, , ,

How To Avoid Breaking Your New Year’s Resolution

As the New Year approaches, many of us will be setting goals and making resolutions.  There’s nothing like a fresh start, a clean slate, and a new beginning!

The problem is, only 8% of those that set these goals and resolutions will succeed.  Only 8 people out of 100!

In my experience, waiting until January 1 to get started on my goals and resolutions has just been another form of procrastination.

I’m a firm believer in goal-setting, but I’m also a firm believer in the power of just getting started and taking small steps to move toward those goals.

Friends, each and every day is an opportunity to create change in your life that will bring about fulfillment and allow you to make a greater impact.  Why wait?

I’ve got an idea!  I believe if we set our intention and get started today, we are far less likely to be one of the 92 people in that failure category for New Year’s resolutions.  We’re 19 days out from the New Year, so that means we’ve got 19 days to create some pretty serious momentum.

Curious as to the top 10 commonly broken New Year’s resolutions?

Here’s Time magazine‘s list:

  • Lose Weight and Get Fit
  • Quit Smoking
  • Learn Something New
  • Eat Healthier and Diet
  • Get Out of Debt and Save Money
  • Spend More Time with Family
  • Travel to New Places
  • Be Less Stressed
  • Volunteer
  • Drink Less

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

The Importance of Proper Maintenance

 

I was raised by a single mom who didn’t choose to highlight the importance of maintaining cars.  As a teen, and a pretty sizable portion of my adult life, I thought nothing of driving around with the oil light on my dash lit up like a Christmas tree or with freakishly bald tires.  And when I say bald, I’m talkin’ slick bald with little wires coming out of the treads!

No, it didn’t occur to me that that little light on my dash was trying to alert me to add oil so my engine wouldn’t seize.  I seriously thought the light was an optional warning!  Nor, did I understand that when driving with bald tires, I was in danger of sliding off the road while taking a corner a little too fast (yes, this happened) or worse, slamming into another car.

Thanks to my husband, I am a now a recovering car-maintenance neglect-er.  I’m now a regular at Jiffy Lube and the tire shop!

You’ve probably guessed that today, the last installment of this five-part series on Creating and Sustaining Momentum, is about the importance of Maintenance.

Yes, car maintenance is important, but we’re talking about “all-things-life” maintenance.

BIG FLASHING WARNING: Neglecting maintenance, in any area of your life, is a surefire way to throw off the momentum that you’ve worked so hard to build.

It’s not rocket-science, it just takes some intentionality, scheduling, and record-keeping.

Pretty much anything you do in life could have some sort of maintenance plan associated with it and provide benefit to you and even the world at large (dramatic sounding, isn’t it!).

Now, don’t let that last statement overwhelm you.  A maintenance plan doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out process.  For example, it only takes 10 minutes per week to water (maintain) the plants in my house and another 10 minutes per year to give them a dose of plant vitamins (I don’t really do this step, but I should, and now that I wrote it, I think I will); whereas, it takes 50 minutes, three or four times per week, to get my exercise (maintaining my physical health) by walking the dogs.  Whether you’re maintaining a plant or your body, both are important for you overall well-being.

Let’s look at a few examples of areas in our lives that could benefit from some maintenance:

MIND/BODY/SOUL 

  • Prayer/Meditation/Exercise:  Although you may have a prayer/meditation and exercise practice set up, you should check in from time to time to see how you might switch it up to provide more meaning and benefit.  Consider joining a new class or group, or attending a retreat.
  • Meal-Planning:Planning and preparing healthy meals is an excellent way to maintain a healthy mind and body.  Try to avoid getting stuck in meal ruts where you eat the same thing all the time.  Listen to your body, it has a tendency to speak pretty clearly about what it needs.  Buying local fruits and vegetables seasonally is not only good for your health, but good for your community as well.
  • Doctor appointments/checkups:Keep up with your annual appointments to maintain good health.  Yes, going to the doctor can be a hassle, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not really that big of a deal and the benefits can be huge.
  • Mental Health:Seek help from a counselor, when needed, to maintain a healthy mind, body and soul.  Don’t be shy or embarrassed in this area.  Everyone can benefit from a good counseling session!
  • Continuing Education: Never stop learning and growing.  Sign up for a class, go to a conference, join a knitting group, and read books.  Feeding your brain and your curiosity is an important step in maintaining you overall health.

RELATIONSHIPS:  

  • Relationships take maintenance to grow and stay strong.  When you neglect an important relationship, everything else around you has a tendency to fall apart.  Spend quality time with those you love and limit your engagement with those you don’t.

PHYSICAL ASSETS, EQUIPMENT & FINANCES:

  • Proper maintenance of vehicles, your house, equipment (computer, workshop, kitchen, lawn, etc.) is crucial in order to avoid unnecessary and costly repairs and purchases.
  • Financial advisers will suggest you visit with them at least once per year.  There’s good reason for this: Maintaining a budget, a savings plan, and an emergency fund will protect you in the short and long term.

If you don’t already have a stellar maintenance, scheduling and/or logging system, following are a few suggestions:

NOTE:  While there are lots of ways to organize your maintenance schedule/log, the important part is to find one that works for you and that you’ll actually utilize.  You may find that one method works for a while and then you find something that you like better later.  That’s OK, just pick a system and get started now.  

Paper or Electronic Calendar.  Sit down at the beginning of the year and schedule your reminders/appointments.  This may seem daunting, but it’s really not.  As long as you have a clear idea of what needs to be scheduled, you can probably get this task done in less than 30 minutes.  Of course, unless you already have an appointment scheduled with doctors, vets, and counselors, you’ll have to be flexible.  The key is to get it laid out in your calendar with the “give or take a few days” mindset.  The further out you schedule your appointments, the easier it is to get the day/time you want.

