Author: CLFurlong

The only person you will forever be stuck with for the entirety of your life will be you. So you are important. Therefore it is well worth your while to get to know yourself both inside and out. With this in mind, spending some quality me-time should and will mean you’d be unwinding, doing some deep thinking and rediscovering yourself. It sounds good, doesn’t it? But what if you find it difficult to find the space for yourself? Here are some tips to give you more time to recharge and thrive.

Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself. – Octavia E. Butler

Wake Up Earlier

Waking up early can be the key to more than just happiness, it can be the start of something even greater. And getting up earlier and embedding this into your routine can have amazing benefits. It allows for more time, for more activities, for better schedules and even healthier bodies. This does not mean being a night owl is worse off. It just means that if you utilize our morning strategically and with a well-rounded routine, you will be jumping out of bed and kick-starting your day at a whole new level. The best part is, you are kick-starting the day with ‘me time’, which you can’t get much more exciting than that.

A Date With Netflix

Sometime’s it can be good to just switch off your life and pause whats been going on and just have a date night in with yourself and Netflix (or the TV). Just you and the remote control, no-one else commenting on the plot or asking you to rewind a joke three times. Look, you may even end up falling asleep, but the point is, you are in control, you can relax and just wind down.

Tech Detox

Turning off the gadgets and gizmos for a period of time will enable a distraction free zone – but it also enables you to focus on other things at hand. Who knows what you might do, learn or experience in a world without technology for a small period of time or even a day. We rely on them so much, that without them I won’t be surprised if you will be a new and different person. 

Distraction Free Working

Similar to the tech detox, eliminating all your distractions so you can focus will do you wonders. ‘Me time’ regardless if it is for business or pleasure, distractions can always decrease your ability to focus and get the results you are looking for. So eliminate these, then focus on your ‘me time’ by doing whatever it is you are doing and just see how productive you are. Noise canceling headphones will help do the trick too.

Short Walks In Breaks

In a busy world, finding some ‘me time’ can be proven to be quite the challenge. But why not challenge yourself. When you have a chance to take a 10-minute walk, take it. This would be on your breaks at work or school. Take the time to just go for a stroll, stretch your legs and clear your mind. If you have more time, then go for a walk taking a different route each time. It’s like a mini adventure.

Airplane Mode For A Single Hour

Like the tech detox, go into airplane mode. Turn your phone off or messages/calls off and sit back for an hour in peace. This includes emails and other notifications. If you’re not on call as a doctor or firefighter or similar, these notifications and incoming messages can wait. Whether you are doing this while you are trying to focus on a task or simply just to have some real ‘me time’. Regardless, this will always make whatever it is more focused and productive.

Hobby Time

If you don’t have one – find one! Using your ‘me time’ wisely is so important as this can be limited due to being distracted doing life. Find a hobby that you can invest in, that gives you an experience. A good book, a musical instrument, video games, a sport or even some gardening. There are thousands more too. This time should be about focusing on your passions and dreams.

Read A Book Or Two

Like your hobby time – using your ‘me time’ as reading a book will benefit you in so many ways. Books are full of information, opinions, ideas, and stories. Basically, they give your mind a chance to stretch and grow. They will make you think, dream and explore the what if’s of life. Reading can be slow and not that exciting when starting out, but once you have broken into a routine, this ‘me time’ will become a favorite I think.

Exercise

Don’t think of it as a punishment or a chore. Exercise is meant to be something you want to embrace and enjoy. Why? Well, it is a step to healthy living, an important factor to anyone’s life. You can do exercise in so many ways, you can find a way that makes you feel comfortable and excited, or you can find something that will challenge you and really intensify the experience. Regardless, embracing this time to grow your mind sets and stretch your body limits will benefit you.  

Alone Time / Me Time is meant to do the below:

• Reboot our brains
• Help us unwind
• Improve concentration
• Make us productive
• Self discovery
• Deep thinking
• Problem solving 
• Relationship enhancement

If you want any of these, I challenge you to try out one of the above tips, or maybe you have your own you can try. Regardless, I challenge you to do at least one of these things a day. You will be thanking me for it later.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @_clfurlong_ | Location: Melbourne, Australia

Let go of the meaningless nothings. Keep the meaningful closer. Make efforts not to be swayed or distracted by jealousy or feelings of inadequacy, but instead look inward, practice mindfulness and self-love, and simplify your life. Focus on relationships and health and happiness instead of material possessions, professional or social ‘status,’ and income.

