Nourishing My Five Senses

I’ve been digging into how to create a positive mindset surrounding winter this year, and I have to say it’s going quite well. And one thing that came to mind as I was journaling one morning, surrounded by candles, incense, a hot drink, warm slippers and soft music was how I was attending to each of my senses in one way or another and how calm and wonderful I felt. 

So, I kind of set a goal of making it a priority each day to check in with myself periodically to see if I was taking care of each of my senses. And I have found that when I give focus to each one my days are just so much better. 

Today I wanted to take you through the different senses and different things I’ll do to nourish each. 

Sight | 

Let’s start at the top. Every morning I start with around 15-20 minutes of tidying. I find that when everything is in its place my mind is so much clearer. This includes keeping my desk clean throughout the day.

Another thing I like to do when I first sit down at my desk in the morning is light some candles and flick on the warm floor lamp to create a soft, calm glow instead of clicking on the harsh overhead light. I’ve been avoiding the harsh fluorescent lights first thing in the morning and last thing at night. 

And finally, I like to decorate my space with things that are going to make me happy. Pieces of “art”, photos, a felt letter board, and a growing yucca plant next to my desk. And since it’s that time of year I turn on my Christmas tree each morning and that always gives me a instant fuzzy feeling inside. 

Smell — Moving right along, think of some of your favorite smells, and the feeling they give you. There’s nothing like taking a nice deep inhale of fresh air when you’re outside. Or letting the smoke from an incense waft through your space. Walking into your house after you’ve baked cookies, freshly washed clothes, new babies, the list goes on. Anytime a smell stands out to me (in a good way) I make sure to breathe it in once more and be present with the good feelings floating around inside. In the morning my scent of choice is a nag champa incense.

Hearing — Even though I enjoy driving in silence when I’m alone, I love putting on some easy going background music first thing in the morning when I sit down, or some more upbeat music later in the day when I need a little pick me up. 

Podcasts are also growing on my list when it comes to walking places or for those times I don’t want to drive in silence. 

Taste — Mmm food. I’ve been doing a much better job the past month or so of eating breakfast. I have to make it a point to make sure I fix something for myself or it can slip into lunchtime before I notice I haven’t eaten. 

Another way to hit those taste buds is something to drink. This month that’s been a nice hot mug of herbal tea, it’s normally a cup of coffee, and sometimes in the summer, it’s a big smoothie in a mason jar. 

Not to mention stopping for snack breaks and yummy meals throughout the day while I work. And it’s pretty common for there to be a chocolate bar or something similar tucked into a desk drawer. 

Touch — And finally, possibly the most important part of being “cozy”. I opt for a simple, comfortable outfit. Jeans and a sweater. And when I’m home that always includes knitted socks made by my mom and my slippers Michael gave me for Christmas last year.

I made sure I got an office chair with a nice cushion for my bum and topped it with a soft pillow to lean back on. If I get extra chilly I will wrap myself in a blanket. Not to mention the space heater I have next to me while I work. Once I flip that on and shut the door my space becomes nice and toasty. 

If I find myself feeling out of sorts during the day I’ll step back to assess the situation. Often it’s a simple fix of adding something to nourish a sense I’ve been neglecting. And I know this can sound all a bit woo-woo, but I promise it’s been doing wonders for me. 

What are the ways in which you attend to your different senses throughout the day? 

My Winter Work Out Plan

This summer the majority of my “exercise” was running because I was training for a marathon. 

The next time I train for a marathon I will definitely “cross train” more instead of only focusing on running (while that is still obviously important). 

It’s been a month since my marathon, and while it’s good to give yourself a break afterward I don’t want to “lose” all my training and hard work. 

But I do want to switch it up a little. So I took a look at what I’ll have available to me over the winter, and what I’ll actually enjoy doing. 

And the three main activities I want to focus on are yoga, running and lifting.

Yoga — I dabbled in yoga in college, and consistently went every day for a six month period after graduation. But the circumstances that led me to have an affordable pass to that studio ended and I can’t afford to hand out that chunk of cash every month. Although hot yoga is delectable in the winter. My compromise has been hitting up a yoga class every now and then but then utilizing videos online for a little yoga session in my living room. I don’t have to trek to a studio and I save myself a lot of money.

Running — I’ve come to realize that it’s more work to get myself dressed and outside when it comes to running in the cold. If I bundle up appropriately it’s all fine and dandy. Your lungs burn a bit, but it’s manageable. And I’ve been running for months so why stop now just because it’s getting cold? Running is a great way to get outside and have some time to just freely think without needing to have some form of entertainment. 

Lifting — While I sometimes feel like a monkey lifting weights I do actually enjoy the challenge. Our apartment building has a decent little exercise room with a few machines and a full set of weights. And just like with living room yoga, I’m not forced to go outside to get to the gym so that’s a major perk. I want to focus on getting stronger overall but also focusing on my joints or whatever it may be so when it comes time to train again my knees, and such, are stronger. 

Ideally, I would like to do each activity two or three times a week. So, one sample week would be: 

Monday: Yoga

Tuesday: Run

Wednesday: Lift

Thursday: Run

Friday: Lift

Saturday: Run

Sunday: Yoga

I find that having a “plan” really helps to motivate me and be consistent with exercise. If I can look at something and say “Ok, today I’m going to go run 5 miles, or today I’m going to do these arm exercises in the gym” I find that actually getting there and doing it is much easier. 

I’m curious to hear if you have a particular work out plan as well as the winter, and if where you live has had an impact on what you plan on doing. 

The Good That Comes From Knowing Your Cycle

Where do I even start!?

I just filmed a video about a few reasons why I love my cycle, which I’ll link so you can go watch. 

An easy simple things that comes from charting is you know when your next period is supposed to come. And this comes in really hand when planning for travel, different events, etc. 

One of the biggest things that comes from charting, and knowing your cycle is that you know when you are fertile. And we all know this comes in really handy when you’re either trying to avoid pregnancy or when you’re trying to conceive a cute little munchkin. 

That will forever be one of the coolest things about FAM for me. That the same exact method is both a birth control method and a pregnancy achievement method. 

If something goes wonky with your cycle you know there’s something off in your body that needs to be taken care of, and you can then address it and heal it.  If you’re obvious to your cycle or suppressing it you might be missing out on something big that could be an easy fix but might cause you harm down the road. 

When you start tracking and charting you know what to expect, and it helps handle PMS and makes other cycle related things easier. For example, I don’t get angry about cramping anymore, I understand when and why I’m irritable, and I know why I’m tired and that I just need a quick 30 minute nap. 

When you learn about what happens to your body in the different phases you know how to better take care of your body and mind in each phase. For me this means being really social around ovulation, and sleeping more during your period 

It’s surprisingly such a good conversation piece to connect with other people who menstruate. You can compare cycles, offer advice, and talk about what you use during your period. 

When you get into the emotional and mental side of each phase you can dig even deeper into scheduling out your time. This is because you have different strengths and weaknesses in each phase that you can use to excel in life. 

Honestly, learning about how my cycle and my body works was one of the most amazing things I could have ever done for myself. It’s been empowering and enlightening and I want to share it with anyone who’s interested. 

