4 Easy Home DIY Projects

Easy Home DIY Projects Faux Brickwork Header

This post is sponsored by Faux Brickwork. Now that we've gotten that FCC compliance out of the way, let's jam on the easy home DIY projects I promised you. Shall we?

Y’all know that I love a good DIY project, especially home projects! The reason for this is because home projects can get so timely and costly, especially when you hire them out.

A DIY project can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and they can be quick and easy, as well! Here are 4 easy home DIY projects for when you get in the mood to change up the look of your home:

Easy Home DIY Projects – Painting

Easy Home DIY Projects Painting

One recommendation that I always give my friends and family members is to paint the rooms in their home. Paint completely changes the look of a room and the good thing about it is that it is relatively easy and inexpensive. Everyone knows how to paint a wall! Still, if you have a lot of painting to do, it can be worth hiring residential painters in Capalaba (or in your local area) to make things faster. You can still paint parts of the house to save money!

Another great thing to think about is getting stick on wallpaper or decals – this can dramatically change a room, as well and it’s very easy to do yourself! One of my favorite websites for wall decals is Rocky Mountain Decals.

They say, “Wall decals are names, shapes and designs that are printed onto either removable vinyl or removable wall fabric. They are an easy, fun and affordable way to add a little flair to a room or change the look of it completely. All our decals and wallpapers are handmade to order, and we offer a large variety of designs from super subtle to highly dramatic.

We pride ourselves in having the perfect decal design for every room. Boys room, check. Girls room, check. Laundry room, check. Master bedroom, check, you get the picture! And when something isn’t quite right we then aim to get it sorted as soon as possible. Things like getting the perfect bathroom soon becomes your priority. You start to look at things like these glass shower doors just to see if they would work with your design. Once you have the perfect design, you’re happy and you can move on. With every order printed onto high quality and removable materials, you can add a splash of excitement to any space with the greatest of ease and have piece of mind that the decals can be removed at any time without leaving any damage or residue on your walls.”

So, next time you want to change up a room by yourself, use some decals and paint to completely change the look with ease!

Landscaping

Easy Home DIY Projects Gardening

Ever catch yourself driving through a neighborhood and commenting on which houses have good landscaping, and which could use a pick-me-up? Save the money on an expensive landscaper and make your yard HGTV-worthy yourself. You can do this by adding a new flower bed, buying some new outdoor ornaments or if you’re a DIY pro you could build a gazebo (find how to build a gazebo there).

Use pictures you find online (hello HGTV and Pinterest) to give you the inspiration you need, then after a quick trip to your local home improvement store, it’s time to get to work! Google is a great resource to discover how to complete the tricky tasks you might not know how to do. You know what look you want better than anyone, so make your dream come true! However, if your commitments get in the way of designing your dream garden, you could always consider finding a local, reasonable company to do it for you. Homeowners could always check if companies like https://www.lawncare.net/ cover your local area. If not, there should be a selection of other companies who could help you. Creating a dream garden isn’t a quick job, which is why so many people do find themselves contacting professional services to help landscape their yard. However you choose to do it, make sure the garden is exactly how you want it for summer entertaining.

Easy Home DIY Projects – Decor

Easy Home DIY Projects Decor

There are so many great (and easy!) DIY projects to decorate your house. Whether you want a rustic headboard to spruce up the bedroom, some new throw pillows or blankets to decorate your living room, or some homemade candles to keep your home smelling nice, there is something for everyone!

If you need inspiration, check out my Pinterest Crafts and DIY board Pinterest Crafts and DIY board for some of my favorite projects that are easy and fun to complete. While you’re there, give my Pinterest page a follow please!

Easy Home DIY Projects – Backsplash

Easy Home DIY Projects Faux Brickwork

When you think of tackling backsplash on your own, you might get very concerned with how much time it will take, how hard it will be, and if your skills are good enough. Don’t worry – there are easier ways to work on your backsplash that will allow you to reduce your stress levels!

For example, instead of using tile or traditional brick, which could cost quite a bit of money and take a lot of time to do, you could use Faux Brickwork instead!

Faux Brickwork is a fantastic company based out of Clearwater, Florida. They provide exceptionally authentic looking brickwork to suit any setting, using high-quality materials. Faux Brickwork is dedicated to providing the US market with exceptionally sturdy and realistic faux brick panels, making it extremely quick and easy to transform a dull wall or a whole room into a feature point.

The great thing about Faux Brickwork is that it looks like real brick, but it is simple and quick to install, it is lightweight, cost-effective, and anyone can do it themselves. The reason the panels are so easy to install is because they are made from lightweight plaster.

The panels are perfect for busy individuals that want to renovate their home or add personality to their home, without spending a ton of time and money on it. They have quite a few options when it comes to style and color, but you are also able to paint the panels on your own, order samples, or take advantage of their custom design service, as well!

Check out some more of my projects Below:

Checklist Ideas For Hiring An Electrician

Hiring An Electrician-Working On Wires Feature Image

Considering hiring an electrician? Are you lost in the process of how to go about it? If so, this post may help you with your decision! Check it out by clicking through the image!

In accordance with FTC guidelines, this post is sponsored. To learn more about my disclosure policy, click here.

Did you just purchase a home and are feeling a bit overwhelmed in the process of trying to fix it up yourself? If you are looking at a home remodel or just attempting to fix that annoying light flicker in your closet, you’ll want to hire a professional electrician to do the job right. No matter the location, the idea of finding a trustworthy electrition may not be as tough as some people may have thought. Whether it is Melbourne’s leading electrician or a qualified electrician from London, it is important to take into a number of aspects before picking the right person for the job.

Finding the right electrician can be difficult, however, you need to make sure that the one you choose is reliable. There’s a lot of factors that might have to be considered when you’re choosing an electrician. The price of the service is one of the most common things that can persuade someone, you’ll want to find an electrician like this Affordable El Dorado County electrician Eilhardt Electric is certified for residential and commercial work, for example.

You’ll come to find out how much electricians charge, and why they might cost a little more than you think for what they do.

Hiring An Electrician-Light Bulb Plugging Itself In

There are also some great tips to keep your project on the lower end of your budget while also having an idea of what projects electricians work on, and why you may need to hire a specialist rather than attempting to do this on your own.

The most important thing is to determine what type of questions you’ll want to ask your contractor before the project begins, and then to have follow up questions ready to ask for when your project is over.

