Welcome back to my blog everyone, and happy autumn season here in the northern hemisphere. As baseball season is transitioning from its regular season into playoffs; I thought this was the perfect time to highlight how great of a sport it is! And of course, {read more}
Today’s post is another book review! This time, a leadership book called, “Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and being RIDICULOUSLY in charge” written by Dr. Henry Cloud. This book gained my attention because I have read some of Dr. Cloud’s other Boundaries books, and took {read more}
You asked for it! So here it is. Below is a typical ‘day in the life’ of me 🙂 Most days I try and mix things up, but the activities contained in my day are usually the same. The theme of the pandemic and being home all the time, and not really seeing many people is apparent in this post, simply because we are still living through it. One day Ill do a day in the life of, once things are back to normal!
This post brought back memories of my this or that post about a perfect day!
First, waking up, sometimes to an alarm, sometimes naturally. Typically, 6am-ish wakeup, dependent on how early my first meeting is. And immediately taking Bianca out for her morning walk. Sometimes she is grumpy in the morning, however with the temperatures cooling down she is a bit more chipper in the morning!
Next, we make coffee, meditate and enjoy the morning. I especially love mornings where it is still dark when I get up and I can sit outside and watch the sun come up. Sometimes I’ll take my journal outside and others I’ll sit with my hot coffee and enjoy fresh air.
After a nice slow morning, next it is time to get ready for the day. The means either a quick shower, or at the very least washing my face applying lotion and brushing my hair. Followed by makeup some days, others none.
As you may already know, I am an intermittent faster, so you’ll notice no mention of breakfast. Coffee only and it is basically black. Most days I log on 30 minutes before my first meeting to catch-up on emails and make sure I’m prepared for any meetings. Working from home because of the pandemic has been nice to be close to more coffee and the ability to take Bianca out whenever she wants.
I do try and take breaks while I can and do little stretches here and there. Around lunch time I’ll heat up something prepared (see my last meal prep post here). Now that we’ve been in work from home for so long, I typically actually take a full lunch. Either by taking a longer walk after eating or doing anything by going in the office in my house.
Once the day is wrapped up, I change back into workout clothes.
By this time, all I want to do is be outside and moving. This means walking around the neighborhood, or going to a local park. Sometimes meeting up with friends to walk and enjoy one another’s company. Either way, getting additional steps in, either full out exercise or chatty walking! Afterward I’ll pick up dinner or heat up whatever I meal prepped.
Then it’s time to do all the things I love to do … yoga, deep breathing (more on that one day later), more meditation, reading, watching shows or talking to friends.
Once it is time to wind down, I’ll take off my makeup, take a shower or tie up my hair, get Bianca outside for one last time and get in bed. I’ll admit, sometimes I stay up on my phone way too long, and other times I’ll go right on to sleep. Sometimes I’ll stay up reading and others I’ll barely lie down before I’m out!
I’d say this is a mostly typical day for someone with a job like mine who is still work from home! I’d love to hear your thoughts and how this differs with your own day in the life of! Would love to hear from you in the comments down below!
Welcome back fam! I’m going to get straight to the point: for the longest time I forced myself to be someone I wasn’t. Instead of embracing the delicate, soft parts of myself; I showed the world only my thorns. Randomly finding this little quiz on {read more}
This post is a story time post! It contains the top 3 goals I’ve achieved through the reflection discussed in the last post. Throughout my journey, the most helpful articles and pieces of advice always came with actual examples of where it worked. Therefore, I’ve {read more}
At one point or another, the majority of people find themselves in a situation they wish they weren’t in. Usually, this happens after a series of small decisions that slowly took the person off course. Rarely are these situations purposeful or an all-of-a-sudden type moment. For example, the top 3 major concerns of an individual in the general public typically surround: weight, finances and relationships. Each of these topics typically change over time from micro-decisions moment to moment. Aside from the the occasional “all-in” bet at the casino.
Personally, I believe that there are no magic pills or 1-hour seminars to that provide long-term sustainable fixes. The simple truth still stands: disciplined positive habits produce change. In other words, micro-decisions make up bigger decisions and those decisions lead to outcomes which over time add up to a result.
Depending on how you look at it, this could be GOOD news. Meaning, your current potentially not-so-great situation isn’t permanent! In this current moment you can start changing direction, slowly but surely to tilt the outcome in the opposite direction.
However, this also means, the work is never done! Meaning, for those trying to loose weight, if you started today to make small decisions toward your goal, eventually you would see 5lbs, 10lbs, 25lbs come off. Once you see your goal weight on the scale, that isn’t the ‘end’. Instead, it would need to become the new baseline to be maintained.
You got yourself in, you can get yourself out.
