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8 Ways to Maximize Your Busy Relationship by @glowing_still

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by Johanna Galyen | Featured Contributor

8 Ways to Maximize Your Busy Relationship

ReWrite the Rules to Your Advantage

What if you had all the time today to do everything you wanted? How would that feel?  Would you shoulders relax a bit more, a feeling of ease come across your mind? What if that really was possible in your busy day with your spouse?   It is not hopeless at all; is possible to maximize your day to keep your relationship strong and exciting.

  • Decrease decision making

One spouse is not responsible for all the decisions. Most people are making decisions all day long. Medical and Law Enforcement make life-altering decisions within moments. Business executives have to decide on events that can cost millions of dollars.  Managers are leading and deciding for the business and their team members.

At the end of the day, having to make another decision is exhausting. Dinner choices should not be lumped into the same category as a life-changing decision.  Having a pre-set dinner menu or location is very helpful and allows one to relax appropriately.  For your spouse, if you know they are tired of making decisions all day long, make what decisions you can today to help them out

  • Sneak in spontaneity 

Rigidly sticking to social norms is restrictive.  If you know your spouse has a busy day, pop in the office with their favorite drink. Don’t stay. Don’t linger and talk making it even crazier, but a simple gesture of kindness can go a long way to brighten someone’s life.

  • Do the extra errand

You can help each other out! If you have the time to be able to help your spouse with their needs, take the time to do it. Pick up the Dry Cleaning. Swing by and get the refill prescription from the pharmacy.

  • Have a Great Schedule

A great relationship requires planning and scheduling.  A good calendar app or planner is essential for both people.  Take the time once a week to plan some special time together.  Whether it is a dinner out, movie night, or even times of intimacy.  Yes. Intimacy.  It does not have to be spontaneous or always at the end of the day when you climb exhausted into bed.  It can be arranged, planned, and anticipated. Some great ways to build the anticipation is to send a fun (and safe!) text.

Make up your own language about intimacy.  Not in Klingon, unless you’re familiar with that language and a serious Star Trekkie. Each couple has special memories and events that trigger inside jokes.  Using phrases like that build closeness in a relationship.  So keep it PG-13, keep it safe for work, keep it safe from prying little eyes that may be behind you…but make it fun and special. Let your loved one know, in your own special way, that tonight will be extra special.

  • Get groceries delivered

Ten years ago, if someone would have suggested that one could pull up a website and have groceries delivered curbside to your vehicle, everyone would have laughed their heads off.   This is a great way to save money. You are able to get everything on your list, and nothing else.  The day-old doughnuts will not catch your eye and ruin the diet you’re on; your budget will improve because the latest sale will be skipped.  Simply pull up the app on your lunch break for your favorite grocery store and get the shopping done.  On the way home just pick them up, and voila! You have saved yourself so much time and effort.

  • Automate bills

Nothing will kill a relationship faster than bill paying and forgetting bills.  In most big cities, bill automation is extremely common, but smaller towns are slow to pick up on this benefit.  Small bills such as garbage, water, and paper delivery may not have this perk. A great way to bypass this is to pay a slightly higher average amount every month.  For example, if your water bill is between 70-100 every month, pay $110.  That way, you will have a cushion built up if you have a higher month suddenly.  Then once in a while, you will be able to skip that bill entirely.

  • Self-care is important for both of you

Rest. Breathe. Meditate. Relax. Remember to feel and think. Take time out of your busy day or week and schedule yourself something that makes you reset. To make your relationship strong, you need to take the time to take care of yourself.

Related: Power of Aloneness in Marriage

Solitude is where I place my chaos to rest and awaken my inner peace.”
– Nikki Rowe

Burn out is a real issue. Business executives face it just as much a full-time Mompreneurs. By focusing some time on you, you will be able to help others.  Stop trying to burn the candle at both ends, and rest before you are forced to rest after a mental breakdown.

  • Vacation time

Give yourself a change of scenery and do something completely different and fun.  Vacations can be easily exhausting, so be careful that you don’t overdo it so make sure you schedule a break day for your vacations.  Visiting Disney World and walking 7 miles in one day may seem like fun the first day, but by day three you’ll probably be regretting it.  Take some time, sit by the pool, read the book you have been wanting to do, or catch up on the fun side of social media.

By following these 8 ways, you will find that rest and relaxation you need to keep your busy relationship strong!  Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite and how it worked for you!

11 Ways To Become Your Best Work Self In 2018 @AngeKYoumatter

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by Angela Kambouris | Featured Contributor

Magic only happens when you decide to start leading you. We know success leaves clues however how many times have you heard to watch how your online heroes operate, to reverse engineer their success, build an audience and create compelling content? All true components to becoming a better leader and entrepreneur. Learning from mentors is wise, trying to become them instead of being in alignment with who you are is counterproductive, ego driven and soul-destroying.