Hiring An Electrician-Tools For Work

One of the things you will want to get checked off your list when hiring an electrician is perhaps one of the most important ones – how much do they cost? That痴 a fair and reasonable question to ask. Generally the per hour rate they charge runs between roughly $50-$100.

Hiring An Electrician-Electrical SocketAsking how much they charge per hour is a fair and reasonable question when hiring an electrician.

 

 

It’ll vary depending on where you live as well as what type of professional you are thinking of hiring. Usually if you live in a nicer area, you’ll expect to pay on that higher scale.

Also, the licensing level may also increase your price as well. Typically you pay higher for the first hour and their cost covers their travel and time expense. However, the costs are worth it because hiring a professional company like S.E. Electrical Services is much safer than attempting to do it yourself. On top of this, if you make a mistake when trying to change your electrics, it may cost you more than it originally would have when they try to fix your mistakes!

If you have an emergency situation in the middle of the night, they may up their fee for a higher rate on weekends or after hours. A truly skilled well equipped professional with a truck that is filled with a lot of parts, may charge a higher fee as well, but it may be a much smarter choice than someone who is inexperienced and has various tools that might not get the job done.

Bottom line – you’ll want someone who is professional, accommodating, reasonably priced, and will get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Hiring An Electrician-Lots Of Wires

Before the electrician comes you’ll want to think of a few preparation tips to make sure you touch base on with them before you hire. This means you want to be as detailed in describing your needs of your contractor as possible.

The more they know ahead of time, the better and quicker the job will be done to your satisfaction. Even before they arrive at your home, I would prepare a very detailed list of items you want serviced. They have a budget of their time for a service call so you want to make sure you hit every point while you have their time and attention.

Make sure that the electrical panel box is also easily accessible. After all, you’ll pay for the time it takes to access it. Also, clear away and furniture or items that may be difficult to get too if you need them to work in a specific area.

This saves you time again when they are there with you. I also would ask any questions you have about the project before they start. In fact, to save time and money, ask before they arrive to get to work.

The last thing you want is for them to not have the right tool for the job, and end up charging you the fee it takes to drive and retrieve it!

Most are happy to run through the problem and the process of how they will go about fixing it. Ask them about issues after the work is complete too, and how to prevent problems in the future.

In some cases, you’ll be able to pay either at the time of service or a bill will be mailed to you to pay at a later date. Make sure you have the fee in writing before they leave if they will be mailing you a bill, however.

Hiring An Electrician-American Electric Logo

American Electric – Your Top Choice For Hiring an Electrician in Jacksonville

Are you thinking that you need to find someone to do all of these things for you may be overwhelming? Not to worry if you live in the Florida area.

Along with their credentials, you also want to find an individual who has a business understanding and a great up to date knowledge of the best products, tools and device as well as someone who has very good interpersonal skills.

If you live in the Jacksonville, Florida area, one such electrician company that you’ll need to check out that encompasses all of these qualities are the friendly staff at American Electric.

Started with Master Electrician, Mike Murphy who shared this simple idea to provide the highest quality electrical contracting service with the best talent in business with a can do attitude to the city of Jacksonville.

Mike began manning the phones from his home office when he first began and then began on a military electrical contracting jobs with a small team of dedicated electrical technicians.

They respond extremely quickly with your call and with an experienced electrician right at your doorstep, they are there to help complete the job to your immediate satisfaction.

They are fully licensed, have 5 star ratings on their google page and come highly recommended with all their qualifications and experience that you are looking for!

The customers at American Electric also have a 24/7 number you can call for all your emergency needs day or night so you get an answer right away!

Now that is great customer service and one that you’ll recommend and feel comfortable using again and again. Truly, an excellent electrician company is a phone call away.

Like this post? Check out a few of our others:

Neesh or Nitch?

The following is a guest post by Bill Davis

I admit, I don’t know how to say niche. Some say “neesh” and some say “nitch.”

Does it really matter? No.

What does matter is that a) you pick a niche that has the potential to earn revenue and b) you research it really well.

Today, I want to talk about niches, or more specifically, choosing a niche.

This is very important: The niche, or topic, you choose to blog about will determine success or failure, as measured by earnings, traffic, engagement, and satisfaction (yours).

The most important aspect above is your satisfaction, in my humble opinion. You will not be able to continually write about and update your site if you hate it.

But that’s a given, right?

Many expert bloggers will tell you to choose a niche you’re passionate about. Others will tell you to pick a niche that has earning potential above all else.

I will tell you this: You need BOTH.

Let’s say you choose a topic that has high earning potential (think health, wealth, relationships, and hobbies). You begin blogging about it, making affiliate sales, earning advertising revenue, and maybe you even make your own product to sale.

Things are going well. You’re satisfied with your results. But you don’t really like the topic. Maybe you don’t even know the niche well.

You can sustain for a while. But eventually, you’ll grow tired of writing about something you don’t really like. You’ll stop writing, traffic will dry up, and you’ll abandon the project.

All earnings will eventually subside and vanish.

But hey, it was a good run.

Alternatively, let’s say you chose a niche that you’re passionate about. You’re an expert and you love talking about it at cocktail parties. Your niche friends love it, too.

You begin the project gung-ho. You write and write and write. You guest blog and you get your stories featured in industry blogs and newsletters.

Maybe you even get speaking gigs!

But you chose a niche that had little earning power (say, teen dental hygiene–I made that up).

Eventually, your passion for the project (the blog) will subside. Your passion for the topic may never die. But you will stop blogging.

It’s best, in fact, if you find this out sooner rather than later.

Let’s face it: You’re here because you want to earn money blogging and “internet marketing.”

You’re not here because you want to write blog posts that nobody reads.

You want the moolah!

So, I say to you, you need to pick a niche that you’re passionate about and that has earning potential.

As I alluded to before, focus on niches in the health, wealth, relationships, and hobbies areas.

But dive deeper than that. You need to find out where people are actively spending money in those niches.

How do you do that? You research!

Here’s a great primer on niche research. Read that whole series. It will give you great insight on how to choose a niche that will satisfy you and your readers (and hopefully, your BUYERS).

Top Seven Ways Writing Articles Can Explode Your Business

The following is a guest post by Charles Gabula

Top Seven Ways Writing Articles Can Explode Your Business

In today’s highly competitive internet universe, the importance of attracting highly targeted traffic to your website cannot be overemphasized. Routing web traffic to your site can be your only means of survival, especially in the cutthroat world of ecommerce. Getting a high search engine ranking can be very difficult. Fortunately, there is a plethora of website promotion strategies you can use to drive traffic to your website.

