Designing Routines that Work: Daily Edition

A Daily Routine Example along with 8 Daily Time Management and Organization Tips to Design Your Most Productive Day, Every Day! 

Designing my Day in the Morning

Each day of the week once I have done my morning routine, I need to prepare in order to truly be ready to start my day. This is my daily routine that I need to complete before I start my day, since my day is based on this daily organization.

1. Sunday Night: Make a Weekly To-Do List 

   While I’m at University, I set this To-Do list up based on classes. I order the classes based on when I have them each week because usually the assignment, reading, or essay is due during that class period. Underneath each class, I list the to-do such as an essay or reading I have to complete, along with any sub to-do's and the amount of time I will allow myself to work on that task.
2. Each Morning: Make a Daily To-Do List
   
I Set up a to-do list of what I plan on getting done TODAY, based on my weekly to-do list. I set up my daily to-do's based on their priority. For example, if I plan on doing essay research and I have three readings to do, only one of which is actually important for class, I will make sure to do the important reading and then essay research first. This doesn’t mean I ignore the other readings completely (well sometimes it does), but it just means less time needs to be put into them when it may be sufficient to simply skim through the reading before I go to bed the night before that specific class. Especially in University where you are buried in work, it is all about delegating and prioritizing and needs to be done vs. what can be done later if at all. 
3. Set up my Calendar - Weekly and Daily 

   Weekly Overview:
   Again, I try and do this Sunday night. I put in everything from appointments, to meetings, to personal dates with friends, etc. 

   Daily Overview:
   Once I have made my daily To-Do list, I set up my calendar accordingly. I see what times I have blocked out for classes, meetings, or appointments and from there I schedule in blocks of time to do each of my To-Dos for that specific day. You could of course to a daily overview for each day of the upcoming week Sunday as well; however, I find that there is so much that changes during the week that it is better to plan each day on the day or the night before at the earliest. 
4. Find a Work Space that Feels Productive 

   This is a BIG one for me. I need to feel like the space I choose to sit down at for a couple hours feels like a focused area and environment. Sometimes I like being at home at my desk, and other days I want to be in the quiet basement library in a tiny cubicle forced to work by the silence, and some days I want to be in a busy area like a cafe where a lot is happening. A lot of my productivity is also based on the environment I am in, so find one that suits your needs. 
5. Begin the First Task and Start the Timer 

   I try my best to focus on one task at a time and not let myself get overwhelmed by everything else I have to do after this. I am the type of person who likes to feel as though I have control over all my work because it prevents me from stressing so much. However, it is so not helpful for my productivity when I am switching between this assignment and this reading. Therefore, it helps to look at one assignment at a time, but because of this I also try not to give myself a To-Do of writing a full essay in one day, and instead I break it up over a few days. Then, I can feel in control and also get all my other work done in-between and on the side as well. 


8 Steps to Having a Productive Day

Everyone’s day looks different based on their job, schooling, environment, living situation, etc. This post is a bit different than the morning routine since this is simply how to plan your day whereas the Morning Routine post was about what you can incorporate into your morning to make the most of the early hours and create a positive mindset for the rest of the day. 

The following steps can be implemented in order to create a productive day. The main way to do this is by creating a daily plan on how to tackle everything that you have to do!

1. Preparation is key 

There are a few different steps I have in order to prepare (listed above), but most importantly these steps give me an overview of what my day is going to look like. The best way to prepare is to write out everything you have to do. If you're not a huge fan of organizing, write your to-do's out on a separate sheet of paper first and organize them nicely later on - whatever you have to do to create an overview of your tasks.

The main thing is that you write it all out so that you can prepare for your day and your week. If you just have all these tasks floating around in your head, you will constantly be distracted and skip from one task to the next without really finishing them. Catch all those thoughts and to-dos and write them out! Write them down on paper so that you don't have to waste energy and memory space remembering what it is you need to do.

2. To-Do Lists are your new best friend

To-Do lists are a great way to have an overview of everything you have to do. They help remind you constantly that you have tons of work to do, but at the same time they calm you down and remind you that you’ve got this... At least if you've done them in an organized manner.Write your to-do list based on topics, rather than randomly listing to-do's at random and mixing up tasks that belong together. The topic, class, or assignment can act as your heading and you can list all the to-do's that belong to that topic underneath the specific heading.

3. Big to-do's vs. sub to-do’s

I have weekly to-do's that I write out at the beginning of the week, as well as daily to-do's that I list daily based on my weekly to-do's. In my weekly to-do list, I have major headings, for example, “Journalism Essay”. However, then I will have sub-to-dos that come underneath the Journalism Essay. This will look something like this:

This to-do list set up allows me to have an overview of the major assignments and as well as the sub to-do's that have to get done in order to complete the entire assignment. This not only outlines all of the aspects you need to make time for, but it also allows me to check off a lot of sub to-do’s from my list...  It helps me feel productive! There is a mental celebration that occurs when you check things off because you can see how much you are getting done. Therefore, waiting to check off the “one big major to-do” because that is the only thing you have listed, can create a draining unproductive feeling. Sub to-do's in general also help me maintain a focus of all the important steps that I must take to complete the task. 


4. Prioritize lists and assignments
 
Write out your “to-do’s” for the week or day in order of importance, or simply number their importance after you've written out your list. This ensures that each day you go down the list in order of whats most important. You can divide your weekly list into each day of the week so that you have a clear to do list for each day based on your priorities.