Take a few minutes and think about what makes you the happiest. Who do you feel your best around? What in your life is making you the most unhappy?

Now focus on these things and make a plan. Do the things that make you happy and see the people who make you happy more often. Get rid of (or make a plan to get rid of over time if it’s something that is difficult) what makes you unhappy. Forget about whether changing jobs/careers/boyfriends/girlfriends will make you look less successful or popular.

Start today.

Stop and ask yourself the following questions:

• Do we have a good relationship with our family?
• Do we have a friend or partner who we love? Do we spend enough time with them and let them know how much they mean to us?
• Do we feel good physically? If not, how can we fix that? More exercise? Better eating habits?
• Are we drinking too much? Sleeping too little? Working too many hours?

It’s not easy to take control of your life, that’s why so many of us are stuck in the same old patterns of co-dependency, unrealistic self-expectations, and pointless regret. However, making a conscious decision to live in a new way is the first step to regaining a sense of self-value and self-mastery.

It was never meant to be easy. It was just meant to be meaningful. Take action and live the better side of life. – Chris Furlong

Photo Credit: Instagram: @canva | Location: Unknown

I’ve always been a dreamer. Since I was a child, I have had dreams to do, dreams to be and dream to see. The beauty of it all, is as a child we are so innocent and dreaming is part of growing up. Even if the dreams are silly or unrealistic. Everything was simpler, easier and everything was an adventure as we were learning so much and so quickly.

But like anyone, as you continue to grow older, these dreams became more serious and more realistic. As we grow we become more aware of the environment and the implications of our actions. Although there is nothing wrong with that, our awareness of our actions and how it can affect our lives can hold you back. Ironically, just when you become capable of reaching your dreams, you end up stop doing the something to achieve it.

You start to second guess it all, you start to wonder what if you had done this, or done that. If you are realizing that you are not happy with the decisions you have made, that you are not following your dreams or on the path to achieving them. There is still time to start fresh. You can start your journey today! Take action today!

Here are 3 tips that you can put into practice which can help you in reaching and living your dreams.

Who Cares What Others Think

When it comes to chasing and living your dreams, the key is not worrying about what others think. By nature, we depend on other people and we tend to rely on what others have to say or think about the decisions we have to make. I get it. We all want to be liked and accepted. You see, is all about the confidence, the charisma and the happiness you have, all rolled into a single existence and how you can be awesome by living it and embracing it. (Your passion) 

We work so hard to fit in and impress the society around us. We become so worried, concerned and confused by what people are thinking – so much that we focus more time on trying to be right for everyone, that we put no time into doing what is right for us. If you spent the same time and effort in living and making your dreams come true, forgetting what people think, you would be a lot further along the track than you thought.

You may not conform to the majority but it is your happiness that you are seeking… not theirs so why should you worry about not pleasing them.

Risks Are Important

Another major factor which is limiting you from going from here to there, from A to B or from the same to new; is the hesitation to work towards our dreams because we are too scared to take a risk and fail. Fear is so controlling, so demanding and can ruin opportunities. You need to understand – if we cannot even believe in ourselves, who else is going to? Or why should anyone else? Never let the fear of failure get into you. 

Fall seven times, stand up eight. — Japanese Proverb

Failure is normal… you get upset about it but then you have to let it pass, stand up and try again. Remember that behind every failure is an opportunity for you to grow and be better and these can help you reach your dreams.

Focus On The Now & What You Can Control

Planning is crucial, as without it things can go wrong quickly. However, this does not mean we shouldn’t embrace and focus on the moments now. Focusing too much in the future can hold us back in trying out things that can make us live a meaningful present life.  Working hard for your goals and dreams and pushing yourself to your limits in order to make it in the future, can sometimes overwhelm and even suppress ‘the very moment’ situations which could actually bring you closer to your dreams. Life is all about taking chances, so take the challenge and hold on to your faith. Remember, the road towards fulfilling your dream is rough. Along with your journey, there will be roadblocks and if you live your life holding back you will never achieve the genuine happiness you are seeking for.

Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost

Photo Credit: Instagram: @godsonsamuel888 | Location: Flinders, VIC, Australia

Today you have a single mission. A single goal. Do more. Wish less. Today is a single chance to make what you have been putting off for so long, become a new stage, a new era, a new phase, a new start, a new beginning in your life. Today you can take a stand and make your dreams become a little closer to being true. 

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

But seriously, every time you keep putting something off, all you are doing is just making your dreams drift further away. The excuses you keep running through your head, the excuses of why you cannot or shouldn’t take action, are all just the fear inside of you fighting for control. Take ownership and knock back the fear and dive in. You will be surprised just how capable you are. 

You look around and you see the people with the success, the excitement and everything you wish you had and/or have dreamed of… and you want to know why they have it and not you. Why? Because they took action, (maybe they were given it) but most of the time it is the people who made a decision to make an effort to keep on keeping on no matter what, and these are the ones who made it. 

You too can fly, you too can be like this. But remember success isn’t having it all – success is living each day with purpose, with passion, and in happiness. 

Seriously! Do one thing today! One thing related to your goals and dreams. Otherwise, I think you should be asking yourself the deeper and real question of – how much do you really want this dream.

Wish less. Do more.

ALL TALK NO ACTION AYE?

Photo Credit: Instagram: @godsonsamuel888 | Location: Flinders, VIC, Australia

Being awesome. Is it a myth? Is it possible? Is it reachable? Is it normal? Is it already occurring? So many questions…

Being awesome.  What exactly is it and what does it take to be it?

Real awesomeness is about living the life you are meant to live. It’s all about the confidence, the charisma and the happiness you have, all rolled into a single existence.

So how do you unleash it? Simple. 11 Simple Ways:

Find Passion

What floats your boat? What lights your fire? What makes you happy? What is it that you could be doing, as nothing else matters to you?
But how do you find passion? Easy. Write down and list everything that makes you tick. Try them until your heart and mind clicks. You will know when you have found it as you will feel it.

Live Passion

Now that you have found it. Live it. But it shouldn’t be some pastime or a hobby you just do when you have the time, passion is something to identify you. You need to live and breathe this in your everyday living. Even if it is in the little things you do. If you have a passion for something, don’t be shy to stand up for it, to embrace and to show it. Passion 24/7.

Healthy Eating

How can you be awesome, if you are feeling disgusted by what you are consuming? Eating well will GREATLY improve your mood, but will also take your mind and body places you cannot go on an unhealthy diet.

Exercise

With a low energy level, how can you expect to be awesome? With no energy, you will be lazy, miserable and soon enough a couch potato. By exercising, you are improving your physique (which is awesome), which will cover the area of helping you look good. Which by the way, no makeup or outfit can make you look better than a fit and clean body.

Sleep Enough

If you are constantly falling asleep, due to the lack of sleep – this isn’t very exciting. You should always sleep enough. If you want to start your day on an AWESOME level, you need to be able to get up. Find your sleep routine which you are content with and which enables your body to operate. With a hint of passion, you will be jumping out of bed in no time.

Toxicity No More

Your happiness, your mood, your inspiration and your awesomeness is largely derived from the people you surround yourself with. People who put you down, are not the ones who will inspire you and lift you higher into the zone you thrive off. How can you expect to be awesome, if all the people are doing is bringing you down. People who have the best intentions for you, these are the people who will inspire you and help you become AWESOME. (They too are probably awesome). Hang around these folk.

Positive Thinking

Positive thinking usually helps create a positive life. Optimism is a choice and it is a way to get through the thick and thin of life. What you think is what you get. They are your reality and how you perceive the thing around you. Do you want to be HAPPY? Well, you better start looking on the bright side. Help shape your own reality, be grateful and happy all the time. People will see the excitement and the positive outlook you have and that right there is AWESOME.

Spontaneously Fun

Life is too short to be stuck in a box. Over thinking, can limit our ability to experience, to feel and to live. Yes, there is a risk in everything. Even waking up and going to work. But risk can be overcome, as you should never be bound by it. Stop worrying about the things that can go wrong and get out there and grow, learn and have some fun. That there is an AWESOME life. Do this and you inspire others – as others like to worry too and you will be the change they need.

