What's Your Perfect Day?

What is your perfect day?  Like a really perfect day?  Maybe you think of being on vacation and waking up and having time to yourself.  While sipping your hot beverage of choice you catch up on news, meditate, or even get some movement in before the rest of the world wakes up.

Think about your non-negotiables.  The things you absolutely would not live without.  Maybe staying hydrated is top of the list, followed by eating a healthy breakfast.  Maybe it’s time to write each morning or move your body each day.

In our first coaching session, we start out by developing a schedule for you that incorporates aspects of your perfect day and your non-negotiables.  Now more than ever, as we work from home and may have a little more chaos in our house with kids in zoom school and having to share space, it’s even more applicable to create a schedule and have routine in our life.

When helping one of my clients create a schedule that included all her wants and needs she realized that she wasn’t fitting in time to write each day. We were able to shift things around so that first thing in the morning she took advantage of a quiet house before everyone else woke up to write.  It just meant going to bed a little earlier and sure enough that was all she needed to fit in her writing time.

My 6 Week Spring Refresh

You might have noticed with all that extra time at home, you really need to declutter and refresh your space! If you are ready to make a change, feeling stuck or heavy in your space, or particularly scattered, I’m here to help you. 

I’ve been working on the perfect online organizing program (pre-COVID) so that I could serve clients outside of the Santa Barbara area. Who knew that this would end up being a great option for my local clients, too? 

The Spring Refresh is a 6-Week Organizing Program for people who want to feel lighter and more grounded in their space. I’ll provide you with an outside set of eyes to help you streamline, simplify and refresh! This goes well beyond decluttering and into long term organizational habits that will serve you for years to come...but don’t worry we will declutter, too. I will give you the tools and techniques I’ve learned to help you get organized and stay organized. Hint: Being organized is not about stuff, it’s a mindset. So when we are done you can apply what you’ve learned to time, goals, and workflow. 

Here is what’s included in the program:  

• Kicks off the week of May 4th

• Includes 6 individual 45-minute coaching sessions 

• Set achievable organizational goals 

• Step by step advice and feedback

• Tailored plan from an organizational expert

• Accountability to make sure you follow through! 

If this sounds amazing, and you are ready to make a change - let’s talk. Click here to schedule a call or hit reply and let me know. 

3 Creative Ways to Help Local Businesses

I hope this finds you and your family healthy and happy during this time of settling in to the new normal.  If you’re wondering how to support local businesses in this time of economic uncertainty, I’ve made a list of a few ideas that you might not have thought of already. Of course it’s wonderful to buy and order from these businesses like buying gift cards, ordering takeout, and making sure you’re tipping well.  But, there are other ways you can help too.

• Leave positive reviews on yelp - this is a gift that keeps on giving. Pick 3 of your favorite local businesses and give them a review. Your reviews will be seen only if you’ve done other Yelp reviews. So picking 3 is important. 

• Give a shout out on social media - Post about a local business you love and tag them in it or repost a post from a local business. Remember that sharing and tagging are great FREE ways to support local business. 

• Consider using a small business before purchasing from Amazon Prime and shop local online - Look for local businesses that supply the items you are looking for online, you might be surprised at how many stock the items you want, will allow you to pay without ever getting out of your car, and offer curbside pick-up where they will place the items right in your trunk. Think flour from your local bakery, coffee beans from your local coffee shop, pet food from the local pet store, wine from the wine shop. There are no long lines or wait times. 

A lot of local businesses are getting creative in how they serve their customers. I’ve been offering virtual organizing sessions to help my clients, especially the ones that are now more aware of their need for organization than ever. We are meeting over Zoom and creating relaxing clutter free spaces for them to live and work in. If you would like that kind of help or want to gift a session to someone, you can contact me here. 

5 Simple Ways to Feel Lighter

I hope this finds you and your family healthy and happy.  With so much heaviness surrounding us at the moment, I thought I’d share some tips on how to feel lighter now.  It’s officially spring which means time for new beginnings and even though we may be under a stay at home order we can open all the windows, smell the jasmine and bring a little spring inside.