For those of you out there ready to learn how to use the sympto-thermal method to understand more about your body and as a natural form of birth control you have a week left to sign up for my Chart Your Cycle course.

Winter is Like Our Menstrual Phase

I’m on a real winter kick right now.

But I had a bit of a revelation when it occurred to me that winter was an awful lot like our menstrual phase. 

When I went to look into it I saw I (obviously) wasn’t the only one who’d made this connection. 

I’ve seen beautiful illustrations where the seasons have been linked to the phases of our cycle. 

Winter = Menstrual

Spring = Follicular

Summer = Ovulatory

Fall = Luteal

So, seeing as the first day of winter is on its way (December 21st) I thought I would sit down and talk about why I think winter is like the menstrual phase. 

+ slow down

If you think about summer it seems like someone is always inviting you to a BBQ, picnic, to go for a bike ride, etc. We’re always trying to get outside, enjoy the weather, and go, go, go. 

This doesn’t mean we completely stop living in the winter, but it changes does it? It calms down, there’s not that same urgency. 

It’s the perfect time to get together with friends and family, sit around and have a glass of something or share a meal. To reconnect and have a good laugh.

+ rest

Bears hibernate in the winter, but humans don’t. And while I’m not promoting a sedentary lifestyle it’s definitely a good time to get your beauty rest. 

While I go to bed by 10 p.m. most nights regardless of the season I know plenty of people who have fun-filled nights that last early into the morning. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have a good time but maybe make an effort to get your eight hours during the colder months. 

+ reflect

We’re naturally more reflective during our periods, and I think the same is true in the winter. I’ve had some profound mental and emotional journeys within myself curled up on the couch, under some twinkly lights and a mug of something hot or a glass of something red. 

Winter is the perfect time to get back into journaling. So, grab yours, dust it off and just sit down with a pen each day. 

+ renew

Picture the caterpillar in its cocoon. Think of the feeling of complete refreshment when you come out of a really nourishing menstrual phase. 

This is a time I like to focus on self-care. And yes, I pamper the heck out of myself. I’m talking Epsom salt baths, face masks, manicures, pedicures, hydration, eating my plants, all things to nourish myself so I came come out of it as one spectacular butterfly!

I plan on going about this winter just as if it were my menstrual phase, and I’m really excited to see how it differs come spring from years past. 

[We’re a week and a half out from the next session of my Chart Your Cycle course which just so happens to start the day before the first day of winter. Learning how to chart was one of the most brilliant things I could do for myself, and I encourage anyone interested in connecting to their body and their cycle in a new way to give it a go!]

Changing My Winter Mindset

Ok, I’ve got to share something. 

I’ve never been a fan of winter, of cold weather, the snow the frost, any of it. 

In fact, I've had a pretty rotten attitude when it came to winter up until this point.

But this fall I’ve made this conscious decision that I am going to make a real effort this year to change my mindset around winter.

It started with hygee and then when I read an article in The Atlantic about Tromso, Norway that talked about how the people there actually looked forward to "the blue period" or the Polar night where the sun doesn't rise from November to January. (The article was from 2015 but I discovered it as I was digging around the internet). They have a positive mindset when it comes to the darkness, to the cold, they were excited about it each year.

And I thought, damn if they can positive about darkness for three months I bet I can get excited about a few months of cold weather.

So I set out on my mission of changing how I viewed and approached the winter.

I wrote a post last week about “Getting into the Winter Spirit” which takes you through some of my favorite "winter" things I want to do this year. 

And I really have found that fitting in time for all the great parts of winter really makes it a time to savor. 

I used to be such a negative nancy when it came to the cold. I would focus all of my energy on all the negative aspects of it and almost go out of my way to play up the bad things. 

I wouldn’t wear enough layers or bundle up adequately before heading outside, and then be upset about it being too cold. Last year I bought a good quality coat and over bundled myself. 

Back in the day, winter break would come, and while I liked not having class I always disliked the break from my friends. Nowadays I look forward to the holidays because it means family time. 

Another thing I am going to add to this winter that I usually never make time for in the cold months is working out. I have a whole plan for myself, which I’ll be sharing in a post later this month. 

I guess the biggest point I’m trying to make here is that winter isn’t inherently worse than summer. It’s just different. But just like how summer has it’s cons, winter has its pros. But it’s your job to find them. 

It’s on you to find what you like about winter or would like, and to focus on that. And to prepare yourself when it comes to the cold and colds. 

So put on some fluffy socks and wrap yourself in an oversized cardigan, grab a mug of something hot, and snuggle around the fireplace with some of the people you love. And I promise you’ll start loving winter more and more too. 

Getting Into the Winter Spirit

I saw a quote online that is currently up on my felt letter board:

“Summer is a state of mind.”

I saw it and I thought, heck yeah.

While obviously summer is so much more I decided to see what I could do about my attitude and mindset towards winter.

And I started by asking myself “what are your favorite parts of this season, and how can you make the most out of them?"

In no particular order:

+ baking cookies (delicious results and a comforting process)

+ staying warm and cozy (knit socks, warm clothes, and blankets)

+ spending more time with those you love (schedule time to hang out)

+ pumping up the skin care (moisture, moisture, moisture. I’m in the process of ordering a few new products)

+ taking hot baths (my go to remedy for everything)

+ snuggling up in fluffy blankets (what’s better about cold weather than being able to curl up on the couch in a big blanket)

+ reading all the books (less time outdoors doesn’t mean you need to lose yourself in your Netflix account)

+ finding fireplaces and sitting in front of them (my parents have one, Michael’s parents do too)

+ warm drinks and hot soup (nothing better than wrapping your cold paws around something warm)

+ drinking red wine (I drink white in the summer, red in the winter)

+ sledding, snowboarding, building snowmen or snow forts, getting into a snowball fight (we haven’t had much snow in the past few years, but I’m going to make the most out of what we get this year)

+ the holidays (mostly eating good food, cuddling up next to a fire and spending time with loved ones)

I will continue to add to this list as the season goes on, but I’ve already noticed a switch in my attitude. I’m making it into something worth enjoying instead of something I have to suffer through. 

And the biggest lesson I've learned about winter over the years? 

If you're properly prepared and bundled up, it's really not that bad out.

What are some of your favorite things about the winter?

My Diet + My Period

There’s no one size fits all approach to diet and menstruation. Different foods react differently person to person. And it takes a little trial and error to find your sweet spot. 

I started educating myself about nutrition my last year of college. I was having a lot of digestive issues, where I almost constantly had a stomach ache, that got worse after I ate, not to mention I would get quite bloated as well as only have a single bowel movement a week. Yeah, not good. 

Through education as well as adding and subtracting different things from my diet I have found I feel my absolute best with a balanced diet of whole plant based foods. The less processed I eat, the better I feel. 

Not only has this revolutionized how I feel, but also has shined through in my menstrual cycle as well. 

I’m no where near perfect, and there are a million different ways to be “vegan” and unhealthy. And so I can tell you there’s a huge difference between a period where I focus on staying hydrated, avoiding sugar and processed foods and jam-packing my diet with as many fruits and veggies (mostly veggies) as possible, and a period where I’m eating processed foods, breads, pastas, sugars, etc. 

My diet definitely changes with the seasons (as it should due to what plants are available and in season) but you can adapt a whole foods plant based diet to any season. 