There is a wide variety of strategies you can adapt, from paid advertising to affiliate marketing. However, most of these techniques require payment. Nevertheless, there are ways to promote your website and increase your web traffic without spending anything. Writing articles is one of the best web site promotion strategies you can use, and they can be very effective. How, you may ask, can writing articles help improve your web traffic? Here are the top seven ways in which it can help explode your business.

1.Reach more people

When you write good articles, it would be a shame not to share them with other people. You can post your articles in your website or you can submit them to other sites such as e-zines and online publishers. By submitting your articles to these sites, you give exposure not only to your ideas but also to your website. Simply include a link back to your site or include your information in the resource box. With this, you get exposure and free advertising as well. Submit your articles to popular e-zines and take advantage of their popularity. Other sites who find your article relevant may also link back to you. Thus, you increase your link popularity, which is one of the most important strategies in the internet world. Remember that most people are looking for information online and by filling this need with your quality article; you may reap the benefit of more exposure and higher web traffic.

2.Free Advertising

Submitting your articles to other websites presents an opportunity to advertise your website without paying exorbitant fees. Although you should avoid marketing language in your articles and make it informative and useful to your readers, you can always include your site’s link in the resource box. In addition, by making your article relevant and helpful to your readers, you are making a good impression for your website, which could ultimately lead to a visit and hopefully a purchase. Good quality content in an article is far better and more effective than a few lines of ad space. You have a very special opportunity to presell your product or service to your prospective customer.

3.Gain High Search Engine Ranking

Create a new web page for your article on your website. Optimize your article to make it search-engine friendly. Use top-ranked keywords and Meta tags that can give your website a high search engine ranking. As soon as you upload your new webpage to your server, search engines will spider through it and you can gain an increase in search engine ranking. Remember that search engine optimized content is a very effective strategy to gain a high ranking in search results.

4. Increases Link Popularity

Instead of looking for other sites who would want to establish reciprocal links with your site, you can simply submit an article to other sites. Just do not forget to include a link to your site in your resource box. When these websites pick up and publish your article, you automatically get a link partner. Try to get as many link partners as you can. Link popularity is one of the factors used by search engines in determining search engine rankings. Make your article especially useful and appealing, so that more websites will be encouraged to publish it.

5.Optimizes your site for improved search engine ranking

By making your site keyword rich, you can greatly improve the search engine ranking of your site. Remember that keyword density is one of the most important factors that search engines use when determining the search engine ranking of the site. However, you should always provide relevant, useful and pertinent information. Avoid the temptation of overusing keywords just to gain a high ranking as this may turn off most web surfers. Relevance and quality is still the most important things to consider when writing articles and it will be doubly useful to your site if you make these articles search-engine optimized.

6.Establishes a Good Impression and Reputation

By writing excellent, original and relevant articles, you not only give your site exposure, but you are also creating a good impression on your prospects. Encourage more people to visit your site and do business with you by establishing an impressive reputation through your articles. Be seen as an expert in the field and you will ultimately gain more customers eager to do business with you.

7.Enhances your credibility through references and testimonies

Certainly, your articles are going to receive feedbacks and testimonies when you publish them in e-zines and free article sites. Record these positive feedbacks and comments and use them as promotional material in your website or in any of your advertising efforts. Your credibility will be greatly enhanced by these feedbacks, as it will create a good impression on your prospects as well as your existing customers. In this highly competitive world, excellent credibility and trust may be the only things you need to attract new customers or make loyal patrons out of your existing customers. Original, relevant, useful and pertinent articles are important tools you should utilize to improve and explode your business

What You Need to Know About Basement Storage

Today we’re talking about basement storage. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for better ways to store your stuff, whether that’s putting your belongings in a storage facility or making room for them in the basement. If you’re lucky enough to have a basement, many of your possessions probably end up there. Though I don’t have a basement personally, I do have family members that have one. Today, I’m offering tips and solutions for using your basement as a storage option. If you don’t have a basement to store things, check out something like these storage rentals to free up extra space in your home. Hopefully these basement storage ideas will help you get your home a little more organized.

Your basement needs to be organized, and these basement storage tips and ideas may help

Basement Storage – How to Store Things in Your Basement Successfully

People often use their basements as a storage area. However, it’s important to remember that storing things here may not be as safe as you think. Even a climate-controlled basement can be affected by moisture, water leaks, and mold. If you have an unfinished basement, you’ll want to be very particular about the items you store in your basement. Here are some tips to explain how to store things in your basement successfully.

Declutter Then Store

Make sure you store only things that you will use within the next year. If you can’t name the precise month or occasion when it will be used, give it away.

Ideally, the items you store in the basement should be waterproof, animal proof, as well as mold and rust resistant. The chances of that happening are slim to none. However, if you’re willing to take the risk, you can double the container. For example, in order to store clothing or fabric properly, the material should be in an airtight, waterproof, bag. Then, place the bag inside a container that animals can’t get into. Avoid storing items like photographs, paper items, and electronics in the basement.

Shelves

Because basements tend to flood, you want to make sure that your shelving system is 4-5 feet above the floor. Even if you have things in airtight tubs, you want to keep them off the floor. You can use a pallet system, but ideally, wall shelves or hanging shelves will be the best way to store things. The more valuable an item is to you, the closer it should be to the ceiling.

Plastic Storage Bins

Make use of airtight plastic storage bins. It will look neater this way and make things easier to find as well. If you’re storing holiday items this is a good place to keep them. Don’t store things in corrugated boxes. Even if you’re making use of shelves, you can store items in plastic storage bins and place them on the shelves for added protection against not only water, but any critters that might be in your basement as well. If you have discovered that water damage in your basement you may want to find fast water damage restoration and mitigation local services in your area to help you with the problem.

Pegboards

Cover at least 1 entire wall with a pegboard. This is a great way to get things off the basement floor. It will also allow you to place small items between larger items and save space. A few things you may want to consider storing on pegboard hooks are tools, seasonal toys, like pool noodles and hula-hoops or sporting equipment.

If you want to know how to store things successfully in your basement, be careful about what you store and how you store it. Think about what happens in your basement. If you know a certain area tends to flood faster, don’t store anything in that area. Protect your belongings as best you can. If something has sentimental value and you would be devastated if it was destroyed, don’t store it in the basement.

