Why there's no such thing as "overnight success"

It’s said that it will take you 10,000 hours to become an expert in whatever it is you’re working on.  

Here’s what that looks like:

-Right under 5 years of working 40 hours per week.

-Or just about a decade of working part-time. 

-But at just one hour a day, it’s gonna take close to 30 years.

We often see people who have “made it” and forget the minutes and hours and days and weeks and months and years and decades they have put in.

It’s not really a matter of talent, but of grit. 

For over 2 decades, I've watched my sister, Mary Ashley, paint, sew, crotchet, bake, play piano and create jewelry. She's spent her fringe hours crafting and learning. Not only have I seen her improve, but I have the jewelry and artwork from her past and present that shows the visible growth she's made over the years.

Check out her table at last week's neighborhood event:

Her products are beautiful!

But she's not an "overnight success". She's put in tens of thousands of hours at this point. Which means that you can also become an expert in something you're willing to devote your fringe hours!

So, what’s something you want to achieve? Become a well-known photographer? Own a successful small business? Win an Ironman triathlon? Be a famous pianist? Write a best-seller?

What is it that you want to be really good at, maybe even the best? Are you willing, like Mary Ashley, to put in 10,000+ hours of work to get there?

The years will pass anyway...we might as well work towards our goals.

Comment below with your dream that you're willing to put in 10,000 hours to achieve.

To see and purchase from Mary Ashley, find her on Instagram @maryashleyowens and on ETSY

Balance Is A LIE

As a mom, I often feel like I’m doing everything.

And nothing.

My days are consumed with putting together meals and snacks, loading and unloading the dishwasher, washing, folding and putting away laundry, running errands, vacuuming and mopping, meal planning and grocery shopping, scrubbing toilets and showers and on and on.

At the same time, my days are also consumed with trying to spend time with friends, volunteering with our church and participating in studies, working out, and spending lots of time with Ivy, reading books to her, allowing her to help me around the house, talking to her and playing with her and spending roughly 3 hours awake with her nightly because she's not a good sleeper.

It feels busy, all day, everyday.

But, I often look around, at the end of the day, and wonder what I did with all those hours.

I feel that I'm doing everything I can, and at the same time, I feel like I should be better.

Better about staying in touch with friends, better about eating healthier meals, better about deep cleaning, better about working on our small business, better about working out and losing the last bit of baby weight, better about reading my Bible, better about doing educational play with Ivy, and better about getting out to do stuff with other people.

I feel that I should do better, but to be honest, I'm mostly consumed with being a mom, wondering if this is good enough to be considered "my best".

I want there to be a balance, but I can only do so many things well at once and this is it. So, for this season, my minimalist house might be untidy and somewhat dirty, my vegan meals might be a ton of rice and beans, my reading list might be mostly kids books, my friendships might be lots playdates and my date nights might be take out and a movie we’ve seen a million times.

This is my new normal and this is a 24/7 job.

There’s no way to balance it all, so I’m focusing on what’s most important right now - Ivy - and I’ll figure the rest out along the way💕

How to save THOUSANDS using low-tox products

Do you do subscription boxes?

I’ve had clothes and smoothies delivered to my door and it’s such a treat!

Did you know that Young Living also has a monthly subscription box?  I call it my wellness box and, every month, it arrives with tons of stuff I used to buy at the grocery store, like toothpaste and mouthwash, makeup and skincare, supplements and cleaning supplies, essential oils and so much more.

I love it!

But the best part?  Each month I get my wellness box, I'm also earning rewards points.  Since subscribing in November 2013, I’ve earned 6,335.13 points.  And the points are treated as cash, so I’ve earned $6,335.13!

Young Living let’s me choose exactly when I want in my box each month.  I can even choose different products every time.  It’s all non-toxic, natural and safe.  AND I’m earning rewards points.  It’s the best.

$6,335.13
is enough savings to book a trip to Europe, or go on an Alaskan cruise, or take a road trip…believe me, we’ve done all three with the money we’ve saved and have much more travel ahead of us in the next year😉

Don’t assume that investing in your health has to break the bank.  We have tons of tips and tricks for saving you money while becoming the best version of you.

And if you’d also like to earn money, like Nick and I do, we can teach you how we do that too!