While we usually crave comfort food in the winter as well as on our periods there are so many incredible “healthy” options. I love to make giant batches of veggie soup in the winter. I try to limit my coffee intake around my period as well as the amount of sugar I'm consuming. We all hit a wall whether it’s cold and gloomy out, or if we’re going to be starting our periods. I do my best to listen to my body instead of forcing it through the day jacking myself up on coffee. 

Avoiding sugar and grabbing something refreshing like some fruit as a snack is a great afternoon pick me up. Getting outside to run some errands or get a bit of exercise are other great options to get that pep back in your step for the rest of the day. But then there are those days (and I have at least one a month) where the only answer is a 30 - 60 minute nap (guilt free). 

Obviously, if you work in a more traditional job a nap during the work day might be out of the question, but maybe a quick cat nap when you get home and before you start your evening activities is the solution for you. Or maybe it's staying in that evening and having a low key date with yourself on the couch. 

You have to listen to your body around your period. Make sure you are eating enough, drinking enough and moving enough throughout the day. 

Some of my favorite meal/snack options:

+ noodles and veggies

+ rice and veggies

+ a big, hefty salad (yes that’s a thing)

+ veggie soup

+ fruit like clementines or grapes

+ bagel with hummus 

+ oatmeal (I'm currently burnt out on this but it's an option worth including)

+ smoothie (if it’s warm out or I’ve worked out)

+ chickpea toast/sandwich (avocados are gone for the winter, and this is the next best thing)

I say this all the time and I’ll say it again, pay attention to what you’re eating and how it makes you feel afterwords. Screw counting calories, if you’re focused on eating as many whole foods as you can, then there’s no worry about calories. 

What are some of your favorite plant based meals for the colder season?

If you're curious to learn more about your cycle, hop on over to my Chart Your Cycle course and sign up for the next session. 

Cold Weather Morning Routine

I have come to the conclusion/realization that fall is the luteal phase and winter is the menstrual phase. And this year I’m going to approach this season in a similar mindset that I do for these particular phases. 

And I’m a big believer in how you start your day impacts how the rest of your day will go. 

I start each day at 6 a.m. when the alarm on my phone goes off. I take my temperature right after turning my alarm off, and then put it into my Kindara app before going to the bathroom. 

Michael and I just got a sunrise simulator clock, which we have set at 6:00. It is a delightfully peaceful way to start your day. Normally I wake up somewhere in it’s 20 minute “sunrise” leading up to the 6 a.m. alarm. So, after taking my temperature and going to the bathroom I usually snuggle back in to enjoy my “fake” sunrise. I give myself a few minutes to just lay there with the bright light filling up our room before I get out of bed. 

Once I’m out of bed I head to the kitchen to tidy up from the day before. Yes, I’m one of those people who leaves dirty dishes for the next day. I just prefer doing them in the morning than the night. 

This usually takes 15-20 minutes, and at the same time I’ll make myself a cup of coffee. 

Once the kitchen is done I head back into our room to make the bed (not every morning because our rule is last one out of bed makes it). 

After this I’ll head into my bathroom to do my skincare routine because my skin needs much more TLC when it’s cold out. I usually rub a little oil on my nails and cuticles as well. 

From there I grab an incense and head to the back room where my desk is. I light a few candles, put the incense in an old candle, and turn on the floor lamp. (It’s still pretty dark out at this point). 

I pop on the space heater next to me, wrap up in a blanket and take usually 30 minutes to do my morning pages. While I’m doing these I usually have a bunch of random ideas and to-do’s that pop in my head so I write those down on a separate pad of paper. 

After morning pages is done I’ll pull out my bullet journal and plan out my day using the goals list for that week as well as anything from my scratch pad that needs to get done. 

Then I settle in to the first task or two for the next hour. 

At a certain point I’m usually ready for another cup of coffee, so I’ll take this opportunity to get dressed and ready for the day, which usually takes less than 10 minutes. 

I’ll go back to work until I’m hungry which is usually around 10 a.m. so I’ll head out to the kitchen to make some food.

I’ll watch a YouTube video or two while I eat my food and then get back to work for the next few hours until  it’s time for lunch. 

The final thing I do is reheat my coffee a few times throughout the morning because it gets cold before I finish drinking it. I need to get a mug warmer. 

Here’s a timeline for those of you whose minds work better this way:

6:00 — wake up

        — take BBT

6:02 — go to bathroom

6:05 — crawl back in bed

6:15 — get out of bed

        — tidy up kitchen

        — make coffee

6:30 — make bed

6:35 — skincare

6:40 — morning pages

7:10 — plan out day using bullet journal

7:15 — get started with work

8:30 — second cup of coffee

        — get dressed

10:00— breakfast

         — watch a YouTube video

10:30— get back to work

What’s your perfect morning routine look like, and what are you tips to creating/keeping to a routine?

A Forced Internet Break

One of my favorite things about traveling, especially abroad, is being disconnected. 

For the most part you just don’t have use of your phone because it’s in airplane mode and only works around wifi. 

And this past trip to France ended up being a real break from technology, social media and all things in between. 

I would still post to Instagram every other day or so. But I wouldn’t scroll through insensately after as I’ve been known to do.

I would take a peek at my email every few days to make sure there were no fires I had to put out, and I sent my mom a message a few times. 

Michael and I are both sort of workaholics. We just really get sucked into what we do. But it was a great chance to do something else. And to just be forced to do something else. 

We went on a lot of walks, either through the country or through the city, depending on where were were staying that day. 

We would make meals together and sit outside to eat them. 

We would start our day by waking up and having a cup of coffee together. 

We went on bike rides, hikes, and spent hours curled up around a fireplace with a few friends that came to visit having those conversations that leave you inspired and invigorated for life. 

We would sit down and read. We even went on a tour in Avignon!

And now that we’re home we both have really tried to bring a few things back with us. 

We went rock climbing the other day, we both have books we’re reading (or in my case five). 

We’ve been making more of an effort to hang out with friends and family. I went and saw my sister and nephew the day after I got back, the next week we went up to his sister’s for Halloween, and a few days later I went to hang out with two of my friends. 

And I’m looking forward to getting together with family now that the holidays are coming up. 

I always like to take vacations as a chance to reset as well as recharge. Take the time to analyze the aspects from your trip that you want to take with you into everyday life. 

What are some of the changes you’ve made because of a trip?

Discovering Hygge + Taking on Winter

To be honest, I think I discovered this on Pinterest. I think it was outlining what Hygge was, and I remember finding myself thinking, alright I like the sound of that. 

And it inspired me to make the conscious decision to approach winter in a different way. A similar way to how I now view my menstrual phase and the days leading up to it. 

It’s not my favorite phase, but I’ve amazed myself on how I’ve been able to change my mindset towards it. And that’s what I plan to do with winter this year as well. 

You see, I’ve always told myself I’m not a cold weather person. That I’ve never “liked” winter. There were even a few years in high school that I “protested” by not wearing a winter coat. Who do you think that impacted? Yeah, me. 

If you think you don’t like winter the last thing you should do is under dress for it. 

This year I’m preparing in every way possible. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Dramatic? Possibly, but I need a drastic attitude change. 

