Over the years I’ve been on my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve seen too many people take pride in being busy, almost competing to see who can be the busiest. However, being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re productive. In fact, it often leads to neglecting self-care. The truth is, you can’t maintain that relentless pace forever. So, let me share a personal story to illustrate the importance of self-care in business.

Imagine a business owner who poured her heart and soul into her business. She worked tirelessly, sacrificing her personal well-being, time with her family, neglecting self-care, and trading hours for dollars. She downloaded way too many ebooks, invested in a ton of DIY courses and webinars, and joined multiple Facebook groups. But as she continued down this parabbit hole hoping to succeed, the love she had for her business started fading. It consumed her life, affected her happiness, strained her relationships, and eventually led to burnout.

Then she came to a crossroad, she had to decide whether to close down her business or make a shift. She chose the latter, seeking guidance from mentors and investing in private coaching. This process helped her redefine her mission, vision, and reconnect with her purpose. With a renewed sense of direction, she rebuilt her business on her own terms, unapologetically and made the progress she desired while spending quality time with her family when it mattered most.

This story is mine, and that part of my journey taught me the importance of self-care in achieving personal and professional goals and that I need to define what success means to me. However, self-care in business is more than just indulging in bubble baths and spa days. It’s about nurturing your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Just as we invest in relationships to grow our business, we must prioritize our relationship with ourselves. Self-care directly impacts productivity, creativity, and overall business performance.

Contrary to popular belief, sacrificing your well-being is not a prerequisite for success. In fact, research shows that self-care enhances productivity, boosts creativity, and sharpens decision-making abilities. When we prioritize self-care, we become a force to be reckoned with. 

So, let’s explore practical steps you can take to cultivate better self-care habits.

Be Intentional with Your Time

Improving your time management skills is crucial for you to be able to tap into the power of self-care. Start by identifying time-wasters and inefficiencies in your daily routines and your business operations. Are there tasks that can be done more efficiently or eliminated altogether? By streamlining your workflow, you’ll have more time for self-care activities.

Effective time management techniques like time-blocking can help you boost productivity. Time-blocking involves breaking your day into dedicated blocks for specific tasks. This method helps you prioritize and focus on essential activities while avoiding overwhelm. Implementing time-blocking strategies will allow you to do less while achieving more.

If you want to know how to time block your schedule check out this blog post for my step-by-step process. And in this blog post I show you how to use your calendar to take control of your time. 

Prioritize Breaks and Downtime

While powering through the day may seem like the path to success, it hampers productivity and increases the risk of burnout. Taking breaks and downtime are essential aspects of self-care. Incorporate short movement breaks throughout your workday to increase blood flow, energy levels, and overall well-being. Set reminders or alarms to prompt you to get up, stretch, or perform simple exercises.

Scheduling dedicated downtime is equally important. Allow yourself guilt-free time to relax and fully disconnect from work. Plan activities that bring you joy and help you recharge, whether it’s reading a book, going for a walk in nature, or spending quality time with loved ones. Remember, self-care is not selfish; it’s necessary for long-term success.

The key to successfully incorporating breaks and downtime into your routine lies in the creation of healthy boundaries and cultivating self-care habits. It’s common to feel guilty when you first start taking breaks and especially when you start taking downtime. The mean girl inside tells us that we should be doing something more productive. To counteract this self-sabotaging mindset, create and stick to a weekly plan that includes unscheduled downtime and decide what activities bring you joy and help you relax and enjoy them. Remember, it’s crucial to disconnect from work to be fully present in your personal life.

So, how do we make this happen? How do we make room for self-care when you have a lot on your plate? The answer lies in organizing your business and creating efficient systems that can open up more space for self-care.

Create Efficient Systems for Enhanced Self-Care

Efficiency is the key to maintaining a healthy work-life balance and incorporating self-care consistently. Start by organizing and decluttering your physical and digital spaces. A clutter-free environment promotes focus and reduces stress. Implement systems and processes, such as creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to streamline repetitive tasks and delegate effectively.

Set boundaries to protect your time and energy. Clearly define your working hours and communicate them to clients, employees, and collaborators. Establishing boundaries helps prevent burnout and ensures you have dedicated time for self-care activities.

When you have clear systems in place for managing tasks, deadlines, and communications, you become more efficient and are more productive. You spend less time searching for what you need to complete a task, you reduce mistakes and you can accomplish your business goals quicker and more effectively, which frees up valuable time for you to implement some of the self-care activities we talked about.

As a fractional operations manager, my mission is to help you identify areas where you can save time and increase efficiency. Here are some examples of how I have helped my clients streamline their business operations which opened up more time for self-care:

Getting Organized and Creating SOPs: Jodi was experiencing overwhelm and lack of control in her business due to a lack of support and organizational systems. Jodi struggled with the organizational aspect of her business, and her disorganized Google Drive and growing workload were preventing her from growing her business effectively. 

After organizing her Google Drive, creating a clear folder structure, and establishing a system for version control. Jodi was able to delegate many of her administrative tasks to a virtual assistant, freeing up her time to focus on growing her business and practice more self-care. Jodi felt more in control and less overwhelmed, and her business continued to grow. Click here to see what Jodi had to say about her journey.

Practice Mindfulness and Mindset Work

Self-care extends beyond physical actions; it also involves nurturing your mental and emotional well-being. Cultivate mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, to bring awareness to your thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Regular mindfulness practice can reduce stress, increase focus, and improve decision-making.

Additionally, mindset work plays a crucial role in self-care and achieving success on your own terms. Challenge limiting beliefs, embrace a growth mindset, and cultivate self-compassion. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and practice gratitude to shift your perspective and attract more positive experiences.

By prioritizing self-care and implementing these practical steps, you’ll create a solid foundation for sustainable success in your business. Remember, success is not only measured by financial achievements or societal standards. It’s about finding fulfillment, aligning with your values, and taking care of yourself along the way.

Make a commitment to prioritize self-care and define success on your own terms. Embrace the power of self-care and unlock your full potential to take the world by storm.

How Can You Start This Process?

I know you’re probably wondering where you should start this process since this may not be your area of expertise. I have some fantastic news if you are ready to put these tips and strategies into action. 

Inside The MY-T Society Membership is a free five-day challenge called Beach to Business: 5 Day Challenge to Skyrocket Your Fall Growth.

This challenge is designed to help you use the summer slowdown to your advantage in planning and preparing for fall growth. Each day of the challenge contains actionable strategies, tips, and resources to help you implement some of the things we discussed today. And as a bonus, inside the MY-T Society membership, you’ll find even more resources to support your business operations.

