iStratus

We want to do it all. But we must stay engaged with our goals in order to stay motivated. 

Doing it all is a common goal, but too often we become distracted or bored. Sometimes, making it difficult to stay engaged with life.

Enter A World Of Organization

With a sense of organization around us, we can engage wholeheartedly with what we do, and in turn, keep that passion and excitement for life abuzz. 

So let’s rock this world together with iStratus!

The most interesting thing with all of this is that – there’s no singular solution or idea, which ensures engagement happens. Engagement is something that cannot be forced. 

The truth is, the more disorganized we feel, the more we become of change. It can do the opposite of what we hope to achieve.

So, where does that leave us? 

Let’s look at what’s at the heart of motivation and maintaining engagement in what we do in our daily lives.

Are you interested in reading this?

It is quite a simple question. And an important one, we need to know that we are truly interested in reaching a goal before we decide to tackle it.

You see, that’s what engagement is…

If we actively read, listen, and then formulate our own opinion, feelings, or view regarding a topic or issue, then immediately we’re more engaged.

Ultimately iStratus wishes to tap into those needs, and inner thoughts regardless of what we’re doing or need to do. At the end of that, we’ll feel far more motivated and engaged, or tuned in.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Fortunately, it doesn’t take much for us to shift momentum or direction. The smallest changes can have the biggest impact.

Every day we engage with each other is another day we create connected experiences in our environment, no matter where we are. The time is now. 

Let’s Break Down Barriers

It’s not a secret that if we understand what we’re dealing with, we’re more likely to use knowledge or apply something in a practical sense. That’s exactly what iStratus hopes to achieve for you. Break processes down so that things become easier and help maintain your interest, so that you don’t feel like a headless chicken. Typically, when we don’t have a clear process, direction, or we feel disconnected from something, we will automatically zone out. Simply put, that engagement and desire are lost.

A Voice and A Choice

The most important resource for all success stories is ourselves. Simply put this means that by giving ourselves a voice, we take ownership of staying motivated, rather than merely just doing it. At iStratus, we strongly believe having a place to categorize tasks or notate our direction for ourselves allows us to complete the items on our checklists. 

Ultimately if we highlight our areas of strength, areas for improvement, it then becomes a process of reflection, which goes a long way towards maintaining motivation. 

“The only lifelong, reliable motivations are those that come from within, and one of the strongest of those is the joy and pride that grow from knowing that you’ve just done something as well as you can do it.”

~ Lloyd Dobyns and Clare Crawford-Mason

Let’s Us Repeat: Stay Motivated and Engaged By “Doing”

Hooking into excitement is key. — If we’re excited, the principle is simple engagement and connection to what we do will take place.

None of us are magicians, we cannot force anything — but we must choose to do something for there to be a difference. This choice is made easier when we make the connection right from the get-go.  The question of: Are you truly interested in this? Matters. Let’s go down that rabbit hole of organizing and “doing” that leads to progress, synchronously increasing our zest for life and staying motivated.

Finally, there’s no substitute for experience, communication, and critical thinking skills. So let’s stay engaged with information, which is indeed at the very essence of utilizing what’s right in the palm of our hands.

Live life and roll well with iStratus.

The Power of Positive Thinking: We don’t know about you, but we often find there are many benefits of “Listing” your positive thoughts. 

There is an abundance of evidence that suggests that the brain finds it next to impossible to focus on positive and negative thoughts simultaneously.

We all know the ancient question: Is your glass half-empty or half-full? Considering whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic in your approach will also reflect upon your outlook of life — and quality of health.

At iStratus we believe creating the practice of listing the things you’re grateful for helps you train your mind to be increasingly more positive. 

If you set out to list your gratitude each day, your brain will be more aware of positive things to include on the list!

Indeed, listing the positives with optimism is a key part of applying effective stress management strategies. And realistically we’d all like to stress less.

We need to make it clear, positive thinking isn’t about sticking your head in the sand and ignoring life’s tough situations, or pretending everything is a rainbow. No, positive thinking is an approach to addressing unpleasantness more positively and productively. Going for the best outcome, rather than the worst.

Positive self-talk is the start. In our minds, the “self-talk” is that endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through our heads daily. Such automatic thoughts can be both positive and negative. 

Negative Thoughts?