And I’m going to use hygge to guide me. 

I know I’m behind the times, and this was pretty popular last year, but if you’re unfamiliar to hygge here’s how it’s defined in a book I’m reading, “The Book of Hygge”:

"Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a quality of presence and an experience of belonging and togetherness. It is a feeling of being warm, safe, comforted and sheltered. 

Hygge is an experience of selfhood and communion with people and places that anchors and affirms us, gives us courage and consolation.

To hygge is to invite intimacy and connection. It’s a feeling of engagement and relatedness, of belonging to the moment and to each other. Hygge is a sense of abundance and contentment. Hygge is about being, not having."

When I got back from France it was 30 degrees colder, and gray out. Instead of wallowing at home about the abrupt change, I decided to act on my desire for a different approach. 

I went to two stores, bought a new comfy sweater at the thrift store, and then soft sweatpants and two candles at a discount store. 

I headed home triumphant with my new things, lit my candles, took a nice hot bath and then snuggled up in my comfy finds ready to accept the cold weather with grace. 

Since coming home I’ve made a conscious effort each morning to “nourish my five senses”:

+ tidy up and light a few candles (sight)

+ put on soft music (hearing)

+ grab an incense (smell)

+ make a nice cup of coffee (taste)

+ and to wrap myself up in a blanket after clicking on my space heater (touch)

And then throughout the day I make sure that there’s something “comforting” for each sense. 

Another element of hygge that I’m really drawn to is the connection aspect. So, I’ve made it a goal to spend more time hanging out with friends and family. 

It doesn’t have to be in an extravagant way. My ideal “hang out” is being snuggled up, warm and comfy, drinking something hot or sipping on a glass of wine and just having good conversation. 

I know there’s still a lot I’m going to learn when it comes to this concept, but I’m wholeheartedly investing in it in the hopes of changing how I view winter and the cold from here on out. 

Books I've Finished, Am Reading + Will Read Next

I’ve been trying to consume more and more books recently. Whenever I travel I’m really able to dig into a few great books, because it’s what I dedicate my free time to, and it’s a great time to pass time as well. 

This fall I’ve read a lot of awesome books, and started a few more as well. 

So, today I wanted to share the books I’ve read and my thoughts on them, as well as the books I’ve started and the one’s I have sitting waiting to be read. 

Books I’ve Read:

Where’d You Go Bernadette — This one was on a recommended list so I decided to pick it up, and I ended up inhaling it. Told from the perspective of the bits of information the daughter has pieced together from emails, notes, etc. in search of where her mom has disappeared to. Highly recommended fun read! 

Worth It — I love a good book about money, and this one is from the founder of DailyWorth.com and digs into the relationship of women, their money and self-worth. 

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch — While Worth It was good, I loved this book by Denise Duffiled-Thomas. She takes you through all sorts of exercised, challenges and assignments to dig into your money mindset, and how to reprogram your perception of money and what you can achieve. Highly recommend for a boost of financial motivation! 

Vessels — A beautifully written book about love and loss. I had never really thought about the lasting effect of miscarriages until reading this book. It’s a quick read, but pick it up. 

Belly Laughs — I’ve never been pregnant or given birth, but I really enjoyed this hilarious read. It’s like reading emails from a best friend about all the gross, weird stuff that happens. 

Girls and Sex — Where to even begin. I loved this book. Peggy digs into the atmosphere teenagers head into surrounding sex, relationships, and all things in between. It was fascinating to realize similarities from when I was a teenager, but then also the huge difference that’s already happened. Pick it up if you have a daughter or if you were ever a teenage girl. 

Goodbye Things — This is one man’s story of his journey to minimalism, and while it was good I just feel like this is everyone’s story and therefore isn’t really exciting after you’ve read a number of them. I obviously love minimalism and am fascinated by it, but I’m ready for a fresh take on it.

The China Study — We read this one for book club, and it was fascinating. Going into it I didn’t realize it was going to be pro-whole foods plant based diet, but that’s exactly what it is. If you have any interest in nutrition, health or are mildly concerned about what you’ve putting into your body, pick this up. 

Small Great Things — I’ve always loved Jodi Picolt’s books. They take a topic that seems pretty straight forward at the beginning and tears it apart, showing both sides and all this aspects of it that never crossed your mind. This one is about racism, which we all know is beyond relevant still. 

Books I’ve Started:

Fen — So we chose this one for book club in the spirit of Halloween, and it’s unlike anything I’ve read. The author is a female a year older than myself, which I think is awesome, and she’s created this eery world, Fen, where there’s this creepy connection between animals and humans. This one reminds me of reading books for college classes and trying to dissect them and understand them by notes scribbled in the margins and rereading different sections. 

The Sun and Her Flowers — I loved Rupi Kaur’s first book so when I saw this in an airport I had to pick it up. But I’m trying to savor her poems (even though I could tear through them in a day). 

The Book of Hygge — I have to admit something. I discovered this term on Pinterest, but I have been so intrigued since then, and wanted to get a few books on the topic. It’s really inspired me to change how I approach the colder months. If you haven’t heard of “hygge” just get on Pinterest. 

Happy As a Dane — I found this one at the library when I was searching for books on hygge. I’ve known for awhile now that life in Scandinavia is something I’m curious about. And I’m excited to keep reading this little book. 

Women Who Run With the Wolves — a lovely woman I used to work with gave me this book as a birthday gift last year, and I’ve been meaning to read it. From what I’ve read I’ve come away with this sense of empowerment that is infectious. And I even saw it was on Emma Watson’s list. I plan to work through it a story at a time. 

The Rules Do Not Apply — I just started this one yesterday after picking it up at the library, and I feel like I’ve read parts of it elsewhere before. Regardless it’s been an interesting read. I’m still in the part where her life is still together but I know it’s all about her unconventional life falling apart. It’s one of there where turning page after page is effortless. 

Books On Deck:

The Nordic Theory of Everything — It’s the next book we’ll be reading for book club. The author moves to the states and this book is all about comparing how things are done between the states and the nordic region. I’m really looking forward to this book. 

Leaving Time — I decided to pick up another Jodi Picolt book from the library since I enjoy them so much. And I’ve been trying to add more leisurely reading to my days. This one is about a mother who disappeared, and the daughter who’s looking for her. 

The Little Book of Hygge — This book is everywhere when you type in “hygge” so I’m on the wait list at my library to check it out. I’m ready to learn more about the danish secrets to a happy life. 

There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather — This winter season I’ve made it my goal to reframe my mindset about the cold weather in order to start enjoying it more, and to make the most out of it. And in my search for books on hygge this one came up and so like the previous book, I’m on the wait list for it. 

I'm so excited for the books I'm reading, and am going to read. What are some of your top recommendations?

Getting Back to Reality After Traveling

Ok, so you’ve just gotten back from a great trip and you have to get back to reality. 

Here are some strategies I’ve found that really help me get back at it. 

+ Clean your home

All the way down to the vacuuming and dusting. Get all those stray dirty dishes popped into the washer, your laundry cleaned and put away, and take this opportunity to get all the little random bits and bobs back where they belong.

Nothing helps me more than getting my house in order. 

