In the second part of our series, I’m going to teach you a time-tested method of creating beautiful order in an otherwise chaotic world.

This method is so simple, absolutely anyone can start using it today.

What is this excellent time management tool?

The technique I’m talking about is list-making and its simplicity is actually the basis of its power as a time management tool. People who are already strapped for time need techniques that are easy to implement. Nothing is simpler and easier than building to-do lists!

Simple Guidelines for Maximum Results

 Below are some pro tips for building accomplishable and realistic to-do lists:

1. Create the Right To-Do Lists – There are three kinds of to-do lists that you can create depending on what you have to accomplish. Your main to-do list is contains all of the things that you have to accomplish in the short-term and long-term.

You can list as many things as you want in your main to-do list as this will be used as a resource for the two other lists I’m going to mention in a moment. The second to-do list is your day list.

The day list contains all the items that need to be given attention today.

All of the most urgent items in your main to-do list should be put in your day list, especially deadlines and stuff that you weren’t able to accomplish in the past.

The third and final list is the future list. The future list should contain the things you have to accomplish in the following weeks or months. If something needs to be accomplished 2 weeks from now, write it down in your future list so you won’t clutter your day list.

2. Prioritize Tasks with a Main To-Do List – Priority-setting is your primary goal in creating different lists.

Your main to-do list was designed to be a general list so you can assign items to their proper sub-lists. You will also be able to write down the time and date for each of the items before transferring them to your day list and future list.

It would also help if you marked certain tasks with E1 or E2. E1 means “super easy! – will not take more than 10 minutes” while E2 stands for “enjoyable task!”. You can create more notations if you want, if they will help you stay motivated in accomplishing your tasks.

3. Use the Future List Wisely – Writing a future list is a way to accommodate less urgent tasks so you won’t forget to do them. There are also some tasks that don’t have to be accomplished today. If you’re already budgeting your time, there’s no need to add more tasks in your day list.

However, I would warn against using this list for procrastination. Having a long future list doesn’t mean you’re getting organized or you’re managing your time well. It just means you have a list of tasks. It’s what you do after making your to-do lists that truly matter.

Where can you create your lists?

If you’re a little old-fashioned like me, you may prefer to physically write down your to-do items on a journal.

If you’re planning to write things down on paper, I suggest that you use a monthly planner as an extension of your future list to stay organized. It can be difficult to keep track of items on your future list if you can’t see the days or weeks that lead up to each deadline.

Now, I also know that not everyone likes keeping journals and notebooks around.

If you have a smart phone or tablet, you can download organization apps like Any.Do, Clear and other to-do list programs on iTunes or Google Play. There are also other app centers available on the Internet such as the Opera Mobile Market which you can explore.

A good to-do app should allow you to make an unlimited number of to-do items complete with sub-lists. You should also be able to add a time and date for each item that you need to complete.

Some apps allow task sharing through email and through an in-app messaging system, but these aren’t as essential as the first set of features I mentioned.

If you don’t want to download another app, check out your current calendar app to see if it has a list feature… and continue to pursue to be an expert in ‘Expert Time Management Simplified’.

This article has been sourced from The Huffington Post. The link back to the original article follows at the end of this post.

Science has shown that mindfulness meditation can have a positive impact on a huge range of health conditions, including cancer, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The practice has even been found to slow HIV progression and protect the brain from aging. 

Mindfulness seems to improve nearly every aspect of health — but how? While mounting research has revealed many of the numerous physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness, little is known of the mechanisms underlying these positive changes.

Now, a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, published on Jan. 29 in the journal Biological Psychiatry, demystifies the neurobiological effects of cultivating a focused awareness on the present moment.

……….

Huffington Post link http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/meditation-brain-changes-study_us_56b4b7aee4b04f9b57d93bef

This is the first of a series of articles over the next period of time where I will share personal views and the views of attitudes of a diverse group of others.

This first article from BuzzFeed asks the question “What is Mindfulness and Why you should try it”  This is an informative and light-hearted and hugely valuable entree into the topic. Yet at the same time renews and adds to the information about for the mindfulness practitioner.

A portion of the article follows, while there is a link to the original source and the end. Further information about “mindfulness” will be published on a daily basis.

