8 Things Exceptional Thinkers Do Every Day

Everything that we are and everything that we are not is an end result from our current level of thinking. Every great achievement in history came from exceptional thinking. Every man or woman to ever rise to the top of their profession had exceptional thinking that played a major role in getting them to where they are.

I have never met a high achiever who lacked in their level of thinking. Our feelings, emotions, professional success and happiness levels are all affected by our thinking and what takes place on a daily basis from the neck up.

If you aren’t currently happy with where you are at in life or in your professional journey, there is great news. You can drastically alter where you are and everything around you by changing your thinking. Just like any other important habit, you can’t become an exceptional thinker if you practice it only once in awhile. Working on your mind and thinking must become a daily practice.

Here are eight things exceptional thinkers do daily.

1. They focus on the positive.

Every single day of our lives, we have a choice when we wake up in the morning whether we are going to direct our focus on the positive or negative. Exceptional thinkers know the importance of where they direct their focus. They fully understand that it impacts their energy levels and will determine how they perform. You can eliminate a lot of the worry, stress, and anxiety just by choosing to focus on the positive. Regardless of how big or small, force yourself to see the good in every situation no matter how miniscule it may be.

2. They spend time in solitude.

Exceptional thinkers know that we live in a noisy and distracting world and therefore prioritize the importance of spending time alone. If you go pick up an autobiography of your favorite inventor, president, or even athlete, you will realize that they valued alone time to reflect and think in solitude.

3. They have a long-term vision.

Exceptional thinkers have a clear vision of where they want to be in the future and all of the things that they need to do in order to make that become a reality. They rarely get discouraged and disappointed because of short-term obstacles because of this powerful long-term vision that they have for their life.

4. They have a mindset-development routine.

Whether it’s a special morning routine to jump start their day, reading positive books first thing in the morning, or listening to empowering podcasts and audiobooks while commuting, they go to work on their mind daily. Most people wait for something positive to happen throughout their day to have good thoughts, but exceptional thinkers are proactive towards positively developing their mind every chance they get.

5. They only associate with those who build them up.

There is nothing more detrimental to one’s thinking than hanging around others who are constantly negative and energy vampires. You adopt the habits and channel the energy of those around you, so make it a habit to surround yourself with positive people and remain in good company.

6. They eat clean and healthy.

A large majority of the population is oblivious as to what you put into your body on a daily basis and how that plays a role in your thinking. What you drink and eat every single day greatly impacts how you feel and how well your brain operates.

To further understand just how important what you eat is to how well you think, I highly recommend checking out Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Daniel Amen. Two of my favorites when it comes to brain optimization and thriving on all cylinders.

7. They find time to regularly workout.

I have talked about the benefits of working out and how it can tremendously impact productivity levels, but the same goes for brain health and increasing your current level of thinking. The endorphins released during routine exercise are packed with positivity.

8. They have an attitude of gratitude.

Your thinking and life in general is just that much better when you possess an attitude of gratitude and find ways to regularly acknowledge all that you are grateful for. It’s impossible to be truly grateful and miserable at the same time.

There are a lot of things that exceptional thinkers do on a daily basis to help them rise above, but the above eight things that I have listed have greatly impacted the way I think on a daily basis. When you understand just how important your mind is and work to constantly upgrade your level of thinking, your life will be upgraded in return.

Matt Mayberry

8 Week Whole Body Makeover!

If you are reading this then you are seeking a new way of living, moving, eating, being and experiencing life in a body you love--one that cultivates your finest expression of who you can be in this life time. This 8 week course will help you to pull away all the masks of shame, guilt, failure and all the bad habits and negative crap that manifests in our lives and bodies, so you may emerge with a new shape, new mind, new resilience and a renewed connection to your true, most radiant self. 

Hello beautiful, I'm Jannine Murray

I believe that if the women of the world become healthy and empowered, we can heal our children, our relationships and our land. I believe it is the women of this world who have the power to do so, and it all starts with loving ourselves. I myself, overcame grief and trauma after losing my million dollar business, my health, my sanity, and severe health issues like IBS, adrenal failure and having a body that bared all the shame of "not enough-ness, being unlovable, and self hatred.