Related: Tips for Garage Organization and Storage

There's a lot to consider when it comes to basement storage - these tips and ideas may help

Basement Storage – What to Consider when Using the Basement for Storage

The basement can be the first place that comes to your mind when you need to store something. But, before you start hauling containers and boxes down to the basement, you need to make sure the basement is a safe place to store your items. Here are a few things you’ll want to check out and take into consideration before using the basement for storage.

Water

Basements, by nature, tend to be humid and have an earthy scent. However, the things you consider “normal” may actually be signs of problems. Cracks could be due to leaks, but they could also be due to a rising water table. The pipes in the home could leak into the basement, or you could find there’s condensation in your basement due to changing temperatures. You will want to figure out exactly what’s causing moisture in your basement and address these issues before you begin storing things in the basement.

If the issue is condensation, this can be remedied with a dehumidifier. If you discover you have leaky pipes, then replacing those pipes might be what you have to do. If it is a leak in the walls, then you’ll need to patch up any cracks or holes. Cracked walls are not uncommon and they may be something that all homeowners have to look into getting fixed at some point in their lifetimes. If you leave the problem, it will only get worse and could even cause irreversible damage to the structure of your home. At the first sign of a problem, it may be in your best interest to contact someone similar to Buildfix who will be able to repair and fill in these cracks or holes before they have a chance to cause further damage. You’ll want to address any dampness no matter how small in your basement before you consider storing anything in there because even the smallest amount of dampness can lead to damage to your belongings when stored in the basement.

Access

Getting into your basement could be something you need to address. Some basements have very steep stairs perhaps without a bannister. Or they have a low ceiling down into the basement. Getting things into the basement to store them having to walk down stairs like this can be very difficult. You might need to get a contractor to reconstruct the stairs to your basement making them easier to carry things down. Perhaps you find that just adding a banister will make the basement better and safer way to get down the stairs.

Lighting

Adding lighting to your basement to make it easier to see your stored items will be a good thing. If you want to use your basement as a living space then you’ll want some ambient lighting and task lighting added to certain areas of your basement to make it easier to complete tasks. If you have low ceilings you might need to use wall mounted fixtures or recessed lighting.

Climate Control

The temperature in your basement can be an issue when storing things. It often doesn’t have any heating and cooling or vents in the basement. You can add these things to keep the temperature the same at all times making it a better environment for storing things.

When you store things in your basement, it’s going to be important to store them in airtight containers and up off the floor as best as possible. Even if you have addressed all the water concerns, you still want to take precautions when storing things in your basement.

Related: Maximizing Your Home’s Potential: Attic and Basement Revamp

6 Simple Ways to Design Your Small Kitchen

I have a small kitchen. Sometimes I feel it’s too small. Can you relate? When you have limited space in the kitchen, it’s hard to consider making it functional and attractive. You often have to choose one or the other. However, with a little planning, you can might be able to implement both. Check out the tips below, and maybe you’ll be inspired to design a kitchen that is aesthetically please, but also efficient enough to help you cook all your meals for yourself and your family.

When you have limited space in the kitchen, it's hard to consider making it functional and attractive. However, with a little planning, you can might be able to implement both.

6 Ways to Design Your Small Kitchen

1. Choose Cabinets Wisely

Cabinets are necessary, but you need to make sure you are using the best ones for your needs. Consider all the things you need to hide in them like kitchen utensils, accessories, and appliances that if left on the counters would make your surroundings look messy.

Use cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling to maximize every square inch of your small space. And don’t just throw things into your cabinets willy nilly. Every item in your cabinets should be organized, and always placed back in the same spot.

2. Build Deep Counters

Having deep counters serve for a lot of purposes. This kitchen design will provide you with a big working space when preparing and serving food. Moreover, said space can also be used for accommodating a number of appliances and devices.

3. Put Up Open Shelves

Having open shelves in a room provides for an airy feel. This type of storage place can also serve as display areas for decorative plates and other attractive accessories in the kitchen. For a really functional kitchen design, it would be good to combine different types of cabinets and shelves on this particular area of the house.

4. Install a Mirrored Backsplash

Installing a mirror backsplash can make your kitchen look stylish. Aside from the aesthetic benefits, however, putting mirror designs in a particular room can make it look larger and more spacious.

5. Show Off Beautiful Cookware Sets Instead of Putting Them In Your Already Limited Cabinet Space

Attractive pots and pans can be hung on racks that attach to the walls. This look is both charming and creative as such objects symbolize the true essence of a kitchen.

6. Build a Window or Hang a Painting Where a Window Should Be

Including a window in your kitchen’s design will allow you to have a scenic view. Moreover, it also has a mirror effect that will make this room seem bigger than it actually is. It is also a good source of natural light when it’s daytime. If a window isn’t possible in your kitchen however, hang a beautiful painting or art installation.

Designing a Functional and Cozy Kitchen

With some imagination and the right approach, a small kitchen can function just as well as a big kitchen. Aiming for a stylish look when designing one of the most used rooms in the house will also provide your family with a pleasant cooking area. Making sure you have the right flooring for a small room can make or break the room. I hear that Cutting Edge Flooring Services can provide some useful information that’ll help you figure out where the rest of the room is going. For a stylish upgrade to your sink’s faucets, have a look at some of the top designs over at https://www.identifyr.com/home/kitchen/best-kitchen-faucets/.

Related: 3 Simple Ways to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

When space is limited, organization is that much more critical!

Storage Solutions for Your Small Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. When company comes over that tends to be where people hang out. Lots of family time is spent in the kitchen not only preparing meals, but eating them as well. You need the kitchen to be functional. Storage in a kitchen can be difficult. You want to keep the counters clear of things so you have a work surface while also keeping the things you use frequently easily accessible. Here are some storage solutions to help you make the most of the space you have in your small kitchen:

Store some items in plain sight.

Not everything has to be hidden. Sure, it makes for a sleek design, but it’s not always practical. Some ideas for items to leave in plain sight are: Place your knives in a butcher block right on the counter, fill decorative jars with flour and sugar and other staples you may need, and hang coffee cups underneath your cabinets with hooks.

Organize your pantry.

With shelves, drawers, and pull out bins you can make great use of the pantry space. No matter how big or small your pantry is you can make the most of this area with smart storage solutions. When you’re working with your pantry, it might be a good idea to install some automatic lights. They can support you in your mission to have an organized pantry. My friend uses them all the time and she tells me makes things so much easier. If you decide to do the same, make sure you have Crestron Maintenance in London at hand for repairs if anything goes wrong!

Bottle storage.