Mindfulness is a growing movement that encourages people to take a minute to notice their body and its surroundings. To get a little more information about mindfulness, what it is and isn’t, and how people new to mindfulness can begin practicing awareness, we spoke with Cheryl Jones — one of Aetna’s wellness program strategy leads, who is trained in mindfulness and completed the Teacher Development Intensive in Mindfulness-Based-Stress Reduction (MBSR).

What is mindfulness?

Cheryl Jones: Mindfulness is paying attention or noting whatever is happening in the moment with a gentle and open mind. It involves being present in the moment, the one you’re in right now. Mindfulness doesn’t involve chanting, bowing, sitting cross-legged, or burning incense.

How do we practice mindfulness?

CJ: Mindfulness can be practiced formally through meditation where we pause and notice breathing, thoughts, feelings, sensations and surroundings. It can also be practiced informally while driving, during conversations, while exercising, and as you’re eating.

What are the benefits to practicing mindfulness?

CJ: Mindfulness can help lower stress and builds resilience so you can meet the demands of your day with more ease. It allows you to have more clarity to solve problems. Mindfulness can help you be patient with yourself and others. And it can make you more effective and feel happier.

The complete article can be accessed here https://www.buzzfeed.com/aetna/ask-an-expert-what-is-mindfulness-and-why-should-you-try-it?utm_term=.hlzl95EPN#.iiRaJyrvx

Well, I always believe that high achievers do things differently! They are better planned, know how to manage time and most importantly have luck by their side. This is a bright insight to the fact, that every high achiever is disciplined and this discipline, hard work and perseverance help them reach the peak of success.

An eye-opener for all those who believe that success and achievements are a matter of luck!

Well- certainly not always! Hard work and a disciplined lifestyle is the key.

Believing in yourself is a discipline too – quite surprising for me.  Well NO!

I realize the importance of time management and believing in your abilities, but it’s interesting to know that every high achiever is committed to the belief. For all those to blame it on circumstances, about everyday interruptions and disturbances – another non negotiable discipline of high achievers is their ability to eliminate interruptions.

They are well aware of the interruptions but they know how to combat them too. Do you try to do this too or you simply walk away with the excuse?

Time management is something all of us need to think about. High achievers and successful people manage their time well. They value time and give it importance. To achieve something in life, time management is a discipline you can never ignore. Its important to be healthy and to ignore things which can interrupt your progress.

 Thanks, Patrick Allmond, this certainly made an interesting read. I am sure it is of much help, who are trying their best to stay motivated and reach their goals.

Copyright: <a href=’http://www.123rf.com/profile_iqoncept’>iqoncept / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Therapy can be a loaded word. Misunderstandings about mental health mean this treatment, which has helped millions of people, is sometimes judged and stigmatized — and that can stand in the way of healing.

So here’s a PSA to the entire world: Therapy is not a bad thing.

Seeing a mental health professional is no different than seeing a specialist for any other illness. Research shows therapy is one of the best ways to treat mental health disorders. Period. And for those without a mental illness, it’s a great way to simply work through pressing life issues that may be causing some stress.

Therapists can give a person the tools they need to successfully manage their condition. It’s perfectly reasonable to go to a clinician for a physical illness. Shouldn’t the same expectation apply to a clinician for a mental illness?

The point, after all, is to be healthy. That includes taking care of the mind in therapy. In an effort to demystify the process, HuffPost rounded up 10 things everyone should know about therapy.

Trina Dalziel via Getty Images

>> Well – are you changing how you are? Purposefully!

No? Think again.

Until you change how you are, it is always going to be too difficult to succeed. Generally we change ourselves either out of desperation or for inspiration.

It’s a fact, to be happy and wealthy, you need to work really hard …yes and that too on yourself, and not on the job.

NB: Action is important for success – and it is more important if you are wanting ‘big success in your life, business and relationships’.

What do successful people do? … What habits do they have which makes them highly successful? How is their life different from us! How expensive is it to be successful? These are some common questions which often strike us, when we feel the strong urge to succeed!

Surprisingly – it costs nothing to develop habits which make you successful! Meditation is said to be the biggest reason of their success; it certainly relaxes and takes care of the mind. Successful people meditate regularly.

They are all early risers and this certainly attributes to their success. So, don’t sleep that extra minute if you are trying really hard to be successful! Know more about such successful habits!