I had to redefine who I was, how I trained, how I ate, from a place of deep radical self love and then put that into practice in my training, my thinking, my eating and way of being. It was these techniques that allowed me to heal from a lifetime of self-hatred and the self-destructive patterns I was stuck in, to be able to feel body empowered and have a lifestyle that expressed my most empowered self. It is with my life long body wisdom, my 12 years experience working with hundreds of women, and my soul's desire that I share this 8 week body empowerment program with you!

I created this course to give women the step by step daily practices of:

Deliciously energizing, easy to follow meal plans that transform your body to shed bellyfat and never diet again

Empowering and inspiring follow along workout videos you can do anywhere, anytime, and tone up beautifully without hours of exercise

Mindset tools needed to transform your body, mind, and heart into your most healthy, empowered, radiant self

Over the course of the 8 week program, I will be providing you comprehensive meal plans for detoxing, tummy slimming, hormone balancing and energy boosting results. I will also be providing with you 12 follow along workout videos that you can do anywhere, and throughout you will have 7 weeks of mindset focus journeys: inspiration everyday to break old patterns and create your most radiant self!

Take 8 weeks to transformation with:

A beginners guide to ensuring success

A 14 Day Slim And Sexy Detox Meal Plan

5 weeks of clean eating, tummy slimming, hormone balancing, energy boosting meal plans

12 follow along workout videos that you can do anywhere, anytime, no equipment, no excuses!

7 weeks of mindset focus journeys: inspiration everyday to break old patterns and create your most radiant self!

Morning and evening meditation

Allowing the true you to shine

All you are looking for is already inside of you! I am just here to remind you of your potential and your greatness. I will give you my proven effective tools, strategies, clean eating plans, follow along workout videos, and the necessary mindset shift you need that allows the true YOU to come forward. You don't need to be perfect in any way, you don't even need to feel ready. All you have to do is be willing, vulnerable and open to a new way of being...one that is calling to you deep down and reminds you that YOU DESERVE MORE and you won't be happy until you allow the true You to shine!

YES: you can tighten your tush and tone your thighs

YES: you can take inches of fat off your belly, hips and thighs

YES: you can tone up your arms and sculpt a sexy back

YES: you can enjoy the feeling and radiance of a clean lifestyle

YES: you can develop the habits, commitments and wisdom you need to have lasting results

And, best of all you can

Love your body just the way it is

Feel confident and connected to your most powerful self

Know that even on your fat days you love yourself anyways

Have the tools you need to bounce back after any diet screwup

Be your greatest teacher, motivator, coach

Eating and moving to love your body into beauty

Its time to learn a new way of being. One that is in alignment with your body and it's needs, along with your vision and your heart. We are able to shine so beautiful and bright once we uncover our true form, and begin using our body-wisdom.

Principles for eating, moving and living mindfully:

Every body is different, we are all different, a lot of great diets out there, almost all of them work, but for specific people with certain bodies. No diets or bodies are created equal. Also our bodies are always changing, so what worked for us in the past may not necessarily be good or effective for us now. How do we work around this? By tuning into our own body's wisdom and understanding its language, it has all the answers we are looking for.

Having the right macros: Macros are the essentials of our diets: the main ones are proteins, carbs, and fats. Remember different types of bodies and blood types do best with higher protein/high fat diets, or higher carb/lower fat and protein diets.

Use super foods and antioxidants to restore and protect cells: Antioxidants and super foods are important as they help combat signs of aging, cellular deterioration, disease and free radicals. Today less than 10% of nutrients left in our topsoil from 100 years ago. Our foods are hydroponically grown, genetically modified, sprayed with pesticides, herbicides and fungicides then picked before they are ripened, then displayed in our stores. All of these extras end up in our systems, and when our systems become compromised over our lifetimes, our bodies begin to shut down and become toxic with these accumulating chemicals.