Now is the perfect time to seize the opportunity of the summer slow down and transform your business operations in just 30 minutes a week, setting yourself up for a successful and prosperous fall. 

So, are you ready to dive into the Beach to Business Challenge? Join by visiting theshannonbaker.com/membership.

Remember, taking great care of yourself will only lead to greater achievements in your professional life.  I want to remind you that just reading this blog post is not going to improve your business operations or help you invest in yourself more. So I want you to pick one thing you will take action on today and do it. 

I would love to hear which point you’re going to use first! Connect with me on Instagram @the_shannonbaker and share it with me in the DMs. I can’t wait to hear from you!

If you would like to hear the expanded version check out the podcast episode below.

4:44 – The myth that regular self-care is a luxury

6:30 – How to be more intentional with your time

9:01 – Why taking breaks is not an indulgence

13:51 – The key to incorporating downtime into your routine

15:52 – How to streamline your business operations

Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 117 – How to Calm the Chaos In Your Back Office with Jodi Silverman

Episode 132: Productivity Tips for Busy Consultants to Create an Intentional Lifestyle

Episode 133: Top Tips to Master Work-Life Integration with Digital Calendars

Check out the MY-T Society Membership

Let’s connect online 

Follow Me On Instagram: @the_shannonbaker

The post The Power of Self-Care in Business: How to Prioritize and Achieve Success on Your Own Terms appeared first on .

In this blog post, we’ll explore three valuable tips for maximizing productivity during the summer slowdown.

Tip 1: Managing Client Expectations

During the summer, it’s crucial to manage client expectations and communicate clearly about your availability. Outline your business hours from the start and include them in your welcome kit. By doing this, you establish boundaries and protect your time. Consider implementing summer hours, adjusting your schedule to accommodate leisure activities. Communicate these changes to your clients in advance, ensuring everyone is on the same page. This proactive approach sets clear expectations, reduces frustration, and allows for a balanced work-life integration.

Tip 2: Implementing Time-Blocking Techniques

Time blocking is a powerful productivity technique that becomes even more crucial during the summer. Adapt your time blocks to strike a balance between work and play. Shorten your work time slots and allocate more time for relaxation and enjoyment. Click here for more tips to help you time-block your schedule.

Flexibility is key during this season. Additionally, establish simple routines that boost energy and productivity, such as a morning routine or an evening wind-down ritual. These routines set a positive tone, enhance overall well-being, and help you maintain focus and motivation throughout the summer.

Tip 3: Streamlining Business Systems

To maximize productivity, it’s essential to have streamlined business systems in place. Take advantage of the summer slowdown to audit your current systems or implement new ones. Document your processes to create clarity and efficiency. Consider a back-office assessment, which will provide valuable insights into areas for improvement in your back office and you will get a customized action plan. By streamlining your systems, automating tasks, and eliminating bottlenecks, you’ll save time and energy, allowing you to focus on strategic growth and achieving your goals.

In conclusion, the summer slowdown can be a time of increased productivity and growth for your business. By effectively managing client expectations, implementing time-blocking techniques, and streamlining your business systems, you can make the most of this season while achieving your desired outcomes. Embrace the opportunities that the summer slowdown brings and turn it into a launchpad for success.

If you would like to hear the expanded version and learn more about a special offer to help with this entire process, check out the podcast episode below.

2:31 – The importance of getting comfortable with taking time off

3:47 – How to manage client expectations and set boundaries

5:24 – The power of time blocking as a productivity technique

7:37 – The part systems play in productivity

9:51 – A secret weapon to supercharge your progress

Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 117 – How to Calm the Chaos In Your Back Office with Jodi Silverman

Episode 123 – 6 Basic Systems Every Business Needs to Be Efficient and Profitable

Episode 132 – Productivity Tips for Busy Consultants to Create an Intentional Lifestyle

Book Your Back Office Assessment

Let’s connect online 

Connect With Me On Instagram: @the_shannonbaker

The post 3 Tips for Maximizing Productivity During the Summer Slowdown appeared first on .

Start By Improving Your Time Management

The first step is to identify time-wasters and inefficiencies in your day-to-day life and business operations. Consider creating an “ideal week” schedule, mapping out how you’d like to spend your time. Be sure to block time for client work, business development, and self-care.

How to Pick the Right Priorities

Prioritizing tasks, staying organized, and avoiding distractions are key to effective time management. Start by reviewing your calendar for the next 90 days and identifying any personal events or commitments that will impact your work schedule. This will help you identify the season your life is in right now and over the next 90 days and pick a goal that fits that season. After you have identified your goal, create an action plan and make a daily to-do list to keep you focused.

How to Overcome Perfectionism

Start by embracing a “progress over perfection” mindset. Set realistic expectations and learn to delegate tasks to others. This will free up your time so you can focus on the revenue-generating tasks and projects. But before you do that, you need to have standard operating procedures in place. You can also consider booking a Solo POWER Assessment to help identify the areas of your business operations that need improvement.

How to Create a Manageable Life and Business

Establish better routines and clear boundaries between work and business. Create daily, weekly, and monthly routines for completing your personal and business tasks. Focus on consistency with planning and doing less every day, and you can stay organized and focused and get more accomplished.

In conclusion, it takes practice to build new habits, so be patient with yourself. Consider joining the MY-T Society to get access to exclusive goal-setting worksheets and resources to help you be more productive. 

Alternatively, book a back office assessment with me to identify the gaps in your operations that need to be fixed, and I can help you fix them. With the right time management strategies and productivity tips, you can create a well-structured business that supports your lifestyle.

If you would like to hear the expanded version, check out the podcast episode below.

3:19 – How to identify time wasters and inefficiencies

5:07 – How to pick the right priorities

8:25 – Setting realistic expectations for yourself

10:09 – How to make your business and life manageable

12:05 – How to transform the way your business operates

Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 127 – What Happens During a Back Office Assessment

Episode 132 – Productivity Tips for Busy Consultants to Create an Intentional Lifestyle

Episode 133 – Top Tips to Master Work-Life Integration with Digital Calendars

Check out the MY-T Society Membership

Book Your Back Office Assessment

Let’s connect online 

Connect With Me On Instagram: @the_shannonbaker

The post Unleashing Your Potential: Time Management Strategies for Creative Entrepreneurs appeared first on .

Did you know that if you slow down you can actually speed up business growth and get better results? You may think you don’t have the time to slow down, but let me tell you… you can’t afford NOT to slow down. Intentionally slowing down will actually allow you to move toward your goals faster and more effectively.

When you’re running a business as a team of one, you wear multiple hats . You also have a never ending list of tasks to complete. You’re constantly moving from a meeting to a phone call. Sometimes never even taking a break to grab something to eat. Not even drinking water.

