CAREER SPECIAL...................... 5 Signs It's Time to Quit

5 Signs It's Time to Quit

                         

Are you moping around the office this week, shaking sand out of your purse from Labor Day weekend? After a holiday, a vacation or a long summer of fun and adventure, it's not unusual to feel a little reluctant to buckle down and kick back into gear at your job.

But what if that feeling doesn't go away? What if you've outgrown the job, or reached a tipping point on workplace stresses, or you simply changed your mind about what you want to do for a living?

What if it's time to quit your job?

Most people don't come to this realization overnight, but let it build up until something forces them into action -- be it a sudden opportunity or a slow burn out. It's hard to pin down the pain point of a job you don't like when you're rationalizing the paycheck, the time commitment, the passion, the relationships, the investment ...

It's a big decision! If you're feeling stuck, but not clear on the next steps consider weighing your current work situation against the following variables. If you can relate to any or all of them, it's time to plot out your exit strategy and move on to your next big thing.

1. YOU HATE GOING

It's more than just a bad case of the Mondays. If you dread going there every day, check what's going on with your inner dialogue on your commute to work. Proceed with caution. The competing voices in your head can make a very convincing argument about why the job stinks and how none of it is your fault. If you have attempted changes and you're still weighed down by a laundry list of general grievances (a toxic boss, an unrealistic commute, etc.) consider if it's worth 47 hours per week being that unhappy about issues beyond your control.

2. IT'S TAKING IT'S TOLL

Work isn't everything. A well-balanced life includes equal attention to all areas from family and community to learning, adventure, and relationship to self. As the CEO of your own personal affairs, it's your utmost responsibility to be allocate your time and energy across the spectrum in ways that are consistent with your dreams, not just your paycheck. If you are allowing your health, marriage, relationships, personal space or emotional well-being to suffer in the background while you toil away at work, it's time to quit and do better for yourself.

3. YOU'RE NOT GROWING

Personal growth doesn't come from places of comfort and ease. It happens when you accept challenges that push you out of your comfort zone. Even if you have a decent job, a great workplace or office friends, if you're and stagnating, it's time to move on. You may have outgrown your position and found that there is no opportunity for advancement, or you may just be ready for change. Whatever the reason, don't let inertia stop you from moving in a forward direction.

4. THE DREAM IS GONE

The why is everything. People who feel passionate about the purpose of their work can sustain more productivity and ultimately more fulfilling careers than those who are motivated by money or circumstance alone. Do you not believe in the company? Does your work feel purposeless? Perhaps the initial appeal of the job has worn off and you are no longer connected to the bigger picture; maybe your dream has simply changed. You might be able to rationalize sticking it out at a well paying position but if your heart isn't in it, the weight of golden handcuffs will soon become a burden.

5. A BETTER DREAM IS CALLING

The biggest reason people stay at jobs they don't like can be boiled down to fear. What's your flavor of fear? Fear of the unknown, fear of making the wrong decision, fear of trying and failing? This is especially true for those who already know what they wish they were doing but haven't taken the necessary next steps. Reinvention is scary! Understand that fear is the driving cause of your discontent, at work or anywhere. Understand that fear doesn't go away until you deal with it. Dealing with it means summoning the courage and integrity to forge a path that is true to you.

Though these scenarios are fairly straightforward indicators that your job isn't working out, only you can determine whether to hang in there or call it quits. Stay true to yourself and how you want to be at your job, even if you wish you were somewhere else. How you feel about yourself will factor greatly in whatever decision you make, whether you burn out and get fired or leave as the office star.

Lauren Zander 

HUFFINGTON

FOOD SPECIAL.................Top Vegetarian 10 Foods for a Better Mood

Top Vegetarian 10 Foods for a Better Mood

The food we eat can be an excellent source of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Growing research supports that the quality of our food is not only important to our physical health but also

Try these top  "brain-healthy" foods:

1. Leafy greens. Leafy greens like kale and bok choy contain folate, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K. Folate has been used as a supplement to improve depression. Leafy greens also contain compounds that help the liver process toxins better.

2. Walnuts, Almonds, Hazelnuts. Nuts are a good source of Vitamin E. You can have them raw or unsalted. One study found that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with 30 grams of mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts) daily led to less depression.

3. Blueberries and other berries. Berries, especially blueberries, have been found to protect the brain. In one study, eating two servings of blueberries a week was linked to a reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 35%.

