My Favorite Life Hack: Weekly Organization Session

Taking one hour to organizing your week makes the single biggest impact on your results.  Pausing to look from a big picture perspective, you can elevate your experience in the ways that are most meaningful to you. Create a blueprint for your week by thinking about your goals and the next best step forward, prioritizing your to do list so that you are highly focused, while making sure to carve time for things that fill your cup.  

A weekly organization session carves out space to review, reconnect, and readjust, where necessary.  Prioritizing goals and aligning them with actions helps take large strides forward consistently. This allows you to see and develop opportunities that you otherwise wouldn't have. It also makes sure that taking care of yourself is truly a priority. Having a structure that guides you through the details creates a natural ease and therefore more presence in your daily being.

Weekly Organization Session:

Steps

Pick one day per week and set up a recurring appointment with yourself in your electronic calendar (with a reminder) for your weekly organization session. Carve out an hour or so to align, sync, refresh, and renew. I recommend doing this on Friday or Sunday for the upcoming week. That way on Monday morning, you can dig right in and feel well prepared. 

Integrate life into your schedule

1. Schedule the “rocks”: appointments and things that can't move around

2. Add in time for goals: timeboxes for key priorities

3. Add in time for relationships: setup memorable moments

Review your current items

1. Connect with everything that is going on: check your 'inboxes' and make decisions to clear the clutter

2. Schedule time for tasks: block out time for items that need focus this week

3. Wrap up: close out, let go, or delegate items

Be flexible

1. Be open to move things around: if things pop up, adjust your time blocks a needed

2. Be sure to fill your cup: regularly fit in time for activities that re-energize you

3. Don’t overdo it: leave plenty of room for preparing your day and typical things that pop up

There have been many times where I have entered my organization session feeling fragmented and chaotic. By the time I finish, I feel relieved to know that everything I want to get done has time carved out and will get done in an optimal way. I feel more grounded, clear, and ready. Being selective helps ensure we experience our ideal levels of fun, growth, and accomplishment.

Other Favorites:

• My Favorite Time Management Trick
• My Favorite Organization Trick
• My Favorite Trick for Feeling Truly Fulfilled
• My Favorite Daily Mindset Practice

Consciously Select Your Influences

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn

Whether we realize it or not, our beliefs have a great impact on directing and influencing our lives. Research shows that we subconsciously collect data from our experiences which forms into emotional memories. These emotions amplify in our brain to create feelings, which transform thoughts, and form beliefs to help us make sense of our experiences. Over time we identify patterns. These emotional memories create an unconscious lens through which we view our world.

We form beliefs around all types of things such as food, relationships, politics, religion, etc. Sometimes our beliefs can interfere with our ability to grow and learn. Through relationships with others we can see our beliefs from various angles, allowing us to re-examine and re-evaluate our opinions and feelings.

When we change our thoughts, we change the way we are affected by them, and can create more positive experiences. By being selective of what situations we put ourselves in, we can reduce unwanted emotions and thought patterns.

Whatever we focus our attention on and invest our energy into has a great impact on what we experience. The environment you surround yourself with can greatly alter the information that you consume, the attitude that you take, and the beliefs that you form.

Suggestions:

• Be selective of the people that you spend most of your time with. Increase the time you spend with those that inspire you to be your best self and lift you up. Decrease the time you spend around people that bring you down or reinforce negative behaviors.

• Be selective of what you focus on. Think about the outcome you want, the current "gap" between reality and your ideal goal, and how you can get there. Review progress often and refine your approach.  Striving for a goal is what Frankl believed was the greatest "meaning of life". :)  When you notice yourself focusing on worry or negativity, redirect your attention.

• Be selective of the information that you consume.  It can be very easy to believe what we hear, even when it's not true. The best of us can start to believe false information when we hear it repeatedly. We are living in a time when "fake news" is a common phrase and many people aren't even aware of it when they see it. Be critical about what you read and/or listen to. Find reliable sources that highly vet facts before they publish information. Unbiased is ideal. If you can stand it, be open to both sides. The best source I've found is: Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart. Let me know if you find a better one. 

References:

• Feeling is Believing - Psychology Today
• 5 Ways to Get Your Unwanted Emotions Under Control - Psychology Today
• Methodology behind checking media bias and level of factual reporting

Personal Habits for Daily Fulfillment

Daily practices to facilitate adding the most value each day.

 
Every day we have many opportunities, decisions,  and actions that lie ahead of us.  The way we react to life is completely within our control and can have a great affect on many people. These are methods to make the most out of each day.