We spend a great majority of time working and yet how often do you spend on professional self-improvement? Of course, you spend time on improving products and service but if you think about it for a moment, striving to be your best self and investing in self-improvement strengthens relationships, satisfaction deepens, and your mind expands to foster and nurture creativity and innovation. As you shine, your business shines through you.

Let me share with you 11 ways to take you closer toward being your best work self in 2018.

Magic Formula Does Not Exist

There is no magic formula that will enable you to be the best work self however there are ways that will enable you to make a more powerful contribution to the workplace. When you step into being who you are, at your highest level, then you will embark on a journey of self-discovery and embrace who you are beyond all external-imposed definitions.

Be You

Be you would have to be the worst advice any leader, in fact any person could give to another human being. Imagine in a workplace where every person was transparent and shared every detail of their real self. A whole bunch of stuff being shared that perhaps may not shine the best light and really does not serve any purpose to you or your audience. Purposeful transparency is worth its weight in gold, not the blabbering leader sharing his fetishes over coffee with his team.

Being real and honest are important as an inspiring leader and what is even more important is who you are becoming. Your best self is a work in progress and an ongoing journey. Find your voice, learn what to share and ensure boundaries are in place.

Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

When you pay too much attention to what other people are doing, you set yourself up for failure. Social media has reduced the time span to give you direct access to comparison with others within a single moment. People get drawn into the illusion, comparison becomes a dark hole and life becomes distorted – “Why wasn’t l good enough for the promotion? Why didn’t l get that opportunity when I have more experience than Johnny? Why can’t l have all the good luck that Mary has?”

As a leader, be clear about your values, beliefs and strengths. When you realize the power of focusing on your inside team, you build empowering beliefs and your positive impact on others and in business, multiples.

Creating Shifts in The Quality of Your Thoughts and Emotions

Changing your physical state first thing in the morning starts you off in the best way. Our thoughts, feelings and emotions can be primed to greatly impact our performance. Tony Robbins, life and business strategist engages in a 10-minute morning priming process to take control of his state by finding a relative quiet area to sit and focuses on three sets of 30 breaths. He places his hands on his heart and feels its power and strength and then connects with three things that he is grateful for.  Priming regularly creates an incredible shift in the quality of your thoughts and emotions.

Sleep Meditation and Relaxation Are the Keys to the Lamborghini

According to the World Health Organization, the cost of stress to American businesses is as high as $300 billion. Stress plays a key role in a wide array of illnesses and yet one of the cheapest and healthiest ways to become healthier and happier is through meditation and mindfulness.

It is ironic how people forego sleep in the name of productivity, yet research supports that your productivity is reduced significantly when sleep deprived. Even more than that, your inner psycho takes the stage. Arianna Huffington’s Book The Sleep Revolution highlights how addictions to devices are getting worse as people are loosing sleep and placing themselves and others at risk. Your personal health is affected and subsequently, the economy. A loss of sleep impairs judgment, mood, diet and hinders productivity, creativity and decision-making. Poor performance does nothing to help a company’s bottom line.

When you have a CEO bragging about getting only 4 hours sleep a night, red flags and massive alarms bells should be ringing. Four hours of sleep equates to making decisions while drunk.

Times Are Changing

People are taking note. Work culture is changing, yet not quick enough. To create life-altering experiences, a commitment to getting restful moments are critical to changing the course of your life for the better. Invest in 10 mins a day to focus inward, become present with your thoughts and feelings to connect with you in a deeper way. In workplaces invest in nap spaces or pods, more flexible work hours and how to lead a healthier environment.

Make room for healthier bedtime habits. Make your bedroom a device-free zone, create a routine where you wind down 30 minutes before bed to not access any devices and invest in taking a hot bath. Bedtime non-work reading is recommended and attempt to go to bed at the same time each night. Close the day with three things you are thankful for.

Commitment to Self-Improvement Is One Thing, Execution Is Another

Establishing daily routines is both a self-investment and a way to be your best. When you build forward moving habits, you create momentum that will carry you on days when you lack inspiration or really don’t have the energy to carry yourself. Following a structure assists you in determining your priorities, limits procrastination and keeps you connected with your metrics. As Brian Tracy says, “Good habits are hard to form but easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to form but hard to live with”. Never discount the power of consistency of taking small purposeful actions.

Value-Based Leaders

Value-based leaders inspire others to live their best work self. Leaders become addicted to constant and never-ending self-improvement. Self-reflection becomes an intentional, deliberate and purposeful practice to step back and look inward to gain clarity of values and priorities. Confidence is amplified as momentum is gained. Through self-reflection, you identify what matters most to you. Self-reflection brings you back to center and guides you to navigate the challenges you are experiencing. Self-reflection grounds in reality and allows you to see the bigger picture.

Inclusive Conversations

Being your best work self, demands you engage others for a broader perspective and to make decisions to problems that need to be solved. Your confidence in purposefully inviting conversation creates healthy problem-solving opportunities where people’s strengths can shine.

True Self-Confidence Magnetizes People

Have your ever been around a leader who truly know who she is, her skills, accomplishments, strengths, limitations? When you act with self-confidence, you attract others who want to work with and for you as your openness and freedom in what you know and don’t know permeates the tapestry of the workplace.

