How to Boost Your Productivity as We Approach a “New Normal”

/in

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a variety of challenges. For some, the most impactful challenge was working from home. Although remote work brought positives for many, after just a few short months, many employees realized that their productivity was plummeting and experienced burnout as a result.

As the post-COVID era lies on the horizon, we approach a new normal: a melting pot of work-from-home employees and those parading back into the office. How exactly, regardless of where we are working from, are we supposed to boost our productivity during this time?

Here are some of our best tips at LifeHound.

Establish a Routine

Odds are that in some way, shape, or form, COVID-19 disrupted your daily routine. As a result of a global pandemic, many of us have been forced to wear various hats over the past year. Some may have taken on the role of your child’s teacher, in addition to being a full-time employee, homemaker, chauffeur … the list goes on!

Bottom line: Our routines have been shaken up. But as the world transitions to a “new normal,” we are given the opportunity to establish new, healthy routines.

For many, however, the word “routine” brings the idea of boredom. The word routine is defined as “a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.” It is understandable then, why many might associate routine with boredom.

Northwestern Medicine, however, writes about the importance of having a daily routine. Stress, poor sleep and diet, ineffective use of one’s time, and overall poor physical condition plague those who do not prioritize a non-negotiable daily routine. Your routine, however, can always be spiced up! Trying something new every day or planning something to look forward to is a step in the right direction if you’re facing boredom.

How to Boost ProductivityStructuring Your Day

To create the most productive version of yourself, you first need to know yourself and the way you work. Are you a morning person? A night owl? Find out how you work best and use that to your advantage. Complete tasks that are most creatively demanding during your peak window of productivity.

To begin your day, however, crafting a daily to-do list is essential. According to a study done by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at the Dominican University, a person is 42% more likely to achieve their goals if they begin by writing them down—pen and paper, the old-fashioned way! 

After doing so, start on your list. At LifeHound, we recommend tackling the things you want to do the least, as to not drag them on throughout your day.

Eliminate Multitasking

Multitasking is a skill that many of us flaunt around—but why? According to research, one’s productivity can be reduced by as much as 40% when switching between tasks! Multitasking then, in fact, is a great way to halt your productivity—not boost it. 

We recommend, whether at home or in-office, to instead focus on the single task at hand. Empower yourself to finish one thing at a time before moving on to the next, then watch your productivity soar!

Nurture Your Emotional and Physical Well-Being

Every person has a different way they cope with work-related stress or anxiety. Whether you’re working from home or not, you should always prioritize and make time for your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. If not, your productivity will suffer.

Tony Wong, an expert in productivity, recommends individuals use their mornings to focus on themselves. Whether it be exercising, fueling up with a hearty breakfast, journaling or meditating, all of these activities ensure you have the foundation for an entirely productive day. 

In other words, do anything other than immediately diving into the sea of emails overflowing in your inbox! C’mon, at least let your feet hit the ground after rolling out of bed…

The essentials, however? Sleep, exercise, and nutrition.

A great first step toward boosting your productivity is by setting a consistent sleep cycle. Quality sleep results in clear thinking, the ability to retain information, and make informed decisions. Poor sleep, according to research shows that employees with poor sleeping habits were found with “significantly worse productivity, performance, and safety outcomes.” In fact, among those with poor sleep, an estimated $1,967 loss in productivity was calculated in a study of 4,188 employees.

Additionally, while you’re working toward boosting your productivity, consider your work-life balance. Do you find yourself checking and responding to emails in bed at night? Where could you be more meticulous with setting boundaries? We acknowledge that it’s especially difficult to set work-life boundaries when working remotely, however, it’s importance cannot be overstated.

Consider a Social Media and/or News Cleanse

As the adage goes, “Everything in moderation.” The same goes for social media and the news. Although technology cannot be entirely to blame for distraction in the workplace, recent studies show that “smartphones, the internet, social media, and emails are among the 10 biggest workplace productivity killers.”

Regardless of your environment, you can boost your productivity by controlling addictive, non-productive tasks.

