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

 

 

 

 

Do you feel overwhelmed, stressed or depleted? Are the people around you telling you that you need to take care of You? Or, maybe it’s the little voice inside your head that is nudging you to take some time for You.  It is time to listen to these wise sentiments?

In this week’s article I am going to give you 1 Simple Solution to help you find calm in the midst of chaos while simultaneously having the additional benefit of detoxing your body which has the bonus effect of making you feel more vibrant and allow you to shed some weight. (This is one of the little secrets that I share with my Fresh Start seminar participants & I am going to let you in on it.)

Even though I am the “Guardian of Harmony” I know what stress feels like! I think that we experience stressful times so that we can fully see the contrast of what we want or don’t want to experience in our life. The contrast also gives us appreciation for the moments that are flowing with ease & grace. That being said, moving back into graceful flow from moments of stress & overwhelm is key for harmony, peace and joy.  Arming yourself with techniques that can help you shift from a state of anxiety to one of calm is important in today’s world that can exacerbate feelings of pressure, strain and discomfort.

I can relate! For months my husband has been advocating the idea that I take some time for me, add in more yoga and go get massages. It has been a busy year running around with the 4 kids and all they do, fitting in time for business projects and dealing with our primary home that was destroyed in the winter of 2015. The stress has definitely taken its toll. Unfortunately, I didn’t heed his insight quite as much as I should have. While working on a staging project 3 weeks ago I attempted to move a large mirror and inadvertently injured my back. Well, as I often tell my clients, the Universe will begin to whisper in your ear messages that it hopes you will hear. If you are not listening the messages will get stronger, louder and harder to ignore. So, in my case, initially it was my own inner GPS that began to nudge at me to take care of me. Have you heard your own inner GPS whisper in your ear? I didn’t listen and the voice became louder and my husband would gently urge me to take care of me. I only half-heartedly listened by saying all of the right things but not actually taking action. “I did go to yoga a couple of weeks ago, I’m too busy this week.” Well, the Universe wanted me to hear the message loud and clear. And, I eventually understood the wisdom when I was unable to get out of bed. Ok, I will slow down and start making it a priority to take care of myself. Do you hear the whisper?

Well, the main thing I began to incorporate back into my daily life was taking a bath. Why you ask? First of all it soothed the soreness in my back. But, that wasn’t the only reason that I turned to this self-care habit. I knew it would be a great way to decrease stress, detox the body of unwanted chemicals and rev up the metabolism so that I wouldn’t feel so disappointed for missing my daily workout routines while I recovered.

Taking a bath is a relaxation technique that is beneficial in so many ways.  It decreases cortisol levels that can be brought on by stressful situations. This is helpful on many levels.  First, cortisol causes fat to be stored around your middle. Second, cortisol increases inflammation. It is important to include things in your daily routine to reduce cortisol. This is especially important because we live in a culture that induces cortisol just by participating in daily life. Taking a bath also decreases fatigue and benefits your nervous system. Baths increase your circulation and lowers blood pressure. For optimum benefit this is what I recommend (although, always ask your doctor if this is a good idea for you).

Harmony Bath(20 minutes each day in a hot bath)

Ingredients:
-2 Cups Epsom Salts
-1 Cup Baking Soda
-10 Drops Organic Lavender Oil

There are many benefits to the Harmony Bath. First the Lavender relaxes the nervous system and lowers cortisol levels. The Epsom Salt enhances the effects of the detox. The baking soda promotes a balanced pH for optimum healing and detox benefits.

Of course, it goes without saying that the bathroom environment should be supportive and nurturing. That is, take some time to make it pretty and inviting. Your experience will be less beneficial if you are looking at piles of laundry in the corner and are reminded of your to-do list instead of enjoying the blissful 20-minute restorative experience.

Are you going to listen to the whisper that is telling you to take time for you?

I included a picture of a bathtub from our recent trip to The One & Only Resort in the Bahamas. The ocean vistas complimented this serene setting. I would love to see pictures of your serene setting or your ideal vision of your dream bathroom. Come over to Home in Harmony on Facebook and share your pictures!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

 

 

Image Credit: Nickolas Sargent

 

In our culture self-care is often seen as an indulgence instead of a necessity. This perception contradicts the reality that studies demonstrate. That is, self-care creates inner calm, a healthy body, more creativity & inspiration, greater efficiency and effectiveness.  In this week’s article lets look at self care and how your home can be utilized to form the foundation to take care of you so that you can live your best life!

Have you ever gotten “the look” when you tell someone you have gotten a massage? You know the look; it has the critical indictment that you are sitting around lazily eating chocolate bonbons all day.  Instead, in our current culture, anxiously racing around focused on a to-do list that is miles long is worn as a badge of honor.

Our society promotes and idealizes those that swiftly move through life while taking on mountainous loads of responsibility.  More is seen as better, a larger to-do list or excessive responsibility is applauded.  Taking time for you is often seen as a weakness or gluttonous.  I invite you to examine how you feel about self-care. Do you see it as something only necessary for certain situations or people? Are you willing to incorporate it in your life? Taking time to examine these questions will help you clear away any unconscious feelings associated with self-care that might be buried deep in your subconscious mind and hindering you from incorporating this important dynamic into your life.

