Vanya Wryter Consulting Services

Tag: self improvement

  • How to Beat Procrastination and Finally Get Things Done

    How to Beat Procrastination and Finally Get Things Done

    We tend to think of procrastination as a bad habit — and it is — but it’s also a way to cope. When we feel overwhelmed, unsure, or just mentally drained, avoiding a task can feel like the only option. The problem? That relief is temporary, and the stress always circles back.

    If you’re tired of riding that cycle, here are four practical ways to break it when you’re not feeling 100% motivated.

    1. Lower the Barrier to Starting

    Most of us don’t procrastinate because we’re lazy — we procrastinate because starting feels like a mountain. So instead of saying “I need to finish this,” reframe it to “I’m just going to work on this for ten minutes.” Ten minutes is a small commitment compared to finishing a whole task. Starting is often the hardest part, but it’s easier to keep going once you’re in motion.

    2. Make the Task Clearer

    Vague goals result in vague actions. If your task is “Work on project,” it’s harder to measure how much you’re getting done. Break the task into specific actions: “Write intro paragraph” or “Choose paint color for bedroom wall.” This removes decision fatigue and gives you a clear starting point.

    3. Change Your Environment

    You can’t expect deep focus in a space that’s set up for distraction. If your phone’s constantly buzzing with notifications or you’re working where you relax, your brain won’t switch gears easily. Create a work-friendly zone, even if it’s just clearing off a part of your table or playing mood music to shut out unwelcome noise.

    4. Find Rewards That Reinforce

    It’s tempting to binge YouTube after a productive hour, but make sure your rewards don’t undo your progress. (Work for one hour, and watch fun videos for one hour.) Think small and restorative — a short walk, a coffee, a chat with a friend. Your brain should associate completing a task with feeling good, not being distracted.

    Key Takeaway

    Procrastination isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about adjusting your systems. With a few intentional changes, you can build momentum from small accomplishments instead of waiting for the best moment to get an entire project done.

  • Tips to Improve Your Mindset and Well-Being

    Tips to Improve Your Mindset and Well-Being

    Words have tremendous power and influence. Terse statements such as “I love you,” “I hate you,” “You’re hired,” and “You’re fired” can dramatically change a person’s life. But it isn’t just what we say to another person that can have a tremendous impact. The words we choose to say can change how other people perceive us, and change our own mindset. Here are some tips to create a positive way of thinking.

    Tip 1: Choose words that put you in a positive light.

    Compare the following statements. What does each pair of statements say about the speaker’s mindset? Which words are confident? Which words are apologetic?

    Sorry, I’m late.

    Thank you for waiting.

    The first expression is very common. However, you are starting off with an apology (nothing wrong with that). But by saying, “Thank you for waiting,” you are acknowledging the other person and speaking in a more positive way by not beginning with sorry.

    Tip 2: Say what you mean to avoid a possible misunderstanding.

    Giving an order with “Don’t” is quick and to the point. “Don’t step on the grass.” But using “don’t” also emphasizes the negative. Sometimes, what people hear is not “DON’T step on the grass” but “Step on the grass.” You can make the same point using positive wording: “Remember to avoid the new grass.” Or “Remember to log off before you leave the office.”

    Tip 3: Be careful with meaning and intent.

    I didn’t hear what you said. Could you say it again?

    Could you repeat what you said in a different way? 

    A slight change in wording changes your meaning and intent. In the first example, you’re admitting you weren’t paying attention and the speaker must remember what he or she said. In the second example, you’re implying you were listening (even if your mind drifted) and you want to make sure you understood what was said.

    Tip 4: Speak like you are being proactive, not reactive.

    How do I know if I can finish the task correctly?

    What if I make a mistake using the new software?

    These two examples have the same negative mindset in common. The speaker is focused on failure or possible failure. The speaker is leaving the outcome to chance and fate.

    What can I do to ensure I finish this task correctly? 

    What are some common mistakes and what can I do to avoid them?

    Compare the negative mindset examples to the sentences above. Notice the change to a positive mindset. The speaker is taking initiative and controlling the outcome. The speaker doesn’t know what to do, but is telling the listener that he or she wants to be prepared and will make sure the outcome will be the best possible one.

    Key Takeaways

    The words you choose to express an idea are part of your mindset. You can express an idea in a way that makes you appear negative and lacking in confidence. Or you can choose words that show initiative and positivity. Your words are a powerful extension of your personality and mindset.