Acid alkaline balancing foods: Our bodies do best when we are sitting at a PH level of 7.2. It is easy to stay slim and healthy with lots of energy as muscle maintains is supple form in a highly alkaline environment.

Focusing on will building foods: there are certain foods that increase our life force, our chi, our creativity, clear our mind, make us feel empowered, and build our will and self esteem. We feel good about ourselves and firmly rooted in who we are and what we are doing with our lives.

Cleaning and detoxing the GI tract, liver, blood and lymphatic system: Your health is a pure reflection of how good your digestion is. It all starts with your digestive system (stomach, small and large intestine). Your gut consisting of your small and large intestine, harbours 75% of your immunity, makes critical vitamins, controls hormones including most serotonin production which is needed for being happy. If our gut is happy, we will be happy. We will feel well rested after a good night's sleep, be able to wear the clothes we like as our tummies will feel slim and healthy, have energy all day, and enjoy the way we feel inside our bodies.

Practicing the art of self-love, mindfulness and self-reflection: move from love, instead of self-loathing. Move with mindfulness, instead of haste. Take time to reflect so you can drink in your experiences and become more aware. To have more love, to feel more love, you need to embody love, and move from that space. Connect to your heart, breathe, appreciate the task at hand, and open your mind to find new ways to appreciate what you are doing. Do this when shopping, prepping your food, cooking, brushing your teeth, sitting on the toilet, shaving your legs. Pour love into everything you do, as every single moment of your life is a moment to expand into your true state: love. It is one of the most healing things you can do for yourself.

Transforming your physical, mental and emotional bodies

As the Buddha said "our body is our vehicle for awakening, treat it with great care." This is why we have to take care of all our bodies: emotional, mental, physical--so that our spiritual and psychic bodies can flourish. Our physical body must be properly nourished and exercised to channel a strong spirit to manifest our hearts desires and touch thousands of lives. Our mental body has to be clear and at peace with itself. Our emotional body has to be elevated with emotions like joy, gratitude, and authentic self love.

When all of these bodies are in alignment with our true self, our passion and spirit can shine and transform not just our lives, but everyone else we touch. When we are empowered in all our bodies, we are empowered in our lives and can then focus on our true purpose, passions and success.

What others have experienced with this program

"Jannine is so amazing, she helped me lose over 60lbs, regain so much body confidence and figure out how to eat for energy and staying young. I didn't have any confidence in the gym, and she supported me and allowed me to find what I was really missing...loving my self!" - Sherry

"I consider myself a pretty healthy person in general. This program took me to that next level I was searching for. I was always struggling with losing the last 10 pounds I needed and stubborn belly fat. This program did that and made me more aware of my body." - Suzanne

"I've never felt more alive than I do now. I find that those food cravings I was having aren't showing up anymore and much of the pain in my body is slowly disappearing." - Brittany

"I just finished my 8 week makeover and I am more confident now and feel totally empowered to follow a true passion of mine, which I discovered I was certain about after I started this program." - Christine

"I can't tell you how fabulous the guided meditations are for stress. These meditations have been a lifesaver for me." - Patrice

"This is my mind body makeover and its f-bomb awesome! The mind body connection is the game changer. Gratitude walks and meditation ARE life changing." - Jacqueline

"I am enjoying this experience. I like the format, have been doing the meditations, changing my eating habits, and doing my gratitude walk. I am finding myself more at peace with myself and feeling very enthusiastic." - Ann

"Today marks the end of week two for me. I started the program for health and self love issues. I can honestly say that I am already feeling better than I ever thought possible. I am waking earlier, more energetic, eating healthy (and so my family is, too), practicing daily yoga and meditation, making positive self talk a habit, and I've lost 8 lbs!" - Leanne

About Jannine Murray

Jannine Murray is the top Health And Fitness Specialist and Personal Trainer in Victoria BC. Her journey started when she was 16 years old when she stayed and studied at a retreat centre in the mountain of Lytton B.C. called Sointual Greens.