Here are my favorite tips for a spring refresh:

• Clear your workspace: Whether you’re working at home or just need a space for yourself, create and clear your workspace.  You’ll be able to think more clearly when you work, find things more easily and allow the creative juices to flow.

• Unsubscribe to unwanted emails:  You know the ones I mean.  The newsletters you signed up to get that you no longer read or the discount coupons from Michael’s that clog your inbox.  Unsubscribe now, you’ll be glad you did and your inbox will feel lighter.

• Sit up straighter:  Besides helping you strengthen your core and allowing your bones, ligaments and muscles to properly align themselves, sitting up straighter just feels better.

• Create a spring playlist to exercise or clean to:  Music inspires us and a great playlist is usually just the thing we need when we are feeling a little low.  

• Drink more water:  A fun way to infuse your water with spring is to chop up cucumber and lemon or strawberries and mint to make staying hydrated enjoyable.

Why We All Need a Coach

Because all good coaches need coaches themselves, I need Ali Schiller at Accountability Works. Ali is an accountability coach with a specialty in helping businesses grow to their fullest potential. She is my cheerleader, whip cracker and all around sounding board. I wouldn’t be where I am today in my business without her. And for this I am oh so grateful.

I loved all things organization and realized it was my superpower.  I became a coach because I saw early on how I could use it to transform the lives of my clients.  I could help people organize their homes, lives and businesses while teaching them how to do it for themselves. 

Before becoming a coach I was a high school teacher for 15 years at Dos Pueblos High School.  In a lot of ways what I’m doing now is very similar.  I helped my students get and stay organized for their classes.  And now, I’m helping my clients get and stay organized for their life.

The one commodity we can’t get back is time.  I know from being a coach that getting coaching buys back your time.  Sure, you can figure things out yourself...but there is so much energy and time wasted.
 

Do you have goals you’d like to meet but you’re not sure how to get there?  If you’re feeling a little scattered,  imagine having someone hold you accountable to your goals, help make sure your calendar is free and clear of clutter and you’re set up for success in your life and business.  All of this is possible for you, we just need to get started together!

How do you decide where and how to give?

How do you decide where to give of your time, energy and money? 

A lot of my clients are very generous with their time, energy and money when it comes to giving back. It turns out that they’re not alone, 70% of all charitable donations come from individual donors not corporations or foundations. Humans seem to be hardwired to take care of each other.  According to Chief Executive Magazine, “Anthropologists tell us that humanity’s secret to success as a species has been our ability to collaborate and cooperate to ensure the survival of the family, tribe, nation or whatever group we are affiliated with.”  

We can all give back one way or another. But with so many causes and demands on our attention - how do we choose and what do we give? 

• You want to connect with your community but don’t have a lot of resources

When I first went away to college at Virginia Tech, one of the first things I did was get involved in my new home town by volunteering.  I adopted a “grandmother” in the community through an elderly/ college student exchange, volunteered at a rape crisis center and worked at a pop-up Christmas market that allowed families in need to “shop” for the holidays. All of these choices connected me with my new community when I had time to give but not many resources. 

• You want to support causes you believe in but don’t have a lot of time

Then for many years I didn’t feel like I had the time or energy to give back because I was teaching full time while getting my master’s.  So, I gave money to several organizations I believed in.  Pro-tip:  Set a budget and decide what you want to spend to give back at the beginning of the year. That way when you are deciding who to give to and how much you already have a plan.

• You have the time and resources  and are ready to take it to the next level with a group or cause?

This is where you might become a board member or become involved in a leadership team where you are meeting people with very similar interests and motivations as you.  I’m in my second year of serving on the board of the Santa Barbara Swim Club because I’m passionate about swimming as a lifelong activity.  

Giving back is not only good for our communities, it’s good for us. But without a little forethought (and organization) it can be overwhelming. 

I would love to hear how and why you give back? 

P.S. If you want help getting organized. I’ll be starting a 6 week Spring Re-boot on May 4, so if you or someone you know wants to uplevel their business or work toward goals they’ve been wanting to crush, click here to schedule an introductory call. .