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  • How to Deal with Distractions While at Work

    How to Deal with Distractions While at Work

    Distractions can be relaxing. Distractions can be harmful. How you deal with distractions determines if you can manage your time or watch it slip away from you. Especially at this time of year, it’s easy to lose motivation at work. We’re still partly in holiday mode and readjusting to our work schedule. If you are distracted while at work, try these tips on how to deal with distractions to keep yourself focused.

    1 Shift Your Mind into Work Mode

    Imagine your mind as a bunch of rooms. If you can, divide your life into compartments to avoid distractions. If you work from home, there is plenty to distract you from doing your work. Your family members may want your attention. Or your delicious lunch is tempting you to go to the kitchen. That TV series you’re hooked on is beckoning you to finish one more episode.

    A mental switch into work mode can include changing into work clothes (your work sweater, your work hoodie) and starting your routine, such as getting your cup of coffee, opening up your computer, and checking your work emails. 

    If your job involves a lot of brainstorming and creative thinking, it’s easy to take a moment to check messages on your phone, wander off to get a quick snack, or peek out the window to see what the neighbors are doing. “I’m doing some research,” you say. The break might inspire you with a breakthrough.

    The ding! of a work email can be super exciting if your mind is completely blank and you’re stuck on your creative work task. What should you write next? How do you tackle this problem? Checking a work message can be a nice distraction. After all, you’re still in work mode. You’re just off task. Having a timer helps keep you on task.

    2 Prioritize and Time Your Tasks

    Sometimes, despite your best intentions, it is difficult to stay in work mode. You might still be in holiday mode and feeling sleepy now that you’re getting up early again. However, office hours have begun and you need to get some work done. Devoting a whole eight hours to work instead of doing whatever you like can be daunting.

    Start by mapping out what work tasks you absolutely must complete and what tasks would be nice to complete. Prioritize tasks that must get done by a specific time or end of the day. 

    Use a timer and block off your day in 15 or 30-minute chunks – decide what increment works best for you. It’s easier for your mind to wander if you think you have all day to finish your work. Set a goal to complete a specific task within your time block. With short-term goals, it’s easier to stay focused.

    3 Set Aside Time for Self Care

    Sometimes, telling yourself to switch to work mode or prioritize tasks isn’t enough, especially if you’re dealing with something that affects your mental or physical health. 

    For example, you just found out you have a major health issue to deal with in the coming months or you’re dealing with a conflict at home that’s giving you sleepless nights.

    Provide yourself with something to look forward to, such as a favorite snack or lunch to reward yourself when you finish part of the work day. If you can, take a nap or listen to some music. Go for a walk during lunch. Talk with a friend during your break. What you do after work is important as well, such as spending time with friends or family, or going to the gym. Check if you’re getting enough sleep. Plan an activity so you have something to look forward to at the end of the work week.

    Distractions can be fun, but sometimes too much distraction can lower your productivity.

    What do you do when distractions pull you in multiple directions?

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  • Should You Make New Year’s Resolutions?

    Should You Make New Year’s Resolutions?

    Do you believe that a new year brings a new you? Some people make New Year’s resolutions and set new goals for the new year. January 1st is a reminder to turn over a new leaf and to make a list of self-improvement goals. And for some ambitious people who like New Year’s resolutions, the first of January is a time to reflect on the past year and see how many of their resolutions from the past year were achieved.

    Now, if you’re one of those who cringes when you think of the resolutions that you abandoned in the first months or (gasp) the first month of the outgoing year, you’re pretty normal. According to the Pew Research Center, at the start of 2024, “Of the 70% of Americans who did not make any New Year’s resolutions this year, a majority (56%) say their main reason for not doing so is they simply do not like to make resolutions.”

    In the same survey, the Pew Research Center found that “Three-in-ten Americans report making at least one resolution this year, with half of this group making more than one.” The numbers aren’t high. 

    I used to make a list of ten New Year’s resolutions in January, and in December of that year, I was usually dismayed to find that perhaps only three of the ten items were completed and maybe an additional two were started and not finished. Perhaps I set the bar too high for myself. Or maybe I needed to review that list more often than twice a year. After a few years of making resolutions, I quit. They weren’t lists of resolutions. They were lists of dreams!

