OK — does this sound like you?  You get up in the morning, check your e-mail, check your to do list and then go back to bed?  Do you have a coulda shoulda list that is a mile long.  Is this a serious problem?  If it happens all the time, it might be.   Luckily, taming the procrastination monster isn't hard — you just need to recognize why you are procrastinating…


Are You Afraid to Fail?  Afraid to Succeed?

If the above strikes a chord with you, you need to figure out what you are afraid of? Are you afraid of what's involved, what could happen if you fail or maybe even what could happen if you succeed?  If you succeed, do you feel like you will be raising the bar too high for yourself? It is pretty easy to sabotage yourself if you aren't sure that you want the increased expectations that success can bring.

Or, what if you do your best and people still don't like it?  This type of procrastination often has its roots in low self-esteem or some lingering uncertainty in your mind.  Were you rejected in the past?  In the end, though, it doesn't really matter what other people thing.  You need to have confidence in your own ability to overcome rejection.  Let the rejection roll off you like water from a duck's back. 

Let Your Hand Be Your Guide

Do you have to do lists that have 20 -100 items?  What are the chances (really) of getting everything on that list done? Especially, if you are a work-at-home mom.  Let your hand be your guide.  Don't have more than 5 things on your to do list each day.  Having a manageable list will let you finish the list and feel a sense of accomplishment.  Instead of drowning in that to do list — take control.

Where is your motivation?

Low self-esteem can stop you from completing even the easiest tasks.  You just don't have the energy to get things done.  A way to build up your motivation is to take a low-hanging fruit task and do it.  Keep taking baby steps and eventually you will get to your goal.

Baby Steps Get You There

Nothing worthwhile happens overnight.  Taking life in small steps will get you to your destination faster than sprinting then stressing and doing nothing at all.  There is no pressure… just take life at your own pace.

Resource Box:

Discover techniques to instantly raise your energy level.  Claim your free report at http://momsenergysecrets.com.  Meredith Eisenberg is a successful work at home mother, virtual assistant and entrepreneur who helps moms regain balance in their lives.

How much time do you really need? You work at home right?

Whenever I tell people that I have my own virtual assistant business that I run from home, eyes start to roll. People assume that I've somehow found a nirvana where I can earn money and stay home and that it is easy…

But in "real life" work at home mommy-dom really gives you less time than working full-time or staying home full time. There are children to take care of, a house to clean, a dog to walk, groceries to buy, dinners cook and dishes to wash. Oh, and then there are clients to take care of It isn't an easy road, but it is a a rewarding one. And with some basic time management, work at home moms can find time to get it all done. By using some simple time management tricks, a WAHM can find time to get it it all done.

The first step is to block out your day, you can use a planner, I like Planner Pads, your computer or some combination of the two. Don't stress too much over your system — or you will become a time management junkie and spend more time tweaking your system than actually getting anything done.

Schedule your "you" time first. If you don't take care of yourself — nobody else will. Then, schedule family events and work time. Once you decide on your work time commit to focus. As a work at home mom, it is really easy to procrastinate.

Time management works like home organization in that it pays to group similar tasks together. As a virtual assistant, you could do all your web updates on one day and article submissions on another. Or, you could choose to schedule each client's work in a block Either way, you'll gain focus and feel much less scattered at the end of the day. You might also consider outsourcing some of your activities. If you find that you are spending too much time on responding to email, returning phone calls, or updating your website, hire a virtual assistant to do those tasks for you. This will free your time up to work on your business, and by spending more time on the parts of your business that actually bring in money, you will be able to increase your profits.

A virtual assistant can also provide a sounding board for business ideas. It helps to have a support team to work with. AssistU is a great place to find a terrific VA. Another time saver is setting aside time each week for regular errands, such as grocery shopping. If you plan your meals for the week and go to the grocery store just once you can save lots of time during the week by having the grocery shopping done. If you plan your meals right, you can cook things once and use them twice. For example, if you have tacos on Monday and spaghetti on Thursday, you can use the meat twice. Lately, I've been using a meal assembly service. It is a great timesaver for me and we have a homemade dinner on the table most nights.  Some moms that I know swear by menu-planning services — a really cool one is Menu Planning Central since you can customize your own meals.  Alice Seba also recently posted some great information on outsourcing.