Click HERE to order through me and use code SHAREYL for 10% off!

How To Get Hard Things Done

“The belief that you can do it comes from doing it.”

-Darlene Weir

I think back over my life and all the times I said “I can’t do that” or “I’d never be able to do that”. Times I believed that something was just too hard and I didn’t have what it takes.

Sometimes I let those beliefs hold me back from accomplishing what I wished or wanted. But every now and then, I’d somehow find the courage to stop making excuses and simply do it.

“I’ll never be able to run my own business”, “I can’t run well enough to sign up for a race”, “I’ll never be good at social media”, “I can’t be a vegan because I can’t live without cheese”, “I won’t survive a medication free, natural birth”, “I’ll never travel once I have kids” and even something as silly as “I’ll never learn how to wand my hair”...these were all things that I truly believed at one point.

Each one of these beliefs, though, we’re just that...beliefs. At some point, for every one of these (and more), I decided to take control and simply make it happen.

I learned how to be a business owner, run, use social media, live without cheese, naturally birth babies, travel with a toddler and wand my hair. The belief that I could do each one of these came from just doing them.

So, let’s stop making excuses by using words like “can’t” and “could never” and be honest with ourselves. We CAN do it. It’s a choice. And if we choose NOT to do it, let’s begin using phrases like, “that’s not my priority right now” instead. I don’t want to be a victim. I doubt you want to either.

The belief that we can do it comes from doing it. Let’s do it.

Daily Self-Care Routine

Solitude - Schedule some alone time each day. It can be as simple as a cup of tea before anyone else wakes, a long soak in the bath, a few moments with your journal, a quiet walk outdoors, deep breaths of Young Living essential oil blends like Awaken or Release or even some much needed spiritual refreshment with your Bible or favorite devotional.

Movement - Take some time to exercise each day. Whether you have 5 minutes or 2 hours, commit to some form of movement. I fluctuate between walks, yoga, HIIT, short jogs and strength training. The best exercise for you is the one that you'll do. So pick something you'll enjoy and get going.

Nutrition - Consume less sugar and cafeine and add in more water and plant-based whole-foods. Avoid eating out or grabbing take-out and, instead, cook your meals from scratch. Pay attention while eating and begin to eliminate foods that negatively effect your physical, mental and emotional health.

Monitor - Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Monitor what you watch, what you listen to and what you say. Choose to surround yourself with what and who lifts you up.

Rest - Learn to practice relaxation techniques, like meditation, and be sure to get around 8 hours of sleep a night. But remember that rest isn't just about sleep. If you can, take a day off every week, a weekend off  every month and a week off every quarter. Whether it's a get-away or a staycation, the purpose is to unplug and come back refreshed.

38 pieces of advice

I just turned 38 in August and wanted to put together my words of wisdom!

Here’s my 38 pieces of wisdom to mark my 38th birthday

1. Never say never.

2. Kill them with kindness.

3. Just ask.

4. Spend time with people you love.

5. Travel often.

6. Be generous.

7. Learn something new (all the time).

8. Go on walks.

9. Choose the best option in front of you.

10. Read daily.

11. Plan girls nights.

12. Stretch.

13. Don’t spend what you don’t have.

14. Make goals.

15. Find a hobby (or three).

16. Go outside as much as possible.

17. Set boundaries with your smartphone.

18. Eat real food.

19. Get a dog.

20. Do work you love.

21. Wear comfy shoes.

22. Cook homemade meals.

23. Get monthly facials.

24. Live toxin-free.

25. Practice solitude.

26. Dress in beautiful colors.

27. Tidy your home each morning.

28. Enjoy quiet nights at home.

29. Become friends with your neighbors.

30. Take lots of vacations.

31. Drink more water.

32. Get enough sleep.

33. Use lamps for lighting.

34. Practice minimalism.

35. Kiss your baby too much.

36. Pray constantly.

37. Go on trips with friends and no kids.

38. Talk to a counselor.

Got any good advice? Please share!

8 Tasks To Do When Your Stuck In A Rut At Work

Owning a small business takes a lot of drive and initiative to keep things running smoothly. It's amazing to not have anyone telling me what to do, but it also means that I have to be self-motivated and stay focused on my own.

