3 Work/Life Balance Basics For When Your Work Responsibilities Increase

Work/life balance gets harder as your responsibilities increase.

Whether you get a promotion or you've gotten more work added to your plate, you probably go through 3 phases:

Phase 1: You find out you're getting new or more responsibilities

"ok this is going to be a lot, but I got this"

Phase 2: You start doing new/more responsibilities

"omg this is hard and it feels like all I'm doing is working"

Phase 3: You're doing new/more responsibilities for a few weeks

"ok I'm getting better at this, but I need to get back to some work/life balance"

But how do we not get stuck only working, and delay getting back to work/life balance?

Go back to 3 work/life balance basics: 

1) Bring back the boundaries

• Start working specific hours again - like 8am-5pm

• Shut off work notifications outside those hours

• ACTUALLY take lunch (and not at your desk)

2) Have something going on besides work

• Make a point to play pickleball, do yoga, plan things with friends

• This keeps your sanity in & outside of work (those closest to you will thank you too!)

3) Use the morning to set the priorities before the day starts

• Ask: what needs to be done today/this week for me or the team to succeed?

• This may be the only calm time you get in the day, so don't pass it up!

Reminder - you're still a good and reliable employee by doing the life part of work/life balance!

2 Sneaky Ways To Take The Control Back From Your Phone

HOT TAKE:

When you wake up and check your phone first thing, you've decided that SOMEONE ELSE is choosing how your day starts.

This happens most often with:

• THE EMAIL: that makes that puts you into work mode before you've even gotten out of bed

• THE TEXT: from a friend asking for a favor

• THE SOCIAL MEDIA PICTURE: that makes you compare your life to others who look "better"

Instead:

YOU decide how your starts and make 2 small changes to how you use your phone in the morning!

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1) Delay when you look at your phone in the morning

The morning is likely the only time & space to have an original thought and find a moment of calm in the day.

Don't let your phone ruin that moment!

Pro tips to delay using your phone:

• Make your bed a "no phone zone," meaning you have to get up to use it

• Put your phone on do not disturb so you don't see the notifications

• Challenge yourself to do 1-3 self care activities before looking at your phone

That way YOU get to decide how the day starts.

--

2) Pick a time you'll check your phone and stick to it

If you pick a time and are consistent with it, other people will….

• Start to learn how you operate

• Know what to expect from you

• (Hopefully) respect your boundaries

Example:

For the past 4+ years I've delayed checking my phone until after my morning routine is over.

The results:

• My mom waits to call me until after 8am

• Work knows I'll respond to inquiries at 9am

BUT If you're in situation where you need to check your phone first thing:

Some people will take a quick look just to make sure nothing is an emergency, meaning this thing has to be done NOW and by ME.

(but you'll notice very little things are an actual emergency)

--

An important note for my perfectionists:

Delaying using your phone still makes you a good and reliable employee, daughter, friend, etc.

You're just taking control of your life and deciding how your day starts.

6 Harsh Truths for Achieving Work/Life Balance and Career Growth

It's been 6 years since I entered the battle.

The battle I'm talking about (that you're probably in too):

Navigating career growth WHILE striving to maintain a strong sense of work/life balance.

In the past 6 years, there are 6 harsh truths I had to accept to propel my professional growth without sacrificing my personal life

1) People notice consistency. Be consistent at the right things.

DO

• What you say you're going to do

• Stick to the boundaries you've set so people don't expect your attention during non-working hours

DON'T

• Be the person who doesn't communicate

• Continually rush in late

Start to Ask Yourself: What do I do consistently?

People notice, and relationships are going to be the wind in your sails for your career. 

2) Relationships are EVERYTHING.

• Chat with people before or after the meeting

• Have coffee or lunch with someone you want to connect more with

• Make an effort to go to the office if you're hybrid

Building relationships and trust can push your career forward almost more than the day to day tasks you're doing.

However - no one is coming to save you.

3) No one is coming to save you.

Even if you've built strong relationships, you still have to directly ask for:

• The raise

• Someone to advocate for you

• Extra support or training

Don't assume someone is going to make it happen for you.

Taking initiative and going above & beyond is essential to growth.

4) Just doing your job is not going to be enough (if you want to grow).

In order to excel, you have to find time for:

• Digging into root causes, instead of slapping band aids on a problem

• Leading projects that aren't in the original job description

The time may not seem there, but what are the little things you can do that make a BIG difference?