Author James Clear, who wrote Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, writes about his limited interaction with social media during the workweek. At the start of each week, Clear’s assistant changes the passwords to his social media accounts, only allowing him access to the accounts during the weekend, then changing the passwords again on Monday morning.

While you may not be prepared to make social media or news changes, consider locking your phone in a drawer or placing it in another room while you work so as to not feed temptation.

Reminder: It’s OK to Ask for Help!

Author Amber Hurdle put it best: “Do your best in the day, for the day, and then work on tomorrow when it comes.” The reality is, at the end of the day, no matter how productive you’ve been, you might need support or help from your colleagues, family, or friends. 

Because the truth is, as humans we can’t do it all, and that’s OK!

Apps like LifeHoundhelp boost your productivity and make life as organized as possible. Sign up for your free trial today, then see your productivity boost as we approach a new post-COVID normal!

Your Summer Cleaning Checklist: Finance Edition

/in

Your Summer Cleaning Checklist: Finance Edition

Your Summer Cleaning Checklist: Finance Edition

Hooray—it’s nearly summer vacation! 

The kids are almost out of school. The weather is sublime. The last thing you want to be worrying about? Your finances. Clutter, on any level, can increase stress, prove detrimental to your productivity, and keep you from achieving your goals. 

So, let’s get this all straightened out. The time of spring cleaning has passed, so here’s your Summer Cleaning Checklist: Finance Edition.

Goodbye, Shoebox!

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Who thought it was a good idea to store important financial documents in a shoebox? This method is outdated… At LifeHound, we’d never endorse putting your documents into a giant pile (which is essentially what the shoebox method does!) for “organization” purposes.

Instead, go through each document and ask yourself: Can I opt for paperless billing or statements instead? Save a couple of trees, why don’t you!? Paper can add up quickly, and it’s likely that all of those documents you’re saving to “look back on” actually won’t see the light of day again.

Having trouble deciding which to go? Take Charge America recommends reading, in detail, your bills and account statements. As they say, “The fine print really does matter. You should review all financial documents for mistakes, fraud or term changes.” Reading your bills and statements in detail will help determine what financial documents are actually necessary to keep versus what is not.

Utilize file folders, spreadsheets, and organizational apps like LifeHound for your must-keep documents. Make sure to back up all of your important documents digitally using an app (like ours) before you file them away. 

Then, shred everything else. How liberating!

Next, evaluate your accounts. Are there ones you’re not using? Bank or credit? If so, consider the annual fees you might be paying to keep them open, then consider closing them if the spend isn’t justified.

Want an extra life hack? Throughout the year, gather and store all tax-related information in one file. No one wants to be searching high and low at the last minute for their important tax documents!

Budgeting and The Power of “Unsubscribe”

If you didn’t tackle it during your spring cleaning, summer is the perfect time for a budget refresh! A budget that is not only realistic but also balanced is the number one thing you need in your financial toolkit for success.

If you don’t already, track your expenses. Are you spending outside of your means? Where can you cut back? Does your income justify having five separate streaming services? (I know… we all love Disney Plus!) It’s time, however, to cancel the subscriptions you don’t need or use.

Take things a step further by unsubscribing from any promotional emails that you haven’t and don’t intend to ever open. Digital clutter can be just as overwhelming as physical.

Lastly, when it comes to refreshing your budget, be sure to factor in tax bills, unexpected emergencies, and future trips. Take a hard and honest look at your current finances and think about where you want to be in five years. Are your current spending habits leading you to that goal? Make sure to document your budget in the LifeHound app for maximum organization.

As far as your email goes, you might also consider creating a special-purpose email account for your finances. Here, you can set up a specific email address to receive any sensitive information. For example, bills, banking, and financial statements or applications.

Who Are Your Beneficiaries?

Honesty hour: When was the last time you asked yourself this question? At LifeHound, we recommend regularly reviewing any estate documentation and beneficiaries. Life is unpredictable, so you want to be sure that your wishes are still being thoughtfully represented at all times.

