Every once in a while, we need just a little pick-me-up. Here are three easy ways to bring more joy to your day. All three can be done without much effort, and completed quickly. And, when these strategies are practiced in the long-term, they can reap huge benefits.
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
Everyone wants a good morning – one that is productive, purposeful, and healthy. Why? Because it sets you up for a successful day. A day where you can be your best self. Most important to a good morning, in addition to a solid compass routine, is a tried-and-true evening routine. Here are five steps to get you on the right track:
Evening Routine, Step 1: Set a bedtime.
Mornings are best when you feel rested. Arianna Huffinton tells us in her book Thrive that sleep boosts “our creativity, ingenuity, confidence, leadership, and decision making.” This means we must get good sleep before a good morning. First, set a bedtime that allows you to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep.
Evening Routine, Step 2: Reflect on the day
Reflection can be a great way to close the book on your day, so that you can begin a successful night. One way to do it? Practice gratitude. One way to start is with a gratitude jar. You can set out colorful markers, a stack of small papers, and an empty jar on a shelf. Each night, spend 5 minutes writing down three things for which you are grateful. Thinking of happy memories from the day can help you go to bed more relaxed and in a good mood.
Evening Routine, Step 3: Turn Down the Lights
I know this seems simple, but turning down the lights tells your body to start getting ready for sleep. This also means turning off screens. A blog from Harvard Health Letter says that the blue light from various screens can mess with our sleep cycle. Instead of ending the day in front of a screen, turn down the lights, and try writing in a journal or reading a book.
Evening Routine, Step 4: Find a ritual that is relaxing
Winding down from a busy day can be tough. So, find a ritual that puts you in a relaxed mood, ready to sleep. Enjoy something as simple as bedtime tea before bed for relaxation and gentle hydration. It smells great, and includes herbs that might help you fall asleep. Or, you can practice yoga. My favorite option is downloading Episode 76 from the 20 Minute Yoga Sessions Podcast: Yoga for a Good Night’s Sleep. If these don’t appeal to you, draw a warm bath and take 10-15 minutes to relax in it. You can add essential oils like lavender or muscle-soothing epsom salts for even greater relaxation.
Evening Routine, Step 5: Get some much needed rest
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
Need to make plans for Valentine’s Day? Show the love (for yourself and others) with these eight lovely things to do for Valentine’s Day.
1. Get your heart pumping. February is full of cold days and nights. Buck the urge to cozy up (just for a little while) and take a refreshing walk outside.
2. Spend quality time with loved ones. Instead of watching a movie (less screen time = more creativity time!), try a silly board game or go bowling.
3. Treat yourself. Relaxation can be the key to future productivity. Dip into a warm bath, take a yoga class (you can find them for free on this 20-minute yoga podcast), or treat yourself to a de-stressing massage!
4. Reflect. Appreciate and acknowledge the present moment. Start a gratitude jar or journal. Even better, write a thank you note!
5. Cook something lovely that takes a little extra time. Cooking can be a relaxing. Sometimes, however, it can be a lengthy process. Take a day to enjoy cooking something that takes a long time. And, if you make too much, you can always freeze the leftovers!
6. Discover something new. Discover something new in your neighborhood. Take a look in the local paper, or do a search online. Is there a new restaurant nearby? What about a gallery or exhibit? Or, simply a new workshop at the local community college?
7. Find an art project. Julia Cameron, in her book The Artist’s Way, recommends bringing art into your life frequently. Define art loosely—perhaps you would like to make a scrapbook of summer adventures, or refurbish worn furniture. Or, paint a picture. You choose.
8. Volunteer in your community. Helping others boosts your own happiness, longevity, and effectiveness. Check out resources to match your interests with the needs of others.
What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Let us what you plan to do in the comments!
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
It’s that time of year again: the beginning of the new year! This is a time to take advantage of this fresh start to be your best self. Reflect on the year before and make New Year’s resolutions for the year ahead.
So, how do you make a New Year’s resolution?
There are many ways to go about this, but these eight steps below will show you how to make successful resolutions—resolutions that align with your own needs. Hopefully from this post you can make realistic, actionable New Year’s resolutions that will help you see successful results.
1. Set an intention for this new year.
Ask yourself: How do you want to feel this year? Brainstorm a list of words that describe the feelings you seek. For example, do you want to feel happiness? joy? love? radiance? healthfulness? creativity?
