As I sit here on a transatlantic flight above the clouds, returning from the World Select Hockey Tournament in Prague & Munich, I begin to consider ways to make the “re-entry” into life gracefully manageable. With a recent increase in travel, both personally and professionally; I am realizing that a system for keeping family life, health, personal wellbeing and business rolling along as smoothly as the wheels on a plane roll down the runway, is imperative. It made the proverbial wheels in my mind begin to turn thinking about 11 Simple Solutions to make this part of life flow with ease and grace instead of being a tumultuous & bumpy touchdown. We will explore some of the easy action steps you can take to make re-entry from your vacation, getaway and business trip (or your on-the-go lifestyle) a smooth and fluid landing.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, this has been the year of travel.  I think I have traveled more in the last 6 months than in the last 2 years combined.  There have been trips across the Atlantic to London, Florence, Prague & Munich. Adventures North to Minneapolis, South to Florida, North Carolina, Philly, Florida, the Bahamas & NJ, and West to California. Recently I have begun to feel as though I am whirling in and out through a revolving door.

When an abundance of attention is given to one area of one’s life, other areas can begin to feel slightly out of balance or neglected.  This is true with anything and everything. When this happens it is important to develop ways to bring your life back to a state of equilibrium.  This can relate to travel or being on the go as well. In today’s demanding world that calls for travel or the on the go lifestyle, it is important to develop techniques to handle the strain and drain.

If you are always on the go or traveling, whether for business, family activities or fun it is sometimes necessary to find strategize to keep the calm instead of being caught up in the disruptive chaos that this can create.  Sitting on a plane for the umpteenth time made me begin to think about ways to make this process less disruptive and more effortless.

1. Leave your Home Orderly

The way you leave your home can set the tone for your level of stress upon return.  Actually, if you leave it a mess and can stress you out the entire time you are away from it. If there are piles of clutter or items that need to be tended to part of your brain will stay focused on the items that need your attention. This is true even if you are 3000 miles away. Try to make a habit of leaving your home orderly so that when you are away you can focus on the work or fun at hand and when you return it will be with a sense of relief and harmony.

2. Do the Laundry Before you Leave

It is typical to return from time away with items that need to be laundered. Make it a habit to wash, dry and put away laundry before you leave. This will allow you to efficiently and effectively deal with the new items that need washing when you get back without the hassle of a backup of items. It will also allow you to have outfits handy for the day ahead without the need to scramble to find something to wear.

3. Categorize Items

Speaking of laundry, when packing your suitcase to head home, organize it so that your dirty items can be laundered with ease.  Simply separating dirty from clean and color categories for laundry items will save you time when unpacking.

4. Hangers

One of my favorite Simple Solutions is to pack items on wire hangers (because wire hangers take less space in a carry on), which allows you to easily unpack, repack and put away those items.  For me this is a huge time saver.

5. Fresh Linens on Your Bed

There is nothing like coming home to your own bed after being away! I sometimes long for my soft pillow or cozy blanket. Well, I will tell you that it feels even more delightful when your bed has crisp, clean sheets on it! Ahh, it feels so good!

6. Make a Meal Before you Leave

It can be sooo stressful to know that the fridge is totally cleaned out and you have nothing at the ready for your return. Take some time to plan out your food plan before you leave. This will help reduce stress and eliminate the inclination to grab something that is a less healthy alternative just because it is convenient.  Making and freezing a homemade soup or lasagna can be a super Simple Solution that will redirect the appeal of fast food.

7. The Essentials

Ask a friend, sitter or relative to buy a few essential items to have for your return.  I was thinking about ways to make life easier for my own children when they travel one day. It dawned on me that it would be fun to fill their refrigerators with perishable essential items when they return.  I know that my hubby would love to come home to his nightly ritual of a glass of milk and 2 Newman’s Own Oreo cookies. Tonight that won’t be possible because we will have been gone to long for the milk to last. If a parent isn’t available, maybe you can think of a friend or dog sitter that will be happy to accommodate your request.

8. Plan Your Sleep Schedule

When something is in motion I tend to get lulled to sleep. That being said, I do my best to think about the time zone I am landing in and the time it will be. On this trip we will be landing in the evening and are encouraging our kids to stay awake for the entire 8-hour flight so that they will want to sleep when we get home. This Simple Solution only takes a little pre-planned thought but can have a huge impact on your adjustment and level of energy for the days ahead.