Not sure if your self-talk is positive or negative? Some common negativity can include:

• Polarizing: Things only either good or bad. Finding the middle ground is irrelevant. Things must be perfect; otherwise, this will lead to failure. 
• Personalizing: You automatically blame yourself. For instance, you hear that there has been a change in plans, and you believe it was the result of something you said or did.
• Filtering: In this case, the negative aspects of a situation tend to override the positive ones. For example, five tasks on your “To Do” tasks were completed as required, yet your focus is solely upon only the one, which wasn’t, forgetting the wins achieved.

Positive Thinking with Gratitude as a Daily Focus

Daily gratitude can be incorporated into your thinking. The process can be rather simple and attainable; nonetheless, it requires time, commitment and practice. — Basically, you’re building new habits. 

We believe using iStratus to list your gratitude or thankfulness daily (or at least once a week) you will begin to see a shift towards thinking optimistically. This is how you do so:

• Pinpoint needed changes. Optimism requires engagement in more positive thinking. Start by identifying the things you usually think negatively about. Be it work, school, relationships, or the daily commute. Choose one thing to begin focusing on with increased positivity. 
• Check-in with the Self. At times, it’s necessary to stop and evaluate what you’re thinking about in your day. If you feel too much ‘negativity’ is happening, attempt to find a way to reposition a positive spin on it. Did you enjoy your coffee in the morning?
• Apply that Positive Self-Talk. By human nature, we tend to impose thoughts upon ourselves we certainly wouldn’t say to others. It’s not always easy to be encouraging of oneself. Thus, when negative thoughts creep in, think about things and people you’re grateful for daily.
• Positive people help. It’s not always good to be a complete island. We all need people around us who are positive and supportive. We don’t always have to agree with the thoughts and opinions of others, however, the people we can depend on for love, quality advice, and feedback matter. 

We all have freethinking minds. Still, those typically “negative thinking” personalities, can easily increase self-doubt which doesn’t help one’s ability to manage life in healthy ways. 

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle to fuel your mind and body. Eat well, with fruits and vegetables. Recharge your internal batteries to help manage stress. Engage in 30 minutes of exercise to positively improve your mood. 
• Laugh. Humor helps increase gratitude. When you can laugh at life, even in the toughest moments, you slowly feel better. Happier memories and hearts can be found within. 

Create that “List of Gratitude.” When your mind frame is generally more optimistic, life improves for better and we’re able to handle everyday stresses more constructively. Just Smile. Life is worth it.

Live life and roll well with iStratus.

This past year has been tough.

In many respects, this Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to think long and hard about what it is we value. What goals do we want to set?

For centuries, being able to compete within the rat race has been a symbol of pride and standing in our society. We often feel as though we are held to a cutthroat world, whereby success is measured through financial earnings and specific titles.

Throughout this article, we’ll discuss how to navigate choices, how to set goals so that hopefully one doesn’t feel stuck between a rock and a hard place, especially during times of stress.

Taking The “Enough Is Enough” Angle 

If one places impractical pressures on oneself and their family, it becomes exhausting for all. That daily structure we create needs to be organized, but also flexible. It’s also important to recognize yourself, your needs, desires, and goals as being significant.  

This isn’t stroking the ego, this simply means that the goals and expectations you set for yourself matters. We all want to be at the top of our game, maximizing our success with balance.

You can use iStratus to, make sure those targets are aligned with our strengths and interests. Not doing this can often lead to overload and this is also a real cause of burnout.

At iStratus, we feel that as long as you can use our app to develop some, structure or direction regarding what’s next even amid a pandemic, one step at a time – with goals in mind, this will provide a certain feeling of stability. 

We know how important it is to have a plan for the future. 

Be Realistic

On the same hand, we also need to remain realistic with the goals we set. We believe goals are great, but even better is when they are prioritized. With an exceeding amount of pressure that is placed upon us for success, continual motivation is unlikely if things are not prioritized or obtainable. 

Additionally, it’s also important to remember, there’s a distinct difference between having goals versus putting all one’s eggs in the same basket. Ultimately, the latter is bound for a struggle. 

Use iStratus to take note of specific steps and break your goals down. Trying this approach may help things feel less overwhelming, which in turn, will likely see some progress on those long-term goals or projects:

• Assess what is wanted – Not solely what you think you should be doing. 

(We all have to undertake tasks we don’t want to do. That’s life. However, distinguishing the objectives between what requires completion, alongside what is wanted, is a different kettle of fish).