    If you can make New Year’s resolutions and accomplish them in twelve months, that’s amazing! I’ve found it more practical to make a weekly to-do list. Maybe it’s the same thing, but the terminology (“to-do”) certainly seems less intimidating. Stuff that you just have to do is more bite-sized than Resolutions that have a vow-taking status.

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  • 5 Tips on Working for a Virtual StartUp

    5 Tips on Working for a Virtual StartUp

    Nowadays, it’s possible to go to an office address and find that the company you’re looking for doesn’t physically exist there. At all. Technology has enabled the employees of an entire company to work from home. 

    Some of these companies are startups that are 100 percent virtual. These companies are great if you hate commuting and love working in your own space. But, as startups, they also have their drawbacks.

    Keep these five tips in mind if you’re thinking of working for a 100% remote startup company. These tips can improve your success at working for such a company in the long term.

    1 Believe in the mission and vision

    Look into the company’s mission and vision before you go to your job interview. The company’s goals should completely line up with yours. Of course, you want to work for a company with a purpose you believe in. With a startup, it is even more crucial that you aren’t working for the paycheque. Here’s why.

    Startups are start-ups. The journey can be bumpy as the company experiences growing pains. Roles for each person may constantly change. Policies and procedures may frequently update as the company tries to determine what works and what doesn’t. Even the company’s products and services may change as it adjusts to become a better fit for its ideal customers. 

    If the company’s goals are goals you fully support, it makes the constant shifting and adjusting easier to bear.

    2 Be flexible and open to change

    If you’re going to work for a startup, you absolutely must embrace change. As the company grows at a rapid pace, more people will join the team. Roles and responsibilities will shift. You may find yourself working with more team members or find yourself managing a team. You may have more tasks on your to-do list. Or you may have fewer, more specialized tasks as your role becomes more defined.

    Procedures may also improve and change over time as the company experiments with different types of software. Instead of tracking your hours on a simple spreadsheet or table, you now need to learn to use customer management software (CRM software) such as Salesforce. Instead of casually mentioning in a chat that you finished a task, you’ll need to write your update in a project management tool, such as Trello, Asana, or Click Up.

    3 Take initiative

    A startup company is still figuring out many things. Just picture a company that is settling into its office on moving day. Office equipment and office furniture are everywhere as people try to figure out where everyone will sit and what will go in each room.

    Some startups don’t have a human resources (HR) department or a clear line of authority. In these cases, you may need to be more assertive than you’re comfortable with. For example, if the person you report to is disrespectful to you, you’ll need to figure out who you could talk to about your boss. Similarly, without an HR, you won’t have someone to speak to about disrespectful treatment by a coworker. You will also have to take the initiative about getting a raise because the company is still figuring out what the pay raises, bonuses, and benefits should be.

    4 Be prepared to put in extra hours and effort

    Working for a startup could mean working extra hours and putting in more effort. Depending on how established the startup is, the company may require you to work longer days to get procedures set up. They may be short staffed, so you’ll find yourself taking on the role of more than one person.

    At some companies, they will appreciate the extra effort and reward you with a promotion, such as a change in job title or responsibilities, or better pay. At other companies, particularly those that aren’t well organized, your extra effort will be required but will go unnoticed. They will expect you to work weekends and evenings in addition to regular office hours.  

    5 Invest in yourself

    If you’re working for a virtual startup, you may feel a bit disconnected, especially if you’re a social extrovert. You may only know the person who brought you into the company after the job interview. You’ll also know the people who you work with regularly. But everyone else will be just a name in a chat group. You don’t get to meet people casually in the hallway or during lunch break. 

    The people you work with may not remember to introduce you to key members of the team or remember to show you how to use the software you’ll need. 

    It’s up to you to reach out and remind them of your skills if you want a promotion or pay raise. Your supervisor may not remember these details, especially if the team has been growing and your supervisor has changed and there is no HR department. 

    Learning new skills is important, especially when it comes to technology. No one from the IT Department is going to knock on your door to help you set up your computer or connect to your internet. If you lose your internet connection or your computer breaks down, you lose your lifeline to your virtual job. 

    Key Takeaways

    Not all startups are the same. Leadership affects how the company treats its employees. If there is strong leadership, the startup will grow quickly while providing the support that each person needs. People will feel acknowledged and appreciated for their work. If you’re considering working for a virtual startup, be prepared to put in extra effort and be ready for rapid and constant change.

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