Studies have demonstrated that self-care (be it massage, time in nature or reading your favorite book to name a few) can have a tremendous positive influence on your body, mind & spirit. These studies also demonstrate that when you are involved in task-oriented situations you are more efficient, effective and creative when you incorporate self-care in your life.

Often times we go through our daily lives expending energy and we don’t take the time to fill our proverbial tank. This leaves you feeling depleted. Take some time to think about what truly brings a smile to your face, joy to your heart and a sense of contentment. Is it playing hockey, going to a yoga class, watching birds dart here & there, or painting? Whatever it is for you, add more of these activities into your day and week.

You can include your home in your self-care ritual.  Do you have an area in your home that nurtures and supports you? Do you have a favorite spot that you love to go and sip some tea? Create a little oasis within your home that is a respite for you to steal away when you need a moment to recharge. Studies show that particular colors and objects have a direct impact on your physiological and psychological well-being. Begin to notice how colors make you feel. Could you include an object in your space that brings a smile to your face? These simple tips can help you begin to create a home environment that is designed to inspire, nurture and support you in living your best life.

Here are a few things to consider:

What does self-care mean to you?

What are your current self-care habits?

Can you include more activities that fill you with joy?

How could you include self-care into your life? What would that look like for you?

Is there a space in your home that nurtures and supports you when you are feeling depleted? If not, can you begin to create this special area?

You were meant to live a life filled with joy, harmony and ease. Implementing self-care into your daily ritual will expand your capacity to be more creative, feel healthier, increase your ability to effectively tackle that to-do list and create greater focus and success. Use your home to support you in implementing positive habits that will allow you to create the life you deserve!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

 

 

I’ve had a few community members say they want to make fulfilling changes in their lives.  They want a more effective & simple way to create home & head organization. They feel overwhelmed and fatigued. They know that there are people out there living their dreams based on a passion and feeling purposefully inspired and driven to do something more. But, they are basically stressed about a whole-lotta-things.

Can you relate? 

The sentiment I’ve been hearing is that there is a hope to hit the reset button on life and re-calibrate that unbalanced, stressed-out and frustrated sensation.  They want room to breathe in their head & home.

Seriously, what if this was possible? It almost sounds overwhelming in and of itself. But, as you know I am all about simple solutions. I only like to share golden nuggets that help eliminate stress, not create more! Let’s look at an easy and effective way for you to hit that reset button that will have profound effects on all areas of your life.

Are you ready to create room to breathe?

Research shows that an overwhelmed mind goes into a state of lethargy, which creates a static state or inability to move into action. Have you ever had so many things to do that you don’t know where to begin, so you just don’t do anything?

Our culture creates a steady stream of information inundation that fills your brain, product consumption that fills your home along with an endless assortment of demands.

Can you relate?

I think back to my grandparents generation and it is amazing to me to think about what life was like and how much simpler it was. They didn’t need to declutter because they just didn’t have the same amount of stuff in their homes. Computers, smart phones and TVs were not vying for their attention at all times of the day. Studies show that the today’s average household contains over 300,000 items.  This is much less than what it was for our grandparents.  According to Forbes, the average woman owns 30+ outfits. In 1930, that number was 9.  There is no question that in our time & culture life is more complicated.

With that said, let’s look at a quick 4-step process that will help give you room to breathe in your head & home.

Sometimes small changes can have a big impact.  Begin to notice what areas in your head & home feel cluttered. Are there areas that are more burdensome than others? Begin to evaluate where the surplus of anxiety originates. Do you need to curb the clutter from paper work or a swamped email box? Are you flustered by your daily schedule? Are the cupboards filled with cans that have expired? Or, do you binge on food items because you have a packed schedule that doesn’t’ allow time for getting & preparing healthy meals? This conscious awareness will help you with the next step.

Now that you have thought about what stresses you out, write them down. Often, just the act of moving your thoughts from your head to paper will make you feel clearer. It will also give you an opportunity to evaluate what needs to be addressed to make your life clutter-free and vibrant.

Take action!  Wishing things would be different doesn’t create change. Taking action does. Categorize the things on your stress-list based on urgency & stress level. Tackle the most stressful things first. Imagine what it would feel like if that stressful, 100-pound gorilla was off of your shoulders. Wouldn’t you feel lighter, brighter and able to breathe with more ease?

Look at the top 3 items on your prioritized list and determine what 3 actionable steps you can take to cross them off your inventory. Give yourself the opportunity to accomplish these tasks by making them manageable. Crafting reasonable objectives will allow you to stay out of overwhelm and on target to accomplish your goal.

This 4-step process will help you create room to breathe in your home & head.  When you begin to notice that you want to hit the reset button on life and re-calibrate the unbalanced, stressed out and frustrated feelings that can surface, see if this simple solution will allow you to breathe with more ease and grace.

I would love to hear what ONE item makes you feel overwhelmed, frustrated and stressed. Just by acknowledging it will help to release some of its hold on you.  Please share your thoughts below. I am sure your experience will resonate and help another member of the Home in Harmony community.

You were meant to feel grounded, balanced and joyful!  Decreasing the clutter in your home & head will allow you to make this happen.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

 

 

photo credit: pinterest dot com