4. Lentils, chickpeas, beans. Legumes like lentils and chickpeas contain high levels of folate and zinc, both of which have been used as effective supplements for treating depression. Beans like black eyed peas also contain high levels of folate.

Getting enough zinc is particularly important for vegetarians and vegans since the absorption of zinc can be reduced by 50 percent from phytates, which are found in plants.

5.  Dark Chocolate, raw cacao powder or nibs. Dark chocolate and raw cacao (powder from unroasted cocoa beans) contains cocoa polyphenols, a type of antioxidant found in plants, has been found to improve calmness and contentedness in a study where people received dark chocolate drink mix. Raw cacao nibs and powder do not contain added sugars and can be used in smoothies. Cocoa and raw cacao powder can contain toxic heavy metals, depending on the brand, so check with sites like Consumer Labs.

6. Pumpkin seeds. A quarter cup of pumpkin seeds contains almost half the daily recommended dose for magnesium, an essential mineral to protect you from depression and anxiety. Pumpkin seeds also contain zinc, plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, and tryptophan, which help promotes sleep.

7.  Fermented Foods and Probiotics. Scientific research is shedding light on the important link between the bacteria in the gut (your so-called "second brain") and your mood. Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut contain probiotics and have been found to reduce social anxiety. Fermented foods and probiotics can also help with depression and anxiety. Mice who were on probiotics behaved like they had taken Prozac. Probiotic powder supplements have also been shown to reduce negative thoughts during sad moods.

8.. Turmeric. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, an anti-inflammatory compound that has been found to help antidepressants be more effective in treating depression depression. You can drink it in tea or add it to your everyday dishes like chili or pasta sauce.

              FROM DR.M.WEI’S ARTICLE IN HUFFINGTON POST

MANAGEMENT SPECIAL...................... Creating Happy, Not Just Successful, Workplaces