I’m usually pretty good about it, but sometimes I hit a wall and don't know what to do. Here are some things that work for me when I feel like I'm stuck in a rut:

1. COMMUNICATE - Check and respond to all overdue emails, texts, phone calls, FaceBook messages, Instagram notifications, etc. to catch up.

2. ORGANIZE - File that stack of papers. Update those spreadsheets. Delete old emails. Clean up my desk. Take out the trash.

3. LEARN - Join a book club, watch a documentary, catch up on a blog you like or listen to a podcast. You might even consider signing up for a local event or a huge convention!

4. PLAN - Revisit your Dream Board (or make one if you don't have one yet) and write out your (5 year, 1 year and 30 days) goals.

5. ENCOURAGE - Send a postcard or gift to someone that you've been thinking of and want to encourage.

6. POST - Are you trying to grow your business through social media? If so, I recommend you read “Getting Noticed” and “Boss Up”, by my friend @lindsayteague and then get posting!

7. MENTOR - Find someone who you admire and ask if they would be willing to let you get to know them.

8. PARTY - All work and no play, makes everyone unmotivated and stretched thin. Grab coffee with your sister. Catch up with a co-worker over lunch (but don't talk business). Have your girlfriends over for pizza and a movie. Sometimes having business slow down can be a blessing in disguise.

If you own a small business, I'd love to know what things you do when you feel like you are stuck in a rut...please share!

When the Grass is Always Greener

We’re always looking for the next best thing.

The next challenge to join, the next call to listen in on, the next convention to attend and the next book to read. The list goes on and on. There is always the next best thing. The next "secret" to success.

But, while building my own small business, I’ve realized that there is no solution to making a business successful that doesn't involve just plain old hard work!

So, I wrote down 8 things that I believe make or break our businesses.

1. We MUST be committed. Let’s remove "try" from our vocabulary and just do the hard work.

2. We MUST be consistent. Let’s go to work daily and show our customers, co-workers and employees that we are dependable.

3. We MUST continue to learn. Let’s read books, blogs and articles and go to training events related to our businesses.

4. We MUST love the product. Let’s use our product every day at home, at work, with family, while running errands, etc.

5. We MUST put ourselves out there. Let’s post daily on social media, host events, hold classes, sign up for vendor fairs, set up a booth at our local farmers market, talk to people in the grocery line and do our best to use our product in front of people.

6. We MUST lead by example. Let’s do what we say we’re going to do, be available and show up.

7. We MUST follow up. When someone comments on our post, let’s reply. When someone asks us a question, let’s answer it. When someone messages, emails or texts us, let’s get back to them.

8. We MUST stay positive. Everyone CAN grow a successful business, but not everyone WILL. Let’s be the people who do it. Who work hard. Who learn. Who respond. Who participate. Who follow up. Who get out of our comfort zones. Who seek solutions. Who keep going. Who lead.

Don't be fooled by the idea that there are secrets to success. It all comes down to hard work, day in and day out, and not giving up when others are. That's great news, though, isn't it?! This means that each one of us has the ability to succeed!

What is one thing you’re doing to build your business today?

4 TIPS FOR GROWING YOUR BUSINESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Are you trying to grow an online business, but nothing's working?  There are countless bloggers and Instagramers telling you how they did it.  There are tons of seminars and trainings you can attend.  There's so much out there, but you feel paralyzed and don't know where to start, right?!

I'm here to take the confusion out of it for you.

Photo by Emily Lynn Photography

I remember when I first starting using social media to sell Young Living Essential Oils.  I took awful photos and used captions that didn't draw attention.  It took lots of practice!  Four and a half years, actually.  However, I've learned a lot and made improvements along the way.  Building a business through social media is amazing because I can work from anywhere.  Coffee shops, my front porch, in the car, while traveling and visiting friends in Ireland, Scotland and Bolivia (true story).  I want to make growing your business on social media easier for you so that you can enjoy the same freedom!

First: MAKE A PLAN.  Think of six things that you are interested in.  What do you research on Google?  Browse on Pinterest?  Follow on Instagram?  Read about in books and magazines?  Talk with your friends about?  Here are my six main interests: marriage, travel, minimalism, veganism, fitness and books.  What are you six?  Write them down.

