Simplicity is about eliminating clutter – from your mind, your home, your relationships and your lifestyle. Add simplicity to your life to help you gain more focus on your priorities and pay attention to what’s important.  Following are ten ways to begin.

1. Get a clear idea of what you want your life to look like. This picture will help you discover what you must eliminate. Use your creativity to create an actual picture or just visualize it in your mind.
2. Let go of projects, roles or self-imposed obligations that take up time and keep you away from what you really want.
3. Say No to what you don’t want in your life. Say Yes to what you do want.
4. Schedule “break” days for yourself where you don’t do anything but what you really want. Don’t cancel them.
5. Make a “to do” day and get all those chores and errands done in a single day.  List them all before you start so you don’t forget!
6. Create space. File away or toss out; give away, sell or trade.
7. Make and return phone calls only during certain hours.
8. Shop only when you have to. Question your purchases. Consuming less is good for the planet, too.  This can help save money too!
9. Ask for and accept help. Delegate chores. Hire work done when possible.
10. Remember to breathe, to ground yourself and be physically present.

A gratitude list will help you discover what really matters to you. Simplifying means making choices that will improve the quality of your life.

What do you think?  Can you use these tips to simplify your life?  How else do you simplify?

Author’s content used under license, © 2008 Claire Communications

1. The brain has plasticity which means that the brain is constantly being rewired, and exercise can help improve the wiring.
2. Exercise can improve our potential to process information.
3. A 2007 study in Germany found that people can learn vocabulary words 20% faster after exercise.
4. Exercise can improve attention by increasing important brain chemicals and Dr. Ratey recommends it for anyone with ADHD.

Convinced that exercise can help with your ADHD symptoms?  If not, PLEASE go read more about Dr. Ratey’s work and the impact of exercise on our brains.  If you are convinced, how will you incorporate exercise into your daily life?  As adults we talk a lot about “kids these days” and their lack of exercise.  Unfortunately, it isn’t just kids though – we as adults have too much screen time as well.  By exercising just 30 minutes per day, 4 days per week, we can make a positive difference in our brains.

Here are some ideas to get you started with your exercise:

• Go for a 30-minute walk – break it into two 15-minute blocks to get started
• Run for one mile – walk for part it if needed!
• Take a yoga class
• Attend a dance class – imagine the focus you could develop taking ballet!
• Check out the martial arts
• Ride a stationery or regular bike
• Play soccer or basketball with the kids

What do you think?  How will you work exercise into your routine?

Evolution of Success

Success evolves over time.  Naturally, as we move through childhood, we move from crawling to walking, from spelling tests to U.S. History exams.  In the earliest stages, we often focus on physical milestones for success.  In school, we feel success when we do our personal best and earn grades that make us proud.

The Corporate Ladder

Upon entering the working world, the corporate ladder defined my of success.  I steadily worked my way up that ladder for over 15 years.  By anyone’s definition, including my own, I was successful.  Then, towards the end of 2008, my employer offered something I never expected.  Every salaried employee was offered a severance package to resign from the company.  I accepted the offer.

The Evolution Begins

The subsequent two-and-a-half years have been a journey in determining my personal definition of success.  Once I left the corporate world, I had no idea what definition of success to use.  Knowing nothing else, I assumed I would replace my income within a year.  I worked with career coach Maggie Mistal to help me determine fit my passions into my next career steps.  Together we identified my career path, which was to start My Attention Coach and make an impact in the lives of people with ADHD.  I thought, ” I’ll work hard and be a success!”  That is the way it always worked previously so I figured it would work with my business. Well, with my definition of replacing my corporate income, I was NOT successful.

Defining Success

Over time, however, my definition of success has evolved and I find myself enjoying success at each new step.  Financial success in business can take time. I have determined that my success needs to take a wider view of life.  Success to me now means so much more than money.  Don’t get me wrong, money is important, but there is so much more.

Family

I have achieved success with my family over the last couple of years.  My husband and I strengthened our marriage and I have been able to spend more quality time with my kids.  The flexibility of my business has meant more vacation time and unconventional work locations this year.

Connections

I have met so many wonderful people over the last three years.  Both virtually and in real life.  Without stepping away from Corporate America, I never would have met many new friends and colleagues.  This is a wonderful point of success for me.

Making a Difference

My career coach, Maggie Mistal probably knew this would happen back in 2008 when I hired her.  I have made a difference in the lives of people with attention challenges.  Even making a difference in one person’s life is a success.  I come back to this point on a regular basis.

Success is now pretty simple.  If my family is strong, I am connecting with amazing colleagues and I am making a difference in the lives of people with attention challenges, I am successful.