Have you ever you wondered how certain people have gotten so successful? Sure you have. A great idea, motivation, persistence, and a little luck helps, but most successful people share certain habits. Here are nine habits that have helped place them on the top:

1. They meditate.

Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, told The Huffington Post in 2013 that “Meditation, more than anything in my life was the biggest ingredient of whatever success I’ve had.” Dalio, however, is not alone. Oprah, Rupert Murdoch, Russell Simmons, Arianna Huffington, Bill Ford and Padmasree Warrior have all attributed mediation as a huge component to their success.

Taking care of your body and mind by relaxing, exercising, healthy eating and getting enough sleep are all ways to improve your chances of success.

Related: Meditation Isn’t Just For Hippies: Here is How it Can Help Entrepreneurs
2. They wake up early.

President Obama, Richard Branson, Jack Dorsey, Larry Schultz, Tim Cook and Xerox CEO Ursula Burns are known to be early risers. How has this attributed to their success? Because early risers are able to start their days ahead of everyone else by responding to others, exercising and finding some personal time, early risers also tend to be happier and are more proactive.
3. They network.

Successful people realize the importance of networking. In fact, research has found that networking can lead to people performing better at work and increases the chance of landing a job. Networking helps our successful people be more innovative. According to Dale Carnegie’s classic “How To Win Friends & influence People,” successful people rarely complain or criticize. They are sincere and try to be empathetic.
4. Keep themselves busy.   ….  Keep reading by clicking this link!

Thanks to those at Entrepreneur!! … just great!!

Where to start!  Try these Steven Covey, Og Mandino, Jim Rohn, Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, Viktor Frankl and Napoleon Hill are in the list of top 100.  These are the legends of personal development.

So the choice is remarkable!

While we have choice, a small problem arises as to who do we pick. I might suggest it`s all about personal appeal at the time you have a look.

So here`s a group of 25!  Great choice!  Good Luck!

These trailblazers laid the foundation for today’s personal-development field, and they continue to inspire through their revolutionary works.

In the first-ever SUCCESS 25 list—which premiered in the January 2015 issue of SUCCESS— we salute 2014’s most influential leaders in personal growth. In this list, to kick off the celebration, we’ve chronicled the most successful achievement philosophers of all time.

Dive into the words from these legends that will shape your life:

Maya Angelou (1928–2014)

Writer, singer, activist, philanthropist, filmmaker: Maya Angelou was many things to many people, and when she passed away this year, the public mourning was palpable. Her message of equality, resilience and compassion inspired millions, and she wrote some three dozen books including best-sellers I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Diiie (nominated for a Pulitzer Prize) and The Heart of a Woman.

Born in Arkansas, Angelou faced a broken family, poverty, sexual abuse and violence—amid the Great Depression and rampant racism—before age 10. But she worked hard and pursued her love of the arts. Around 1960, Angelou began to focus on writing and participating in the civil rights movement.

Over the next 55 years, her contributions were many and great, and she received more than 50 honorary degrees, as well as the Presidential Medal, the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Dale Carnegie (1888–1955)

Be friendly, smile, don’t criticize. When Dale Carnegie wrote those principles in How to Win Friends and Influence People, he became a guru to millions. Since its 1936 publication, the book has sold more than 15 million copies and is one of the all-time best-sellers.

Born to a Missouri farming family, Carnegie attended college, moved to New York City and began teaching public speaking. He soon realized that people also needed training in getting along with others, but there was no working handbook on human relations. So, after 15 years of research, he published How to Win Friends and Influence People, which moved to the top of the best-seller list and has remained on the list since then.

More opportunities followed, including a syndicated newspaper column and a national radio program. Carnegie also penned another best-seller How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

Carnegie’s work continues to attract some of the most successful people in the world, including a 20-year-old Warren Buffett, and Lee Iacocca when he began his automotive career; both attended Carnegie’s training course.

“Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.”

George S. Clason (1874–1957)

George S. Clason, owner of a mapmaking company, began writing about thriftiness and saving money to build wealth. After the stock market crash in 1929, his message had particular relevance, and he sought to bring his financial advice to an expanded readership.

In 1930 he compiled his favorite writings in The Richest Man in Babylon, published through his Clason Publishing Company. Today, it’s considered a classic, having sold more than 2 million copies in 26 languages.

