Soon it will be

• the holidays
• somebody's birthday
• somebody's anniversary
• new baby
• new house
• new job
• retirement
• party
• tax time
• fundraiser
• dinner
• graduation
• religious observance

Yep...we go from one event to another in our lives don't we?

I don't know about you, but without my calendar I would miss almost every important one. Not because I don't care. But because we are spinning through life like a top. 

Occasionally I let myself take a breath. Not feel guilty about it and re-center myself. Saying...it's ok to take a minute here. Sad but true. That is why an 8th day of the week got it's name!! I need one. When I tell people to schedule time with me and send them to my online scheduler, I am not doing it to put them off. It's because I really don't know what my own schedule is unless I am told. 

So, my question to you today...yes you...not the next person who reads this article, but you...my question is, how do we get off the merry-go-round? How do we balance our lives and slow it down so we can enjoy it? We run around like chickens from one thing to another, trying frantically to get it all done and squeeze in some fun ones...but it always seems to leave us spent either  emotionally, physically or financially. (Or all 3)

Today is the day I want your ideas on how we can slow it down, how you do it. Or how you wish you could do it. I need ideas to help myself do it. Mostly because there really isn't an 8th day of the week.

 below!!

Always in Beta!

Some days I wonder what has disconnected in my brain. I can hardly believe I used to multitask with such speed and efficiency and now...I need an 8th day of the week. How does that happen? Hmmm...  Or should I ask when did it happen?

I have decided that transitioning from being a kid to being an adult is more fun than going into mid life. Well, honestly I guess I am past that too. Geez, I think I am old. I have to stop thinking that. I can't really tell how old anyone is anymore. I always guess wrong. Maybe because I don't choose to remember how old I am.


Now that I have succeeded in feeling like an old lady who swallowed a fly, I don't know why she swallowed a fly...I think she'll die.

I have to pull myself back up by thinking of some of the great things that I have noticed about mid life. Hmmm...well, what comes to mind is feeling more comfortable in my skin. I actually have my own personality now. I am not looking at everyone around me to determine how I feel about myself. Day by day I have learned to be myself and not worry about what others think of me. That is a really freeing feeling. 

Something else I have been able to recognize is that others see us so different than we see ourselves. I can be my harder on myself than anyone else can.

I think in the last 5-6 years, I have felt like I have been redesigning who I am and what I want to accomplish . I used to get in that frantic...OMG...I have to hurry up because I'm getting old and my time is running out. But since I learned that there is all the time I need. That time comes from me. I haven't felt that way. It seems good to take that lid off and release that inner pressure. Sometimes the things I think about are the worst case scenarios you could ever dream up. I'm putting in for a tune up on that. I hate when I do it and I am just so conditioned that I really have to catch myself and say...stop it!

Now that I am always in beta mode...every day seems exciting. It's ok to go with the flow and not fight the current. Stop pinching the quarter and relax a little bit. I guess I have been a caregiver so long ...too long...but my respite is finally here. I appreciate every day and I wish i had been able to figure out a way to do it sooner. Hey, but I did it! I got my bow hunting license and I am going for my gun course in October. Who knows I may even trek into the woods. I sold my motorcycle...but you never know, I may see one I just have to have yet!

I feel like every day is my 8th day of the week. That one extra day you can just put your feet up, shut off the world and say ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I AM HAPPY!!!

I AM HAPPY!!!  When was the last time we actually said that to our self?
Is it because we don't think about it? We don't feel it? We don't want to know the truth of it?

If we need our mouth pulled up at the corners like this little monkey in order to smile...how do we expect our life to be happy?

Happiness is different for everyone so I can't recommend something magical that will get you in the mood. Here is the thing I can do, get you to ask yourself the questions and once you do that, maybe you can see what you need to do more of.

I can also share with you what has been my own experience. Let's take the last 3-4 months in reflection. I can easily do that because I keep a little bit of a log book on what I do on a regular basis. I started doing this, when my kids were knee high to a grasshopper.