You don’t need a wine cellar or a traditional wine rack, but with some plywood and pvc piping, you could build a simple stacked shelving unit for inside your pantry to lay the bottles down in. Or there are plenty of cheap wall units that you could install inside your pantry, or even on the wall of your kitchen for a decorative function like this one.

Store spices in a drawer next to the stove.

Having your spices in a drawer right next to your stove instead of in an overhead cabinet or shelf makes the spices more accessible this way.

Get a Lazy Susan.

You can put storage on a spin with a lazy Susan concept. In a cabinet, add a lazy Susan to store multiple items and be able to find them quickly when needed.

Under the sink storage.

The part right in front of the sink tends to be a false drawer. You can put it on hinges and add a metal tray with drip holes where you store your sponges. Keeps them out of sight while also keeping them easily accessible. Use stackable boxes in the cabinet under the sink to maximize storage space as well. As for bottles, hang them on a tension rod in the cabinet like this.

Dishes in deep drawers instead of stacked in cabinets.

In general, you probably keep your dishes in a cabinet. For a unique storage idea, consider storing them in a drawer separated with pegs. It makes those dinner dishes easier to get when you need to set the table.

Cutting boards.

What do you do with these things? Why not stand them up in an easily accessible basket. You can put them in a cabinet and they’ll be easy to get when you need them.

You can really turn your kitchen into a functional space and it doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money either. You can use things you already have in your home to create unique and creative storage solutions in your kitchen.

Related: 5 Ways To Add Storage To Your Home

Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice

This delicious, healthy slow cooker recipe is as easy as it is versatile. This flavor-packed chicken is perfect for burrito bowls, lettuce wraps, or over a bed of flavorful cilantro-lime rice, and topped with creamy cilantro-lime sauce (recipes below).

Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken

Tip: Don’t skip the squeeze of fresh lime juice after cooking. It really brightens the flavors and pulls them all together.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 3–8 hours
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 10-oz. cans Rotel fire-roasted diced tomatoes & green chilies, undrained
  • 2 15-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small jalapeno pepper, finely diced
  • 1½ T. hickory-flavored liquid smoke
  • 2 t. ground cumin
  • 1 T. chili powder
  • 1 t. smoked paprika
  • 2 t. dried oregano
  • 1 t. cayenne pepper
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 limes, quartered
  • ¼ c. fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:

  1. Unroll and add chicken thighs to bottom of a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker crock. Top with tomatoes, black beans, garlic, jalapeno pepper, liquid smoke, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine, making sure the chicken thighs are coated and submerged in the liquid.
  2. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. 30 minutes before done cooking, remove lid and shred chicken while in the slow cooker with two forks. Stir to combine shredded chicken with other ingredients. Cover and cook for remaining 30 minutes to allow chicken to absorb the flavors.
  3. Remove lid and squeeze fresh lime juice into the crock. Add cilantro and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
  4. To serve, spoon chicken mixture over plain brown rice or cilantro-lime rice. Top with cilantro-lime sauce (recipe below) if desired. Serve with remaining lime wedges. Enjoy!

Cilantro-Lime Rice

Transform boring, basic rice into something extraordinary with the addition of a few fresh ingredients. In this recipe, lime and cilantro are paired to create a classic flavor combination that brings added depth to your dishes.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 45-55 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

  • 3 c. cooked rice*
  • 3 T. fresh lime juice
  • 2 t. lime zest
  • 3 T fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

* Can use white, brown, or jasmine rice. (Brown rice is shown in the images).

Directions:

1. Prepare rice according to package directions.

2. Fluff cooked rice with a fork and stir in fresh lime juice, lime zest, and cilantro until blended. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and serve immediately.

Creamy Cilantro-Lime Sauce

For best results, prepare the cilantro-lime sauce the night before you need it to give the flavors a chance to blend. Planning ahead will also save time on those busy nights you want to get dinner on the table as quickly as possible.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: n/a
Serves 4

Tip: You can also prepare the fajita seasoning in larger batches and store in an airtight container for later use.

Ingredients:

Homemade Fajita Seasoning:
  • 3 T. chili powder
  • 1½ T. smoked paprika
  • 2 t. onion powder
  • 2 t. garlic powder
  • 2 t. ground cumin
  • ½ t. cayenne pepper
  • 1 t. dried oregano
  • 2 t. sea salt
Cilantro-Lime Sauce:
  • 1 c. plain, full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1-2 T. homemade fajita seasoning
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely minced
  • 2 T. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 2 T. fresh lime juice
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Prepare the fajita seasoning by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and stirring until thoroughly blended. Store any excess in an airtight container for later use.

2. Prepare the cilantro-lime sauce by thoroughly combining all ingredients in a medium glass or other non-reactive bowl. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.This easy Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice is a breeze to fix and so delicious!

Check out a couple of my other recipes:

This dessert has the consistency and texture of a softer apple pie. Don't be frightened by the name. It's delicious. Click through the image for the recipe!

This Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps are perfect for those busy nights! They came together in minutes, are low carb, and keto friendly!

 

 

 

Staying Organized at Tax Time, (Or Any Time)

If tax season brings you dread every year, it’s time to get that under control. There is no reason to be stressed, worried or dreading tax time each year. It’s not good for your mental health, or physical health, either, to be stressed out. Some people who find they can not handle tax season look something similar to a nonprofit bookkeeping service for help to get them back on track so they aren’t stressed about it.

The reason you probably feel this way is that you have not taken the time to be organized throughout the year. However, with just a little bit of preparation, and a simple system through the year, you can regain control of our emotions and make tax time a cinch.

There are basic components you will need for tax season- receipts of payments (think receipts and paid invoices) and records of payments (think bank and credit card statements). If you have a system for filing and obtaining these items, you’re 90% done with tax prep.

For receipts of payments, you need a file for invoices and receipts you pay throughout the year. This system can be whatever works best for you.

Paper Files

Some people prefer keeping a physical paper trail. For physical paid invoices and receipts, you need a physical filing system that works for you. Something like an accordion-style file folder would work just fine, or a filing cabinet with folders, if you tend to have larger volumes.

How you file your receipts and invoices is up to you. There is no wrong system as long as you keep them organized and you know where to find them when you need them. Standard filing practices include categories by month, vendor name, or expense category.