It was here she studied with Amandah Jensan, a Medical Intuitive and Spiritual healer for two years learning about food as medicine, working with the earth and plant energies, and powerful mind/body meditative techniques like the Silva Method. This spurred her onto a path to learn and grow in service of healing herself and others.

Jannine has over 12 years experience teaching fitness classes and personal training, holistic nutrition, diverse forms of movement therapy including the Alexander Technique, Fendenkraise, and dance therapy.

She has an extensive background in martial arts, aerobics, weight training, ballet, modern and jazz dance, as well as specialty courses like abdominal training, metabolic conditioning, sports specific training, body building, and holistic nutrition.

"I have experienced many gifts of pain, addiction and imbalance, all of which have deepened my skill-sets beyond theory and into practical application of knowledge.

I have discovered that you can Be, Do, and Have anything you want in life. You are the conscious creator of your body, mind and your life. If you are here then you are ready to create miracles within your body, mind, spirit and ultimately your life.

Join me on my journey to discover your most radiant self, this world needs your light and you need to shine!"

 Jannine Murray

7 Healthy Habits That Maximize Your Productivity Every Day

Entrepreneurs usually keep a densely packed schedule that fits as much work as possible into their waking hours. There’s always something else to be done and more you’d like to achieve, so how do you keep your day running efficiently without being overrun by the demands on your time?

There are some tricks I’ve learned over my entrepreneurial journey that have served me well in running my day successfully. Not every day will stick to the routine, but if you commit to practicing these steps daily, you’ll get better at keeping them over time.

Here are seven steps I’ve learned for effectively running your day as an entrepreneur.

1. Start your day the night before.

The night before is really when your new day begins. I’ve found over the years that by approaching bedtime with a routine I can effectively start the next morning with all systems go. Begin by ensuring you know what’s on the calendar for the following day. Go over appointments, calls and any other important deadlines in the day so you have an awareness of what’s on the agenda.

Next, get anything you need in the morning set aside and ready at night. Bag packed, if you bring lunch -- then lunch made and ready to grab, gym bag all set up to go, etc. Make sure whatever you need in the morning is as easy as grab and go.

Finally, set yourself up for sleep success. Make sure you turn off all electronics that could beep, buzz or light up during the night and disrupt your sleep.

2. Move first thing.

Getting out of bed and making your body move gets the blood flowing and the brain synapses connecting again. If you aren’t in the habit of moving first thing when you get up, this may feel a little strange at first but trust me, it works. Even if you aren't a morning person, grab your gym bag and hit the gym or put on your shoes and walk your dog for 30 minutes. Fresh air and movement start your body and your brain off on the right foot for the day. You’ll have more energy and a clearer head when you’re done.

3. Tame your brain.

Meditation or mindfulness practice is an essential workout for your head. It only takes 10 to 20 minutes in the morning to adopt a practice that can really help you effectively manage your day, and your life. Meditation is proven in study after study to help you deal better with stress and improve the fluidity of your mind, meaning you have a more adaptable brain.

Work your head out every morning with some kind of mind strengthening exercise. Try the Headspace app for a free introduction to what mindfulness and meditation can do for you.

4. Get help with staying organized.

If you aren’t an organized or punctual person, get the help you need to become one. This can be with an organization app like Trello,WorkFlowy or Evernote, or by hiring someone part time to assist you with task, time and calendar management. If you want an efficient day then you need to be organized.

5. Remember to eat.

Your body and your brain need fuel. Don’t forget that food is an important part of the day’s routine. This sounds simple but so many times entrepreneurs run themselves into the ground, skipping meals and forgetting to eat, only to grab the quickest (and often unhealthiest) thing they can eat on the go. Don’t fall victim to this trap. Snack frequently and remember to eat the right kind of healthy, nourishing food you need to stay energized all day.

If you struggle, there are snack prep delivery options like Nature Box or home delivery healthy meal prep options like Blue Apron where literally everything you need for dinner is delivered to your door.