Humility Speaks Truth

When you act as your best self, you focus on others. Humble people will ask when they need help, will praise others and graciously accept a compliment. Taking responsibility when things go wrong and giving all the credit away when things go right. Leaders acknowledge their achievement were supported by a myriad of people.

Being your best self is a never-ending process. Strive for progress, not perfection. Lead you by making the commitment to be your best work self every day.

A New And Unexpected Season of Work-Life Balance by @ChristyCareer

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by Christy Williams | Featured Contributor

I have come to a season in my life where the phrase “work-life balance” has suddenly taken on a whole new meaning—one I never expected.

A lot of people don’t even like that phrase, work-life balance, since the word “balance” can make it sound like the ultimate goal is to achieve a perfect balance of both work, and the rest of our daily lives. But anyone who has spent any amount of time juggling the different areas of their life, learns very quickly that there will never be a perfect balance.

Either work is taking up a little—or a lot—more time and effort, or family and our daily responsibilities and commitments are. It’s just the way it is.

I think the most that we all hope for is that when we step back and look at the big picture of our lives, there is some semblance of equality overall.

If that’s even what we choose.

Fourteen years ago, I chose to focus solely on my family. It was something I never expected to do, but with a husband who traveled most of the week every week, a lack of flexible work opportunities, and corporate America fatigue, I opted out of the workforce.

I’d like to think that if I had flexible work options, that maybe I wouldn’t have made that same choice. But maybe not—those babies sure were cute. And it was easier. No juggling meant no mommy guilt, and we were blessed enough to have the luxury of even having that choice in the first place.

A choice I wouldn’t trade for anything. Certainly not for any setbacks it has resulted in for my professional life.

So most people, when they think of work-life balance, are trying to figure out how to spend more time enjoying their life—and perhaps work less.

But this season I have recently entered? I find myself in the surprising position of wanting to work more.

I imagine I am not alone in feeling this way. For any parent who has devoted many years to raising their children, I imagine that it’s only natural. After giving so much of ourselves and doing everything for those little humans that we’re guiding, it seems like basic human nature to want to now spend some time creating something for ourselves.

Don’t get me wrong…I’ve been working part-time for several years now.

But I want more.

Maybe it’s because I am finally getting the chance to do my soul work.

Maybe it’s because, as someone who has always kept on top of the career opportunities that are currently available, I see amazing opportunities that require more hours than I have available, and it’s disappointing.

Maybe it’s because I am ready to dive back in full-time and I know that I just can’t right now.

I have one child in fourth grade, and the other is a freshman in high school. And when I decided to stay home with them as babies, I remember people telling me that as much as they need you as babies, they need you even more in middle school and high school. In very different ways…but they still needed you just as much.

And they weren’t kidding.

So, as much as I am ready to shift that work-life balance in favor of my soul work, I also know that I have no desire to miss out on any of these days with my kids.

This is simply a new, different season in my life, and with them.

And again, I have the luxury of making a choice that allows me to drive them to and from school and football games—and even to take them a forgotten lunch or homework assignment, while I ignore the lovingly admonishing looks from the front office administrators.

Because even if it’s just spending time with them in the car—for hours a day—it’s still time with them.

And that work-life balance scale? It’s still shifting. It might be in teeny-tiny increments, but it’s still shifting.

And for now, that’s enough for me.

 

Image: Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

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When the Need for Work Flexibility Leads to Entrepreneurship by @ChristyCareer

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by Christy Williams | Featured Contributor

I have been a passionate evangelist of flexible work for as long as I can remember. Certainly, long before I had children of my own.

But I am only now realizing how this absolute requirement in my life is leading me, and many others, to become unexpected entrepreneurs.

I remember vividly the day that I had a visceral reaction to inflexible companies, their policies, and the impact they have on our families.

I had been in marketing for about seven years and had recently followed my beloved Marketing Director to a new company as her Senior Marketing Manager. I had already worked for this woman for a few years, and in addition to being one of the best managers I have ever had, she had become a valued mentor and trusted friend.

We were close enough that I knew she and her husband had been struggling with infertility and had more than one pregnancy that ended in heartbreak. So I was thrilled when she was finally able to realize her dreams of motherhood and adopted a beautiful, redheaded, one-year-old boy.

Unfortunately for my friend, she had only been at this new company for a few months, so she was not eligible to take any paid leave in order to be home with her new son to bond with him.

I couldn’t even wrap my brain around that. After all this woman had been through, she finally became a mother…and had to go right back to work the next day, like nothing had happened.

She might have taken some vacation time or unpaid leave. To be honest, I don’t remember. But that wasn’t the point. I can only imagine how crucial the bonding process is when adopting a one-year-old child, and bells and whistles were going off for me that this was just not right.

I became obsessed with this work-life topic. So much so, that once I realized how passionate I was about the subject—and how bored I was in corporate healthcare marketing—I made the transition from my marketing career to human resources in order to be able to change things from the inside out.

