Getting organized is not just a good idea because your mom said so. There are lots of benefits to being in control and developing a clutter-free lifestyle.

1. Less stress
   When organized you are automatically less stressed, you know where your keys, wallet, important papers, phone charger and phone are. Similarly, if your project plan is up to date and you complete your reports on time, there’s no need to worry about on-the-spot requests for project updates or meetings.
2. More time
   Planning your time and keeping up-to-date means you can allocate time for everything in your life, including downtime. Being organized means, you won’t get sidetracked or panicked by not being able to find important items. You’ll be punctual and more productive.
3. Ready for the unexpected
   You can be prepared for last-minute requests or deadlines because you’re not distracted by untidiness or the mental cloud of not being quite sure where things stand. That is true for everything from...

Taking action is the most important step to success. No matter what you have in mind, it's impossible to predict the outcome unless you get started in the first place.

From launching a business to booking a trip and growing your income, it's all about taking action. Even though there is no guarantee that you'll succeed, you can never know unless you try.

Need more proof? Here are four benefits of being an action taker:

Encourages Empowerment and Learning

Action takers are constantly learning new things. They experiment with different strategies, brainstorm ideas, and innovate. When they fail, they learn from their mistakes. This loop improves their confidence and self-esteem while helping them develop the skills needed to succeed.

Actions Create Habits

New actions require new habits. For example, if you start your own business, you must commit to your clients and complete projects on time. That takes planning and preparation. Over time, you will become more organized and manage your...

We all know that goal-oriented people are more successful, happier, and more productive. But setting and keeping goals is a skill, and like any skill, there’s a right way to do it. One thing you might find helpful is separating your goals into behavior-based and outcome-based models. There are a few differences between the two, and knowing which is which can be key.

Behavior-Based Goals

Behavior-based goals are typically changes you make to how you act. For instance, handling stress better, being nicer to others, and spending less time procrastinating are all examples of behavior-based goals. They focus on how you personally feel and behave, rather than just looking purely at the outcome of your actions.

Behavior-based goals play into outcome-based goals, but they aren’t the same. When you change how you think and feel, often you’ll notice a change in results. But that’s not the focus, it’s just a pleasant side-effect.

In order to make behavior-based...

Setting goals isn’t complicated, but like everything else, there is a right and wrong way to go about it. Making goals to change your behavior -- whether it’s to decrease procrastination or be friendlier when you’re under stress -- can be a lot trickier than creating goals to change performance. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Focus on Future Performance

It’s cause and effect -- today’s behavior affects tomorrow’s performance. If you’re having trouble meeting a performance-based goal you’ve set for yourself, consider that you might need to change a behavior instead. For instance, many people set goals to increase productivity. But regardless of how fast you type, if you spend all morning surfing the web you’ll never meet your goal.

When it comes to behavior-based goals, your focus should be on future performance. Go out of your way executing your behavior-based goals, stay consistent, and really work hard on changing the...

What's stopping you from taking action? Is it fear? Perhaps you're waiting for the right break instead of making your opportunities in life? Or maybe you believe you're not smart or talented enough? These negative beliefs are holding you back.

There's a reason why so many intelligent people fail. They tend to overthink everything and are often afraid to take risks. If that's your case, here are some powerful reasons to become an action-taker:

Get Rid of Doubts

If you don't take action, you'll keep wondering What if? You will struggle with self-doubt and question your decisions. Taking action builds experience and boosts your confidence. It also allows you to discover new resources and information that will contribute to your success.

Your Time Is Limited

Steve Jobs once said that remembering you're going to die is the best way to stop thinking you have something to lose. Your time on this earth is limited. You never know what’s going to happen a month or a year from now on.

...

If your life is starting to feel out of control, you can make things easier for yourself by automating your life. Small, routine tasks such as deciding what to eat and what to wear can occupy a lot of brain space. You can reduce the amount of brain space that’s taken up by putting these routine tasks on auto-pilot.

Sit down with a pencil and paper and think of the repetitive, but important decisions you don’t need to keep making every day. Here are some examples you can implement:

1. Wear a work "uniform"

Steve Jobs famously wore the same black turtlenecks every day, so he didn’t have to think about what to wear. Think of something simple and easy, a standard outfit or a capsule wardrobe of basics (preferably easily laundered and drip dry), so that’s one less decision or stress point in your day.

2. Streamline your breakfast options

The easiest option is to eat the same thing for breakfast every day, but you can also think of a limited menu. Muesli or...

When you think about the advantages of behavior-based goals, a few things come to mind immediately. You might be excited to get more done, or be promoted, or increase your leadership skills, or just lead a happier life in general. All of these things are possible with hard work and dedication, but setting the right goals makes it much easier.

Increase Productivity

Being a goal-oriented person means making the most of your time. When you start to act on behavior-based goals, you’ll find yourself getting more done. In fact, one of the biggest reasons that people seek change in the first place is to increase their productivity. With a few changes, you can stop procrastinating and accomplish more with less stress.

Behavior-based goals like cutting down on procrastination, managing your time more effectively, and concentrating on the task at hand can all increase your productivity. Instead of making explicit goals like finishing a report in record time, focus more on staying...

Have you ever read articles about how people like Oprah or Brendon Burchard start their day? They claim the practice of gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to change your life, and they are living proof. Keeping a gratitude journal is an excellent way to start noticing and counting your blessings. It’s simple, yet powerful.

But there’s no need to stop there!

There are many ways to add the practice of gratitude into your life so that you stay focused on appreciating all the amazing things you have in your life. Here are a few simple ways to add more feelings of gratitude in your life, starting now.

•  Compliment a stranger—how many times have you admired someone’s haircut or blouse, but not complimented them on it? Start today!
• Let someone ahead of you in line—remember how it feels when you have one item, and all the people in front of you have a shopping cart full? Guess what? Everyone feels that way. The next time you get the...

Want to be happier? Most people do! The good news is there are some simple practices to make you happy, and they don’t cost a cent! And, you can get started as soon as you finish reading this article.

Appreciate

Appreciating people for what they have done for you helps improve your level of happiness. It strengthens your relationships and draws more positive people to you. Studies have shown that people who show gratitude consistently live a healthier life. They don’t have constant ups and downs in emotions, they sleep well and have fewer health problems.

Give

Sharing what you have with people who cannot afford to own such things not only makes them happy, it also makes the giver happy, abundant and fulfilled. Merely showing simple acts of kindness boosts people’s trust in and love for you. Studies show that those who show kindness felt happier than those who didn't. Having the desire to share your time and resources with others starts with acknowledging and...

Setting goals are not the same as just wanting something, or even making resolutions. Deciding you want something won’t get you anywhere without goals and a plan to achieve them. Whether it’s losing that spare tire, writing your novel or expanding your business, there are some key things to focus on if you want to reach your goals.

1. Be your best you

If you want to achieve your goals you need to be the best you that you can be. Show up, work hard, be kind, live the life you want to have, and be the person you want to be. Know that you’re doing everything you can and a bit more to achieve the life you want. Be your cheerleader and know that you can do it!

2. Look after yourself

Part of being your best you is for you to take care of yourself, mind and body. Make sure you eat well, exercise, get outside for some fresh air, and take time out for rest and fun. Looking after yourself and having a balanced life will keep you focused and energized and help you avoid...