When it comes to improving our lives, many of us use significant events like New Year’s as a turning point to transform our lifestyles and habits. But instead of waiting for the perfect date to initiate change, perhaps it’s time that we look at a different motivating factor: our families. Our habits, which account for about 40% of our behaviors on any given day, can have a significant impact on children’s development and lifelong behaviors, given that they learn by observing and often imitating behaviors of others. That said, it’s not enough to merely encourage healthy behaviors and habits; instead, we must lead by example. Below are strategies for role modeling healthy habits that will positively impact your life: 1) Facilitate open dialogue on mental and emotional health Healthy living is intimately linked with our inner emotional and mental state. When we can understand, manage, and positively express our thoughts and feelings, it sets the tone for how we adapt to the world around us, including how we form healthy and secure relationships, for example. Creating a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels welcome to share their thoughts and feelings is fundamental for the development of healthy self-expression. To do so effectively involves keeping the lines of communication open. To make it easier to facilitate meaningful conversations, implement resources such as a deck of conversation cards that uses thought-provoking questions to nurture strong interpersonal communication skills for everyone. 2) Follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen Another way to help your family create sustainable healthy habits is by properly nurturing and caring for your body. It’s one thing to encourage your family to eat nutritious foods and exercise more; it’s another to engage in and model these behaviors yourself. You can’t just talk the talk; you have to walk the walk (literally). If you don’t find time for physical activity or don’t strive for five, neither will they. If you need something to help get the ball rolling, consider seeking out some guidance from a well-rounded weight loss program. Having access to a service that enables you to understand the nutritional values of what you are eating, while still encouraging balance through healthier versions of the dishes you love, can help you and your family nourish your bodies in a healthy manner. From there, you can foster a greater understanding of the benefits and importance of maintaining a healthy weight, rather than focusing on weight loss in regards to appearance. 3) Practice better sleep habits It’s easy to forget the role sleep plays in our lives. The amount of sleep we get directly reflects our overall well-being in many facets, including brain and immune system function, appetite, athletic performance, as well as emotional and mental health. Despite this, both children and adults alike don’t get enough sleep each night. The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per night, but children and teens need even more. Hence why it’s even more important to practice behaviors that promote a good night’s sleep for the whole family. Make a conscious effort to establish a bedtime routine that everyone can follow in their own way. Start by observing behaviors that could affect your sleep, such as caffeine intake. You might consider reducing the amount of coffee you have or setting boundaries for when you can have it (e.g., no caffeine past dinner). The same would then apply to your children in terms of soda, for example. Next, wind down each night with relaxing activities like reading—individually or together. Make sure to establish an environment conducive to good sleep by reducing noise and lights throughout the home. Lastly, make a pact to stow away all electronics for the night at a certain time. It’s easier to go “screen-free” when the whole family is involved. It’s been said that the best way to foster a healthy productive environment is to be that yourself. Keeping this in mind, observational learning can be quite effective in cultivating healthy habits for a lifetime of wellness for the whole family—after all, monkey see, monkey do. But healthy habits don’t stop at physical and emotional wellness; they can expand and include making better choices financially, environmentally, and so on. If you want to make a change, join the #30DayHabit Challenge and see how you can transform the habits in your life! Disclaimer! This blog does not constitute medical advice. Always check in with a medical professional or doctor to get advice tailored to you.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ―Nelson Mandela What would you do if you had all the resources you needed and you knew you couldn’t fail?  Just for a moment, allow yourself to consider that opportunity. Allow your imagination to explore what would you do, have, and be if ANYTHING was possible. See what images pop into your mind and get a sense of how you feel. What are you creating? What are you experiencing? Where are you going?  Then notice how your inner dialogue quickly interferes with a million and one reasons why it couldn’t work out!    One of the reasons we struggle to dream big is because we’re afraid to fail.  