Second: GET TO WORK.  Now, you're going to start posting about those things on FaceBook, Instagram and your blog (if you have one).  So, on Monday I'll post something about my marriage, Tuesday about travel, Wednesday about being vegan and so on until I've posted about my six things.  Then, on the seventh day, I'm going to post about my product.  Keep this rotation up...forever.  Your six things can change though, as you and your interests do!

Photo by Emily Lynn Photography

Third: LOOK PROFESSIONAL.  Take good photos, on your own camera or phone, for these posts.  Make sure there is enough light, that the photo is in focus, clutter free, etc.  Practice taking lots of photos and choose the best one.  You can even ask friends and family for feedback or to take some photos for you.  Luckily, I have a very talented friend who takes photos for me sometimes, Emily Christopher with Emily Lynn Photography.

Fourth: BE CONSISTENT.  This is the most important.  Whether you feel like it or not, you must post daily.  When people see you consistently posting about your life and consistently posting about your product, they will feel that you are dependable.  When they are ready to dive in and get that product, you will be at the front of their mind because of your consistent posting.

Just like growing any other type of business, growing a business on social media is hard work.  You will have some terrible photos and uninteresting captions.  Not everyone is going to come running to like your post, comment or buy your product.  You will have days that you want to quit.  This is going to take sacrifice and drive. But you can do it!

Photo by Emily Lynn Photography

Write down your six things, start posting every single day on social media, work on improving and never give up.  I promise if you do these things, your business will grow.  It might be slow and steady, but it WILL grow!

Four and a half years ago, I didn't even know how to use social media.  But I've worked hard and built up a business that supports my husband and I financially so that I can stay home and he doesn't have to work if he doesn't want to.  I started at 0, but learned how to succeed.  If I can do it, anyone can, including you!

4 WAYS TO TRAVEL MORE OFTEN

People are always asking Ironman and I how we travel so often.  I know from the outside looking in, it seems like we are doing something special and it makes others feel like they could never do the same.  However, it's not true!  There's no magic.  It all comes down to constantly dreaming up new ideas, always making major sacrifices and consistently working hard.  Do you want to take your first trip?  Or begin to travel more often?  Here is exactly how we do it:

1.  DREAM.  First things first, you gotta learn how to dream if you don't already know how to do it.  Spend time browsing Pinterest, travel blogs, Instagram's digital nomads and even travel magazines at your local bookstore.  Take note of what interests you most.  Do you want to road trip the USA?  Backpack Europe?  Camp the Appalachian Trail?  Cruise the Caribbean?  Get a piece of paper (or type it up in your cell phone notes, if you like to go paperless) and start writing down your very own Bucket List.  This is your new hobby.  You wouldn't believe how much Ironman and I do this together.  There's no telling how many hours we have spent looking at maps and photos and articles, etc.  Do your research, save good ideas you come across and talk to other people about it.  This part can often be just as much fun as the actual adventure!

2.  SACRIFICE.  Look for ways to cut expenses.  Cancel all your subscriptions that cost money, like magazines, Netflix, cable, etc.  If you have a car payment, sell that car and buy a car you can afford to pay in cash right then.  Or maybe your family can get away with one car!  Look for ways to cut down on utilities like turning off lights, unplugging items and using less water.  Make your own toiletries, cleaning supplies and more with essential oils.  Stop going out to eat, but buy groceries to prepare and eat all your meals at home.  Find free local entertainment, instead of paying for movies.  Quit buying things unless you really truly need that item (not want, but need).  Set a budget for yourself and don't go over.  Each month, Ironman budgets our mortgage, utilities, insurance, gym membership, cell phone, gas and food and then he gives me $100 to spend how I want.  This means that once we hit the top of one of the budgets, then we have to say "no" until next month.  This helps us be much more careful about spending!  If you want to do something drastic, consider a total lifestyle change by downsizing your home, belongings and spending!  And if you haven't taken it yet, I recommend the Dave Ramsey course...we did it as newlyweds and I know it set us up for success.

