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!
Wondering what to do for Mother’s Day? This year, figure out first what your mom would like best. One way to do this is consider her love language. Next, choose from the 15 Mother’s Day in this post.
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!
Whether you are beginning a new week or reflecting on the previous one, these quotes will inspire you! Let’s recap the week with five inspirational quotes. How will you inspire yourself to finish (or begin) the week with purpose, creativity, and health? Continue reading Five Inspirational Quotes for the 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!
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!
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!
This week, let’s reflect on a quote from Abraham Lincoln:
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln
His emphasis on preparation is perfect for this season. I hope that you take this week before the new year to sharpen your “axe” by resting, reflecting, relaxing, and preparing for 2016!
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!
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
, 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.