This is a recipe for overwhelm and burnout. 

So today I want to talk about what you need to do instead to avoid this course of self-sabotage that you’re on. It’s something very simple…just slow things down. 

Alright, so let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room, why you need to slow down. You are never going to find yourself having extra time on your hands. So I have to be honest with you my friend, you will always have something that you need to do. That’s probably why you probably find yourself saying you don’t have time to do this or that and you can’t slow down. Are you shaking your head yes right now?

Well first of all you need to stop saying you can’t slow down in business. That is mind trash, as my friend Jasmin Haley would say. When you say this you are convincing yourself that you don’t have time to plan, to learn, or to take better care of yourself… all of the things you need to do to be productive and to grow your business. If you stop and think about it, you are self-sabotaging! Now let’s dig a little deeper into the impact this has on you and your business. 

Slow Down and Plan

I know you’ve heard the saying if you fail to plan you plan to fail. When you don’t plan out your week you’re in reactive mode. It’s like jumping out of a plane without a parachute. So you will be busy but you will be doing a lot of stuff that won’t help you get closer to reaching your goals. 

So before you say you don’t have time to plan, let me tell you that you can’t afford not to. When you make time to plan your week and then plan out your days, you actually get more done and have more time. Not to mention you know what you spent your time on! You are in control of how you use your time. Personally I time block my schedule and I leave white room for when life throws me a curve ball. Be sure to check out this blog post to learn more about how I plan out my week. 

And if you would like some tips that will help you adjust your schedule when Murphy’s Law kicks in and throws your plan off, click here to check out this blog post or listen online. It’s my chat with Mridu Parik. She shares some amazing tips during our chat! 

My point is when you don’t plan, you aren’t productive and you’re basically spending your time putting out fires. If your goal is to be productive, to show up and do your best work, then you need to plan. When you don’t plan, you can’t leverage time to get the necessary things done. The lesson here is you have to plan so that you control what you spend the time that you have on. Otherwise you miss out on a lot of opportunities to do things that will yield positive results not only for your business. But also for you personally because you make sure you invest in yourself physically, mentally and professionally. That leads to my next point. 

Slow Down and Make Time for Professional Development

How many times have you said these words? “I wish I had more time for professional development.”  At one point I found myself saying that. And it wasn’t until I made the time to make it happen that my business started to grow the way I wanted. When you say I wish I had the time, it shifts the responsibility off of you and onto something else. But you have to own it. It’s not happening because you aren’t making it a priority. Wishing for extra time isn’t going to make it a reality. The reality is you have to plan, as we’ve already talked about. And then you can find a way to make it happen. 

The good thing is that you can learn in a number of ways. It doesn’t require you to always sit behind a laptop taking an online course or even going to a physical location. You can learn from listening as well whether it’s an audiobook or by listening to podcasts like you’re doing right now. 

You chose to hit the play button today! That means you had a plan. 

So be intentional with everything you have to do in your life and in your business. When you plan out your week, incorporate professional development in a way that makes sense for you. And when I say do what makes sense, I mean focus on building skill sets that you need. For example, as a podcaster I use a number of tools to plan and produce each episode. So I try to stay up to date on those tools that I use. I get updates via email and I follow a few people online that are experts at using those tools so I can learn how to use those tools more efficiently.

When I plan out my week, I block at least 15 minutes one to two times a week so that I can focus on building up my skills with my tech tools. It doesn’t sound like a lot but it has made a huge difference in my operations. Even if you have decided to outsource tasks, there are some basic skills that you need to have to make sure your systems are efficient. You can’t outsource that.

Now if you are a DIYer like me, that’s ok. There are some very talented and successful people who are self-taught. But even those people have to get help to shorten the learning curve sometimes so that they can be better. When we teach ourselves we can put blinders on. When you reach out to a business coach or a consultant for help, they have a different perspective which can be very helpful so that you keep moving forward. But if you never start the learning

process you will never identify what you need help with and you will end up spinning your wheels. The long term effect, this stunts your growth and we don’t want that to happen. 

Slow Down and Take Better Care of Yourself

Whether you’re new to this podcast or not, let me tell you I am big on self-care. And I’m not talking about big ticket things like getting a massage or a day at the spa. When I say self-care I’m talking about little things you can do every day that fill your cup as a busy woman. These are things that can be done in 5 minutes or more like having a cup of coffee or tea, looking out the window, stepping outside for fresh air or taking a break to eat. I’ve talked about different things you can do to take better care of yourself in several episodes so I’m not going to deep dive into it this time. But I will put a few episodes below for you so that you can check them out.

Now let’s talk about why this is important. Think about it, what happens to your business or your family if you are down for the count? I admire you because you’re putting them first but you also need to carve out time to put you first. This reminds me of the scene from My Best Friend’s Wedding when Jules calls her friend George and she’s chasing Michael in the catering truck. Michael is chasing Kimmy who ran away because she saw Jules and Michael kissing after she confessed her love to him. So Jules is explaining everything to George and he asks her an eye opening question so that she could see the truth. George asked Jules who was chasing her? No one was!

My point…don’t be like Jules. Pull back some of the time you spend taking care of everyone else and everything else and take better care of yourself. This also goes for your business. You need to be your number one client. Invest in yourself to show up at your best. 

So let’s recap how you can slow down to speed up your business growth. 

• Start by planning out your week and your day so that you can maximize use of the time that you have
• Prioritize professional development and enhance your skills which benefits your business
• Make time to take care of yourself because there is no business without you

Before I wrap up, I just want to remind you that nothing will change for you or your business if you don’t make any changes which starts with your viewpoint.  I hope this episode was the reminder you needed and has motivated you to make a mindset shift because you need to slow down. 

And let me tell you, I practice what I preach. That’s why I am excited to let you know that starting with April 2022, I will only plan to release two episodes each month. I will only be publishing episodes on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. I’ve been consistent every week for two years now. And I have decided to slow down the podcast publishing schedule to open up time in my schedule so that I can focus on some other things that will help my business grow, podcast support services. 

If you have any questions about those services, something I said in this episode or you just enjoyed this episode, feel free to DM on Instagram @the_shannonbaker. If you want to leave a rating for the podcast you can do so at ratethispodcast.com/morethanenough or you can leave one on the podcast’s Facebook page.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 4: How to Time Block Your Schedule to Boost Productivity

Episode 5: 4 Simple Self-Care Hacks for the Tired and Burnt Out Mompreneur

Episode 23: Do you want to boost your productivity? Use These 3 Steps to Create A Flexible Morning Routine!