I became a Work-Life Generalist for a company I had previously worked for, and managed to make great strides in implementing policies that helped employees balance their work and personal lives. We created flexible work arrangement policies; offered errand-running services to help employees with all those day-to-day duties; and even created a Mother’s Room, where lactating mothers could pump in a private space instead of a company bathroom.

Fast forward almost 20 years and I am so happy to see the strides that corporate America has made towards flexible work policies.

Now that I have children of my own—not to mention aging parents—flexible work is not only a necessity, it has led me—and many others like me—to unexpected careers as entrepreneurs, in large part because of the flexibility that it can offer.

There is a part of me that would love the so-called stability of a full-time job, working for someone else who would hand me a paycheck every other week.

But the reality of my daily life doesn’t even begin to fit into that unyielding, structured box.

I have two children who go to different schools—neither of which have buses—so not only am I faced with figuring out how to get both kids to their schools at the exact same time in the morning, I then have to leave by 2:15 to pick up my high school freshman by 2:45. After running her home and picking up my son at 3:30 and getting home by 4:00, after-school activities start around 4:30 and run throughout the evening.

But just because I have a busy family life doesn’t mean I don’t want to work. In fact, it’s more of a need at this point in my life than a want. And that need is as much for personal fulfillment as for the income.

I know my situation is not unique and there are thousands—if not millions—of other people who are faced with the same challenges.

So for those of us who can’t find the holy grail of flexible work—the work-from-home position where you can set your own schedule—the next best thing is to create your own flexible work.

Sure, it might be more of a hustle to generate steady income at first, but that’s why freelance work was created. So we have another income stream while we grow our businesses.

But I will happily take on some freelance writing and coaching gigs on the side if it allows me to build a business where I can be my own boss, set my own hours, and allow me to make my work fit my life, instead of the other way around.

Now that I think about it, maybe entrepreneurship is the holy grail after all.

 

Image: Brooke Lark on Unsplash

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How To Create Boundaries To Make Room For Your Big Vision by @ThriveLoungeDC

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by Chantl Martin | Featured Contributor

The day my daughter was born, my mom encouraged me to hand my newborn over to the nurse and rest. “This will be your only guaranteed night of peaceful sleep from now on” my mom encouraged me. I didn’t notice it at the time, but that was the first instance where I realized that sometimes I have to prioritize serving myself and, more importantly, it is okay to prioritize myself. I quickly learned that this principle didn’t only apply to rest and self care.

As my daughter got older and my life became a constant battle between getting ready for school, after school activities, meal prep and bedtime routines became more important to carve out time outside of my day job to pursue my passion. I would have to prioritize my dream when it was hard, when I’d rather go out with friends or family and when I’d rather be having a lazy day and watching Netflix. Creating boundaries is the best way to make sure your big vision has the space, time and opportunity to thrive.

Here’s how I started, in baby steps, and how you can, too.

 

Have a Set Bed Time For The Kids

To be honest, I LOVE our bedtime routine. After a hard day’s work, I look forward to hopping in the bed with my daughter going through math flash cards and ending off the night reading a Harry Potter thriller. Even though I get carried away in our quiet moments together, I make sure that at 9:00 she is tucked in and getting her daily forehead kiss because 9:01 starts my me-time.

Setting (and sticking to) an early bed time sends a clear message of when your personal time begins and makes the space for you to take steps toward achieving your big vision.

 

Carve Out A Good Time To Connect with Family and Friends

Your vision for your life is important but so are the relationships that you build over time with friends and family. It’s your job to make sure that taking time for friends and family doesn’t completely kill your productivity too often.

I like to take the time I spend driving to work to call people and check on them. This way, I get the benefit of checking in on friends and family without it being a distraction from my work towards my goals (it also doesn’t eat up your precious me-time). Find a time that works for you and catch up with your loved ones. Setting boundaries makes sure you don’t neglect these relationships in an effort to build your empire.

 

Take social media notifications off your phone. 

Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a good work session where your blog post is just flowing through your fingers and the your phone pings with a notification prompting you to leave your work and scroll through social media, completely derailing your productivity for 15 minutes (sometimes more)?

I’m not saying delete the apps because many of us use social media as a way to connect with our audience. However, setting the notifications to “off” gives you control of how and when you communicate with your audience. That way you can make sure that your moments of productivity are never disturbed by Facebook group comments, tweets or IG DM’s.

 

Create a Business Cheat Day

You’ll need boundaries for all of the distractions in your life, but you’ll also need boundaries for your business so your life doesn’t become consumed with business planning and execution. All aspects of your vision for your life are important not just your career + side-gig goals. If you want to lose weight, eat healthier, spend more time traveling or catch up on random shows on Netflix, that is all important to how you enjoy your life.

Set one day aside to be yourself and do what makes you happy because your happiness matters. It also gives you more energy to return to your goals and dreams when you take care of yourself. So apply self care generously.

