Keeping those Resolutions

The New Year is all about starting fresh, but a lot of people start resolution's that they know they will never finish. If you want to change for the new year, nothing is wrong with that, as long as you stick to your change. Here are a few tips to help you stick to your plans.

1. plan out 60 days: When you make a change, it takes a few weeks for your body to get used to your change and make it something that is normal. However, when you plan in advance for enough time for your body to adjust, it makes things go a lot smoother. Always leave most plans in pencil, so they can be adjusted as need be. 

2. stick to your plan: You might fall off of your plan, but always do your best to immediately get back on track. The more you keep doing this, and actually sticking to what you planned, the quicker you will get used to doing this as a daily routine. Look at your planner often, to make sure you are sticking on track (especially if you have trouble focusing, or ADHD like me). 

3. Prep ahead for the entire week: Our weekend is usually about down time, but it is worth it to set ahead a few hours to prep for your week. Get meals ready, clothes ready, or whatever else you feel will get you a jumpstart on the week. That way, things you want to accomplish are already have way in the making, and you are more likely to finish what you already started. 

4. Stay Motivated: Get excited about your goal, have pictures and quotes all around you to stay motivated. Make sure to jam to music while you work out, laugh at some comedy while you prep for the week, and keep things exciting. Nothing should feel like a chore, it should all feel like tiny steps to an amazing change. Remember why you started, and why you want this change. Then get up, and get moving. 

5. Get a community with similar goals: You are your surroundings. It is hard to change when the world around you is stuck in the old. Chances are, if you have been this way for awhile, your entire world and the people around you are similar to you. No, you don't have to ditch all your friends or breakup with a spouse. However, you DO have to find some type of community or group of people that are headed in the same direction as you. This is as simple as joining a Facebook group whos goal is the same as you (business group, workout group, etc.) or finding some people online to follow who have accomplished this goal and help motivate others (famous people in this goal/category). However, as changes happen, you might find new friends with the same interest, and your actual community might naturally change.

6. Have a daily reminder: Have a nice planner or something to remind you daily of what needs to be done, this ensures that you stay on track on what you are trying to do. The reason you plan 60 days ahead, and then prep every week, is so that you have no excuse not to accomplish what you are trying to do. Look at that list, take some time to stretch and get motivated/ focused, and get up. It is easy to procrastinate and make excuses, but you are already half way there. Make sure to use this reminder to get going, and keep going until that list is done. 

7. Remember the end goal: Always have a vision board. I have seen many books, lectures, talks, etc. on how to accomplish a goal, and this is one that people seem to skip most. It is easy to say this is what I wanna do and how, but its hard to remember what you are working for sometimes. At some point, you will want to give up, and this vision board will remind you not to. Most people skip this step because it is silly, but it is key to success. It does not have to be a large poster board (although that is a great idea if you can), it can be as simple as a collage of screenshots you keep on your phone (if goals are more private). But keep something to remind you of what you want. Visualization is everything, once your mind sees this on repeat, your mind will make a way for it to happen.

Getting Organized

Planning ahead and getting yourself organized is something that can be difficult, especially if you do not do it right. If you try to make a 6 month plan that starts tomorrow, you might feel yourself overwhelmed. However, if you take some time to plan ahead, things can go a lot smoother.

I have made a few PDFs (more to be added this week) that are great for getting organized. all calendars are for 2018, and have personalized quotes for each month on them. You also get a personalized to-do list as well.

Click here to download your planner today!

When it comes to getting organized, where is the best place to start?

1. Make A Long List: Before I do anything to my planner, I make a list on 1 piece of paper. House, Business, Personal, and whatever other to dos I might have to get done. That way, I can see exactly what I need to do for everything.

2. Add Important Dates: Always start your planner off with important dates you must remember. Work times, birthdays, etc. all should be added to your planner first, so that you see what is a must for the day.

3. Combine 1 & 2: Sounds simple, right? This, however can be the hardest step. I used to use a weekly planner, but found it ineffective. When you have so much to do, sometimes you don't know exactly what you can get done in that day. However, by using a weekly to do list, that categorizes your to dos, you can look at it every day and see what needs to be done first.