Episode 49: Simple Self-Care Habits Busy Women Can Cultivate with Rachel Letham

Episode 87: How to Create Sustainable Healthy Habits as a Busy Mom with Lisa Klein

Episode 90: How to Create a Flexible Plan That Still Works When Life Throws You a Curve Ball with Mridu Parikh

Episode 92: An Easy Way to Show Yourself More Love Every Day

Episode 99: A Forgotten Form of Self-care You Need to Be More Productive

The post How to Slow Down to Speed Up Business Growth appeared first on .

Let me start by saying yes, you need more self-care in your life. Whether you are new to working from home or have been doing so for years, I’m sure you’ll agree that sometimes it’s hard to be productive. Part of the reason is because the line that divides your home life and your business is invisible. That’s mostly because you’re always in the same location. That’s why self-care is more important than ever before. 

And if you find yourself working a crazy amount of hours all the time, that is having a negative impact on your health on multiple levels. You may be finding it hard to focus, you may feel sluggish, and tired all of the time. Why? It’s because you’re always connected either on your laptop, tablet or phone. So what can you do to reverse these adverse effects of being “ON ” all the time?

The short answer is you need to set up some boundaries and you need to stick to them. But that’s not what I’m going to be talking about today. I know that probably surprised you since I talk about boundaries all the time. Now if you want some help setting and sticking to your boundaries, I have some blog posts that can help you with that. I talk about setting and communication boundaries with your clients in the blog post Business Boundaries You Need to Protect What’s Important to You and how to do the same with your family in this blog post, Summer Survival Tips for Working Moms.

I know you’re scratching your head wondering what I am going to talk about today. It’s nothing new, but it’s something that is often overlooked. And it’s an easy way to practice self-care every single day. You simply need to take breaks AND you need to enjoy some downtime. We’re going to talk about the difference between the two and why you need both of them in your life. That’s right, I said you need both of them and they are different which I will talk about later. Let’s talk about taking breaks first. 

You Need to Take Breaks

Not taking breaks throughout the day is actually decreasing your productivity. Not to mention it’s a surefire way to end up overwhelmed and burnt out. Breaks give your brain a chance to rest and re-set. Plus your eyes need a break from the bluelight that is limited from the computer screens. With more people working from home and being on Zoom more than ever over the past two years, more and more people are having to wear glasses. And others are experiencing headaches and dry eyes. It’s all from too much screen time. Taking breaks can help with that.

So what you need to do is cultivate the habit of taking breaks. When you come back from a break, you will feel refreshed and ready to tackle the next priority for the day or to resume work where you left off. This starts by you actually planning out your week. 

I time block my schedule every week. So I break down my time blocks into 2 hour increments. Every 1.5-2 hours I take a 10-15 minute break. Then every 4 hours I take a 30 minute break except I take an hour for lunch. But this doesn’t mean I sit in my chair for two hours. I try to make it a habit to get up every hour and just move around for a minute or two. My Apple watch helps me remember to do that which I love! If you want to know my step by step process for time blocking my schedule, check out this blog post.

No matter how you plan your week make sure you arrange your day so that you can enjoy regular breaks to eat, go to the bathroom and just to get out of the chair, away from the screen and to move around. My recommendation is that you take at least 10 minutes. Why not 5 minutes? Because 5 minutes or less really isn’t enough time for your brain to reset itself. But also be careful not to make your break too long. If your break is too long, you start to relax and then it’s hard to get your brain to re-engage. Then your break cost you more time and productivity than it actually helped with.

So this is an area you have to play with to see what works for you. Just be sure to write it into your schedule so you physically see it. And if there is a certain time of the day that you find your energy level starts to drop, then try to plan a break around that time. I know this happens for me around 2:30 or so. So I usually fix myself an afternoon coffee or get a light snack around this time which amounts to a 10 minute break. Do what works for you!

Now what you may have to do to create the habit is set alarms on your phone. I know that’s what I had to do for a while to create the habit. I had an alarm set to take lunch at the same time every day. Now my body is trained and I have an internal alarm that let’s me know when it’s time to eat. 

Now let’s talk about the importance of enjoying downtime. 

You Need to Schedule Downtime 

What exactly is downtime? Simply put, it is time when you can relax without guilt. The great thing about downtime is it can be an hour, two hours, half a day, a week or a month. Basically, it’s however much time you decide to take to do something that refreshes you and allows you to enjoy the moment and add to your joy. You should feel refreshed when it ends.

Here’s an example. Fridays for me are designated for podcast tasks only. When I first started having guests on the podcast, my calendar was open for guest chats every Friday. After some time, this really left me drained. I would have 1-2 chats scheduled every Friday in addition to the other tasks I needed to complete. This was not sustainable but I didn’t know how to shift my schedule and still get things done. 

Then I was a part of the Purpose Driven Mom summit. One of the speakers suggested we schedule unplanned time blocks in our schedule. So I changed my schedule and I only do guest chats every other Friday. The other two Fridays I work until 12 and the afternoon is open for me to do what I want. Sometimes I put my feet up and binge watch one of my favorite shows. Other days I get in a workout because I missed one during the week. Then I have days that I just let myself lose track of time while scrolling on social media. My point, I schedule unscheduled down time regularly. This includes weekends, holidays and vacations. 

How is this different from a break? Well both are forms of self-care and both are the maintenance habits you need so that you don’t burnout. But a break is just a quick pause that doesn’t cause a big interruption in your productivity. Downtime on the other hand means you are deliberately not working. That way you can be in the best shape spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically and therefore are more productive. It’s how you are able to operate at your optimum capacity. 

Think about this, we live in the tech age where tons of machines and computers are used to do a lot of things. But they can’t run without maintenance. So to make sure they are operating at it’s best. Companies schedule downtime when it’s a holiday, weekend or after hours so that productivity isn’t reduced. This is when they perform routine maintenance, install upgrades, and remove/replace any parts or equipment that aren’t working.

Now both breaks and downtime are important because our bodies need rest. But we tend to avoid downtime because we’re programmed into thinking that we’re wasting time. We may set out to just relax and binge watch something, but then that mean girl inside says you should be doing something else. And even if you ignore her, you feel guilty after the fact and think of all the things you could have gotten so much done, right? 

So what you have to do to combat this self-sabotaging thinking is create your plan for the week, include some unscheduled down time and then plan what you are going to do during that time. But I don’t want it to be anything related to your business. I want you to look around the house and pick something that you have wanted to clean up for a long time. But you can’t spend more than 30 minutes on that task. Notice I didn’t say you need to complete that task. What you do is set a timer, work for 30 minutes and you stop. Then I want you to have a positive chat with yourself and acknowledge that you have made progress on that task. Now you can use the rest of your time to do whatever your heart desires.

