Staying on Top of Work | 2015

Whether you're going back to school, helping your kids catch the bus, or eagerly awaiting the new fashions, fall is right around the corner and with it comes the nostalgia for cooler temps and a drive to hunker down, and get back to work. It's no surprise that I (Emily, here!) have headed back to school for my next semester filled with unfortunate adventures and countless hours of working. Teaching yoga five days a week, owning my own business, and going to school full time has definitely allowed me to fine-tune my ability to stay on top of work, so I thought I'd share my three no-fail tips with you. It's important to stay organized, keep a healthy time mentality, and make time for yourself. Let's get to it ...

Master list.

This piece of paper or a Word page or a folder in Evernote (more on my favorite apps to use later) has every single to-do item. Crazy right? Nope. It's life changing. Organize them into subheaders - i.e. dreams, home, work, etc - and start adding everything and anything under them. Writing down all of those "oh! I wish/need/could do that" will help with the endless cycle of what you need to get done, what you have gotten done, and what you hope to accomplish. I have a list that's several pages long but includes things I want to do ten years from now (like owning my own home - dream!).

Weekly list.

Your master list has been created. Do not and I repeat, do not, fold up that master list and start each day gawking at how much you want to do and how much you've yet to do. Que the failure. Instead, at the beginning of each week - Sundays work for most people - sit down with your master list and make your weekly to-do list. On this baby, include things like what immediately needs to get done, meals you want to have for the week, any exercise plans, social events, etc. Pull from your master list, but don't expect to get through it all in a week. Try to be realistic with what you can accomplish. If on your master list you have "Write a Book" but you've yet to write a single page, break it up into manageable pieces like, "research publication mediums, write bio, draft outline, etc". Small tasks allow for an undaunted approach to your goals.

Daily list.

This is where you take that weekly list and turn it into your daily task sheet. Take five minutes the night before to plan out your daily list. I use the 5-3-1 formula. Five big ticket tasks, 3 small steps, and one to two personal self-care items.

For example, my daily list two days ago looked like:

+ 5 Big-Ticket Items - draft Yoga for Basketball Philosophy outline, finalize and post Foods I Take to Wake: First Edition, meet with Beth and Mason, go to Class, and start Staying on Top of Work Post.

+ 3 Small Steps: emails - reply to the athletic trainer, email my past econ professor, and send my outline to Dana; purchase my textbook for German; purchase a gift.

+ Personal Self-care: take a Barre3 class and work on wall hanging - art project.

On this list you'll also see my meals for the day - or at least where I'm eating and at what time.

I love the thrill of crossing things out or checking things off, so by the end of the day, my list normally looks like a black hole - paper copy - or all green - online app. Cross it off your weekly list too! Annnnnd if you hit something on your master list, you guessed it, cross it off! You did it! Woohoo!

Every couple of weeks or every month, sit down and review your master list: cross off things you've missed, maybe take off items in which you no longer have interest, or add even more. It's a constant process, but one that keeps your life rooted in action rather than fear.

50 minutes of work followed by ten minutes of stretching your fingers, shaking your booty, checking out a cool blog, or sipping on some tea. Gauge your time frame of productive ability, and remember that each day is different. Some days, I operate on a 30/15 focus, while other days I can hammer out work at a 55/5 pace. It's amazing how when you listen to your mind's ability to focus, and don't force it to do anything crazy like work for three hours with only a five minute break, you can maximize productivity and cross off everything on your daily list.

So you've planned your life down to a T, and you've maximized productivity in the blocks you've allotted for yourself. It's time to make time for rest and self-care too. Without it, you get sick, fall back on work, lose your drive, and end up right where you began. Burning the candle on both ends might make a bright and beautiful light, but pretty soon the light fizzles out, and there isn't anything left.

Personal self-care items can be: read a book, call a friend, or take a bubble bath. They are meant as ways of rejuvenating your system.

Still don't think it's important? Imagine if you never rubbed the belly of a service dog or let them take a nap but made them work all of the time. Think they would be the loving, capable, and incredible animals we hear about or see every day? I certainly don't think so. Self-care = most important part.

And remember it's all a process! Some days it works amazingly, and other days you throw your plan to the wind, get under the covers, and watch four seasons of a great show on Netflix. It happens. But now you have the tools to get back on track.

So there you have it! My three, go-to tips for staying on top of work. I'm sure I'll be rereading my own words when I get too stressed to think, but that's life, eh? Just remember:

1. Write it all down.
2. Block it out.
3. Don't forget self-care.

+ Do these seem doable? What are your go-to productivity tips?

How-To: Getting Back to Normal Life after a Holiday

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We've all been there. Countdown to the three day weekend starts four weeks out; work pick up, but there is the freedom of that extra day coming. And then before you know it, those days fly by, and you're back at work feeling like you'll never make it through the week. Maybe leading up to the holiday you were eating a certain way or exercising a certain way that made you feel really good, but now that there is no encouraging promise of adventure, that routine slips to a passing thought. All the things that gave you such a buzz are now mellowed out by the post-high of the holiday. It's the same across the board: vacations, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, the winter holidays, etc; we all get the happy glow of it's coming and the sadness of it's passing. So how can you keep that happy bubble fixed in place despite the lack of impending holiday? I've (Emily, here) got you covered with some tips & tricks.

1. Make Good Use of your Photos

We're all about those snapchats, and we live to document our lives with little shots and short video clips. Look at them again. It'll give you a fun thing to reminisce over and look forward to the next time when you can make s'mores, hang out with the people you really like, and partayyyy.

