It's the Holidays...again.

Pitfall: Financial concerns often become more evident during this time of the year as you try to balance travel, gifts and entertaining on top of what may be an already stretched budget.

Stress-less solution: Make sure to set a budget for your holiday shopping and stay within it! It can be very inviting to buy that one extra present or take that holiday you've always wanted, but make sure that you can afford it both in the short- and long-term. Planning is key to making sure that your holiday dollars stretch far enough, without piling up big debts.

Turkey Day Delight

That big Thanksgiving dinner might make you want to head for the coach, but research shows it probably makes you happy, too. Tryptophan—an amino acid found in turkey—is a natural serotonin booster and has been found to reduce anxiety, improve mood, even relieve depression. Want more ways to make your Thanksgiving even better? Going for a walk and volunteering are also proven mood enhancers.

the diet cleanse

Green Detox Juice

Ok ... so I tried it. It wasn't horrible but I lasted three days. I have a house full of people which makes it difficult to stay focused. But I also have a frig full of veggies so I'm determined not to let them go to waste. Here's the cleansing recipe: Let me know how you like it or tell me what works for you.

2 large cucumbers, peeled

4-5 stalks kale

4-5 romaine lettuce leaves

4 stalks celery

1-2 broccoli stems

1 1-inch piece of ginger root, peeled

(for sweetness add pear, green apple, carrots, beets or red peppers, which contain natural sugars)

Drink this in the  mornings for a week first. Toss out the caffeine, and alcohol (the coffee is a problem for me) dairy, gluten, animal products, processed sugars and refined carbs.  If I can make it through a week, then I will try another one, then the final week (3 weeks total). This 21 day detox is a full -on call to action.  It's not so much the detox drink, its the caffeine, and animal products. I have a hard time not eating protein and cheese. But in the end I should feel great and full of energy. I'll let you  know!

Clearing the Mind Clutter

1. If you want to balance your energy, research says the color blue instills a sense of calm.
Try this: Now that its spring, take some time to stare at the blue sky. Not only will the blue calm you but the clouds, according to researchers, will remind your subconscious about the importance of staying “light”. The image of the infinite skies will remind you of infinite possibilities.

2. Being around animals is known cure for calming nerves and clearing mental clutter.
Try this: Do some heavy petting!

How do you clear your mind of clutter?

Help Fight Hunger in America

As many as 17 million children nationwide are struggling with what is now called food insecurity. 1 in 5 children are living without consistent access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy life.
Visit feedingamerica.org/ and give a gift. Tell your member of Congress to visit their local food bank. Let me know what we can do together to fight this problem.

Pushing Past Procrastination with Baby Steps

Have a good idea? Need to finish a project? Have you been putting off doing things that would bring you closer to your desired goals?   Hummmm… sounds like PROCRASTINATION. 

The definition of Procrastination is “to put off or to defer”

Often interchangeably used with laziness, we all procrastinate and it is almost inevitable. The most successful people procrastinate too, but they do it less often and they especially do not do it on important things. For most of us it’s just our everyday responsibilities that seem to overwhelm us. In the midst of all the important things we know we need to do, we somehow convince ourselves that none of these things really need to be done right now and so we choose do them later.  Problem is often times later keeps coming later or not at all.

Ever see the movie What About Bob? (1991) Bill Murray plays Bob Wiley, a neurotic New Yorker struggling with a whirlwind of paralyzing phobias. Between his fear of failing plus procrastination, Bob lives a limited existence. His therapist, played by Richard Dreyfuss tells him he could start to be happy if he didn’t look at all his problems as a whole. That he should break them down and tackle them in baby steps.  So little by little, one foot in front of the other his life begins to improve. OK, so it’s Hollywood, but the concept of baby steps is a good one, especially when we are trying to achieve our goals.  

So you’re not neurotic like Bob but you know you’re procrastinating. Question is… Are you ready to do something about it? Here are three easy baby steps that can help you push past being paralyzed by procrastination.  

1. Social Accountability: Tell Somebody. Forget what you were told about not telling people because they may steal your ideas. Let friends know what you plan to do. Ask them to hold you accountable and remember, real friends are truthful and supportive. Surround yourself with positive people and embarrass yourself past procrastination.

2.  Make a List. (I’m a tactile learner. I need to write things down, often twice) Be sure to check your list at the end of each day, draw a thick black line through your accomplishments.  Take note that feeling you get as you see that list getting smaller and smaller. Feels good right?

3.  Schedule It. If you don’t schedule it, it’s not real. Seriously. Put that action item on your calendar, (make it an event on your smart phone, utilize the first and second alerts to keep yourself on point.

Weather you want to become financially independent, champion a cause, learn to scuba dive or just clean out your closet, it’s your goal, your dream, so take ownership of it and make it happen. Let’s see how quickly and easily you can push past procrastination. Go ahead, try it and let me know how it works for you.