First, take 5-10 deep breaths. This relaxes you, so you aren’t thinking as stressfully.

Next, get everything you are thinking about/worried about on paper or in a to do system so you know what you need to do. Not having things written down, gives you a constant nagging feeling like you are forgetting something. And you probably are.

Take some more deep breaths because you are probably panicky again. Tell yourself you have all the time in the world for what is important.

Chose 3 things on your list that are calling to you the loudest. If you can’t narrow it down, put the top list on scraps of paper. Turn them upside down and mix them out. Pick one out. Sometimes you’ll feel a "man, I should have chosen this one instead." That’s your intuition. So do the one the intuition said.

Once you get started on something, anything, it is easier to keep it going. It’s the starting that’s the hard part.

Put on a timer so you keep working until a break – don’t open facebook, twitter, call a friend or do something else until your break. Otherwise you may waste a whole day procrastinating.

If you are still having trouble getting started, ask yourself what you are afraid of. It’s easier to counter, if you know what is wrong. Overwhelm is a feeling brought on by the thoughts you are thinking.  "I have so much to do, I’ll never get it done, it’s not fair, I am always working," is usually unhelpful and puts you in an overwhelmed state. But saying, "I have time, I am enjoying this moment, look how interesting this project is," puts you in a curious, better balanced state.

Overwhelm can be sneaky too. You start to feel overwhelmed and next thing you know you are watching TV, surfing the net or eating ice cream. You are oblivious to the overwhelm for a little bit. But, when you are done you are even further behind. So keep an eye out to what you do to pretend you aren’t overwhelmed.

And watch your expectations. Many times people get overwhelmed because they are trying to be perfect at all things and driving themselves batty. You are lovable whether your to do list is done or not.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

ShareThis

So I was shucking corn. Is that even how you spell shucking? I’ve never had to write that word before

I was getting aggravated because this certain corn cob was full of those corn fibers and it was taking forever to pull them all off. But, I noticed my aggravation. I decided I didn’t want to feel that way.

Instead I looked at the gorgeous yellow and cream colors of the corn, how otherworldly corn fibers actually look, and how I am actually enjoying this when I’m not thinking I need to rush, rush, rush. I felt happier instantly.

Try this the next time you get aggravated and see what happens.

***

Photo by: genbug

ShareThis

1. Get caught up on your laundry. Use the laundrymat if you have a ton.
2. Limit other beverages besides water.
3. Before buying new, see if there is something you already own that would work.
4. Put out of season shoes and clothes away.
5. How is the health of your houseplants?
6. Next time you need to buy new cosmetics or cleaners, choose natural ones.
7. Do some progressive muscle relaxation.

****

ShareThis

First sign up here:

The ecourse will help you stay focused and accountable for your new habit.

When you decide on your habit, post here in the comments. And every week, I’ll post at the blog and we can check in on the habit we want to create.

My new habit for September is to use my back massager or neck release tool every evening as a migraine preventative measure.

ShareThis

If you have so much stuff or such a big house that you don’t have enough time to clean and organize it regularly, it may be time to let go of some things.

If you don’t have enough time to eat correctly, exercise and sleep, you are not taking care of your body. And that can only go so long before things quit working correctly. If this is the case, it may be time to let go of certain commitments.

If you can’t maintain your most important personal relationships, what can you let go of?

Think about what you have in your life that you need to maintain so you are taken care to keep in good condition.

• Job
• Health
• Relationships
• Spiritual Life
• Home
• Car
• Technology
• Website/Internet Identity
• Clothes
• Bank Account
• Belongings

How can you simplify these things so your highest priorities are maintained?

1 car instead of 2. Working less hours. Working closer to home. Keeping technology that you know how to use longer, even when something "newer and better" comes along. Consolidating bank accounts and setting up automatic bill paying. Trade gym membership for walking close to home and free weights to your favorite TV programs. Declutter. Give yourself an online limit. Give yourself the first 15 min of every day to nurturing your spiritual life.

The less in your life, the easier it can be maintained. What can you do?

ShareThis

Some ideas:

1. Have a daily centering time of prayer, inspirational reading, mediation or yoga. Unless you take care of yourself spiritually, you are less prepared for what may happen throughout the day.
2. Take a 10 minute walk at lunch time outside. Let some of that stress go physically as you walk. And the sunshine elevates your mood. And on cloudy days, it’s still great to get outside.
3. Connect with at least one person daily. We all need an emotional support system. Maintaining this network as a top priority will help you when big time stresses arise. And helping other people, makes you feel better as well. Plus, it’s fun!
4. Use a relaxation tool in the evening or during breaks. You can try a back or neck massaging tool. Or do the lion pose. Take 10 deep breaths or use progressive relaxation.
5. Laugh. Go ahead and watch that silly movie. Take in a comedy. Laugh with your kids. Watch silly cats on YouTube. If you feel you have lost your sense of humor, it’s time to get it back.
6. Question your stressful thoughts. A great method is the Work by Byron Katie.
7. Slow down. If you are frantically doing a zillion things at once. Pause. Breathe. Then slowly do one thing at a time for a little bit until you feel less stress.
8. Listen to music. Slow and relaxing if you are feeling high strung. Fun, dance music if you are feeling low energy. Music is one of the fastest ways to change your state.
9. See what you can enjoy in the current moment. Even under stress you might be able to see a lovely sunset. Or hear happy birds. Or hug your kids. But only if you become aware.
10. Simplify. (You knew I’d have to add that, didn’t you?) Declutter. Let go of time commitments. Wear a capsule wardrobe.

