Once all the holiday shopping, baking, wrapping are complete and your visitors are gone, reality sinks in. It's a New Year! Time to come up with my resolutions. This will be the year I finally _____________ (insert lose weight, get organized, read more, tap into my true talents, whatever). I know for some a feeling begins to come up...
This week I shared ideas on ways to move you out of a slump. We all get into ruts from time to time. It's a fact of life. Sometimes it happens after a big event or trip or the holiday season. It can occur after you achieve something big. When you're stuck in a slump you tend to lack motivation and will power. You feel like you're failing at tasks, you're not good enough, strong enough or that everyone else has it all together. This crappy internal dialogue of course, isn't helping to move you beyond stuck. What if ruts are not actually a bad thing? It could be a reminder that something needs to shift. Your body and mind may need time to recharge, process the big events or milestones in your life. Take this down time to re-evaluate what matters most in your life. Are you busy just for the sake of being busy? Do the daily tasks that take up your time have any true purpose? Maybe all you need is some time and patience to move on through to the other side. I know that being patient when you feel like the pits isn't easy. I'm not telling you to sit and wallow in self pity on the sofa with a bag of Doritos. Utilize some of the things that we've shared this week. Drink water, set your bedtime, move your body, but do not beat yourself up if after a few days of doing that you're not completely back to your old self. Give yourself time to work through. Keep life as simple as possible in the meantime. Remove unnecessary things from your calendar. Grab a notebook and brain dump (stream of consciousness). And most of all be kind and patient with yourself. It will pass. You'll now have tools to handle...
We've added some positive things back into our routine like drinking h2o first thing in the a.m. and a bedtime schedule. You worked through some internal stuff and yesterday you moved your body. Today we're going to set some goals to shift you out of your rut and move you forward. Now these goals are not big, long term dreams like I want to be the next Oprah. These are manageable interim goals. We tend to exaggerate our abilities or wrongly attribute failure to circumstances beyond our control so let's be realistic about what can actually accomplished in a short amount of time. If your goal seems unreachable or starts to overwhelm you then pull back. Break that goal down and focus on a smaller step. Keep that in mind that these interim goals are going to move you beyond stuck. Let's say you fell off the clean eating wagon this summer (ahem, me!!). Instead of big goals like I'll lose that 7 pounds I gained, exercise 4xs a week, drink 64oz of h2o daily and not touch a lick of sugar, gluten or processed food. You'd choose one or 2 things max as a goal and ease into it. So, my goal for the week has been to increase my h2o daily, to avoid processed sugar and to take the stairs up to my apt once a day (5 flights). That's it. I know that if I add all those other things in right now I'll get overwhelmed and probably end up eating something crappy and sugary (like sheet cake). So now it's your turn. What interim goal(s) are you going to set for yourself over the next week or so to help you get back into your groove. Keep it small and keep it simple....
I've got Madonna on the brain "And you can dance. For inspiration. Come on. I'm waiting." Sometimes the fastest way to get back into the groove is to get up and move your body. I'm not talking about going for a leisurely walk, I mean really moving your body until you break a sweat. Today, we're going to get up and get those endorphins flowing. Choose a physical activity of your choice. Run, take a hot yoga class, go to the gym, pop in an exercise DVD or blast music and just dance. Aim for a minimum of 15 minutes but if you can go longer even better. I know from personal experience that doing this will help. I also know that when you're feeling down exercising is one of the last things you want to do. You'd rather sit in comfy clothes curled up in a blanket on the sofa. Remember our goal is to break free from your rut so we've got to change up that routine. Dance like no one is watching. Run like the wind or twist your body into a pretzel. Do whatever floats your boat but do something. The comment section is our discussion board so tell us how you're doing. We're here for you! ...
When you're in a Slump, you're not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done. -- Dr. Seuss Yesterday I gave you two things to do to reset your body and day. Now we're going to dive a bit deeper to help motivate you. Here are some things to internally clear away the muck. Acknowledge It - Denial is not your friend. We all have low points so the first step is to admit that you're feeling off right now. Accept It - You are allowed to feel what you feel without beating yourself up, so accept where you are at this moment. Remind yourself that this will pass (because it will). Let It Go - You knew I was going to suggest this eventually! To break free from a rut you have to be willing to let it go with actual solutions. Talk About It - You're not alone! Everyone has been in a similar place so don't be afraid to talk about what you're feeling. Call a friend or share what you're going through in the comments below. Avoid the Pity Party - You feel tired, unmotivated. You fell off the health wagon. That's all OK but don't dwell on the negative. Don't look for sympathy or say crappy stuff about yourself (even internally) because that's not solution oriented. Get Positive - One quick way to get out of a rut is to slash everything negative in your day. That means stay away from Debbie Downers, turn off the news, no watching depressing movies or TV shows and for the love of Pete - do not listen to sad songs! Stay away from anything that makes you feel worse. Spend the next week with everything upbeat from music to friends to funny movies. You need to be lifted up. 7. Gratitude -...
