PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

INSPIRATION TO HELP YOU... LIVE WITH MORE PURPOSE

How to Take a Better Break

on Feb 16, 2022 9:00:00 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Self-Care Motivation
It should come as no surprise that we (as Americans) are a society of overworked, highly stressed individuals. A recent report by the American Institute of Stress stated that 80 percent of people feel stressed in the workplace, and 40 percent are very or extremely stressed. And no wonder! We are putting in more hours and taking fewer breaks than ever. Productivity has increased by an incredible 400 percent since 1950, and the U.S. is often considered one of the most overworked nations in the world. With many of us now working from home, it is even more difficult to separate our work lives from our personal lives. We answer emails outside regular business hours, our commutes consist of walking from the bedroom to a desk, and we’re often expected to be “on call” at all hours of the day. These blurred lines between business time and personal time can cause us to feel like we never get a break. And that, frankly, is unhealthy. Overwork can have damaging effects, such as: Increased stress and/or dissatisfaction Trouble sleeping Difficulty focusing (learn more about improving focus in one of our latest blog posts) Lack of energy or motivation Social isolation from friends and family Physical issues such as headaches, chest pain, or GI problems How do we avoid the adverse effects of overworking? Take a better break! Even if you are unable to go on a full-blown vacation, taking short, meaningful breaks can make a world of difference in your day-to-day stress levels and happiness. Here are my top 5 suggestions for taking a better break:
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Using Visioning to Achieve Your Dreams

on Jan 12, 2022 10:29:43 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Passion Reflection personal development Motivation
What do professional athletes, corporate leaders, Oprah, Steve Harvey, and Katy Perry have in common? They all use visioning to aid in their success! Visioning or visualization is the practice of picturing your future successes in great detail. A basketball player, for instance, might picture herself dribbling past opponents, approaching the basket, and making a perfect shot. A professional speaker might visualize himself connecting with the audience, speaking with clarity and enthusiasm, and leaving everyone feeling inspired and energized. Visioning is powerful. It’s not simply a fad or something to do during corporate retreats. Neurologists have studied visualization and have found it truly works. One reason this practice is effective is because our brains can have a difficult time determining whether something is real or made up. According to neurologist Daniela Schiller, when we visualize something in enough detail, we activate the same regions in the brain that become active when we’re engaged in the real activity. So, if you imagine yourself successfully dribbling down the court and making the layup, your brain will believe this can and will happen, thus supporting your success in real life. This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “If you can dream it, you can do it!” Additionally, if we expose ourselves to the same goals over and over (whether through visualization, a vision board, a daily mantra, or daily affirmations), we prepare ourselves for success. We signal to our brains to be on high alert for certain opportunities. Once we identify an opportunity, whether consciously or subconsciously, we’ll be prepared to capitalize on it.
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3 Steps to Create a Purpose Calendar

on Jan 5, 2022 9:00:00 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Passion Reflection personal development Motivation
In our fast-paced and modern world, many of us are forced to juggle various activities and obligations. We might balance work projects with doctor’s appointments, kids’ soccer games, cooking dinner, and caring for ailing family members. We take business calls during our lunch breaks and squeeze in exercise while the kids are at choir practice. With so much on our plates, how is it possible to focus on purpose, let alone keep it front and center? I’ll be the first to admit that it can be tough to center your life around purpose, but it is certainly not impossible. With a dash of intentionality and a heap of motivation, you can keep your sights set on your life’s purpose. One of the most effective ways I have found to keep purpose at the forefront of my thoughts and actions is to work it into my calendar. My Purpose Calendar is multi-layered and includes daily, weekly, quarterly, and annual priorities. Why? Because if you focus on only daily tasks, you’ll likely fail to see the big picture—the grand purpose of your everyday actions and tasks. On the other hand, if you only make big, sweeping plans, you will quickly become overwhelmed and struggle with setting daily or weekly priorities and tasks. How do I create my Purpose Calendar? Essentially, it boils down to three steps:
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3 Steps to Actually Keep Your Resolutions

on Dec 29, 2021 9:00:00 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Life Passion personal development time management Motivation
We’re already less than a month away from 2022. The beginning of a new year is always an exciting time for ambitious people who want to start fresh on reaching career goals, losing weight, quitting smoking, picking up more hobbies, and accomplishing more in life. However, studies estimate that only 8% of people who set resolutions actually follow through with them. What’s stopping you from being part of that 8%? Discipline? Vague resolutions? A general “blah” feeling towards your goals as the year goes on? Luckily, the tricks to accomplishing your New Year’s goals aren’t as hard as you think. Here are a few tips that will make reaching New Year’s resolutions simple, hassle-free, and most importantly, successful.
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The Power of a Purpose Statement