Life, Auto, Homeowner’s, Oh My!

There are a wide variety of insurance policies available to any single person. Life, disability, homeowner’s, auto, health, the list goes on. Just because you have these policies, however, doesn’t mean they aren’t flexible. Update them based on your current needs and lifestyle!

Consider the COVID-19 pandemic. With encouraged stay-at-home orders in place, many people found themselves driving much less, if at all. Do you think society considered how this might influence their auto insurance policies? For those driving less, perhaps they could qualify for a better rate! 

Or, did you just complete an add-on or home renovation? Consider updating your homeowner’s coverage. You might save some change in your pocket! Now is the best time to review your policies, before things ramp up in the summer.

Surprise, It’s Tax Time!

The one thing people dislike more than tax season is a surprise tax bill. Have you considered how your tax withholdings affect your finances? Take some time before the summer starts to review any changes that might have occurred in the past year in terms of assets, income, and/or family. Then, update your tax withholdings accordingly.

The Future of Automation

With the surplus of technology we can access today, automation is a no-brainer to get your finances in check. No one likes late fees or penalties, so there are many ways you can ensure you don’t miss a bill or payment. 

Most banks and credit unions offer auto-bill programs, automatic deposits into your savings, and other bill-paying systems to help automate your financial transactions and simplify your life. If you prefer paying your bills yourself, make sure to set aside a date and time each month to complete this task.

Regardless, whether you prefer to pay your bills online or offline, yourself or using automation, LifeHound makes it easy to set up reminders to make sure you never miss a payment!

Where Do You Stand Today?

Clutter makes it difficult to see where you stand in life—especially when it comes to your financial goals. Clutter accumulates over time, which is why cleaning needs to be done periodically. (As much as we wish it did, the mess doesn’t go away on its own!)

Setting aside some time each week or month to clean up, however, goes a long way. But think, when it comes to your financial Summer Cleaning Checklist, it’s not all about decluttering. The summer fun begins when you evaluate and take inventory of your financial goals!

Ask yourself questions and reflect: What do you want out of your financial life? What type of person do you want to be, and how can your organizational habits support this lifestyle?

At LifeHound, we don’t like clutter. We believe in making financial organization secure, automatic, and simple—which is why our app is available to you to download for free. No gimmicks or credit cards required. Sign up for your free trial of LifeHound today to see how easy your summer decluttering can really be, and happy summer!

On a scale from Home Edit to Hoarders Buried Alive, How Organized Are You?

/in

On a scale from Home Edit to Hoarders Buried Alive, How Organized Are You?

So, you think you’re organized? No dirty laundry on the floor, never loses their keys… sounds nice! But how organized are you really? Here’s a quiz to test see if you belong on Home Edit or Hoarders Buried Alive!

So, you think you’re organized? No dirty laundry on the floor, never loses their keys… sounds nice! But how organized are you really? Here’s a quiz to test see if you belong on Home Edit or Hoarders Buried Alive!

Did you know that having great organizational skills leads to higher productivity and less frustration? Losing my keys every other day? No, thanks! Take our quiz to see how organized you really are, then download LifeHound! LifeHound is an easy-to-use app that was created to ensure your important documents remain organized and secure. Ready to get started? Sign up for your free trial today!

Why Having Special-Purpose Email Accounts Can Make Your Life Easier

/in

Why Having Special-Purpose Email Accounts Can Make Your Life Easier

Special-Purpose Email Accounts

Do you have a love-hate relationship with your email? Is your inbox filled with promotional emails you don’t remember signing up for, even worse important emails lost to the abyss? 

According to research, there are over four billion email users worldwide, and over three million emails are sent every second! Whether it be for personal use, work, or business, email is an extremely common and useful method of communication.

The fact of the matter is, email isn’t going anywhere. So, we’re here at LifeHound to help you give you tips to manage your email endeavors at top efficiency. 

Having Multiple Special-Purpose Email Accounts

First, and most importantly, we recommend that you create multiple email accounts. Multiple email accounts!? Some of you might be thinking to yourself, “How am I supposed to manage multiple accounts if I’m having trouble keeping track of just one now?”