Creating Happy, Not Just Successful, Workplaces   As I talk to people across companies, age and demographic slices, I am struck by the plague of unhappiness at workplaces. This includes high performers, fast trackers and well remunerated professionals. This seems counterintuitive but is a growing leadership challenge.High performance and individual happiness cannot stay divorced, notwithstanding the hardliner view that workplaces are about business success alone. It neither helps the individual nor eventually the organisation. It is just about engagement levels at a workplace, which could be a short-term issue.It is about a Happiness Quotient,  a bedrock of long-term effectiveness and sustained high  performance. How can we create Happier Workplaces, not just successful ones? Places where there is a sense of joy and fulfilment, of trust and collaboration. And yes, tasks get delivered without a ringmaster's presence. While there can be an unending number of reasons for unhappiness at the workplace, there are some typical fault lines to look for.And hopefully to work on. ARE YOU A MANAGER WHO JUST TALKS WORK? Talk not just about the task but about the person. So very predict ably, managers review only work.Just work. But a talent brings to work not just skills but also emotions, aspirations, concerns and misgivings. A wise and empathetic manager must make the time to show interest to co-explore and help address the issues early enough. Very often, they wake up but a little too late. IS THE WORKPLACE ESSENTIALLY LOW ON APPRECIATION? Some workplaces are stingy with compliments, appreciation and the little things that make individuals and teams feel appreciated.Some managers might just not even think there was anything that needed a little pat. It was what the person is paid for. I have known a leader who actually once asked what value do employees really make (sic)? In my experience, environments that are low in the practice of positive psychology are unhappier places. No big annual bonus can ever replace the power of a smile or the little thank you. IS YOUR TEAM HAPPY WITH THE QUANTITY, QUALITY OF THEIR WORK? No free pizzas and food courts can substitute good work. The tasks must be neither too much nor too little. Excessive and unending lists of `to dos' drain people and confuse them on priorities. Bad and inadequately understood multitasking is a happiness drain. Not having enough on your plate also makes one unhappy. And is the kind of work that one is tasked with really something that the talent looks forward to? Many organisations assign work of a level far removed than the profile of the user. Some tasks are just too mundane and never seem to connect with the larger purpose. It may seem to some that work, especially documents and presentations, is deliberately being constructed to keep people busy. The manager must always be alert and respectful of such cues. There are always constructive solutions but does the workplace pick up the cues? ARE YOU ALWAYS WANTING TO BE THE FINAL WORD? In my experience, one of the biggest reasons for workplace unhappiness is a micro-manager, one who wants to know and check everything, and possibly decide almost everything. Sometimes, a close review is indeed useful and even needed. Often, it is overdone. Decisions travel many levels up, technology  notwithstanding. No one really owns the decision and the outcome. Worse, it takes away the joy of creating, at least co-creating. Whether one leaves such a workplace or not, the sense of unhappiness is quite palpable. IS YOUR TEAM AND ORGANISATION DESIGNED RIGHT? Another reason that makes shoulders droop is faulty organisation design. Maybe jobs are not clearly sculpted. Too many people are stepping on too many toes. Accountabilities are unclear. There may be a formal organisation structure but a stronger informal power structure is what really works. Are the rank and file getting conflicting messages from too many stakeholders? Could the structure and responsibilities be better articulated, both in letter and spirit? Every team has issues of power, influence and politics. Could yours be getting to be a victim of it and living with unhappiness? DO YOU ALLOW SPACE TO YOUR TEAM TO ENJOY  WHAT THEY DO BEST? Not many managers even know their team well enough. They believe a task well done means the person would be happy. Individual triggers could, however, lie elsewhere. While every role has a lot of routine to deliver, every person should have a fair opportunity to do what they like to do. Managers and organisations who are more self-aware leverage these possibilities for larger collective gains. Others may get the goal sheet ticked off but fail to fully delight that talent. Not only do we contribute to unhappiness, we forfeit such huge possibilities for the corporation. DO YOUR COLLEAGUES TRUST YOU ENOUGH? Low-trust environments are not likely to create a happy workplace.Managers who do not walk their talk, frequently track you through others or create shadows to your role are not likely to be communicating high trust. Colleagues who do not surface differences of views upfront but prefer sabotage tactics are not likely to be contributing to high-trust situations. One of the biggest causes of stress and unhappiness is not to feel trusted and included. While trust is a two-way street, not too many organisations consciously work on building this and hope miracles will happen. Or at least accidents of attrition will not occur! ARE YOU SEEN AS RESPECTFUL ENOUGH? Organisations are typically battle grounds, each trying to outdo the other for time, attention, resources and rewards. While there is a certain reality one cannot deny, could we manage differences with conscious respect? Is a different point of view needing to be crushed with full force? Sociograms of meetings are an interesting example of how an organisation really functions. Who communicates with whom in what manner? Is there respect in disagreement or adverse feedback? Nothing makes people baulk, become unhappy and withdraw as when they are steam rolled over. Or not included in a deliberation. Or taken for granted. Or when everything goes to a couple of people to decide everything. Being a leader is tough and one has to be the guarantor of respect at all times, even in failures. Or you will surely have an unhappy workplace. Happy workplaces need not have fancy five-star office lifestyles. They need not also be perk-rich policy environments. They also surely need not by default be sub-optimally performing teams. They just need to be happier environments, more human, more trusting. They need to be situations that make people be themselves. They just need to be experiences of joy and fulfilment, of trust and collaboration.And then businesses take care of themselves. Prabir Jha The writer is global chief people officer (designate), Cipla ET22SEP15

YOUTH SPECIAL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, You too will lead a good life!

