulfilling career path and improving our health.  Our takeaway today:  Let us FOCUS to raise our STANDARDS in the areas of OUR relationship, OUR career and OUR health❗❗❗

It Is CONSISTENCY, After All

It Is CONSISTENCY, After All

Many of us have our BEST INTENTIONS in life.  Obviously, because we can pinpoint as the very 'culprit' of most flops and failures in life.  Problem is, CONSISTENCY is a simple yet grossly underestimated concept that holds the power to transform our lives.  WHETHER it is all about pursuing a career goal, maintaining a healthy lifestyle OR building a meaningful relationship, CONSISTENCY is the key to SUCCESS.  So, probably, the bigger question bother us is, WHAT is in it for us when CONSISTENCY gets into the picture?  BTW, CONSISTENCY, as defined, is that art of doing something regularly and WITHOUT FAIL.  Yes, we can say what we want BUT It Is CONSISTENCY, After All📗📙📘

It's all about showing up DAY-IN DAY-OUT even when our own self-motivation wanes or hits a low point regardless if obstacles arise OR not.  WHAT it is NOT is about being the BEST at what you can do.  Instead, it is all about being dedicated and steadfast in your efforts.  If there is a byproduct in CONSISTENCY, it breeds DISCIPLINE as both CONSISTENCY and DISCIPLINE go hand in hand and no way you can have an 'EITHER OR' option😀😀😀

When you commit to doing something CONSISTENLY, you are training your mind and body to adhere to a routine.  This DISCIPLINE helps you to stay FOCUSED on your goals [YES, even when external distractions and temptations abound].  It is this COMMITMENT to your goals that will set you apart from those who sporadically chase their dreams [and bluntly, many of them end up chasing their shadows instead]❎❎❎

So what other key benefits we can derive from CONSISTENCY?  That builds and gives us momentum.  Think of the CONSISTENCY as a snowball rolling down a hill.  At first, it may be small and slow, BUT as it keeps rolling, it gains momentum and grows larger.  In a similar fashion, WHEN you CONSISTENLY work towards your goals, that will lead you to build momentum and over time, your efforts become more productive and efficient and then, your progress will accelerate, no turning back then.  The key here is to START SMALL and gradually increase your efforts, allowing the momentum to carry you forward✅✅✅

Yes, CONSISTENCY will foster your very own skills development.  WHETHER you want to become a skilled craftsman, writer, athlete OR entrepreneur, CONSISTENCY is that singular path  to mastery.  And it has been prove that CONSISTENCY is the only way to accumulate those hours.  And it is NOT just about putting in the time.  It is about continuously refining your skills and getting better at WHAT you do.  And yes, CONSISTENCY  will undoubtedly strengthen your habits.  And habits are very powerful forces in our lives.  So, this is all about CONSISTENCY  after all❗❗❗

Of Winners & Whiners

Of Winners & Whiners

On the surface, Winners & Whiners would look similar [and probably like Siamese Twins].  Oozing with confidence and quite assertive if NOT aggressive.  BUT if for now we'll dump all those labels and simply compare behaviors.  And the person WHO wants to do something will find a way.  And the person WHO doesn't, will readily find an excuse📗📙📘

From a thinking perspective, WINNERS would often keep an open mind as they tend to consciously refrain from thinking that a particular goal mighty be impossible.  As long as they continue to think something is possible, their subconscious minds continue to work towards the achievement of their goals.  Then, swinging over to WHINERS, they WON'T waste time to blurt, "THAT WON'T WORK"❎❎❎

WHINERS will never run out of reasons [a.k.a. alibi] as to WHY they should NOT try it.  And they will go to the extent of justifying their rationale of lacking in effort, their passion OR feelings of fear by telling themselves those 'rational lies'.  And when they start talking, WINNERS talk things out differently.  You would hear POSITIVE words of affirmation and some will even go to the extent of memorizing keywords or self-motivating sentences and they say them out loud over and over again😀😀😀

When a WINNER wants to master patience, he might simply repeat the word 'PATIENCE' fifty times in the morning and fifty times in the afternoon.  Then, when the WINNER is confronted by an irritating co-worker, he would normally respond OR react with patience.  And BTW, WINNERS always find a way to say something POSITIVE to say.  In contrast, WHINERS are more inclined to commiserate and blurt out quite pessimistic and dampened outlooks like 'OH I TRIED THAT OUT BEFORE BUT I FAILED'❌❌❌

Sadly, you could hear WHINERS speak out verbal curses that would surely 'KILL OFF' whatever amount of willingness that is left within them.  Because of the way they think and the way they talk, the difference n the way WINNERS and WHINERS believe is huge, akin to being separated apart by the Red Sea.  WINNERS will keep on trying to find and worm their way.  WHINERS simply DON'T.  That is their stark contract, akin to BLACK versus WHITE, daytime versus night time.  You might challenge me and come up with this big ASK:  Can a WHINER now be a WINNER come next day?  Not too fast, not so soon.  WHY?  Because behaviors and disciplines are NOT instant but instead, they are developed and habitually practiced until it becomes embedded within their persona.  So HOW?  Stop being a WHINER immediately and consistently behave like a WINNER from hereon❗❗❗

Thinking Out Of The Box?