on Dec 8, 2021 11:21:06 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Passion Reflection personal development Motivation
There was a time in my life when I was saying yes to everything. I took on random work, ran volunteer projects, and attended meetings whenever I was asked, no matter the project or event. I have always been adept at juggling projects and dividing my attention among several areas. However, at this point in my life, my schedule was so full, I only had an average of six hours of rest time built into my day (and that included sleep!). This pace was not sustainable and, ultimately, I felt burned out and stretched thin. The main problem? I was straying too far from my purpose when I said yes to everything. I ended up in meetings where I had little to offer or gain. I worked on projects that were well outside my wheelhouse or scope of interest. Ultimately, I was doing myself a disservice and not making the kind of impact I wanted to be making. It was time to pump the brakes and refocus! It was time to develop and stick to a purpose statement.
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4 Ways to Prevent Burnout

on Nov 11, 2021 9:00:00 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Wisdom Courage Motivation Hustle
Picture yourself as a matchstick. You burn strong and bright at first, but unless that flame is transferred to kindling, you will eventually reach the end of the match and fizzle out. This is similar to how burnout works. You can’t keep up your energy (flame) without the right resources and support (kindling/fuel). Eventually, you will reach a point where you simply can’t keep going unless you shift gears (and light a new match). Before we get into how to prevent burnout, let’s talk about what it is. Burnout is a somewhat abstract idea, but if you’ve ever experienced it, you know how it feels. It seems as if all your energy reserves are depleted, and even the simplest tasks become difficult. This condition has become so prevalent (with 60% of workers experiencing frequent burnout) that the World Health Organization (WHO) has begun investigating the symptoms and roots causes of burnout. The WHO defines burnout as, “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” The organization goes on to describe its main characteristics as depleted energy/exhaustion, increased negativity about one’s job, and flagging work performance. No one wants to feel this way, of course. The day seems so much brighter when you’re excited and energized about work. And many people do feel this way when they start a new job or begin a new project—it’s the energy that comes with a sense of newness and the opportunity to explore new possibilities. Just like a slowly dwindling flame, burnout happens over time.
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The Humble Hustler: 4 Powerful Reasons to Choose Humility

on Oct 13, 2021 9:05:32 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Impact Hustle Compassion
Before his untimely death in 2016, the musician Prince was a behind-the-scenes philanthropist. He didn’t need accolades and praise for his good work. He gave private donations to organizations he believed in, often anonymously or with instructions to not publicly acknowledge his gift. Since his death, many organizations have come forward with stories of Prince’s generosity. He gave to environmental initiatives and human rights causes. He was a major supporter of #YesWeCode, a nonprofit organization that works with youth from underrepresented backgrounds to improve their tech skills. He championed causes he believed in, no matter if they were perceived as traditionally progressive or conservative. Prince was a shining example of a humble hustler. Not only did he not expect praise for his good deeds, he also had a way of speaking to people, so they felt like they were on his level. He didn’t talk down to others; he didn’t demand the limelight. He was aware of his imperfections and opened himself to continuous learning. The lessons we can learn from the late, great Prince apply to many facets of life, including entrepreneurship and leadership. Today, many people believe they need to be loud and flashy to catch others’ attention and make an impact. They believe that to reach the top, they need to focus solely on themselves. According to Jean Twenge and W. Keith Campbell, psychologists and authors of The Narcissism Epidemic, we are living in an era of narcissism. Through their research, they found that narcissistic traits have drastically risen over the past few decades, exemplified by an uptick in plastic surgery, a lack of empathy, and the rise of self-focused social media.
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What I learned celebrating the anniversary of my birth

on Jul 29, 2021 10:19:43 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Wisdom Reflection time management relationships
On July 25th (All my Leos stand up!) I celebrated the anniversary of my birth and although the knees may become a bit weaker, I’m still young at heart and living a purposeful life everyday! This is a time where we not only eat cake, celebrate, and get gifts, but in my family, we also reflect on how much we’ve grown in the past year. As you grow each year and you experience the world, here are some things to consider:
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It takes courage to be the first: what being a first-generation college student taught me

on Jul 21, 2021 6:13:40 PM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Life Wisdom Courage Motivation
It was 5:30 in the morning and my full-to-the-brim teal minivan made its first stop at my grandmother’s home. Big Mama, as she was affectionately called, was sitting on her front porch with people from up and down the block. The kids I had played with my entire life came to see me off as I embarked on a new adventure; one that was not afforded to most people in my community.
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How to Build Reflection into your Daily Life

on Jul 14, 2021 9:00:26 AM By | Deanna Singh | 0 Comments | Purpose Skills Life Wisdom Reflection Self-Care personal development
Does it matter the speed we’re going if we don’t know where the final destination is? Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living” and this has proven to be true in a fast-paced world filled with distractions and detours. How then do you align your thoughts and decisions to a life of purpose? The answer is self-reflection.
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