And despite what you've been told, it's possible to do this without burning out.

5) Your ideal job situation exists.

We've been told that working 60 hour weeks, going to the office every day, and feeling burnt out is normal.

If you don't want to do this to be YOUR normal, your ideal work situation DOES exist!

Starts with getting really specific about what that looks like:

• when do you work

• where do you work

• how much flexibility do you have

Then integrate parts of it into your current situation.

If this doesn't seem possible, don't stop dreaming about it.

You're in control of this more than you think.

6) Wakeup for you, not for work.

Whether you're in your ideal job situation or not, consider WHO you're waking up for.

• Who is choosing what time you wake up?

• Who is choosing what you do when you wake up?

Even if you have to be at work early, you can:

• Set your alarm for the time YOU want to get up so you can…

• Do something for YOU before the work day starts.

This is the difference between work controlling your life vs. you controlling your life.

This mindset shift helps you:

• prioritize you

• takes pressure off of work

• makes you a more effective employee because you've fueled you

--

To recap,

1. People notice consistency. Be consistent at the right things.

2. Relationships are EVERYTHING

3. No one is coming to save you.

4. Just doing your job is not going to be enough (if you want to grow).

5. Your ideal job situation exists.

6. Wakeup for you, not for work.

If I had a billboard to sum up the first 6 years of my career, it would say:  

You're more than your work.

--

What would your billboard say?

You're Probably Doing A Morning Routine & Don't Even Know It….

You're probably doing a morning routine and don't even know it….

• You get up

• Brush your teeth

• Get dressed for the day

• Etc.

The foundation is there, now what if you could take it to the next level?

Level 1:

Do your morning without rushing

(maybe try only hitting snooze once)

Level 2:

Add something you've been wanting to do, like 2 mins of journaling

(habit stack or place it after brushing your teeth to make it easier)

Level 3:

Make it a non-negotiable

(remind yourself that you're living your life on your terms, so you're going to start your day on your terms)

THE KEY: starting from where you're at & taking small steps forward

You've already built the foundation so now take it to the next level!

And always here to cheer you on!

Build A Life You Want To Come Back To After Vacation

After 10 days wandering Central Europe's charming streets, I was grateful to return home.

While I thoroughly enjoyed a once in a lifetime exploration of Prague, Vienna, and Budapest with my family, I didn't want to succumb to the common "dread" of returning to our lives post-vacation.

Makes me consider:

How do we build a life we want to come back to after vacation?

Here are 2 things that made it easier to return home:

--

1) Work

I feel needed at work, but not so needed that I can't take vacation.

Building a work situation where you have the appropriate amount of:

• Purpose

• Flexibility

• Support

This is in your control more than you think.

--

2) My Personal Schedule

Building a schedule/routine I'm excited to get back to.

This looks like:

• Having things on the calendar I'm excited about (not just obligations)

• Creating buffers in my schedule to enjoy the simple things (walking my dog, sitting on the deck)

• Waking up to do something for me first (instead of just jumping into work)

--

1 last thing

I deleted social media during the 10 days and was surprised how I wasn't in a rush to redownload.

I didn't really need to know the random person from high school is having a beer on a patio, or compare my travel pictures to an Instagram influencer.

This trip made me reconsider how I use social media going forward & how it impacts the life I'm going back to.

Is Your Perfectionism Ruining Your Morning Routine?

8 times out of 10, if a moment gets ruined, a perfectionist ruins it for themselves. 

Take a yoga teacher who happens to be a perfectionist.

They will likely…

• Come with a complete plan for the class

• Teach the class

• Receive praise after from students

BUT they will have criticized themselves for the whole 60 minutes about how they could be teaching better.

I know this because I've been that perfectionist yoga teacher (and I know I'm not the only one)!

For so long I thought yoga is about doing poses correctly, but it's actually about modifying poses and doing what feels good to your body and mind that day.

Probably a lesson we could apply to everything else…

~Stop ruining the moment with your perfectionism.~

--

When it comes to morning routines, 8 times out of 10, we ruin the morning for ourselves.

(the other 2 times coming from an external person or situation)

I hear things like:

• "Yea I hit snooze, so the morning just went downhill from there."

• "I could only do a 30 min workout instead of 45, so I didn't really do my full routine."