Excel spreadsheet.  You can create a very simple (or complex, depending on your skill level) custom spreadsheet to track and log all your life-maintenance items, but if you have a newer version of Excel, I recommend you check out their awesome pre-made templates.  In Excel, click NEW, and in the search box, type “maintenance” and/or “log” and you will find several great options.  I love playing around in Excel, but why reinvent the wheel?  Just take one of Excel’s templates and customize it for yourself or use it exactly as they’ve created it.

App:  “There’s an app for that!”  Seems like this is the phrase that comes up in most “How do I _____?” conversations.  Yes, there are apps to keep up with all your maintenance needs.  I’ve heard good things about both these apps: Bright Nest, a free app for home maintenance, and Car Minder Plus, a car maintenance app that is $2.99, and from the reviews looks like it could be money well spent.  For financial tracking, I trust my financial rockstar friend, Scott Alan Turner‘s top three suggestions: Mint, Every Dollar, You Need a Budget.  Because the app world is ever-changing, do some browsing in the app store for your device and see what would work best for you.

Service Provider Reminders:  My vehicle maintenance reminder for my oil change is the mileage sticker they place on my windshield.  If you go to the same shop for car maintenance, they’ll remind you of other things that should be done to your vehicle when you pay them a visit.  When you go to your doctor and dentist visits, make sure to schedule your next appointment before you leave the office and ask them for an email or text reminder.  Even if I’m not positive I can make that appointment, I will at least schedule it and then make a call to change the appointment if necessary.  Same goes for the vet!        

Notebook.  Last, but not least, use the good old pencil and paper method.  My husband is a dynamo with keeping up with most everything in his work and personal life, our home maintenance, and our financial stuff via this method, and he is one of the most organized people I know.

Do you have a system that you’d add to this list?  Share in the comments area.

When you put organizational systems in place like these, you’re making your life less stressful by not allowing things to fall behind or to be missed entirely.  You’re also clearing brain space up for your day-to-day life.

Here’s to finding a system that works for you and maintaining the momentum you’ve worked so hard to build!

As always, I appreciate you spending time with me here today.

Jill xx

Momentum Series Archive: 

Click here for week 1.

Click here for week 2.

Click here for week 3.

Click here for week 4.

You’re reading week 5, which is the last post in this series on Creating and Sustaining Momentum.  I hope you’ve enjoyed and found value in this series.  Please share with your family, friends, and co-workers.

/2 Comments/by
, , ,

Don’t Make The Mistake of Skipping This Step

You know what I love about hard work, which also happens to be a major benefit of keeping a steady momentum?  The time you get to coast.  Using the analogy from our first week in this series, this is the time when you finally get your bike to the top of the hill and then you get to coast down the other side.  Feeling the breeze on your face, you slip your feet off the pedals and extend your legs out to the sides.  Closing your eyes, you rest for a moment–deep breath in and out.  Enjoy the fruits of your labor, you’ve earned it.

Friends, hard work pays off, but we have to allow it to.  Sometimes we have our heads down working so hard, we pass the precious coasting opportunities right by.  Don’t let this happen.  If you choose to skip over these “downtime” opportunities, you’re going to miss out on a part of life that is meant to nourish and rejuvenate you.

Following are the five areas that make up the COASTING phase of momentum:

Rest:  Resting your mind and your body is critical in your overall momentum strategy.  Think about resting as your time to refuel.  What happens when you don’t refuel?  You begin to run on fumes, and ultimately run out of gas altogether.

Recalibrate:  I think of recalibrating as regrouping or pushing the reset button.  Sometimes, just allowing time for rest will do the trick.  Other times, you may want to start a new exercise routine, do a body-cleanse, spend quality time with friends and family, take a vacation, or seek help from a counselor to deal with a specific issue.  Do what rejuvenates and/or heals you.

Reflect:  Reflection will provide illumination to areas that may normally be blind-spots or that haven’t been explored yet.  Use your coasting time to reflect on what has worked, what hasn’t, what was fulfilling, and what was draining.

Journaling:  Writing your thoughts, ideas, and reflections in a journal is an excellent way to, not only work things out in a stream of consciousness-type way, but to create a repository of content which you can access for future use.  For journaling ideas and inspiration, click here to read an article I wrote.

Plan:  The “coasting” phase is the perfect time to work on a plan for what’s next.  Use your clear, rested head, and your reflections to formulate your plan of action.

It’s important to use your “coasting” time wisely.  Don’t skip it because it sounds fun or frivolous.  It may be fun, but it’s far from frivolous.

Some questions for you to ponder:

Are you in a time of rest now?  How can you make the most of this time?  Is there one of the five areas you need to lean into a bit more?

Are you at a time when you might need to force yourself into a time of rest?  Don’t wait for the doctor to order it.

As always, I appreciate you spending time with me here today.

Here’s to coasting!  Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Jill xx

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends, family, and co-workers.

Momentum Series Archive:

Click here for week 1.

Click here for week 2.

Click here for week 3.

You’re reading week 4.

Click here for week 5.

/0 Comments/by
, ,

4 Ways to Build Momentum Today

Welcome back! We’re moving right along through our blog series on How to Create and Sustain Momentum.  Last week we discussed the importance of, and how to create, the movement (think baby steps) necessary to either keep pushing through or get started moving in a positive direction, in relation to the things you’d like to accomplish in your life.

Today, we’ll discuss STRENGTH BUILDING, as it relates to creating and sustaining momentum.

What comes to mind when you think of Strength Building?  Sweaty workouts in the gym?  Bulging muscles?

Well, yes, that’s certainly one aspect of strength building.  Just like with a gym membership, we must consider what makes a successful strength building workout in other areas of our lives.

