So what should you do with that unexpected 10 minutes in between things?

Posted on by melmel

I sometimes find myself with a short bit of unexpected ‘free’ time in between the long string of things that need to get done each day. By ‘free’ I mean nothing has to be done that exact moment. Usually this will happen after getting home from work, after I get dinner started. I might get a text from my husband saying he will be home in 30 minutes. I think, ok, dinner only has to cook another 20 minutes, so I have 10 free minutes!

So what to do?

Have a quick list of things you actually want to do with some downtime. This will help prevent you from killing the precious time skimming social media. Perhaps there is something small you can do.

A few starter ideas:

Try a quick workout app. I like 7-minute workout (no equipment needed!). I used to think I could only do a workout if I had 45 minutes but since that doesn’t happen very often I now break it up into mini sessions as the time arises. It’s a great way to maintain flexibility and build strength.

Browse recipes. If looking at recipes is something you enjoy, then take a few minutes to see what speaks to you. Browse online or through actual recipe books. Don’t forget to add the ingredients to your grocery list so you’re ready to go.

What do you like to you with short bouts of time?

We have to take time to make time

Posted on by melmel

Here I am today, taking a day off so I can relax and put the pause button on life. I had to take time from work to make time for me. I started the day with a yoga class, and will be going for a hot stone massage. It’s super exciting to have a day to myself, in the middle of the week!

When did you last take time to make time for yourself? Plan something now 🙂

The challenges of life: How to approach life when we don’t get what we want

Posted on by melmel
Life is challenging. It’s hard to fit in everything we want to. A constant friction between what we want and what we can have. The quality of your life lies in how you handle the friction. You can be angry, irritated and frustrated, or you can be flexible and open to what the day brings. Some of us fall into the first camp. Others have learned over time how to see things in a more positive light, despite the negatives and setbacks.


So how do we move from one camp to the other? It takes an ongoing desire to be positive, to be grateful, to live the best life you can.
Is there a first step? A simple first step is simply becoming aware of how you feel, how you react when things don’t go your way. The next time something happens pay attention to what you say, do, think, and feel. Are you clenching your fists? Cursing? Feeling like you are being slighted or the world is out to get you? Stop yourself. Breathe. Consider an alternate viewpoint. What if  the world isn’t out to get you? What if things just happen? Will whatever happened to you really matter a year from now? How much time do you want to spend on this issue, in the grand scheme of things?


Life is our biggest teacher. Every day we have an opportunity to see things differently. So take a chance and consider an alternate viewpoint. See how it goes. You may find you want to try it more often. Taking the single chance will put you one step closer to a more positive life. Go you!

As the leaves change color, we too can change

Posted on by melmel

noun_594388_ccAs the seasons change, we tend to change our habits. Going from wearing shorts and flip flops to wearing long pants and boots. Take the opportunity to make one more change for yourself as we shift seasons. What is one thing you want to do differently? What will that one thing do for you? How will it make you feel? Close your eyes and envision yourself doing this new thing. Now ask yourself, how can I weave the change into my schedule? What can I do this week to get myself closer to my goal?

Goals for the summer

Posted on by melmel

What are your plans this summer? Have you been thinking about anything you would like to change? Anything you would like to focus on doing more of?

Now is the time to take action. Think about what it is you want, and consider the following elements for a successful goal.

Specific. Rather than a goal like ‘stop stressing out all the time’ think about something more concrete. Think about the broad goal, and what it really means. For instance, what is ‘stop stressing out’ all about? What is the root cause of stressing out all the time? Think about the ‘why’s’ for a few minutes. In this case, the why’s could include scheduling too many things, not getting enough sleep, and not having enough help to get stuff done. So you might pick something more specific as your goal, like ‘avoid scheduling too many things.’

Measurable. So if you wanted to avoid scheduling too many things, how would you measure that? You can think about the current state, and how many things you tend to schedule in a day right now. Maybe it’s 10 things. So your goal could be to reduce the number of things by 20%. Number of things you plan in a day is measurable.

Achievable. You want your goal to focus on things you have some control over. If you have zero control over the number of things that are on your calendar, then you probably need to focus on a different goal. Chances are, you have some things that must get done, like grocery shopping and paying bills and going to work. But you likely have choices about how much overtime you put in, or how many social activities you plan.

Realistic. It doesn’t make sense to say you will never stress out ever again. So take some baby steps first. You can always set another goal once you achieve the first one.

Time-Bound. You need to put a target date on the calendar to make yourself accountable. This will help you avoid procrastination and give you an end point to stop and measure your progress.

So let’s get ready for a great summer! If you would like to read more about goal setting, check out: http://topachievement.com/smart.html

Our mindset has the power to change our world

Posted on by melmel

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” ~Buddha

What are you thinking right now? Are you thinking positively or negatively? What will get you closer to what you want?

I too fall into the trap of negative thinking, particularly when I am worn out and stressed. The key is to recognize when you have started thinking negatively, and turn things around.

So how do you turn things around? There are a few simple things you can do, like giving yourself a short break, or reflecting on three things you appreciate about your life. Stopping to smell the flowers (literally) also helps. Simply pause and reset yourself. Focus your energy on what you are striving towards, rather than what you don’t want.

Is your goal to feel more relaxed this year?

Posted on by melmel

You can reduce stress and live well. First, notice how you feel right now. Close your eyes for a moment. Scan your body. How does it feel? Are you tense in places, or mostly relaxed? Take a deep breath and exhale. Focus your attention on any places that feel tense. Exhale into those spaces. Allow the tension to release. 

There. You have practiced wellness. Every moment you take care of yourself counts.