 

Being able to make room for your big vision for your life is an important, but difficult task. There are many distractions that can suck your time and energy. Remember that if you give your time and energy to the right thing at the right time you can have amazing family relationships and build a business and care for yourself. With boundaries in place, you may not be able to have it all at once, but you can certainly have it all.

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On-the-go Exercises for Entrepreneurs by @GroupXMich

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by Michelle Fav | Featured Contributor

After the ball drops and the confetti clears, it’s time to get down to business and act on those New Year’s resolutions. Many resolutions this time of year are focused on health and fitness. Some of us want to lose weight, build muscle or adopt healthy habits. Yet, as entrepreneurs, it can be quite a challenge to fit in exercises into our already jam-packed schedules. But, there are ways to work out without leaving your home or hotel room — you just need the right equipment and workout routine.

One of my favorite pieces of equipment is compact enough to fit in your purse or suitcase, so you can squeeze in a quick workout anywhere. Meet: the resistance band (with handles!).

Resistance band for on-the-go exercises

The resistance band will help you target every muscle group, so you can get a full body strength workout when you want it. And, strength training is mission critical for those looking to lose weight or get healthy. Strength training helps you burn more calories long after your workout is over, and is great for strong bones and a better mood.

For a complete on-the-go workout, combine body weight exercises with a few resistance band activities. Here’s a sample quickie workout routine you can do in under 15 minutes:

  • Do as many as you can of the following exercises, each for 1 minute:
    • Squats
    • Push-ups (see different push-up examples and options here and here)
    • Lunges
    • A resistance band exercise that targets your back muscles (choose from the options below)
  • Repeat 3 times through.

Here are three resistance band activities that will target your back muscles to round out the above full body strength workout.

On-the-go Exercises #1: Upright Row

On-the-go Exercise #1: Upright Row
Wrap the resistance band around your feet so that the band comes out on the outer sides of your feet. Then, either grab the handles or “choke up” on the band by grabbing lower to make it harder resistance. From there, pull the bands back towards your sides as you squeeze your shoulder blades together.

On-the-go Exercises #2: Reverse Fly

On-the-go Exercises #2: Reverse Fly
Either sitting or standing, grab the band in both hands and extend your arms out in front of you, at shoulder height, with elbows slightly bent. Then, bring your hands away from each other again squeezing your shoulder blades together. Feel free to bring your hands all the way back until they’re about an inch in front of your shoulders. You can adjust your grip to increase the resistance of the band. The closer you have your hands together, the harder the exercise will be.

On-the-go Exercises #3: Bent-over Row

On-the-go Exercises #3: Bent-over Row

Bring your chest towards the ground until your chest is parallel to the floor, knees slightly bend. Place the resistance band under your feet, then grab either the handles or “choke up” to grab the band itself. Then, pull the band up toward the ceiling and back down, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you do it. If this doesn’t feel challenging, bring your hands closer to the ground and grab the band there. That will increase the resistance and intensity of the exercise.

Combining body weight workouts with resistance band exercises will give you a full body workout that you can do whenever and wherever. Make sure to consult your doctor before starting any new fitness regimen. For more workout ideas, check out the workout routines on my blog, GroupXFitnessTips.com.

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Michelle Fav GroupXFitnessTips.comMichelle Fav, PR expert, group fitness instructor and blogger behind GroupXFitnessTips.com.

I have a wide range of interests, but what’s been keeping me up at night lately? My search to find the perfect song to pair with a group exercise routine. I feel on fire when the beat drops in my fitness class and the entire room is moving deafeningly in sync with the music.

My blog GroupXFitnessTips.com brings together fitness instructors from all walks of life to inspire, encourage and learn from each other. When I’m not at the gym, you can find me crafting corporate stories at my day job in public relations (PR).

Coupling my passion for fitness with my professional obsession with communications, I have an array of expertise to share with you, such as branding strategies, blogging 101 tips and healthy living advice for busy entrepreneurs.

Follow me on Twitter (@GroupXMich) and Facebook (GroupXMich).

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How Entrepreneurs Can Sneak in Healthy Habits during Holiday Parties by @GroupXMich

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How Entrepreneurs Can Sneak in Healthy Habits during Holiday Parties

by Michelle Fav | Featured Contributor

There are so many reasons to celebrate and congregate this time of year — which can be bittersweet if you’re trying to build a business and lead a healthy lifestyle, all within a mere 24 hours in a day. Our lives get so busy over the holidays, running around buying gifts, attending parties and finishing up an end-of-year work report or business plan, in addition to everything else. It’s hard to fit in time to keep healthy habits or complete a full body workout.

Instead, a great option is to limit the indulgences amidst the revelry. Enjoy the time with your friends and family without those guilty feelings of stepping back on your fitness goals.

Here are a few tips and tricks to sneaking in healthy habits during holiday parties.

  1. Go for walks

Just because you didn’t have time for your typical exercise routine, doesn’t mean you need to skip exercise entirely. If you’re at a holiday party, you can grab a friend or two and take a walk after dinner or later in the night. Use the excuse that you want to check out the neighbors’ holiday decorations.

