Your Vacation is Important, Make it Happen

Jun 02, 2022

“Go to your happy place.”

Usually when you hear those words, it’s seconds before you have to endure some form of necessary torture.

In my mind, I escape to a hammock that hangs between two palm trees on a remote island in Bora Bora. I have a rum blended beverage in my hand with a pink umbrella adorning the top. To my right is the crystal clear turquoise waters dotted by overwater bungalows and to my left is an infinity edged pool.

This idyllic scene is so real because I visited it on my honeymoon 18 years ago. Vacation memories provide mental escapes during times of stress but there are so many other reasons to not skip out on your vacation this summer. Let's explore more.

Health

Chronic stress permeates modern life. Working full-time or caring for a family creates stress that builds up daily. The daily stress needs to be managed, but for a BIG reset, we need to get away.

There’s scientific data to back...

Secrets to Time Blocking

May 26, 2022

The time is 9 a.m. on a Monday morning as I type this, and I know what I need to do when I sit down at my desk, because this is my writing block. In fact, most of my day goes like this since I chose to plan out my week in timeblocks.

You may have heard me profess my love for timeblocks before and I explain what they are right here.

Ready to take time blocking to the next level? Today I want to discuss some secrets to time blocking.

Time Blocking is Not for Everyone

Here is the first thing I’m going to do: I want to make sure if you should even bother reading this.

Do you consider yourself a classic creative? Many creatives don't want to be told what to do. They don't even want to tell themselves what to do. Being over-scheduled increases their stress level.

Those of you who are not in charge of their own time, because you may work for someone who controls your time, or may be required to change direction quickly because of your job,...

"No Time" is a Terrible Excuse for Not Hiring a Coach

May 19, 2022

Don't lie to yourself by saying "I don't have time."

If you're trying to develop a skill, you can't give the excuse that you don't have time. It just means that it isn't a priority for you right now.

Let’s say your phone rings right now and your kid is sick at school. Do you say “I have no time to come pick him up”?

Of course not! You make the time by moving things around in your day. Some meetings might get canceled. Maybe you let some things fall off your list. If you’re out of town, you find someone that will go get your sick kiddo and bring him home to rest.

I call bullshit on the excuse that you don’t have enough time.

We can all squeeze time when given a budget.

The reality is it’s not a priority. If you don't make time for the things that are important in your life, they will start withering away. That’s a whole different strategy.

“I don’t have time,” can...

What Time Wasters Do You Struggle With Most?

May 05, 2022

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, don't we? How often have you heard that and wanted to roll your eyes and walk away?

Time is a resource that’s dolled out evenly to all humans but we are playing with different cards in our hands.

I can’t change the cards in your hand but I can help you identify how you’re wasting time in the game.

Common Time Wasters

Social media, email, notifications and meetings are on the top of everyone’s list. I’ve covered these subjects here, here, and here. I’ll be doing a deep dive into email later this year but if you want some quick wins check out this post.

You can also limit personal stuff to after work hours to minimize these external distractions.

I’m not saying you should be rude, but draw clear boundaries.

I'll give you an example. Every few days I go to a neighborhood gym before work. While bumping into my friends and neighbors is often fun, sometimes a...

Revealed: How Procrastination Affects Us Part 2

Mar 10, 2022

Good news!

Well, sorta…it’s Monday and instead of spending time primping in the bathroom, I’m sitting at my desk on time making the keys move on my keyboard.

The unfortunate thing is that I'm sitting in my bathrobe with my lashes all cray-cray and my hair still in a messy bun.

Not procrastinating on writing today, but there's no doubt I need more time in the morning.

Last week I shared seven types of procrastinators and a quick fix for each. Today I want to finish off that list.

Types of Procrastination

The Gratification Monkey

You’re on a diet but it’s girl scout cookie season and you only get to indulge in these cookies once a year. Perhaps you know that you should connect with another media executive, but you feel more comfortable catching up with your besties. Maybe you’re writing a blog post on procrastination and suddenly spiral into reading lots of other blog posts on procrastination.

Am I...