Paper Recording

If you also keep paper records (rather than a software bookkeeping system) you will want a way to track your expenses so you don’t have to spend hours at tax time adding up the totals. Whatever you use, at the end of each month, just be sure you total the expenses in each category and keep that total handy, and if you run a business you could look into outsourcing your bookkeeping to a service who could help you to keep an eye on your budget through budget variance analysis, which could make doing your taxes a little easier.

You could even staple the receipts for said category to the tally paper. You will only need the receipts for an audit, but you will need your totals so you can calculate your annual expenses at tax filing.

E- files

If you have a software system for bookkeeping, the application often has a mechanism for attaching receipts directly to the payment inside of the program. (i.e. .pdf or .jpeg images can be attached to the payment for easy reference) Alternately, you can set up a filing system in files on your PC, similarly to the paper files above. Receipts and paid invoices that have been received can be saved to the file.

E-Recording

The easiest form of any type of electronic bookkeeping system is accounting software – the popular two being QuickBooks and FreshBooks. For those who can afford it, you can see an in-depth comparison of them at PieSync (see freshbooks vs quickbooks), but for those who are on a budget, this sort of software may not be feasible. You can use a basic spreadsheet in Excel or similar program to track expenses. Again, you will need just the annual totals for your tax filings, but you may want to track these monthly for easy tax tracking.

For records of payments, you will need a file (as explained above- either e files or paper files will suffice) to store your bank and credit statements, (and ideally, you should attach your reconciliations to each statement) that you will also need at tax time.

Following these easy steps, you can breeze right through tax time, stress free.

5 Ways To Add Storage To Your Home

Keeping your home ready for guests can be challenging, to say the least. Depending on how cluttered or “lived-in” your home looks, you have probably played the “hide the junk game,” more times than you can count. You don’t have to play this game as often as you do or at least, not in the same way, you could get something similar to these prefab garages to help with your storage issues. For you die-hard “hide the junk” players, here are 5 ways to add storage to your home. And if they simply aren’t enough, then maybe you need to consider getting professional help – not the psychological kind, but the self-storage kind. You can learn more here, and begin your de-cluttering journey today!

1. Stair Storage:

This area is often overlooked. If you don’t already have a closet under the stairs, create one. Store tools for quick cleanup there. For more storage, use the actual stairs themselves. Turn each step into a drawer, either inside the closet, or outside. If the drawers are accessible from outside the closet, make sure they are always closed tightly. You may want to use a magnetic closure to ensure that the drawers close.

2. Top Shelf Storage:

Create ceiling shelves, high shelving, inside your closets to provide additional storage for things you want to keep out of sight or to hold seasonal items. Ceiling shelves added around the perimeter of the room provide you a wonderful storage or display area for your collectables, old books, and other items that you prefer people didn’t touch.

3. Furniture Storage:

Ottomans that open up are a great place for storing things like blankets, toys, or clutter. Coffee table storage areas are wonderful. Just add drawers and/or shelves underneath the tabletop. This is a nice place to store magazines and books. You can also use this storage area to quickly baby-proof or pet-proof a room. These multi-function storage spaces are great ideas for keeping things safe, neat, and organized.

4. Corner Storage:

Corners are often considered dead space, meaning that very little will fit in the area. However, they can provide excellent storage areas, with a little imagination. Because corners meet at a right angle, this means that any square table or shelving, preferably wooden, will fit nicely, at least on 2 sides.

If you don’t want a corner sticking out into the room, you may want to modify the square item. For example, you can cut a square tabletop in half (diagonally, making a triangle) to get a flat edge that can face outward or simply round off that corner. Keep in mind that if you cut the tabletop into a triangle, you may also need an additional table leg for support. You can get a lot of storage area out of one tiny little corner, especially if the storage area goes from floor to ceiling.

5. Bed Storage:

Mother always wanted me to clean under the bed. However, this is a great storage area. Loft and bunk beds almost instantly provide a great work and/or storage area. For standard beds, you can create a frame for drawers that will slip easily under the bed. If closet space is minimal, or the bedroom is small, adding drawers and/or shelves under the bed is a super way to add more storage space.

Are you tired of playing the “hide the junk” game when someone drops by unexpectedly? Maybe you should check out some storage sheds for sale so you don’t have to have a messy house? Give the things you hide regularly a new hidden home in the room where you use them the most. Use these 5 ways to add storage to your home as inspiration.

The Science of Motivation and How to Get More Of It

Need more motivation? I can relate! This article features the science of motivation, and how to get more of it!

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The Science of Motivation

When it comes to success, there is one key component that may be more important than even such factors as talent, intelligence, money or connections. That elusive piece of the puzzle is motivation. After all, without motivation, nothing can be accomplished. You won’t reach your goals or meet your self-imposed deadlines without the motivation to take action toward them.

Unfortunately, that motivation is often what is lacking in the fulfillment of desires. We all have lists of things we hope to accomplish. These lists contain big goals, daily tasks and everything in between. Learning how to increase your motivation will boost the likelihood of checking more items off your list. Let’s take a look at the science of motivation and the ways to harness it to your advantage.

An Improved Approach to Motivation

Author Dan Pink writes in his best-selling book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, that the there are three components of motivation that compel individuals to get things done. His premise is that the traditional method of motivating ourselves and others using a carrots and sticks type of reward system is ineffective.

Instead, he argues that the scientific approach to understanding the makeup of motivation provides a far better lens from which to view the subject. By understanding the factors that tangibly affect motivation, we can then develop strategies to increase it.

Three Elements of Motivation

The three elements of motivation Pink discusses in his book are autonomy, value and competence. It is these components, according to researchers, that drive people to become motivated. Autonomy refers to the amount of control or independence one feels over a task or action. It has been shown that when you feel that you have a significant amount of input regarding that task, you are more likely to follow through to completion.

The second component of motivation, value, is the amount of personal significance or importance you place on a matter. In essence, if something matters to you on a personal level, you will feel more motivation to take it on than if you are simply given an assignment to which you feel no connection. Competence has been found to come from an individual’s feeling of mastery as it relates to practice and hard work, not necessarily to one’s natural abilities. If you spend time developing competence toward a particular goal, it is predicted that you will be more motivated to complete said goal.

Strategies to Increase Motivation

Now that you have an understanding of what matters most with regard to what motivates us, it’s time to consider some strategies to increase motivation. Using the concept of autonomy as a guide, let’s consider ways to add a sense of control or involvement into activities that need to be completed.

One way to do this is to take ownership of a chore or add some aspect of self-direction to it. If you are having difficulty starting a project such as submitting a paper for review, it may help to think of all the ways doing so will set you apart as an expert in your field. In doing so, you’ll see that turning in the paper is a necessary component to sharing your unique views with your colleagues.

