The past few weeks we’ve had the pleasure of my 92 year old father-in-law staying with us. He wanted to be here for his son’s B-day, (my husband) which was yesterday. We surprised my husband Joe with a skydiving experience- yikes!

Having a guest for 2 weeks straight, especially an elderly one,  is not something we are used to, and pushes routine out the window. This experience made me thoughtfully prioritize my days and take into account how to spend my time, as we wanted to be able to spend many quality moments with him, yet we both have a business to manage. 

I learned a lot from Bob’s visit; how to sit and be still, the power of quiet conversations, and to appreciate every moment life offers us. Read on for a powerful thought on a way of life: 

“This is the beginning of a new day.

You have been given this day to use as you will.

You can waste it or use it for good.

What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.

When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, in its place is something that you have left behind….let it be something good.”

“I feel like I have ping pong balls bouncing around inside my head” said my coaching client the other day.  “I just don’t know what to do first or where to start, so I just keep bouncing from one thing to another, and never feel caught up”.

Her experience of overwhelm is very typical of people these days with so much going on. It’s a stressful and uncomfortable place to be.

Lack of focus is very distracting, and is a huge time robber. With lack of focus comes chaos, clutter, disorganization and negative and frustration feelings about oneself or obligations.

Here’s a little exercise I do with my clients to help them regain focus, prioritize and feel more at ease, less stressed and excited once again about their projects.

1)    Do a “brain dump”. On a blank sheet of paper, write a list of everything that “needs to get done”.  You’ll find that some of it is work related (change my website copy) and some is personal related (take the dog to the vet for his shots).  No worries,  just get is all down on paper. With it on paper, you can begin to let go of the sense of urgency and overwhelm that storing all these “to-do’s” in your head has caused.  You’ll feel more in control and can breathe easier.

2)    Now that you can see what’s on your plate, take a look at the list.  I like to separate personal from business, and then begin to prioritize.

3)    What tasks are “URGENT” and need to get done right away – by urgent I mean that there are huge negative consequences to them, (financially, legally, etc).  Mark those with an asterisk. 

4)    Note what’s left on your list. You’ll notice that there aren’t as many URGENT tasks as you thought.  Now you can see the reality of your list, and put the other items in order of importance, from “important” to “nice to do’s but not so important”.

Your list might tell you that you’re a creative thinker, and you’ve placed more on your plate than you really have time to tackle.  It’s OK to let some things go, in fact, I advise it.

Your list will also show you how you may be involved in too many activates, and you need to learn to say “no” or set better boundaries.

My last piece of advice to you is to remember that YOU are the foundation of your success, and if you stop taking care of yourself, body, mind, and spirit, you’ll feel overwhelmed more easily.  So even though you “might not feel like you have time”, be sure to put YOUR NEEDS on that list of things to get done.

Sometimes I find myself running from task to task, trying to get a lot done, trying to make the most of my time. It’s easy to forget to enjoy every moment of life, and to live in the now.

I had the opportunity to attend a gala fundraising event Friday night. Dressed up more than usual, I enjoyed this black tie affair aimed at celebrating life for cancer survivors, celebrating life for those who have passed from cancer, and fundraising to build a holistic center for women undergoing cancer treatments.

I’m so impressed with the courage and strength of women (and their loved ones) who have been touched by this disease.

This motivational message I received last week from the Universe reminds me to enjoy every moment of everyday and live in gratitude. Life is a gift not to take for granted.

"I’m often asked, "Being the Universe and all, "What’s the purpose of life?" But truthfully, no matter who or what you are that’s a pretty daunting question. So daunting, I’m invariably compelled to reply with a few questions of my own:

"Do you mean besides having fun? Besides learning that the world has always spun in the palm of your hand? Besides bicycles, long walks, and hot chocolate? Besides holding hands, giving hugs, and drying tears? Besides having a dream and making it come true? Besides February, Fridays, and Polar Bears? Besides witnessing miracles that only you are privy to? Besides sunrises, sunsets, and every rare and fleeting moment in between?"

Daunting is an understatement.
The Universe

Thoughts become things… choose the good ones!
(c) www.tut.com (r)

I finally got wise to my own advice about asking for help and decided to hire another team person.

In retrospect, I asked myself what the struggle was all about.  My stumbling block was believing the myth that I could – and should – do it all.  I began to make progress when I became willing to admit I cannot – and should not. 

You see, I don’t mind working hard in the winter, but now the Minnesota sun is beginning to shine, melting snow and ice into puddles of water. Although we may have a few more weeks of hard winter, the birds are beginning to sing a bit more and I can feel in my blood that spring is right around the corner.

With spring, the fun begins. Pruning bushes, throwing down new grass seed, cleaning out garages, hanging birdfeeders, trips to the nursery to pick out plants to fill the empty planters, getting out the bicycles and motorcycles… after a very long and very cold winter, we are all ready to let the fun begin. 

My goal is to be as efficient as I can so when that beautiful time of the year comes, the time we long for all winter, I will have a team that supports me.  Getting myself organized so I am able to delegate work is extremely important.  Being a great Life Coach means delicately balancing businesswoman and Jane. 

Are you feeling spring in your blood too?  What do you need to do to get more free time on your plate?  Are you ready to let go of something?  What can you let go that will allow you to pursue your passions more directly and efficiently? 

Have you ever wanted to get something done but kept putting it off?

Do you get frustrated by your own need to make things just right?

 Do you start out and easily get distracted and never finish what you intended to do? 

I’ve suffered from all these procrastination descriptions, and I guess I’m not alone, because according to the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University, up to 70 percent of North Americans struggle with procrastination.  

But I’m finally in a groove where I accomplish what I intend to do. 

So how do we accomplish what we really want to do? 

I’ll share my secrets and solutions with you, so you too can move forward with your dreams and goals. 

Join me in this hands on seminar where you will finally figure out:

1)  What’s REALLY important for you to get done

2)   What is your “prominent procrastination” profile

3)  The strategies and solutions you can use to overcome your suffering and guilt

4)  Easy steps to cure your  particular procrastination habits

5)  What’s really getting in the way of your procrastination

This “Class in Action” that will provide powerful worksheets that we’ll use during the class to get to the heart of your procrastination. You’ll also receive personal coaching from Jane to be able to get the breakthrough you need to move ahead. .

If you are FINALLY ready to break free of your procrastination bad habits…..then join us to discover solutions that really work! 

This class will be conducted by telesminar. That means you get to join us in the comfort of your home or office. All you need is a quiet place free of distraction, a telephone, and be ready to make some changes in your life.

Here’s an easy sign up link:  http://janemorrison.com/events

Just call at the designated time (1:00 PM Eastern; Noon Central; 11:00 AM Mountain; and 10:00 AM Pacific) and enter your pin number. It helps to have a headset. Please call from a landline since cell phones can cause distractions.

If you’d like to join us, but cannot make the date, be sure to register and we’ll send you the recording and worksheets that you can do on your own.

 DON’T DELAY, DON’T PUT THIS OFF

ANY LONGER…SIGN UP NOW!

P.S. This class is F*R*E*E to my “Boost your Business Mastermind Group”. Check it out at http://www.smartsavvysuccess.com/boost