6. Batch your time.

Time batching is an efficient way to get the uninterrupted productivity time you need. Ensure that there’s at least one hour, preferably two, of batched time for you to problem solve, think, brainstorm and otherwise handle the work you need to do without being disturbed. It’s a highly efficient way to get a lot done in small bursts of productivity.

7. Disconnect from work.

Last but not least, when you leave work in the evening, try to disconnect from work. This may be less important when you’re still young and single, but it becomes a crucial lifestyle practice when you have a partner or a family. Your time outside of work greatly contributes to your time at work, so give your significant other and family the focus and attention they need and leave the office work at the office.

Adam Toren

7 things everyone should start doing in their 30s

The older you get, the harder it is to change your habits.

But in your 30s, there's still time to adopt new, positive behaviors.

To help you pinpoint the changes you'll want to make, we consulted recent Quora threads on this critical decade and highlighted the most compelling responses.

Read on for the best ideas.

1. Start laughing at yourself.

"Laugh at yourself, laugh at the absurdity of life, laugh at the goodness and the badness of every situation," writes Quora user Cyndi Perlman Fink.

Being able to find humor in your own struggles may be important for your overall health and happiness. Research suggests that people who are able to laugh at themselves are generally more cheerful.

2. Start appreciating your family and friends.

In your 20s, you may be so busy getting an education and launching your career that family and friends fall by the wayside. Your 30s are a good time to get back in touch and remember how much you love spending time with them.

As for family, "if you can find a way to make a connection with them, you may find some things in common with them, more than you expect," says Robert Walker.

And as for friends, Nan Waldman says: "Nurture them. Laugh with them. Be silly too. Contribute to their survival and enjoyment of life. Take the time every week to be in touch."

3. Start keeping a journal.

"Journal your life! Your written records will entertain and endear in your future," writes Mark Crawley.

You don't necessarily have to keep a secret notebook under your bed — a digital photo album with captions works just as well.

Whithings

It's important to stick to a healthy weight in your 30s.

4. Start maintaining a healthy weight.

Several Quora users noted the importance of maintaining a healthy weight in your 30s. "Keep your weight at a normal level that's good for your body," writes Fink.

To do that, it's important to stay active and eat right. A growing body of research suggests that if you're looking to lose weight, your diet makes more of a difference than your exercise habits.

5. Start saving money.

One of the most important financial habits to start practicing in your 30s is spending less than you earn. "Make it a habit to live below your means," writes David Leon. "I know way too many people who live hand to mouth at 50 due to excessive spending at 30."

Bonus: If you start saving for retirement early, you'll reap the amazing benefits of compound interest.

6. Start chasing a big goal.

Up till now, you may have only dreamed about starting a family, buying a house, or earning an advanced degree. Now's the time to go for it.

"It's easy to put things off," says Bill Karwin. "But it's really true that time starts accelerating as you enter your 30s, and it keeps accelerating. The time that you'll get around to those dreams should be now."

7. Start learning from your mistakes.

You probably made plenty of mistakes in your 20s. That's OK — as long as you grow from your experiences. That requires accepting responsibility for what went wrong and understanding why it went wrong.

After all, as Amanda Frisk says, "everything in life is a way for us to learn, to be better."

Shana  Lebowitz

12 Ways to Eat Healthy No Matter How Busy You Are

Busy professionals cannot waste a single second of their day. Our bodies need energy to keep moving at that pace. If you often work through lunch and go hours without even breaking for a snack, you may have difficulty concentrating and getting results from the work you’re putting in.

There are a few things you can do to keep yourself healthy while you’re powering through your day. Just a few simple changes can make a big difference in your energy levels, as well as your overall health.

1. Don’t skip breakfast.

As you’re running out the door for your early-morning meeting, the last thing you’re thinking about is stopping for breakfast. But breakfast skipping has been linked with an increase in obesity and diabetes risks, as well as morning moodiness. Here are a few quick, healthy breakfast ideas you can put together at home or once you arrive at the office.