What’s one thing you can do to free yourself from excess stress today?

***

Photo by: Alex Cole

My Simpler Life e-Course can help you simplify your life a lot in 30 days

ShareThis

Lake Michigan

Yesterday I decided I wanted to go to the beach for a bit. We live about 15 minutes away from Lake Michigan, so I took my daughter and a towel. My daughter took a chair and a book. 

I swam while she read for about an hour and then we were on our way home.

No making a big production out of it. That felt so freeing.

I remember times when we brought so much stuff that by the time we brought it all back to the car we were exhausted. Sometimes it was just getting it out of the car and to the beach. Tired before we even started.

Yesterday my daughter and I went to a meeting. She wanted to bring her purse, so I took my keys and notepad out of my purse and into hers. No sense bringing two purses. She always says how light my purse is. I’ve learned to put more things in my glove compartment, so I have items for emergency but I don’t have to carry them with me all the time. Like wipes, scissors, and the first aid kit.

The more stuff you bring places, the more that weighs you down. You don’t want to swim because what if someone steals the kid’s wakeboards or sand castle maker. Or you leave it behind. (I bring my purse into as few places as possible, because too often it gets left. It’s a family gene.) I hate going to places where you are trying to juggle food, a purse, papers, a drink and other things.

This week, when you go out ask yourself how little you can get away with taking. And see how it feels for you.

ShareThis

1. List different lunch ideas on the fridge door or inside a cabinet.
2. Figure out a daily routine for the next season that will work for you and your family.
3. Get caught up on your mail pile while watching some TV.
4. Set up or reorganize your launch pad for backpacks, coats and briefcases.
5. Get outside and enjoy the last bits of this season.
6. Plan any events/holidays for the next couple months.
7. Clean out your tote bags.

****

ShareThis

• Change Cell Phone Plans. Use a comparison site to get the best deals in your zip code. We saved $20 a month by switching plans.
• Change to a digital calendar like Google Calendar. And digital planner like Remember the Milk. If you need a calendar or planner, wait until after the new year to get them when they are 50-75% off.
• Use a credit union instead of bank. The fees are usually lower.
• Don’t spend any coins. Put them all into savings or debt reduction.
• See if your neighbors have plants that need thinning instead of getting them at the yard center.
• Only drink water when you eat out. Drinks have one of the highest mark ups.
• Have a folder with menus and coupons for when you need to do take out. But, cook at home more often. And go out for lunch instead of dinner. Lunches are less expensive. Split meals with a friend. Most restaurant portions are too much for me.
• Consumer Reports’ auto-test department says that the air conditioner reduces your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. It suggests not using the air conditioner at speeds below 40 mph instead use the windows. At speeds above 40mph though the air conditioning is more efficient.
• Disconnect the landline or switch to something like Vongage.
• Swap for books, trade used books at a used book store or go to the library.
• Freeze fruit in season to use in pies and smoothies throughout the year. Go berry picking for even cheaper fruit.
• Wait at least a week before buying impulse items.
• Get rid of some subscriptions – magazines, gym, online memberships.
• Buy a 2 or 3 year old car instead of new. Cars lose so much value just getting driven off the lot.
• Shop at a grocery store that either has double coupon days, inexpensive products of gas coupons. I get 10-15 cents off per gallon from my grocery store.
• Look for alternatives to get what you want. Barter, trade, rent. Look in your own house for what you can use instead.
• Make a budget and then use a program that will tell you when you are about to go over budget.
• Go on a spending fast for a weekend, week or a month where you only spend on the necessities.
• Learn to fix things and teach your kids. My husband can fix just about anything saving us tons of money throughout the years. You can find how to articles all over the web.
• Give up cold cereal. Hot cereal, eggs and pancakes are less expensive than cold cereals.

***

Photo by: Andrew Magill

ShareThis

The other day I threw out a can instead of recycling.

I believe in taking care of the earth. We have the right kind of bulbs. We recycle everything that can be recycled. I use cloth bags. We buy mainly locally and organic if we can. We use natural cosmetics, grooming products and cleaners.

Yet I could not bring myself to wash out the potato soup can. I was tired of washing out the cans. I didn’t want to ever have to do it again.

But, the next day I saw a can. I rinsed it out. I kept going.

We have enough guilt in our lives, without adding eco-guilt. Do what you can. Feel good when you lighten your ecological footprint. But, don’t kick yourself in the rear with it when you can’t be pure eco-friendly.

ShareThis