Thinking Out Of The Box?

Thinking Out Of The Box?  Think about it.  OR rather, DON'T ever think about it.  And yes, DON'T repeatedly say it over and over again.  We had enough of it.  Slogans and mottos have been running along those same lines for the longest time.  BUT we have to realize that phrase is a cliche that tells us NOTHING as in N-O-T-H-I-N-G about WHAT being creative involves OR HOW to be more creative.  If anything, it is limiting to us💎💎💎

At the core of our thread today is CREATIVITY and HOW do we define it without using a useless cliche.  And for alignment, Mr Google defines it as "CREATIVE THINKING IS MORE THAN COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS.  IT IS ABOUT LIVING LIFE IN A WAY THAT IS OPEN, AUTHENTIC AND CURIOUS,  IT IS A MINDSET AND APPROACH TO EVERYTHING WE DO".  So, this definition provides us insight into WHAT goes into being CREATIVE.  We should remain open to alternatives, be authentic with our efforts and remain curious about this world.  And WHILE it still ISN'T specific about defining CREATIVITY, it provides a much more practical explanation.  BUT who's the culprit for this cliche, blame it on management consultants way back the 80s📌📌📌

So, WHAT's our takeaway today?  Forget and shun off that THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX cliche for now because it will confuse you than guide you.  Instead, even from WITHIN THE BOX, we can radically imagine NEW possibilities for us to question the way things are, and to further stretch the boundaries of WHAT could be.  So, even from WITHIN THE BOX, we can compare RADICAL IMAGINATION to the work done in science-fiction films and novels.  Remember STAR TREK and BACK TO THE FUTURE?  In the same way science fiction has the power to influence society to develop new ideas, IMAGINATION can create that blueprint.  Via our IMAGINATION, we can envision alternate realities to prevent or even to actualize values.  Still contemplating to be THINKING OUT OF THE BOX?  Think about it, dude✅✅✅

Truth of the matter here.  We have enough rules, guidelines and parameters both in our personal and work life.  And WHILE there are the likes of Elon Musk and Bill Gates who've been beating their chests [to proclaim that they are THINKING OUT OF THE BOX], I'd like to tag them as outliers rather than players playing within the norms of the game.  So, WHERE does that live us❓❓❓

At this point, please allow me to be frank and blunt about all these hullaballoo.  UNLESS you are a core member of either product development OR R&D, I'll strongly encourage each one of us that for now, as long as your deliverables are still UP IN THE AIR, please work and deliver things WITHIN THE BOX.  THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX could be a reasonable incentive ONLY AFTER you have 'DELIVERED THE GOODs'💴💷💵

Can We Have What We Want?

Can We Have What We Want?

Can We Have What We Want?  Oh Oh, before we get our feet that wet, we got to set expectations here.  This is NOT going to be like a standard "DO THIS and THAT" thing.  Instead, we'll look behind your desires to discover WHAT it is you actually WANT and HOW you're standing in your own way to get WHAT you want now.  Apologies for those disclaimers before we roll up our sleeves and dissect things.  To start with, can you list [on your own] WHAT you desire most in life.  Is it happiness?  Love?  Financial stability?  Stable family relationships❔❔❔

Thing is, it is damn easy to know WHAT you WANT in life.  It's harder to get it.  OR is it?  True, getting a new job OR a pay raise OR a job promotion can be difficult BUT getting WHAT you WANT can be more BLACK and WHITE than you might think though.  It is then crucial enough that you develop a game plan or an approach.  HOW?  Primero, ASK [and be specific].  This sounds obvious and yet sometimes, we expect to get exactly WHAT we want without being clear as to WHAT that is📗📙📘

Fact is, we CAN'T expect anyone to read our own mind.  So, figure out exactly WHAT it is you want and ask for it clearly and confident enough.  Just DON'T beat around the bush.  Express your want specifically and concisely enough so that there ISN'T any confusion, doubt OR wiggle room on the receiver's end.  Now, this is WHAT most of us are guilty of.  It is sometimes awkward and stressful to ask for something from a 'higher up' at work📌📌📌

So, you might catch yourself starting with, 'I'M SORRY TO ASK, BUT....'.  which sounds you're apologizing BUT you can still be polite without backing down.  That's the thing. People often mistake apologizing for their wants with being polite.  In fact, you can still be polite BUT without backing down.  Else, apologizing for your want comes across as unconfident WHICH can make your superior feel unconfident in granting it to you.  Just DON'T GIVE IN.  Be strong.  You have really nothing to apologize in the first place❎❎❎

So, our takeaway today?  Endeavor to make YOUR GAIN THEIR GAIN.  Unfortunately, the days of helping for the sake of helping are out of the window.  The "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME" attitude is a cultural norm and you must embrace it WHEN asking a boss or any other superior for help.  It is important that the person in question views your victory as their victory as well.  And besides being PERSISTENT, be prepared for your want to be fulfilled.  Easy to wish for something BUT are you truly ready for it to be bestowed to you?  So, CAN WE HAVE WHAT WE WANT?  Absolutely dude❗❗❗