To add value to your task, you want to make it meaningful or personal. Find a way to add purpose to that item on your to-do list. This involves changing your perspective or the way you look at that item. Completing your taxes is a dreaded chore for most of us, but you can add purpose to it by focusing on the work you’ve done that comprises the numbers on the page or the contribution you’ve made to your job and community through your efforts. Paying taxes is a symbol of good citizenry.

Finally, there’s competence. Feeling mastery over an act requires practice. Try to look at the job at hand as one in which you are working toward an end goal of skillfulness. For instance, you’ll soon see the treadmill as less of an adversary the more workout sessions you endure. So, along with the ultimate goal of getting fit, you’ll soon see each session become easier, leading to a feeling of accomplishment.

Motivation is not always easy to come by. However, with this knowledge of the science behind it, you can now pursue the steps required to achieve your dreams more effectively. Soon you’ll be mastering your goals, which will fuel your motivation toward future endeavors.

Best Ways to Improve Your Motivation Fast

Sometimes you need to get started on a project right away. Maybe you’ve been procrastinating for days, or even weeks, and now you’re down to the wire on an unforgiving deadline. The threat of not completing the job on time should be enough to motivate you to get moving, right? Wrong.

Often, even knowing the consequences that exist for not completing a task aren’t enough to push us forward. Fortunately, there are some tangible steps you can take in order to give yourself a boost when your usual routine isn’t working. Keep reading for some of the best ways to improve your motivation fast. Adding even a few of these to your bag of tricks may help you to overcome that slump when you need a motivational jumpstart.

Look Ahead

One way to convince your brain that an activity is worth starting is to look ahead to the end result. Think about the money you’ll make a from a freelance gig, the feeling of satisfaction you’ll get from handing in your portion of the monthly report to a nagging co-worker or the freedom to begin your two-week semester break when your last paper is submitted.

No matter what the project, visualizing the result of your efforts can improve your focus and motivation. Consider adding an actual visual such as a photo, magazine clipping or other image to motivate you.

Get Moving

If you’re feeling sleepy or even restless, you won’t be able to focus on that pressing task. A solution can be to move your body. Exercise has been shown to increase mental clarity and decrease stress, just the combination for working on a complex project with a looming deadline.

Taking a brisk walk or heading to the gym for a quick step aerobics class on your lunch hour can be just enough of a jolt to get you in prime thinking mode. Be careful not to overdo it or you’ll be too exhausted to do much of anything.

Take a Rest

It’s also possible that a quick rest can restore your clear thinking. If your brain is feeling cloudy or your thoughts are cloudy, a short nap might be a better course of action than exercise.

Put your head down on your desk or stretch out on the sofa in your office for 10 or 20 minutes. When you wake up from this power nap, you should be feeling rejuvenated and ready to work.

Listen to Music

Upbeat tunes might be a solution that leads you to start tapping your toes and feeling more alert. If you are able to work with background noise, you can keep the music going.

Perhaps changing to a mellower playlist or instrumental songs might be a better option for you than fast beats. If you require silence in order to concentrate, put on just a few of your favorites to shift your mood, and then get to work.

Start Small

A method that is often successful in tricking the mind to move on a task is to start with a small portion of the whole. Using the above example of the monthly report, you might wish to begin by gathering your data and other supplies necessary for completing the job.

This small action can put you in the right mindset to keep working on the rest. Getting started truly is half the battle.

These suggestions can, and should, be tailored to fit your personality, preferences and lifestyle. Experiment a bit. Use the ones that work for you, and throw out the rest. You’ll likely be surprised by the significant effect a simple action can have on your productivity.

Goal Setting for Motivational Success

There is a strong connection between setting goals and maintaining the motivation required to successfully attain them. In fact, in the 1960’s, behavioral research led to an understanding of the relation between these concepts, and theories were developed to shed insight on the concrete ways one influences the other.

Let’s take a look at the basis of these theories and then at some of the reasons to utilize goal setting for motivational success.

Theories of Goal Setting and Motivation

The first researcher to study the relationship between goal setting and motivation was Dr. Edwin Locke. He published his findings in 1968l. Locke’s Goal Setting Theory concluded that specific goals provided more motivation than vague ones.

Along these lines, goals that provided a challenge were shown to be better motivators than easier ones. In addition, Locke discovered that positive feedback was highly influential toward increasing motivation. Essentially, the very act of creating a goal leads to better performance.

Decades later, in 1990, Locke paired up with Dr. Gary Latham to develop the Goal Setting and Motivation Theory, whose main premise is that five fundamental principles influence effective goals setting and that goal achievement is more likely when higher numbers of these principles are in place. The five fundamental principles of the theory are:

  • Clarity
  • Challenge
  • Complexity
  • Commitment
  • Feedback

In essence, your goals should be clear and provide you with enough of a challenge to entice you to reach them. However, it’s important that these goals not be so complex as to cause frustration or overwhelm; this would be counterproductive.

Goals that inspire motivation also should include an aspect of formally committing to them and have a check-in method in place to determine satisfactory progression.

Provide Reference

By developing objectives through the framework of goal setting theories, you are providing yourself with a tangible reference point to keep you on track. Thus, your motivation is likely to endure. You are able to look at the points you’ve written down in order to remind yourself of your purpose and to validate that you are moving in the right direction.

Add Manageability

Proper structure of your goals can also make your overall plan seem more attainable. By assuring that your goals are challenging, you’ll keep your brain stimulated.

Breaking things down into short-term and long-term targets, along with similar strategies, can help you to avoid becoming overwhelmed by one big goal that is simply too complex to be achieved. Motivation is better sustained when you feel some agency over your goals.

Instill Accountability

By adding a check-in mechanism of some sort, you will be instilling a sense of accountability to your goals. It’s easy to toss a goal aside when you don’t really have to answer to anyone, or even yourself, with regard to progress.

Find an accountability partner to share accomplishments with or build assessment dates into your calendar in which you self-check your progress.

Increase Confidence

Challenging, yet realistic, goals that allow for the monitoring of progress can do a lot for your sense of mastery. Seeing your goal becoming closer to reality through hard work and skill is empowering.

Hearing praise from your network is also motivating toward fulfilling an objective. Confidence is increased through all of these things.

Improve Life Quality

Essentially, having well-developed goals can lead to a more fulfilling life. By taking the time to proactively define what you want and working toward that desire, you are living with purpose.