You too will  lead a good life!   A letter to youngsters at the cusp of life, worried and tense over what the  future holds for them! Dear Worried Young One, Why are you so tense? Carrying the burden of past regrets, present expectations  and future dreams, scurrying around to discover your place in the sun! Feeling directionless, and worried about your choices! Chill. Life knows the direction it is taking. It has been down this path several times, and will hand hold you through it as well. Your part of the job is to believe, to understand what you want, and to focus on it. I know everything seems chaotic right now, but out of this chaos will emerge order sooner or later. Rest assured -you will find your rightful place too. Remember what Steve Jobs told us about the unrelated stuff  he stumbled through, only to realise later how it all came together to  make future sense when he connected the dots back in time? That is  exactly how it happens with most of us. Everything you do or have done  has a place and meaning.Do not regret the past or the present. Believe  in yourself and your present moment -both have the potential to grant  you a great future. What are your worries? Let's list them -Am I on the right path? Did I choose wisely? Will I be successful? Will I be rich? Will I get a good life partner? Will my life matter? Will I make my parents proud? Success and love is what we all seek at every stage of life -and you are no different.  As far back as the 14th century, Persian poet Hafez said, “When all your  desires are distilled, you will cast just two votes -to love more and to be happy.“ Young worrier, you too are ultimately seeking a path to just those ends  -love and happiness. It is as simple as that. The rest is all just a means towards this goal.Choose your path intelligently and with awareness. What create chaos are the umpteen choices, and the myriad messages and advice from all directions -parents, peers, teachers and counselors. Listen to all and learn to sift the wheat from the chaff. Ignore some, absorb some, and file the rest. Observe and learn the lessons successful people share, especially those you adulate. There is no right or wrong way of living life. Most times we are as much the victims of circumstances as we are the creators of our Destiny. There is nothing wrong with either. That is how life hap pens. It mostly takes care of itself; it really isn't as big a monster as we make it out to be in our minds. So, what should you be doing? Understand yourself and your triggers. What is it that really floats your boat? Want to be a teacher, bureaucrat, scientist, journalist, doctor or author? What gives you a glow of happiness and a sense of wellbeing? Look for yourself in that direction. It may give you a hint of your future occupation.Can you build a life around it? Listen to your instinct; it will not lead you astray. Compartmentalise your day and stick to it; this will streamline life and help you stress less. Set aside time to think, to plan, to actually work. Carve out time to just be. Carve time for exercise and grooming. Carve time to worry, for that has its uses too! Keep time to just be, when you let your thoughts float away and allow your mind to be vacant;  such moments are enriching. Plan some fun time too as a reward for yourself. Do not forget some time to talk to friends and well-wishers. Hear out their worries; give voice to yours. Sometimes solutions come when you talk your issues out loud. There will still be times when you feel you lost the plot somewhere and are directionless. Bide your time; stay alert and attuned to opportunity. Things will work out. Just believe and allow instinct to take over. Someone somewhere always seems to have firm charge of the remote control.That's the way it has worked for most of us. Each one goes through  years of struggle, questioning, self-doubt and moments of utter despair when you wish to Alt-Ctrl-Del and start all over again. Nobody ever just sailed into the lives they comfortably straddle today. You will all become someone in your own right and lead the lives you deserve and are meant to live. You have the seeds of success and failure within you and the consequences wait outside. Believe in and be true to yourself; the rest will follow. You too will lead a good life : With best wishes for a life full of happiness and love!

^{vinitadawra nangia}

^TL20SEP15

BUSINESS SPECIAL....Why a website is a must for your business

Why a website is a must  for your business   A well-designed website is essential in today's  connected world as it helps customers find,  use and rate your products Whether you run a small flower delivery service or are in the process of patenting a path-breaking in vention, it is impossible to over state the importance of the Internet for any business today. With one of the fastest growing populations of Net users in the world, India will have an estimated 500 million Internet  users by 2017, according to a recent IAMAI report. As more and more Indians go online, the Internet is disrupting business models and giving rise to a new generation of entrepreneurs and small business owners. SMBs in India have been surprisingly sluggish when it comes to leveraging the Internet. India is home to over 51 million small businesses, accounting for more than 17% of our country's GDP. However, according to a study by advisory firm Zinnov, only 20% of Indian SMBs (about 10 million) are technology-ready. Just 500,000 SMBs have a website and a mere two million have access to the Internet. This is set to change in the next few years. If you own a business, a website is a must-have in today's connected world. Your website is where new customers will discover your business, find information about your products and services, and most importantly, get in touch with you. Listing on online marketplaces or creating a presence on social media is a good start, but not really a long-term solution. As your business grows, it is important to have your own online identity. Take the case of Rajkot-based Jay Khodiyar Machine Tools ( JKMT). Founded in 1994, JKMT manufactures biomass briquetting machines, which turn agro, forestry and municipal waste into biomass briquettes. Since creating an online presence--a professional website and personalised email addresses--JKMT's businesses inquiries have grown by 500%. That's what an effective online presence can do. There are several compelling benefits to having your own website. 1. Discoverability Every business is special, but it needs to be discovered first. Today, when people look for any new product or service, they first search on the Internet.Typical consumer behavior is to search for a category and then choose the brand. The goal of every business is to be the leader of their category. And that is where the website comes in. A website with the right keywords is crucial for getting discovered.Even if most of your business happens offline, your customers still need to find you online to even know that your store exists. Discoverability matters. 2. Differentiation Your website is a great tool to differentiate you from other similar businesses. It immediately sets you apart and makes people view your work as a seri ous, legitimate business. A website allows a business to customise its look and feel, the way you converse with the customer and create a differentiated customer experience. A differentiated business takes the conversation away from pricing and focusses on the brand value and its products. 3. Communities Your website provides a platform for customers to engage with you and each other through forums, discussion boards, ratings and reviews. Your website and social media go hand in hand in creating a compelling online branding for your business. Customer success stories, user reviews and feedback can go a long way in building confidence. 4. Brand Protection Protect your brand on the Internet by selecting the right domain name--it will have a lifelong impact on bringing in traffic and in turn, success. With almost 100 million domain names already in use, finding an unused name that is unique to your business can be difficult. Choose a domain name that is logical, memorable and easy to type. Keep an eye on the future. Book your domain name across different options such as  .com, .in, .org, and even the new name options such as  .guru or .photography (depending on the business you are in). Then make sure that they all redirect to your official domain. This will ensure your name is protected. 5. Marketing and communication A website can become your number one marketing tool since it allows you to share information, communicate with customers and display testimonials.The right keywords will help ensure your website performs well on the SEO front, making it more visible to customers. Food delivery services such as Spoonjoy.com and Freshmenu.com are great examples of businesses that are effectively using their websites to market and communicate. 6. Product education and awareness Your website is the best place to host product demos, trials and manuals that customers can access and share. It is also convenient to share links on social media or email as required. For example, Greentech Life, a Bangalore-based seller of `smart' dustbins that simplify composting, uses its website to educate customers on correct way to compost. 7. Cost saving If you think the cost of building a website is a deterrent, consider the opportunity cost of not having a website. A website allows you to effectively use digital media for advertising that generates traffic on the website. Not only is online advertising cheaper than print media, it is also far more effective. Building your own professional website is not difficult. A website with a custom domain name costs as little as `99 a month. There are web-based platforms and technologies help you build your own website. As a small business working to build your digital presence, building a website may seem like an overwhelming task. However, the truth is, building a website is the single most useful investment that you will make to help grow your business. And the sooner you do it, the better.