  1. Eat a healthy snack before the holiday parties

This seems so obvious, but most people never do this one. If you want to stick to your healthy goals, eat a small, healthy snack before you leave for a holiday party. That way, you won’t feel tempted to eat the appetizers, but will still be hungry for dinner.

  1. Bring a healthy dish

Make sure there will be at least one healthy option at the party by bringing it yourself. When you load up your plate, enjoy the rest of the offerings, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing at least something you’re eating is healthy.

  1. Offer to be the designated driver

Alcohol tends to be one of the biggest culprits of ruining healthy goals. If you’re going to attend a work or family holiday party, offer to be designated driver. This will give you the perfect excuse not to consume extra calories, while you get to enjoy the rest of your friends and family letting loose.

  1. Live a little

These are the holidays – a time for good cheer and good vibes. If you want to eat outside of your meal guidelines for a few bites, go for it. One meal is not going to ruin your goals. Cut yourself some slack and do whatever it is that’s going to make you enjoy the holidays. We don’t want anyone acting like Ebenezer Scrooge simply because they’re, “hangry,” (angry + hungry).

And all tips aside, we worked hard this year! If you want to let your goals take the night off while you enjoy yourself, I’ll be right there with you. I promise our goals will be waiting patiently for us the following day.

With these tips, you can join in on the holiday fun while still working towards healthy habits.

Hope everyone enjoys the season!

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Michelle Fav GroupXFitnessTips.comMichelle Fav, PR expert, group fitness instructor and blogger behind GroupXFitnessTips.com.

I have a wide range of interests, but what’s been keeping me up at night lately? My search to find the perfect song to pair with a group exercise routine. I feel on fire when the beat drops in my fitness class and the entire room is moving deafeningly in sync with the music.

My blog GroupXFitnessTips.com brings together fitness instructors from all walks of life to inspire, encourage and learn from each other. When I’m not at the gym, you can find me crafting corporate stories at my day job in public relations (PR).

Coupling my passion for fitness with my professional obsession with communications, I have an array of expertise to share with you, such as branding strategies, blogging 101 tips and healthy living advice for busy entrepreneurs.

Follow me on Twitter (@GroupXMich) and Facebook (GroupXMich).

5 Ways Busy Professionals Can Find Time to Socialize

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5 Ways Busy Professionals Can Find Time to Socialize

by Marissa Russell

Having a strong social support system is critical to our emotional and psychological wellbeing, yet when we become active in our careers it often slips to the bottom of our priorities list. It is time to retire the age-old excuse of, “I’m busy” and acknowledge that you have been using that as code for “I am not making socializing a priority.”

Here are 5 excuse-proof ways busy professionals can make time for friendships:

  1. Video chat. The fact that your best friend lives on the other side of town is no longer a valid loophole to continue living as a hermit. Video chatting eliminates any geographical excuses. As long as you have a phone or webcam, you can see each other’s faces, hear each other’s voices, all while in the comfort of your own home or whatever environment you choose.
  2. Immediately pull out your calendar when the topic of hanging out comes up. How can you expect to ever successfully meet up with friends if every time an idea for a prospective meeting comes up, you procrastinate on finding available times? If you are truly serious about “having lunch sometime,” pull your calendar out and schedule it on the spot. Even if the person you are talking to can’t give you an exact time that would work best, you can at least jot down some prospective days or weeks so you can have no excuse letting it slip your mind.
  3. Join a social group. Think about one of your favorite hobbies and find a Meetup group, club or organization in your community that revolves around that to join. The regular meetup times and the expectation to be consistent will motivate you to prioritize socializing.
  4. Replace an unfulfilling and nonessential activity that you do regularly with socializing. We all want to believe that all of the things on our to-do list are irreplaceable and important, but if you conduct a brutally honest time audit, you are likely to find a few activities that you have been “busy” with that don’t matter and don’t ultimately enhance your life. Ruthlessly eliminate those activities and instead of looking for another empty time-suck, use that freed up time to spend with the people that care about you.
  5. Assess the activities you do that would be enhanced by including another person. Maybe the reason you are struggling to make time for friends is because you make traditionally inclusive activities, exclusive. There is no need to scramble to find a time slot for socializing if you are already participating in numerous activities that are suitable for companions. Some great opportunities to include friends are exercising, eating, running errands, or religious services if you practice. Let people join you in the things you already do and you will never have to “make time” again.

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Marissa Russell Marissa Russell is a Certified Life Coach who specializes in helping high-achieving career women find fulfillment beyond their professional lives. Her life coaching services can be found at http://www.thehighachievingwoman.comSave

The Entrepreneur’s Work-Travel Survival Guide by @mayachendke

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The entrepreneur's work-travel survival guide - 5 tips by Maya Chendke

by Maya Chendke  | Featured Contributor  

Traveling for work can be exciting when it’s shiny and new. There’s the excitement of seeing new places, earning better frequent-flier tiers, and the fresh crackle of a new passport. When the work-travel is done, what exciting places will I visit with those points and the passport?

