To Accomplish Great Things We Must Dream and Believe

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe — Anatole France”

This quotation by turn-of-the-century French poet Anatole France reminds me that I need to make space in my life for dreams. That no matter what I want to accomplish, I must start with the impossible and believe it is possible.

As you create a plan for yourself, make time to dream.

And above all else, believe in your plan and yourself!

Learning to Incorporate Boredom Into Your Day

Researchers believe that there are different types of boredom that people experience and not all of them can help lead you to be more creative or productive. Indifferent and calibrating boredom can help you recharge your brain and allow you to rest from making decisions after decisions. Below are three ways to incorporate boredom into your day.

Choose the right activities

“Everyone has those boring, repetitive work tasks, but they’re not all created equal. For example, building a pivot table and analyzing the data can be tedious, but it requires a high level of focus and mental energy. On the other hand, stuffing envelopes for a marketing event or organizing the files on your desktop doesn’t take much focus. Look for the latter type of activity: tasks that allow your mind to wander off.

“Sandi Mann, a senior psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire and author of The Upside of Downtime: Why Boredom Is Good, says that it’s important to find an activity that requires little or no concentration to experience true boredom. In an article in Time magazine, she suggests activities like walking a familiar route, swimming laps, or even sitting with your eyes closed — letting your mind wander without music or stimulation to guide it.

“Mann also cautions us not to confuse boredom with relaxation. Activities like yoga or meditation, which are designed to promote tranquility, don’t lead to boredom since the whole point of those activities is to rid your mind of stimulation. Remember: Boredom is trying and failing to find that stimulation.” The Art of Being Bored: How to Be More Productive…