Clason repackaged his message of frugality and enterprise under several titles, including Gold Ahead, Out of the Ruins of Babylon, Seven Remedies for a Lean Purse and Seven Keys to a Full Purse. Referenced in more than 100 books as a source of inspiration, Clason clearly made a lasting impact.

“Our prosperity as a nation depends upon the personal financial prosperity of each of us as individuals.”

Stephen Covey (1932–2012)

Best-selling author, entrepreneur and leadership icon Stephen Covey became one of the most sought-after voices in business, education and government of his time, personally teaching more than 35 heads of state. He was known for helping people from all walks of life realize the greatness within them.

Born in Salt Lake City, Covey developed an early passion for teaching. After attending Harvard Business School, he set out to teach principles that had universal and timeless applications. His first book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, and was named among the top 20 business books by Forbes and the most influential business book of the 20th century by Chief Executive magazine.

His company, Franklin Covey, carries on his legacy in providing training and productivity tools to individuals and organizations.

“When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems.”

Viktor Frankl (1905–1997)

Viennese psychiatrist and neurologist Viktor Emil Frankl was among the first to suggest that humans must have meaning before they have the will to live.

A survivor of Nazi concentration camps, he lost most of his family to the Holocaust, including his first wife. Yet Frankl concluded that man “can only live by looking into the future.” The author of more than 30 books in 43 languages and the recipient of 29 honorary doctorates, Frankl recognized the human need for purpose, and he worked to give that purpose not just to his patients but to the world.

His most famous book, Man’s Search for Meaning, published in 1946, has sold more than 9 million copies. In 1997 he finished his final book, Man’s Search For Ultimate Meaning. The American Journal of Psychiatry called Frankl’s life’s work “perhaps the most significant thinking since Freud and Adler.”

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Paul Harvey (1918–2009)

Paul Harvey, one of the great broadcasters of our time, was known for his steadfast belief in the importance of the ordinary citizen and the happenings of everyday life.

Born in a working-class neighborhood in Tulsa, Okla., Paul Harvey Aurandt developed an early fascination with radios. As a teen, he landed a job at a local radio station and was hooked. His career quickly blossomed, including hosting Jobs for G.I. Joe; Paul Harvey News; and Paul Harvey News and Comment, which remained his primary newscast until his dying day.

Listeners were buoyed by his optimism, and Harvey went on to share his message via television, public speaking, newspaper columns and books. One of those books was 1977’s The Rest of the Story, which contained 82 of Harvey’s signature mystery-history anecdotes. That, in turn, inspired its own radio feature, The Rest of the Story, a series with an American history angle.

In 2005, Harvey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. When he died in 2009, Harvey had spent almost seven decades on the airwaves, and at one point, he had some 24 million listeners on 1,200 stations weekly.

“Every pessimist who ever lived has been buried in an unmarked grave. Tomorrow has always been better than today, and it always will be.”

Napoleon Hill (1883–1970)

As a young reporter, Oliver Napoleon Hill landed the interview of his life: steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who tasked Hill with creating a compilation of success principles from great businessmen and leaders. Hill went on to meet Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller and more.

Hill published his The Law of Success in 1928, offering wisdom from great achievers. Hill followed that with Think and Grow Rich, considered among the greatest self-improvement books of all time, with more than 30 million copies sold worldwide. His primary message: “If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.”

Soon after, Hill met businessman W. Clement Stone, and the duo produced a host of books, courses, lectures and radio and television programs, as well as Success Unlimited, the predecessor to SUCCESS magazine.

“Before success comes to most people, they are sure to meet with some success, and perhaps some failure. When faced with defeat, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That’s exactly what the majority of people do.”

Charlie “Tremendous” Jones (1927–2008)

Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, a self-proclaimed “book evangelist,” discovered the power of reading as an insurance salesman in his 20s and began sharing that experience with others. At 37, he retired from insurance and created Life Management Service and Executive Books, selling books by the thousands to business leaders. He also began conducting seminars and promoting books and reading full time.

For more than 40 years, the internationally acclaimed personal-development mentor and speaker worked to help people improve their lives through reading. Jones committed his estate to a foundation to promote reading to students, and he devoted much of his time to raising money for three libraries. His book, Life is Tremendous, has sold more than 2 million copies.