It’s a biological thing. As humans, we need to feel a sense of belonging because it makes us feel safe. No wonder we worry about the social implications of making a mistake or falling short of where you said you want to go.  Another reason is that we base our future possibilities on our past experiences. If your track record, inner-critic, or self-sabotaging self says that these things aren’t possible, will you really go all out to create them?  It’s easy to see that it’s our fears, which keep us small.  But how do you know until you give it a shot? Your past needn’t equal your future.  Who knows, this time could be different.  What if committing to something big cracks open a part of you that’s never been seen before?  Us humans are incredible creative beings. By taking action, we can turn a thought in our head into a physical reality. Pressure makes diamonds, which is why big goals [and dreams] can unlock fresh ideas and problem-solving abilities.   What if anything was possible? As Alice In Wonderland said, “Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”  What’s more, the prize for thinking big isn’t the ‘thing’ at the finish line alone. There’s also the person you become as a result of going for it. It’s impossible not to grow and evolve when you step out of your comfort zone. Those new experiences and challenges ignite something inside of you. As you grow, so your perspective shifts [because you see the world through fresh eyes]. Who knows what you’ll think about from this new place!  So go for it… Take the leap.  Allow yourself to play inside that bigger container and see what magic you make happen.  Your best self is craving the challenge.  Here are some tips to help you on your way. How to dream big “If you can dream it, you can do it.” - Walt Disney Articulate your dream  It’s easier to achieve something big when you know specifically what you want to create. Turn vagueness into something concrete by writing down the future you see. The clarity will help you make your plan and figure out the steps you need to take to close the gap from where you are to where you want to be.  Know your WHY What’s the driving force behind your big dream? Knowing your why can help you tap into that energy within that will keep you pushing on - even when it gets too hard, too ridiculous, and too exhausting.  10x your vision Take what you want to create and in your mind’s eye and imagine what that outcome would be if you 10xd it. It’s a great game to play because it allows you to explore the possibilities and ideas you previously didn’t know existed.  How to achieve more “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” - Henry Ford Dial down your inner critic Do you talk yourself out of taking action before you’ve even given yourself a chance? Your inner critic can be frustrating, but it’s trying to keep you safe by warning you of potential dangers. What’s more, if we hear the same rationalizations enough, we can believe them to be true.  Time to shine the light on your inner critic. Allow yourself to become aware of what it’s saying to you. Then start to challenge it by showing it examples of where you did succeed.  Build yourself up  You don’t have to climb Mount Everest on the first day, but you can walk a mile around the block. Remember, success is rarely an overnight thing. Instead, it’s the result of incremental steps. So take things one day at a time. The road ahead isn’t scary if you’re looking down at your feet!  Focus on the action you need to take in front of you - and before you know it, you’ll be rising to that summit.  Leverage the power of YET  You might not have all the skills, connections, and solutions you need right now, but you could in the future. The second you hear yourself saying that you can’t do something, simply add the word YET.  Sure, you might not be able to do it right now, but you could in the future.  Never settle  “You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.” - Babe Ruth Look how far you’ve come, not how far you still have to go There are TWO gaps on the journey to your goals.  • The gap between where you are now and where you want to go.  • And the gap between where you started and how far you’ve come.  It’s easy to feel down on yourself when the gap to the finish line still feels miles off, but what happens if you look behind you? Don’t minimize or downplay all the things you’ve done to get to where you are now. Celebrate your progress, knowing every single step is moving the needle.  The journey is as important as the destination  Is it worth thinking big and achieving more if you don’t enjoy today? The journey is where all the learning, the experiences, and the good stuff happens. So enjoy the ride. Take this approach, and you’ll feel more inspired to keep going.  You might be two-inches from the gold  You never know how far you are from that big breakthrough. What if tomorrow is the day you: • Find the solution to the problem you’re struggling to solve • Connect with a person who accelerates your progress • Secure the deal that changes the game If you want it, just keep going.  Because when you dream big, achieve more, and never settle, dreams really can come true. 

Description: The following blank calendar templates are perfect for attaching to your Self Journal, or putting up on your wall to mark down your important dates and milestones. Includes 3 undated months per PDF sized 8.5 x 11.

