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Working Smarter Not Harder

Jaclyn Baker
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“Never mistake motion for action.” – Ernest Hemingway

Do you ever wish there were more hours in a day?

Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you work, your to-do list never gets complete?

Well, you may be taking on too many things, or you may not have the right systems in place. If you’re ready to start working smarter instead of harder, keep on reading. 

Don’t Say Yes Right Away

No matter how talented you are in the time management department, you are only human and only have 24 hours in a day.  There will always be tasks, opportunities or events you may really want to do – but just don’t have the time.

It’s so easy to understate timelines. Before committing to any new task or project, be sure to do your homework and ask plenty of questions.

If the time frame seems reasonable, that’s great. If not, you may have to re-evaluate.

If something isn’t right for you or doesn’t align with your goals, there is nothing wrong with politely declining.

 Have The Right Systems In Place

“Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1,000 percent Return on Energy!” – Brian Tracy.

Sure, sometimes things fall through the cracks. It’s life. But there are plenty of things you can do to prevent that from happening. Planning out your day or week the night before and setting regular calendar reminders can help keep you on your game.

Prioritize First, Act Second

Just because something seems urgent at the moment doesn’t mean it is.

We’re all human, and sometimes due dates and deadlines can slip our minds.

Writing down which tasks have strict deadlines can help make planning your day much easier. A good rule of thumb is to tackle all-time sensitive tasks before moving onto the more flexible ones.

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.” – Tim Ferriss

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How to Get Yourself Out of a Rut and Motivated Once Again

Jaclyn Baker
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Let us know if any of these feelings sound familiar…

1) Every day is starting to feel the same.

2) You can’t find the energy or motivation to start or finish projects.

3) You feel like you’re stuck jogging in place.

If you can relate to any of those prompts, you may be stuck in a rut.

Yes, being in a rut can be frustrating, but it does not have to last forever.

These tips and tricks can help you get unstuck and motivated once again!

Take Care of Yourself

When you have so much going on, sometimes self-care can get moved to the bottom of your priority list, when in fact, it should be moved to the top.

Everything from the food we eat to the amount of sleep we get has a huge impact on our overall wellness.

Every single day you should be doing at least one activity that is for you and only you.

Taking care of your mind and body every day will give you the energy needed to take on tomorrow

Change Up Your Routine

“Never be afraid to try something new because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know.” – Anonymous

People are creatures of habit, which has its own set of benefits, but sometimes it can make us feel stuck or bored.

The next time you find yourself feeling a little stuck, try doing something you’ve done before.

Now, these activities do not have to be complicated. Sometimes less is more. 

You can start watching a new TV show, take a new route to the grocery store, or read a book on a topic you’re unfamiliar with. 

Say yes to new things. Try the unexpected. See what happens!

Say Goodbye to Perfectionism

Trying new things can be a little scary, especially if you thrive on routine and consistency. 

Let yourself try new things. Let yourself make mistakes along the way. All you can do is take it one day at a time. 

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The Next Time You’re Feeling Anxious Try These 4 Things

Jaclyn Baker
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These 4 steps can help you better understand your anxiety, relax your mind and control negative thoughts.

Acknowledge Your Anxiety

We can’t control everything that happens to us in life, and that’s okay.

When we’re worried about something, it’s not uncommon to immediately jump to unrealistic worst-case scenarios. Again, none of us can see the future, but there are a few prompts that can help us figure out how realistic our thoughts/worries are.

1) Is there any solid evidence that my fear will happen?

2) What are the chances that the thing I’m afraid of will actually happen?

3) Can I handle the worst possible outcome?

Schedule a Worry Break

Sometimes when we start worrying about something, it can be very difficult to stop. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “Okay, that makes sense. I just won’t let myself worry.”

Although that may sound great in theory, it’s not always ideal. The more you try not thinking about something, the more you tend to think about it.

Try not to think about pink elephants. See – not so easy.

No need to worry. There is a happy medium. Simply schedule short worry 10 – 15 minute worry breaks once a day.

During that time, you can reflect upon all the things on your mind and express them in a healthy way. You can either express your thoughts to a friend or jot them down in a journal. 

Healthy Distractions

Doing at least one activity a day that brings you joy can help you deal with existing worries and prevent new ones. Our minds can’t focus on so many things at once. It’s just the way our brain works.