Ultimate Guide to Procrastination

Feb 24, 2022

“Procrastination is my biggest fault.”

My community, clients, and friends tell me this constantly. My heart breaks each time.

In today's article, I will take a closer look at procrastination. It’s the most common thief of people pursuing their dreams. It’s a success killer.

Procrastination Defined

Our definitions of procrastination often differ. Let's explore a few for a minute:

“The act of voluntary voluntarily postponing something, despite knowing that it'll have negative consequences.”Wikipedia

“Allowing my doubt and fear to win at least momentarily.” Bethany Clemson

“A delay or postponement to press pause for a moment to process.” Tollisha Joseph

“The act of deferring action. On something when taking earlier action would arguably have been a better decision.” Damon Zahariades

“Procrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not a time...

Task Batching and Conquering Your To-Do List Fast

Dec 16, 2021

I know what you’re thinking, “I work hard all day and I don’t have time for this.” But trust me, task batching is your new best friend! It will help you become more productive by doing things in batches so that not only do they get done faster but also with less stress. You can thank me later when you are knocking out tasks like nobody's business - just take a few minutes to read on how it works.

What is Task Batching

If you’ve spent time learning how to grow your business on social media, you’ve heard the term content batching. For the newbies, it’s a process where you create all of your captions or visual content during a set period of time. It’s a game-changer but here’s the juicy piece...batching can be applied to more than just social media.

Task batching is where you put together similar tasks into a block of time. It can be used for any task in any area of your life: business, personal, spiritual,...

The Magic Power of Learning to Say NO

Dec 09, 2021

As moms, we often feel like we need to be superwomen. We're constantly juggling work with home life, and try to fit in time for everything else that's important to us. But oftentimes, something has to give - and it's usually our own wellbeing that takes a backseat. We convince ourselves that we can't possibly say no to anything, but is that really the best way to live? In this post, we'll explore the power of learning to say no, and how it can help you become a happier, more balanced mompreneur.

A No is a Yes to Something Else

We’ve all heard this before, but it bears repeating because when we face rejecting an invitation, it’s easy to forget. (Dare I say it warrants a Post It Note on your bathroom mirror.) To decrease your busy burden, get comfortable saying no.

A no to that invitation to speak at the local networking event is a yes to the time to finish your blog post.

A no to the friend who makes you feel less than is a yes to cuddle time in bed with...

How I Started Time Blocking and Why It Might Not Work for You

Aug 26, 2021

I’m going to date myself right now but I used to lug around this ginormous book aka my day timer. If you were born after 1980, you’ve probably never heard the term day timer.

I can hear you laughing, but let me explain.

This was in the days before smartphones (and dinosaurs roamed the earth ). I was in love with the idea of a calendar, to-do list and address book all in one place. Looking back on it, this big book might have been a contributing factor to my back issues.

This prototype for the iPhone was the genius work of Stephen Covey. One thing I still use today that Covey taught me was the concept of time blocking.

“The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

What is time blocking anyways?

Time blocking is a time management method that asks you to divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing a specific task, or group of tasks and...

How to Train Your Loved Ones

Aug 12, 2021

The first hour of my workday is sacred. My home office is quiet, my blood is pumping from just finishing my workout and my mind is sharp. It’s vital that I protect this time to chip away at my most important projects.
My closest friends and family know that between the hours of 9 and 10:30 am my phone is on Do Not Disturb. But they are busy people too and life happens.
Don’t get me wrong. I love to get calls and texts. This time of day is just reserved for getting things DONE!
On most days I call my Dad for a quick check-in right after my workout. Usually, we chat for five minutes and move on with the day. This morning (it happens from time to time) the call goes to his voicemail.
Today this was the message I left for him: “Just checking in to see how you’re doing. I’m about to go into work mode so I won’t be able to talk for a bit. I’ll call you back when I take a break.”
Do you see what I did there?
I told...

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Health

Time Blocking is Not for Everyone

Common Time Wasters

Types of Procrastination

Procrastination Defined

What is Task Batching

A No is a Yes to Something Else

What is time blocking anyways?

Before You Go...