5. Time yourself - Done is better than perfect
 
Beside each of my weekly “To-Do’s” I have also written how much time approximately I will be dedicating to each assignment (see above example). I know that some are very important and need to be given a lot of time such as big essays or important readings, whereas others can be skimmed through or completed in 30 minutes. Set a timer for yourself and aim to be done with that assignment or that part of the task when the timer goes off. This is the hardest area for me to strict about because the timer will go off and I will keep pushing up the time and resetting the timer. This partly defeats the purpose of the timer because my goal was to be done; however, resetting the timer at 5 or 10 minutes and knowing I only have a few minutes left does motivate me to work faster and add those few sentences or ideas quickly. Over time, this method begins to alter the way you work because you will start doing your tasks in a way that you will be done after the 45 minutes that you are giving yourself to complete it.

If you are a perfectionist, this can be an incredibly difficult concept to incorporate into your work. I try my hardest not to be a perfectionist. I am constantly reminding myself that there is no such thing as perfect … there is always a different way to write a sentence or present an idea. 
But at the end of the day, it is better to have it done so that you can dedicate the rest of your time to other things that are important to you, instead of stressing about one little sentence.
DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT. Just DO it!

6. Color Outside the Boring Lines

Some people love to color coding and some see it as a waste of time. I would never turn down the option of adding fun colors to my lists, but often it becomes a form of procrastination and my task becomes organizing my list rather than doing my work. Seriously though, I could sit and organize and color code my “to-do’s” all week long, but then I wouldn’t get anything done.

It’s important to write out the list in an organized manner and then simply GET STARTED. So I am here to tell you that you can add color with very little hassle. I pick a color for each week. Use the colors to stroke things out, write the headings, or add important dates on your calendar. Make it pretty or fun or whatever your goal is, but don't let it take over. Just make it neat and readable, with a few fun colors!

7. Stroke it Out.  

Cross it out when it's completed! This can act as a mental achievement because it feels so damn good to just cross things off your list … it creates a sense of accomplishment! It can also motivate you to move on to the next to-do and move through your list like the productive focused badass you are!

8. Be DONE! 

Let it go. Move on. And don't forget to give yourself time to do things that make you happy. Even if you love your work, life is not all about work!  




Comment or contact me with any more questions, suggestions, or ideas you may have.
More declutter posts along this focus of work, organization, and time-management are underway, so if that interests you, come visit more often!

We Feel Guilty, But We Shouldn’t … Screw that, Love yourself.

Another Truthfully Honest Post: The ‘right’ perspectives on life & body awareness, and loving yourself for YOU, from inside-out. 

 Love yourself for you. Make everything you do for you.
Work on yourself the right way: inside to out!

The Guilty

I am surrounded by people concerned about their health, their diet, their eating habits, which is not necessarily a negative thing, as it has taught me to want to take care of myself and of this single sacred body that I have. At the same time, I am also surrounded by people who are concerned about not only being healthy but looking a certain way. Unfortunately, I feel that this mindset has also imprinted itself in my brain in negatives ways. There is a stress that surrounds itself with eating my favorite foods and a guilt that follows. I am healthy and I am not overweight, but then why is it that I begin to feel uncomfortable if I haven’t worked out in a while or why I start to stress about eating two servings of pasta.

Yes, awareness of what goes into your body is important, but is that really the only thing on our minds? Are we sure there is not that ulterior motive where we are trying to fit into a supposed “prescribed” mold? Or do I just feel “unhealthy” in my body because I haven’t moved it the way it wants to be moved, in a couple of days? As soon as I give my body a workout or plan a few healthy meals, I find myself in a totally new and positive mindset… Then why do I let myself feel bad about what I consciously put in my body? We get caught up in all the little things, and we build the “bigger picture” around all of these small insignificant worries. Do you take care of your body? Do you eat well but also treat yourself? Do you look in the mirror and love yourself, even if you haven’t reached your goals yet? Then relax!

Balance is EVERYTHING

As I continue implementing a practice in my everyday life of moving my body in the ways that satisfy it and eating foods that fuel me and make me feel good, I also have to remind myself that I can go for the pasta and the cookies and treats, as long as it’s in moderation. As long as I keep this as my motto, I don’t find myself feeling guilty. I let that shit go. I am healthy, I feel good, I take care of my mind and my body. I eat healthy nutritious foods, but I also treat myself to sweets because they also feed my soul and sweet tooth. If you love your body and take care of yourself, then there is no reason you should be feeling guilty for what you put into your body or for giving your body rest. Listen to your body; it knows exactly what it needs. As long as there is a balance, you can love your body and yourself regardless.

There is a Community of Inspiration and Support Surrounding Us

Rachel Brathen, aka Yoga Girl, wrote a prayer called A Prayer for my Daughter. Part of the prayer is about is about how she prays that her daughter loves herself and her body, and never finds herself ashamed or embarrassed, and can always know her self-worth lies above all of that.  I would like to share this message of the prayer because it is incredibly fitting.

I am not guilty, I am AMAZING … because I love myself.

This beautiful prayer presents a story of exactly what I am communicating; be healthy, take care of yourself, and move your body, but do it because you love yourself and your body, and because it feels good to treat it to this wonderful experience of movement in nature and all the delicious and nutritious foods that this incredible earth has to offer.

Finding this prayer was another one of those instances where I was unsure about posting a deep post about real feelings and struggles, whereafter I found myself scrolling through Instagram and find this prayer that she wrote that connects so perfectly to what I desire to write about. I love when I can see how things are meant to be. Her post inspired me to persevere with writing this post and it helped me to refocus what it was that I wanted to communicate... so all I can hope is that this post is perhaps the motivation you need or the push you needed to show you the way in whatever situation or struggle you may find yourself in.

Let's be here for each other, and love each other like we do ourselves. Girls are amazing badasses; Let’s build each other up.