But as a person who is scared of flying, work (or pleasure) trips are excruciating. And despite being a virtual-office entrepreneur, I find myself on a plane every month, so I’ve had to develop a few survival tricks.

Here are my top five tips for your next business flight.

Spring for trusted traveler status

For whatever it costs – time or money – getting screened for a trusted traveler program is worth its weight in gold. The pre-screening will save you significant time at the security check, turning a painful hour-and-a-half lineup into a ten-minute walk in the park, so to speak.

By the way, while the odds are that the pre-screening will usually mean a significant time-savings, always leave yourself extra time, just in case!

Don’t count on the WiFi

As an entrepreneur, the pressure to squeeze the most out of my time before losing precious earth-bound WiFi is intense. You’ll often find me popping off pre-flight emails while downing a latte, even in the lineup to board. But those valuable moments can be derailed with faulty internet connectivity, so don’t count on them.

During a trip last week, I was planning to reply to a few dozen emails, but the connection at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport was down. Last month, Chicago’s O’Hare’s WiFi was incredibly slow. And don’t get me started on having to pay for crummy connections at Newark or Nashville…

Pack bathroom essentials

I am not a hearty traveler. I have actually puked my way through LaGuardia and Nashville after getting food poisoning the night before.

(This travel tip should actually be called “Don’t Eat the Ahi Tuna,” but I digress.)

One thing that I have become intimately familiar with is the cleanliness of airport bathrooms vs. airplane bathrooms. So I thank my nagging mother for instilling in me the need to pack travel-sized bathroom essentials like Sudafed, Imodium, Gravol, Pepto, sanitizer, wipes, and underwear… Yes, and underwear. Don’t question my mother – just do it and you’ll thank her at some point.

There’s nothing worse than having to pray at the porcelain alter of a public bathroom…oh wait, there is – sprinting to the lav mid-flight! Also, do note that Delta and United have poor quality air-sickness bags, while Air Canada, Porter, WestJet and American thankfully provide stronger ones.

Don’t bank on working while flying

With the continued intent of squeezing out productivity, I naturally assume I’m going to get a ton done during my flight.

But there were times I had awesome seat mates that I chatted with through the entire flight – and even ended up pitching business to them. I’ve also experienced such bad turbulence that the captain ordered laptops to be put away, while I prayed feverishly. Or better yet, I’ve stared at a blank screen in an exhausted daze, or simply fallen asleep.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve also banged out presentation decks at 30,000 feet, however, the reality is that you can’t count on flight time to be productive. Don’t force it – that short-haul flight could be the perfect moment to disconnect and regroup.

Hurry less, worry less

As entrepreneurs, we always intend to do more and deliver value. I started my own company a year ago and also work with an entrepreneurial co-op, so I constantly feel like my ass is on the line. I carry this sort of secret guilt in taking a break for even a 55-minute flight, because I know how much has to get done.

It can be hard to resist the impulse that I have to be accomplishing something at all times. But I have come to realize that the more I hurry, the less time I feel I have. So instead of feeling anxious and fighting to cram productivity into my travel time, I’ve been trying to accept “doing” less and just going along for the ride.

Here’s the thing: some mental rest during the flight is often exactly what I need to feel ready to leap back into action when the plane lands.

Happy travels!

Caution Prepare to Unwind Sign

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Maya Chendke She Owns ItMarketing consultant, entrepreneur, writer and horse mom Maya Chendke is going through a powerful start-up year. Her company, mPath Creative Consulting, works on website, marketing, content and social media projects that flex her signature hybrid style of creative/analytical. She is also part of a virtual anti-agency, Horsefly Group, where she leads clients with clever ideas and her color-coded iCal.

Her entrepreneurship track record includes a couple of start-ups and a self-published novel (Awake but Dreaming). A rogue introvert, you’ll spot her at start-up meetings sporting riding breeches and a messy bun as the Woz to her Jobs-like partners (or the Sandberg to their Zuckerbergs).

Maya has an MBA from the Rotman School of Management where she was a standout presence in the male-dominated business school environment. She has a certificate from the Stanford Graduate School of Business Summer Institute for General Management and a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University.

She loves to help people make the most of their marketing budget and has an addiction to analytics. She is always on the lookout for great talent and great projects and loves to facilitate introductions.

In her downtime, she’s diligently rehabilitating her rescue horse and reads ~20 books a year. Tweet her @mayachendkeSave

From Resistance to Change: Tolerating Exercise to Build Good Habits by @mayachendke

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Quote about resistance to physical exercise by Janis Isaman of My Body Couture.

by Maya Chendke  | Featured Contributor  

“Eat well!”

“Be mindful!”

“Exercise!”

We should all be doing these things – things that we know are good for us, will improve our quality of life and things that are actually quite “simple” to do. For example, eat carrots, not chips; meditate, instead of watching Game of Thrones; and walk around the block instead of watching more Game of Thrones.