9. Exercise

It is amazing how exercise can help how you feel when you are on the go.  It has a huge impact on your mind, body and spirit! Exercising can give you energy, help beat jet-lag and counter all the calories from foods you might not usually eat. Make a practice of sweating for 30-minutes before, during and after you travel.

10. Drink Plenty of Water

Water is imperative whether you are traveling, constantly on the go or not. Drinking plenty of water will help you keep hydrated, stay regular and flush your system.

11. Email Inundation

In one of my most recent blogs I wrote about Email Inundation and gave you Simple Solutions on how to handle this hazard with ease and grace. Click here to take a look and gain some quick tips on handling the blitz of emails that can take over your inbox when you are on the go.

There are ways to re-enter life without the dread that can be accompany the return. Use these Simple Solutions to help you navigate the disruption of your on the go life style.

I would also love to hear from you what your tips and tricks are to overcome the overwhelm when on the go. Leave your comments below or join the conversation on the Home in Harmony Facebook Page.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

I began to write this blog a few weeks ago but was unsure of whether to further explore the topic. I wasn’t sure if a discussion would add to the sense of sadness or instill a sense of hope. I decided to share my words that were written a week before any violence transpired in Germany because I thought it would be helpful to give you solutions to finding calm in the midst of chaos….

We live in a world of contrast. After a wonderful night out at our favorite Italian café with our kids, we came home to the deplorable news of the attacks in Nice, France. I asked one of our older children if they had heard the news. Their response was one of normalized sadness. What do I mean when I say that? I mean that in this time and space, incidences of mass assaults are becoming part of the world culture. A new norm. In this week’s article I think it is important to talk about this phenomena, what you can do and how you (& we) can instill harmony inside our hearts, our homes and out into the world.

I know that a discussion regarding attacks seems far from a typical Home in Harmony topic of conversation. But, given the global climate it is an important conversation to have if you are to live in this world and feel at peace and in harmony while these occurrences happen at an increasing rate.

I was reading an article in USA Today by an Irish obstetrician who came with his wife & newborn son to the US for a year to be part of a research team. After the year was complete he chose to go back to Ireland and felt a sense of “relief” because statistics demonstrate that he & his family are less likely to be harmed in his native land of Ireland. I found this sad given that the “American Dream” has been about freedom, opportunity and the pursuit of happiness for so many generations.

My husband and I were having a discussion about why terrorists attack specific countries and would our family be safe on our next international adventure that is only weeks away. One of the stops for the World Select Tournament (girl’s ice hockey) is in Munich, which has typically been a safe destination. Ironically, in the same USA Today there was also an article about refugees who have found shelter in Germany. Unfortunately, among the refugees, authorities have found a percentage of evacuees are radicalized and have arrived with the intention to convert others to their religious beliefs or do harm. I am amazed at the scope of the issue.

I share this because it was something that I needed to ponder as a mother who wants to keep her children safe as they travel the world.

I share this because I want to find ways to instill a sense of security and stability in my children, for our family and for you.

I share this because I want to impart a sense of deep peace and inner & outer harmony to you, to your community and the big, beautiful world.

It is important to understand that living in a world that has chaos and violence can have an impact on your overall sense of well-being. Our bodies are not designed to function on a level of danger all of the time. When there is an immediate danger your body goes into “over-drive” sending a cascade of hormones and responses that allow you to get out of harms way. This response was never designed to be the default setting. It is not supposed to be the norm. It peaks, you respond and then it goes back to equilibrium to rejuvenate and restore. By understanding this you can take action to limit the extent of the influence. Unfortunately in a world where the new normal is a place where random acts of violence occur it is important to counter that with stress reducing methods that will help you rebalance and find grounding, harmony and peace.

You can use your home as a cue to connect to the calm instead of the chaos. Your home can be your safe haven and sanctuary to restore, balance and ground you. No matter how tumultuous the outside world gets your inner world can remain stable.