We see those big plans, big ambitions, and big dreams - and we know you can do it.  You’re always going to get the naysayers and the haters who want you to settle for less. There’s a chance your own limiting beliefs hold you back too.  But as Disney famously said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” - something this article is designed to help you do. So keep reading! You’re about to discover FIVE techniques that prove you can do a whole lot more than you currently imagine possible.  BHAG here you come 💕 1. Pick a goal that sets your heart on fire It’s so easy to hold yourself back from what you really want. Life is tough [and busy]. You’ll always find a reason to get in your own way.  You’re right; most people don’t achieve their goals. But what if that’s because you’re setting the bar too LOW?  Check out these awesome words from Patangali, author of the Yoga Sutras.  “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds; Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, facilities, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”  Have you noticed that when you go after a goal that’s so desirable, you’re prepared to do whatever it takes? In turn, you unlock something different inside of you.  Somehow, you find a way forward. You discover the missing piece. You unlock a solution.  You make the required connections and join up the dots to make your way forward crystal clear.  Your mind is incredible and given the right goal, you’ll be amazed at what you can create. So don’t hold back. Commit to the mega vision that scares and exhilarates you, then watch how your “thoughts break their bonds” to make the impossible a reality.  2. Choose courage over comfort When it comes to discovering your personal edges, your comfort zone has a LOT to answer for!  Humans are creatures of habit - and it’s clear to see why. In an unpredictable, chaotic world, there’s a lot of safety and security in the things you know. Your comfort zone makes life feel predictable because inside your zone, you know who you are and where you stand. But predictability breeds more of the same.  If you want more, you have to stretch those edges by choosing courage over comfort consistently.  Sure, it’s scary to dip a toe into the unknown, but the growth opportunities are undeniable.  When you leverage courage to attempt something that scares you, hidden strengths and talents show up. Courage unleashes a desire to figure things out - so you can make it through to the other side. Courage also fuels the confidence and inner knowing that you can do it!  The prize is undeniable.  Choosing courage over comfort transforms your perspective about who you are. You get to see the before and after pictures in your mind.  Best of all, you have evidence that you CAN do more; giving you the freedom to take on bigger and bigger challenges knowing you’ll work it out [somehow!]  Ready to put Courage over Comfort?  Build your confidence muscle with the help of the Courage over Comfort podcast.  Do the bite-sized challenges and discover that you CAN do more than you imagined possible. 3. Use your imagination Here’s a cool fact… EVERYTHING created by humans started life as an idea in someone’s imagination.  Think about it… Thought is the start [and the spark] of the creation process. If you can see yourself doing something, maybe you can also make it a reality.  I think this is what Disney means in his quote, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”  Visualization is a powerful creative tool. No wonder it’s used by many of the world’s top performers. For example, athletes regularly visualize themselves achieving their goal; giving them the confidence to know they can do it when it comes to the real thing.  The reason imagination works is because your brain finds it hard to differentiate between imagination and reality. For example, science has found that playing the piano and imagining playing the piano sparks the same brain scans.  You can put this practice to work for your own goals.  See yourself doing the thing you want to do. Imagine how it would feel for your desired outcome to be your reality. What’s happening to your senses? What are you saying? What are other people doing?  See the image as vividly as you can - and let your imagination prove that you can do more.  4. Make time  Are you guilty of making time the reason you can’t do the things you want?  If so, you’re not alone. What’s more, you likely feel highly justified! Life is busy. Your to-do list is overwhelming and you do have a ton of commitments and responsibilities that you have to take care of.  It’s no surprise your schedule feels packed.  BUT… How much time are you squandering unknowingly? For example:  • Does your five-minute glance on social turn into hours? • Do you binge on Netflix in the evenings?  • Do you allow yourself to be distracted and interrupted?  I don’t point out these things to make you feel guilty, but to highlight that you almost certainly have time in your day that you can clawback.  A planner is one of the best ways to do this.  Instead of allowing the day to run you, be intentional.  Make quality, protected, uninterrupted time for the things you want - but say you don’t have the time to do. And don’t leave this time to chance! Instead, schedule that time into your planner in the same way you would an appointment or a meeting. Do this regularly and see what becomes possible when you have time to play with.  5. Be accountable It’s hard to be on it all the time. Life is going to throw curveballs and you will have days when you mess up or lack confidence. New opportunities will show up too, which can distract you from your path.  Without the right support and encouragement, it’s all-too-easy to fall off your path.  This is where accountability makes a MASSIVE difference.  When you agree to be accountable to someone else, it’s not quite so easy to let yourself off the hook! That’s because your accountability partner/coach is there to remind you of who you say you want to be. They can:  • Ask the tough questions you want to brush off• Challenge your perceived limitations• Call you out when you’re out of integrity• Support and motivate you when you’re feeling down• Ask questions that shift your perspective and inject renewed optimism• And more! Your accountability coach/partner can hold you to that higher version of yourself - and remind you that you’ve got this.  Your life is there for embracing.  Your goals are there for achieving.  Your time is there for leveraging.  Your best self is there for living.  Remember, you can ALWAYS do more than you imagined possible. Each time you doubt yourself, remember these five techniques.  Then go out there and be your best self [whatever that means for you] 💕