Can you imagine walking into a gym and half of the equipment was broken or covered with someone else’s sweat?  What if you arrived to your Zumba class and the instructor showed up 10 minutes late and didn’t have the right music?  Not the most conducive setup for your workout, right?

Creating and sustaining momentum can be tricky.  There are bound to be bumps in the road that you don’t anticipate or you can’t control, so anything you can do to prepare for a smooth ride is in your best interest.

Following are four key areas to focus on in your STRENGTH BUILDING efforts:

Workout Space:  It’s important to keep a clean, organized, and ready to be “worked out” in work space.  Whether your “workout” space is your dining room table, your office desk, your truck bed (landscaper or craftsman), or your kitchen counter, the more organized and clean you keep it, the easier it will be to dive right into your project and keep your momentum rolling along. Haven’t designated a work-space?  I strongly urge you to.  If you’re constantly having to pack up and move from place to place, this, alone, can kill your momentum.  You don’t need anything fancy, even a closet can be set up to be an awesome work-space. The point is, it’s your space.

Workout Tools:  What tools are necessary or helpful for you to perform your tasks well?  The tools I keep in my “tool-belt” for this blog are: my computer, a camera (for still photos and videos), a couple design apps to create graphical images, and a journal and sharp pencil for mapping out my ideas.  Not only do I need these tools to perform my tasks properly, but I need to make sure my tools are in good shape.  For me, this means keeping my computer updated, making sure my camera is in good working order, etc.  Can you imagine a tree trimmer showing up to their job with a bunch of dull blades for cutting the trees?  Not a good plan!

Workout Schedule:  It’s all about discipline and consistency.  Block out time in your schedule to complete your tasks and stick to it.  Why is it that we put things on our calendar, but allow other people’s agenda to interrupt?  Honoring your time is just as – if not more – important as honoring the time of others.  If you have a hard time saying no to others who are looking to infringe on your schedule, then I suggest you practice this response: “I’m sorry, but I have an appointment then, but I am available XX or XX time.”  Yes, you do have an appointment.  Just because it’s an appointment with yourself, doesn’t diminish the importance of it.  One last thing… you don’t owe anyone an explanation.

Workout Partner:  Most Sunday mornings, I walk five miles with a friend.  When we don’t make a plan to walk that day, I usually skip the walk altogether.  You’d think I’d just go anyway–I know that would be best, but the call of my cozy bed convinces me to stay a little longer.  The power of having an accountability partner is HUGE.  Even if you just check in with your partner every week or two and discuss what projects you’ve got going on and what you’d like to accomplish moving forward.

If you implement these four areas, your projects will be more enjoyable and your momentum will soar.

I’d love to hear from you.  I have a 2-part question: 1. Which of these areas needs some work in your life?  2. What will you do today to create a space, get your tools ready, schedule time, or get an accountability partner?  Tell me in the comment area below.

As always, I appreciate you spending time with me here today.

Here’s to the awesome strength-building taking place in your life!

Jill xx

Momentum Series Archive:

Click here for week 1.

Click here for week 2.

You’re reading week 3. : )

Click here for week 4.

Click here for week 5.

Jill xx

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

How Small, Intentional Steps Will Get Your Momentum Moving

Friends, I just came out of a major momentum derailment.  I mean, I pretty much lost ALL momentum when it came to my writing and this blog.

It was like I had the motivation/momentum angel on one shoulder and the failure to move/take action devil on the other, and that little devil knocked the angel down, flat on her fanny.

Have you been there?  You get going on a project, full speed ahead, only to be derailed by something that comes along?  Or in my case, your momentum is really cruising for a period of time, but when it’s time to move on to something else, it sputters to a stop.

I’ve found the main culprits in failure to create and/or sustain momentum are: Fear, overwhelm, boredom, physical and/or emotional exhaustion, laziness, unexpected life events, and lack of focus, resources and/or direction.

We all have different versions of the same story – we lose momentum, and in many cases, lose sight of where we were going or why we were headed there in the first place.

My recent momentum derailment was caused by complete overwhelm and exhaustion.  Yes, the stuff I write about overcoming on this blog!

What happened?  Well, I’d worked really hard on a specific project and when completed and it was time to begin work on other things, I was completely out of steam.  I thought a day or two of rest would have me ready to get back on the momentum train.  Boy, was I wrong.  It felt like my mind and body went on strike against me.

As you can see, you’re reading part-two of a five-part series on Momentum.  Creating this series was my attempt to get back on track.  I know it sounds a little crazy, but approaching it in this way, forced me to announce a plan of action (me announcing this series to you last week) and to have something scheduled with deadlines to help keep me focused and on track.  I began building back the momentum I had lost.

I’ve experienced and overcome loss of momentum in the past, but actually being in the middle of it, really helped me to understand the pain in a fresh way and to be able to articulate the steps that work to get back on track.

So, let’s get to it!  Here’s the first three steps of my time-tested and proven method to crack the “loss of momentum” code.

As I mentioned in the first part of this series we’re going to break it down into the four components of momentum: Movement, Strength Building, Coasting, and Maintenance.

Today, we’ll cover MOVEMENT.  As you know, without movement, there will be no momentum.  The beauty of this process is that baby steps are fully encouraged!

Here are three simple steps to get your momentum movin’ and groovin’ again:

NOTE: When working on these steps, focus on one project or goal at a time.