Support and Positivity vs. Big Companies with Mean Messages

D3 is a place to share healthy lifestyles, habits, and routines, and sharing how to create space to breathe in your life by getting rid of all the clutter and mess in your space. My goal is to communicate all these things in a positive light. That is why honest posts like these are important; I want to share these common or personal struggles so that we all find ourselves on the same level of togetherness so that we can create support, understanding,  and realization regarding all of these topics that produce extra an unnecessary stress and insecurities in our lives. This blog is not about being skinny and dieting and being an anal organization maniac, but rather creating an environment in your day to day life that excites you, fuels you, and inspires you. And for me, these three aspects of my blog are ways that I can achieve that life. We are all on this earth and in this life together. Eat healthy for the goodness of your body. Keep your house organized not for material purposes, but to de-stress your life and create harmony in your space. Have a morning routine to clear your mind and help you feel positive going into each day. Do it for YOU.

Nothing I write is a “you must do this to be happy”. All it is is ways to be happy in life. Maybe for you, that means looking a certain way or being on a certain diet, or maybe it simply means working out to feel good, not look good, and mediating in order to reconnect with your desires and follow your passions. It's OKAY to want to look good and work towards goals. The most important thought to keep in mind is to always feel good anyways if you know you take care of yourself, no matter what step you are at.

This message should expand into all areas of life and everything else you read, watch, and are exposed to. We live in such an extreme consumer culture that it is so vital to be aware of what you are taking in and how it is subconsciously influencing you. Advertisements are meant to make us believe we are missing something, and we will only be happy “when”… when we have this or that product that will make us more beautiful (aka no pores - like, what?!), or when we have these clothes that will make us “cool” (whatever that even means).  Who was the almighty person who decided that any of these better, cooler, or more expensive products were actually going to make you a happier person?
There is a life outside of all the presented status quo(s). You will never be able to get away from these influences and messages, but you can love yourself enough as you are to be aware of the fact that they are just trying to make money, and you are perfect the way you are.

TO DO’s for Living Your Life Truthfully, for YOURSELF.

1. Work out so you can sweat to feel good not look good The whole point of working on yourself is so that you can love yourself from the inside-out. Start on the inside because you will never be happy on the outer side until you love yourself regardless of that part. Work out to move your body, because your body craves it and loves you for stretching it out. Even if you are not where you want to be at yet, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Make sure it is for yourself, and not for someone else. Of course, we all want to look good, but until you learn to feel good in your own skin and be happy knowing that you are taking care of your body, then no number of pounds lost will matter because it will never be good enough. Even if you have a bigger goal in mind that you are working towards (which is AWESOME), still let ‘right now’ be good enough.

2. Put good fuelling nutrients in your bodyYes, be healthy. Yes, take care of your body. Because it is a temple. It is the most powerful and amazing creation you have. It's damn freakin' amazing. So what are we complaining and worrying about! This is the issue… we think that being “healthy” means dieting and denying ourselves foods that are labeled as “bad”. I am not advocating for you to go on a McDonald’s diet or let yourself each a full box of donuts every day, but have that piece of cake at your friend's party! Bake cookies and actually eat them … and feel good about it after!

3. You were born perfect and exactly as you should be

 
... so CELEBRATE yourself, who you are, what you look like. As long as you feel good on the inside, that's all that matters. We are simply looking at it the wrong way... trying to find inner peace and content by changing the outside (we think we can find it by changing what's on the outside). However, if you're not happy with yourself to begin with and proud of how far you've come, you will keep looking in the mirror and continue with the same negative thoughts. Life is pretty amazing… don't miss it because you’re busy complaining and being sad.

Reminder to Self: Life is beautiful. I am beautiful. I celebrate the highs and lows. I am on the right path to working towards my goals, and I am happy and celebrate life and myself regardless.

4. Do not waste a single precious moment worrying about what anyone else thinksIf you truly love yourself, love your body, love who you are, then whatever anyone else thinks doesn’t matter. I know this is easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean it's not a goal you can work towards. The majority of the time we don’t like what we see in the mirror because we are worried about the judgment of others.  When you look in the mirror, love what is there. Appreciate that you are special and unique.
Reminder to Self: I am happy with who I am and how I look and I love myself. Alternatively, or in addition to this, make a list of max. 10 people who are really important to you and whose opinions truly matter. Then everyone else can just become noise.

5. BELIEVE. Believe you can do whatever you set your mind to. Believe that you are amazing. Believe it and make that your reality. Manifest it.
Reminder to Self: I believe it. I will do this. I am doing this (“this” meaning whatever it is you wish to achieve or see happen in your life).

6. And gave gratitude. For the entirety of all journeys, not just the destinations. Be grateful for what you have, and be grateful for your future. Believe in the future you want and visualize it for yourself. If you want to create a habit of healthy living and bring more movement into your life, then envision that life. Believe you can do it and achieve whatever goals you set for yourself… Just make sure to love yourself along the way, regardless of where you are on your journey.
Reminder to Self: List of 3-5 things you are grateful for each day before you go to bed, to remind yourself how wonderful you are and how amazing your life is (even if it’s currently only in the small things).

 

You have to do YOU to be happy… I can’t tell you what that is.  

All I can do is create a platform to share my beliefs and passions. Use them as you wish, to create an amazing life or incorporate a healthy life style. Use them in a way that works for you! Take care of your body, work out to feel good, eat to enjoy, clean to move on. Everything in moderation.

You are enough… more than that, actually. So love your damn amazing self already!

Morning Boost #4: Ginger Turmeric Kefir Lassi

This smoothie is the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and healthy to kick-start your fabulous day! 

What is this amazing sounding drink you ask?

As I said, this one is sweet from the honey and pineapple, spicy from the ginger, and contains a hint of sourness from the lemon. Aside from those different tastes, it is also creamy from Kefir… Sounding delicious yet? Kefir, if you haven’t heard of it yet, is a type of probiotic yogurt drink.