Work Already

If you do the work you will have the sense of accomplishment sooner. Finishing and accomplishing a task will always be uplifting and will inspire your happiness to arise. Awesome isn’t it? If you discipline yourself to have a growth mindset (to always be growing) and always progressing towards your goals. Each time you achieve them you will be leaving another positive mark on your life.

So if you want to be AWESOME, do the work.

Helping Others

Be kind, show compassion and help those who are in need. Helping others will help you stand out. BUT DO IT WITH INTEGRITY. Make the world a better place, but don’t go out of your way to make it a big deal, do it in everything you do. You’re doing it to help, not to look good.

Choose It – Embrace It

You need to choose to be AWESOME. Choose to EMBRACE it. It is a little mode you can toggle on at anytime you want to. The rest will just influence, fuel and grow your awesomeness. By nature and design, you are AWESOME. You alone are AWESOME by being you. Will you own it?

Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome. – Zig Ziglar

Photo Credit: Instagram: @godsonsamuel888 | Location: Flinders, VIC, Australia

When we do something “loud” enough, we will make a dint. When we separate ourselves from the lives we are living, you are left with vessel/medium delivering a brand, a message and a voice of something more than just who we are. The question you need to ask yourself is what is that message. To answer this question you may actually need to answer some different questions. If you don’t know yourself, how can you know that with what you are trying to share with the world is making a dint? 

Ask yourself these questions and see what kind of dint you will be making. I encourage you to have the below 3 points noted and detailed somewhere visible in your everyday life:

Do you have a “Something to Pursue”

“Pursue something so important that even if you fail, the world is better off with you having tried.” — Tim O’Reilly

Have you started a “Journey that Matters”

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain

What does your life look like when life get’s ugly and you fail?

“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” — Mary Tyler Moore

Remember, the most attractive thing about you has less to do with your face and body, but more with your heart and habits. – Tiffany Sun

Photo Credit: Instagram: @_clfurlong_ | Location: Melbourne, Australia

We shouldn’t be blaming other people. The only thing stopping you is you. You know how they say that the grass is greener on the other side. The only way you are going to find out is by going over there and having a look. Tasting and seeing if it is. What’s that? Are you scared? Do you fear?

Congratulations, you’re human. Welcome to the little game called life. You are growing up. Now take a chance, take a leap and GO.

For what it’s worth: It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over. – F. Scott Fitzgerald

This time a few years back I read ‘People Over Profit’ – by Dale Partridge which is all about breaking the system, living with purpose and being more successful. If you haven’t read it then I highly recommend you do. Especially if you have any intention to start a business. If you have no idea about the book, then head on over to the site: http://peopleoverprofit.com/

This book teaches about 7 important lessons of business leadership, but these elements are not just important to a successful business, but these elements will help you shine personally too. My taking from this book has been the inspiration to apply these lessons to an aspiration of my own. Let’s just say this book is perfect to be reading in the process of setting up the blueprint and incubation of a new business.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @canva | Location: Unknown

What if all your barriers stopping you from moving forward were only in your head? Like seriously! Just take a moment right now and just grasp the idea that the reason why you have been holding back, the reasons why you haven’t taken the jump, the reason why you are still here and not there – is simply because of the idea’s, the excuses and barriers you PUT IN YOUR MIND.

We have this idea that the things holding us back are due to external reasons. This ain’t usually the case. Most of the time they’re inside our head and our hearts. I can guarantee you that these are the most common limiting beliefs that keep us from making the progress we have wished for, let alone wished we had even started.

I’m the first to admit that when it comes to expectations, I am one to set the highest on myself. Usually before my bosses or those directing me. Now, this isn’t necessarily the worst thing, but it can be a problem if it starts to hinder your ability to go or move forward. With this in mind, it is also common to take single experiences or circumstances and blow these out of proportion and make the generalization that this is going to be the rest of your life. All this is doing, is harming your confidence and your ability to grow. STOP IT. We also make the assumption that others are seeing how we are not meeting our own HIGH and UNREALISTIC expectations, so we tend to be pulled down… The funny thing is, is they have NO IDEA that you have this expectation, let alone didn’t reach it. So STOP IT.

