Category Archives: Smart Girls

Do You Have a Plan?

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Having a plan never failed me in the workplace, but sometimes it is hard to translate this to my personal life.

But I do believe this is the bottom line, folks… a goal without a plan is just a wish!

After a year of searching for a new home, we finally found “the one.” :-)  I can’t WAIT ’til Moving Day!

My personal goal this week is to pack all my winter clothes, books, and china/glassware from the kitchen.  Ok…I don’t know anyone who likes packing.  I was actually excited about it, but I’m having a hard time being objective in the “keep this, toss that” conversation with myself – so it is taking WAY longer than I had hoped. :-(

And my helpers?  Well…cute.. but not so helpful…

Time to take a page from my own book (literally!) and be a Smart Girl!

Smart Girls set SMART goals!  SMART goals is an acronym which stands for Specific-Measurable-Attainable- Realistic-Timely. This was first introduced to me in a corporate environment, and I didn’t learn what I could have from the process because I was using it to set and meet someone else’s goals.

For personal goal setting, I have found a whole new appreciation for it!

S – Specific (Do you use words like “who,” “what,” “when,” “why,” , etc.?)

M – Measurable (Do you answer questions like “how often,” or “how many?”)

A – Attainable (Clearly describe the result you want to achieve)

R – Relevant (Is this goal realistic for YOU?)

T – Timely (Is this something you should be pursuing now, or would it be more appropriate a year from now?)

A task like packing up a WHOLE house is incredibly daunting, so I’m finding this incredibly helpful in breaking up the job into manageable chunks.

A much more manageable approach that is measurable, realistic, and attainable!  Surely I can do this by the end of the day? ;-)

Do you use SMART goal setting in your personal life?  I’d love to hear about how it has worked for you.  Leave me a comment below this post!

P.S. Are you getting my FREE Wellness Newsletter that comes out every Tuesday?  If not, sign up to receive it here!

 

 

 

 

How to Get the Body You Want

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How would you feel if you didn’t have to cringe when you heard the phrase “bathing suit shopping” EVER again?  Read these tips on how to look and feel fabulous by the time summer arrives.

 

Love the body you have.  You don’t have to be satisfied with your current weight or figure, but the first step to getting the body you want is to love the body you have.  Love yourself and be grateful for all that your body has done for you in your lifetime.  If you can start with self-acceptance, you are well on you way to making the sustainable changes you desire – and one step closer to a healthy, strong, and sexy body.

 

Nourish your body, inside and out.  Make sure you are getting enough of the right foods to eat.  You do NOT have to spend a lot of money to buy healthy food.  Shop the perimeter of the grocery store, where the fresh foods are kept.  Make sure you are eating enough vegetables & fruits to get the nutrients your body needs, as well as plenty of water.  Don’t like water?  Add a slice of lemon or fresh cucumber to a pitcher of water to give it a kick.  You won’t want to stop drinking it!  Also, make sure you are getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night to recharge yourself.

 

Take 20 minutes.  There are 1,440 minutes in a day.  Use 20 of them to work out, even if it is just walking.  It’s much harder to argue when you look at it that way.  We waste plenty of time texting, on Facebook, & watching television.  Walking provides tremendous benefits to your body.  You don’t need any equipment or a gym membership.  Put on a comfortable pair of shoes, and hit the road.  No excuses!

 

With just these three shifts in thinking and action, you will start to overcome negative feelings that you have towards yourself about making positive change.  As you see your body transforming, your self-esteem will increase giving you even more motivation & confidence to keep working towards your goals.  Any goal is attainable if you have a plan to get there.  Check out my Smart Girls’ Guide for secrets used by smart and successful women to go after and GET what they want!

 

How To Hold Yourself Accountable

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Last Saturday, I gave a wellness seminar to a group of women at Uforia Studios. One of the topics we discussed was Attainable Goal Setting.

One of the questions I received was, “How do I hold myself accountable?” Great question … and often easier said than done. I’ve been listening to my followers on Twitter & Facebook this week as well, and they are asking similar questions.

The first question I have for you is “Are you keeping track of your goals?” Then, “are you writing stuff down on paper?” There is something powerful about implementing that additional sense. Don’t just hold your thoughts & dreams in your head … put them down on paper!

Now, hang that piece of paper up somewhere that you can see it every day. It reminds you of what you are working towards and keeps you focused!

The second tip I have for you is straight out of my Smart Girls Guide to Getting What You Want. If you want to hold yourself accountable, give yourself very specific deliverables. Don’t just say, “I want to run a marathon” or “I want to be CEO of my company.” Figure out a plan to get to the next level from where you are now. If you want to run a marathon and you are not already running races, start by signing up for a couple of 5Ks.

If you can buddy up with a friend who has a similar goal, this will give you an extra push to meet your goals because you are also supporting someone else. If not buddying up with one friend, how about a group? If you want to run a marathon, try joining one of the many running clubs out there. You’ll be with like-minded people who likely have a set day of the week, time, and route that they run. Problem solved!

Lastly, share your goals with your group of girl friends. Update your Facebook status, tweet, and blog about it. You will undoubtably get lots of “Likes”, a few comments, and plenty of support. I will happily be your first supporter … just share your goal with me! :-)

Go out there and get started. If you need help, ask for it! Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!!