+ Go grocery shopping

I always aim to eat healthy while away, but in reality that doesn’t always happen. So, when I get home I am always rejuvenated to go get a healthy plant heavy grocery haul. 

And it’s just another step to getting everything in order at home, which once again does so much to make me feel better about being back and at it again. 

+ Tick off some to-do’s

Go through your mail or other things you’ve been avoiding. I took the chance Sunday morning to sit down and order a few things I needed offline including a new bullet journal and accessories for that (yay!) as well as a sunrise simulator alarm clock (more on that in a bit). I also ordered a new credit card seeing as I lost mine in Avignon while there (I think I threw it away).

+ Add in a habit or element discovered during trip

One thing I really noticed during this trip was how little I was on my phone, computer and such. And it was amazing! I always like to think I can disconnect myself, but it’s so nice to be forced to sometimes. So, I’ve been trying to carry that forward now that I’m home. 

Other things I do more of when I’m traveling: I read more books (so I went to the library), I have more adventure (Michael and I went rock climbing last night) and I came home with a renewed desire to meditate and journal more.

+ Accept the weather of where you are

It’s hard, especially when it’s 30 degrees colder, but I’m making a conscious effort this year to accept the cold weather and make the most out of it (snuggling into cozy slippers, blankets and all things warm). 

Right after I got back in town I went and bought a few candles, a new sweater and sweatpants and snuggled into my house.

Another thing I’ve done to help with this is ordered a sunrise simulator alarm clock for Michael and I. And it does exactly what it says. It mimics a sunrise in your room, and I can’t wait to get it because I can tell a big difference between waking up when there’s light out and when it’s still pitch black. 

+ Visit family and friends

I went and saw my sister and nephew the day after I got back, I had a nice long phone call with my mother the day I got back, Michael and I hung out with a few friends last night and I’ve made plans to get together with a few friends this week. 

+ Indulge in what did you missed while you were away

What I missed most were things like work, my own space and a routine. I really savored the first moments of getting back to work this morning, I was very aware and conscious of being in my home and therefore wanted to spruce it up and take care of it. 

+ Take some time to pamper yourself

I steamed my face with a warm washcloth, exfoliated it, put a hydrating mask on it and lathered my entire body with avocado oil after soaking in the bath surrounded by candlelight. 

It was magic.

I always fell a bit worn down and rough at the edges after traveling so it’s nice to take some time out for myself to get me back to 100%. 

+ Alter your schedule

I love using travel as an excuse to change things up.

For example I love being able to make the most out of jet lag and wake up earlier than normal. 

What do I went to spend more time doing, less time doing? 

Overall, while I love traveling, I am so thankful that I love coming home. But when I get home I like to hit the “refresh” button and do all these things before digging back into my day to day life. 

Winter Is Coming + How I'm Dealing With It

I have never been a fan of winter, or of being cold. 

Recently I’ve discovered a similar transition into the colder months that I experience with my luteal/menstrual phase. 

And I’ve come up with a theory (and since then have seen other ladies talk about it as well). But my theory is that the different phases of our menstrual cycles correlate to different months. And by that I mean we have a similar feeling during that phase that we do in that phase. 

It could differ person to person, and be dependent on where you live. But for me it goes a little something like this:

Luteal Phase = Fall

Menstrual Phase = Winter

Follicular Phase = Spring

Ovulatory Phase = Summer 

Cold weather has always been something I’ve struggled with and even fought at different times. But this year I am taking a different approach. 

The same approach I have when I’m headed into my luteal and menstrual phase. 

And the two big strategies there are: 

+ Allowing myself to slow down. I love a fast paced, super inspired, productive day, but we all know that can’t happen every day. Mid way through my luteal phase I notice the pull to slow down, and I’ve really challenged myself over the past year or so to listen to that. 

I’ve been pleasantly surprised when I do. And I’m going to approach winter the same way. 

+ I recently discovered the Danish term “hygge” (pronounced hoo-ga) and while it looks like I’m behind the times, something about it resonated with me. And in particular during my period, and now as it is getting colder.

I saw it described as:

- the art of building sanctuary and community, of inviting closeness and paying attention to what makes us feel open hearted and alive;

- to create well-being, connection and warmth;

- a feeling of belonging to the moment and to each other;

- celebrating the everyday

Doesn’t that sound just absolutely freaking lovely?  

And I’ve realized. It’s ok to transition to “delights" of winter, warm baths, hot drinks, curling up with a good book, sitting in front of a fire place, spending time with family, wearing warm, cozy clothes, fuzzy socks, and just making your space into a place you can sink into comfort and relaxation in. 

Seriously, go on Pinterest and dive into the world of hygge for a moment (if you haven’t already of course). 

Now, a few other things I plan to focus on this fall and winter:

+ Setting a sleeping schedule and sticking to it. The days are getting shorter and darker and while I love waking up with the sun, it’s not making it’s appearance until around 7:30 am. 

I love my mornings when I wake up at 6 a.m. because the stat of my day is the best time for me. When I start my day sooner I feel calmer, accomplished, and less rushed.

+ Going along with that we’ve decided that we’re going to buy a sunrise simulator clock when we get back from France.  A friend of mine got one last year and swears by it saying it was a revolutionary purchase. And I’m ready for that. 

+ And finally is something I try to do year round, but it’s especially important (and slightly more difficult when it’s cold) is to exercise and eat a balanced diet of whole plant based foods. 

Heading into winter with this strategy makes me feel much more accepting of the weather and at ease with the transition. 

Not to mention we’re already talking about how we can escape the worst of it in January and February.

Foods For the Different Phases Of Your Cycle

I’ve had countless women ask for me to cover this topic. I haven’t reached this level of cycle/nutrition connection, but I know it’s possible. 

How? 

From reading different books like Alisa Vitti’s “WomanCode” which I recommend for anyone out there with a serious menstrual issue like PCOS or Endometriosis. 

Today is a small taste of what’s in that book, which you should definitely pick up if you’re interested in the subject. 

I try to eat a balanced diet of whole plant based foods (WPBF), and so I’ve included that portion of her food suggestions today. 

Menstrual Phase:

+ healthy fats

+ root veggies

+ water rich fruits and veggies

What you’re looking to do: be conscious of both giving your body the nutrition it needs but at the same time some comfort food goes a long way in soothing during our menstrual phase. Fats help keep mood stable. 

Grains: buckwheat and wild rice

Veggies: beet, burdock, pulse, hijiki, kale, kelp, kombu, mushroom, wakame, water chestnut

Fruits: blackberry, blueberry, grapes, cranberry, watermelon

Legumes: adzuki, black soybean, kidney bean

Nuts + Seeds: chestnut, pumpkin, flax

Other: Bancha tea, miso, sea salt, liquid aminos 

Follicular Phase: 

+ sprouted and fermented foods

+ light, fresh and vibrant foods

What you’re looking to do: estrogen is dominate in this phase and you’re looking to balance this hormone out.

Grains: barley, oat

Veggies: artichoke, broccoli, carrot, lettuce, parsley, green peas, rhubarb, string bean, zucchini

Fruits: avocado, lemon, lime, orange, plum, pomegranate, sour cherry

Legumes: black-eyed pea, green lentil, lima bean, mung bean, split pea

Nuts + Seeds: brazil, cashew, lychee, pumpkin, flax

Other: nut butter, olives, pickles, sauerkraut, vinegar

Ovulatory Phase:

+ fresh juices

+ fresh, whole veggies

+ fiber rich foods

What you’re looking to do: eat plenty of foods to keep estrogen moving through body.