• What Do You Enjoy? – List five things on a “Loves” list in iStratus. Can they help you attain your goals in some way?
• Start SMALL – Smaller goals are easier to achieve. Feeling better about things more often helps us progress and maintain it.
• Define Goals. Be specific – For example: To learn a musical instrument. Commit to practicing for 20 minutes a week even (it’s not always easy). Keep a list of any songs you’d love to learn.
• Break It Down – Mini goals help motivation levels.
• Set Deadlines – Targets help things stay on track. Set dates on your iStratus calendar for achieving each mini-goal and try your best to stick with it.

Every phase of life is a process. And honestly, providing all the advice and tools in the world doesn’t mean everything will be miraculously easier. Nothing is that simple. However, a good starting point is to truly think about what it is we hope to achieve.

“Set priorities for your goals. A major part of successful living lies in the ability to put first things first. Indeed, the reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.” ~ Robert J. McKain

We’ve been here many times, right? From a societal standpoint “time is always of the essence” however, we all know by now things change unexpectedly. The point is to take one step or one thing off the checklist at a time. 

And Sometimes, Press Pause, Just Breathe…

If there’s another thing this pandemic has taught us is – might it be that home is supposed to be a sanctuary? The four walls of a home are a place where one can retreat to and find peace, away from those things that pressure us.

Pause, rest, recharge, just breathe – and then tackle things! Set those goals in iStratus today and see how you go. Keep things flexible, one checkmark at a time, and there’s no doubt you’ll feel more open and positive towards those goals for the taking.

Live life and roll well with iStratus.

Are you constantly on the hunt for your car keys? Or walking into the store without your shopping list or phone on hand? And what about names?  Do you struggle to remember your mailman’s name? You’re not alone. Everyone forgets things occasionally. Still, memory loss is not something to be taken lightly.

In life, there are no assurances to preventing memory loss or conditions such as Alzheimer’s however, there is a myriad of evidence available online that indicates certain activities can potentially help. 

At iStratus, we’d like to consider the process of organization as one of seven simple ways our app can help sharpen memory. It will also hopefully make it easier to recognize the signs of memory loss and when there’s a need to address it.

Get Organized

Is your home cluttered or are your notes in disarray? You’re more likely to forget things when you are not organized. 

iStratus is the perfect tool for recording tasks, appointments, and other important events, limiting the amount of paper around you.

To help cement tasks in your memory, it also pays to repeat each entry aloud as you type it. We suggest, maintaining “To-Do” lists and checking off items as they’re completed. 

And always have a mainstay place for your wallet, keys, sunglasses/glasses, and other essentials.

Limit distractions as much as possible. If you focus on the information that you want to retain, you’re more likely to recall it later. It might also help to connect names to a favorite song or another familiar phrase or concept.

Exercise Your Body, Exercise Your Mind

Physical activity increases blood flow in your entire body, including your brain. This might help keep your memory sharp.

The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderately intense aerobic movement or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobics or a combination of both preferably spread throughout the week.

Even a 15-minute walk around the house or Zumba session in your living room is better than nothing! But, it’s easy to let an exercise routine slip if you don’t schedule it.  We suggest including your daily workout in your iStratus Dayplanner. 

Increase Your Brain Waves For Fluid Thought 

Akin to physical activity keeping your body in shape, mental stimulation keeps your brain in shape — and might keep memory loss at bay. Implement things into your daily schedule on iStratus and do your best to stick to it. There are other options too – like taking an alternate route when driving or learning to play a musical instrument. 

Stay Social. 

Social interaction helps keep depression and stress at bay, both of which can contribute to memory loss. Get together with loved ones, friends, and others.  This is especially important if you live alone.

Prioritize Catching Your Zzzzzzz’s!

Your brain needs quality, consistent sleep to perform at its best. It’s no surprise catching Zzzzzz’s plays a fundamental part in the process of memory strengthening.

Try to create a consistent sleep-wake cycle where you’re going to bed and waking up around the same time every day – even on the weekends.

Cutting screen time before bed can also help you get great sleep. For many, scrolling through your phone or watching television before settling can have negative impacts on sleep patterns.

Sleep experts also endorse limiting your caffeine intake during the late afternoon and evening. It also pays to avoid nicotine at night and limit alcoholic beverages before bed. Too much of anything at night may cause frequent restroom interruptions to catch your Zzzzzzzz’s anyway.

Sleep plays an important role in filing things within your long-term memory for recall down the road. Getting enough sleep is a definite priority. Extensive research can be found online which indicates most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per day.

You’ll feel like a better “you” when your schedule is on track – sleep included!