Cues & To Dos

Look around your home and find an object that represents peace, security and harmony. It can be anything from a saying you put on your fridge to a jar of sea glass sitting on the counter. If you don’t have anything, find something that represents the Universe being a safe, loving and protective force in your life. This simple step will trigger the subconscious part of your mind to unconsciously feel peace.

Make a plan to connect your environment with some much-needed deep breathing. Deep breathing allows your central nervous system to calm down and restore. Find something in your environment that will help to remind you to take a few deep breaths. Maybe it is every time you walk through a doorway, turn on your computer or switch a light on. Allow this cue to help you create a helpful habit that will bring harmony into your head & home.

Everyday make a point of reflecting on the beautiful, peaceful things you are grateful for. This will help you focus on the positivity that is all around you. What we focus on expands in our lives. This will allow you to bring more peace into your inner and outer world. You will be a beacon of light that will help illuminate any dark corners.

Our lives are a study in contrast. Finding ways to counter disharmony and connect to harmony will help you thrive in a world where disparity lives. My hope is that these Simple Solutions will help bring calm to you despite chaos.

I would love to hear the Simple Solutions that have helped you find peace when you hear of the sad events that sometimes take place in our complex world. Please share in our comments section! Your comment could help someone who is feeling overwhelmed by the world events!

Wishing you peace, harmony and light!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Sunday I flew home on a romantic high after spending 5 solid days with my husband in the intoxicatingly beautiful city of Florence, Italy. Mid-morning I opened my computer in trepidation knowing I hadn’t checked emails in a number of days. The aftermath was clear, piles of emails had flooded in and I began to feel a knot grow in my belly. My romantic high quickly dissipated and slipped away into a deep abyss that felt like I was being strangulated by a serpent about to take me under murky waters as I watched the number of unopened emails steadily climb. Have you ever experienced the dread of opening your inbox?

Every so often a friendly debate arises in our house around technology. There are two camps; (1) taking a vacation from technology is beneficial on a regular basis and (2) you should keep tabs on your technology so that it doesn’t pile up. Obviously there are merits to both views.

The first theory believes that the over inundation of technology dampens your spirit, inhibits your creativity and creates a consistent level of stress that throws off mind, body and spirit. Studies have shown that forgetting to shut-off from technology or work diminishes productivity and diminishes the connection to inspiration and creativity.

Conversely, the second theory suggests that having technology in the room or around during evening & weekend hours is beneficial because it alleviates the “Monday morning stress” of piled up emails, correspondence and to-do lists.

Today I am going to share my view. I would also love to hear yours! Leave your comment on the Home in Harmony Facebook Page!

Despite my reaction to the email aftershock of my Italian getaway, I am a proponent of taking time off from technology. That being said, I think it is crucial to have a system in place to help tidy the tenacious overflow from the inbox so that you and I do not have one of those gut-wrenching moments where we are asking ourselves, “Was it worth it?”

Let’s look at a Simple Solution and easy system to help you tame that technology and inbox..

• Techno Time-Out

Pick a time that the technology disappears and put it away for the evening. Stick to it! This gives you a needed break from technology that creates a stress response within your body, which impacts sleep, creativity, motivation and your overall sense of wellbeing. (Check out Chapter 3 in Home in Harmony: Designing an Inspired Life for why this is critical.)

• Techno Vacation

Every once in awhile dare to be different and shut off the technology for a day or more. This will allow you to re-calibrate and come back into balance with your technology. Have you ever witnessed, as you look around your environment, that the technology in people’s hands keeps them locked in wrapped attention. Allow yourself to disconnect so that you can reconnect with real life in the 4D world.

Side note for stress…

So the idea of shutting off or powering down might have you feeling a little antsy.  I totally understand! I forgot my phone when I was out on an errand and the initial stress made me think about turning around to go get it. Thankfully the calmer part of my mind stepped in and reminded me that it was a relatively quick errand and I could handle the separation for that portion of time. It also reminded me that the generations before you & I did just fine with the phone secured to the wall.