The most important thing is to avoid the supermommy trap. You do not have to do everything yourself. Ask for help! Kids and husbands have skills too! And don't forget to take time for you. Everyone needs a break — and you'll be even more productive with a little "you" time.

There was an article today in Salon Magazine  bemoaning the fact that " America's competitive spirit has been wrecked by feel-good amateurs like Oprah whose only goal is to stagger across the finish line.".  According to the article, American professional marathon times have been affected by the hoardes of "non-athlete" average joes who attempt to do a marathon.

OK, my hand is going up here.  I am one of those overweight, slow, walkers who take *forever* to finish a marathon.  But, I will tell you that finishing the Portland Marathon in 2001 was one of the highlights of my life.  I lost 80 lbs and even though it took my 7 hours and 15 minutes — I still feel like I accomplished something.  I wouldn't have considered even trying except that I was involved in a women's fitness boot camp program and the instructor encouraged me.  It really helped to have a goal.  I pushed and I pushed.  I am just a naturally untalented runner. Even after running intervals, sprints, distance 5 days a week - -I never got much faster than a 12 minute mile.  That's just how it is.    The marathon experience (which I trained for with the Galloway group) led me to Team in Training where I did a triathlon and have trained for two century rides.  Both really slow.  But, I can tell you that those Team in Training coaches are true athletes dedicated to taking average people and pushing them to do something great "for them" and raise awareness and money for great charities.  I even served as a fundraising mentor for TNT for two seasons — if you want help fundraising, check out my Squidoo lens on that subject.

I don't see how having folks in the back hurts the folks in the front as long as the race is managed properly.  Maybe the answer is more races with qualification criteria and more races with long course tmes - that way slow can run with slow and fast with fast.  Still,  one doesn't have to be Picasso to enjoy painting just like one doesn't have to run fast to enjoy running events. 

One of my virtual assistant clients - Stephanie McWilliams from EvolvingArts (yes, THAT Stephanie — the one from HGTV's Fun Shui  show) posted this lovely article about  her coffee addiction to her blog.

You should read her blog (and I"m not just saying that because Stephanie is my client)  — she is a smart cookie…

I thought the post was awesome — subsitute Diet Coke for coffee and she had me pegged… 

It's true. I've been having a love affair…

with coffee.

Ok, ok, perhaps it's not as juicy as you were hoping. But it's just as internally turmultuous. Here's the thing: I love coffee (don't worry, Ian…I love you more!). My focus goes to coffee several times a day. I worship it. It's my religion.

"It's your RELIGION?"

Yup. That's what I said. The definition of worship is "to love something deeply". Whatever in our lives we think about and give our focus to is what we worship (which might be rather disturbing news as you come to realize you're actually spending more time worshipping your email, to-do list, cell phone, shoes, food or coffee, INSTEAD of God [or whatever word you use for that mysterious and magical something that makes the universe go 'round]).

But it's been 3 days now. No coffee. I took that brave leap and listened to that whisper in my ear that has been telling me for months to cut back on the ol' joe… And it's been a challenging past three days. But what I've come to realize is that what we're drawn to is very likely exactly the thing that keeps us stuck. We're drawn toward foods, stimulants, people, spaces and colors that exacerbate where we're already out of balance, and just end up intensifying that energy.

For example, I tend to be quite energetic by nature (who knew?!) with a very fast, racing mind. So what I'm drawn to intensifies that imbalance. I like coffee, I like kickboxing, I like running. I avoid drinking, downers and yoga, simply for the fact that they force me to slow down and come into balance. So I fight it. My boyfriend on the other hand is very low-key and grounded by nature (sometimes TOO much so…sorry honey!), and of course he's fond of meditation, drinking (when he was younger), and any slow-paced or innert activity. Coffee for him is out of the question.

