Tipster Tuesday #5

[Due to a stupidity error, this was not posted on Tuesday... I hit save as draft, rather than publish post-- because I'm that awesome!]

In case you haven't picked up on it... some of my key focus points this year are getting organized and getting healthy.  Lately there's been a few hiccups trying to impede my progress towards my goals:

• The schedule
• The behavior
• The Fizzle

But I'm not letting it get me down... I'm recommitting myself to myself... or my goals.

• Block off parts of your schedule for YOU... not the kids, not work, nothing but you.  Use that time on weekends to refresh and during the week to keep on top of what matters most to you.
• Define what matters most to you... I know that sounds like I've turned into a cross between Dr Phil and Stephen Covey.  There's a reason why they say these things.  You can't be awesome if you don't have a good eye on what matters.  In my world:
• Faith
• Family
• Self
• The rest
• As you try to reach whatever goals you've set, who are you accountable to?  (Yes, besides yourself) Involve others in your goals and make a "pact" with someone to get you going.  Get excited and share what you're doing.  You never know... what ever it is that you're doing may be inspirational to others.  That's what God put you here for... to inspire others in whatever you're good at.  I see great Moms every Tuesday at Mother's Club and each week, I think they're doing such awesome things, I must be able to get at least half that out of myself... and I push myself harder. 
• Stand up for what you believe in... unabashedly...

Tipster Tuesday #4

Okay, I just gotta say it... I feel great.  Fizzle?  What Fizzle?!  My January Fizzle is gone.  I just needed to give myself permission to feel a little worn out and then regenerate.  So my hottest tip for the day is give yourself permission to feel what you feel... don't try to pretend things are great.  If they aren't, that's okay... give yourself some time to collect, process and refocus your energy. 

I must also confess, that I read a blog yesterday (January 23) that hit the nail on the head for me.  It's called The Mary Mission.  Yes, it's a Catholic blog and no, I don't always agree with her posts... but I don't always agree with the person sitting in the room with me, either.  But yesterday... she touched on a sentiment we all feel sometimes: Something's Missing.  Yes, yes... that's what January Fizzle was all about.  However, Mary Mission blogger Barbie Nesbitt is much smarter than this blogger.  Although I had given myself permission to feel what I feel, I hadn't quite come around to what was missing.  At the end of her blog, which articulated how many of us may feel, she captured it in this prayer: "Make me wise, O Lord. Help me to understand that my lack of wisdom is the only real lack I am experiencing. Amen."

Genius... and truly inspirational.  So now that I'm fired up (and you will be too if you read the blog, regardless of whether or not you are Catholic).

So on to today's tips... because I know you're feeling pepped up and inspired right now. 

• Don't recreate the wheel.  If you're having trouble getting on top of things, keeping up with house work or exercise... don't feel overwhelmed because there are tons of resources out there to help you.  We live a time when we are blessed (and at times cursed) with the Internet and social networking.  [I'll be posting some great ones for Web Wednesday #4 tomorrow!]
• Reach out and touch some one.... Are you old enough to remember those old Bell Telephone commercials?  Yes, feeling disconnected... grab your phone and call a friend.  It doesn't matter which friend... but I'm betting the one that pops into your head first is the one who needs the call more than you do! 
• Keep drinking your water!  If you gave up soda/coffee/tea, you'll find you're craving it, when you are thirsty.  Guess what... a cool glass of water is actually just as effective.  It will pump you up better than caffeine will... really.  [Yes, I probably have posted this tip already and I'll keep posting it because it's a good one]
• Last, but not least... if you want to get something done, make yourself accountable to someone!  That's right!  If  you're working on being awesome like me (ha ha), tell someone.  Get someone fired up just like you are and make plans to accomplish something.

Have a wonderful day, readers!  Let's go be awesome!

Tipster Tuesday #3

It feels odd writing Tips already.  When the kids have a day off of school, it feels like everything is just off.  Don't let it throw you off too much though.  Here are this week's tips:

• When you feel overwhelmed... stop and take a deep breath.  [If you have kids, try really hard not to use that lung full of air to yell, "QUIET!!]
• If you do use that lung full of air to yell at the kids... OOPS!  It's okay, it happens... just apologize for losing your cool and move on.  Really, it's great if we can stay calm all the time, but sometimes, we don't.  It's just as important for your kids to learn you make mistakes and see a mature response.
• Finding inspiration to keep going starts in the kitchen... not just with healthy food, but when your kitchen is clean, neat and organized... everything just goes better.  Consider how many times you hang out in the kitchen either at home or somewhere else. As my mother says, "Am I right, or am I right?"  [Yes, kinda hard to argue with that sentiment]
• Keep your counters wiped down and your sink cleaned out.