• Or the BIG one: "I didn't do my routine perfectly."

There is no perfect morning routine.

It's about adjusting, adapting, and doing 1 small thing to fuel you that day.

Don't let your perfectionism stop you from enjoying your morning (or doing your routine at all).

Turn Your Vacation Morning Into Your Everyday Morning

The morning routine you wish to do on vacation is the morning routine you can do every day.

(maybe minus the beach if that's included)

I thought about this as I'm headed on 10 day family trip.

What is my ideal morning on vacation?

For me, it's getting up to

• Journal

• Have coffee while looking at a view

• Maybe do some writing or a walk

4+ years ago, I asked myself why I was waiting till vacation to do these things.

Why couldn't this be my everyday morning routine? Or at least parts of it be?

--

1600+ mornings later, my ideal vacation morning routine is my everyday routine.

Yea maybe my view isn't the beach, mountains, or Eiffel Tower, but it's looking out the window to the trees with a pup right beside me.

And it's a pretty great way to start the day if I do say so myself!

I challenge you to consider:

"how can I start living my ideal vacation morning right now?"

You may be surprised how creative you can get.

Are Morning Routines A Privilege?

There's 1 subject about morning routines I've steered away from talking about, but is an important conversation.

Are morning routines a privilege?

I'm talking the morning routine where you wakeup at 5am or after to journal, workout, or have a moment to yourself before you start work.

Is there privilege in…

• Choosing what time you wakeup?

• Choosing what you want to do in the morning?

• A schedule, responsibilities, and a body that allows you to get enough sleep?

• Working typical 9-5 or flexible hours?

• Having financial or people support to watch over those you care for while you take time for yourself

My or your situation may make morning routines more accessible than someone else's situation.

This is important to recognize, find gratitude, and not take for granted.

It also makes me wonder how we can make morning routines more accessible for those who want a moment to themselves?

Does it come from…

• Companies having a flexible start time for work?

• Educating people on the morning routine options?

• Providing support to parents and caregivers so they can have a moment to themselves?

• Reminding people that they're worth getting out of bed for

For you -

Maybe this conversation gives you gratitude for your situation, a kick in the butt to not take it for granted, and grace for others' situation.

For me -

Amongst the many articles on morning routine tips and benefits, the conversation around accessibility is something I would like to explore more.

3 Questions To Feel Confident In Doing The Life Part of Work/Life Balance

Some of the best employees are scared to do the "life" part of work/life balance.

In the past week, I've been asked…

By an intern:

Do you check emails before you go to bed?

By a VP:

Do you answer a call from an executive while on PTO?

My typical answer: "it depends what's going on."

3 questions to help get clear on what "it depends" means:

1. Is there a specific problem you need to address?

2. Is this something only you can address?

3. Does addressing work right now mean you won't miss any quality time with people, sleep, etc.?

If the answers are yes:

then yes open the email, take the call!

If the answers are no:

the email or call can likely wait!

This intentionality can be a way to reduce anxiety, stress, and burnout that so many people experience.

Most notably - it's important to remember that you're a good employee and experiencing life doesn't make you less than one!

3 Decisions Successful Leaders Make About Their Morning Routine

Sometimes we forget there is a human behind successful leaders.

Behind the fancy accolades and job titles is someone…

• waking up

• turning off the alarm

• making the decision of what the first moments of the day are going to look like

I recently came across this Balancing The Grind article about morning routines of successful leaders.

(people like Sara Blakely, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Gary Vaynerchuk)

Here are the 3 decisions they make about their morning routine:

 —

1) Being aware

When asked what their morning routine entails, no one is saying "not sure."

They're aware of what they do in the morning and are pretty specific about it.

Makes you think this awareness translates into their success in the business world.

—

2) Being intentional

They have a reason for why they do the things they do.

Whether it's working out or "putting around," there is a reason they do it, and it’s usually because there isn't another time in the day they're going to get to do it.

—

3) Taking control

These leaders are starting their morning on their terms. 

They aren't saying "I have to do XYZ."

Instead, they say "I like to do XYZ."

It's the mindset of taking control of not only your morning, but your life.

—

1 MORE THING

When looking at people we admire, before we adopt the tactics they use, I like to consider if I value the same things as them.

More specifically how our time is spent.

With family, friends, working, exercising, etc.

What we do comes from what we value, and if we don't value the same things, we don't need to do the same things.