• Master Your Inbox

Create a system to tame the tenacious technological inundation of the inbox. Basically, clear the clutter. Here is a easy system…

• Go through and delete first without reading anything. I like to play a little game… I try to see how many emails I can delete in one fell swoop. Ahh, I love to scroll down through unopened emails and hit the shift delete buttons. My record is 200 at one time! My computer was confused and asked if I really meant to delete that many items… my internal response said “Heck ya!!” It was so freeing! It was a similar feeling to clutter clearing a stuffed closet.
• From there go back and see what items are critical. Open up the critical ones so that they are sitting open on your screen. These are the items you need to respond to today. Give yourself a set amount of time and take care of it.
• Lastly, if there are items you need to look at but are not currently critical, stick them in a Priority Box. Open this once a week and see if there are items you really need to respond to now.

Remember that we live in a world that is enamored with instant gratification. We want answers now. People who are vying for your attention want there answer now. That doesn’t mean that you need to respond to there email, text or phone call right away. Get clear what your goals, visions and aspirations are in your life. This will help you decipher what is critical and what is nonsense noise in your world. This technique will help you distinguish quickly what can be deleted without the additional stress and confusion of whether you should or shouldn’t. A confused mind does nothing and remains stagnant. Relieve yourself of inertia or getting bogged down in a heap of technological turmoil.

Take a break.

Take a longer break.

Create a system so that the breaks work for you and not against you.

I would love to hear how you Tame the Tension of your Technology and your Inundated Inbox? Do you have a Simple Solution you can share? I would love to hear from you! Either leave a comment below or join the Home in Harmony Community on Facebook!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

photo credit: cios dot com

Do you know what is blocking you? Did you know your home can help you “see” what those blocks are?

I wanted to share an article I wrote in the Fall of 2014 that has some valuable tips at how your home can help you overcome mindset challenges that are holding you back. Your home can be the key to unlock the door to habits and patterns that are hindering your success in every area of your life.

I would love to hear if there are hints your home is giving you… share your story on the Home in Harmony Facebook Page by clicking here!

Have you ever heard the saying, “How you do one thing is how you do everything?” When I first heard this mantra I questioned its validity but, as I looked closer, I began to see how this tenant is oh-so-true! It is often much easier to see these types of patterns in other people’s lives instead of our own. You know, the friend who never follows through or the aunt who is meticulous about everything.  Interestingly, when you began to look at the patterns or habits in one area of your life, it can help you move through blocks that are holding you back in all areas. I invite you to begin noticing the patterns of your life. Especially in your home environment!  Your home can shed light on these patterns because your outer world is a direct reflection of what is going on inside your head. Yes, really. The best part is when you begin to notice the connection and take action, miracles can happen! Let’s look at the patterns that may be holding you back from home in harmony and your best life!

Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling overwhelmed you misplace things, stuff begins to pile up, or you have trouble keeping items organized? Don’t beat yourself up, instead realize this is natural and it gives you a clue as to what is going on in your head. It also reminds us that the adage, “The way you do one thing is how you do everything” is sage words of wisdom. Many times your home environment will begin to hint at what is truly going on for you emotionally, psychologically or physically before you notice that things are out of balance or in disharmony in your internal world. Gaining an awareness of what your environment is sharing and the patterns it is reflecting can help you navigate the habits that have become obstacles in your life.

When overwhelm creeps in and begins to roar that mighty roar take a look around and assess your environment. Notice if this is a pattern that is showing up for you in more than one area? How to address the pattern is a whole other subject. But, noticing that they are there is the first step in unwinding their hold on you.

Do you have a tendency to have undone tasks in many areas of your life? Maybe you haven’t gotten around to choosing that new paint color for your family room for the last five years, the work project you know you should begin sits waiting for your attention on your desk, and you haven’t hit the reply button on the emails you need to respond to in your inbox… these are all a sign of procrastination.  Again, notice in your life where you are procrastinating and begin to take small steps to move through this block.

Perfectionism is the sister (or brother) of procrastination. They both reflect an unconscious need to control your environment. Again, this can be seen in your internal world (the mind) or your external world (the environment). Noticing that this is a pattern that comes up can help you navigate the hurdle and move through it.

Unfortunately, when you are not able to see the unconscious habits that have you moving along on life’s path unknowingly being swayed by your own routines your route can be bumpy. Taking the time to assess where you are, why you do things a certain way and where you want to be. This will help you begin to design the life of your dreams. Examining the clues in your environment can help you assess the patterns of your home and life. This will help you create home, health and happiness.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO