Don’t Wait!

How is the start to your 2019? Have you begun to make those New Year dreams that truly inspired you into a reality in your home? How about your health, your happiness?  Or, are you beginning to feel defeated and uninspired? Have you gone back to the habits of your daily routine?

The first step to making change is to assess where you are. From there you can determine where you want to be, what needs to be accomplished to achieve your goals and then to take action that is in alignment with your aspirations. This is true for every area of your life be it your home, health and happiness. One of the biggest obstacles to creating the life and home you love is the tendency to procrastinate. The, “Oh, I will do it later” syndrome.  In today’s article we will look at a few simple solutions to help you begin accelerating towards the ideal vision of your life and obliterate the tendency to procrastinate. Sound good?

Procrastination can turn the landscape of life into a quagmire that leaves you feeling trapped and unable to move forward.  Free yourself from the bondage of procrastination by utilizing these simple solutions. They will generate momentum allowing you to begin designing the home, health and happiness you deserve!

First, understand that your life is made up of thoughts and actions that are more than 86% habitual. These habits are ingrained and become the motor behind your motivation. When procrastination surfaces it is because your proverbial ‘engine’ has been hijacked by your habitual, auto-pilot behavior. The first step to removing this autopilot mode is gaining the awareness that it is just that. This will enable you to put your hands back on the steering wheel of your life. It is time for you to be in the cockpit controlling where you are going and your final destination.

Next, begin to put systems in place to reinforce the habits you want to form. Determine what your big vision is for you home, health and happiness and decide what habits would help you move towards this goal with ease and grace. Create a system that will help to fortify this habit in your life. For example, if you decide you want to be more organized, take small steps to clear clutter and organize specific areas. Decide on a specific time each day (one that is convenient for you) to begin to implement your new activity. Do this task at the same time each day. This will help you form a positive, life-affirming habit that will help you put your ideal vision on the fast track of success.

Lastly, rinse and repeat. When you feel you have created a helpful habit that is going to stick for the long haul, it is time to look at the next habit you can create to help move you closer to your ideal vision for your dream life.

Creating habits one step at a time will help you move through the blocks that procrastination forms and put you on a trajectory that will have you designing your inspired, healthy and vibrant home, body, mind and spirit.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Christa O'Leary

 

 

Image Credit: BBC dot com

Do this for a Stress-Less Holiday Season

Did you know that the decorations you choose during the holidays can have an impact on your level of stress? Hopefully you are in festive spirits!… But, if you are feeling anxiety, stress and agitation there is a way to decrease those feelings by making small adjustments to your space!

I was asked to do a TV segment on Mass Appeal on how to create a Stress-Less Holiday and I gave a few simple solutions that you can do in your home environment to help decrease your level of stress and anxiety.

Watch the video below!

Wishing you an abundance of peaceful blessings during the holiday season!

Happy Soaring,

Christa O'Leary

 

 

Attitude of Gratitude this Holiday Season!

I want to take a minute to say “Thank You!” for your patience!! You haven’t seen or heard from me in a bit (about 11 months) and I wanted to give you an explanation! I know that some of you have reached out to say, “Where are you?” and “I miss you”. Thank you for the constant reminders that this is an important part of Home in Harmony!! That said, there is a reason that I took the time off from writing my blog & newsletter, let me explain…

I believe in focusing on one thing at a time and doing it really well. We live in a culture that is scattered & frenetic… this can be overwhelming! Can you relate? Do you race from one thing to the next, never fully completing your goal or at least, not completing the things well? When things in your life are not completed well, you lose the opportunity to be satisfied with each endeavor or proud of your accomplishment. When you don’t actually complete the things or opportunities that come up it creates clutter & overwhelm in your mind and energy. Both of these things deplete, create stress and anxiety.

My number 1 goal for 2018 was to open Home in Harmony Design Studio & Store. I plunged in head first. I knew that I would need to let some things go to make space for this new endeavor… especially if I wanted to do it well.

So, I wanted to say “Thank You” during this time of year which can be reflective and full of gratitude. In honor of these sentiments.. here are some simple ways to include gratitude into this season…

The message of gratitude can sometimes get lost as the holiday decorations come out and the marketing machine of consumerism has one thinking thoughts that have moved beyond the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie to contemplation of festive Egg Nog. Let’s look at what gratitude is and living in a state of gratitude as we move through the season ahead.

Gratitude is an emotional state of appreciation and thankfulness. This is often confused by a consumer-driven emphasis placed on needs and wants. It is interesting that the Thanksgiving holiday based on gratitude is juxtaposed with the consumer driven frenzy of current-day Christmas. When thinking about the two holidays I am amazed at the range of sensations that arise within me. Emotions range from calm to overwhelm while physical responses run the gamut from deep breathes to a clenched jaw. Moving into the season of stress light, it is important to incorporate practices that will foster a sense of gratitude that encourages balance and calm.