Grains: amaranth, quinoa

Veggies: asparagus, bell pepper, brussel sprouts, chard, chicory, chive, dandelion, eggplant, endive, escarole, okra, scallion, spinach, tomato

Fruits: apricot, cantaloupe, coconut, fix, guava, persimmon, raspberry, strawberry

Legumes: red lentil

Nuts + Seeds: almond, pecan, pistachio, sesame, sunflower

Other: Tumeric

Luteal Phase:

+ greens

+ grains

What you’re looking to do: eat plenty of foods rich in b-vitamins, calcium and magnesium to help with mood swings

Grains: brow rice, millet

Veggies: cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collard, cucumber, daikon, garlic, ginger, leeks, mustard green, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, squash, sweet potato, watercress

Fruits: apple, date, peach, pear, raisin

Legumes: chickpea, navy beans

Nuts + Seeds: hickory, pine nut, walnut, sesame, sunflower

Other: mint, peppermint, spirulina

I’ve heard a lot of people talking about intuitive eating for awhile now, and if you haven’t experienced what that actually is then I guarantee it can be quite confusing. 

We’ve been told for so long that certain things (I’m mostly referencing to animal products) are good for this that and everything when it comes to a “balanced” diet when in reality eating this way has been recking our bodies for years now. But we think, we’re doing what we’ve been told to do, eating what we’ve been told is a balanced diet so feeling this way must just be normal. 

Well, I can tell you that it’s not. I spent the majority of my life dealing with issues related to what I was eating without even thinking about it. It was only when I switched to a plant based diet that this light bulb came on. When I started feeling better and better I just thought, how did I spend all my life feeling like crap and thinking that was normal for me? 

So, while some people thrive on a strict, go big or go home diet, I encourage everyone to start recalling paying attention to what they’re eating on a daily basis, and how those foods are making you feel. And if there’s something that time and time again comes up as problematic, take a week break from it and see how you feel. 

Listen to your body and I guarantee you’ll be pleased with the results. 

Using Pinterest to Create Dream Board

I love the concept of dream boards. 

My teenage bedroom was essentially four walls of dream boards, or whatever I decided was worthy of getting cut out of a Teen Vogue and taped on my wall. 

I don’t collect magazines anymore, nor do I find my “dream life” in them. 

But do you know what has come along since my moody teenage days?

Pinterest. 

I don’t even have to explain what it is: the internet’s dream board. 

We’ve all spent countless hours pinning drool worthy recipes, outfits that are a little too perfect and a detailed plan of our dream wedding before we even had serious boyfriends. 

I’ve seriously curbed my Pinterest addiction since college, but I’ve found it a cathartic exercise to collect and curate different aspects of the dream life I strive for.

In January I chose two guiding words for 2017: Ignite and Radiate. And I created a board of different images and quotes that spoke to those words that I’ll scroll through every now and then. 

And one of the best features of Pinterest? Secret boards. 

No more scouring magazines, scissors and glue for this girl. 

My most recent secret board creation? One I dubbed, “Beautiful Abundance” where I put all the things I’m working to manifest in my life. 

And if you hear the term “manifest” and want to gag a little bit, stick with me. I was once in your shoes not that long ago. 

Then I discovered “Letters to the Universe”, dipping my toes into manifesting, and things started to happen. 

I asked the Universe for freelance opportunities and I got an email from a gal I went on to do a internship/mentorship for. 

I asked for more money opportunities, and my mom called to ask for help with two painting jobs, totaling over $1600 in less than three weeks. 

“I’ve got to put this power to good use!” I thought. 

So, back to my “Beautiful Abundance” board. I created it as a place to put all the things I wanted to manifest for my future. And not my “where will you be in 10 years” future. My 6 months - 5 years plan. 

While it’s obviously important to consider where you want to be in 15 years time I think so many people spend all their wishing on years and years down the road. 

What about the life we’re living in the here in now? 

Why not focus on that? I know I am. 

Fill your dream boards, your vision boards, whatever you want to call them with things that make you feel something. That get you excited to work towards your goals. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m a visual person so actually seeing something versus just writing it down (which I also think is important) sparks something different in my brain, making it seem like more of a possibility for reality. 

So, go and spend some time on Pinterest (I’m giving you permission) and make a board that is just for curating your dream life. Don’t hold yourself back, fill it with images, words and whatever else feel right to you. 

Go back and look back on it here and there, edit it and refine it to keep it up to date with what you want. And just let it soak in, think about how it would feel to have or be whatever it is. Visualize that, and magical things will start to happen. 

Bleeding Through Everything While Running

I remember when I first saw the story about Kiran Gandhi and her infamous London Marathon. 

"Bad ass," I thought. And I wonder if I would do the same in her situation? 

Well, I haven’t reached the marathon mark, but I sure am training for one. 

And can I just say, when it rains, it pours when it comes to running and your period. Not every time, but we all have that one day. That one day where your period has a mind of its own. 

I’ve bled through multiple pairs of jeans, two of those being in the same day. On one occasion, back when I was still waitressing I could feel it happening, which led to me having to run home quick to change (thankfully I lived only a block away). It took only a wide-eyed gesture to the crotch of my jeans to a coworker to cover me while I was gone. “Oh nooo…. wow,” was her response. 

The first time it happened while I was running, I was already a mile into my run when I could feel it starting. Shoot, I thought. Hmm, should I turn around and run home? Or chance it? Screw it, I’m going to keep running. 

And so I kept running. 

Did I bleed through everything? You bet. But, I tucked my shirt into the back of my pants in a “sweatshirt around the waist” attempt. 

That’s happened twice now. 

Looking at the predictions in period tracker app, my period should be over (by a day or two) by the time my marathon rolls around. But that’s just a prediction and cycles can shift this way and that, so who knows what my fate for that day actually holds. 

I remember in high school when the worst thing that could happen was the possibility that you would leak through your pants. We all fed each other horror stories of embarrassment. 

The girl in the white pants. 

The girl who left a puddle of blood on her chair. 

They go on and on. 

If you ever leave a pool of blood in a chair, you deserve an medal because that’s an accomplishment. 

It’s inevitable that you’re going to bleed through countless things in your lifetime, and I’m going to let you in on a little secret: life goes on. It’s not the huge deal people make it out to be. I bet 99% of the time you’ll be the only one who knows it happens. 

It’s always me that feels the need to let someone else in on my situation. Look what happened!

If you skinned your knee and it was slowly pooling into a patch on your knee, would you be embarrassed? 

Hell no. 

I’ve decided to not let it be something that embarrasses me anymore. Because it doesn’t. I’m over it. I’ve got bigger things in life to concern myself with.  

So laugh it off and share it with a friend. 

Why I Have $100,000 On My Wall

Last week I wrote a post about lessons I had learned from the book “Get Rich, Lucky Bitch” which I devoured and thoroughly enjoyed. 

One of the glaring realizations was that I had this subconscious belief that I only deserved to make the bare minimum needed to survive. 