Every morning, I look at my monthly planner just to see what day it is, where I am in the month, and what is coming up soon. Then, I get out my weekly planner, and see where I am on my goals for the week.

When I kept a daily planner, it seemed that I never got anything done on the day that I had planned. I wasted so much time moving stuff from day to day, and replanning. However, when I started having a weekly to do list, I simply saw what needed to be done, and crossed it off when finally completed.

I found myself more able to focus on the end goal, instead of just a to do for that day. This encourages me to get it done quicker and therefore get more done throughout the week.

Tips For Getting Organized

When it comes to getting organized, it is quite simpler than you would imagine. With a few quick tips, the determination to do so, and just getting up and getting started, you will be organized in no time. Below are 4 quick tips that can help you get organized quickly.


1. Declutter your area: Whether you are mostly at your desk or in your living room, take some time to clean out all that clutter in your house. Have your area organized, and you can think and work a lot better.

2. Plan: When it comes to getting organized, taking the time to make a schedule works best. Have a schedule for house chores, kids activities, meals, business to do. Whatever you have to do, get it all on one schedule. Then daily, you have a reminder of exactly what you need to get done.

3. Get Ahead: Have days where you clean out this room, or update your files, so that when it comes to important times, like spring cleaning or tax season, you are already ahead of the game.

4. Meal Prep & Plan: Taking some time on the weekend, or whenever you are free, to prep meals for the next week will save your life. Not only will you save a lot of time thinking what to cook, but you will start to save money and time by planning and prepping meals ahead of time.

When it comes to planning, I always start with my monthly planner. I then take the time to fill in everything I need, and usually just grab a small sheet for exactly what I have to do daily.

Below is a list of some things to consider when planning your month:

• Daily Task
• Meal Plans & Prep time
• Work/Business To Do
• Children To Do (school and other activities)
• Personal Time (date nights, spa day for yourself at the house, podcast hour, etc.)
• Errands/appointments
• Bills/ Expenses for the month
• Goals & To Do's for them
• Workouts
• House Chores/Cleaning

Also, click HERE to find one of our many personal planners that can help you easily get organized!

5 tips for being more productive

When it comes to getting things done, it can sometimes be overwhelming to the point you just want to give up all together. However, life is all about how you perceive things. Starting something new, whether its working out, starting a business, or simply getting your house cleaned; is always difficult. The first steps are always the hardest, because you are doing so much extra work to actually get everything in order. Once things get rolling, and once you get into routine, things get so much easier. It becomes daily habit to do these things, not "something extra you never have time for." 

However, in general, we as people are becoming terribly lazy. Which means, more and more people never have time to do anything productive. So here are a few basic tricks to help you become more productive:

1. NO MORE EXCUSES:

People find so much time for things that are not contributing to their goals, and then say they never have time. Honestly, one thing that got me up and moving was realizing how unproductive my days were. So, for one week I suggest you print out a weekly calendar with time slots. Every day, you start recording exactly what you are doing, even if it is just watching TV. At the end of the week, really look at what you do during the day.

Take a color highlighter and highlight everything you had to do. (work, errands, cooking, etc.) Then take a different color and highlight everything you did that was not contributing to you or your goals (TV, lying around, social media, etc.) You will start to see all these small times you are sitting around will really add up.

No one has excuses. I used to be the girl that slept till the last minute, hopped out of bed to wake up my kids for school, and once they were at school I sat around. Not much else happened other than sulking. I would work when we had gigs (I used to do construction) but even then in my spare time, I simply sat and watched TV or Facebook.

I woke up one day and realized how much my life sucked, and I was the only one to blame. That is when I got prioritized and became productive. Now, I have worked out, posted for my business pages, and dressed before I even tell my kids good morning. Now, we enjoy our weekends because we have extra cash. Now, we play outside because mommy finally has energy because she eats better and workouts. Now, I have a life. All because I decided to become more productive and stay prioritized.

2. GET INSPIRED:

This world is so negative, and there is not many places to turn that are positive. Social media is plastered with negativity and fake lifestyles no one can actually maintain. TV is either drama or news that will depress the hell out of you. So many people even in your own life are negative, and are probably putting you down enough to were you believe you can not do anything.

