Cheat Sheets for Life Quotes

“set smart goals – Concrete, measurable, realistic, and time-based goals with step-by-step plans to achieve them (with up to 5 smaller steps) are what really work.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Find the meaning – Those who say they are currently stressed also report having the most meaningful lives. Love, work, parenting, and pursuing goals all involve stress.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Read – Reading reduces stress levels by 68%, which is more than virtually any other activity including listening to music, drinking tea/coffee, or walking. And the positive effects emerge within just 6 minutes! Express yourself – Making or tending things (especially using your hands) enhances mental health. Baking can boost confidence, and gardening can reduce stress even more than reading.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Try fixed role therapy – 24 hours a day for two weeks, try behaving as though you have the personality traits you would most like to have. They may become part of you.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“We all want to be happier. Luckily, while 50% of our happiness does derive from our genetic setpoint, and 10% from our life circumstances, a whopping 40% is determined by our own actions, thoughts, and intentions – it’s in our control. Try these practices to build more joy into your life.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Of this be sure: You do not find the happy life... You make it.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Set a timer – Set a timer to give yourself 5-10 minutes to think through a problem. Then when your timer pings, switch gears.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Keep a rumination record – Rumination is a toxic practice of dwelling on negative thoughts. Keep an hourly rumination record to catch yourself ruminating and identify when you ruminate more/less. Prepare to actively distract or relax yourself during trigger periods.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Experience post-traumatic growth – Incredibly, male Holocaust survivors lived longer than men of the same age who escaped Nazi rule. Despite all odds, these survivors experienced post-traumatic growth which enhanced their later years of life.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Avoid the TV – Every hour of TV-viewing after the age of 25 cuts lifespan by about 22 minutes. Meanwhile, those who watch TV for 4+ hours a day are 80% more likely to die due to heart and arterial disease.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Take the VIA character strengths quiz online for free today to discover your strengths.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Try Tetris – Playing the 1980’s video game Tetris soon after a bad experience can wipe away bad memories and protect mood!”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“Avoid gossip – Watch your words, as when you gossip about someone else, listeners unconsciously attribute the characteristics you describe about the other person to you.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success

“In the two hours following an angry outburst, a person's risk for a heart attack shoots up nearly five times, and the risk of stroke increases more than three times. Learn to manage anger.”
― Ayesha Ratnayake, Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success