3 Ways To Embrace Your PTO

Vacation & PTO season is upon us (woo!)

How do we actually take time off from work, be present, & feel good about going on vacation?

—

1) Turn off email & chat notifications on your phone

If you can, turn off your work email and notifications on your phone.

That way YOU get to decide if you want to look a work emails/chats, instead of someone else deciding for you.

I also know some people who use vacation as a social media detox, or limit social media to only when they're in their hotel room so they can be fully present for the experiences.

—

2) Continue your morning routine

Vacation usually involves different workout, eating, drinking, socializing, and sleep habits, leaving us feeling a little off.

If there was any time to do a morning routine, it really is on vacation!

Plan an "anchor activity" like meditation or journaling in the morning so you have 1-5 minutes to yourself.

This will recharge your social battery and keep you feeling like yourself.

—

3) Take an extra day off when coming back from vacation

I have not done this before, but want to try it if I have enough PTO!

I know some people who take an extra day off to catch up on work email, get personal things done (like groceries), & get organized after coming back from vacation.

May allow you enjoy the entirety of the vacation and calm those extreme Sunday Scaries when coming back.

-- 

Want to setup your morning routine before going on vacation? Or work on it when you get back?

Let’s book a time on the calendar to chat about it! I have a few free spots left this month :)

How To Create Your Landing Pads

I talk a lot about being "more than your career," but what does that actually look like? 

1 thing I usually bring up in this conversation is creating your Life Pie.

3-5 sections of your life (ex: work, family, health). Can be what it currently looks like or what you want it to look like.

But what you're actually creating when you have more pie pieces than just work are "Landing Pads."

Landing Pads are other places to get our happiness, support, worth, identity, and more.

My favorite Landing Pads have been

• Journaling

• Close friends

• Working out

• My business

These are no longer just hobbies, habits, or "things" on my calendar.

They're Landing Pads!

So if you're contemplating whether to…

• Start that podcast

• Pickup the journal

• Go to the event to meet new people

• (Insert anything you’ve been meaning to do, but haven’t)

…don't think of these just as hobbies, habits, or "things" to add to your calendar.

These are Landing Pads you're creating for yourself!

--

I'm on a mission to help new college grads create "Landing Pads" for themselves!

My Post Grad Guide To Being More Than Your Career is available now.

3 Ways A Morning Routine Impacts Your Career

Let's throw out all the traditional reasons to have a morning routine for just a second.

If you're a 9-5 worker, here are 3 reasons why a morning routine actually matters:

—

1) When you get the Sunday scaries about work on Monday…

You have your morning routine of journaling or working out planned so you can wakeup for YOU instead of work

—

2) When you have a rushed morning…

You have an Anchor Activity, something you do each morning to pause & checkin, to slow down and decide who you're and who you're going to be.

(A quick & easy Anchor is 5 deep breaths in the car before stepping into work)

—

3) The person you show up as at work determines if…

• People are going to trust you in a business aspect (more likely to trust a calm & collected person vs. a rushed & scattered person)

• Want to be around you in a people aspect (the calm person is more approachable than the frantic person)

So how do you build these into your morning routine?

1) When picking what to do in the morning, ask yourself,

• what is something easy you could do for 1-5 minutes to ground yourself (this is your ANCHOR)

• what do you crave

• what would you do in the morning if you were on vacation (yes you can do that now, minus the beach)

• what's something you want to do that you're too tired after work to do

2) To get rid of the rush

• Once you have something planned that is worth waking up for, you're more likely to get out of bed

• Attach your Anchor to something you already do, like brushing your teeth

• Time block your morning so you have checkin points of when you need to move onto getting dressed or making breakfast

3) Use your morning routine to push your career forward

• Journal or walk to get clarity & manifest where you want your career to go

• Do something besides work to take the stress & pressure off of working determining your worth & happiness (I call this "diversifying your happiness")

3 Essential Routine Shifts To Make If You Want To Pursue New Interests & Be More Than Your Work

If you're an ambitious 20-something, you may have reached the point where you want to do more than work, scroll social, and drink with friends.

How do you pursue other interests and expand your identity? 

(Especially when we're stuck in our ways and too tired from work to do anything else)

3 Essential Routine Shifts To Make If You Want To Pursue New Interests & Be More Than Your Work

1) Do something for yourself BEFORE work

There's something about waking up for yourself vs. for work.