  1. Break It Down. When we take large, complex, or overwhelming projects and break them down into “bite-sized” pieces, they become small, manageable, and doable tasks.  I promise, this works!
    Put it in practice:  Grab a sheet of paper.  Write your project/goal at the top of the sheet.  Now, write down all the tasks you can imagine that would need to be done to make that goal happen.  Don’t lump tasks together just because you think they’re inconsequential.  Break that goal down into minuscule tasks.  At the bottom of the paper or on another sheet, write out the tasks in the order they will need to take place in order to make that goal happen.  Now, take the first task that needs to be done and work on it.  Don’t even think about the other tasks on the list.  Focus on that one, small task and get it done.  When done, move to the next small task and repeat the process.
    What you’ll see:  Huge looming projects/goals that are broken down into a bunch of small tasks become manageable, doable, and even fun!  You’ll begin to gain momentum as you complete each task on your list.
  2. Schedule & Set Deadlines. What gets written down, gets done (especially when you take the time to work on Step 1).  First, schedule structured time to work on your tasks.  Don’t be willy-nilly about this.  Set time aside in your day and honor your commitment.  Second, assign time-bound deadlines to your tasks.  When you set deadlines, you drastically increase the likelihood that you’ll accomplish what you set out to do and you’ll also be far more efficient with these time-bound parameters in place.
    Put it in practice:  Now that you’ve broken down your project/goal into small tasks (Step 1), write out deadlines/due dates next to each task.  If you keep a calendar, include your deadlines there too.
    What you’ll see:  Progress–that’s what you’ll see.  Check off or cross out each task as you move through your list.  Visual reminders, like this, are big time motivation boosters, which will keep you moving forward.
  3. Remove Distractions. Your momentum will easily get derailed when you stop midstream while working on your tasks to check emails, Facebook, take a call, talk to someone in person, etc.  This is called context switching.  Professor Gloria Mark, found that “82 percent of all interrupted work takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the task.”  In an effort to limit context switching, I suggest you silence your phone and computer notifications, close your door, or find a quiet place to work and get to work with clear focus.

It doesn’t matter what type of project you have in front of you: a work project, planning a vacation, working on a meal-plan schedule, renovating a house, writing a book, working up a budget, college research, etc.  All projects, when broken down, will be less daunting and clearer when you apply these three steps.  Where can you apply the steps in your life today?

Side note:  In case you were wondering… Slightly embarrassing to admit, but the project that completely derailed me recently was the creation of my 7-Day Life Balance Challenge.  Is that not hilarious?!  My course on life balance threw me completely out of balance!  I poured my heart into the project and have received lots of great feedback from those who have completed it, so if you’ve not signed up for it, now is your chance.  Click here to get started…it’s free.

See you next week, where we’ll be discussing how STRENGTH BUILDING will propel your momentum.

Have a great day and keep your momentum going!

Jill xx

Click here to read Part 1 of this series on Momentum.
You’re reading Part 2 now. : )
Click here to read Part 3
Click here to read Part 4.
Click here to read Part 5.

/0 Comments/by
, , ,

Creating and Sustaining Life Changing Momentum – A Series

Do you remember, as a kid, riding your bike down a hill with the wind blowing through your hair?  Not a care in the world–feeling freedom and total invincibility.

Looking ahead you see “the hill” — the dreaded hill that’s necessary to climb in order to arrive at your desired destination.

You know what you need to do next…PEDAL! FASTER and HARDER!

With each revolution, you build on the momentum that will help you get up that hill.  Your primary focus for the next few minutes is to get up the hill without having to stop and get off your bike and push.

The momentum you’ve built gets you halfway up the hill.  Now, it’s time to stand up, and with all the strength your legs can muster, push to get to the top.  Your face is beet red and your burning lungs feel like they’re going to explode, but you PUSH!

PUSH!  PUSH!  PUSH!

Sometimes you succeed and make it to the top without getting off the bike, and other times, despite your valiant efforts, you’re forced to get off and push your bike to the top.

Isn’t this just like life?

If we could look down on our lives like a topographical map, we would see the ups and downs, the plateaus, the forked roads, the winding roads, the lush green meadows and the harsh dry deserts.  The landscape of our lives is not always predictable from our earthly vantage point, so it’s wise to prepare for a variety of experiences in order to weather the journey.

The key is to understand how to create and sustain momentum in our lives.

Over the next four weeks, I’ll break down each of the four components of momentum:  movement, strength building, coasting, and maintenance.  We’ll drill down to specifics and give actionable steps to create and sustain life changing momentum in your life.

Following is a preview of what you can expect in this series:

Movement:  In order to create momentum, you must move.  We all go through stagnant periods in our lives, but just like with water, when stagnancy sets in, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.  No one wants a bacteria filled life!  The good news is that creating momentum does not require big, huge, bold steps.  Any step, in the right direction, can create momentum.  In next week’s post, we’ll talk about taking intentional and focused steps, in the key areas of your life, needed to achieve momentum.

Strength Building:  If you want to build up your biceps, what do you do?  You do strength training exercises–you pump iron!  Dictionary.com defines momentum as driving power or strength.  Not only is it important to practice strength training in order to make our bodies strong, but it’s also important to build strength in other areas of our lives, such as building and developing specific life or business skills.  The key to success at the gym and in life is repetition and consistency.  In this post, we’ll discuss “workout” tools, discipline, training exercises, and accountability.

Coasting: This is the easy part for most of us.  When you enter a coasting phase, you get to sit back and enjoy the ride.  Some people actually struggle with this part, but regardless of what camp you fall into, this post will help you to gain perspective and discover the importance of rest, recalibration, reflection, and planning.

Maintenance:  I don’t know about you, but I don’t get super excited when I have to take my car to get an oil change.  Maintaining our vehicles is necessary, and although not always obvious to us, the benefits are worth the effort.  Maintenance is also a critical part in the momentum process, but often neglected.  In the last post of this series, we’ll discuss the four key areas of momentum maintenance.

As with most of my posts, I like you to take a small action immediately after reading.  Today, in preparation for the coming weeks, I’d like you to jot down in your journal or a notebook ONE specific project, task, or goal that you’re either currently working on, but are having a difficult time building momentum, or that you plan on working on, but the thought of starting it overwhelms you.