So what do I say to you?

If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. – Martin Luther King, JR

Pick yourself up, take these expectations and leverage these into some good old motivation. Maybe you have missed out on hitting your target, maybe you were rejected, maybe you just don’t feel satisfied with where you ended up. Well, the good thing is, you haven’t given up. But before you fall any deeper down the rabbit hole, you need to get up and keep going. Fly, run, walk or crawl – whatever it takes. Keep moving forward.

Stop making the excuses of:

• “I need to have this before I can start”
• “Once this is in order I will start”
• “I am waiting for this or that so I can start”

Whatever the excuses are – JUST STOP using them and JUST START moving forward. Take action. Today!

Belief is a wonderful thing, but only if it’s rooted in reality. – Michael Hyatt

Photo Credit: Instagram: @shazleef | Location: Narooma, NSW, Australia

Today society tells you what to follow, what to be and how to do it. Well, I say forget the sea of society and look to your heart! You’re the true hero. If you follow your heart and do what you love, you will always love what you do. Money may bring happiness or enable opportunity, but it will never do the wonders of following your heart! There will always be a void that the money cannot fill. But if you follow your heart and do what you love, that void will be filled.

My question to you is… What is your heart filled with? What are you following? But remember – the world does not dictate who and what you are, nor how and what you should do.

Now get out there, listen to your heart and just see where you go!

You are the everyday hero, you have been looking for. – Chris Furlong

Photo Credit: Instagram: @shazleef | Location: Narooma, NSW, Australia

As a follow on to yesterday’s today is a sister post. I have 15 productivity hacks which will surely keep you up and at them!

Procrastination is not a disease, but a mindset, which means it can be changed, trained and controlled. It just takes some hard work and dedication.

If you want to change, you need commitment, as with no commitment, there will be little change. So before you attempt changing, evaluate how committed you are at making the change happen.

“You may delay, but time will not.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

With this all in mind here are some tips to improve productivity and keep yourself from procrastinating:

• Give (10+2)*5 a try – The (10+2)*5 simply means 10 minutes work + 2 minutes break multiplied by 5, completing 1 hour. (more here)
• Use red and blue more often – As per Science Daily, the colour red was found out to increase attention to details while blue sparks creativity as noted here.
• Create a great agenda – Don’t sit around and do nothing, plan to do the things and necessary tasks you would not have a chance to do when working or busy.
• Timetable your tasks – Like any other habits, procrastinating is a tough wall to break. Replace this habit with another habit. Timetables! Schedule what and when you will do it.
• Take it outside – Change the environment. Home is comfy, but try a coffee shop, try a park. These have way different vibes.
• Learn to hack productivity – The idea of being lazy is questionable, but if you can learn to fold a t-shirt in 3 seconds… this is more of a saver than being lazy.
• Delegate – If you can outsource, or have someone do the task for you then why not.
• Gadget and gizmo free – In a technological age, putting down the devices for a short period may go a long way.
• Be prepared – take 15 minutes the night before and prepare whatever you can. (pack bags, organize food, task list)
• 10 minute wake me up – Start the day with a jog, or some quick HIIT. Here are some examples: ways you can use a treadmill or 10 minute, no-equipment needed workout
• Mini steps – Big day or project ahead of you? Break it down into smaller tasks, with checklists and even include your coffee break in there.
• Inspirational Board – Use a whiteboard or backboard to have self-motivating quotes and a quick reminder of task lists.
• Redecorate/Arrange room –  This will brighten, lighten or enlighten your productivity. Don’t forget the effect of colours.
• Ready the nibbles – Before settling down to smash out a task, have your nibbles prepared earlier, otherwise, you will be making stops to the pantry… 
• Lock in chores – Have these scheduled and ready to go. But do it as a ‘2 birds 1 stone’ style. i.e. Folding clothes while catching up on Netflix!

At the end of the day – sometimes we just lack the urge to do or go. Well, in this case, it may just be better to jump in and get your hands dirty, otherwise, you never will…

“So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don’t sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late.” ~ Lee Iacocca

Photo Credit: Instagram: @shazleef | Location: Lakes Entrance, VIC, Australia