5 Simple Ways to Feel Lighter

I hope this finds you and your family healthy and happy.  With so much heaviness surrounding us at the moment, I thought I’d share some tips on how to feel lighter now.  It’s officially spring which means time for new beginnings and even though we may be under a stay at home order we can open all the windows, smell the jasmine and bring a little spring inside.

Here are my favorite tips for a spring refresh:

• Clear your workspace: Whether you’re working at home or just need a space for yourself, create and clear your workspace.  You’ll be able to think more clearly when you work, find things more easily and allow the creative juices to flow.

• Unsubscribe to unwanted emails:  You know the ones I mean.  The newsletters you signed up to get that you no longer read or the discount coupons from Michael’s that clog your inbox.  Unsubscribe now, you’ll be glad you did and your inbox will feel lighter.

• Sit up straighter:  Besides helping you strengthen your core and allowing your bones, ligaments and muscles to properly align themselves, sitting up straighter just feels better.

• Create a spring playlist to exercise or clean to:  Music inspires us and a great playlist is usually just the thing we need when we are feeling a little low.  

• Drink more water:  A fun way to infuse your water with spring is to chop up cucumber and lemon or strawberries and mint to make staying hydrated enjoyable.

Why We All Need a Coach

Because all good coaches need coaches themselves, I need Ali Schiller at Accountability Works. Ali is an accountability coach with a specialty in helping businesses grow to their fullest potential. She is my cheerleader, whip cracker and all around sounding board. I wouldn’t be where I am today in my business without her. And for this I am oh so grateful.

I loved all things organization and realized it was my superpower.  I became a coach because I saw early on how I could use it to transform the lives of my clients.  I could help people organize their homes, lives and businesses while teaching them how to do it for themselves. 

Before becoming a coach I was a high school teacher for 15 years at Dos Pueblos High School.  In a lot of ways what I’m doing now is very similar.  I helped my students get and stay organized for their classes.  And now, I’m helping my clients get and stay organized for their life.

The one commodity we can’t get back is time.  I know from being a coach that getting coaching buys back your time.  Sure, you can figure things out yourself...but there is so much energy and time wasted.
 

Do you have goals you’d like to meet but you’re not sure how to get there?  If you’re feeling a little scattered,  imagine having someone hold you accountable to your goals, help make sure your calendar is free and clear of clutter and you’re set up for success in your life and business.  All of this is possible for you, we just need to get started together!

How do you decide where and how to give?

How do you decide where to give of your time, energy and money? 

A lot of my clients are very generous with their time, energy and money when it comes to giving back. It turns out that they’re not alone, 70% of all charitable donations come from individual donors not corporations or foundations. Humans seem to be hardwired to take care of each other.  According to Chief Executive Magazine, “Anthropologists tell us that humanity’s secret to success as a species has been our ability to collaborate and cooperate to ensure the survival of the family, tribe, nation or whatever group we are affiliated with.”  

We can all give back one way or another. But with so many causes and demands on our attention - how do we choose and what do we give? 

• You want to connect with your community but don’t have a lot of resources

When I first went away to college at Virginia Tech, one of the first things I did was get involved in my new home town by volunteering.  I adopted a “grandmother” in the community through an elderly/ college student exchange, volunteered at a rape crisis center and worked at a pop-up Christmas market that allowed families in need to “shop” for the holidays. All of these choices connected me with my new community when I had time to give but not many resources. 

• You want to support causes you believe in but don’t have a lot of time

Then for many years I didn’t feel like I had the time or energy to give back because I was teaching full time while getting my master’s.  So, I gave money to several organizations I believed in.  Pro-tip:  Set a budget and decide what you want to spend to give back at the beginning of the year. That way when you are deciding who to give to and how much you already have a plan.

• You have the time and resources  and are ready to take it to the next level with a group or cause?

This is where you might become a board member or become involved in a leadership team where you are meeting people with very similar interests and motivations as you.  I’m in my second year of serving on the board of the Santa Barbara Swim Club because I’m passionate about swimming as a lifelong activity.  

Giving back is not only good for our communities, it’s good for us. But without a little forethought (and organization) it can be overwhelming. 

I would love to hear how and why you give back? 

P.S. If you want help getting organized. I’ll be starting a 6 week Spring Re-boot on May 4, so if you or someone you know wants to uplevel their business or work toward goals they’ve been wanting to crush, click here to schedule an introductory call. .

How I've helped Innate Fitness

This week I’m really excited to share about my client Andrew Araza. We’ve worked together for several years now and it’s been amazing to watch his business grow and thrive.

 Andrew owns Innate Fitness here in Santa Barbara, which is a gym that specializes in making sure all of their athletes feel safe and confident with their movements by teaching them the fundamentals before group class. They start with mechanics, then consistency, and finally intensity.  Innate Fitness coaches know your name and their classes are small enough that you get one-on-one attention.  

Andrew’s business has been growing and he’s needed help in getting organized and identifying the systems and solutions he needs to support that growth.  I’ve recently helped him hire an assistant and bring her onboard.

4 things I’ve helped him do are:

• Identify his goals and worked on a timeline for achieving them

• Worked on managing timelines and schedules of multiple team members

• Strategized on project follow through where we plot out what will be delegated to whom, how the project will be executed and seeing the project through

• Hire an assistant and bring her onboard

If you’re in need of help with organization and accountability, I have 3 spaces available for private coaching, give me a call !

If you want to hear directly from Andrew, I encourage you to watch his testimonial video below.

How's your 2020 going so far?

How’s your year going so far?!  Hope you’re off to a great start in 2020. Sometimes the beginning of the year can be overwhelming - big goals, long to do lists, etc. So to lighten things up and make sure I was starting off on the right foot...especially in my business, I did these three fun things. 

• Mark off your days off on your calendar for the rest of the year.  Even if you haven’t planned any trips, you know when your holiday days off will be and roughly when you’ll take off with your kids to visit the grandparents.

• Set a timer for ten minutes and clear your workspace or desk.  Throw away trash, put coffee mugs in the kitchen where they belong, take stock of any supplies you’re low in (a new pad of sticky notes is so satisfying).

• Make a vision board with colorful pictures ( I used mostly travel, food and fashion magazines) and inspiring words.  I love to visually lay out the things I’m setting my intentions toward.

I’m opening up three slots for  my next 12-Week Reboot,  February 3. 

My expertise is in setting up systems that will get and keep your business organized. With my eyes on how you are functioning in the office, we will quickly identify ways that you can do things better, easier, faster and cut out the extras that are driving you crazy. 

In this 12-week program I will help you identify your goals then meet with you each week to help you stay on track, create the systems we’ve identified, and give you guidance on how you can organize your business. 

If you’d like to know more, give me a call !

Holiday Planning

The Holiday season has officially begun.  Do you have your travel plans set?  Are you hosting a holiday meal or party?  Have you started shopping for gifts if you exchange gifts?

There’s still time (more than a month away) but with a little prep time now you’ll be smooth sailing into the holiday season. Here are my favorite holiday prep tips: 

• Get your travel plans on the calendar and make sure you’ve purchased travel tickets, if necessary. If you’re driving a fair distance, does your car need a tune-up?
  

• Make a list of gifts you need to purchase. Maybe your family has decided to draw names and each person only has to buy one gift.
  

• If you’re hosting, can you delegate some things like have guests help bring some of the dishes?
  

If you’d like to give the gift of organization to help someone you love feel lighter and more centered, I’m offering gift certificates for my organizing services and I’d love to help. Give me a call!