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2. Breathe and Allow Yourself Time to Adjust

A lot of the time, we've spent the entire weekend going going going. It's easy to let that bleed into the week where you're sleeping right up until you have to leave, rushing around, and finding yourself at work where you aren't even productive, because you didn't allow yourself a moment to reset. Take that time. Wake up a little earlier, sit down with your coffee (or green tea or lemon water), and breathe. Reflect on the awesomeness of your past weekend or week. What did you like about it? What would you like to do again? What would you have done differently? Then slowly switch to the coming week and what it is bringing. What do you have to accomplish? What scares you to tackle? What are you excited to work on? Prepare yourself, before you leave for work, about what's coming up for you in the next five or so days.

3. Make Time for 'Little Holidays'

Just like you schedule a meeting or an appointment, schedule time with or for yourself. Put in time for a yoga or boot-camp class you've been wanting to take, or carve out space in your day to make that meal you keep pinning in on Pinterest. Little 'holidays' are great ways to have that anticipating thrill and reward. Schedule a date night. Make yourself a priority. When you take care of yourself doing the things that excite you and make you whole, you work better and are a better person to your coworkers, peers, and partner. I just started dedicating Sundays to self-care. I coined them a surprising, "Self-Care Sundays". Original, I know. It's nice to have that day where I do an exfoliating scrub, touch up my eyebrows, make yummy food, paint my nails if necessary, and read an awesome book that makes me smile. The more I do this, the more I look forward to this new, little ritual. That keeps me excited and pumped throughout the week [for the most part ;) ].

4. R & R: long weekends = lot's of plans = little sleep

Most likely, you are absolutely exhausted after that long weekend. Between parties, preparation, going out, being around others, and so on and so forth, the sleepy levels increase. And if you are riding that high through Sunday night and falling asleep late only to be mad at the beeping of your alarm come Monday morning, you might want to schedule more rest. No, not more hours logged in front of Netflix, but head on the pillow, deep into REM, rest. Being refreshed for your next day and having the energy to tackle the post holiday work load will be worth that unwatched episode season of Orange is the New Black.

5. Start Small

Once you're in work, start in on those tasks that you know you can accomplish quickly. Get them crossed of your list, and notice how you can be productive and successful even with the small things. When you feel more energized to tackle the bigger projects, start moving towards those. While you're at it, break up those huge projects into easy to digest and accomplish little steps. Productivity sky rockets, expectations are actualized, and stress levels will drop. Side note: if you don't write your tasks down, start now. Having something to look at (or scroll through) with everything you need to accomplish will keep your mind from breaking down and will allow you to visually see how much you have gotten done and what is realistic for you during the day.

6. Up & Out

Little breaks away will keep you refreshed. Trust me. The reason work gets stagnant is thanks to trying to constantly be 'on' in our office. Our ability to work energetically and productively dwindles the more time we go on over a project without a few breaths away. Those ten minute walks around the office (or outside if you can) or lunch away from your desk can allow your mind to recharge, your creativity to spark all over again, and keep your production levels in tip top shape. If you find yourself working 2-3 hours straight and don't ever come up for air, consider setting an alarm every 50 minutes and stretching or moving around for the last ten minutes of the hour. 

7. Accountability Partner's for the Win

Sometimes, free will and dedication alone just doesn't cut it. That's when I like to reach out to my accountability partner. I check in with her in the beginning of the day, letting her know what I need to accomplish throughout the day and what I hope to have finished the next time we check in. Knowing there is someone else who has a list of that day's goals (or that week's project) makes me work harder and not slack off. Find someone who doesn't push your buttons or make you irritated, but at the same time encourages you to accomplish everything you've set your sights on. I know that if I need a little cheering on and motivation, I can get it, but I also know that if I fall behind, she'll remind me to stay realistic in my daily abilities.

Getting back into the groove after an awesome weekend doesn't have to be hard. If you're having trouble, just come back to these tried and true tips & tricks. Try one, or try a couple at a time, and see what works.

1. Make Good Use of your Photos 2. Breathe and Allow Yourself Time to Adjust 3. Make Time for Little Holidays 6. R & R: long weekends = lot's of plans = little sleep 8. Start Small 5. Up & Out 9. Accountability Partner's for the Win

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More || Embrace Yourself Series Pt. II

This is part of the Embrace Yourself Series. It's all about leaving the notion of fitting into boxes behind and instead, finding the space within to respect and value who we are in this very moment. See the first post and first steps from last week here.

Sometimes, life wants you to be an image. But life is messy and glorious and anything but a picture perfect snapshot. How are you more?

I am more than my belly. I am more than the thoughts of others in regards to the female ideal. I am more than the ideal pick-up, the catcalls, or the careless compliments that verge on inappropriate. I am more than advertisements telling me I must lose more weight or grow more inches or eat this something or other. I am more than blue eyes and blonde hair. I am more than the clothes I do or do not wear. I am more than the size of my chest, the stretch of my jeans, more than the way I fill out my sweaters, more than the height of my heels or the tightness of my pants. Without a doubt, I am more than what is seen.

I am thoughts that take flight into action. I am a sweet dessert filled with the most wholesome and glorious ingredients. I am bare feet sinking into the sand with the waves crashing down. I am heart shaped confetti falling from a midnight sky. Giggles that turn into kisses and smiles that turn into the longest hugs, I am love incarnate. I am not defined by my size, by the thoughts of others, or by the events that happen in the past. I am even more than these little thoughts, but sometimes more can be too much and acknowledgement is just enough.

+ tell me, how are you more? Let me know on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or in the Comments Below

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