It's fun to look back at the special times. It was(and still is) a way to review what I have learned and it helps me formulate a new approach to things going forward. I know that sounds kind of analytical. But honestly, all those journals, all those calendar entries (my loving daughter made me read them one last time before I threw them out) are my life. It's how I became me. It's my journey.

At times I know I needed an 8th day of the week. Many times!! Even over the last few months, I have moved, taken on a new management responsibility, maintained my home business expansion project, started a meetup, had a few yard sales, worked with a coach, taken a bow safety course, kept up with my blogs, helped family, had a baby shower, made the duck in a bucket cake, making a baby quilt, cleaned, cleared, patched, painted walls and mowed into the night. It makes me tired just writing it down.

Through it all, I never lost sight of the importance of enjoying the moment. Just every once in awhile, expressing how happy I was to still be here. So happy it makes me to help other people. So happy that I have a husband that is faithful and devoted. Happy that I still have one parent. Happy my kids are healthy and happy. Happy for the possibilities that tomorrow brings with it.

Despite the need for that 8th day of the week...I hope you tell yourself how happy you are too. There is plenty...no more than enough...way too much even of the negative thoughts that we are bombarded with daily from our environment. Think and be thankful...Be happy!

Get More by Doing Less

Everybody wants more for less. Usually this is when we are talking money. But here I am talking a bigger asset...actually your BIGGEST ASSET ...your time.

It's your biggest asset because it's really worth the most to you. It's really all you have to invest in anything. You invest time in doing projects, in going to work, in spending time with friends and family, in building a business. You can invest money, but if you don't have the time to save it, watch it grow or spend it, it's really not much good to you.

So how do we get more? What do we want more of? Money, time, friends, stuff...you fill in the blank. I want more___________________.

Now let's figure out how you can get more of it. Did you say money?
Get more money by:
1- working another part time job
2- selling something you don't use anymore
3- save a little every paycheck
4- spend less on those extras that you don't really need
5- do odd jobs around town
6- quit a habit that costs money or do it less
7- don't reward yourself by buying something
8- if you are addicted to shopping, get help to shop less
9- grow your own veggies
10- barter with a friend for services so you spend less

What other things did you think of?? Comment below for the rest of us.

Did you say time?
Get more time by:
1- getting up earlier each morning
2- plan out your errand route so you do less backtracking
3- cook for the week so you cook less every day
4- get the family on board with chores and do less yourself
5- take a nap and stay up later at night
6- get organized so you aren't looking for things as often
7- simplify your life as much as possible
8- throw away the junk you don't need-having less takes less time to manage.
9- make a schedule for the day - work for 1 hr per project- you use less time but you actually get more done
10- hire someone to do it for you- you have less to do and they have more:)

What other things did you think of?? Comment below for the rest of us.

Did you say friends?
Get more friends by:
1- joining a small group in the community
2- going to a worship service
3- be open to having a conversation with others more often
4- get out more and spend less time being bored
5- go to that class reunion
6- play more golf, tennis, bowl
7- stop telling yourself you don't have time or you don't know anyone
8- do something nice for someone in need
9- volunteer more
10- smile and look approachable

What other things did you think of?? Comment below for the rest of us.

So wrapping this up, you can see that changing your thinking around the things that you want will make it happen. It's the thinking that you are doing more of and then it's easier to do less of the things you don't like and get more of what you do. As always, stay healthy and if you get stuck on anything I talked about. Know my door is always open and conversation always welcome. 1-800-503-0483 (EST)

Watch out for that Iceberg!!

The dangerous thing about icebergs isn't what they look like on the surface. It's what lurks beneath that causes the ship wrecks.

As I was contemplating why I feel "overwhelmed" with all the daily requirements of people (especially women) today. I want you to take a look too.

Picture we are in the frigid Antarctic. We are looking out over the vast waters and see several, small, floating, flat, chunks of ice. We get to daydreaming about stepping from one to the other and how fun that would be. All of a sudden we have a really great idea. (All great ideas don't come from the Antarctic by the way) Let's see if we can stand with one foot on one chunk and the other foot on another chunk.  We let our mind take us through the motions. First one foot then the other. We made it! Now what? Hmmm...our feet seem to be slowly drifting in opposite directions. We realize this could be a problem. What do we do next?