If you’re having trouble keeping track of just one email account, that might be the problem and the solution altogether. Having separate email accounts allows you to organize each part of your email life into buckets—increasing productivity and feelings of overwhelm, your ability to collaborate, and protect you from spam or identity threats.

The Four Types of Email Accounts That Every Person Needs

It’s time. We can’t let our spam mix with our important family emails or work demands any longer! Today, it takes just a few minutes to create a new email account. You can then view them all together on your phone, tablet, or other devices. So, let’s break up your four different email accounts based on function.

Personal

This first email, and arguably the most basic, is your personal email! Here, you can use this account to communicate with friends and family. The main point: keep it personal. Don’t be afraid to limit the number of people you give this email address to! The point is to keep things decluttered, and you can’t do this when you have bank statements, spam, and retail coupons flooding your inbox.

This is also true for contacts and calendars as well to have a work and a personal calendar and separate contacts.  If you ever leave a job abruptly you don’t leave anything behind.

Work

One of the golden rules (as far as special-purpose email accounts go…) is never using your work email account for anything other than work. It sounds simple—but are you up for the challenge?

Many people have a work address set up for them by their employer; however, if you do not or if you’re self-employed, creating an email address solely for work purposes is essential!

This is the polished email address that is printed on business cards and doesn’t have any embarrassing characters  (*cough cough* those who made emails in their teenage years!)

Additionally, having a single space where all of your work interactions are stored, often lifts a weight off your shoulders. You don’t need (and shouldn’t have) work emails flooding your personal inbox. 

Having a separate work email helps to create clear boundaries between work-life and home-life—which can be especially tricky when so many of us are, in fact, working from home.

If you’re having trouble deciding what emails are appropriate to pass through your work email, would you feel comfortable if your IT department conducted a routine scan and read all of your emails? When in doubt, opt for putting such emails in a personal account.

Bonus email: If you are searching for a new job, having an email account solely for job searching will ensure you don’t miss out on an email from a prospective employer! This email could also be used for your work profiles such as on LinkedIn or with job recruiters.

Financial

Your financial special-purpose email account is where you will receive any sensitive information. For example, we recommend you send any bills, banking, and financial statements or applications to this email. 

An article by Forbes also recommends that you use a separate account, like such, for any government correspondence—state, local, or federal. Having an email address dedicated to financial matters will allow you to keep track of all information regarding your finances, including “healthcare, taxes, [and] utility bills.”

Miscellaneous

Lastly, is creating an email for miscellaneous emails. (At LifeHound, we argue that this one might be the most fun!) Think of this as your crazy, fun bucket! Your miscellaneous email can be used for online store account signups, rewards programs, promotions, and newsletters.

Consider an Additional Email If You…

  • Own and operate your own side business or consulting group

Let’s Do It!

To some, having four or more special-purpose email accounts might seem excessive. However, in a day and age where time is limited and email accounts are free, there is no reason not to up your efficiency game.

Lifehack: After creating your special-purpose email accounts, set up your desktop computer, tablet, and phone to read the accounts. This will ensure you never confuse or miss an email. Plus, spam will be much easier to identify and delete based on account type! (Because c’mon, who likes spam?)At LifeHound, we believe in making things easy—which is why our app is available to download for free. Like, really free. No credit card required. Get LifeHound today to see how easy it can be to live an organized life. Sign up for your free trial here, and happy special-purpose e-mail creating!

Do you know how much your splurge items really cost you!?

/in

Do you know how much your splurge items really cost you!?

Although you might see the sticker price, do you actually know how much you pay for your splurge items? Per use? Here’s a quiz to test your knowledge and let you know how things really add up!