Us in Ireland

3.  SELL.  Live a more minimalist lifestyle by selling things that you don't use or need.  Go through every room in your entire home and if you haven't used an item in one year, it's time to get rid of it.  Even furniture that has no purpose but to collect piles of stuff should go.  You can live with much less than you think.  Only keep items that you truly use and are helpful to you.  Sell anything else.  Put that extra cash from selling those items in savings for your upcoming adventure.  Still want to downsize, but don't have things in good enough condition to sell?  Donate them to local charities who could use them!  Want to travel for longer periods of time?  Maybe indefinitely?  Consider selling your house or simply renting it out while you are gone!

4.  WORK.  Living simply has truly helped us to travel more than most people, but once we opened our own small business, things really took off in the adventure department.  We travel much more often now because we have the freedom to be flexible.  The great thing about working online is that we can literally work from anywhere in the world, as long as you can find wifi.  We have traveled and worked while visiting friends in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Bolivia and all over the USA.  Even this Friday, we are headed out for a two week east coast road trip!  This is one huge reason why I love our business.  I also love helping others learn to live with the same freedom as us.  If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, I'd be more than happy to share how we've done it!  Just shoot me an email!  However, if you don't want to work while you travel, the other option is to save money ahead of time so that you can take that time off or quit your job!

So, you see?  There's no magic, no secrets.  Just a lot of planning and working!  But you decide.  Would you rather a bigger house, huge TV, new car and a closet full of clothes?  Or to live with less, but travel more?  We all choose how we will spend our time and money.  How do you want to spend yours?

8 MUSTS TO GROW A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

Since starting my own business in 2013, I have noticed that we are always looking for the next thing. The next challenge to join. The next call to listen in on. The next convention to attend. The next event to sign up for. The next book to read. The list goes on and on. There is always the next big thing. The next "secret" to success.  But, as I was wrapping up another business book last week, I realized that there is no solution to making a business successful that doesn't involve just plain old hard work!

So, I wrote down 8 things that I believe make or break our businesses:

1. You MUST be committed. Remove "try" from your vocabulary and make your business work, knowing that you will have to make sacrifices along the way. Stick it out, even when it is hard. Don't give up, even when you want to quit.

2. You MUST be consistent. Work on your business daily and show your customers, co-workers and employees that you are dependable. Make a plan, schedule your work time and do your work.  Participate in available product and business education, communicate with your customers and team, stay connected on social media (because you should be using it to your advantage to grow your business) and learn something new everyday. Show up and be present.

3. You MUST continue to learn. Read books, blogs, articles and anything that you can get your hands on related to your business or product.  Go to training events and take courses.  Make it your goal to learn something new each day, whether it's about the product or running a business or both.

4. You MUST love the product. Use the product every day (if possible, of course). At home. At work. With family. While running errands. The more you use it and love it, the more you'll have great stories to tell people and inspire others to purchase. Be the person who would be using the product even if you didn't make any money on the sales.

5. You MUST put yourself out there. Post daily on social media, host events, hold classes, sign up for vendor fairs, set up a booth at your local farmers market, talk to people in the grocery line, use the product in front of people.  Do whatever you can to educate people on your product and why they need it.  There is not one right way to do it, you just have to find the right way for you and do it and do it and do it!

6. You MUST lead by example. Do what you say you are going to do. Be available. Show up. Stay open to feedback. Offer to help in areas you are gifted. Participate. Be the type of person you appreciate in others.  

7. You MUST follow up. When someone comments on your post, comment back. When someone asked you a question, answer it. When someone messages, emails or texts you, get back to them.  Let people see that you are available so that they keep coming back to you, instead of loosing that customer to someone else who might have mediocre products, but a faster, better response.

8. You MUST stay positive. Everyone CAN grow a successful business, but not everyone WILL. Let's be the people who do it. Who work hard. Who learn. Who respond. Who participate. Who follow up. Who get out of our comfort zones. Who seek solutions. Who keep going. Who lead. This isn't easy. This is business. This takes time. Be willing to give it time.

Don't be fooled by the idea that there are secrets to success. It all comes down to hard work, day in and day out, and not giving up when others are. That's great news, isn't it?! That means that every single person has the ability to succeed!

