How Do You Clear You Head?

We all know the feeling.

You lie in bed, slowly awakening, open your eyes, and either the sunlight or the alarm clock is glowing too brightly. As soon as your mind wakes up, BOOM the clutter of life hits you. 

Random to-do list items, things to tell people, messages you need to send, oh yea, and don't forget to brush your teeth this morning. Things that have been in the back of your mind for days - all hit you at once. And you suddenly find yourself staring into the deep abyss of a cluttered mind.

I know for me this absolutely ruins my day. I'm scatterbrained. Tired. Unable to focus on any one thing. As soon as I start one task, another interrupts and on goes my day.

Unless....

Unless I actively choose one of my "clear my head" activities.

What are these?

These are the activities you consciously choose to do when your brain feels like a cluttered back closet, to refocus and clear your mind, so you can tackle the many things life throws at you.

Why do I say consciously?

I say consciously because many times when you are overwhelmed, stressed and tired you feel like your 'clear my head' activity is the absolutely last thing you should be doing because you have so many other things to be focusing on instead.

However, if you understand yourself well enough, you know that this activity will only make things better and not worse.

So why am I writing about this now?

Because this happened to me today.

I went to sleep last night with plans for a wonderfully productive day. Then when I awoke everything started going wrong and within an hour I froze up due to feeling completely and utterly overwhelmed.

I let myself stay in this state up until lunch. But after lunch I knew what I had to do. 

It pushed against everything I was feeling. It didn't seem important enough. Yet I have learned from experience that when I just can't do life anymore my coping mechanism is RUNNING.

Yes running. For some reason whether I have a good run or not (and trust me the one I just returned from was NOT a good run - going, stopping, distracted, etc...) it still helps me to clear my head, focus and when I return, get down to the grind.

Which is why I find myself writing this post now. All in 15 minutes.

I want to encourage each of you to figure out what it is you need in order to clear your head.

You may find you have multiple activities that clear your head and thats great! For me its getting outside and exercise.

Ultimately its important to understand this so when we experience a cluttered day like the one I just described we have a coping mechanism.

So as I asked above, how do you clear your head?

And - if you've figured out some amazing trick or even normal mundane method please add it to the comments below. I would love to see what others are up too and you never know - it may even give a few of us some ideas.

Goals vs. Dreams

This morning I stumbled across this quote,

“Goals are dreams with a deadline.” Napoleon Hill

It’s true, hey?

For some reason this particular quote took me off guard. Something about it struck a chord. 

It could be because I am in the midst of transition with a never-ending to do list that I have finally decided to tackle with all of my ability.

It could also be because I spent the time in the Rituals for Living Dreambook I mentioned in my previous post and experienced the difference between the two firsthand.

The book asks you to outline your dreams for the next 1 year, 3 years, 10 years and lifetime. Then slowly once those are defined it is a matter of choosing the top three dreams, breaking them down into steps and setting dates for completion on these steps. Guided processing then helps break it down even further into very simple actionable steps. Suddenly you find you've made your dreams, goals.

From a lofty dream to actionable steps you can take tomorrow. 

That is the process of making your dreams a reality.

This whole process is actually quite simple yet we often find ourselves drifting when it comes to our dreams. 

Instead of doing the work to break them down, we figure that one day we will just wake up and things will be different. That once we have the time we can focus on “the dream”. Or that once a certain condition, like losing the weight or being married or living in a certain place is met, we will ONLY THEN make the change. Yet, in our ever crazy and digitally consuming lives we rarely find that time and instead use our “conditions” as an excuse as to why we have not made any steps towards our goal. 

Rather we need to wake up from this idea of perfect conditions. 

Ultimately, there will never be a perfect time. We all know this. We just need to recognize it.

I remember when I had this realization. It was 2012, right out of college and I found myself in that uncertain time in between the life of a student and a professional. I knew how to be a student and achieve in the academic world. However, when it came to personal dreams I had the notion that one day I would just figure it out and the timing would be right. However, that time never came.