This is a great one when you are feeling a bit sick, with nausea or simply under the weather. It contains ingredients such as probiotic yogurt which is great for healing and strengthening intestines, as well as ginger, which is helpful for unsettled stomachs, menstrual pain, and fighting cases of flu and common colds (HealthLine 2017). This smoothie also contains honey, which is a natural antibiotic according to Medical News Today and can also be used as a cold relief.

Benefits of Turmeric

I myself had not heard about all the benefits of turmeric before making this smoothie with my mom. I feel that knowing what good you are actually doing with the food you put into your body always gives me a positive mindset. If I feel like I am putting kick-ass nutrients into my body, then I feel so much better. Therefore, I like to know the benefits of the natural spices, oils, and whatever else it may be that I am using for my body.

Turmeric is a spice grown in many Asian countries and belongs to the ginger family, so it has a bit of a similar “bite” tastes!

Benefits Include:

• Cancer preventing elements: According to Cancer Research UK, the main ingredient in Turmeric is “curcumin” (scientifically known as diferuloyl methane), which has shown to have anticancer effects on cancer cells.
• The Curcumin acts as an anti-oxidant and is also known for its powerful anti-inflammatory. Therefore, it can act as a natural pain killer (HealthLine 2017). 
• Can slow the growth of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's: According to Health Line, Turmeric is known to boost the level of a growth hormone in the brain (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)), which is linked to improved brain function. Alzheimer's, for example, is linked to the decrease of this hormone in the brain. Therefore, it could be a factor in preventing Alzheimer's. 

 Ingredients 

Side Note: This recipe has been adapted from my amazing mom, and she adapted it from the wonderful smoothie book Delicious Probiotic Drinks by Julia Mueller, where the information and benefits on all the ingredients and more healthy recipes if you're interested.

Ingredient Information

• Kefir can also be substituted for plain probiotic yogurt
• It is optional to add coconut water (approx. 1/4 cup to liquify the smoothie a bit and add the coconut taste, which can be really nice as it evens out all the strong tastes (just like the Kefir does as well)).

Single Step: Blend Well! 
Again, as most of my recipes go, you simply put it all in a blender and mix it together!
Pour into a glass and it is optional to garnish the drink with extra turmeric.

Servings
When I made this recipe originally (and for this post), it served about three people, but the amounts given will also work for two. To make this for one person, half this recipe. In that case, the recipe will make one good glass with a little left over to refill… you'll be wanting that extra bit.

And then you are left with a delicious morning smoothie boost with numerous healthy ingredients! Drink up!

Feeling too busy for healthy foods? Get rid of that excuse... here are some prep ideas:

This is a pretty easy recipe to prep for ahead of time. For example, if you don't have time to be cutting up pineapple in the morning, cut it up the night before and put it in a tupperware or in the freezer if you know you won't finish it this week anymore. Chop up the ginger and have a full jar at hand! Ginder is great to throw in with your tea or water, so you can never really have too much.

Start the morning and continue your day feeling full, healthy, and energized!

Morning Boost #3: Banana Chocolate Nicecream

A Cold Refreshing Treat for a Hot Morning

Heres another super easy morning boost! I have only recently heard about nicecream and just started getting into it. It's basically like a smoothie bowl but in some cases almost easier to make!
This is a really simple recipe to get you hooked on this heavenly nicecream!

Ingredients + the ONE step required by this recipe

Frozen Bananas - 1-2 bananas or a good handful of frozen pieces should be enough.
Bananas are a great base ingredient because when you blend frozen bananas they become so thick and creamy … just like ice cream… almost better!

Almond milk - just a little bit to help blend the bananas; about 1/2 a cup.

Make it Yours! 
You can also play around here and add some other ingredients, for example, natural peanut butter or almond butter if you want to make it a banana peanut butter nicecream bowl!

THIS IS LITERALLY IT - Blend until Creamy! 

Toppings

This is where the fun starts. Toppings are important because it will give you the taste you want! I'm going for a little bit of a chocolate banana taste, so I'm adding some granola, chocolate peanut-butter sauce, and some shredded coconut! YUM!

Fruits
Add different fruits or the same kind of fruit as a topping to incorporate other flavors and textures. I’ve stuck with banana’s here but raspberries or strawberries would have been fitting to add to the chocolate sauce.

Granola
I am using “Nutty Rawnola”, a recipe by Earthy Andy. It is sweet, delicious, and vegan, with dates, cinnamon, oats, and coconut sugar!

Chocolate Peanut butter Sauce
And no, this does not contain sugar. Yes, it IS healthy AND delicious! This is a simple blended mixture of natural peanut butter, coconut milk, maple syrup, raw coca-powder.

Sprinkles
I’m not the biggest coconut fan, but I really do love using coconut oil or shreds for raw cooking and baking. I also like a little bit of shredded coconut onto of my smoothie bowls… it gives a crunchy texture and adds a little bit of a different flavor to mix things up!

And Voila! You are ready to enjoy your healthy breakfast treat in under 10 minutes! This is also a great cold snack on a hot summer day. 

There are tons of nicecream recipes online as well as lots of difficult ones that are delicious, but I thought I'd start off small to get into myself. I find that I am more motivated to continue doing something when I can make it the second time without following a recipe! But if you are looking for more of a challenge, go search it! I will also be posting some more of these in the weeks to come... they're my new fave!

Why it is so hard to design your dream life: A Truthfully Honest Post

Fears that hold us back from living a life that we absolutely are in love with… and taking the first step by surrounding yourself with positive energy and releasing beliefs that limit you!  