8 WAYS TO WORK YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

Ironman spent years telling me that I should start my own business, but I always thought he was crazy and repeatedly told him that would never happen.  Well, we all know never say never!  Right?  I ended up starting my own small business in 2013 and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.  I am my own boss.  No one is telling me when to work or what to do.  And the best part is that I can travel as much as I want because all I need is wifi and my cell phone to get work done.  It's truly a blessing and I'm so happy to have this business!

My favorite "office"

I know that there are many others who own small businesses and understand the importance of having drive and taking initiative to keep things running smoothly.  It's amazing not having anyone telling me what to do, but it also means that I have to be very self-motivated and stay focused on my own.  I usually am pretty good about this, but sometimes I hit a wall and don't know what to do.  Here are some things that work for me when I feel like I'm stuck in a rut:

1.  COMMUNICATE - Check and respond to all overdue emails, texts, phone calls, FaceBook messages, Instagram notifications, etc. to catch up.  I almost always find that I responded to someone in my head, but not actually in real life...oops.  This helps me catch those mistakes and make sure that no one thinks I'm ignoring them.

2.  ORGANIZE - File that stack of papers.  Update those spreadsheets.  Delete old emails.  Clean up my desk.  Take out the trash.  I find that I can get a lot more work done when I'm in a clean environment.  It helps me think more clearly since I'm not distracted by all these things going on around me.

3.  LEARN - Join a book club, watch a documentary, catch up on a blog you like or listen to a podcast.  You might even consider signing up for a local event or a huge convention!  Whatever you do, don't ever stop exploring.  I love spending time with people who are always learning new things because we never run out of something interesting to talk about!

4.  PLAN - Revisit your Dream Board (or make one if you don't have one yet) and write out your goals.  You should have goals written out for your next 30 days, 1 year, 5 year and lifetime.  When you're done, put it up where you will see it and be reminded of your goals daily.  Making goals helps me stay focused because when I feel lost, I'm quickly reminded of why I'm working so hard!

5.  ENCOURAGE - Send a postcard or gift to someone that you've been thinking of and want to encourage.  It can be a family member, friend or even a co-worker.  Want to do it without having to pay for postage?  Get on FaceBook or Instagram and instead of "liking" a post, leave a thoughtful comment.  It means a lot to me when someone takes the time to write something and shows me that they want to participate in my life!

6.  POST - Are you trying to grow your business through social media?  If so, I recommend you read Getting Noticed, by my friend Lindsay Moreno.  Years ago, I had no idea how to use FaceBook, except to load photos from my travels.  And I didn't have Instagram.  With the help of Lindsay, I learned how to grow an entire business through social media alone.  Who knew you could do that?!  Because of how much the world uses social media today, I'm convinced that anyone and any business could grow simply through learning how to use FaceBook, Instagram and a blog the right way!  My tip?  Practice.  Take photos.  Post.  Repeat.  Every single day.  Show people what you love.

7.  MENTOR - Learn from those who have gone before you.  Find someone who you admire and ask if they would be willing to let you get to know them.  Do the same for someone else who might admire you by being available to them.  Relationships are good for us and help us grow!

8.  PARTY - All work and no play, makes everyone unmotivated and stretched thin.  Remember you have friends and they need to see you!  Grab coffee with your sister.  Catch up with a co-worker over lunch (but don't talk business).  Have your girlfriends over for pizza and a movie.  Sometimes having business slow down can be a blessing in disguise.  Don't forget to participate in local events...this can help you learn new things, find new friends and grow your business at the same time.

If you own a small business, I'd love to know what things you do when you feel like you are stuck in a rut...please share!

12 STEPS TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE DAY

Some days I feel super productive and some days I'm like, "what did I do all day?".  It's almost as if I got off on the wrong side of the bed and then the entire day is just weird.  However, some days I feel like I 'm motivated and on top of things.  I know it's not rocket science, but more about how I go about my day (and especially start my morning) that truly effects everything.  Here are 12 steps that I feel like make for a much more productive day for me!

Photo by Emily Christopher...we were in Hawaii!!!

1.  Wake up and get up.  Ironman and I set our alarm for the same time every day and don't hit the snooze button.  I know it's hard to break that habit if you're already used to it, but you'll be much more awake and rested each day if you stick to it.

2.  Ningxia Red.  Before anything else hits my stomach, I like to start with this Young Living superfruit supplement.  I've noticed a difference in my hair, skin and nails, energy levels, digestion and so much more over the past three years of taking this daily.