Ever wondered why some people achieve all their goals while other people struggle to get out of the starting blocks? It’s frustrating to have big dreams only to see them fall by the wayside - especially when something inside you knows you can do it. So how can you make success ‘inevitable’? How can you make it more likely that you won’t fail? If you’re ready to smash your next goal and feel the high that comes from achieving something you craved, these three power principles will help you get there. Implement them into your life today and see how much further they take you. 1. Break your goal into bite-sized steps Overwhelm is one of the most significant goal killers. When the thing you want is way over there, and your starting point is way back here, it’s all too easy for the doubts to creep in. Big goals will stretch you, and they will push you out of your comfort zone. A big goal will require you to do things you’ve never done before, and this soon feeds your doubts. You wouldn’t climb Everest in one step. It’s the same with your goals. Instead, you have to identify the baby steps needed to take you across the finish line - then work on those instead. This power principle changes the game. Instead of feeling daunted by that mountain, put one foot in front of the other - every single day. Pretty soon, those baby steps compound into something significant and before you know it, you’ve arrived! What are the bite-sized steps towards your goal? For example: - Writing a book - write 500 words a day - Building a business - make three sales calls a day - Increasing your fitness - run once a day Your goals are more about the journey than they are about the final result. Figure out how to chip away at your target a little every day, and you’ll be surprised how much further and faster you move. 2. Foster a positive mindset The way you think about yourself en route to your goal will have an overwhelming impact on how far you can go. If you believe you can do it, you probably will. If you think you won’t, then that’s your likely result. Your mind is insanely powerful, and your thinking patterns are a crucial indicator of your success. When you’re working towards a stretching goal, your fears will come out with a vengeance. That is a given! Fear is your automatic response to perceived danger and a warning sign to keep you safe. In short, fear will do everything it can to keep you stuck in your status quo. If you want to make success inevitable, you have to cultivate a positive mindset. You need to foster the self-belief that knows you can overcome any setback and push through any hurdle. This transition will take work and commitment, but it’s doable. To help boost your positivity, try these three techniques: - Practice gratitude - when you’re thankful for all the things you already have, you realize how abundant you already are. This practice guides your mind in a positive direction and helps unlock the confidence you need to win. - Own your wins - train your mind to acknowledge when you’ve crushed it. Appreciate yourself for success and use the boost this gives you to propel yourself forward. - Affirmations - your mind is very suggestible. So if positivity is not yet your default, hack it with the help of affirmations. Look yourself in the mirror and repeat positive phrases daily until they become part of your inner dialogue and your belief system. 3. Prioritize what matters You say your goals are essential, but do you give them the time and attention they deserve? It’s all too easy to be busy, but not productive in today’s society. When you have a million and one things to juggle, it’s not unusual to start chasing your tail while burning the candle at both ends. Social media steals your time, notifications keep you from deep work, and distractions throw you off your train of thought. If you’re not careful, you’ll hit your pillow wondering what you achieved! If you want to move the needle on your life, invest more time doing the things that matter. You can do this by prioritizing your to-dos to ensure you’re focused on activities that make the most impact. When goals get the leftovers, you’ll always fall short, but give game-changing tasks the time they deserve and watch how this shift propels you forward. Daily time planning is a powerful principle that helps you get the most important things done. - First, decide your priorities - what are the three tasks that will move the needle the furthest? - Next, schedule these activities into your day. Give them a fixed time window and the space you need to do them correctly. Make success inevitable with the Self Journal It’s easy to get yourself into habits that don’t serve the bigger picture. It’s easy to fall into poor routines that slow us down instead of helping us move at pace. It’s why you need a Self Journal! This 13-week Goal Planner helps to make your success inevitable. Use it to break your goal into bite-sized chunks, then plan to close the gap every single day. Your Self Journal also helps foster positivity with its gratitude and reflection practices. And with productivity-sparking daily pages designed to move the needle at pace, you’ll soon be working smarter [not harder]. Get ready to uncovering plenty of quality time to do work that makes big dents. Don’t leave your goals to chance. Instead, plan to make them happen with the tool, thousands of others use to practice the three power principles that make success inevitable. Now it’s your turn.  