Eat Some Veggies: A Healthy Diet Helps

A healthy diet is as good for your brain as it is for your heart. Your stomach is your second brain. So eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains for fuel. Choose low-fat protein sources, such as fish, beans, and skinless poultry. Drinks count, too. Too much alcohol and not enough water can result in confusion and memory loss. 

When To Seek Further Help

If memory loss is a concern, talk to your doctor. Particularly, if this forgetfulness is noticeably worse or affects your ability to complete your usual daily activities. Your medical examiner is likely to undertake a physical assessment, as well as check memory and problem-solving skills. Treatment and testing depend on what’s contributing to memory lapses.

The important thing is to stay abreast of matters; being efficiently organized helps lessen memory stress.

Live life and roll well with iStratus. 

There’s not an adult on the planet that doesn’t have a mind filled with clutter.

And there’s something about that which is more troublesome than a cluttered home or workspace. A cluttered mind is restless, unfocused, and somewhat akin to a scrambled egg. The cluttered mind moves in multiple directions at once, and the result is little gets done.

Mental clutter can include keeping a mental “To-Do” list, worrying about the future, deliberating about the past, and so on. Does this sound like you?  Are you ready to clear space in your head?

Below are ideas to de-clutter your mind with iStratus, reduce feeling overwhelmed, and ultimately gain beneficial clarity to achieve more.

Your Physical Environment Matters

Clutter bombards the mind with disproportionate stimuli, which makes our brains work overtime. Clutter also signals that there’s plenty else that needs addressing, which is of course, in its own right mentally exhausting.

The bottom line: De-cluttering your physical space also de-clutters your mind in succession.

For The Record…

You don’t need to keep everything stored in your brain. Record and categorize things within the iStratus app —and utilize it as a storage device for all those bits and pieces of information you need to remember. This can include appointments, shopping lists, ideas for future projects, and so on.

Quit Multi-Tasking

We’ve mentioned this many times, but it’s worth repeating. Quit multitasking. It doesn’t work

If your house was a mess and you needed to reorganize it, how would you begin? Perhaps start by choosing one important area—for example, the kitchen pantry —and giving it a good cleaning.

The mental equivalent of tidying the kitchen pantry is to allocate a certain amount of time exclusively devoted to clearing your mind. Throughout this process, transfer your mental clutter to the side and completely focus your attention upon the task at hand.

Imagine your pantry top notch and organized, and ensure that it stays so, without other items being plonked all over it during the timeframe you’ve devoted to it. 

Mentally push the clutter outside of the pantry doors too. Make a note in iStratus of any items that might be needed to make this organization even more efficient, such as labels or storage canisters.

The Past Haunts

Speaking of “pushing something out the door” – mind clutter is also often related to the past. Most people keep a large cabinet of mental drawers stored in the back of their subconscious. 

Go through those mental files and discard memories of the past that are not serving you well in the present (it’s not easy, we know)… Set some “Quiet Time” on your schedule for yourself with iStratus.

Be Decisive

If your email inbox is filled with emails that require addressing, and no decisions are made on them, what will happen? Soon, your inbox will be overflowing with bills, requests from your employer or clients, and spam mail. The way to progress is to address what’s in your inbox or check things off your checklist. 

The solution for clarity of mind is to be decisive and follow through with tasks, to the best of your ability. Everyone has up and down days – that’s a given, life is a rollercoaster of crazy sometimes and really, the truth is, we are only human!

Routine Decisions Require an Auto Pilot Switch

Flick it to the “On” position.

Small, routine tasks can occupy a lot of brain space. This can include things like:

• Deciding what to eat for breakfast each morning;
• Deciding what you’re going to wear each day;
• Deciding on what to have for lunch; and so forth.

You can reduce the amount of brain space because of routine tasks by putting them into auto-pilot mode and setting them on automatic. This is why meal planning works so well.

Prioritize

Nothing creates as much brain clutter as an endless To-Do list. Accept that some things need to be dropped and focus on the most important things. 

A checklist of your top priorities will make all the difference to freeing up the bulk of your brain space.

And Learn To Breathe.

Sounds simple, but breathing is key to placing the mind at ease and putting useless thoughts of overload away. It’s not easy to do, but just like organizing your workspace, it can be done. 

“Nothing contributes so much to tranquilizing the mind as a steady purpose – a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.”

~ Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: English novelist (1797 – 1851)

Think clearly, and focus on what matters most.

Live life and roll well with iStratus.