Staying ahead of stress can be challenging some days, especially on a day when issues or problems are constantly cropping up. However, you know that in order to keep motivated, you need to maintain a positive attitude and keep a firm sight on what your goals are, as well as how you intend to attain them.
This can be easier said than done, especially when things aren’t going as well as you’d like, or things are beginning to feel overwhelming. To help get you started, 15 members of Young Entrepreneur Council discuss some things people should do periodically in order to stay positive, tenacious and confident.
1. Give Yourself a Brain Break
I like to take walks, meditate or even do yoga. These things allow me to give myself a meaningful and productive break from the hustle and bustle of the work week. This also helps me get back into a positive, tenacious and confident state of mind. Taking time for yourself and having healthy brain breaks can really improve not only my personal life, but also my professional life.
2. Practice Self-Reflection
Many people tend to downplay what they have accomplished in either business or life. Step back and take a look at the impact you have had and the goals you have accomplished. This is why setting priorities and goals is so drastically important — it helps you measure the steps you have taken to become who you want to be.
– Brad Burns, Wayne Contracting
3. Surround Yourself With Positivity
Distance yourself from negative people and continue to invest in and elevate your own peer group. Be around driven, high performers to level up and pull you toward excellence. Surrounding yourself with people who help you be the best version of yourself will naturally guide you to stay positive and confident.
4. Repeat Positive Affirmations
Repeat positive affirmations when in difficult situations with faith and focus. Affirmations are positive statements that can be used to motivate and encourage change from within. When doing so daily, this can ultimately change your entire outlook, giving you a more confident viewpoint.
– Josh Awad, Depression Alliance
5. Keep a Journal
Writing down your failures, successes and mundane occurrences of everyday life will make you grateful in the years to come when you revisit those thoughts. So much happens in life that a majority of it is difficult to remember, so writing it down helps you remain grateful for the struggles you went through that got you where you are today.
– Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
6. Review Your Reasons
I like to spend a few minutes reviewing the reasons I chose this path for my life. It is easy to get lost in the day-to-day running of a business and to lose touch with what matters. So, every week or so, I take some quiet time to think about the people and the goals that are most important to me. I find the process both grounding and motivating.
7. See How Far You’ve Come
Once a year I like to take inventory of my life, my living conditions, my aspirations, etc. It’s an excellent thing to look back on overtime to see how far you’ve come. It really helps keep me grounded and reminds me of how lucky I’ve been.
8. Study and Interview Industry Experts
The best way to become successful and stay on your toes is to always learn from others. This can be done by reading and watching shows, but in-person experiences are much better. Attend conferences, interview experts and study what has made them successful when others have failed. Then, implement these same methods into your day-to-day operations.
9. Go on Mid-Week Getaways
Thursdays are our getaway days, so I can attack the rest of the week, putting in solo weekend time undistracted by colleagues. For this year’s Valentine’s, we enjoyed Palm Springs. It’s a 1.5-hour drive from where we live, just far enough to “get out of town.” Leaving my work computer and phone behind, a change of scenery, and an overnight stay in a hotel can do a world of wonders to recharge me.
10. Exercise
In order to maintain a go-getter attitude and exude confidence, regular exercise is a must. The physiological benefits of exercise are proven, yet many people still do not make time for it. Making exercise a priority is one of the best ways to stay in peak condition mentally to be able to compete professionally. Before a presentation or pitch, have a sweat session and see the difference.
11. Listen to Your Own Voice
We hear different voices and unsolicited advice every day. It is very important that we go back to our core once in a while and listen to what our hearts want. Go back to that simple person who wished to gain or achieve what we have now. It is when we are our true selves that we become positive and more confident in making our decisions.
– Daisy Jing, Banish
12. Look for the Silver Lining
Whenever you find yourself in a bad spot, find some sunshine. If sales are down but you recently brought on a stellar new hire, dig into their training. If you recently lost a high-level team member, instead of worrying about the fallout, focus on the talents of your remaining team to pick up the slack. When you always look for a silver lining, you can stay positive, tenacious and confident.
– Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance
13. Compliment Others
Look for opportunities to compliment someone. If you train your mind to be looking for the good, it will be very easy to find. Showing appreciation for others not only lifts their spirits, but it gives me a good feeling in return.
– Joe Morgan, Joe’s Datacenter, LLC
14. Dress to Impress
You know the saying, “if you look good, you feel good.” Staying well-dressed not only gives you a better impression from others, it also gives you an extra boost of confidence. Confidence is key in all aspects of life. And it is important in networking events. After all, a person that is well-dressed will always leave a better impression in comparison to someone who isn’t.
15. Have a Consistent Morning Routine
I like having a consistent morning routine because it makes me feel in control for the rest of the day. You can work on a simple list like waking up on time and preparing a cup of coffee. Doing it consistently can help you stay confident and positive every single day.