The point is, you need to be adding breaks and downtime into your schedule every day and it doesn’t have to be a special occasion. The goal of you scheduling these rest periods is to create that boundary between work time and personal time. The lines don’t need to be blurred between work and home just because you’re working from home. You simply need to disconnect from one to be present in the other and that’s why you need to set and commit to your boundaries. 

Being intentional about how you use your time will help you have the time and energy you need to reconnect to what matters most to you and that changes.  But if you don’t develop the habit of unplugging, you’re going to burn out and I don’t want that to happen. 

So starting tomorrow I want you to identify a time every day that you can just pause for 5 minutes without any technology. Try that for a week and slowly increase your time. Then you will look forward to those breaks which will prepare you to schedule and enjoy more downtime.  

Now I want to know that you did this. So DM me on Instagram @the_shannonbaker and let me know what you did on your break. I can’t wait to see what you do. And if you need some ideas, I can help you with that too! I look forward to hearing from you!

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Have you ever embarked on a weight loss journey? It’s hard right? I’ve been on one for almost two years so I know you have to be patient with the process. It hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to make some mindset changes, make adjustments in my life and put in some hard work. But it has been worth it!

The truth is, I know this struggle is not going to go away. I’m almost 50 years old and my metabolism is NOT working with me. Personally I feel like it’s a conspiracy! But there doesn’t seem to be too much I can do about it except put in the work to get results. 

And let me tell you, I remember when this struggle wasn’t this hard. Just six years ago I was the healthiest I had ever been (153 lbs, 28.6% body fat, 29.5” waist). I look back at pictures and wonder what happened to that body. Then I remember all the things that happened in life that diverted my attention from caring for myself. 

Well, life happened and over time my workout routine became a distant memory. Now I weigh over 200 lbs. And let’s just say I’m happy the other stats are going down, but they aren’t moving fast enough. So when I was ready to make a change, I knew I had to start by developing healthier habits. But even before that, I had to do some mindset work.

So when I slowed down and took a good look at all the things and all the moving pieces, I realized that I was putting myself last. That was hurting my business, hurting my family and more importantly it was holding me back from the things within my reach because I didn’t have the energy I needed to get things done. But over the past few years I’ve been focusing more and more on taking care of myself because after all, I can’t take care of anyone else if I break down.

So I decided that I was going to do something every day to invest in myself. To create this habit I chose two simple things I could do. I started with 15 minutes of morning time just for me and drinking more water. These two simple self-care practices help me prepare mentally, emotionally and spiritually for the day ahead. I was determined that nothing was going to get in the way of my little slice of me time. So I started getting up at least 30 minutes before my husband in the morning. That way the house would be quiet. 

Now at first I struggled to just sit and enjoy the quiet. I felt like I should be doing something else. I felt guilty because I wasn’t. After just sitting and enjoying my cup of coffee without my phone or anything else, I realized I was more centered. I was also more at peace and more aware of what I needed to be happy. 

So after I ignored the mean girl in my head enough, she stopped talking. And that’s when I was able to really create a better morning routine. And the best part is it’s flexible! Some days I only have 15 minutes and others I have an hour. No matter how much time I have, it fills my cup up for the day. If you want to know how I created my morning routine, check out this blog post.

Weight Loss Journey Lesson #1

I must invest in myself on a daily basis and it DOES NOT have to be big and elaborate things. Sticking to my morning routine has enabled me to regularly read my Bible and meditate on what I read . I’m also able to get in professional development in small increments which has been tremendously helpful. So small things matter! 

And as for drinking more water, I had to take baby steps. It meant cutting back on my coffee consumption. If you’re new to the podcast then I confess, I am obsessed with coffee and can drink it all day long. So I invested in a 64 ounce bottle in my favorite color and for a while I was doing great. I even moved up a gallon sized bottle but then I crashed and burned because it was too much water. 

I was chatting with Lisa Klein about it. She recommended I keep a bottle of water by my bed and start drinking before I have my coffee. So when I first heard this, I frowned my face up of course because nothing used to touch my lips before water, other than my toothbrush. But I decided to just give it a try to see if it would help, and it did! Now I have 24 ounces before I have my coffee in the morning. And by the end of the day I drink 74 ounces total and that does not include sparkling water. So changing my mindset and my routine worked and I have another healthy habit! 

Weight Loss Journey Lesson #2

I have to be willing to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. It has been key to me making progress with weight loss and developing healthy habits. 

The next hurdle for me was figuring out how to get in more movement. I was conditioned to think that exercise had to be 30 minutes or more. And I’m an all or nothing type of girl. So if I couldn’t get that in, I would skip my workouts which just held me back. But then I met Jennifer Nagel who is absolutely amazing!

She helped me understand that if I couldn’t get in 30 minutes of exercise at one time that I needed to break it up into smaller increments.  So again, I took baby steps. The first move I made July 2020 was to get an Apple Watch. I set a goal to get in at least 4,000 steps a day. To help me get in some strength training, I would do 1 minute sets on my stepper holding 4 lb weights in my hands. 

And let me tell you about this Apple Watch in case you don’t have one. It was hard to get up every hour like my watch reminded me and to close all three rings which are calories burned, minutes of exercise and the number of times you stand. But every day I focused on beating myself. Once I got used to 4,000 steps, I increased my goal to 5,000 steps and kept moving it up. Now I get in 8,000 steps or more just about every day.

If you haven’t seen the pattern yet, the key is to take baby steps and to focus on habit stacking. As I got comfortable with one goal, I set another goal. I love seeing the number of steps I’ve taken at the end of the day. It motivates me to do the same or even better the next day. Little steps turn into bigger action. 

Weight Loss Journey Lesson #3

I don’t have to do this alone. I’m glad I was able to find a community and a fitness expert that could help me reach my goals. And they are based on my lifestyle without crazy diets and a crazy amount of exercise.

I know your health and fitness is really important to you and your success. Otherwise you wouldn’t be listening to this episode. There is a lot of information out there about how to get and stay in shape. A lot of it doesn’t work because it doesn’t make sense for us at this stage in our lives. We need solutions that make sense for our crazy schedules. Right?!

I can’t imagine having the life that I have now without the elements of self care I’ve shared and more. And I don’t do diets or take bubble baths. I’m talking about taking care of my health in a very intentional way with movement. Eating in a way that honors my health. The best part, I get to eat all of the things I want (within reason) and I didn’t have to give up wine. I’ve just learned how to balance it all out to still get results. 