Related: 7 Reasons Too Much Coffee Is Killing Your Career

2. Make it convenient.

You likely find you have little time to stop by the grocery store, especially during the workweek. Grubmarket  (love these guys) brings fresh food from local farmers directly to my home and office. Grubmarket’s snack pouches are perfect for keeping on hand when you want a snack. You can also have farm-fresh poultry, eggs, produce, meat, and other items delivered, saving you a trip to the store or farmer’s market.

3. Prepare in advance.

One of the best things you can do is prepare snacks and meals for your day before you leave in the morning, especially if you’ll be working through lunch. But what if there is rarely time to put a meal together in the morning? You can solve this problem by setting time aside over the weekend to prepare snacks and meals for the week. Purchase plastic containers that can be refrigerated or frozen and picked up each morning on the way out the door.

4. Invest in grab-and-go snacks.

Look around your office. If there’s nothing to snack on, you may find yourself shrugging off your hunger for hours or—worse—heading down the hall to the vending machine. Purchase healthy snack-size foods like boxes of raisins or healthy granola bars. Blue Diamond 100-calorie Almond Packs are a great way to get the many health benefits of almonds without eating an entire bag.

Related: 10 Simple Ways to Eat Healthy Without Thinking

5. Don’t eat and work.

Multitasking has been proven to be disastrous to the waistline. Instead of distractedly munching on a salad while you’re working on a proposal, set your work aside and focus completely on your meal. Better yet, take your lunch outside on a nice day and combine the benefits of fresh air with savoring your food. You’ll have a more pleasurable eating experience and return to your desk feeling refreshed.

6. Eat and meet.

While distracted eating may be bad, socializing has its health benefits. Schedule lunch meetings as often as possible to make sure you get a good midday meal in. You could use the opportunity to take team members offsite to get their ideas, meet with clients, or network with local colleagues.

Related: How to Navigate the Tricky Terrain of a Business Lunch

7. Stay hydrated.

Whether you like the taste of it or not, water is an important part of good health. Consider having an in-office water cooler to make it easy for you and your team members to stay hydrated throughout the day. If this isn’t a possibility, keep a small refrigerator in your office to hold bottled water.

8. Choose healthy options at restaurants.

Eating out is inevitable for a busy professional, but you don’t have to settle for greasy fast food options. Almost all restaurant chains have healthy dining options to attract health-conscious customers. To play it safe, stick with grilled instead of fried and choose sides like fruits, soups, and salads over fries or onion rings.

9. Make family dinners a priority.

Evening meals are an important time for families. Make sure you’re home every evening in time to share a leisurely meal with your spouse or your family. If you’re single, schedule regular get-togethers with friends where you enjoy a healthy meal. This will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Related: Sharpen Your Memory with Brain-Healthy Foods

10. Grocery shop wisely.

Experts recommend spending most of your time in the outer sections of the grocery store when shopping for food. Produce, dairy, meats, poultry, and eggs should make up the majority of your shopping time, keeping you away from the packaged, preservative-filled foods in the center aisles.

11. Choose quality.

Make sure most of your diet includes nutrient-dense foods that let you accomplish more with less. Avoid sugar and empty calories and instead focus on making sure each snack and meal packs as much punch as possible. Remember, you’re going for fueling your body and mind so you can accomplish more.

12. Limit alcohol.

As tempting as it can be to indulge in a happy hour drink after work, it’s one of the worst ways to add calories to your diet. While the occasional drink or two won’t hurt, it’s important to moderate your alcohol consumption, especially if the rest of your diet is severely lacking.

If you take care of your mind and body, you’ll find you’re more productive and have more energy throughout the day. You’ll also keep yourself healthy, which will allow you to avoid visits to the doctor and ongoing illnesses. When you take care of yourself, it is not just your health that benefits -- your business will to.

Related: 15 Rules for Talking Business Over Drinks

John Rampton