But what happens when your goals change, what you want changes? What if a house and a family doesn’t seem so distant? 

The answer: you’re going to need more money. 

I realized that I thought making more money than I “needed” was greedy. That I should only want what I need and nothing more. 

Why set big goals if you have enough now?

Well, I realized it wasn’t about being ungrateful for what I already have. It’s about growing, as a person, as a business, and it’s OK if you desires and goals change. 

It doesn’t take much money for me to support myself at this point in life. I’m pretty proud of that fact, but I also discovered that the idea of making “a lot” of money freaked me out, gave me these weird, cringey feelings that I didn’t like. 

In the book she talks about clients who had the goals of making six figures, seven figures, and each time I found myself a bit bug eyed thinking, “That’s sooo much money!” 

When I thought about what it would be like to make six figures I found myself really uncomfortable with the idea of that much money. 

I’m a far way off from that income goal, but how could I ever expect myself to seek out more money if I wasn’t even comfortable with the idea of making more money. 

Essentially, I was repelling money and opportunities that led to more money because I didn’t think I needed it nor deserved it. I was uncomfortable with it. 

So, I’ve started doing a few things to change my attitude towards making more money. 

One, slightly absurd, thing I’ve done is put “$100,000” on the bottom of my felt letter board that sits on my desk. 

And when I first put it up there I would hide it behind candles, embarrassed that it was even there. But slowly, as I sit down and look at it every day I’m becoming more and more comfortable with it. Slowly but surely it doesn’t seem so absurd, it doesn’t seem so greedy, it doesn’t seem so impossible. 

I’ve also started putting up little positive money affirmations on sticky notes above my desk. 

I’m slowly chipping away at my preconceived notions about income and self-worth. 

I want things in life, and I want them sooner rather than later. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Having goals doesn’t make me greedy. I’m not harming anyone to get there. 

I love learning about personal finance and money mindsets. Money will probably always be taboo, but it doesn’t mean I can’t change my own attitude towards the matter. 

What are some of the big money lessons you’ve learned so far in life?

Luteal/Menstrual Phase Funk

Even though I’ve dug into, and learned to love all aspects of my cycle, I am still caught off guard time to time by that week that overlaps the end of one cycle and the start of the next. 

It falls on the last few days of the luteal phase and first few days of the menstrual phase (your period). 

Today, I wanted to go over what I notice during this week and how I deal with it:

+ I am TIRED, exhausted, to a point that coffee can’t combat. 

I go to bed earlier, sleep in just a little longer, and I don’t feel guilty about it. And if there’s a day I need a nap, I take a 30 minute to an hour long nap, and don’t feel guilty about it. 

I get outside more, or just go out and run an errand. Getting up from my desk and out of my apartment usually gives me a little boost.

+ My motivation goes straight out the window.

This one is so much harder to accept than feeling tired. I get frustrated when I don’t feel that usual spark for work I normally have. 

There is only one way to handle this. Cut down your to-do list to what absolutely must get done that day. And focus on getting that done, give yourself more time and more breaks throughout the day. And if that’s all you accomplish, congratulations, celebrate it!

You can be productive on a different level when your motivation is low. Find that balance, that happy medium. 

+ Feeling blah, meh, wanting to curl up in a ball and do nothing.

There’s a time and a place to just let this take over, and I’ll usually allow myself one day to be a human blob. But if you’re going to do it, commit to it, don’t feel an ounce of guilt and really just bask in the glory of doing absolutely nothing. 

I also find time for mindless tasks I don’t make time for during the rest of the month. Usually decluttering or deep cleaning, organizing or sorting. Things that are on your to-do list but aren’t top tier essential must do's. 

+ Feeling more blue and gloomy than usual.

This is the time to pamper yourself. With food, with bubble baths, music, whatever makes you feel loved by yourself. 

It’s also a great time to do some reflection on life. Look at what you’ve been spending your time working on, or doing lately. Are you happy with how you’ve allocated your time? Are there things you wish you would make more time for? What changes can you make going forward to curate your days into what you want them to be? 

This phase (or combo of phases) is pretty much the same as the end of fall, headed into winter. Think about when the weather starts to get colder than you're comfortable with, the days get darker, shorter, more gray. You don’t just stop living because it’s not as exciting and fun. You learn to adapt and change your habits during the colder months. 

Learn to look at your cycle in a similar light. How can you adapt to make the most out of each phase? 

Lessons From "Get Rich, Lucky Bitch"

I don’t know about you, but I love reading books about money. And I’m not talking about financial planning (that’s important too), I’m talking about unpacking our beliefs and mindsets surrounding money. 

Because I’m always so surprised with how many there are. And not only that but recognizing how they are inadvertently impacting my day to day decisions, and therefore my overall financial well-being. 

I recently tore through the book, Get Rich Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas, which digs into how our subconscious money mindsets can be sabotaging our financial possibilities. 

It’s chock full of inspiration, so I recommend picking it up if you're into that sort of stuff, but I wanted to go ahead and share some of those nuggets with you today. 

You’re going to have to dig into your money past if there’s any hope for your future. And that’s because how you’ve been raised to feel and think about money most definitely is impacting your relationship with money today. 

Start from your earliest memory about money and work your way up.

Give yourself time to do this exercise, it takes awhile and the more time you spend with it, the more memories come up. You’re going to have to deconstruct how those memories could be impacting you still today.  

Every day write down a list of all the money that comes into your life. Like attracts like, so the more money you realize you have the more money will start flowing to you. 

When you think you don’t have enough, when you don’t know how much you actually have you can be a bit more careless with your money. You might be twiddling away your money in tiny increments for things that you don’t even actually want or care about. 

And when I consistently do this exercise I am amazed with the abundance I actually have compared to what I thought I was making. I’m far from a millionaire, but there have been plenty of months where I make double or triple of what I think I’m making, all because I wasn’t keeping track of it. 

Put yourself in situations where you feel rich. Expect good things to happen to you. Lucky people are overwhelmingly grateful and take responsibility for their lives

She also suggest reprogramming yourself to say yes to money and opportunities to make money. I found three dollars on the floor of a bathroom at a campground. Gross? Probably. But you bet your sweet tushy I snatched that money up and said "YES! Thank you Universe!" Be grateful for what you have. 

Emotions live in our bodies. If you don’t try and feel wealthy now with what you have, you won’t feel wealthy with a million dollars.

Yeah really nice cars are cool, but I’m so grateful for owning my dream bike (a Bianchi), and know that it is more than enough when it comes to the realm of transportation. If you can’t find gratitude in what you have now, you’re never going to be satisfied because there will always be something bigger, something better, something newer to get. Don’t get trapped in that cycle. 

Money loves clarity. When you know exactly WHAT you’re working towards, you will start to act in more positive ways towards your goals. Write down numerical values next to each of the goals, so you know how much it is actually going to cost you to have it. Change the rules of how you think you have to get it. Like farts, goals are better out than in, so release them into the world and onto some paper today!

Get clear with what you want because how are you expected to get something if you don’t know what it is? We all wish for more money, but why do we want more money? What is it that we want to have or do? And how realistic is that goal? Take travel for example, it’s something almost everyone wants to do, but don’t think they can afford. I’ll let you in on a secret, it’s so much more attainable than you think. 