That’s why I continue to recommend my friend Jennifer Nagel’s free masterclass called Maximize Fat Loss Even with a Busy Schedule*. In this masterclass you’re going to learn: ⁠⁠

The big mistakes that you’re making (that you probably don’t even realize)⁠

How to eat MORE food without gaining weight

How to turn your body into a calorie burning machine⁠

A simple system to stop dieting and hit your fitness and fat loss goals for good

And I absolutely love the long-term health model that she shared because it aligns with the mindset of long-term self care. Jennifer really knows her stuff. She has nearly a decade of experience coaching women and has been featured in POPSUGAR Fitness, MyFitnessPal, Vital Proteins and is a featured fitness expert for Well + Good. You can watch it ANYTIME! So you can watch it during your morning “me” time or after everyone else in your house is asleep. Or you can create a “meeting” on your calendar and watch it then. Click here to check out the masterclass. If you want to read or listen to my chat with Jennifer, click here.

And my friend Lisa Klein has also been on the podcast and shared some tips that will help you create even more healthy habits AND she shares tips that will simplify meal planning for you. Click here to check that out.

So let me recap the three lessons that I’ve learned on my weight loss journey.

Lesson #1 –  I must invest in myself on a daily basis and it DOES NOT have to be big and elaborate things

Lesson #2 – Be willing to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. It can mean the difference between your success or failure.

Lesson #3 – You don’t have to take this journey alone. Partner with someone that can help you reach your goals based on your lifestyle.

if you would like to connect with me to ask me questions or just for support, feel free to DM me on Instagram or we can connect inside of my Facebook group. I love the women in my community and they help me stay focused in life and in my business. Click here to join.

*This post contains an affiliate link. There is no extra cost to you and if you decide to join this program I may earn a commission. 

If you would like to hear the audio version of this post, feel free to listen to episode 89 on your favorite platform below.

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The hustle mentality is a sure way to end up with burnout. But there’s an increase in the number of people who feel this is the only way to succeed as a business owner. I’m anti-hustle because it is not sustainable. 

The word “Hustle” usually means you are overworked, stressed out, burning the candle at both ends, and doing everything you can to get ahead. The problem is that that usually doesn’t happen, not to mention it just isn’t healthy.

I am growing my business while working a day job. I’m all about having a side business that generates some extra income and helps you achieve the success you desire. But this is your business! That means you control who you work with, how much you work, and how much you charge for your work. And you can achieve success on your own terms without adopting the hustle mindset.

I’m at a point in my life where I carve out time to care for my parents as they get older. Sometimes this means driving them to doctor appointments and doing some shopping with my mom or for my mom. She’s the primary caregiver for my dead who has some health issues. But I also have a family of my own to take care of, not to mention taking care of myself which I have gotten much better at. 

I arrange my business to support what is most important to me which is my faith and my family. The hustle mentality doesn’t leave room for me to maintain my sanity, practice self-care, and do all the other things that must come first. 

So here are three things I do to help me maintain a mentally sustainable business that you can do too.

Set goals to achieve your dreams not anyone else’s 

Don’t let anyone else tell you what your business goals including your revenue goals should be. You’re creating a lifestyle business right? So who knows your lifestyle better than you? Nobody! 

So you have my permission to determine what success means to you. Then you must make sure the way your business operates supports that. What you need to know about this is that changing how you measure your success starts with changing your mindset. Check out the blog post How to Measure Success When Building a Lifestyle Business if you want a simple process to help you define your own success.

Automate Tasks with Systems and Delegate What You Can

You can’t do it all yourself and you don’t have to. It takes a lot to build a business that supports your lifestyle opposed to one that controls your life. To make sure your business isn’t running you, make sure you create systems with automation. There are ways to automate a number of tasks. This will give you time to do other things that you enjoy. Whether it’s spending time with your family, showing yourself some love, taking time off, or working on your business. And you can create systems with tools that are FREE.

There are six core systems I recommend for every solopreneur whether you are just starting your business or not. Here are two blog posts to help you with that.

3 Sexy Systems You Need for Startup Success

3 Systems You Need in Your Sustainable Growth Strategy

Now I am a realist and let me tell you, you can’t automate everything. After you create systems, you need to decide if you want to delegate any tasks. This applies to your personal life and your business. We all have things that we are great at. And there are other things that someone else can do faster and better. So don’t be afraid to delegate tasks that aren’t your strengths. Even if they are your strengths, sometimes you need to delegate them to save time. That way you can focus on things that only you can do to grow your business. 

To save time on personal tasks, get your groceries delivered. Set your family to pitch in and help out around the house. And accept help when someone offers it. When it comes to delegating business tasks, make sure your business is ready. Or that will create more problems than you can imagine. If you want some help with this process, start by getting systems in place. This blog post series will help you get prepared to outsource successfully.

Part 1: Debunking the Myths About Hiring a VA

Part 2: 3 Mistakes I Made When Hiring A VA and How You Can Avoid Them

Part 3: 3 Ways to Successfully Partner With a Virtual Assistant

Take breaks without feeling guilty

We’ve been through a lot over the past 18 months. Girl, you deserve some time off so don’t be afraid to take time even if it’s just to do NOTHING. Yes, even if it’s to do absolutely NOTHING. Read a book all day, binge watch something, paint, draw, take a long soak in the tub. My point is you need to do whatever you need to do to fill your cup up. Repeat this as often as your mind and body need it. That is what self-care is all about and you need to do it regularly.

Now how can you get your clients on board so they respect your boundaries and respect your time. Communicate your boundaries to them very clearly from the beginning. And as for existing clients, it’s never too late to re-train them. You just have to clearly communicate your boundaries with them as well. In the blog post Business Boundaries You Need to Protect What’s Important to You, I share three steps you can take to set boundaries, communicate them and stick to them. That way you can grow your business and enjoy life on your terms. 

So I’m going to recap the three things you can do to cancel the hustle mentality and create sustainable success. 

Set goals to achieve your dreams not anyone else’s 

It’s your business which you created to support your lifestyle. So don’t let anyone else tell you what you need to do to achieve what they determine is success. You get to choose and work your business in a way that supports that. 

Automate Tasks with Systems and Delegate What You Can

Superman only exists in cartoons and movies. So stop trying to do everything yourself. Create business systems with automation to complete tasks for you. For things that you can’t automate, delegate to others and be open to letting others help you.

Take breaks without feeling guilty

You work hard and you deserve some down time. If you don’t take care of yourself you won’t be available to care for anyone else. So start by putting boundaries around your business, communicating those to your clients and sticking to them. That way when you are supposed to be resting, your time will be respected. 

If you’re looking to connect with other women who have ditched the hustle mentality, then I would love to have you inside my Facebook community. We’re a group of busy women building our businesses to support our lifestyle. I brainstorm with them and bounce ideas off of them which helps me get clarity. With their support, I feel empowered and excited as I grow my business and become a better woman, business owner and podcaster. If this sounds like something you’re looking for then feel free to join.