<div class="typeform-widget" data-url="https://form.typeform.com/to/QUgJIKOu?typeform-medium=embed-snippet" style="width: 100%; height: 500px;"></div> <script> (function() { var qs,js,q,s,d=document, gi=d.getElementById, ce=d.createElement, gt=d.getElementsByTagName, id="typef_orm", b="https://embed.typeform.com/"; if(!gi.call(d,id)) { js=ce.call(d,"script"); js.id=id; js.src=b+"embed.js"; q=gt.call(d,"script")[0]; q.parentNode.insertBefore(js,q) } })() </script>

Did you know that in 2020 there were over 2.05 billion online shoppers? Today, online shopping is quick, easy, and for some, the preferred method of shopping—especially during a global pandemic. But do you know how much you’re really spending? Take our quiz to find out how much those Airpods cost you per use, how much a restaurant marks up a bottle of wine, and more! LifeHound is an easy-to-use app that was created to ensure you (and your finances!) remain organized and secure. Ready to get started? Test your financial knowledge and then sign up for your free trial today!

How to Keep Track of When You Got Your COVID-19 Vaccine

/in

How to Keep Track of When You Got Your COVID-19 Vaccine

How to Keep Track of When You Got Your COVID-19 Vaccine

From work and family to grocery shopping, and doctor appointments, we all have a laundry list of daily responsibilities. Our to-do lists grow longer, and our ability to remember each task, appointment, and event becomes even more difficult.

Add one more thing to the list: getting your COVID-19 vaccine. For most, this process takes up to six weeks to be fully completed. Most wait anywhere between five and six weeks before hitting peak immunity from the coronavirus.

This considered, it can be a lot to keep track of—especially if you’re also responsible for the vaccination plan for parents, grandparents, or children.

Not to worry, our LifeHound team is here to help! We’re sharing our top tips to ensure your vaccination process is as smooth as can be.

Hold Onto Your Vaccination Card

Congrats! After receiving your first dose, you will receive a small, wallet-size vaccination card. These cards include:

  • Which vaccine you received
    • For example Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or others
  • The date of your first dose
  • The date that you’re eligible for your second dose

It’s important to hold onto your vaccination card and ensure that it doesn’t get lost.  This is the first step in keeping track of when you received your COVID vaccine.

On the backside of each vaccination card, the date and time of your second appointment will be noted. Add this date and time to your calendar, so you don’t forget when you’re due for your second dose!

Don’t forget, you’re required to bring this card to your second appointment, so information about your second dose can be recorded as well.

Touching All Bases

As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic looms in the air, we look to the future. 

Although nothing seems to be set in stone, there has been talk about how vaccination cards may be required to participate in post-COVID activities, such as traveling, attending school, or going to work. In many cases, you may eventually be required to show a copy of your vaccination card on your phone or digitally to gain access to planes or other means of publicly accessed transportation.

Although the paper method seems old-school, the information on your vaccination card can also be housed in electronic health systems and state immunization records.

The clinic, pharmacy, or medical center you visit to receive your vaccine will input your information at the time of vaccination, along with the dosage you received and the date. This information is then forwarded to the state, which keeps its own digital record.

In other words, your vaccination card is not the only proof of your vaccination that exists.

Regardless, we recommend that you snap a photo of your vaccination card when you receive it as a backup! Save the photo on your phone or computer so you can easily refer back to the date and time of your second appointment.

Or, if you want to be a life hack pro: Store this information on LifeHound so you always have it! This way, you won’t have to sift through your thousands of other photos to find it or risk deleting it. LifeHound also allows you to set a reminder for your second dose! It’s a win-win!

And although nothing is set in stone, there’s been talk about needing additional booster shots periodically. With LifeHound, you can go ahead and set these reminders as well in case. This way, you don’t have to worry about remembering it on a random day six or ten months down the road.

LifeHound Vaccine Tracker

If you’ve misplaced your COVID vaccination card, contact your vaccine administrator. In most cases, your provider will be able to review the records and provide you with a new vaccination card. Of course, this is only with official proof of identity.

If you’re unable to get a hold of your administrator, you may also be able to contact your state health department’s Immunization Information System (IIS). IIS contact information is available here.

Regardless, obtaining a new vaccination card is a hassle, so do your best first time around to hold on tight to that very important, wallet-sized card!