However, this life is what you make of it. You are not defined by what people say, or what is going on in peoples lives that you don't even know. I am not saying do not care about those around you, but you do not need to bring yourself down if you are trying your best. ( Don't lie to yourself though. If you are not doing what you need to, take the time to realize this so you know what you must change. Lying to oneself is never good for your  physical health or mentality.)

One of the first things I did when I wanted to change was I got inspired. I decided to change everything in my life, from business, to diet and fitness, and even my own personal growth. It took months of game planning and research. Before that, I got inspired. I found facebook and Instagram pages full of quotes and people who had did exactly what I was trying to do. I got rid of all negative people in my life. I found podcasts full of information to teach me and help keep me inspired. I even read audiobooks about how to retrain your brain, so that you think more positive.

It was not an easy step for me, as I do have clinical depression. However, since changing the way I think and my life, I no longer even need my depression medicine.

I failed so many times at first when trying to change. Every time I did, I would get upset and just want to give up all together. Then I would think about how my life would be in 10 years... the exact same. That was depressing, which means I had no choice but to get up and try again. So I did, over and over. Each time, I tried a little differently until I found a balance that worked for me. Things I never thought were possible were now simple daily routines to me.

It was all because I stayed inspired. When I failed, I would make an entire picture collage of quotes and I would make it my phone screen savor. Quotes about failing, not giving up, and success woke me up every morning. Id listen to more podcast than music, so even on the go I was mentally hearing something positive. Over time, it became easier to stay on track. To this day, I still make sure to take time to keep myself inspired. 

3. PLAN AND ORGANIZE:

This one is the hardest step to do before things actually get easier. I got a planner, notebooks, pens, and pencils just to get organized. I took time to plan months and weeks in advance. I learned to plan for things ahead of time, and not last second, so that I could stay ahead of my days and be less stressed. I had daily reminders of what all I needed to do for everything.

I even have folders, just for everything I am working on. One for workouts, with all my routines in them and records to track how I am doing. One for meals, to mealplan for the month so we eat healthy but yummy, and not the same thing everyday (recipes included). One for each one of my businesses, along with all records I need for them.

It seems like a lot, but when starting new routines it is important to stay organized, so that you are not overwhelmed. Again, this takes some time, and a lot of trial and error to see what works best for you. Just because all this works for me, doesn't mean it will work the same for you. Also, depending on what you are trying to do all depends on how you should be organized.

However, in general a planner is the best place to start. I prefer the ones with months and daily schedules on them. Although I do not plan out my day hour by hour, I do like that I can throw important days on my monthly calendar to see how long until events come up. Also, if I like I can go to the week and make a list of everything I need to get done for the day (even new things you want to try to do, but might forget or let slip your mind if you don't write it down). 

4. DAILY REMINDERS:

I am a huge fan of alarms, and yes I meant that "s" because I usually set about 5 or 6 every morning. On top of this, my alarms are set with amazing songs to help me wake up happy and even a picture of a quote that I want to read for that day. It is important that when you are working hard to change and be more productive, that you keep yourself on the right path. Right after i wake up and do my morning wakeup routine, I look at my planner. How come?

No one around you, not even those you love, are going to be there all the time to keep you on track and positive. If you do not remind yourself everyday on what you need to do, and why you are doing it, it becomes more difficult to actually get it done. On top of that, I believe you should always tell yourself positive things because if your spirits are down, you will physically have less energy to do what you must do.

So take some time every morning to remind yourself of some things:

What must be done. Why you  are doing it. Positive words to help you get it done.

5. KEEP GOING:

Even when you fall, because you are going to quite a few times. Do not get upset you failed, you are still learning. Realized why you failed, what you must change, and try again. I will talk about my falls a lot, because I failed for about 6 months before I finally starting seeing some progress.

That is 6 months of a lazy person to keep trying at being productive, when all I wanted to do was give up and continuing being lazy. Now, I look back and all I can say is thank god I know I will never be that person again.

I suggest you find others that will support you, depending on what you are trying to do. There are so many groups and ways to connect with others trying to do the same thing as you, and it is always easier to push forward when you don't feel along in doing it. It is easy to give up, when you are not looking at the big picture. Too often we act on actions that feel good now, but will hurt us down the road. When you stay focused on the future, what will become of your actions now, it is easier to keep going.