Thus far I have posted steps or tips on how to declutter or detox. I have also done a bit in the direction of designing the life you want. This post definitely falls under that umbrella, but it is a little bit more personal than just sharing my healthy meals and organization tricks. I am not here telling you how to make your life amazing, because although I am working on it, I definitely am not claiming to know everything, but rather trying to connect with those of you who feel that want to have a wonderful life, but may be feeling stuck or are not sure where to start. Are you relating to these feelings?

I have spent this whole week deciding what I would post for this Friday’s post. All of my prepared posts and ideas did not seem to resonate with me. The second post following “Morning Routines” didn’t feel right, and writing about how I redesigned my space at home didn’t get me excited. I am also not in my normal environment right now, and I think that traveling brings out different emotions and forces you to really think about the world and people and YOUR life differently. You read books, you ask questions, you explore new ways of life. Your mind is opening up to a whole different world. This can obviously also happen in the comfort of your own home, city or country, by exploring all the beauty around you or reading a fascinating story from the comfort of your own couch. This just happens to be my place in this world right now, and I am driven to write about something insightful and sincere.

Honest Fears
Fears that make us doubt ourselves … and encouraging change

I love writing this blog and dedicating my time to it. Some days I love writing about these material things; food, life style, and organizing your space and days. But what about organizing your life? One of the things I love talking about is creating the life you want to live, going after dreams, manifesting positivity, and trusting in life. This post is the first introduction component in that direction; to design a happy life, one must first start generating some positive thoughts!

However, this simple sounding task can be difficult when it is easy to let negative thoughts take over and we so quickly resist being vulnerable. I notice myself take time before I share each post to think, “who is going to be reading this?”, “Will it make a difference?”, “Am I wasting my time”, or “will it just be a joke?”. To rid myself of these fears, I look for others who display the courage to expose their thoughts and feelings … whether that means sharing deep contemplations on life and hardships, or a more straightforward “tips and tricks” blog post where you gain insight into their life. You have got to be fearless to start doing what you love and you have to expose yourself out in the open when trying something new when you actually want to get somewhere with it!

I am inspired by authentic people. My favorite pages to follow on social media are those whose posts are genuine and authentic. Social media can be such a toxic place but it can truly be a caring and receptive place as well. These people post about following their dreams and all the love and gratitude in their lives; at the same time, they post about their struggles, losses, and failures. I realize I gravitate towards these people because I can relate and their honesty inspires me. It makes me want to share honest feelings myself. There are too many filters and rules and too much judgment in this world.

The courage to write this post is drawn from that inspiration. I see how much positivity, love, honesty, and how many life lessons are being shared by these people. I can envision how I want to connect and relate to people, but there is always the fear that people will not respond positively. It is that moment when you see what you want, but you must disregard judgment and any negativity around you in order to obtain it.

I started thinking about what messages I wanted to be sharing, and I realized tips and steps to creating a healthy life are important for me, but life goes deeper than that. My need for this post came from a realization from the inspiration and drive I felt from reading other peoples honest and authentic feelings and struggle… it was inspiring to me. It helped me connect to them and admire their journey, and it reinforced that dreams are achievable in the right environment. This positive energy and sincere messages inspire me to persevere mine - in the most honest of ways.

Honest Support 

I want to create deeper connections with those who do read what I write and do this by conveying my personality, feelings, and charisma. So many aspects of life are filtered today that it can be hard to find a supportive community where you don’t wish for something new/better/bigger, instead of one where you feel fulfilled and happy in your life and gratified with your journey. This is what I would like to create here. Below is my first little insight, which I am personally putting to use in this post, in order to begin to create this genuine and supportive space.

Using Karma as a Tool
The “Tip” part of this post: Surrounding yourself with the energy you need to succeed

Karma is a tool you can use… It is simply the idea that your actions and thoughts influence your life. If you put your energy towards something, and your actions and thoughts align with that goal, you have the ability to create that in your life.

First, you must liberate yourself from all the beliefs that limit you…
Your thoughts = your feelings ( positive thoughts means positive opinions and feelings towards that goal), and your feelings = actions that lead you in the right direction. When you create positive thoughts, you display positive energy, and you end up attracting the right kind of people and support. It helps you obtain what you want in your life and who you want to surround yourself with.

Personally achieving this … Everything I have written up until this point has been about the kind of positivity I want to manifest through this blog. Hopefully, through this post, I will attract the right supportive, loving, honest and authentic readers, that I know you all are. You can create what you want in your life if you put your energy towards it. I am done with being too intimidated to put it all out there because I know what I want to share is greater than the fear I have of doing it.

Right now there is a great 21-day Mediation going on by Oprah and Deepak Chopra, talking all about going after what you want, and the first thing they talk about is that “you are a powerful creator”. You can reach your deepest desires when you focus your energy and actions towards it and surround yourself with positivity. I would highly recommend it because it provides a little guidance and expresses all these concepts clearly.

Perspectives Vary

This post is a new step for me and this blog because I am speaking from the heart in sharing my own fears and my own feelings. It seems that this is not something people usually do, especially not to the open world. But I realize that these are the kind of posts I like most. Sharing, connecting, and creating a community of bonds and support.

Of course, this is just my opinion. This is my perspective and my take on the situation. These are all just my beliefs about creating an environment that helps rid you of your doubts and fears and instead assist you with your desired intention. 

I have said a lot in this post about fears and goals and opinions… but my main point really is, that you get what you put out. I would like to create a positive and inspiring environment.

 

Designing Routines that Work

Morning Edition: 8 Tips to Starting Your Day Off Right

I know that there are a lot of posts about mornings and how to make the most of them. This is sort of one of those posts, but I'm going to try and keep it as real and as honest as possible. This is the first of a few posts about routines. I am very a very passionate organiser (I think it's a positive attribute but to each their own!), and routines are one of those things that make me feel in control and productive.