Tools to Record Your Vaccinations

You can expect to receive a handout from most vaccination sites containing basic information after receiving your vaccine.

In addition to listing potential side effects and things to know, this handout contains access to a smartphone reminder system for your second appointment. Utilizing this tool will ensure that you receive your second dose on time!

For years research has shown that writing things down on paper increases the likelihood of you actually completing the task. Getting vaccinated is an important one to remember! Use this printable form from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to keep an updated history of your vaccinations. Grab that pen and paper!

Additional tools include:

  • Calendar app (i.e. Google Calendar)
  • Physical planner
  • Trustworthy friend or family member to remind you
  • Reminders and/or alarm apps on your phone

What If I Already Had COVID-19?

With vaccine distribution increasing every day, the question for those who have already contracted the virus becomes: how long to wait before getting my vaccine?

Initially, the CDC advised those who had already been diagnosed with COVID-19 to wait 90 days before getting vaccinated. As time has progressed, we’ve learned differently.

The only “waiting period guideline” prior to getting your vaccine after having the virus is that you are COVID and symptom-free at the time of your vaccination and that you have completed your quarantine period.

Why the change, you might ask? The initial reason for the nearly three-month waiting period is because the odds of reinfection within 90 days of having COVID is extremely rare.

While those who have had COVID-19 can and should make plans to become vaccinated, those who have already had the virus might consider waiting so that those without immunity can receive vaccines prior.

Of course, all of this depends on vaccine availability in your area.

Let’s Do This!

According to The New York Times, over three million vaccines are being administered per day across the United States. At this rate, it’s predicted there will be enough vaccinations for every American this month, May 2021. It will, however, take longer to administer all of these doses logistically, according to an article by USA Today.

With LifeHound, you can be immune to the stresses of the vaccination season! Our app offers the services to keep you organized and prepared for all your immunization needs. Sign up today for your free trial of LifeHound, no credit card required. Happy immunity!

Do you know the basics of ‘adulting’?

/in

Gen Z may think you’re old… and you might be, but do you know the basics of ‘adulting’? Here’s your checklist to get started.

 

Skinny jeans and side parts may be a sign your getting old to Gen Z, but do you have the basic skills to complete this checklist? Are you ready to really take on that ‘adulting’ title Gen Z so desperately wants you to take? If you need some help getting started mastering your adult skills, we can help! LifeHound was created to ensure your important documents remain organized and a secure, easy-to-use app. Ready to get started? Sign up for your free trial today!

How to Start Your Digital Organization Process

/in

So your cereal boxes are color-coded… but what about your important documents?

I think by now we’ve all watched the Home Edit, or at least heard of it. And I think we can all collectively say “WOW, I never thought organized cereal boxes would bring me such joy.” I mean c’mon, rainbow sorted cereal boxes have never looked so satisfying! Imagine how organizing your important documents would make you feel if cereal boxes and clothes could make you feel this much happiness!

Never again would you have to search through a file cabinet full of papers to find that one specific document from 10+ years ago! I think most people fall into the hoarder category when it comes to important, and even not-so-important paperwork. Something about throwing these documents away seems so difficult. 

That’s exactly why we created LifeHound. LifeHound provides a one-stop-shop for the organization and management of all of your important documents. Not to mention, you receive notifications when stored items are about to expire! All you have to do is input the information. Not only will you know when your Driver’s License or insurance is about to expire, but you can also input that warranty you’ve been meaning to take advantage of or that free trial that charges you after 30 days. 

I mean… what could be better than that?! Knowing where your documents are AND getting reminded to update them when you need to. Count me in. 

From our experience, an area of challenge for our customers is actually inputting the information. We get it … we really do. Procrastination is a thing. This is why we’re outlining a few ways to input your information into your LifeHound account. 

Get it all done in one

So your cereal boxes are color-coded... but what about your important documents?

An overhaul of your document organization may be necessary to get you started on this somewhat daunting process. When taking this route, you’ll need to gather all your important documents. This includes your Driver’s License, passport, insurance cards, car registration… all of it! Get it all together in one place, and then start inputting the details into LifeHound. 

