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5 Ways to Feel Crazy Productive Every Single Day
Do note that this piece isn’t called “5 ways to be crazy productive.” This list of five wins will help you feel crazy productive every single day. And who doesn’t want to feel like they’re getting it all done? 5 easy, simple, can’t-miss ways to feel crazy productive: Make your bed as soon as you get up. Seriously. It may seem unnecessary, but if you don’t get anything else done the rest of the day, at least you did that! Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day. Put it on your to-do list, and relish crossing it off! Turn off notifications on your cell phone, tablet, and laptop for two hours every morning. You…
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Confessions of a planner addict
Hi. My name is Maggie, and I’m a planner addict. (This is a safe space for those sorts of confessions, yes?) It’s all because I love setting goals. Okay. That isn’t entirely true. If we’re being confessional, I might as well let my Type-A, hyper-competitive colors shine: It’s not that I love setting goals. Nope. It’s that I love achieving goals. But, you can’t achieve anything unless you’ve defined it first. Hence, my planner addiction. This is on the top of my mind right now for two reasons. First, I recently joined a planning group on Facebook (yep, there are more of us!). Second, I start setting the next year’s goals…
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What are your core values?
In her book Make a Name for Yourself, Robin Fisher Roffer writes, “Successful brands are built on core values and during their lifetimes constantly build on and reinforce their core values.” I like to think I operate my business from a value-minded position, but the reality is that I never took the time with a notebook to write out my values. So I started thinking, and here’s what I came up with as my brand’s core values: compassion service passion community initiative eco-consciousness I posted these on my blog for all to see and to make sure I’m accountable! And, as I prepare for my 2014 planning session, it’ll be…
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New year, new you? Bah, humbug!
I’m not one for resolutions. It seems counterproductive to create resolutions that are so easy to break. Instead, I focus on goals. With a busy year ahead, I spent the last week putting my goals down on paper and making my 2012 plan binder. In it, I list all my goals along with their deadlines, action steps, and any data required to complete the goal. I have tabs for my freelance work, my dog blog, the two writing courses I teach face-to-face, the business writing e-course that will launch in the fall, training plans for all three of my dogs, and personal goals. Excessive? Maybe. But I know exactly what…
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Create a morning routine
What does your morning routine look like? Do you frantically search for your keys while downing a cup of coffee? Do you bolt out the door a few minutes late every day? Do you practice yoga or meditate? Hit the gym? Hit the snooze button? I have never been a morning person. Ever. But recently I’ve found some serious value in a morning routine. Why? A morning routine sets up your day for success. And you don’t even have to be a “morning person” to take advantage of a routine. Once you adjust to a new way of doing things, it becomes easier to stay on task and on point.…
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Planning for the new year
Did you make any resolutions for 2011? January’s almost over… How are you doing with those? Several years ago, I realized a truth about myself: I can not keep resolutions. Sweeping statements (I will lose weight! I will re-read all the classics! I will clean out my closets!) are the stuff of resolutions. Unfortunately, unspecific ideals aren’t achievable. At least not for me, and I’d wager not for the majority of us. Why? Because we’re human! “I will lose weight” becomes “I’ll work out tomorrow,” which becomes “This weekend I will cook healthy food,” which becomes “Diet starts Monday.” By the time Monday rolls around, you feel like a failure.…