Those who know what they want and feel they are on track to achieve it are generally more motivated and satisfied individuals.

As you can see, there is a strong relationship between goals and motivation. In order to sustain motivation, you must not only set goals, but your goals need to have structure.

Following these guidelines can increase both your motivation and your chances of reaching your intentions.

Increase Your Motivation Even When Anxious or Depressed

Motivation is an elusive concept for many people. Despite having big dreams or desiring to accomplish a particular goal, taking the steps necessary to reach the end objective can seem impossible. Sometimes just completing the bare minimum feels like all you can do.

Forget the idea of accomplishing anything greater. This is especially true if you suffer from anxiety or depression. These mental health conditions zap the energy, happiness and sheer will from from your core. You may find yourself unable to accomplish even the basics of day to day living, let alone going above and beyond.

If you have been diagnosed with these issues, or feel that you may be dealing with them, the most important aspect of overcoming their toxic effects is to seek help. Therapy and medication have shown to be effective in treating anxiety and depression, so it’s definitely worth looking into the xanax price to get you started. However, even these powerful components may not be enough to move you toward your goals.

However, there are some strategies you can take to increase your motivation even when anxious or depressed. Continue reading for some tangible ways to help you move past survival mode.

Do It for Someone Else

While personal goals generally need to come from within in order to be meaningful, anxiety and depression can make generating any kind of internal feeling beyond despair difficult. Intrinsic motivation, or the kind that comes from inside you, simply may not be something you can muster right now. One way to “trick” yourself into becoming motivated is to think of ways your goal may benefit others.

For example, if you’re having trouble just getting out of bed, it may help to think of those who depend on you for their care. Whether it’s a child or even a pet, the desire to complete the basic necessities for those you love may be enough motivation for now. This approach can be applied other aspects of your life also. While it shouldn’t be a long-term solution, it can sometimes be enough to get you moving and lead to fueling further motivation.

Outsource Dreaded Tasks

Deferring your most-dreaded tasks onto someone else may be especially effective for those dealing with anxiety. Many anxiety sufferers fear talking on the phone. If possible, request that a significant other or friend make important phone calls on your behalf. You don’t have to put yourself through unnecessary stress in every situation.

Some things can be outsourced in order to make everything else more manageable. If finances allow, you can pay professionals to bear certain loads for you. Otherwise, some creativity may be in order. The relief you’ll experience is worth the initial expenditure of energy required to generate creative outsourcing solutions.

Do the Fun Stuff First

Many life coaches or other experts will recommend that you tackle the tough or boring items on your list first in order to get them out of the way. The theory is that you’ll feel more accomplished, and finishing the rest of your project or goal will be easier. When you have depression or anxiety, this approach is unrealistic.

Depending on the severity of your condition, simply making any forward movement on a task is asking a lot of you. Therefore, turn the advice upside down and start with the easiest part first. Another way to look at things is to do the absolute bare minimum or smallest part first. Once you’ve summoned the motivation to just get started in some way, continuing on will be a more likely prospect.

Be Gentle With Yourself

If you were helping a friend in your situation, you’d likely have all the compassion in the world for them. You’d probably offer words of encouragement for the small achievements your pal made and be there to take up some slack when they’re feeling unable. In order to foster motivation, you absolutely must show yourself this same level of compassion. Reward or praise yourself for every small accomplishment.

This can be taking a break to watch your favorite show or purchasing a simple indulgence like a bottle of perfume. Even praising yourself for your efforts can be effective. Along that same vein, be sure not to chastise yourself for perceived faults. Instead, focus on what you were able to get done or remind yourself that you are currently facing some tough obstacles and you’re doing your best. Negative self-talk is self-sabotage and kills motivation.

Incorporating these steps into your daily routine can significantly increase your motivation, despite anxiety and depression. Your mental health issues are a challenge, but they don’t need to be the end of your dreams.

The Benefits of Meditation for Motivation

Waning motivation is a problem for many of us. The stress and strain of a busy life can overwhelm you, making even the most basic of tasks seem difficult. The downward spiral of low motivation can seem like an impossible cycle to break.

Once you lose your spark, productivity and accomplishment can seem like unattainable goals. There is one simple tool you may not have considered before that can get you back on track, and that’s meditation.

This exercise of the mind goes well beyond providing just relaxation. You can gain a host of good things through its practice. Continue reading to discover the benefits of meditation for motivation.

Strengthened Focus and Concentration

Focus and concentration are essential elements of motivation. If you can’t force your mind to center on the things you need to do, your motivation will also go out the window. Meditation is all about focus and concentration.

No matter which of its many forms you practice, chances are you will be engaging in focusing your mind in some way. Engaging in regular meditation will naturally strengthen your ability to concentrate and focus in your everyday life.

Increased Happiness

We all get down now and again. More and more individuals are being diagnosed with depression in modern times. Regardless of your mental starting point, it’s a known fact that happy people often have more energy and higher self-confidence.

Fortunately, motivation has been shown to increase happiness by stimulating the release of the brain’s “happiness hormones.” When you’re feeling more positive, you’re likely to have more internal desire to get things done.

Less Stress

Meditation leads to a more relaxed state due to the way in which it allows the brain to slow down as it receives sensory input. This relaxation and improved processing leads to reduced feelings of stress and overwhelm. With less stress comes a feeling of more control, which then fuels your motivation.

Positive Thinking

One of the biggest killers of motivation is negative thinking. A pessimistic view can come from many sources such as depression, poor habits or general life difficulties. The beauty of meditation is that it “rewires” brain patterns that naturally elicit more positive thought patterns, giving you the reset you need to be more motivated.

Clarified Goals and Purpose

Taking time each day for meditation gives you a great deal of person insight. This self-reflection can be the catalyst for reassessing what’s truly important in your life. When you have a better picture of your priorities, your goals and life’s purpose become clearer.

Knowing where you want to go kicks your motivation into high-gear, and you’ll feel a greater urgency to take the steps necessary on the path to your dreams.

The benefits of meditation for increased motivation are extensive. These are some of the main ways in which this daily mind practice can jumpstart the actions required for reaching your goals. There are many different types of meditation. You can begin to research on your own or find a skilled teacher who can help you develop a practice that works for you.

What’s most important is that you get started and maintain consistency in your meditation practice in order to see the most effective results. Soon you’ll be tackling your to-do list and pursuing the life goals that matter with renewed vigor.