That’s it.  Just write that down and set aside until you read next week’s post.

If you’ve not already subscribed to my blog, do so now, so you don’t miss any part of this series.

I’m looking forward to building momentum through this series and I hope you are too!

Have an awesome day!

Jill xx

Click here to read Week 2 in this series.
Click here to read Week 3 in the series.
Click here to read Week 4 in the series.
Click here to read Week 5 in the series.

/4 Comments/by
, , , , ,

1 Year Blog Anniversary!

I cannot believe I published my first blog post a year ago (September 2014)!  It’s been fun, hard, exciting, and nerve-wracking all at the same time.  You’ve been there with me, so I hope you’ll join me today in celebrating my 1 year blog anniversary today!    

I didn’t realize the impact that writing and publishing a blog every week for 52 weeks, all the while holding down a full-time job, would have on my life.  Not only have I become more comfortable with writing, but I’ve grown and have been stretched in ways that I never would have expected…ways that have made me a better person.

I’m so grateful for this last year.

When I first set out to write this blog, my plan was to put my 18 years marketing experience to work and help small businesses with developing online marketing strategies.  The crazy thing was that as I drafted a few posts, my mind would wander and I’d begin to write completely different content.

I began writing for a reader who was in need of guidance or insight on regular life stuff.  Instead of sharing business strategies, the strategies I was sharing were ways to overcome obstacles like limiting beliefs and fear, tools and practices to bring clarity about life purpose, ideas and exercises to ignite inspiration—always leaving off with actionable steps that could be taken immediately to live a more fulfilled life.

These are the things that have flown from my “pen,” and I have loved every minute of it.  So, whether you’ve been with me since week one, or you came along somewhere else along the line, I thank you for spending time with me each week.  Your comments, questions, encouragement, and willingness to share my blog with others has made this entire year all the better.  I hope to see more of you in the coming year!

To commemorate this last year, I’ve linked up all my posts here in one spot.  If you’ve missed one, would like to revisit one, or would like to share one, this is the place to peruse.

Before you take a look at the list below, I’d like to share something new that I’m going to offer this year.  It’s a 7-day challenge that will change your life.  It will!  If you’re dealing with stress, feeling overwhelmed, or just need some clarity and focus in your life, this challenge is for you.

I’ll be launching the 7-day challenge soon.  It’s free, so if you’re not already on my email list, sign up now so you don’t miss the opportunity to participate.  Just fill in your name and email in the box at the bottom of this post and I’ll be sending information about the challenge in the next few weeks.

Thanks again friends!  It’s been awesome and I’m looking forward to hearing more about your life success stories in the future!

Week 1:  Gratitude in a Virtual World

Week 2:  The Beauty of Living a Life of Balance

Week 3:  How to Stop Your Negative Self-Talk From Bullying You

Week 4:  5 Lessons We Can Learn About Life From Appollos Hester

Week 5:  Tips for Empty Nesters

Week 6:  When a Loved One Needs Assisted Living

Week 7:  Reboot Your Life

Week 8:  Why We Procrastincate and How To Stop!

Week 9:  It’s Scary What a Smile Can Hide

Week 10:  Losing the Moment When Taking Pictures

Week 11:  Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Week 12:  Dream Big!

Week 13:  Dreams Can Come True

Week 14:  Being a Person of Influence

Week 15:  Overwhelmed by the Holidays

Week 16:  Grief During the Holidays

Week 17:  How to Set and Achieve Your Goals in the New Year

Week 18:  Overcoming Slumps, Depression, and the Blues

Week 19:  It’s Never Too Late For a Kind Word

Week 20:  Treat Each Day Like a Special Occasion

Week 21:  Never Stop Learning

Week 22:  Creating a Sanctuary in Your Home

Week 23:  Why You Should Act More Like a Child

Week 24:  Learn The Best Way to Show Your Love

Week 25:  The Benefits of Being a Good Neighbor

Week 26:  The Power of Ugly Words

Week 27:  Get Back on Track After Falling Off The Wagon

Week 28:  VIDEO:  5 Steps To Overcoming Difficult Obstacles

Week 29:  Taking Care of Yourself Before You Crash and Burn

Week 30:  How Saying No Will Improve Your Life

Week 31:  The Art of Delegation

Week 32:  Lessons Learned: Perspective From an Adult Child of An Alcoholic

Week 33:  Combat Fear and Shame By Sharing Your Story

Week 34:  Taking Time To Develop My Passion In San Diego

Week 35:  VIDEO:  4 Steps To Living An Authentic Life

Week 36:  Please Take My 2015 Reader Survey

Week 37:  How Accountability Will Save You From Overwhelm

Week 38:  Mind Mapping: Who Should Use It And Why

Week 39:  When Quitting Is A Decision That Will Enrich Your Life

Week 40:  How To Stop Hurting The People You Love The Most

Week 41:  Letter to A Graduate

Week 42:  How To Take Those Lingering Project And Get Them Done

Week 43:  VIDEO:  How Changing Specific Words You Use Every Day Will Greatly Impact Your Life

Week 44:  Journaling…The Benefits, Methods, and Ideas

Week 45:  3 Steps To Cultivate And Grow Your Relationships

Week 46:  VIDEO:  The Definition of Success — A 10 Year Old’s Perspective

Week 47:  Top 5 Online Etiquette Rules and A Challenge

Week 48:  Removing Limiting Beliefs From Your Life

Week 49:  VIDEO:  How To Deal With The Grief You Are Experiencing Today

Week 50:  How To Create A Vision Board in 3 Easy Steps

Week 51:  Are You Comfortable In Your Own Shoes

Week 52:  Time is Short…How Are You Spending Yours?

Have a great day and I hope to see you in my free 7-day challenge!