Are you facing some significant life changes at the moment?  Despite the best of plans, life often throws a curveball. These unexpected events can impact all areas of your life. For example, relationships end, jobs disappear, projects get cancelled or disrupted. In turn, we can lose our footing - leaving us feeling confused, frustrated, and even fearful.  As Deepak Chopra said, “All great changes are preceded by chaos.”  And the good news is there’s always a way forward - even if you can’t see how all the dots join up yet.  So if you’ve lost your sense of direction and no longer feel connected with your goals, this article will help you redesign your life and get back on track. Let me show you how… Accept where you are This first step sounds oh so simple, but it’s often tricky to do. Humans dislike change! Forced out of our comfort zone or familiar surroundings, we feel incredibly uncomfortable. Change creates uncertainty, which means we have less predictability over our life.  This feeling of losing control or feeling out of our depth is stressful. In turn, our instinctive response may be one of denial. Resistance is a common reaction to a big upset. There’s a part of us that just wishes things could go back to the way they were.  It’s essential to work through this process. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to get to a place where you acknowledge where you are fully.  From this empowered vantage point, it’s possible to move forward with fresh eyes. Take absolute ownership The only person you can change is you.  Sure, you can influence and inspire others, but the only person you have 100% control over is yourself. This truth is massively empowering. When you put yourself in the driver’s seat of your life, you recognize that you’re holding ALL the cards.  This is why taking absolute ownership for your current situation gives you the agency to move your life in the direction you choose.  It doesn’t matter if you caused your situation to change - or whether external events outside of your control were the cause. Decide to take absolute ownership regardless. When you take absolute ownership, you don’t have to wait for anyone else to move first. You don’t get stuck in ‘victim mode’ feeling disempowered and frustrated either.  Instead, you gift yourself a perspective where you become the creator of your life—revealing the freedom to move forward powerfully and intentionally.  Reflect on your life A significant change can rattle your identity. If you’ve lost your job, you lose that label. If a relationship ends, you find yourself single. Pulling out the rug knocks your confidence and fuels self-doubt. How can you create something new when you’ve known this way for so long?  Remember, the past holds clues.  My favorite Steve Jobs quote is incredibly insightful here… “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”  Use reflection to review your life with hindsight to understand how events and situations played out. Spot the connections and patterns to see cause and effect. Explore how seemingly small decisions morphed into some of your most significant circumstances.  Reflecting after a big life change can help you identify skills you didn’t know you had. It can help you spot areas of your life that need more attention. It can help you better understand your strengths and even guide you to make decisions for your future that better suit the person you are today.  It’s one of the most powerful activities you can do.  Visualize your future While a big change is often hard to navigate, these moments can give you a powerful wake-up call.  Because humans don’t like change, it’s easy for us to get comfortable. We can find ourselves running on autopilot - doing things simply because that’s the way it’s always been.  When you’re forced to redesign your life, you get to be more intentional about what you want to do NOW.  You get to proactively choose and make decisions based on who you are and what you want TODAY.  