3.  Get moving.  My favorite way to get in some cardio is to take a walk.  I love to head outdoors, get some sunlight and fresh air and better yet, catch up with my sister who walks with me each morning.  It's a great way to get up and moving and start the day off on a positive note.  Most days, Emily from Just Because comes over at noon and we get in a more intense workout, like HIIT or something else that just about kills us.

The best is when you can take your morning walk on the beach!

4.  Stay hydrated.  I know that they say to do this when you first wake up, but then I'll be out on my walk and regret all the water.  So, when I get back home, I do my best to guzzle 32 ounces.  I find it I start off well in the morning, I usually do well the rest of the day.

5.  Enjoy some quiet time.  Sometimes this is while sitting on my leather couch and reading Jesus Calling and sometimes it's while taking a hot bath.  I just know that every morning I need some alone time to be quiet, think and pray.  It makes me feel a lot more calm and helps me start my day focused.

6.  Eat breakfast.  Homemade granola and smoothies are my favorite.  I've always thought it is crazy that people can skip this meal.  Every time I've tried to skip or had to, I've felt nauseated and dizzy.  I know it's often said to be the most important meal and that you should never skip.  Although I can't skip, I think it's best for people to eat when they feel hungry and not simply when they are told they should eat.

7.  Tidy up.  Walk through the house and put things back in their place, do the dishes, make your bed and start a load of laundry.  Your day will be much more productive if you are in a clean and clutter free environment, especially if you are like me and work from home.

8.  Dress to impress.  I look back at old photos and see how well people dressed only decades ago.  It seems that it's going steadily downhill.  I don't believe that the problem is that we have less time or money to take care of ourselves, but that we just choose to put other things first.  I love the capsule wardrobe because it gives me less (but better) choices, which makes getting dressed that much easier.  Also, when I set boundaries with social media and Netflix, I find that I have much more time to care for myself and my home.

9.  Get started.  Look at your calendar to remind yourself of appointments or planned events.  If you have a lot to do and feel you don't know where to start, write out a list of everything you need to get accomplished.  This will help you stay on top of things and make sure that you use your time well.

10.  Stay focused.  Plan time to text, make phone calls, check and respond to FaceBook, Instagram and your emails.  Make sure that you set boundaries on that time so that you aren't mindlessly wasting away your day.  When you are at work, work.  When you are at play, play.  When you are eating a meal, eat.  When you are catching up with a friend, do that.  Whatever you are doing, be all there.  And remember not to plan too much in one day.  Give yourself time to get everything done well, without feeling all hurried and frazzled.

11.  Turn off.  Once the day is done, put it all behind you.  Get off social media, phone, emails and put away your work.  Take the time to wind down.  Spend time with your family.  Enjoy your dinner. Go on a bike ride.  Join a Bible study.  Whatever it is, make sure that you set boundaries between your work life and home life.  Work to live, don't live to work.  You need a life...a real life, with hobbies and friends and rest.  Plus, the down time will mean that when you are working, you do a better job.

12.  Goodnight.  At least an hour before going to sleep, start your bedtime ritual (and I don't mean watching TV).  Take a bath, read a book, diffuse some calming essential oils (StressAway is my absolute favorite)...do something relaxing that doesn't involve a screen.  Go to bed at the same time each night.  Get an alarm clock and leave your phone in another room.  You'll sleep so much better, I promise!

If I have had a productive day, I am much more able to relax and rest better that night.  Feeling that I used my time wisely to take care of myself, my home and get things done always helps me to feel accomplished and proud of myself at the end of the day.

What is one thing that you do each day that helps you have a more productive day?

What if money was no object?

     As children, we dream about what we want to be when we grow up.  

I dreamed of being:
-a ballerina
-a photographer for National Geographic
-an esthetician
-a traveler
-so many adventurous things

     But, you know what happens?

We grow up and learn that:
-we must be responsible
-we must get that degree
-we must get that job with benefits
-we must have security

-we must.  we must.  we must.

     So, we put our dreams on the back burner.

But what if we stopped doing that?  What if money was no object.  What if you could do what you always dreamed of doing?  What if...

CLICK HERE to watch this short clip!