Establish some kind of morning routine, like walking or reading, so you choose you before work.

2) Journal about things you're curious about

If you haven't journaled before because you don't know what to say, answer the question, "what am I curious about?"

Start listing those things out.

If you find yourself thinking about 1 more than others, that may be the thing to research more or start pursuing.

Pro tip: do this at the time of day you feel the most creative or expressive (ex: morning vs. night).

3) Change your default activity AFTER work

 If your default or go-to after work is sitting on the couch, maybe change your default to a walk or workout class.

 Decide the night before what you're going to do so you remove decision-making after work, making you more likely to do it.

 Also makes you consider what your other "defaults" are in life. It can be a good reflection point if you’re proud of the life you're living.

3 Ways To Create Work/Life Balance As A Remote Worker

—

I remember reaching my breaking point.

I once got so frustrated with work, I didn't want to even bring my phone into my bedroom.

Not charge your phone next to your bed what?

But I needed a break.

Because nowadays, work happens everywhere.

• The gym

• On a walk with the dog

• At dinner with grandma

• While laying in bed

When we give our attention to an email or chat message, we are bringing work into that space.

So if we want work to stay at work and be present for our personal lives, we need to think about WHERE work occurs.

3 ways to create work/life balance as a remote worker:

— 

1) Identify a Command Center

This is the designated spot where you work, and nowhere else.

This allows you to keep work in 1 spot so you can be present for work and then be present for your life in other spaces.

For most of us, our Command Center is our desks, but work often spills over to the couch or kitchen where our personal lives occur.

Identify a Command Center.

Or look at it in the opposite way, identify "no work zones" in your life.

—

2) Signify a starting and ending of work

This allows work to not occur at all hours of the day.

Signify the start by:

• Going to your command center

• Opening the laptop

• Changing clothes or putting shoes on

Signify the end by:

• Leaving your command center

• Putting the laptop in a drawer

• Changing into other clothes

—

3) Remove work notifications from your phone's home screen

Don't need to remove the apps from your phone, but turn off the notifications from your home screen.

That way you get to choose IF and WHEN you check email and bring work into that space.

You decide what has your attention vs. someone else deciding for you.

—

If you want or need to be accessible at all times, then yes work occurs everywhere.

But not being accessible at all times doesn't make you a bad employee.

It makes you an intentional one.

Just comes down to who you want to be.

A worker or a human who happens to work.

—

If you want support and accountability with keeping work at work, let’s chat!

I open up a few 15-min spots on my schedule each week to chat with people about their habits and work/life balance!

Feel free to grab completely free :)

3 Ways To Make Time For Reflection Before Work

In 2018, I thought my 30 minute commute to work every day was going to be the biggest waste of time. 

Looking back, those were some of the most valuable moments of my early 20s.

The biggest thing I discovered:

Time for reflection isn't important, it's ESSENTIAL

It's the a moment to say to myself "here's who I am and who I want to be" so the world doesn't end up deciding for me.

—

3 ways making time for reflection ended up impacting my life:

1) I decided I was going to start blogging vs. be the person who falls into scrolling social every day after work.

2) My go-to at a social event was going to be a mocktail vs. everyone else ordering cocktails so I could manage my anxiety better

3) I was going to have business AND a full time job vs. the following the entrepreneurship measure of success of "getting out of your job as fast as possible.”

—

I'd like to say I intentionally found the time to reflect, but I kind of fell into it with these long drives.

If you haven't found reflection time, 3 ideas for you:

-The drive to work

-Journaling before work

-Taking a walk before you sit down to work from home

Those 30 minutes could be the difference between you vs. the world deciding who you're and who you're going to be.

—

If you want help in making time for reflection, let’s chat about it!

I open up a few 15-min spots on my schedule each week to chat with people about their routines!

Feel free to grab completely free :)

3 Essential Routine Shifts To Make When Getting A Dog (or Experiencing Any Life Change)

My co-workers have been lovingly laughing at me.

 I got my puppy Maisy almost 6 weeks ago and she has turned my life upside down.

As someone who likes routine, it's been disrupted by:

• waking up 2x a night to let her out

• morning starts with her first, then me

• interrupting what I'm doing to get whatever it is out of her mouth or let her outside

My co-workers with kids and dogs lovingly smile as I tell them this when I walk into the office, as I am starting to empathize with what they go through.