A blank life canvas can be a beautiful thing. For example, perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to understand your values. Maybe you can redefine your purpose from this new vantage point. Maybe you can dive into your passions now you have a new life space within which to create.  It’s not unusual for people to turn hardship into the best thing that happened to them.  This could be the moment you dive into the work you were born to do. It could be time to take that trip. Explore that hobby or proactively design the relationship you’ve always wanted to have.  When you’re in a space where anything is [theoretically] possible, you give your imagination the space to dream. And as you tap into what you really want, a new vision for your life will emerge.  So grab a big sheet of paper and map out what you want. Be bold. Ask for it all.  Set goals With your big picture vision set out, the next step is to plan concrete action.  When you know what you want to create, you can work backwards and figure out what you need to do to get there.  Make sure your goals are SMART - that’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. You have a much greater chance of achieving a SMART goal than a vague dream because the destination is clearly defined.  We always recommend that you work in 13-week increments. If your vision takes longer than 13 weeks, simply distil that vision into quarterly targets. 13 weeks is the goal-setting sweet spot because it’s long enough to achieve something significant and short enough to keep you laser-focused - so you don’t procrastinate.  If you want a structure to help you plan your SMART goals, the Self Journal is perfect for you. Designed to help make your success inevitable, this five-star rated planner guides you step-by-step through the process of creating and achieving your goals.  Take daily action Remember, success is never an overnight thing. Instead, success is the result of consistent daily action. Make it your intention to win the day, every day. You can do this when you:  Select and track the right habits Identify your priorities Plan your day for maximum productivity Push off distractions Reflect and review to ensure your stay on track Most importantly, just get started! In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Keep yourself accountable Change is hard. Resistance, doubt, frustration, anxiety, lethargy, fear, indecision etc. - there are plenty of emotions ready to get in your way.  The road ahead isn’t easy. You can 100% guarantee that you’ll face blind spots and roadblocks ahead. You’ll probably make mistakes as you go along, but none of that matters if you keep going.  Accountability is critical when you want to stay on track.  There will be days when it all feels too hard and you just want to stay in bed! There will be times when you’ll wonder if your vision is worth the effort - or if you have what it takes.  As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right.”  Which version do you choose to believe?  An accountability structure is a powerful way to stay on track - and you have plenty of options:  Hold yourself accountable with the help of your Self Journal  Up the stakes with an accountability buddy  Or invest in something more structured and formal, such as the Accountability Club Start today Change is always uncomfortable - because it pushes us into the unknown.  And while you can’t control external circumstances and events, you CAN control your response to them.  Remember, there’s always a way forward - even if you can’t see that just yet.  So why not choose to use the steps outlined above to feel more proactive?  One step at a time, the situation you find yourself in right now could end up becoming exactly what you need to be your best self.  You can unlock clarity, confidence and certainty over your next moves in life with the help of the 20/20 Vision Course.    