The truth is, anxiety can be exhausting. Setting aside some time to participate in activities you love can act as a healthy distraction and even increase energy levels.

Listen to Your Anxiety

Anxiety is not this terrible thing that should constantly be avoided at all costs. Sometimes our fears and anxieties can help guide us in the right direction.

Your anxiety could be trying to tell you that you’re taking on too much or warn you if something isn’t a good idea.

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Kids Yoga: Movement & Mindfulness Webinar for K – 5th Grade

Ryan Scott
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This class is no longer occuring, but you may find videos of previous classes on our You Tube channel

A weekly live webinar with Jen Champion for kindergarten to 5th graders to help them become more aware of their emotions as well as working on ways to calm themselves.  She will guide children through age appropriate breathing, meditation and movement exercises to help find calm balance and inner peace during times of stress.

Movement is geared toward all fitness levels and can be done standing or seated for children who need modifications.

 

Kids Yoga: Movement & Mindfulness Webinar for 6th -12th Graders

Ryan Scott
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This class is no longer occuring, but you may find videos of previous classes on our You Tube channel

A weekly live webinar with Jen Champion.  She will utilize some simple yoga poses paired with mindfulness techniques to help middle school to high school aged students work on decreasing stress and becoming more aware of their emotions and ways to sooth themselves.

We all have the opportunity to be well-balanced individuals, especially in the midst of a pandemic that asks us to remain at home in relative isolation.  Jen will utilize use easy yoga techniques to decrease stress and develop friendliness, compassion, and clarity. Jen has worked with yoga students from ages 1 to 100 for the past 18 years. She loves yoga and provides genuine care, encouraging students to observe themselves without judgment. With her guidance, students will reap the benefits of their practice both on and off the yoga mat.

 

6 Hacks to Transform Your Work From Home Routine

Jaclyn Baker
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When you work from home, there will always be little distractions that pop up. 

Everything from kids to pets to dirty dishes can be very distracting and take up a lot of time and energy.

Oh, and let’s not forget about social media and the TV! If you’re ready to say goodbye to those distractions, you are in the right place. 

Set Fixed Hours

Working from home does give us a lot more flexibility hours wise, which can be both a good and bad thing.

Have you ever had one of those days where you were in the zone and the day just flew by? As much as we love those days, they can also throw us a little off course.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to go above and beyond.

But at the same time, life is all about balance.

Working unrealistic hours is not healthy, and can lead to frustration and burnout.

Study Your Creativity

We all have our own focus styles. Some of us are more creative in the afternoon, while others are more creative in the mornings. As we stated earlier, working from home does give us a lot of flexibility.

If you prefer doing difficult tasks that require a lot of creativity in the morning, then plan your day around those tasks. That way, you can spend your afternoons doing more mundane tasks such as catching up on emails. 

Let Your Family Know When You’re in Meetings

Almost all of us have had our children interrupt a very important meeting at least once.

The only thing is, that sometimes it can be tricky to get back into the zone after being interrupted. The next time you have an important meeting or strict deadline, don’t be afraid to give your family a heads up first. 

Spend Time Outside

Getting out of the house at least once a day is so important for our overall creativity and energy levels. You can take a walk around the block or read a book on your porch. 

Get Organized

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” – Benjamin Franklin

When we have so much going on, it can be tough to know where to even begin. Writing out all of your to-do’s in order of importance can help prevent a lot of guesswork and decision making during the day.

Take Plenty of Email Breaks

Don’t get us wrong – email is an incredible thing.

However, you don’t want to become glued to your inbox. Replying to emails can be incredibly time consuming and exhausting.

Yes, some emails are urgent – but not all of them! 

Before answering an email, ask yourself if the email can wait a few hours, or if it needs to be taken care of right away. Prioritizing your email correspondents can potentially save you hours, if not more every month.

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How to Beat Negativity According to Science

Jaclyn Baker
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The truth is, we all have negative thoughts sometimes, and that is completely normal.

However, too much of anything is not healthy.

When we do the same thing for so long, it can become a habit.

Some habits can be tough to break – but if you put the work in, anything is possible.

Deconstruct Your Negativity

Our thoughts truly are so powerful.

The stories we tell ourselves can significantly impact how we think, act and feel.

If we go into a situation assuming something bad will happen, chances are it will.

“Every day may not be good… but there’s something good in every day” ― Alice Morse Earle

The next time you catch yourself stuck in a negative mindset hit the pause button and question your thoughts.