Rajiv Sodhi.ET21SEP15

VACATION SPECIAL .....................Stay fit on a vacation

 Stay fit on a vacation





EXPLORE ON FOOT

Ditch bus, train and taxi. Walk it instead. Walking is a great form of exercise, and above all, helps you save a lot of money when you are out sightseeing.While burning loads of calories, walking also helps you go deep into the local culture, people, food and music.

USE NATURE AS YOUR GYM

Embrace the adventurous in you. If you are on an island or a beach holiday, head to the water for your workouts. Resort pools are a great place to pools are a great place t have fun and get fit and are suitable for all ages. Swimming takes the weight off the spine and knees and exercis es the muscles in a gentle way. Wake up early to start your day with a swim; you can also recruit your friends and family to join in to make the activity a lot more enjoyable. Try surfing, stand-up paddle boarding or snorkelling to get some fresh air and wake up some muscles you may never have known you had. Mountains are great for hiking, running, horse riding and soaking up the surroundings.

TRY THE LOCAL SPECIALTY

Take advantage of what an area's known for -or even plan a vacation around it! Learn tai chi moves in China, or woo potential suitors with flamenco moves in Spain. It's a great way to learn about a different culture while getting fit.

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

If you're heading to a destina tion that's known for its nightlife and dance clubs, you're in for a lot of fun and fruitful workouts. Mov ing to music not only en hances your mood, but also adds to the relaxed vacation feeling.

EAT AND DRINK SMART

No matter where you travel, you're bound to find fresh and healthy high protein, high-fiber options to fill your plate. Avoid sugar, processed foods, and simple carbs. If you're trying to save empty calories during a nightout, go for Vodka or tequila with carbonated water and a splash of fruit juice.

shikha shah

TOI20SEP15

PERSONAL SPECIAL ........ PRODUCTIVITY EXPERTS SHARE THEIR BEST TIPS FOR A MORNING ROUTINE MAKEOVER

PRODUCTIVITY EXPERTS SHARE THEIR BEST TIPS FOR A MORNING ROUTINE MAKEOVER

THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE FIRST HOURS OF THE DAY, SO WE FOUND MORE SOLUTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM.

"The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day," said 19th-century social reformer Henry Ward Beecher, and a couple of centuries later, the sentiment still holds true. A great morning can set the tone for a great day, while a bad morning can make us want to give up and go back to bed. So how do you have more great starts than bad beginnings?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, says Ryan Nicodemus, coauthor of Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life. "That’s why finding a routine is so difficult; there isn’t a template, and everyone’s morning is going to look different," he says. "You have to find what’s right for you."