Jill xx

P.S.  If you’re the sharing type, please, please, please share this post.  Surely someone you know could benefit from at least one of the 52 posts I have listed out here.  Appreciate you!

/2 Comments/by
, , , , ,

Journaling…The Benefits, Methods and Ideas

Dear Diary,

I’m feeling a little blue today.  I don’t know why, but maybe the lack of sunshine has something to do with it, or maybe it’s my sister!  We got in a fight today.  She can be sooo emotional and rude!!  I wish she’d move to Timbuktu.  Later today I’m going to the mall with Beth and Maryanne.  I hope I have a good time!  I’ve saved up $14 and I’m going to the pet store to see if I can get a turtle.  Mom’s calling…gotta go…   

If you’re female, this journal entry probably looks, or at least sounds, familiar.  I made this particular entry up, but I remember as a child the power of being able to write all your “young-self” thoughts and dreams down in a pretty little journal—mine, equipped with its own lock and key!

It’s been a few decades since I wrote in my first journal and over the years journaling has come in and out of my life.  Today, I have three different journals that I write in–a writing journal that I mind-map my ideas for future blog posts, a daily gratitude and goal journal, and a prayer journal.

No matter your age or gender, the process of journal writing can be very beneficial.  So much so, that I’m going to share with you the top five benefits of journaling, a wide variety of topics to journal on, and I’ll discuss physical and online tools for journaling and the importance of your journaling environment.

Let’s get started!

FIVE WAYS JOURNALING WILL BENEFIT YOU

Protect Your Sanity and Your Relationships.  Journaling can be like having your own built-in therapist.  There are times when it’s more productive and ultimately healthier for you to dump your unfiltered thoughts out on a page in your journal rather than dumping those thoughts out on your spouse, your friend, or your colleague.  Don’t you hate it when something comes out of your mouth that later you wish you could take back, but by then, the damage is done?  Some things are definitely better left unsaid, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try and work through those emotions with pen and paper.

Processing.  As I mentioned earlier, I use a journal to mind-map my writing ideas.  This has proven to be a fantastic way for me to creatively process and brainstorm ideas in a way that “just thinking” about them doesn’t.

On the other hand, processing may come in the form of working through emotional stuff that’s going on in your life, like I mentioned in the first benefit above.  Processing will generally bring clarity and a fresh perspective.

Hindsight is 20/20.  We can learn much from past experiences—good and bad.  This is of particular benefit when you use a “project” journal (more on this later).  When you journal through a project you will later be able to see what worked and where things may have gone wrong.  The details will usually appear more clearly when you’ve taken a few steps away from the actual experience.

This 20/20 hindsight vision can also be an awareness tool for unhealthy patterns that come up in our relationships.  For example, if you are in an unhappy or abusive relationship and you take a look back over your last year of journaling and see that you didn’t have one good day, then that written reminder may give you the strength and courage to get help or leave the relationship.

Time Capsule.  Your journals are a snapshot of times gone by.  Even if you have an excellent memory, you will never be able to remember all that you capture in your journals.  Whether you’re looking back to see how far you’ve come on a personal or professional level, or to remember the details of a trip you took years ago, a journal is an excellent way to preserve your thoughts, life’s milestones, and memories.  Journals can also be precious pieces of history to pass down to your children or other family members.  We’ll discuss privacy concerns later.

Deepening of Faith.  I have a friend that writes to God in her journal every day.  Getting things out of your head and heart and out on paper is a cathartic exercise and this type of daily communication to God has enriched her faith life profoundly.  She inspired me to start my own prayer journal, and although I am not as consistent as she is, I too, find this process enjoyable and rewarding.

NOT SURE WHAT TO JOURNAL ABOUT?
10 Ideas to Get You Started Today…

Personal Journal.  This is probably the type of journaling that most people think about when they hear the word journaling.  This style of journaling is a great way to pour your heart out and process through things going on in your life.  If necessary, keep your journal under lock and key.  I have a friend who keeps his personal journals in a small locked safe in his house.  His family has been instructed to get rid of the journals if he dies before them.  Not that there’s anything bad in them, it just gives him a sense of peace when he’s writing that he can be totally authentic and not worry about someone reading what he writes.  (Make sure to read about Journal Privacy rules below.)

Travel Journal.  You won’t regret journaling during your travels.  Not only will this type of journal serve as a memories scrapbook, but you can always go back and retrieve information for future visits or to share with others traveling to the same area.  Make sure to include favorite restaurants, hikes, monuments, hotels or B&Bs, bookstores, etc. in your journal.

Food or Dinner Party Journal.  Years ago, my mom used to keep a journal of dinner party details–who was there, what she served, and notes that might be helpful for next time those same guests came again.  This type of journal would be great for passing down to your kids too.  I don’t know where my mom’s journal went, but I’d sure love to have it.

Gratitude Journal.  Life is good when you consistently express your gratitude.  As I mentioned earlier, I have one journal that I jot down a few things I’m grateful for every day.  A gratitude journal is fun to look back at over the years, because you’ll see times when you were obviously struggling to find things to be grateful for and other times when you write ten items down instead of your typical three.

Writing Journal.  I love my writing journal!  I mind-map most of my blog post ideas in this journal.  This process allows me to brain dump everything out on a page without worrying about editing.  Click here to see an article I wrote titled, “Mind Mapping: Who Should Use it And Why.”

I generally carry my writing journal around with me too.  I don’t know how many times I’ve thought of a great idea to write about and if I don’t have my journal handy, I just hope that I’ll remember it when I get back home.  Nine times out of ten, I forget!  Sometimes I’ll just write one word or phrase down in the middle of a page and come back to mind-map it later.