“Everyone has a success mechanism and a failure mechanism. The failure mechanism goes off by itself. The success mechanism only goes off with a goal. Every time we write down and talk about a goal we push the button to start the success mechanism.”

Og Mandino (1923–1996)

A famous inspirational speaker and author with book sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide, Og Mandino was once an alcoholic failure.

As a young World War II veteran, Mandino spiraled into despair and poverty. But his life took a turn for the better because of a chance encounter with the work of success experts W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill, coupled with Mandino’s own willingness to take action.

Having failed in his first job in insurance sales, he was determined to succeed as he re-entered the field, armed with the principles and techniques he had absorbed from hundreds of books. Within a year, he was promoted to sales manager, and was breaking sales records.

A pamphlet he wrote about selling gained him a job doing promotional writing, and ultimately, Mandino became editor of Stone’s Success Unlimited. Within 10 years Mandino turned this booklet into a national magazine, and his writing attracted the interest of a book publisher. He went on to become the author of 22 top-selling books, including his most famous, The Greatest Salesman in the World.

“Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.”

Thanks for “”SUCCESS” FOR THIS LIST. ACCESS IT HERE NOW

>>>> Bonus Access “The List of 2014 Influential Leaders” Click here!

How often have you met someone who changed the way you feel? The person can be anyone, someone you met at a party or in the train – but the person made you feel good.

These people generally listen to you, they make you feel good and they radiate an inner light. Whenever we come across any such person, we instantly feel positive. The person brightens our day – I often wonder, what makes such a person different?

I realize it’s the goodness of the soul. Some kind of moral adventure perhaps brings about such a goodness of the soul. Life has to be better balanced to achieve such a goodness.

Read more in this article from David Brooks … ‘The New York Times ….

ABOUT once a month I run across a person who radiates an inner light. These people can be in any walk of life. They seem deeply good. They listen well. They make you feel funny and valued. You often catch them looking after other people and as they do so their laugh is musical and their manner is infused with gratitude. They are not thinking about what wonderful work they are doing. They are not thinking about themselves at all.

When I meet such a person it brightens my whole day. But I confess I often have a sadder thought: It occurs to me that I’ve achieved a decent level of career success, but I have not achieved that. I have not achieved that generosity of spirit, or that depth of character.

……

Read more from David Brooks, Politics, culture and the social sciences. New York Times

So often we seek happiness in things that we buy. Personal items, things for the house. We buy things to make us happy. Yes I hear you say! And while we have these ‘things’, we usually feel just great.

We`ve heard said “I`m in need of some shopping therapy”. Great while it happens, but we soon need to do it again!

The result, happy, short term thrill and credit card debt … growing.

“One of the enemies of happiness is adaptation,” says Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University who has been studying the question of money and happiness for over two decades.

We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed. But only for a while. New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them.”

My best memories are to do with travel, with holidays … being there and after, in conversations with friends, the pics and the videos on Facebook. And the saving up can be fun to do. The looking forward to the ‘happy time’ is also great. It teaches us lots and the build-up process about deciding and denying because “I need the cash for my holiday and travel” .. it`s just good for us?

>>>So what`s on your happiness bucket list? New York, Sydney, Antarctic, canoeing, desert hike, para sailing  …. and more

Read lots more about the Science of why we should spend money on experiences and not things. 

Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University who has been studying the question of money and happiness and …

Most people are in the pursuit of happiness. There are economists who think happiness is the best indicator of the health of a society. We know that money can make you happier, though after your basic needs are met, it doesn’t make you that much happier. But one of the biggest questions is how to allocate our money, which is (for most of us) a limited resource.

There’s a very logical assumption that most people make when spending their money: that because a physical object will last longer, it will make us happier for a longer time than a one-off experience like a concert or vacation. According to recent research, it turns out that assumption is completely wrong.

 

So rather than buying the latest iPhone or a new BMW, Gilovich suggests you’ll get more happiness spending money on experiences like going to art exhibits, doing outdoor activities, learning a new skill, or traveling.

Gilovich’s findings are the synthesis of psychological studies conducted by him and others ……

Read on and build your happiness and well-being quotient. Happiness = new events = travel!

Click here now and enhance your HAPPINESS and WELL BEING!!

http://www.fastcoexist.com/3043858/world-changing-ideas/the-science-of-why-you-should-spend-your-money-on-experiences-not-thing