Creating Habits are Hard

Having a routine in the morning and having the feeling of getting all sorts of things done before you even leave the house, is IMPORTANT. The article Can a morning routine make you better at your job? by the BBC, provides evidence from individuals experiences and suggest that the morning routine is the ideal time for personal priorities. The morning is the best time to get things done without distractions. One principle of the psychology of habits is the idea of “decision fatigue”. This states that towards the end of the day we are more likely to make “bad” decisions or choose to do nothing at all (Source: Developing Good Habits). For example, you are more likely to work out if you do it right when you get up in the morning opposed to waiting until after work or class, especially if you’ve had a long day of thinking, problem-solving, and concentration. At that point you’re more likely to decide that you are tired and just want to go home. I know I have been guilty of this. Therefore, getting things done in the morning and having a routine of what you do is suppose to help you achieve more, at the time of day when you are most motivated.

Life Happens, Routines Change

I know that everyone has busy lives and someone who can really achieve all their new years goals, stick to their routines of constant journaling, and not break their healthy no-sugar diets, must be a miracle worker. We all slip up once and a while. Sometimes we need that sleep in instead of the work out. From time to time we have down days and need that comfort food. These tiny obstacles that divert us from our goals are okay. I think we get the feeling that when you plan something you have to do it exactly as you’ve imagined, or else you have failed. I do not think that is the case.

I want to propose how I have created routines in my life that motivate me and inspire me to keep going. At the same time, life happens. Not everything goes as planned and routines need to shift and be adjusted accordingly. Routines are not there to make you feel unsuccessful or shitty about how you are unable stick to habits or achieve your goals. They are there to bring structure to your life, in this case your morning, in little ways and create a feeling of fulfillment because you are doing things for yourself and making time for you.

Here is my morning and some tips and approaches in regards to not letting these plans and goals take over your life. Here are also some reminders so that the routine you create doesn’t have an opposite, negative affect, where you feel like you are unable to achieve everything opposed to adjusting and feeling fulfilled in what you have done.

My Morning Routine

I have a short list of things that I would like to do in the morning. I created this list and started sticking to it back in February. It worked really well while I was at school, but since I’ve been back at home for the summer, I’ve had to adjust it to my new schedule. I have a job instead of school which random hour shifts, where I can’t always get to bed when I want and need days of sleeping in to be alert during later shifts. The list of my morning to-do’s still stays pretty consistent; working out is my priority, and then I adjust the rest according to the day.

I put the small things on my list as well, like showering and making my bed because the more you can check off your list, the more productive you end up feeling.

Aspects that Make for a Good Morning
… Based on my own Experience

First, watching the day begin. I LOVE mornings - being up early when all is quiet, seeing the sunrise - but I also love my sleep. I need about 8 hours of sleep so getting up early works if I go to bed by 11pm. However, this isn’t always the case because I have a lot of work to do, I had a late night class, or it takes me longer to fall asleep. Therefore, I give myself that wake up period, but I usually wake up more towards 7.30. Still, getting up “early” is a huge influence on how I feel.

I follow my morning routine every day of the week. I follow it closely on the days I have lots going on and I even try to incorporate it on the weekends, but truthfully thats usually after a nice sleep-in. Even on days when my classes start later, I still do my best to stick to a 7.30 wake up. That way I can get a decent amount of work hours in before classes start, and have less to do later in the day when my brain starts to shut down. Sometimes I stretch my wake up time until 8 but I find that I need an “early” start in order to feel productive. The later it gets, the less I want to do this routine because I start stressing and want to get a start on my work to-do list.

Second, a positive mindset. Mediating or doing Tony Robinsons “Priming” in the morning is a nice “in-between” stage from sleeping to actually getting out of bed. You are still sleepy, so it’s nice to have a slow wake-up where you can stay in bed 10-20 min longer to mediate or focus your mind on all the positives in order to create an optimistic and gratitude filled mindset to continue into the day with. I try not to look at my phone until I have finished this part of my routine.

MEDITATION: Oprah and Deepak have FREE 21 day Mediations where they focus on a topic such as “stress” or “Desires and Destiny” (their upcoming one). It’s an app that I have downloaded and the mediations are about 20 min … max. 10 min of talking and then about 10 min to mediate. I find the guidance helpful and they raise some interesting and insightful ideas to think about.

PRIMING: My mom introduced my to Tony Robinson, who supports people in creating their best life, whether that is in regards to work and business, love and relationships, or personal issues and goals. He has a 15 min priming exercise (also free audio) that wakes me up mentally in the morning. It is less in the direction of mediation since he talks the entire time, but this guided audio reminds me about all the things I have to be grateful for and encourages me to refocus my attention and energy on the things I want to achieve this day/week/month. Sometimes there is so much going on we loose focus on what is actually important and instead we become overwhelmed with all the things on our “to-do lists” that aren’t actually that important.

Third, the feeling of accomplishment before work. Working out in the morning before you start your day at school or the office creates a sense of accomplishment. If I feel as though I have accomplished something before I have even eaten breakfast, I feel motivated to get even more done in the day. Alternatively, if I am having a rough day with getting things done, I can always remind myself that I already worked out this morning, which makes me feel a bit better. I also feel the change in my body. Working out gets the blood flowing and energies me and my brain. I don’t feel as tired after sweating it out!

MY FAVE WORKOUTS:

Since January I have been doing Beach Body’s “21 Day Fix” which I love. I found it for $30 on Amazon and there is a 30 min work-out video for each day of the week. I don’t have time or a want to do a long work out, so this is perfect and it's hard! Also, I like when there is a schedule that tells me what work out to do on what day, instead of me searching through videos or being indecisive about what video I want to do. This review gives an overview of the program with lots of info about 21 Day Fix if you are interested!

I was also recently introduced to “Blogalties” on YouTube which has a variety of videos from 10-30 minutes that are a great alternative on those days that 30 minutes doesn’t even seem possible.

Some days, especially when there is a lack of positivity in my morning attitude, I prefer to do a Yoga practice. I use an online Yoga Community called Gaia. They have thousands of different yoga classes you can follow from home from your computer/iPhone, as well as Films and Documentaries that can be insightful and helpful in refocusing your attention on the right things.

Fourth, planning to make it a healthy day. I LOVE food, so I am someone who is always very concerned about what I will be eating. I also like to have lots of snacks because I get hungry throughout the day, at non-eating times. I have a board on interested called “Cooking for One” with all kinds of healthy lunch ideas, bowls, and combos. I don't want to eat a sandwich everyday, and salads are a lot of prep I find… also cause I love avocados and you really have to cut the avocado up right before you eat it… so yes, the struggle. Here, meal prep is key. Have some veggies and snacks ready in plastic bags or Tupperware. Often I’ll also have a tuna salad ready to just spread on bread in the morning. you get out the door on time and have a yummy lunch to look forward to!

8 Tips for the BEST Morning EVER!

Make your Own List
What is important to you? What do you want to do for yourself that would make you feel positive and fulfilled going into your day? Maybe it’s important for you to talk a walk and clear your head. Maybe watching the sunrise each morning can help fill you with that positive energy. Maybe you need a cup of coffee before anything else. I have incorporated my morning routine into this post, but that does not mean this is the best or only way to do a routine. The things you do in the morning are

I also like to put all the little things on the list as well: showering, getting dressed, etc. This mentally gives me a lot to “check-off” and makes me feel like I’ve already got a lot done since I’ve woken up (even if its just having showered!).

Pick a Time Frame
I try to give myself 2 hours in the morning from when I have to get up to when I have to leave. The first hour allows me to mediate or work-out, as well as shower. The second gives me enough time to get dressed and eat breakfast while I make my lunch. The second hour is the things I would have to do anyways, even if I did not have a routine set.

Try different things to discover what makes your mornings happy!
This is just my list and how I feel that these factors improve my morning. Everyone is different and maybe there is just one thing you’d like to do in order to create your morning routine. Again, this time is YOURS!

Do things that you actually want to do in the morning!
I know that if i put journaling on this list, it wouldn’t happen… that is something I really have to do when I feel like it, and it cannot be a “to-do” for me. On another note, I was super excited about the 21 day Fix video when I got it, and I still am excited to get up and do it for 30 min.

Baby Steps
The Routine will develop over time. You will try different things, see if they improve your morning or if you are energized after your routine. Additionally, choose 3-4 mornings a week where you will stick to your routine. This will make the mornings you have to get up earlier to get your list done less daunting, if you know you have 3 days when you can sleep in longer. This approach can also be an interesting way to compare how you feel on the days you follow your routine versus the days you don’t. It might motivate you to increase the days of morning routines.

Try to do at least one thing on your list each morning
If you only have time for a short work out or would rather mediate, or want to make a fancy breakfast because that’s what you are craving, then go with that feeling. Don’t force yourself and don’t ridicule yourself for not following each very specific rule and part of your morning routine. Let if flow and allow yourself over time to step into it a bit more naturally.

The longer you do it, the easier it gets
This goes hand in hand with taking baby steps in building up a routine that works for you, and the need to result to just doing one thing because you snoozed your alarm 5 times. When you have found a routine that works for you and you are excited about it and dedicated to it, do you best to really incorporate it into your life.

Back-ups
Some days you just don’t feel like working out… In those cases, have a short work out video you can do as an alternative, do yoga, or even simply stretch for a bit … main thing is to feel like you’ve done something. Same goes for mediation or whatever other things you’d like to do in the morning… if you’re feeling stressed, do it for 5 minutes or journal if that’s what you are feeling like instead.

Its not a matter of failing … its about working towards building a Routine that YOU like and the works for you, so that you can actually stick to it!

8 Tips for Active Trips

Organized “Bagged” Packing for long and far trips…
Not so much what to pack, but rather how to pack and prepare!

 

As my brother would say, “Overpack - you can never have enough”; however, there are other ways to go about packing if you want to actually know what you are bringing, which can avoid the feeling of having forgotten something very important (but you just can't seem to remember what).

One benefit of being organized is knowing where everything is at all times. I have had quite of bit of experience with packing from various family vacations and now, with my life split by an ocean. That requires a lot of packing, for moving or when going home, as well as a lot of planning. It has also gotten me into a routine… what and how I pack when I travel.

I am currently packing for an exciting Kite-surfing vacation, which means lots of activity. The accommodations are shacks on a beach, so the packing requirements call for sporty and simple clothes. The list of what to pack varies slightly for this trip, as I will need beach clothes and bathing suits, rashguards and boardshorts, work-out clothes for yoga or morning runs on the beach, and casual dinner outfits.

My goal of this post is not about telling you what I think you should pack (although I do have a few pictures that might spark some ideas), but rather to share my insights on how I approach packing, specifically for an active trip that requires a variety clothes for all the activities. Here are the 8 tips that I find helpful as guidelines for packing for such an adventure!

Tip 1: Make a To-Do List

Yes, a packing to-do list is also important, but first, I would suggest making a list of all the things you want to do on the trip(s). Will you be working out or just going on excursions? In other words, will you need actual workout clothes or just clothes that are comfortable enough to explore in for a few hours? Then you can pack based on what's on your travel bucket list.

My trip is casual beachwear along with some sporty workout clothes for kiting and exercising. Nothing big planned for dinners so also casual, but a few cuter tanks that won’t get beach sandy.