Welcome! I'm excited to have you here and help you get back into the groove. The after summer rut can be tough but it doesn't have to last long. It's completely normal to lose your routine during the long summer months (no beating yourself up, please) and many times it's totally worth it because you're spending time with family, friends and doing really fun things. Over the next week I'll share simple tips to help you get back into your routine. Each day will build on the previous one. I'd like you to share in the comment section some specifics on what you did and what worked for you. We're all here to help each other and sharing your experiences may just flip a switch (of awesome) for someone else. Are you ready? Let's go!! This Morning - Drink a large glass of water Yes, before you grab your coffee! The summer months can be dehydrating so let's replenish your system. Find the largest glass in your cabinet (16oz if possible) and fill it with h20. I like mine at room temperature but hot or cold work just as well. Feel free to squeeze lemon juice into the water or add your favorite essential oil. Or you can also add a TBS of apple cider vinegar. The benefits of doing this are numerous. Drinking water first thing in the a.m. fires up your metabolism, flushes out toxins, fuels your brain and may even help you eat less throughout the day. This Evening - Back to a Normal Bedtime Bedtime routines seem to fly out the window in the summertime. Of course they do because there's so much happening on hot summer nights. Eventually, lack of sleep or lack of a regular sleeping schedule will take its toll. Do not fret! It's time to adjust that. Determine what is your ideal wake-up...
Let me set the scene: I received an inquiry from a prospective client who stated that her apartment is causing her extreme anxiety. Piles are everywhere. She's tripping over kids' toys and clothing. She works full time in a high profile job and her kids have lots going on themselves so somehow it all just got out of control. Her message ended with HELP! I work with overwhelmed women all the time and I know just how busy they are. They're being pulled in so many directions that at some point something has got to give. And I've discovered over my years doing this that that "something" many times is their home. From the outside looking in everything seems perfect in their life but an unexpected visit to their home may reveal something far different. Clutter is the great equalizer. It crosses all genders, races and socioeconomic backgrounds. So many people I know just can't keep up with the stuff and no wonder...
I’m a firm believer that getting organized is a skill anyone can learn. It takes some time and practice to make it happen. Sometimes you just need to get things done quickly, like yesterday, because your uber judgmental mother-in-law is visiting soon, like tomorrow. Is it possible to clear those piles o’ crap in a flash without just tossing it all in a bin and sticking it in a closet, garage or basement never to be looked at again? Abso-friggin’lutely. Here are my Top 5 Areas to Tackle Quickly for Big Impact The Entryway I begin here because walking into your home after a long day and being hit in the face with piles of coats, bookbags, mail, shoes and God knows what else makes you want to turn around and run away. Rework that entryway closet Add hooks for backpacks & coats if your kids can’t reach the hanging rod. Place bins on the floor of the closet for hats, gloves and those other annoying accessories that tend to get lost. The inside of closet doors is prime real estate. Hang an over-the-door plastic shoe holder to house not just shoes but, gloves, keys, sunglasses – stuff you waste years of your life looking for. No Entry Closet No Problem Hang double hooks (one for each family member at their height) so at the very least you’re not tripping over that stuff. The Mail It’s the digital age yet you’re still drowning in a sea of paper. Truly going paper-free (or close to it) is glorious but can be a tedious task. You can get your incoming mail in check in no time. Mail Sort System There are a billion different ways to house mail, (just look on Pinterest) but you only need to choose one simple system. Decide where your mail-sort system will go. It’s best...
I’ve been hiding a part of myself from my business persona. It’s a HUGE piece of who I am, but I’m a little weary of revealing it because I’ve been told over and over never to mix business with person beliefs, politics or money talk. So I’ve been playing it safe. Trying not to ruffle feathers. I just can’t do that anymore. It feels fake and wrong. I’ve never been able to sit idly by and watch injustice take place. There’s something deep within me, at my core that burns when I witness inequality or oppression. Someone recently called me a natural empath. That makes perfect sense. If you can step into someone’s shoes and have the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, you’re an empath, too. When I worked in the restaurant business, which was full of daily maltreatments, my nickname was Norma Rae. I intervened when employees were fired without just cause, when sexual harassment took place and when my co-workers were taken advantage of. I was a voice for those who felt like they couldn’t speak up. Once I started my own business, I toned that aspect of myself down dramatically. Politics would sometimes come up with clients, but I didn’t engage unless it was someone who I knew and trusted well. Our country is in an upheaval. It feels backwards and scary. People are being discriminated against because of their race, gender, religion or whom they choose to love. I must use my voice for good. That may mean some people may unfollow me. Some people may not want to collaborate with me. Some people may not want to hire me. And that’s OK. When one or five doors close, more doors will open. And those doors will present something even better than expected. My clients are 98% women. I empower them to simplify their...
I called my mom yesterday and the minute she picked up the phone I could tell something was wrong. She sounded sick, worn out, weak. She told me that ever since last Monday, she’s been feeling terrible and it’s getting worse by the day. I’m not Einstein, but I could quickly piece the situation together. These are tough times. The world is upside down & topsy turvy. It feels (to many of us) that the country we know and love is quickly changing and not for the better. We feel overwhelmed by the daily news, protests and actions. We want to stand up and fight, but we’re unsure if it’s making a difference. I told my mom to step away and retreat for a bit. Get off of Facebook. Turn off the news. Don’t look at the paper. Shift focus to relaxing, joy and getting better. Watch HGTV all day or put on a movie. The madness would still be there once she’s well enough to return. This is advice I myself needed to hear. I’ve not been sleeping well and trying to focus on anything but calling Senators, signing petitions or reading about the destruction of our Constitution has consumed me. But daily life is still happening. Laundry has to get done. Meals have to be cooked. Business is still taking place. I know what some of you are thinking… “Who cares about laundry when people’s lives are at stake!!” I know. I get it. I’m with you. This battle, and I do believe it is exactly that, will not be swift. It’s going to take fours years or more to resist and fight all that’s being proposed. If you do not step away, ever so slightly daily, you’ll burn out. We need you to be with us for the long haul. And you may want some...