Instead, I found myself at a point of frustration where I knew I just had to start. In this particular case it was my weight and fitness that was driving me nuts. I had never successfully dieted and was never much of an athlete. So the day I decided to lace up my shoes and go outside was a big one. But I did it. And I did it everyday. At the same time I changed my diet and focused on core healthy foods. Within a few weeks there was a visible difference and I was amazed. This was the point when I realized how everyday steps allow you to achieve your dreams.

So whether you want to write a book, start a business, lose weight, travel the world or really anything else you can think of - start now. Break down those dreams into steps. Break down those steps into more steps. Set dates on each step. Break it down until it is possible to take that first step, and then the next one. 

Start tomorrow and begin your journey of making your dreams a reality.

A Special Calling

This New Year I came across what I believe to be one of the best tools for setting goals, refining vision and finding your purpose. 

It is called the Rituals for Living Dreambook + Planner (link below).

As the creators, Briana and Peter Borten say on the website, 

“The Rituals for Living Dreambook is a place for you to dream, craft, and forge new rituals. It helps you clarify and emphasize your true priorities, and establish a plan to bring them to the forefront of your life. It guides you to find enjoyment and specialness every step of the way. And it reminds you not to sacrifice your physical, psychological, or spiritual health as you start achieving goals like never before.”

I feel so compelled to share about this book because it provided me with a sense of purpose and clarity I have never experienced before. (This is not to be taken lightly as I have done more than my fair share of “find your purpose” exercises in the past.) 

In fact, I would recommend that everyone purchase this book and really spend the quality time needed to answer each question posed. The questions are written in such a way to get clarity on your vision, purpose, goals and ultimately how to break down each of those goals into actionable steps and rituals to make them a reality.

When I found myself spending the time to really dwell on the answers to these questions, I had the sudden realization that the way I initially built this website did not actually fit me or what I feel my purpose is. 

Which is why I took out the Health Coach page.

I am nearly done studying at Integrative Institute of Nutrition and I have loved it. Health and nutrition is something I find myself passionate about. However, a health coaching business doesn’t feel quite right for me at this moment in time.

Maybe it will be right sometime in the future. But as of 2016, at this point in my life where I am reestablishing myself once again in a new place and at a new beginning, I know it isn't quite the right thing just yet.

Instead I am a Connection Facilitator. 

My purpose is to create community and to help others create community.

That is what I am good at and what I intend to focus this website on.

Now how do I intend to do this? I'm not so sure yet. That is still to come. But at this point in time I know the first thing I can do is establish a community, a tribe if you will, of people who are interested in this topic and want to join me on this new journey. (And if you would like to join sign up for the newsletter in the tab below.)

So that is what I intend to do with this blog.

And as new developments come along you will be sure to see them on this website. As new opportunities and ideas emerge I will grow with them. But as of now, this is where I intend to start.

So what about health and nutrition?

Well, it turns out I quite love health and nutrition and these core concepts come into every aspect of healthy community and how to be a whole person. Due to this I do not intend to drop these topics in any way and the training I received to be a health coach is absolutely applicable to this field of building connections, healthy relationships and community.

So if you or anyone you know has ever struggled with the questions,

How do I make friends after college?

How do I start over?

How do I find community?

Then this is the right place for you. 

And if you’re someone like me who enjoys community building, healthy living in general or if you’re a 20 something trying to figure out your unconventional life, this will be a place you find interesting to hang out.

So here goes nothing. And who knows it could change AGAIN. But as I should know by now, it’s totally A-OK to change.

- If you are in a place where you need to re-center on your vision, purpose or goals (whether or not it is New Years you can fill in the dates so you can really start anytime) make sure you check out The Rituals for Living Dreambook + Planner Here. -

(I was not paid to endorse this product. I wrote this out of the love of my heart.)