Tip 2: Plan Outfits, Don’t Overpack

Try to avoid just bringing everything you love. Even if you are going away for more than a week. I go by the rule of four… four shorts (including a skirt/dress/whatever bottoms suit you), four casual tops (beach wear), four “nice” tops (clean dinner clothes), and four workout tops (these you can wear a couple times in a row or wash in between).

To make the most out of the clothes you bring, color coordinate. Try to make as many outfit combinations as you can; this shirt goes with these shorts, sweater, and skirt. Can you double any of the workout wear as beach clothes or beach cover-ups as dinner attire? The more you can mix and match all the clothes you packed, the more you will get out of less.

First two pictures together: four nice tops, Two dresses (above) and one dress + a skirt (below). 4 Shorts (three in first picture, one (nicer pair) in second). Four casual beach tops.

Four workout shirts (that match with the two work out shorts as well as the two board shorts). Two rashguards. Three sports bras for kiting, three for working out.

Tip 3: Lay It Out (Tip 2.1)

This is just my trick to make sure I don’t forget anything. I have separate little piles for each “like” group. I have a pile of toiletries and make-up, a pile of bathing suits, a pile of workout clothes, a pile of nice dinner shirts, a pile of shorts, skirts and cover-ups. This is just my way to count the amount I'm bringing and to make sure I’m not overpacking. Most importantly I can check that I’m not forgetting anything.

All toiletries, cosmetics/makeup, shampoo/conditioner laid out ... Making sure its all there!

Tip 4: Bag “like” Items 

Dividing items into bags is a good way to keep them together or from leaking, which is often the case with toiletries. I have a little bag for everything; this way I can organize all the smaller items into like groups, to have easier access later and remember where that aspirin is that I was looking for.

I have a bag for everything that goes into my wash-kit and anything secondary (medicine/creams). I have also put bathing suits and underwear into separate bags. Those are easy to lose, plus where I am going, everything is “open-concept” so it is easy for small animals to make homes on the shelves where my clothes are. Not only will it keep the animals out but it also keeps all “like” items together.

Wash-kit bags. Bathing suits and socks/underwear.

Tip 5: Carry On Thoughts

Here I also organize everything in their designated bags. I have one bag filled with everything that I’ll need on the plane/mode of transportation.

The Go To Carry On Baggie
The little “you are my sunshine” canvas bag contains chapstick, mints/gum, headphones, tissues, a little container filled with Advil/Tums/Gravel (whatever you may need), hand cream/hand sanitizer, and lipstick (which can sometimes just be nice after a long sleepless flight).

Electronics Bag
The other small bag is for all my chargers and chords that I will need for computers, iPads, iPhones, and watches. I try to keep the electronics that I take with me on vacation to a minimum, but unfortunately, that is not always possible.

Carry-on and Electronics Bag. Backpack: "Mochi Things" - With lots of pockets for organization!

Travel Document Folder
This is where I organize all my flight information, passports, money and different currencies. As a big sister, you end up being in charge of passports and the documents of other people, so it is important to stay organized… for everyone.

Small, Accessible Wallet
I also travel with a small wallet with another form of ID, health card, bank card, and some cash. This way I don’t have to reach into my “travel document folder” to get money out. The smaller wallet is also easy to hide in a small side pocket and still reach quickly. I do this for anything I buy at the airport or towns/cities before reaching the final destination.

Entertainment 
Of course, a carry-on must include anything else you might want to keep yourself busy. I bring my laptop, a book(s), and my journal. This gives me more than enough to do, but usually, I just end up watching movies shown on the plane anyways:)!

Everything that Goes in my Carry-On Backpack

Tip 6: Wash-kit Essentials 

There is lots of micro-organizing that can be done here, so everything within the wash-kit is organized as well.
Micro-Organization Part 1:
In the main area of the wash-kit I put all the essential toiletries; toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face cream, face wash, and aloe vera.
Micro-Organization Part 2:
In the inside pocket of the main compartment, I have a few little cosmetics; blush, mascara, a little concealer, and some lipstick.
Micro-Organization Part 3:
In the outside pocket, I have some “emergency” tools; nail polish to touch up my toes if they break and a nail clipper and file/buffer (if any nails break).
Micro-Organization Part 4:
Finally, in a separate, smaller wash-kit, I have creams for cuts, bites, and wounds. I also have some stronger sunscreen as back-up. 

On a trip like this, where its very relaxed and there is not a lot of dressing up, I try to be as minimalistic as possible with what I pack in my wash-kit. Only bringing mascara, blush, and concealer, instead of the whole naked pallet. Same with face products. The sun and salt water do a lot of the clearing up for me.

Tip 7: Travel Clothes

Lay out what you will wear to travel so that you have an extra outfit. I always need to wear pants when I fly because I get cold easily, so I need a completely separate outfit anyways if I’m traveling somewhere warm. I brought a skirt along this time because we had a full day layover where it would be HOT, so I changed for the day. Alternatively, if your destination is hot as well, you can change when you arrive. If your layover is tight, I would also suggest throwing in a bathing suit or a toothbrush into your carry-on, just in case your luggage doesn’t make it to the destination as fast as you.

In general, it is nice to have a designated travel outfit, especially if you're going on an active or beach vacation where you won’t need pants and your clothes will get wet, dirty, sweaty, or stinky. It’s  just pleasant to have a completely new set of clothes to wear on your way home. You’ll thank me later.

Tip 8: Just In Case … if you have the extra space.

I suggest bringing something extra … just in case. I know I get cold easy, so I bring an extra long-sleeve and little sweater, just in case. Even if you only wear a sweater once, then you have some option. If you’re going somewhere where they are having a rainy season, maybe throw in a rain poncho or even jacket. I always throw in a baseball cap even though I don’t like wearing hats. For these few little things, it's better to lug it around than wish you had packed it. If you have the extra space, DO IT.

And most importantly, enjoy your adventure!