Once you’ve added all of your important documents, you’ll only need to add new information as you receive it. Talk about ripping off the band-aid! I mean you can even add your prescriptions. We’ll remind you to get it filled and pick it up. There’s nothing you can’t add and get reminded to renew or cancel. 

Take baby steps to reach the big goal

Another way to get the same result as mentioned above is to take baby steps towards uploading your information. We understand that inputting all of your information at once can be time-consuming, daunting, and let’s face it, not much fun. If one big inputting session is going to overwhelm you, start by inputting one document a day. You can continue to input others as often as you can fit it into your schedule. 

Security

It can be scary inputting your information into the dark abyss of the web, but we’ve thought of that too. Your important information is just as important to us as it is to you, and we want to ensure your documentation remains secure and safe from potential cyber threats. LifeHound guards your life and your important documents with bank-level security.

Let’s get started!

We believe in the power of our app, which is why it’s available to download for free. Sign up today, no credit card required! Start on the free plan, and begin adding your information however you choose. Create a record, upload photos of your documents, and see how easy it is to start getting organized with LifeHound. Sign up for your free trial here.

Mythbusters! You Probably Didn’t Know This But…

/in

Do you know how to ‘adult’ properly? Take our Mythbusters quiz to see how much of an adult you really are! Not impressed with your results? LifeHound is here to help. Sign up for your free trial now!

How to Create Good Habits That Last

/in

Creating good habits starts with one simple step—put your insurance information into LifeHound

Everyone knows that high performers and successful people create good habits that stick. The question is… how do these high performers develop and keep these habits that make them successful? There are a few strategies that can help. It’s important to acknowledge that the habits you create are unique to you and the goals you have. You are in control.

When you focus on the behaviors you can control, you are more likely to develop an action plan to reach your goals. While the process of creating habits is unique to you, we have a few tips to help get you started!

Get Clear

Start by getting clear on your goals, who you are, and whom you want to become. Starting with a clear intention will help guide the process of creating habits that stick. The purpose, or the ‘why’ behind your actions, is what will drive your motivation to continue the good habits you’ve created.

habit creation infographicStart Small

Small actions make up the big picture of success. Doing a simple task consistently makes it easier to keep. Want to start reading more? Start with telling yourself you’ll read one page a night. Soon enough, you’ll be reading at least one chapter a night, because let’s be honest… who can only read one page of a book?! Want to start tracking your important documents and expiration dates? Start by inputting your insurance information into LifeHound, on day two, input your warranty claims, and so on!

Large habits are made up of different, smaller habits. That’s where the real success lies.

Establish Your Routine

The tiny habits that you started with above should be integrated into your daily routine. Write these habits down, check them off your list, and eventually, they will become part of your daily life. All your goals are possible when you commit to them and make time to work toward them.

Celebrate Your Success!

Celebrating your good habits is key to your success. As B.J Fogg explains in his book, Tiny Habits, celebrating your habits is key to your success. This can be a little dance, a fist pump, or rewarding yourself with 10 minutes of free time. Use whatever celebration that comes naturally to you, because it will have more meaning behind it! 

Make Associations

Associate your tiny habits with parts of your day that are already part of your routine. Let’s say you want to make your bed every morning. Because typically the first thing you do is brush your teeth, think to yourself, “After I brush my teeth, I make my bed.” Soon, you will automatically make your bed after brushing your teeth.

Journal About It!

Analyzing your progress is important to creating lasting habits. This process helps you celebrate your wins, contemplate your mistakes, and create plans that magnify the impact of your habits. 

Find an App to Help You

Utilizing LifeHound can have a direct impact on your daily life. When you first begin LifeHound, we help you start creating a habit out of inputting your important information into the software. We remind you (in your email inbox) to start inputting one thing at a time. Once you’re finished with the email series, you’ll have the large majority of your information in there and then you can continue on with the documents unique to your needs! Start using LifeHound today… it’s free!