When my friends come to me for advice and I give it to them, I often hear:
(Really? Cause Facebook told me you were up til 1 playing Candy Crush, Seriously?!)
And despite my frustration, I am the first to admit that just like them, I can rationalize and find an excuse for anything I don’t want to do. Like most people, I'm only ready to change when there's a good enough reason to do so. And it doesn't just have to be a rock-bottom. When I have a goal I'm super excited about, I’m willing to do what it takes. I’m willing to stop self-sabotaging, take a good look at myself, and clean house. Literally.
And that gets me to today's topic.
A lot of people write in and ask me about how I started Aligned Holistics. These readers fall into 2 camps:
The truth is that to some degree, the two go hand-in-hand. See, a lot of creating a life I love (& getting off the meds!) was creating systems that supported that. Whether it be self-care, organization, or time management, I needed to create structure to get out of my own way and let the magic happen.
I could write an entire book on how to start a business doing what you love (note to self-do that!) But since blogs are about brevity, I want to share the top 3 tips that helped me to succeed.
3 Tips To Make It Happen:
1. Organize Your Space.
Back when my ADHD was running the show, I spent way too much time sorting through papers, looking for keys, and getting distracted by items strewn on my countertop. My disorganized space led to a pervasive low-level anxiety that made my home a stressful work environment. Not surprisingly, with all the reminders of things that needed to be put away (without a place to put them), I didn’t get much done. So I met with an ADHD coach (yes, even coaches need coaches) and this was the first thing she told me.
Where to start: Create an exit station. Located near your door, this centralized location should house your keys, sunglasses, wallet, mail, gym pass, etc. It should be home to everything you'd grab on your way out the door. I also use it to post affirmations or intentions so I have a positive note to start my day.
2. Throw Things Out.
I'm sure you've heard this before, but it bears repeating until you get rid of that sweater you haven't worn in a year, the papers you could have scanned and trashed, and the broken belt that you swear you'll get fixed but haven't yet. If it's taking up space in your home, it's taking up space in your mind. For many years I held onto things for "sentimental value." And then I realized that the item is not the same as what it represents. For example, last week I got a thoughtful card from a friend. Today I threw it out. That It doesn't mean that I don't value the person who sent it to me, it just means that NYC real-estate is at a premium and so is my mental capacity. To make this easier (and eliminate any guilt you may feel), snap a picture with your phone first.
Where to start: If you haven't used it in the past year, throw it out.
3. Pick 3 Wins.
If I could give any piece of advice to my fellow entrepreneurs, it would be this: Pick the 3 things you MUST accomplish for the day and prioritize them. When I work with my 1-on-1 clients, I'm often asked, "But how do I know which 3 to pick? Why only 3?" Since my clients and I set goals together, I respond by teaching them to filter their actions by looking at their to-do list and saying "Will this action get me closer to or further from my goal?" If it gets you to your goal, it makes the cut. I always say start with 3 small wins. Anything you do after that is extra credit.
Where to start: Each morning, complete the following sentence, "If I only get these 3 things done, I'll feel good about what I accomplished today." Then, do them!