So, that being said, what's your tendency? What activities do you avoid? What types of colors are you hesitant to use in your home? I'm not saying to go out and do yoga, or smoke pot, paint your ceiling purple or drink yourself silly…. It's a matter of acnowledging that quiet inner voice that knows what would be healing for you, and allow it space to speak. The more you give it that space, the louder it gets, and the more you're capable of acting on it's wisdom.

In terms of feng shui, the same applies. Because your brain, in this very moment is where it is, and has the beauty AND imbalances that it has, we make choices from THAT place. So if we were to redecorate our space from where we are right now, very likely we would imbue that space with whatever strengths, and definitely whatever weaknesses, we currently hold. (This is why it's so beneficial to find a good consultant who can look past your personality and get to what your soul's longing for, and help you generate a space for those longings to blossom - a consultant who's continually doing their own inner work, staying clear and trying their best not to project their own issues or limitations onto your space.)

That being said, true change can feel uncomfortable. Sticky, icky, and heeby-jeeby. But deep down we WANT change. That's why we're on the planet! So we want to surround ourselves in inspiring spaces that stretch us out of our comfort zones so our homes aren't just a redesigned dumping-ground for more of where we are right now. That only creates more of that hampster-wheel-of-life effect. Although to create a space that speaks to who we WANT to become can feel as challenging as…well…choosing green tea over coffee! It's a new energy, a new feeling, a new behavior being asked of us, and that forces us to step up to the plate and create new patterns, behaviors and pathways. But however uncomfortable initially, that's the great news! Our homes can inspire change and growth… and often times it's far easier to change through changing our homes, than it is to change by changing a lifetime of limited beliefs.

So be prepared to feel a bit uncomfortable when you're taking on any new, healthier behavior. Your ego may throw a temper-tantrum. "I can't paint THAT color on the wall! I can't wake up early and write in my journal! I can't eat healthier! I can't get organized!…I can't survive without coffee in the morning!"

So what's right for YOU? What could you do to your space that would inspire something great in yourself? What does that small inner voice tell you to do each day that you simply choose not to listen to? What little thing could you change that you KNOW would change your entire life?

Would it be…
…painting a new color on the wall?
…making your junk drawer beautiful, with lovely containers and labels?
…throwing out magazines or paperwork you've had filed away for ages and tell yourself you'll get to someday?
…fixing a chair that you've grown acustomed to being broken?
…throwing out old clothes that you've been hanging onto for years?

What change could you make that you KNOW deep down is a positive shift, but you're hesitant to change? Yup, that's right. THAT is precisely where you want to start…

Baby steps, baby steps…

And before you begin this adventure, always keep in mind the following: as long as you're alive, your home will be growing and changing along with you. So continue nuding yourself and your home forward, and most importantly… HAVE FUN!

© 2007 Stephanie McWilliams LLC

P.S. If you want a weekly dose of this kind of wisdom — hop on over to My Cup of Chi and subscribe to Stephanie's newsletter.  Also, you can catch her show Fridays at 9 p.m EST on HGTV.

 

Jen over at One Mom's World just raised the lunch bar with her fabulous idea of getting her 4 year old to eat her lunch. She uses a plastic tupperware with divided areas to send very healthy, balanced and fun lunches to preschool.  I am inspired. My poor daughter usually just gets PB&J and an apple :(  But, part of my energy quest is to eat better — and that means feeding my family better too.

 

Update: I went out and bought a cool mini box with different containers and and ice pack. Suzanne and I picked out different things for the different compartments. I also found this awesome website — the Bento Lunch Box with tons of inspiring ideas. See, who says that the Internet *always* is bad for your health. My daughter certainly is going to be eating better!

It's almost Halloween.  What is haunting you?  Everyone has their demons.  These little monsters rob you of your energy and ability to get things done.