Worse Case Scenario exercise. Voicing those little fears, even if they’re completely irrational, releases their hold on you and you can feel good about becoming rich. You can’t create an amazing life and receive outrageous abundance with an underlying fear that you’re a bad person. 

This was a fun exercise. So, you’ve written out your goals, what you want. Now it’s time to write down all the bad things that could possibly happen if you achieved those goals. 

“My partner will feel inadequate."

“I’ll spend it all."

“I’ll turn into a bad, greedy person.” 

As you look back over the list you’ll start to see how crazy those beliefs are, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re there, and could be stopping you from reaching for more. 

You might find yourself thinking, “I shouldn’t want that”. It’s like at some point we’ve been told you shouldn’t want to have the best. It’s so common for women to put unconscious limits on how much they are “allowed” to earn. 

Isn’t this the truth? I’ve realized that I’ve been conditioned to think it’s greedy to want more than what you need to survive. How silly is that? And I’ve also recognized that continuing with this belief is going to limit me from reaching big goals I want in the near future: Buying a house, starting a family. Those things take money, and it’s not a “bad” thing to want those things. 

It’s so important to surround yourself with success; we are so influenced by the people around us. Connect with women who are going where you want to go. Everyone you are with on a day-to-day level, your friends, your success team, your partner, needs to be lifting you up not dragging you down with obligation, negativity and poverty mindset.

This is true in all areas in life. Do you and your friends spend your time together complaining about one thing or another? We’re all guilty of it. But you need to start living the life you’re trying to achieve. Whether it’s putting yourself into situations to expand and grow, reaching out to someone who inspires you or meeting up with women you find inspirational. Surround yourself with what you want to be in the world. 

Your income is unlimited. Your potential is unlimited. 

I just want to end with this today. We are constantly limiting ourselves to what we think we can achieve. But if you head out into the world telling yourself you are limitless you start to notice things, people, opportunities, ideas. And you go for it because you’re not limiting yourself to where you’re currently at in the world. 

My Daily Routines + Habits

I’m on a constant quest to fine tune my daily habits and routines in order to reach optimal life for myself. 

I spent a lot of my life living for the future, for the possibility of what could happen one day, but I’ve learned to appreciate the time I have (nothing’s guaranteed). 

I’ve been trying out a few new daily habits that I wanted to share with you today. 

Positive Affirmations

This is one of those things that I saw as frou-frou for a long time. But I can’t begin to describe the impact that your thoughts have on your actions and your emotions. 

Some may scoff at me, but I’m a big believer in you get what you put out into the Universe (not always obviously, but I’ve noticed a trend). 

If I’m in a super negative, everything sucks, life sucks, sort of mood, guess what I’m going to get? More negative things. This could be partially because when you’re in a bad mood you only notice the bad things, but I think there’s something else at play. 

So, something I’ve started doing is writing down a daily positive affirmation and putting it somewhere in my line of sight for the day. Every time I catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye I stop what I’m doing and say it out loud to myself, letting it sink in. 

Recently, I have been focusing on positive money affirmations because it’s amazing how many subconscious beliefs I have about money (and I just read a book about this). Mostly surrounding the thought that money isn’t bad, or greedy. It’s a tool. If you have negative beliefs about money you might be saying no to opportunities without even recognizing them. 

Writing Down my Goals

I’m a big supporter of goal setting. 

Dr. Gail Matthews, psychology professor at the Dominican University in California found that people are 42% more likely to achieve their goals when they write them down. 

And my thoughts about it are this: 

If you take the time to sit down and write out your goals, first you have to actually decide what it is you’re striving for. You’d be amazed to realize that you don’t even know what it is that you want. And how are you supposed to achieve something you didn’t know you wanted in the first place? 

Goals help guide me in my day to day actions. I’ve learned to break bigger, long term goals down into small, tangible steps. 

Take money for example. Almost everyone wants to “make more money”, but how many have taken the time to sit down and write out what we individually need to survive, what we need to buy a house or a car, what we need to actually go on that dream vacation? 

We look at these things as far off, some day goals, when in reality we could start working towards them today. 

Setting My Intentions

If you’ve ever been to a yoga class there a chance the instructor has asked everyone to take a moment to set an intention for the class before beginning. 

This is kind of in the realm of “goal setting”, but it’s slightly different. 

For me an intention is more like a theme to guide me through the day rather than a task to complete. 

Common intentions are to “be more present in the moment”, “to find gratitude in the small stuff” and usually something to do with being “positive”. 

Reading

It’s something I’ve loved to do since the age of four when my mom first taught me how to. 

But actually making the time to sit down and read can be a bit tricky. We get sucked into doing other things like scrolling through social media, watching Netflix or waiting until right before bed to read, only to fall asleep after a few minutes. 

Travel is a time that I make it a clear goal for more time to read. I don’t like working on the plane and much prefer to curl into a good book. And when you’re traveling you have plenty of down time, or moments of waiting where a reading is a perfect activity. 

I’ve also allowed myself to read more on the weekends or after work. It’s something that brings me so much joy so I’ve been making more of conscious effort to create space for it. 

Running

If you’ve been following along for the past few months you may have noticed that I have started talking about running. 

And this is was not something I did. It was something I avoided. But it’s the perfect combination of achieving two goals: get outside more, and move my body each day. 

And as I’ve found my stride, conditioned my lungs and strengthened my legs I’ve been able to find a certain meditative quality to running. 

I don’t always want to go out and run, but I’ve never once regretted going for a run when it’s done. No matter how bad I hurt after. 

Gratitude Journal

It’s something I’ve been keeping up with for almost a year now.

Each month I dedicate two pages in my bullet journal to my “Sparkly Bits” and each day I will take the time to write out a few things, or just one thing, that I was grateful for that day. 

Keeping a gratitude journal, like most types of journals, help separate the days. Without journaling my days can seem to slip into each other, and when that happens it’s always a shame. It’s like I’m losing time, experiences and memories. 

And if you can get consistent with your gratitudes you’ll start to notice more moments in your days where something will catch your eye (or mind) and you’ll kind of step back and say “Wow, that could be my sparkly bit for the day.”

Limit Social Media

Finally, one of the hardest habits to break. 

There is a time and a place for social media, especially in my line of work being all online. 

But there is a big difference between constructive social media use and mindless scrolling. 

And it’s the mindless scrolling I’m working to cut back on. I’ve been trying to limit myself to only scrolling through social media during different times of the day. Like when I’m going to the bathroom. (Weird? Gross? Who cares. It’s a limited amount of time where I’m aware of the time rather than losing myself in it). 

I’ve tried to cut my social media before bed as well as when I wake up. We’ve all been guilty of scrolling till our eyes burn before bed, and reaching for our phone as soon as we wake up in the morning. 

I’ve also noticed that I use it as a social crutch when I’m out in public for uncomfortable situations. 

On the elevator with a stranger?

Pull out your phone. 

Waiting for someone at a restaurant?

Pull out your phone. 

The list could go on and on, but you get the point. 

In the end these are a few of the things I’ve been trying to add, or subtract, from my life in order to be the happiest, best version of myself. 

Now, I’m curious to hear, what are some daily habits you’ve found to be beneficial?