Here are a couple of prompts that can help get you started.

1) What can this situation teach me?

2) How can I transform this negative feeling into a positive one?

Find Healthy Distractions

Have you ever had one of those days where your mind just couldn’t stop racing?

It’s happened to almost all of us, especially after a stressful day.

The longer we think about negative emotions, the more intense they tend to become.

Now, you shouldn’t ignore your feelings and hold them in. That can actually make things worse. However, you can take that energy and put it towards something that’s good for your well-being. You can dance, go for a run or take a walk.

Practice Gratitude​

Practicing gratitude can help remind us just how lucky we are.

Not every negative event is actually as bad as it feels at the moment. You just have to keep reminding yourself that. Feelings are not facts, and just because you feel something doesn’t make it true.

If you’re having a tough time getting started, here are a few prompts that can help. 

1) What went well today?

2) What did you learn today?

3) What everyday item makes your life easier?

You can either write your thoughts down or think about them in your mind. There are no right or wrong answers.

Relax

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” – Mark Black

When in doubt – just relax! When we’re overtired or stressed, things tend to feel way worse than they actually are. 

Going to bed earlier than usual or getting lost in a good show can instantly transform your mood. 

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New Year, Same You

Ryan Scott

What if our New Year’s gift to ourselves was to practice self-compassion, rather than self-improvement?  Every New Year’s, we can put pressure on ourselves to improve, be better, lose weight, on and on.  It can feel overwhelming, and set us up for failure.  Rather, what if we practiced self-compassion instead, seeing ourselves with loving eyes rather than a critical stare?

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The Power of Courage

Jaclyn Baker
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Courage and fearlessness are not the same thing!

Courage is all about understanding your fears and taking action despite them.

Have a Healthy Perspective

Courage truly is like a muscle. You more you use it, the stronger it gets.

None of us are born courageous, and we all have the ability to learn it.

“You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.” – BrenĂ© Brown

Fear Is Not a Bad Thing

Fear shouldn’t be this bad thing we constantly try to avoid at all costs. In fact, a little bit of fear is healthy and can teach us a lot about ourselves.

The next time you’re afraid to do something, take some time to think about what you’re actually afraid of.

The answer may surprise you.

Sometimes our fears can feel more intense than they actually are.

Taking some time to think about realistic worse case scenarios can help you look at scary situations in a new way.

Embrace Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

Have you ever said no to something you really wanted to do because you were afraid you’d fail?

If so, you’re not the only one.

Change and uncertainty can be scary at times.

But think about it this way. If we keep doing the same things, we will keep getting the same results.

The best way to become more courageous is by practicing and taking action.

Every single step is one step in the right direction.

Say Hello to Failure

Failure isn’t dangerous and is nothing to be afraid of.

It is a life experience that should be embraced.

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield

Nothing in life is guaranteed, and we never know what we are capable of unless we try.

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The Many Benefits Of Having a Routine & How To Plan Your Day For Success

Jaclyn Baker
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There is something very grounding and calming about having a predictable schedule.

It’s a common misconception that only children thrive on routine, but that is not the case. Teens and adults do as well.

Structure can help reduce the need to be constantly making decisions, which can help prevent anxiety. 

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “I’d love to get started but have no idea where to begin.”

Well, you’re in the right place. Keep on reading.

What Would Your Ideal Day Look Like?

Before we get started, here’s something for you to think about.

If you were to plan your ideal day from start to finish, what would it like?

When would you wake up? 

What would you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

How would you make your chores more fun? 

What time would you go to bed?

Okay, once you have thought about what your ideal day would look like, take some time to think about how you can make those wishes a reality.

What Are Your Goals This Week?

Planning your day is one thing; planning your week is something else.

No matter how organized and predictable your days might be, there will always be little things that come up last minute we have no control over. 

That’s where weekly planning comes into play. 

Your weekly list should include items that are important but can easily be pushed back a day or two if something comes up. 

Every Sunday night or Monday morning, set aside a few minutes to jot down five things you would love to get done one day that week. It also never hurts to give yourself some buffer time, in case something takes longer than anticipated. 

Re-Evaluate

Just because a goal or habit may sound great in theory doesn’t mean it’s great for you. 

You know yourself better than anyone. If something in your routine feels off or just isn’t working, it may be time to walk away or go about it in a new way.

Re-evaluating is not the same as quitting!

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