If you enjoyed listening to this post and are ready to ditch the hustle mentality, please let me know! Send me a DM on Instagram @the_shannonbaker. I would love to hear from you!  

If you would like to hear the audio version of this post, feel free to listen to episode 85 on your favorite platform below.

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Here’s the truth about achieving goals that change your life, small steps matter.

Reaching big goals takes dedication, focus, a good plan and hard work which often stops us from even getting started. Sometimes we start off strong in our effort to reach that big goal and we quickly become overwhelmed because we are missing some vital pieces. Then we get derailed and we give up.  

This approach to goal setting leads to overwhelm and procrastination because it’s not sustainable. So consider a completely different approach. Think about the story of the tortoise and the hare. The moral of that story is you can be more successful by doing things slowly and steadily than by acting quickly and carelessly.

And when it comes to goal setting, don’t separate your personal and business goals. They need to be aligned and your plan needs to incorporate them both.

Most of us create big bold goals WITHOUT taking the time to create a plan and we don’t understand the steps that go into each phase of the journey to achieve that goal. But you should plan to take small steps and iron out small yet extremely important details so that you can take those small steps without being overwhelmed. 

If you would like to know my three step process for picking goals and creating a simple plan with small steps, then be sure to check out this blog post.

Now let’s talk about how small steps matter when trying to reach those big goals!

Identify Small Steps That Will Move You Closer to Your Big Goal

This is going to require you to change your mindset. We tend to think we either have to go after big things OR we have to take small steps.  Stop thinking either or because the two go hand in hand. When you focus on taking small steps every day you end up making a considerable amount of progress. 

This was a mindset shift that I had to make when it comes to health and fitness. I talked about this with Jennifer Nagel of Figured Out Fitness. Click here for the details.

“Sometimes we have this all or nothing mentality where if we can’t do it perfectly then we can’t do it at all.”

So I started with focusing on making sure I increased my movement throughout the day. So with the help of my Apple Watch I made sure I got up once every hour and did one minute walk breaks. Then I increased my activity by using hand weights during my breaks and started to increase my water intake. After focusing on being consistent with these habits, I get in over 5k steps every day and I drink 90-128 ounces of water almost every day and I feel great because I see my progress!

My big goal is to set a good example for my family so that we all live a healthier lifestyle. Now I’m four months into this journey and my family is starting to get on board. We take walks together outside when weather permits and we all drink more water and we like it!

To see my progress I track my daily habits in my paper planner and with a fitness app. So each day I look at my numbers in my planner and my goal is to beat myself! And no matter what, this helps me see that the small steps matter.

Celebrate Your Small Wins

A small win is anything you successfully accomplish even though you weren’t sure you could do it.

The best part is that you get to define what a small win is for you. Someone else may look at what you’ve accomplished and think it’s no big deal but that small win has changed your life. 

If you feel happy because you were finally able to do that small thing that you have struggled with for a long time, then get excited about it!

One of my mentors encouraged me to create a wall of wins in my office. You should do the same thing!

Every time I complete something that moves my business forward, I write it on a sticky note and put it on my wall. Some of the notes say I published 25 podcast episodes, I published 50 episodes, I have 1,000 downloads, I planned my social media content one month in advance.

Now these may not be wins to someone else because they measure success differently. I know my struggles behind the mic and behind the laptop…so they are wins to me and I made sure I shared them online. They make me feel good and no one can take that away from me.

Looking for other women that will celebrate your small wins with you?

Find Your Tribe Online

Behind every successful woman is a tribe of women who choose collaboration over competition. And that’s exactly how I view the ladies inside of my Facebook community!  I brainstorm with them and bounce ideas off of them which helps me get clarity. With their support, I feel empowered and excited as I grow my business and become a better woman, business owner and podcaster. If you would like to join, there is a link in the show notes. 

This simple mindset shift will help you be more confident in yourself so you can reach your goals in your personal life and in your business. Slow progress is better than no progress. So move forward at your own pace and don’t forget to celebrate along the way!

If you would like to hear the expanded audio version of these tips, be sure to check out episode 55 of the podcast. Tune in on your favorite platform by clicking one of the links below.

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It’s time you stop wearing busy as a badge of honor! There is a big difference between being busy and being productive. So get ready to ditch the popular “HUSTLE” mentality!

We need to break the cycle of the “hustle mentality” because it’s keeping you busy but you’re not getting any results from all of the energy you are using and you aren’t getting things done that help your business grow so you’re frustrated. But I’m going to help you change that!

Why do people seem to take so much pride in saying how busy they are anyway? It’s almost like people are competing over bragging rights for who is the busiest.

It seems to me that people feel business is a badge of honor that means you are important and successful. You don’t have to be busy to be important and successful people aren’t always busy. 

So really, it’s a mindset shift that we need to make. We need to talk about being more productive and getting things done. My goal is to influence as many women as possible and get them out of the “hustle hard” mentality and help them adapt to a more balanced way of living. So where does this process start?

Step 1: Put Boundaries Around Your Schedule

Before I started time blocking my schedule, I wore busy as a badge of honor. But at the end of the day, I felt like I had accomplished nothing and I was always wondering where my day went. Time blocking has changed that and I get much more accomplished without having a never ending to-do list. 

Time blocking forces you to limit the number of tasks you work on and determine how long it will take to complete it to place it on your schedule and get it done. And since your priorities are constantly changing, this method will help you keep up with things so they don’t fall through the cracks.

For more detailed steps to help you try time blocking, check out this blog post.

Step 2 : Make Time for More Important Things

You didn’t start your business so you would have little to no time for yourself or your family. More than likely it was to work less and live more. Right?!

“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn

 You need to decide where you are going to spend your time. There are some automatic priorities that are set like, the hours you work your day job, the time you take the kids to dance, gymnastics, piano lessons or whatever extra activities they participate in…you get my drift. Where you spend the time that is left is up to you. We make time for what is important to us. So arrange your days so that you can focus on what is important to you.

Priorities changes and that is ok!

No one else can tell you how to manage your time because no one else lives your life. And honestly, I don’t know one single person that doesn’t struggle with this. Life is constantly changing and so are our priorities. So remain flexible and stick to your core values. Embrace the season of life you are in and create goals that compliment that. Then based on all the things going on in your life, determine what you will realistically have time to focus on in your business. This is one thing that if achieved, will make everything else easier. Ignore what is going on in everyone else’s life. And create a plan that allows you to take small steps that have impact.