Get Ready

• Check in:  Start your day by checking in with how you're feeling.  Be compassionate with yourself.  Clear out any negativity so that you come to the table ready to go. 
• Give thanks:  The best way to raise your vibe is to think about what you are grateful for and to focus on it for a few minutes.  Expressing gratitude is scientifically proven to make you feel happier and increase progress toward your goals.  
• Fill your cups:  Set yourself up well.  Have your coffee and/or fuel yourself in whatever way makes you feel best.  Do what it takes to have a good attitude as you step into your day.

Show Up

• Have an intentional presence:  Be open, present, and ready to engage with others.   Think about what you can do to add the most value today and focus on that first.
• Sharpen your tools:  Do your homework and research multiple angles about whatever topic you're working on or thinking about.  Make sure you set yourself up with all the tools needed to perform your best, that they're polished up, and that they are within reach.
• Fully participate:  With each interaction, do your best to completely focus on the current topic and figure out how you can improve the outcome.  Ask yourself the question, "What can I do to positively impact the current situation as much as possible right now?"  Speak up and share ideas.  Be open to learn and be inspired.

Follow Up

• Collaborate and elevate:  There are many people invested in the same things as you.  Connect with them, align efforts, and collaborate together to elevate your plans and achieve the optimal outcome together.
• Monitor progress:  Visibility into key metrics is critical to ensure you take the optimal approach.  Awareness of progress is a huge motivator for continued growth.  Set up systems so that key information is captured, developed, and well organized.  Everyone needs to easily see that progress is being made consistently and give feedback on how to improve the approach.   
• Keep it moving forward:  Have a weekly habit of reviewing progress on your priorities and planning actions to keep them advancing.  Block out regular time to dedicate toward taking steps forward each week for your top priorities.  

What works best for you?

Who Do You Surround Yourself With?

Each person that we come in contact with makes an impact on us.  The level of impact depends on how we feel about them and what they are representing to us.  We may feel a strong positive attraction, a strong negative rejection, or anything inbetween.  Either way, it's facinating to think about how a simple interaction has the opportunity to leave an impression on us that lasts a lifetime.  

The people we spend the most time with have a great deal of influence on us. We become like those we surround ourselves with.  Make a quick list of the five people you typically spend the most time with.  This can include podcasts, books, and TV shows that you frequently tune into.  What type of mindset do they have?  What are their most common attitudes?  Do they pull you up and inspire you to grow?  Do they bring you down and hold you back?  What feelings do they trigger in you?

Rather than hanging out with people who are nearby or you've known forever, think about consciously selecting your influences and what impact that may have on you.  If you aren't spending time with at least one person who serves as a role model for you and inspires you to grow, change that today.  Do some research, subscribe to a podcast, or read a book.  Bring more of that energy into your weekly schedule.  This small shift can change your life significantly.  

Refresh Your Home Office

With many of us working from home more than ever, it's a great time to make sure you love your home office.  

When you find your work space fun and refreshing, it draws you in and elevates your output.  Setting yourself up with a great set of tools dramatically increases efficiency, creativity, and fun. 

1.       Optimize Your Space.

1.1.    Design your space based on use.  Make sure that the items you use most often are accessible with a quick reach.   

1.2.    Clean up the clutter.  File items that you hardly use/access out of sight. 

1.3.    Add inspiration.  Add colors that you love as well as artwork that motivates you.

2.       Fill Up Your Supplies.  

2.1.    Keep the essentials in stock.  Make sure you have everything you need while in your element.  

2.2.    Get creative with items that elevate your personal game.  For example, if you’re a writer, have a great set of journals, decorative notecards, and lots of your favorite pens handy.

2.3.    Whistle while you work.  Nurture yourself with goodies that get you in a great mode such as a fancy tool, a cup of tea, packs of gum, your favorite playlist, a scented candle, etc.

3.       Build Your Best Routine.

3.1.    Start fresh.  Just like we all need a daily shower, a daily dose of inspiration helps get us moving and feeling great. 

3.2.    Timebox your priorities.  Set aside regular periods of time for advancing key activities based on your goals.

3.3.    Carve out renewal periods.  Find those activities that refill your cup and be sure to prioritize them in your schedule as often as you need to perform your best.

Love Wish List

A woman that I look up to a lot, not only because of her sweet and loving personality, but also because of her success in love, marriage, children, and her career, recommended I write a love wish list.  She said it was what she did just before she found her husband.  They have been married for over 30 years, have three amazing children, and are a great team together.  