 

Here are my demons:

1.  I don't drink enough water.

2.  I need to get up an hour eariler to exercise

3. E-mail

4. I don't get enough sleep.

What are your demons?

Did you know that there is a magic drink that will help you lose weight, stave off disease and feel more energized?  Did you know that it is free?  Yep, that's right.  The fountain of youth is actually flowing with just plain old water.  Why don't we drink more?  I'm sort of addicted to the fizzly bubbles of my diet coke though I know it isn't great for me.  Here are some more reasons to drink water.

 

Proper hydration is paramount to losing weight and keeping it off. And the harsh reality is that most people are not properly hydrated. Most people walk around unaware that so many of their problems – low energy, mood swings, trouble thinking, focusing, and concentrating, frequent illness, and excess weight – are caused by the fact that they’re in a perpetually dehydrated state. Put plain and simple: most people do not drink enough water.

Water is responsible for helping rid our body of the toxins that our metabolic processes produce. Besides helping rid our systems of waste, water is also an integral part of digestion in providing a medium for the necessary chemical and enzymatic processes to take place. Water carries oxygen and vital nutrients through our blood to all the cells in our body. Water regulates our body’s temperature. And if you’ve ever noticed a problem with stiff, or gone so far as to have been diagnosed with arthritis, water also lubricates the joints, increasing flexibility, and reducing pain and stiffness.

All this and we each lose about a pint of water each day in the mere act of breathing. How much water are we using up in all the other activities we perform throughout each day?

Oftentimes we think we’re hungry when actually we’re just thirsty. The next time you feel hungry try drinking a glass or two of water first. Wait 5-20 minutes. If you’re still hungry, then eat. But there’s a good chance the water might have satisfied your body’s actual craving. Likewise, drink a glass of water before every meal. This well help you feel full faster and cause you to eat less overall.

When the subject of drinking water and having the body adequately hydrated comes up, many people worry about water weight gain. If you’re one of them, here’s an ironic bit of information for you: drinking water steadily throughout your day, and consistently this way over time, will get your body conditioned into a new habit of storing less. Bloating is caused by the body being so used to a state of feeling dehydrated that it stores up all the extra water it can so it can get its needs met when it starts getting dehydrated again. As contradictory as it sounds, the way to reduce bloating is to drink enough water.

Now another myth regarding proper hydration is that juices and sodas and milk hydrate the body just as much as water does. This is simply not true. The body has to exert a great deal of energy to digest and process the sugars in juices and sodas and the calcium in milk; in these cases, the liquids are more transportation methods for the sugars and calcium. Even those hydrating sports drinks are packed with ingredients developed in a laboratory that the body needs to find a way to process. This takes energy. Water is the body’s only source of pure, unadulterated hydration.

Inadequate hydration can lead to impaired neurological dysfunction (that’s: mind and emotions), digestive difficulties, deficient muscle tone and mass, problematic organ functioning, and of course the gaining of weight in the form of excess fat.

As a general rule, all people should drink a minimum of 10 8 oz. (1 cup) servings of water per day. For every 25 pounds that someone is over their ideal healthy weight range, drink an extra 8 oz. serving.

So, drink up my friends… Here's to a happier, healthier and more hydrated you!

 

OK — I'm in — I'm officially registered for the Rock and Roll half marathon on Arizona. I've decided that training for an event will get me going on my exercise again. I'm trying to talk my sister into doing it with me. Anyone else up for walking with us?

David over at Did You Smell That  cited a statistic that  4 out of 5 Americans don't make time to have fun once a week.  As moms, it it both easier and harder to make time to have fun.  Children bring tons of opportunties for fun and smiles.  On the other hand, finding free time to have fun (without feeling selfish) is fun. 

Finding time for fun is important because:

1. It releives stress

2. It is good exercise

3. Nothing increases energy more than a good belly laugh!

Some of my favorite easy ways of having fun are:

*  having a picnic

* going for a walk

* having an impromptu dance party with my daughter.

What are your favorite ways of having fun?