Step 3: Create Routines In Your Life

This step goes hand in hand with step 2. It’s a struggle for us to prioritize our health, routinely spend quality time with our husbands and children, make time for personal growth and grow a business. That’s why we need routines to help us get things done more efficiently. 

One routine that sets the tone for me is my morning routine. Starting the day with intention puts us in a state of mental peace and we’re ready to take on whatever lies ahead in the day with less side effects. Not to mention a lot of what we do is automatic and helps us conserve energy. So why not create a process that helps you connect more deeply with yourself and your purpose. Check out this post if you would like tips to help you create your own.

Then there’s my evening routine. Mine helps me sleep through the night and wake up refreshed in the morning to start my morning routine! And because my day is planned out, I can hit the ground running because I know what I need to focus on to be productive. 

Having a routine before you go to bed at night will help you unwind and get mentally prepared for the next day. It will also help you disconnect from work and get a good night’s rest. Check out this blog post for a few ideas that you can use to create one for yourself.

In a nutshell, if you’re truly happy with being so busy all the time, then forget everything I’ve said. But you need to be honest with yourself about the lifestyle you want. Either way, be about how much you take on at one time. 

Don’t adopt the hustle mentality. Be intentional about how you spend your time and work smarter so you build a thriving business AND have time off to spend however you want.

If you would like to hear the audio version of this episode, be sure to check out episode 54 of the podcast. Tune in on your favorite platform by clicking one of the links below.

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Simple self-care habits are easy to cultivate. But you’re probably thinking, I don’t have time for it!

The truth is, all you need is five minutes! Self-care can mean something different to each of us. And no matter what you do, it needs to refill your cup so you can continue to take care of everyone else. 

So exactly how can you cultivate better self-care habits when you have a demanding schedule? That’s what my chat with Rachel Letham was all about.

Rachel shared tips that will help you cultivate some simple self-care habits based on the season your life is in. She works with women who are already on a personal development journey but they help to boost their momentum to achieve their goals.

“Everything that I do has kind of what I like to call a sprinkling of self-care or the backdrop of well being alongside it.“

– Rachel Letham

How can you make time for self care even when you’re busy?

We all have the same amount of time. It’s what we do with it, that counts. So instead of scrolling through social media and binge watching on Netflix, you could be doing something else even if just for five minutes.

Start to build in some really positive powerful habits. It’s actually about deciding what you want to do with your time and how you can nourish yourself in that time.

As a new mom, Rachel mentioned she knows that she needs to do certain things in order to be able to be that best new mom for her baby boy.

So it’s about setting priorities as well. Understanding how you can best build some self care habits that you want to do, not that you think you should be doing. This allows you to leverage your time even if you’ve just got the smallest amount of time.

“Self-care is giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you.” – Katie Reed

What small self-care habits can you cultivate?

It doesn’t have to be about taking a bubble bath and locking the door and being in there for an hour. It can be small things that don’t necessarily take too much time or too much money.

Focus on doing the things that you want to do. So it might be that in a certain week, you want to do more of one activity. And then when you’ve done with that for a bit of time, think about more of the stuff that you really love doing. And what do you want to do less of so that you have more time available.

So sometimes we have to say no to things. We have to take things off our list in order to have more time for self care. One thing you can also do is think about things you enjoyed doing as a child. That gives you that almost kind of heart centered nourishment. So it’s about tapping into some of those things.

How can you incorporate self-care habits into your daily routine?

Self-care doesn’t have to be the same thing every single day. It’s flexible so it can provide what you need. There are certain things that you should just be doing almost naturally because that’s you as a person and what you need like starting your day with coffee or reading a book before going to bed.

In Rachel’s ebook, Self-Care for the Seasons, she talks about mixing up your morning drink or taking a break with a warm cup of coffee or tea. If you are open to variety, try mixing it up for a week. This will get your brain used to trying something new instead of heading for the default option.

Also start thinking about “non-negotiables” you need in your life. Think about the things that you need to do daily to feel good and that make you happy. Try things like journaling, going for a walk, call a friend or family member.

There is a weekly wellbeing checklist that comes with Rachel’s ebook to help you stay on track. You can use the checklist to track your non-negotiables to make sure that you’re doing the things that are important to you, so that at the end of that day, you feel that life is working for you.

Non-negotiables are the things that are really important for you to do to feel your best. And by having them on a checklist and checking them off every day, you can see that your habits are building up. You will also start to realize that you haven’t done some things that are important to you and you are not fulfilling your self care habits as you should.

Just remember to give yourself some grace when things don’t go as you would like. Try again the next day, and the next day, and the next day.

How can you make sure you stick to some type of self-care routine?

Use the technology available to you. Set reminders on your phone and when it’s time, go for a walk around the block, get yourself a coffee or sit and read a book or whatever. This may not work for everyone; it could just be that you have an hourly sort of reminder on your phone to sit and breathe, think about your posture, or have a glass of water.

But try and mix things up because quite often the reminder will pop up and you will just look at it and go, okay, and keep doing whatever you’re doing. So you need to have the right motivation to be able to change your behavior.

Every day, ask yourself what you need to do to make you feel and be the best version of yourself? Then track what you do with the weekly well-being checklist. After about a week, if you’re not necessarily feeling great, ask yourself these questions. What am I missing? What hasn’t been happening? Am I not getting enough sleep? Maybe I’m not drinking enough water. I’m not having healthy meals.

It’s about coming back and tapping into what you need to do from your list of non-negotiables. Rachel has her clients stick it up on the wall or stick it on the fridge. Put it where you can see it every day and be reminded that’s what you need to do.

You may go two or three days, and then you drop off with your self-care habits. Be forgiving when you miss a day and get back on track! The well-being checklist will help reinforce your self-care habits and give you a feeling of satisfaction. There’s something really good about checking things off and being able to see the progress.

When you get to the end of a week, you can review your progress. And then the next week you can build on that! Then you can understand what things are really helping you. Sometimes you might not have achieved a certain thing on your list. So you go, you know what, that’s either not important, or I need to think of a different way to do some habit stacking.

So it’s a really good way of keeping a watch on things and helping you stay focused on your self-care habits. Life is busy and we need reminders every so often. You don’t always have the same amount of time. So it’s about having a bit of flexibility when it comes to self-care. But it’s also about not doing things in a certain way because you think you should be.

Think ahead a bit and plan ahead. But also give yourself a bit of grace and space. Sometimes you have to just be happy with one thing instead of trying to do five or six things. You’re just going to end up being more stressed out because you wished you had done something. You just have to have that element of flexibility.

To hear all of my chat with Rachel and get more details on the self-care tips tips in this blog post, tune in to episode 49 of the podcast. Click below and tune in on your favorite platform.

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