I took her advice and had fun creating this exact Love Wish List on July 20th, 2011.  I started dating my husband 10 days later.  No joke.  It's a fun exercise.  Give it a shot!

My Love Wish List (Qualities of My Ideal Partner):

• Loyal
• Loving
• Great with AJ
• Laughs at life
• Affectionate
• Intelligent
• Funny
• Open Minded
• Confident
• Sexy
• Handsome
• Attractive to Me :)
• Caring 
• Inventive 
• Family-Oriented and Focused
• Motivated
• Dedicated
• Handy
• Friendly
• Provider and Guardian
• Sweet
• Masculine
• Strong
• Steady
• Spiritual
• Honest
• Responsible
• In Service to Others/Charity Work
• Successful
• Wants a Kid or 2
• Enjoys a Close Partnership with Me
• Gets Along Great with My Family
• Stays Connected with Me Throughout the Day
• Great Communicator
• Patient
• Happy
• Witty
• Pampers Me
• Romantic
• Treats Me Like a Lady
• Thoughtful
• Ready for Me
• Available
• Local
• Shares Everything with Me (Willingly, No Secrets)
• Hard-Worker
• Goal-Oriented
• Adventurous
• Spontaneous
• Takes Me Out - Eat, Fun, Trips...
• Buys Me Jewelry
• Mature
• Fun to Be Around
• Understanding
• Adores me
• Silly
• Cuddly
• Independent
• Honors My Boundaries
• Makes Things Happen
• Eager to Learn
• Committed to Our Relationship and Family

A Well Played Game

Mastery of the Game

1. Know the rules of the game  
2. Know the players  
3. Analyze all strategy styles and find what works best for you; continue to improve
4. Go all out
5. Enjoy

The Joyful Experience of Creative Writing

It begins with a thought.  Interesting but raw and undeveloped.  I write it down.  As I write, it expands and creativity happens.

Over a period of time, it evolves.  Alternative perspectives add great quality and depth.

I pick it up again, making it more concise and adding my personal touch.  I share it and move on, changed.

My Purpose Statement

I was just at the Conscious Capitalism Conference this week and realized I have never quite nailed down a personal purpose statement.  Here's my current draft:

I build systems that bring people together to create opportunities for growth, optimize experience, and drive progress.

Filling Your Cup

There are things that make you feel deeply excited or renewed.  They can be anything from cars to massages to games.  There are specific instances of these things that fill your cup.

Notice what they are and prioritize them in your life.  Balance out the things that drain you.

Make sure your cup is full enough to share.

Rise and Shine!

There is something special about people who are passionate about self-development.  We see through a lens that magnifies opportunity, vision, and possibility.  We consistently drive forward and reach for our goals.  We believe we can do it.  We make it happen.  We thrive on living life to the fullest.

"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement.  You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand."  - Woodrow Wilson

However, we all have our days.  Our motivation engine needs a shot of turbo boost from time to time.  Life requires a lot of hard work with non-step lessons that can be tough and tiring.  We must consistently rise above challenges and grow. 

"People often say that motivation doesn't last.  Well, neither does bathing –

that's why we recommend it daily."- Zig Ziglar

Practices to Remotivate Yourself

·        Jump Start Your Morning. 

o   Reset.  Rise with enthusiasm, readiness, and determination.

o   Get ready.  Do the things in your wake-up routine that help you feel grounded, prepared, and ready to go.

o   Check your attitude.  Brighten your outlook and open your mind to the day’s possibilities. 

·        Fill Your Cup. 

o   Consume inspiration.  Feed your mind with sources of information that are innovating such as books, podcasts, apps with reading material; whatever leaves you feeling inspired. 

o   Be grateful.  Focus on what you have to be thankful for.  Feeling thankful keeps us happy and encourages our highest presence. 

o   Focus on growth.  Dedicate your fresh morning energy to the key effort that will help you add the most value.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John F. Kennedy

·        Kick Ass.

o   Get to work.  Drive forward on at least one important project.  The sense of achievement is a basic human necessity.  Knocking that out early improves the rest of the day.

o   Make swift decisions.  Once you set your mind, things will naturally move into motion. Make it well-informed decision quickly and move on.  

o   Check in.  Review progress on your key projects regularly.  Identify bottlenecks and analyze ways to move relieve them. Let go of things that require more effort than value created.