Project Journal.  Whether it’s a home, work, volunteer project, or something in between, a project journal is a great place to store your ideas, plans, shopping lists, purchase information, etc.  Just like with a travel journal, you can go back to your project journal years later to remind yourself of that specific paint color you used or where you purchased that special lamp the dog just knocked over and broke into 22 pieces.

Goal Tracking Journal.  This is a great tool for personal and professional goal tracking.  I incorporate both gratitude and goal tracking in one of my journals.

Memories of Your Children or Grandchildren’s Lives.  My mother-in-law kept a journal for 12 years with notes from her famous “Grandma’s Summer Camp” that our son attended at her house one week every summer.  She has also keeps a separate journal for each of her grandchildren, full of special memories and thoughts specific to each grandchild.

If I could go back in time, I would have started a journal like this for our son when he was born.  Even if it only included the silly little things only parents care about or “kids say the darndest things” type quotes.  Think about doing this if you have young ones.

Prayer Journal.  Talk to God.  Thank him for your blessings and tell him what’s on your heart.  I have a feeling that more people start these types of journals in times of desperation, and that is good, but if you use this type of journal in the good times too, your relationship with God will have a chance to develop on the mountaintops as well as in the valleys.

Drawing journal.  Maybe you’d rather doodle than write words.  Doodle away, my friends!  Studies have shown that doodling helps improve memory, focus, and brain function.  Doodling is a good way to express feelings too…get those creative juices flowing and see where your doodling takes you.

METHODS OF JOURNALING
There are lots of options when it comes to journaling, from using a regular notebook to a fancy leather bound journal, to capturing your thoughts via an online tool.  Following are some options to consider.

Good ol’ pen and paper.  Check out your local stationery, book, or gift store for a good journal selection.  You can also search online (Google it) to find some unique journals.

Don’t do this: I used to get so caught up in finding the right journal, that I would delay the whole journaling process until I found just the right one.  This is fine if it takes a day or two, but I would go months without finding the right journal!  Trust me on this, just grab a notebook and get started.  If you really want to keep it in a fancy journal you can glue or tape the notebook pages in later when you find the perfect one.

Online Options:
Penzu:  This is the best online journal tool I have found in regards to functionality and design.  It is super user friendly, private and secure, you can add in photos, and they will even email you a daily reminder to write.  I like that it looks like you are actually writing on lined notepaper too!  They have both a free and paid version.  Click here to check it out.

The 5-Minute Journal:  I’ve heard great things about this journal in its traditional book format and now they have an app for less than $5 that backs up your journal entries to your iCloud account.  This journal has five daily writing prompts, and for those that are time pressed, it only takes five minutes per day.  Click here to check it out.

Evernote:  I love Evernote!  Although I’ve never used it specifically for journaling, I would use it if I ever switched from my preferred pen and paper method of journaling.  Evernote appears to have all the same bells and whistles that Penzu does, but you aren’t typing into what looks like lined notebook paper.  Evernote also has both a free and paid version.  Click here to check it out.

Microsoft Word:  A word processing option for not only your home computer but for your mobile devices as well.  Microsoft now has a Cloud storage option so you can access your data anywhere.  Click here to check it out.  If you are a Mac user, click here for info on Pages.

Google Docs:  Another word processing tool similar to Microsoft Word, but it’s online and it’s free.  Accessible on your PC and mobile devices.  Click here to check it out.

FINDING THAT SPECIAL PLACE TO JOURNAL

My environment is super important to me, especially when writing.  Obviously, you can journal most anywhere or anytime, but if you’re able to set aside a special place and specific time each day to journal, you are more likely to get it done and it makes the process more enjoyable.

You might like a cozy, quiet spot to have a hot cup of tea while you journal, while others may prefer a busy coffee shop setting.  However or wherever you do it, the most important thing is to block out time to do it.

JOURNAL PRIVACY…A final word

Don’t EVER read or share someone else’s journal unless you’re invited to.  Please respect the privacy of others.  We really shouldn’t have to use our lock and keys.
There are only two exceptions that I can think of to this important rule:
1.  The journal needs to be used as court evidence for a crime committed.
2.  Someone goes missing or dies and you expect foul play.

I’d love to hear from you.  Do you journal?  What’s your preferred method–are you an old-school pen and paper type or do you prefer online?  Is your environment an important part of your journaling experience?  How often do you journal?  Please share in the comments section below.

As always, I appreciate you spending time here with me today.

Happy journaling!

Jill xx

/2 Comments/by
, , , ,

How to Take Those Lingering Projects and Get Them Done

How many unfinished projects do you have looming right now?  Have you been dreaming about a project you’d like to tackle, but fear, overwhelm, or lack of time have hi-jacked your capacity to complete the task?

I’m right there with you!

At any given point, I usually have 5-10 projects I’d like to begin or am in the process of “working” on.  I’ll putter a little bit here and there, ultimately being busy, but not getting much accomplished.  I’ve always prided myself on my multitasking skills—I think it may even be a bullet point highlighted on my resume!  But I’ve come to realize that, overall, multitasking takes away from the laser focus needed to complete a task well and in a timely manner.  Author Steve Uzzell defines multitasking as “the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time.”

I’ve always been, and always will be, a checklist person, but I’ve recently read a book that has drastically changed the way I choose what to work on and where it lies in my priority scheme.  What I love about the concepts discussed in this book is that they challenge you to look at your purpose–why you do what you do–and use that as your foundation for setting priorities and the actions that will achieve your goals.

The book is called The One Thing, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.  The authors suggest that “The prescription for extraordinary results is knowing what matters to you and taking daily doses of actions in alignment with it.”

The authors challenge us to take a look at our work, family, personal, and spiritual goals and pick one thing to focus on as we work toward completing the goals in each category.  “Extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus.”