When it comes to goals and becoming your best self, time is your most critical resource. Time represents potential. Each day you’re allocated another 1440 minutes to do whatever you like. Direct it towards the right things and magic can happen! But time management is tricky and life can make peak productivity feel elusive. Everything from distractions, to stress, chaos and confusion can squander your time and keep you from your finish line.But that doesn’t mean things can’t change. The reality is your time is always in your control. And if you learn to master these three critical timescales, you’ll be well on your way to thinking bigger, achieving more, while you enjoy today. 1. 13 weeks “The trouble is, you think you have time.” Jack Kornfield How often have you set a goal and then NOT achieved it? Here’s a scary truth… you’re in the minority if you successfully take a goal across the finish line! Achieving goals is hard because there’s so much that can get in our way.Which creates a new question.. How can you stack the odds in your favor? One proven way is by working within a 13-week timescale. 13 weeks is the goal-setting sweet spot because this timescale is long enough to achieve something significant, yet short enough to fend off procrastination. When you give yourself too much time, it’s far too easy to procrastinate. Life happens and that means a finish line that’s years off creates too much space to delay and dither. It’s all-too-easy for that internal dialogue to talk you out of taking action. “I can do that later” is a persuasive argument when you have a truckload of tasks competing for your attention! You don’t get that procrastination luxury with a 13-week time limit because your deadline is always in plain sight. If your why is sufficiently powerful, a tighter deadline will force you to get focused and do the work that closes the gap.But that’s not all… Imagine how much more you could achieve and how much further you could go if you crushed an important goal every 13 weeks? In this way, the 13-week strategy doesn’t just increase your productivity; it’s also a way to quadruple your output every year. So if you’re looking for a fast-track to more success, 13-week sprints could well be it! 2. Win the Day “The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” - John C. Maxwell Have you ever hit the pillow feeling super frustrated because you’re not sure what you actually accomplished - even though you were super busy all day long? Unfortunately, being busy is not the same as being productive. It’s possible to be snowed under and continuously on it, and still not move the needle. That’s because productivity is about working on the right stuff rather than any old stuff! If you’re constantly checking off the easy tasks or getting distracted by other people’s priorities, your goals won’t happen. Harsh, but true. Win The Day is a mantra that can inspire you to be more discerning about how you spend your 1440 daily minutes. Imagine how much better life would feel [and how you’d feel about yourself], if every day made a dent. You can achieve this when you’re clear on the bigger picture tasks that make a difference. Instead of fire-fighting or checking through a list of to-dos, get clear on what tasks matter. Then plan your day to ensure these tasks have your top priority and don’t get pushed. It’s so easy to delay your goals because other things shout louder. But you’ll forever be stuck in the pattern of “I’ll do that later” UNLESS you take a different approach. Remember, not all tasks are created equally. Pareto’s Law states that 80% of your results will come from 20% of your actions. Put Pareto’s Law to work and you could Win The Day. And if you Win The Day every day - you’ll also win the week, the month, the quarter, the year, the decade [you get the picture!] 3. 30 minutes "Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time." - Jim Rohn Time is not renewable. You can’t hit the pause button and you can’t rewind. Once the minutes have passed, they are gone forever. So why are we so willing to squander our minutes and give them so little meaning? While 13-week planning and the intention to Win The Day takes care of the bigger picture stuff, the biggest shifts happen when you master your minutes. And for this, 30-minute time slots are a game-changer. Instead of tackling your day as a whole unit, break it down into 30-minute sections. This granular planning allows you to approach your day like a jigsaw puzzle. When you know how long each task will take to complete, you can fit these tasks into your day to create maximum results. Parkinson’s Law is critical here! This law states that a task will expand to fit the time window you give it. In other words, if you give a 90-minute task the entire day, that’s how long it will take you! Zero-hours scheduling is a powerful technique that will help you stretch time - so you can get more done in less time. However, this isn’t about packing so much into your day that you soon burn out. Use your daily 30-minute timeline to plan EVERYTHING. Your daily plan should be a combination of work PLUS dedicated, quality time for wellbeing, relationships, hobbies, passions, meditation, learning, reading - whatever your best self needs to feel fulfilled. When it comes to your goals, time can be your best friend. You just have to figure out how to make the minutes work for you. Focusing on these three timescales will inspire a massive leap forward. And if you want to put these timescales to work, the Self Journal’s structure has you covered.