·        Renew.

o   Spruce up your space.   Delight your senses by making sure that the places that you work and play in are inviting, empowering, and nourishing.  When these places draw you in, you’ll find that your productivity flies high.  Create the ultimate work space where everything you need is within reach. 

o   Be balanced.  Don’t rush through your days; enjoy the flow. Maintain healthy boundaries between work and fun. 

o   Learn something new.  As you face new projects and challenges, take the time to expand your knowledge and grow.

Happiness from the Inside Out

I've always been a people watcher.  As a young girl, I openly looked at everyone I came in contact with, wondering, "who is really happy?"  I often found that many people carry a great deal of stress.  Some people have a great time with life, even through its most difficult challenges.  I noticed that those who are happiest overall aren't richer, more beautiful, or better off.  They accept things as they are, have a sense of humor, and roll with changes.  And they don’t let the hard times keep them down.  Feeling truly happy is not achieved by accomplishing something.  It is a part of your character. 

Characteristics of those who are most consistently happy:

·        Recharge Regularly.  Prioritize whatever 'fills your cup' and fuels your soul in your daily life.  If you have haven't found your passion, notice what feels replenishing and fulfilling for you.  Find out what gives you a deep sense of purpose and drive.  When you know this and carve out time for it, you genuinely vibrate at a higher level and have extra energy to share/invest.  So if this isn't your case, enjoy the journey of uncovering it.  Just keep following your curiosity and allow your heart to guide you.  

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be"

·        Have a Positive Outlook.  You have been able to get through every challenge you've faced up to this point.  Everything you need is within reach. Try your best and be kind to yourself when you could have been better.   If you "fail," learn and grow.  Small steps forward can help resolve root issues to create a great impact to many.  So get up and dance with life.  Let go of fear.  Get out there and help create the pathway.  

"Each problem has in it an opportunity so powerful

that it literally dwarfs the problem." ~J. Sugarman

·        Be Thankful.   Receive everything with gratitude - even challenges.  Start each day with giving thanks and your entire experience will significantly shift for the better.  It's not only scientifically proven, but supported by many of the most successful people in the world in every sort of realm.  Feel GREAT by being grateful.

"The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today

is to start being grateful for what you have right now." ~Oprah Winfrey

·        Have Preferences Instead of Needs.  Ask for what you want, but don't be unhappy if you don't get it.  Go with the flow and make the best with what you have.

"Do not spoil that which you have by desiring what you have not;

but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ~Epicurus

·        Enjoy the Journey.  Keep going for what you want, but don't require a certain outcome to be attained before you allow yourself to feel happy.  Enjoy the whole time through.  Continuously strive for goals and growth - and treasure each step as part of a beautiful experience.  When you enjoy each step, you are excited to move forward and thus grow exponentially faster than the average.

"Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success. 

If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." ~A. Schweitzer

·        Select Your Focus.  You experience whatever it is you focus your attention on and invest your energy into.  Focus on CREATING that what you prefer rather than REACTING to that which you are not interested in or refuse.  By noticing things that irritate or attract you, you can make adjustments in your attitude and behaviors that help you grow. 

"There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. 

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness,

the world 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness." ~C. Jung

·        Have Compassion.  Be compassionate to everyone, including yourself.  Choose to rise above the critical inner voice; change it to be supportive and kind.  Make a commitment today to love yourself and be your best friend.  Your entire life will change significantly and it will be much more enjoyable.   

"Every object, every being, is a jar full of delight." ~Rumi

·        Honor Feelings.  When things feel bad, be openly honest about what's going on.  Stop and tend to your feelings as soon as you can.  Tune in and see what needs adjusting.  Give yourself the conditions to compassionately deal with them.

"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within." ~H. Friess

·        Speak Truth.  Be who you are; totally you.  You are completely unique and magnificently beautiful as you are.  Share your authentic being with the world and your loved ones.  When faced with challenges, stand up as who you are and share your feelings and perspective with others.  Live your truth.  We are all different pieces of the puzzle - each one essential and equally a part. 

"What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life."~Leo Buscaglia

·        Have Fun.  We all have our own funny characteristics and likes.  Enjoy your life.  Spend time with those who make you laugh.  Sing out loud, even if you sound terrible.  Watch your favorite comedian.   Live your life as art and share it with others.  Squeeze smiles, laughs, and fun into every moment you can.  Lighten up and don't take yourself too seriously.

"Happiness is not in the mere possession of money;

it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."~ Franklin Roosevelt

·        Be in Service.   Give back and make life a little better for someone else each day.  Dedicate your time and efforts to those you can help.  Leave a wake of goodwill.