Gratitude Journal:

My personal favorite gratitude practice is the gratitude journal. For me, it is a beautiful way to begin each day. It sets the tone for the day ahead and reminds me what I am grateful for, what went well the previous day and makes me walk through my day consciously looking for things that fill me with gratitude.

Gratitude Share:

We have a family gratitude ritual with our children on the nights we are able to incorporate family dinners into the rigorous extracurricular schedule. We go around the table with each person mentioning something they are grateful for. This could be something that happened that day or a continuous circumstance that they are thankful for. There are some nights where they aren’t excited to share anything and instead revert to “I’m thankful for mom’s dinner”. Regardless of what is shared it gives my husband and I a good barometer for where they are mentally. It also instills the practice of being consciously connected to gratitude.

Gratitude Tablescape:

A few years ago we began a tradition during Thanksgiving Dinner to write what we are grateful for on the family tablecloth. I found a neutral ivory linen cloth (you can use a tablecloth or runner) and some fabric markers to begin this tradition. We would write the one thing we were grateful for during the past year, sign it and date it. The fabulous thing about this tradition was that each year you could look back and see what your thoughts were in previous years and it also made you think of what truly filled you with gratitude that was important enough to place on the cloth for your future self to see. I am also able to see what thoughts inspired my beloved grandmother, with her wisdom and grace. This reminder warms my heart and makes me thankful for the years of love and guidance given by this beautiful angel who now watches over our Thanksgiving Dinner.

Including the practice of gratitude in your life can help to move you from overwhelm and stress to a state of blissful balance. Daily, weekly or yearly habits and traditions can consciously connect you to gratitude, which is directly linked to a sense of happiness and well-being… the perfect gift during the holidays.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Christa O'Leary

 

 

Picture credit: buyerselect dot com/blog/fall-home-decor/

Tv Tips…

San Diego CW Channel 8 invited me to come discuss a few key elements to show you how to make your home feel and look it’s best so that you can feel your best this Spring!

We discussed some of my favorite topics…

  • How to organize the clutter!
  • Ways to add pops of color!
  • How to detoxify the air you breath!

You can get these easy, simple solutions by watching the CW 8 segment by clicking the image below..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would love to hear how you are creating your Home in Harmony this Spring! Comment and post on our Instagram page!

Happy Soaring!

Christa O'Leary

 

 

PS…Don’t forget, we have the FREE 14 Day Clutter Clearing Challenge to support your Spring Cleaning…click here!

 

 

You Get To!

It is that time of year!

SPRING!!!

Here in the Northeast the buds are peaking out of the ground, the air is starting to blow in warmer breezes and the cacophony of birds & peepers are singing their song!

It makes me want to open the windows & doors and allow the fresh air to filter through the house and cleanse any stagnant energy & toxins that have built up over the winter.

Are you with me?

It is such an inspiring and exciting time of year… and I am feeling enthusiastic to embark on a Spring Cleaning!

Here are some ways to add the excitement back into your Spring Cleaning!

Let me give you four quick Spring Cleaning tips or simple solutions to help you create a Home in Harmony!

*Open the Windows!

Allow the crisp, fresh air to circulate around your home to detox the air and move any stagnant energy!

*Swap Winter Garments

This is one of my favs! Putting the jackets, mittens, sweaters and hats away and bringing out the bright colors! A colorful closet adds energy to your space and puts a smile on your face!

*Brighten & Lighten!

The colors we tend to use in the winter season embrace a more cozy aesthetic. Now it is time to brighten up and lighten up! Swap out dark color pillows and throws for something lighter and brighter!

*Décor Adjustment

Take a minute to notice if you have any left-over decorations from the winter holidays.  Anything, including candles from Christmas, placemats with Easter Bunnies or snowmen with carrot noses… I am sure you understand. Is there something in your environment that needs attention? Take a minute to put it away for next year. Even if those items don’t seem top-of-mind, they do weigh you down on an unconscious level.

Take some time to assess your environment and determine what is connected to the “old” energy of winter. Embrace the season we are stepping into by connecting your environment to the seasonal rhythm of nature. Looking at Spring Cleaning through this lens can be energizing and inspiring instead of looking at the tasks as something that is arduous.

“You Get To!” instead of “You Have To.”

What if we looked at all of life through that lens?

Happy Soaring!

Christa O'Leary

 

 

PS…Don’t forget, we have the FREE 14 Day Clutter Clearing Challenge to support your Spring Cleaning…click here!