If we don’t narrow down our project lists and calendar appointments, we become overwhelmed and stressed, which equates to things not getting done or not getting done well.

A couple of weeks ago, I became super convicted on this whole “One Thing” idea and decided it was time to complete a project I had been putting off for nearly a year.

I’m sharing this example for two reasons: 1. I think you might be able to relate and I hope it will encourage and motivate you to work on something you have been putting off; 2. My precious dogs are featured in the story!

Here’s where the story begins…

About 10 months ago, my husband and I replaced our 17 year old couch cushions (just the inside foam part) and we kept the old foam pads to be used as dog beds.  Excellent idea right?  Upcycle, recycle, reclaim—I’m all about it!

We placed the old cushions on the floor and covered them with a big blanket.  I even added a couple of our old human pillows with shams to make it extra comfortable for the dogs.  DIY at its best!  Shabby chic, easy, and good to go!

Well….you know how when dogs settle in to lay down, they circle around and around and dig into the blankets to make a comfy spot?  Well, the dogs did a little too much digging, so much so that every time they used the bed, they would rip up the foam and batting and leave a huge mess.

Jack and Dixie with torn cushions (1)

After the first few times it happened, I told my husband that I just needed to sew up a cushion cover with a Velcro closure, so they couldn’t get to the bare cushion.  With a glint in his eye, he nodded and said, “That’s a great idea, hon.” Let me preface this by telling you that my husband has witnessed me getting “amped” many times over the years about various DIY projects only to either half start it and leave it unfinished or just talk a lot about it and never even get to the starting point.  So the fact that he still had a glint in his eye was promising—at this point, his eyes should have looked dead and bewildered!

FLASH FORWARD 10 months (present day)…project still not done—BIG surprise!

My husband left town for a few days and I’d been reading the book I mentioned earlier, The One Thing.  Of course, I’d already started applying the concepts in the book to work-tasks and even projects on my blog, but it dawned on me that I should be applying the One Thing to my home life, too.

Yep, you guessed it!  I decided to make the dog bed cover sewing project my One Thing.  I was singularly focused and would not allow anything to get in the way of finishing this project.  The crazy thing is that it only took me a couple of hours to do the entire project—this included setting up the sewing machine, cutting the fabric, sewing, putting the cushions in their new homes, and putting the machine away.  Less than two hours!!

Look how happy the dogs are!  Believe me, my husband was even happier when he came home to discover the miraculous event that had taken place in his absence.

Jack and Dixie project complete

So, I know I’ve given you a silly example here today, but the point is that all of us have things we want or need to get done.  I think we can all agree it’s easier to get fun stuff done first and leave the more important things on the back burner.  It’s important to set goals for all areas of our lives and one of the keys to success is defining your One Thing and blocking time out of your day(s) to focus and get it done.

What do you have in your life that you need to apply some laser focus on to get it done?

Best of luck to you!  My dogs and I are cheering you on!

As always, thank you for spending time with me here today.

Jill xx

BONUS PICS (for those who can’t get enough of the cuteness.)

Dixie with ball helping with sewing project

Dixie wasn’t about to let me cut the fabric in an orderly fashion.

Dixie helping with sewing project

I finally got the fabric cut and Dixie sat with the strips of left over fabric for a good part of the evening!

Jack on two cushions

Jack enjoyed the cushions doubled up.

/7 Comments/by
, , , ,

When Quitting is a Decision That Will Enrich Your Life

I used to think that quitting was for losers—unless you were quitting heroin, of course!

The inspirational quotes that populate Pinterest and our Facebook pages urge us to “Never Give Up!”  I’m all for these types of mottos, but not when you find yourself staying in the game for the wrong reasons.  In some situations, “never giving up” can be an absolute exercise in futility.

I know several people, and I’m sure you do too, that are experiencing some pretty serious levels of unhappiness in their life.

Maybe it’s a job with a horrendous boss, a project that’s sucking the life and creativity out of them, or a relationship that’s draining or abusive.

In these situations, quitting—or withdrawing one’s self from a situation—can be one of the wisest, most freeing, and empowering decisions of your life.

The bad news is that oftentimes the choice to quit can be harder and scarier than the alternative.

The good news is that, in most situations, we hold the key to the prison we find ourselves in, and our sentences are determined by our action or inaction.

If you’re in a situation where you’re trying to gain clarity on whether to withdraw from a situation or a relationship, consider the following sections below:
1. Common obstacles to quitting
2. Reasons why it may be time to quit
3. Help in the decision making process

Common Obstacles to Quitting:

  • Fear. This emotion can paralyze you, but there are ways to overcome fear.
  • Because you’ve been told you can’t do it. Don’t listen to the haters—they don’t have your best interest at heart.
  • Just because it’s hard. Hard does not equal impossible.  Keep your head up and use your resources.
  • Because progress is slow. A lot of good things take time.  Patience is a virtue.
  • Laziness. Being a couch potato is a poor excuse to quit!  If this is you, it’s time to turn up the Rocky music and get going—You Can Do It!

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a look at some reasons where you can benefit from quitting or removing yourself from a situation.

It May Be Quittin’ Time When:

  • You’ve given it a fair shot and it’s not what you expected or what you want in your life.
  • You’d like to venture into other opportunities and need to let something go in order to make room for something new.
  • You’re stressing more about the work, projects, or relationships in your life than you are loving your life.
  • You are in physical or emotional danger.

Help in Making a Decision:

  • Talk to friends, mentors, and counselors.
  • Write a pros and cons list.
  • Work through your scenario in mind mapping style! I’ll show you how here.
  • Pray for wisdom and direction.

Once you’ve thought it all through, and you decide it’s in your best interest to quit or remove yourself from a situation, try your best to exit with grace and fairness.

Blessings to you!

Jill xx

/2 Comments/by