"Happiness cannot come from without.  It must come from within.

It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy;

it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves."

~Helen Keller

When challenges arise, as they always do, take them as opportunities to build your character and grow.  

Roll with Change

Change is the one constant in life.  The feeling of being “short-changed” or on the losing end of change can be overwhelming and incredibly painful.  It can bring the intense emotions of disappointment, sadness, and regret.  The changes that can hurt us the most are those that we never expected.  The more love, hope, and energy we invest into something, the harder it hurts to let it go.  Letting go is the only way to deal with changes we can’t control. 

The greatest growth, accomplishment, and achievement often come from changes that seem impossible to overcome.  These challenges bring opportunity.  They create a new foundation to build something better than before.  Listening to feedback from people that care about you and have different perspectives helps to open the mind to new possibilities that may be blocked by fear or limited thinking.  While the entire path ahead may be hard to see, the next step is usually not too hard to figure out.  It’s up to us to open up, be flexible, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  

Be the Change you Want to See

Begin each day with gratitude and love.  Radiate positive vibes to those you encounter.  Lend a helping hand even if it slows you down a couple of minutes.  Listen intently when people speak.  Share your perspective with kindness.  Put in hard work toward making a difference.  Tease your brain and learn something new.  Lighten up.  Smile.  Prioritize playfulness and celebrate life.  Nourish your body and feed your soul.  Envision your best self.  Take a step forward daily.  Do something that fills your cup and re-energizes you.  Say 'I love you' often.

Be Thankful

 Gratitude, the state or feeling of being thankful, has been scientifically proven to have extremely impressive benefits.  Participants in studies showed strong patterns of:

·        Feeling happier - higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, sense of belonging, and optimism. (Watkins, Woodward, Stone, & Kolts, 2003)

·        Making more progress toward important personal goals as well as greater levels of positive affect. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003; McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002)

·        Experiencing improved health, increased energy, and less physical symptoms. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003)

Being thankful improves your life. It’s a lot more fun to experience as well. Rather than walking around like you deserve more than you’ve been given and thinking about everything that is wrong, you’re rooted in a place that is more positive, aware, and mindful. You take ownership for your reality and feel empowered to make the changes you seek. You participate rather than observe.

Your attitude of gratitude is a lot more pleasant for others as well. People that express gratitude tend to have better relationships. They are more likely to help others with problems, more empathetic and considerate, more likely to acknowledge interconnectedness and responsibility, more generous and helpful, and definitely more fun to be around.

It's not always easy to feel thankful.  Life can be really tough and challenges are overwhelming at times.  Feeling thankful can seem difficult until you focus on all that there is to be thankful for.  When you can shift your focus from negativity and fear to finding things that you can be thankful for, you end up feeling more positive.  When you feel more positive, you attract positive outcomes.  It's important to understand that being thankful does not mean to ignore negativity.  It simply means to consciously choose where you focus your attention and energy.

There are so many things we can be grateful for! Having a pillow that comforts our head, clean water to take a bath, or the internet to learn anything you want … these are things we are so accustomed to but they really have not been around all that long and are still not available everywhere. It’s hard not to take these things for granted, but the more we can realize the benefits of them – and express gratitude for them – the more we enjoy our experience.

How to bring gratitude into your life. Gratitude exercises are extremely powerful to increase positive emotions and work best when you think of a person for whom you are grateful.  Example exercises include:

·        Think of a few reasons that you are grateful every day. A great time to do this is in the morning to start your day off consciously. Whether you keep a gratitude journal, share them with your partner, or think of them as you shower, taking time to focus on what you are thankful for is one of the best ways to shift your emotions.

·        Keep visual reminders around to trigger your awareness to shift to an attitude of gratitude. For example, you can have pictures of people you are thankful for around your work areas or you can have a tattoo that reminds you of something where you will see it constantly.

·        Express your gratitude to others.  Think of someone that you are extremely grateful for and visit them or write a letter and let them know the impact they’ve made on you.  Be sure to let people know in the moment as well.  Everyone loves to hear appreciation for something they’ve done.

Being thankful is one of my most treasured lessons of life.  It has become one of my favorite habits.  It’s my rock during times of stress and helps me cut through negativity more quickly than anything else.

Reference:

·        http://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/

·        https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201504/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-gratitude

·        http://gratitudepower.net/science.htm

·        http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/expandinggratitude