2. Establish a vision for your best self.
Once you have brainstormed a list of words, circle the top three that you feel would bring out your best self. With these words in mind, write a vision statement. What do you want to see for yourself this year? For example, do you see a healthier, radiant, happy self? Do you see a creative, joyous, and productive self?
3. Make goals. These are your New Year’s resolutions!
Now, it’s time to determine what you need to do to make your vision a reality. To do, this, write down SMART goals that will help you work toward your vision. The essentials elements of SMART goals include:
• S-Specific. Narrow your goal to one thing you want to accomplish. A goal must be crystal clear to you. You must envision the outcome.
• M-Measurable. Determine a number that tells you when your outcome is achieved.
• A-Actionable. Choose 3-5 action steps that you must take to reach your goal.
• R-Relevant. Identify how your goal aligns with your personal mission values.
• T-Time bound. Set a timeline to create a sustainable outcome.
An example of a SMART goal is:
In 8 weeks, I will drink 9 cups of water every day, because this aligns with my vision for healthy living.
4. Prioritize your goals.
You need a succinct list of goals for the new year. And, you just want to tackle one goal at a time to be successful. I recommend creating no more than six goals. It takes more than two months to form a habit. So, if you tackle a new goal every eight weeks this year, you really max out at six goals
5. Build objectives.
Objectives are the milestones that will get you to your goal. Objectives identify the “how” you want to achieve your goal. And, objectives are written in a results-oriented manor. For example, for the water goal above, objectives could be:
• I have three water bottles available at work, in my car, and at home
• I have access to citrus slices, herbs, tea, and frozen fruit
• I am reminded every hour to drink water
6. Create actionable steps.
Now that you know you milestones, you need to identify the specific actions that must be taken to get you to those milestones. For example:
• Buy three water bottles
• Place water bottles in the car, at work, and at home
• Every Sunday, cut up a lemon, lime, orange, and mint
• Add herbal tea and frozen fruit to the weekly grocery list
• Set a phone reminder to drink water throughout the day
7. Determine a timeline.
Now that you have a vision, goals, objectives, and actions, you need a timeline. Things to think about when setting a timeline:
• Do your goals build upon one another? If so, which is first?
• Are there certain times of year where some goals might be easier than others? For example, if you want to be more physically active and one objective is to go skiing, begin your goal objective when it is snowy outside!
• Choose a “due date” for each milestone to keep you motivated.
• Incorporate your milestones into your calendar so that you are reminded throughout the year to work toward your goals.
8. Begin your New Year’s resolutions with confidence.
The best way to make your new year’s resolution successful is simply to start. As Lao Tzu says:
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – Lao Tzu Tweet this!
What resolutions will you make this new year? Let me know in the comments below!
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
The holiday season is well underway. Thanksgiving brought friends and families together, and now people are celebrating the light of the season. It’s easy during the winter to forego an exercise routine. Most of us start and end our work days in the dark. But, this season is the perfect time to re-focus your commitment to exercise. It will pay off when you are considering your New Year’s Resolutions come January. In this post, I’ll give you 10 tips to keep you exercising this holiday season.
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
About a year ago, I started reading about why we should practice gratitude. So, I started a gratitude vase in my bedroom. I set out colorful markers, a stack of small papers, and an empty glass vase on a shelf. Each night, I spent 5 minutes (well, it was more like 3 minutes at first) writing down three things for which I was grateful. Soon, the vase was full of colorful slips of paper, and I had to add an extra vase to hold all the gratitude. Continue reading Ten reasons to practice gratitude→
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
Can you believe it? This week marks one year of blogging. It’s been quite a journey–and by writing to you, I have learned so much about celebrating creative productivity, healthy living, and purposeful growth. Continue reading Lessons Learned from a Year of Blogging→
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
Looking back on this year, some of my blog posts have been less than perfect. I’ve been working to find my voice, find my audience, and find my passion. I’ve learned a lot. What I have done, no matter how busy I get, is publish a post with a trustworthy message each week.
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!
Celebrating creative productivity, healthy living, and purposeful growth
that sleep boosts “our creativity, ingenuity, confidence, leadership, and decision making.” This means we must get good sleep before a good morning. First, set a bedtime that allows you to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. 
, recommends bringing art into your life frequently. Define art loosely—perhaps you would like to make a scrapbook of summer adventures, or refurbish worn furniture. Or, paint a picture. You choose.