To design your best morning, take a look at these 10 tips from productivity experts:

1. REMIND YOURSELF WHY YOU'RE DOING IT

While you might intellectually understand that it's beneficial to get ready for the day, that alone won’t motivate you to do anything, says Nicodemus.

"You have to understand why you’re doing something," he says. Write down what you want to accomplish each morning and list all of the reasons why. If you find yourself getting derailed, take out your list and review your aspirations. "Looking at your list can help you understand your priorities, and you’ll feel worse if you get off track than if you didn’t have your list."

2. START THE NIGHT BEFORE

The best morning routines start out the night before, says John Trosko, founder of the California-based organizing firm Organizing LA.

"Lay your clothes out the night before, pack lunches, and even plan dinner," he says. "Make sure your laptop or bag is packed, so you don't have to think about what you need in the morning. Your day can get off to a great start if you've planned out your start."

3. GET UP EARLIER

Mornings often feel hectic because you run short on time. While it seems a no-brainer, getting up 15 minutes early can eliminate the feeling of being rushed, says Lorie Marrero, author of The Home Office Handbook: Rules of Thumb for Organizing Your Time, Information, and Workspace.

USE A TIMER TO FIND OUT HOW LONG EACH STEP OF YOUR ROUTINE TAKES. OUR BRAINS ARE NOTORIOUSLY BAD AT ESTIMATING ELAPSED TIME.

"The morning is one of the best places to find extra time," she says. "Getting up 30 minutes early means you can meditate or read, and giving yourself an extra hour means a workout."

4. CHANGE YOUR PHYSICAL STATE

If you’re not a morning person, it can be hard to jump-start your morning routine. In order to transition into a productive mode, Nicodemus says you have to change your state.

"Jump into a cold shower; it will change your state immediately," he says, adding that coffee works, as does refusing to use the snooze button. "If you’re setting your alarm 30 to 45 minutes early so you can hit the snooze button a few times, you’ll end up being more tired than if you got up when your alarm went off."

5. TIME YOUR ROUTINE

Find out how long things really take by timing your morning routine, and then plan accordingly.

"You might think you can take a shower, brush your teeth, get dressed and take care of other grooming needs in five minutes, but you can't," says Lisa Zaslow, founder of the organizing firm Gotham Organizers. "Use a timer to find out how long each step of your routine takes, then determine what time you need to get up based on that. Our brains are notoriously bad at estimating elapsed time."

6. PUT OFF YOUR DISTRACTIONS

The biggest problem when it comes to a morning routine is distractions, says Nicodemus.

"What happens is that checking email, social media, the news, and our stocks feels like productivity," he says. "But we’re really just distracting ourselves from what needs to be done first. Don’t allow yourself to do any of those tasks until you’ve finished your morning routine."

7. ELIMINATE CHOICES

Wear the same clothes and eat the same breakfast, suggests Carson Tate, author of Work Simply.

"Boring? Yes, at times. However, the goal is to minimize decision making and move through your morning routine with the least amount of mental output as possible," she says. "The fewer decisions you have to make in the morning, the less fatigued your prefrontal cortex becomes, freeing you up to focus on strategic, revenue-producing ideas and projects. Eliminating choices is a powerful productivity hack."

For example, Tate has two pairs of the exact same black pants and buys the same style of dress in different colors. "I can open my closet and get dressed on autopilot," she says.

8. SET YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE DAY

Carve out a little time to review your calendar and identify what you need to do, says Janine Adams, founder of the professional organizing firm Peace of Mind. "That can happen with coffee or breakfast, on the train to work, or anywhere else you can focus," she says. "Knowing the top three things that you need to accomplish in a day gives you extra focus and helps you stay on task when you arrive at the office."

9. SET A GOAL

Trosko has a client who challenges herself to do things that will start off the day well: "She and her husband give themselves a star for a variety of good behavior, like getting up early, going for a walk, sex, meditation, making a smoothie, Pilates, or writing," he says. "They add up their number each morning with a goal to get to five stars."

BY STEPHANIE VOZZA

http://www.fastcompany.com/3050983/know-it-all/productivity-experts-share-their-10-best-tips-for-a-morning-routine-makeover?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fast-company-daily-newsletter&position=6&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=09172015