Another key point to consider with this concept, is that in any life, there are behaviors, actions and habits all mixed in. A variety, if you will, which makes up you and your life. Within this variety, there are going to be things to change, some to stop all together, some to start and the good stuff that needs to be continued.
As you’ve been reading along, you’ve probably identified a handful of things you would like to change about yourself. Or perhaps, you’ve started thinking back to your 2021 goals and resolutions. With these things in mind, list either one goal or one change you’d like to see come to fruition. Using the below template, write down ONE thing in each box.
Once you have your screenshot or paper filled out, display it in a place where you can see it frequently. Refer back to it at least once a day. Give yourself credit for the days where you hold yourself accountable. The days you don’t follow through, give yourself a break and start again the following.
If you have trouble following through more than 3 consecutive days, break each into a smaller increment. For example, if you have something like “start going to bed at 10pm” but you find yourself still staying up until midnight. Ease up a bit, and instead shift to, “go to bed between 10pm and 11pm”. The small difference will allow you to ‘win’ more often and gain positive momentum.
Use this in combination with the habit tracker exercise and you WILL see your daily life, eventually months start shifting more toward the life you’ve always wanted!
As the first three months of the year come to a close, it is a good time to reflect on daily habits. And determine if they are pointing you in the right direction toward your goals. Or if they are ever so slightly off track {read more}
In this post, we discuss prioritization and focus. Separately or together, these two tools can reduce stress, increase the feeling of accomplishment and improve personal success rates. It may be helpful to have a piece of paper or journal to write down your thoughts. {read more}
Can you think of one instance in which a second chance would have been great? An interview? A relationship? A career choice? Thinking about these moments, name the top three things you would change before going into the second chance. Preparedness? Deodorant? Self-reflection? Word choice?
Welp. Today, I am here to tell you some great news! The western world considers January 1st the start of the new year. However, some scientists, astrologers and most of Asia instead celebrates the LUNAR new year! This means a second chance to kick-off 2021. If you just felt a sigh of relief, this post is really for you! If you have already started on your goals and do not need the second chance – there may be some encouraging information here at the very least! Plus, I have included some new inspiration prompts below. I sincerely hope you enjoy!
Personally, the lunar new year has been on my radar since beginning my career due to the international nature of supply chain. Not only did I quickly learn time zones and different holidays globally, I also realized how important the lunar new year is to so many! During this time, offices and factories take breaks, families celebrate and typically large festivals take place. It really is an exciting time for people to look forward, have feasts, set resolutions and enjoy one another’s company. You may know that due to the US culture, our celebrations are much shorter than most other countries. While we celebrate New Year’s Eve, most countries recognize the Lunar New Year have a FIFTEEN (15) day extravaganza! This fifteen day starts off on the New Moon cycle and ends on the next Full Moon.
Oprah Magazine provides a great overview of the lunar new year and how it is calculated (here).
So yes, the lunar new year is your official second chance to set your year goals. If you have not yet made progress on your resolutions or goal setting, now is the time! The 2021 Lunar New Year begins today (February 11) with the New Moon and ends on February 27th (on the Full Moon).
Use this time to make your 2021 goals more realistic, re-start those you have already set. Or perhaps you haven’t tried vision boarding yet and think that will give you a jump start! Either way, let yourself have this second chance. Reinvigorate your dreams, break them into smaller pieces until you get the feeling you can achieve them.
At times, it can be much easier to be inspired from our external world. Therefore here are some questions and prompts to inspire thoughts:
1. Take ten minutes to think about all of your accomplishments to date in life. Allow your mind to wander, and if you please write them down. This can range from learned how to ride a bike to became an investor or perhaps raised two children, trained a pet, earned a degree, ran a 5k, stayed hydrated today. Anything and everything you consider an accomplishment write it down!
2. What are the main areas of your life you would like to see change or grow? Physical, Career, Emotional, Social, Spiritual?
3. In the areas you would like to see change, name a person who currently exhibits the changes or growth you would like to see. What behaviors, attitude or habits does that person have, which you can begin in your own life?
4. Do you feel as though your dreams for yourself are too large to accomplish? If so, use a mind map or other brainstorming method to identify smaller pieces.
5. List one action you will take TOMORROW toward each of your focus areas.
I recommend keeping a journal between now and the full moon. List out the above reflections, your readjusted goals and any thoughts and feelings. Write in this journal at least once a day after reviewing your thoughts from day one. Keep track and give yourself credit for any action you take (including starting this journal!) Below I have linked journals available on Amazon in a variety of styles which I’ve enjoyed. The one thing I require of my journals is a spiral bound! Therefore, each below has this in common. The first is a simple, plain half sheet. The second has a cute saying ‘Believe you can, and you are half way there’. The third has the little elastic band which I really love!
Let’s connect.
Please let me know if you will give yourself this second chance! I would also love to know if you are already a celebrator of the Lunar New Year!