Who doesn’t love a to-do list? It’s a simple, yet effective strategy that helps you get your head around the day - so you can get more stuff done in less time. Well, that’s the plan anyway!But more often than not, our best-laid plans can go out the window! It’s a common problem. Procrastination, stress and anxiety, unexpected interruptions, new demands… they can all put the brakes on your plans, leaving you feeling deflated and disappointed with your output. What’s more, you also increase your workload for tomorrow, which piles on the pressure further. The good news is there are some practical things you can do to keep yourself on track. Life doesn’t have to be a collection of half-finished to-do lists. Instead, you can empower yourself to stay on top of your to-do list and actually get it ALL done.Let me show you how... 1. Be realistic Right now, we’re all dealing with uncertainty and chaos. Life is more challenging than usual, which can make it harder to stay focused and do what you need to do. When you have a lot on your plate, it’s tempting to try and get it all done today. In the back of your mind, you imagine you’ll feel a little less stressed if your master to-do list was a little shorter. But is that goal realistic? Is there genuinely enough time in your day to clear your entire list in one go? If not, own that reality - because if you try to complete a level of work that isn’t practical, you’ll only set yourself up to fail [which will only make you feel bad]. Much better to be realistic. Much better to create today’s to-do list with the number of tasks you can actually cope with. If you make this simple shift, you’ll relieve some pressure and set yourself up for that all-important win. 2. Prioritize Once you accept you can’t get everything done today, your next step is to identify the biggest levers on your master to-do list. What tasks are due today? What tasks are most important and most urgent? What tasks will take a weight off your shoulders if you’re able to tick them off? This Eisenhower Matrix will help you make these important distinctions. When you’ve figured out your priorities, put all your focus on getting those tasks checked off first. That way, your day is already a win - and if you get more done, well that’s a bonus. 3. Time estimates How do you know if your prioritized to-do list is realistic within the time you have available? Here’s how...Take each task in turn and estimate how long they’ll take you to do. For example: • 2 hours for a blog post• A 30-minute sales call• 90 minutes for your powerwalk• 45-minute team call• 30 minutes for responding to emails etc.  Then add up the total time - the examples above amount to 5hrs and 15mins.With this grand total you can gauge this workload against your day. Does your schedule have enough time for everything? If not, make adjustments until it all fits. 4. Schedule tasks to a timeslot One mistake people make is to work from their to-do list. You’ll be far more productive if you transfer those tasks onto your planner by allocating them specific time slots - like the example below [using a Self Journal]. Remember to add in your breaks (you can’t work flat out), and also build in a bit of slack in case you overrun on certain tasks. This step ensures each task has a deadline (based on your time estimates). This works wonders for productivity because it ensures tasks don’t extend unnecessarily. Give yourself a time span to work with and you’ll focus better and work more productively. There’s another benefit…If you stick to allocated times you can see at a glance if you’re on target to get everything done by the end of the day. If you are, great! If you’re not, you can take action to get yourself back on track before it’s too late. 5. Schedule tasks to energy levels Ever noticed how some tasks fill you up and some tasks pull you down? Use this knowledge to your advantage when figuring out the order in which you’ll tackle your to-dos. For example, put an energizing task after lunch to help you push through the afternoon slump. Try doing a draining task when your willpower and motivation is at its highest. Work with your energy levels and you’re less likely to waste time needlessly. When the pressure is on, you can ill afford to waste a single minute! 6. Make a list of quick errands As well as the day’s chunky tasks, make a list of the quick errands and to-dos you’d like to get done. For example, phoning a friend, sorting the laundry, or paying a bill/invoice. With your list already drawn up, if you do find yourself ahead (or if you have some minutes spare), you can crack on with these too. It’s a simple way to get more done - with less pressure. 7. Stick to your plan There will always be other things you could do. There will always be people who want you to prioritize their work over what you planned to do. Don’t get dragged into or distracted by the ‘urgent’ tasks that can wait. There will be times when you have no choice but to change your schedule to accommodate someone else. But don’t make that decision lightly. Check in to ensure you’re clear on what really is the most important thing.You are allowed to say no :-) 8. Plan tomorrow, today When you’ve got a full-on day ahead, you need to maximize every minute you’ve got. You can’t afford to spend time at the beginning of your day planning it all out. Far better to get your head around what you’re going to do the night before. That way, you can hit the ground running - clear on what you need to get done and by when. When life is as busy as yours, every minute counts. Unfinished to-do lists make life stressful. Finished to-do lists let you end the day with a win and a big motivational boost. So set yourself up for success. Follow these simple points to craft realistic to-do lists and you can feel more productive and more accomplished every day.You’ve got this :-)

Make the most out of your new self journal during this 60-minute hands-on training. Together we'll go through the Self Journal framework and start to fill out your 13-week Roadmap.