Alright, peeps, wish me luck.  I joined a new group at my Mother's Club called "Sole to Soul"  and it's a mix of praise and exercise.  I think I can do the praise part... but I'm going to need PRAYER to get through the exercise.  I have to keep focused on my goals!

Tipster Tuesday #2

Being Awesome also includes being organized.  Today's tips involve getting control of your schedule.

• Each night, I review the next day's schedule and then do my to do list for the next day.  Some people advise doing it each morning.  I choose to do it the night before, so I don't lose any time sitting down first thing in the morning.  Who knows... I might not get back up.
• Make a master to do list based on your goals and then you can see what fits into your weekly schedule on Sunday evenings.  
• Schedule time to do things.  Even if it's laundry... you can mark off 2 hours for house work and write -- see list-- and then don't let anything (not even Facebook, this blog or Pinterest get in the way!).  If your calendar is digital... make it a recurring appointment.  Don't be afraid to say, "no I can't do lunch today... I have to get my housework done."  CHances are your friend will say... "yeah, me too, I was hoping to avoid it." And you can say, "well, let's reward ourselves with coffee at 2 pm... why don't you come to my house."  Well, this is genius... you now have something to look forward to and you have a very hard deadline because someone is coming over. 
• Don't forget to schedule some "me" time.  Right now I'm LOVING learning to knit (and loving that my daughter is sitting next to me knitting too)... so I'm scheduling my knit time just after dinner.  My little ballerina princess and I can knit together and watch some t.v.  And it gives me a well earned break when I know... all I have to do is the dishes now and I can RELAX.  
• Feeling overwhelmed during the day?  Don't grab a caffeinated soda to get you through (bad calories, remember)... just stop, take a deep breath.  Make yourself some peppermint tea (and if you don't like that, locate your little jar of peppermint extract and take a wiff, or chew a piece of sugar free mint gum for a few).  You'll feel perked up... without the wasted calories. [I secretly believe this mint trick may be why a friend was HOOKED on Shamrock Shakes during her pregnancy].
• Just read a statistic that 10% of your time spent planning saves you 90% of wasted time during execution.  More time = more awesomeness.

Tipster Tuesday

In case you missed it, the Awesomeness Campaign is about being... [wait for it]... AWESOME. 
Since I'm AWESOME... I don't make resolutions or plans for the year... I goal set.  Yes, I have goals.  Why?  Because when I resolve and fail... I give up.  When I plan and don't follow through, I feel like a failure.  But when I have GOALS... I can fall off the wagon, miss a day, goof off... you get the idea... and still get back on track.  If I imagine that my life is a soccer game (or football or whatever)... I imagine that my intentions are the ball... and when I'm on track, I'm in possession of the ball.  When I'm off track, I've usually allowed something less important to take possession of the ball.  At the same token, I can be on track and not in possession of the ball.  How?  Well, let's say, I want to organize my kitchen...  I can delegate tasks to family members, stay on track and not be in charge.  I just have to accept their level of effort and realize that the awesome part is, I did not have to do the work!  You have to admit, getting something done without doing the work... is pretty awesome!

Here are my tips for this first Tipster Tuesday.

• Write down your goals... you see it on the paper (or computer screen) and you're really committed.  Need some inspiration?  My friend, The Mini Van Diaries, created subway art with her family's 2012 goals!  I am feeling a little inspired...
• Make a To Do List-- even if you don't accomplish it all, you know you did something at the end of the day.  If you make a list of 100 items, realize you won't get those done today and you can consider it the Master list and transfer things as necessary to daily lists.
• If you make a To Do List and an emergency comes up (you know, puking kid or a work deadline)... you'll know where to start the next day and feel less overwhelmed. 
• Make a Meal Plan-- take into account this week's activities and plan ahead... guaranteed you'll save time and money this way.  And it's okay to plan for a trip through the drive-thru if your day is that busy.  It's your plan, not mine!
• Make a grocery list-- what's the point of the meal plan if you don't have what you need?
• Take a half hour for yourself... DAILY.  And yes, that half hour can include reading this blog and catching up on Facebook... but only if it relaxes you. 

Happy Tipster Tuesday!