As an entrepreneur, my best avoidance tactic usually looks like skipping Thursday-night yoga so I can cram in more work. But then something comes up – an injury or an impending swimsuit season – and I’m forced to face the consequences of neglecting myself. A couple of years ago, I had a horseback riding injury and I took the path of least resistance, avoiding the one thing that would make me stronger when I got back in the saddle – exercise.

So why do we choose to not do the things that we logically know could make life a heck of a lot better? I asked corrective exercise guru, Janis Isaman, and professional coach, Cheryl Keates, what we need to do – physically and mentally – to overcome resistance to change and bring out the best of ourselves.

Commit, Don’t Quit

Isaman is the owner of My Body Couture, a private movement studio in Calgary, Alberta. She provides a customized approach to health, fitness, and nutrition and works with injured athletes and executives whose sedentary lifestyles have led to injuries they need to heal. I asked Isaman to explain the physical reasons that we resist good habits like exercise.

“Generally people jump to programs or plans that require major, jump-to-the-deep-end-of-the-pool kind of changes,” she says, noting that we’re setting ourselves up to fail when we do that.

“I’ve heard dozens of clients say something like ‘I should start running.’ But they actually don’t enjoy running,” she muses. “There are a few scientific facts about exercise, but basically it boils down to ‘get off your ass and move,’” she says bluntly.

Isaman’s approach to her own training involves doing things that she actually enjoys, like Yamuna Body Rolling and Pilates, as well as scheduling “non-negotiable” sessions with her trainers. (Yes, trainers have trainers, too!)

Her biggest recommendation is to break things down into smaller steps toward your goal. So if your objective is to eat healthier, then set the goal of trying a new fruit each week, but don’t try go vegan “cold turkey”.

“Commit to five minutes,” Isaman says. “If you can’t do that, commit to two minutes. Or one minute!” The point is – commit to something do-able and then move.

Like Attracts Like

With something like a fall or injury, it is all too easy to stop trying. Using my back injury as an excuse, I have avoided jumps and skipped many a gym workout, laying the blame on my old-lady back. But after embarking on this quest to build better habits, it quickly became apparent that I wasn’t only suffering from scar tissue and soft muscles; there was a broken record playing in my head.

“Motivation comes from something being really desirable or really intolerable,” explains Cheryl Keates, a certified professional coach. Keates works with clients globally via Skype, and helps them balance emotional, physical, and financial health while working through resistance and fear.

“We attract whatever we put our attention, energy, and focus on. So those who are more positive, [and who] commit and execute will have greater success,” she explains. “If one focuses on the negative or what’s not possible, they will achieve more negative results.”

Just like Isaman’s observations about physical training, mental training is an area where we can expect too much, and be quickly disappointed because we can’t meet our goals.

“One can get shifts quickly, however, it takes time and consistency to form new, sustainable habits,” says Keates.

When she coaches clients to overcome blocks, she helps them to identify the negative thoughts or emotions that may be getting in the way, and then teaches them re-framing techniques. But even the strongest of us have to fight moments of weakness.

“Whenever I start to see myself going down the road of self-sabotage or procrastination,” says Keates, “I practice the same techniques I use with my clients. And if I need to go deeper, I reach out to my coach.” (Yes, coaches have coaches, too!)

But you won’t get anywhere without mental commitment.

“Taking ownership, investing in one’s self and being willing to do the work is critical,” she says. “When one operates from a place of overall health and balance, the possibilities are endless.”

The Mirror of MyselfChendke See You On the Yoga Mat

So rather than longingly (and enviously) stare at the strong, toned bodies of Monday night’s Dancing with the Stars pros, the wisdom from Isaman and Keates has inspired me to set some goals and step into the shallow end. My weak riding is either going to get depressing or land me in the hospital, neither of which will get me back over a cross rail. These words from Isaman have become my new mantra, and maybe they’ll stick with you, too:

My results will mirror my efforts.

 

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Maya Chendke She Owns ItMarketing consultant, entrepreneur, writer and horse mom Maya Chendke is going through a powerful start-up year. Her company, mPath Creative Consulting, works on website, marketing, content and social media projects that flex her signature hybrid style of creative/analytical. She is also part of a virtual anti-agency, Horsefly Group, where she leads clients with clever ideas and her color-coded iCal.

Her entrepreneurship track record includes a couple of start-ups and a self-published novel (Awake but Dreaming). A rogue introvert, you’ll spot her at start-up meetings sporting riding breeches and a messy bun as the Woz to her Jobs-like partners (or the Sandberg to their Zuckerbergs).

Maya has an MBA from the Rotman School of Management where she was a standout presence in the male-dominated business school environment. She has a certificate from the Stanford Graduate School of Business Summer Institute for General Management and a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University.

She loves to help people make the most of their marketing budget and has an addiction to analytics. She is always on the lookout for great talent and great projects and loves to facilitate introductions.

In her downtime, she’s diligently rehabilitating her rescue horse and reads ~20 books a year. Tweet her @mayachendke