Well, I hate to leave you at that critical moment in the story...but isn't our daily life really like a bunch of floating ice chunks? Each chunk being something we are responsible for each day? How many chunks are floating in your Antarctic? How are you keeping your balance? Are you looking around for someone to help you out? Is there anyone in sight? How will your story end?

Years and years ago, people were more community oriented. They had people, they had help. But today everyone is running around, (especially women, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and men too) trying to do it all! Every day! Looking for that 8th day of the week to rest or get caught up (is that possible?).

What you see above the water may feel like you are going down. Are you trying to juggle...or multitask, like I love to do (but don't do well)? Do you feel like you are going to have to split yourself down the middle or go down trying?

Those chunks are not even the real iceberg! Those are just the chunks that we try to manage that have broken off. But the iceberg...is your health. You can see how you feel on the surface. You know when you are tired, stuffy, ache, itchy, sick or look ok as you pass by a mirror. But underneath the surface...you really don't know what shape you are in, do you? What you can't see, is what you need to be weary of. The stress in our daily lives can cause us to be ship wrecked!

Eat foods that are real, not processed, sugared or diet, drink filtered water, use natural, organic products, move your body as much as you can. Take a day off , no really... a day off to rest and enjoy the moment. Start putting your community of people together that want to live healthy. Those people that will give you encouragement, inspiration and socialization. Learn what changes you can make in your life. Become more natural.

Visit me (a holistic nurse) online today! www.sandrabullard.com

Stay Healthy,

PRODUCTIVITY MADE SIMPLE

I know it sounds crazy but, we really can get more time in our day by being productive. WHAT??? SPEAK ENGLISH right? More hours in the day? NO i said more time.

I learned this just a few weeks ago, so you can teach an old dog a new trick!
Productivity is achieved by using a system. A system that works with you to keep you on track during your day.
The most organized person on earth is getting more done each day. So they feel very productive ((Unlike me when I heard about this, getting hardly anything accomplished but being as busy as hell.)

So here is the system that I learned from a friend of a friend,Eben Pagan. Hissystem has changed my life!!

It's called the 60-60-30 Solution and it's part of his 90 day program. I strongly suggest you watch all of his videos if this captures your interest at all.

This is a way to organize your work time so you achieve maximum results, then take a break to renew your energy and focus. You will want to see what he says about your productivity pyramid before you start. You work for two 60 minute blocks of time and then take a 30 minute break.

Your first two 60 minute "Focus Blocks" should be used to do your high dollar value and/or high lifetime value activity. Whatever is your highest priority is to either bring you money or a better life. Then take a 30 minute break away. 

I can tell you it works! GO take a listen to Eben and let him tell you all about it. Eben...my friend....take it away! LISTEN TO EBEN NOW

Have the best Productive Day ever!!


 

Get more out of Life-Sprinkle Nutritional Yeast on your Food

It wasn't too long ago I didn't even know what it was. Yeast...I only knew of 2 kinds, the one that rises bread and the one that causes women to feel terrible. So when I heard of this, I was a bit against the idea at the start. I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that it could be "GOOD" for me. So if this is your perspective, you are about to learn a new thought....try to be open to it.

Here is WHY, when you use this you won't need an 8th day in your week to get everything done. You'll have stamina that you had when you were younger.

The Story of Nutritional Yeast: According to Bragg

WATCH THIS VIDEO



I only recommend what I myself use, that way I feel I can stand behind it and give you great personal testimonial and feedback on your questions.

Here is a helpful hint if you are new to this product: Start with a food that you would sprinkle Parmesan cheese on like spaghetti or soup. Use just a little until you see how it tastes on things and then add a bit more. Stick with the recommended serving size. I think you will enjoy the way you feel. Calmer nerves but full of natural nutritional energy!

Until we meet again,
Stay Healthy!