To look at the bright side, I'm learning some new, important routine tactics.

3 essential routine shifts to make when getting a dog (or experiencing any life change):

—

1) Be thankful for the good habits you've already established

The good habits I already have in place ground me and make me feel like I'm in at least a little bit of control while this big change is going on (even if I don't get to do all of them).

The good habits I have already have remind me of who I am before being becoming a dog mom.

AKA start good habits now!

—

2) Do not force it, sync to what is craved

But not all the habits are going to be EXACTLY the same as before, and don't force them to be.

In the morning, I tried taking care of myself and then her.

NOPE

Maisy has her highest energy in the morning.

My morning was so much easier when I tended to her and then went on with my morning.

Just like we need to sync our routine to how our brain/body operate, who knew we also needed to sync to our dogs.

—

3) Add time buffers

Let me repeat that, ADD TIME BUFFERS

Everything is going to take longer, especially starting out:

• mornings

• getting out the door

• basically any task as it can be interrupted with a puppy needing to go out or chewing on something they aren't supposed to

Give yourself extra time to do everything so you aren't showing up frantically late all the time.

Because showing up as the calm & present person may also require giving yourself a little extra time & grace.

Also - thank goodness she's cute!

—

If you happen to be going through a life change too, let’s chat about it!

I open up a few 15-min spots on my schedule each week to chat with people about their routines!

Feel free to grab completely free :)

12 Step Checklist To A Calm & Productive Schedule

I made a 12 step checklist to a calm & productive schedule that I keep coming back to.

For the past 4+ years, I’ve studied morning routines & time management diligently and the amount of information can be overwhelming.

So the Time Management Checklist was born:

1. Identify the person you want to be

   Who do you want to be? How do you want to show up. Present, calm, someone with boundaries, responsive, etc.

2. Do the Life Pie exercise

   Split your life into 3-5 pieces (ex: health, family, work). Get really clear on what these are. This not only determines where your time is spent, but where your happiness is coming from.

3. Time block

   Take your pie pieces and time block where they’re happening in your week. Example: family time happens after work, workout time is in the morning. If it doesn’t have a time block, it’s probably not happening.

4. Aligned with what you crave

   Is your schedule aligned with how your body/brain operates? If you brain works best in the morning, maybe that is the time to work on that dream business. If your body has the most energy in the morning, maybe that’s the time to workout. This limits the amount you’re FORCING yourself to do something.

5. Beginner mode

   Is your schedule set to beginner mode? Do you have habits or things on the schedule that feel manageable and sustainable, and won’t lead to burnout? For example: if you normally wake up at 7am, but tell yourself you’re going to start waking up at 5am to workout, you’re going BEAST MODE instead of BEGINNER mode. First try waking up 15 minutes earlier and then work your way up so that 5am becomes a lifestyle change, instead of a short term goal.

6. Wind down time & activities

   It takes longer than we think to get our brains to shut down for bed. Instead of having a bedtime, have a wind down time 1-2 hours before bed to get your brain to slow down. That could include not working, leisurely reading, or journaling. Anything that prepares you to be ready to sleep when bedtime comes around.

7. Sleep buffer

   The goal isn’t to rush in the morning, so why rush out of bed? Here’s your permission to give yourself a sleep buffer or 15 minutes to leisurely wake up. This is also a good benchmark if you’re someone who continually hits snooze.

8. Rest days

   This is scheduling unscheduled time. This is time to reset, relax, or maybe get caught up on something that didn’t get finished this week. Creating more flexibility and rejuvenation in your schedule.

9. Special spots

   This is designating a special spot for each thing you do. Where do you work? Where do you sleep? Say your Special Spot for work is your desk. That means your desk is where you go to focus on work, and maybe not scroll social. Likewise, that means work doesn’t occur in bed. The purpose of this is designating a place you can be fully present for what you’re doing, and your brain can easily switch into the mindset it needs to be in.

10. Phone settings aligned

    Are your phone settings aligned with the person you want to be? Are they aligned with your Special Spots? For example, if you want to be present, maybe you limit the notifications popping up on your home screen. Or maybe work emails only get checked at your desk, and not when you’re at the gym.

11. Routine options

    Give yourself options for routine so you’re more likely to do it. For example: you could have a go-to-the-office morning routine that is a little shorter, and a work-from-home morning routine that is a little longer. It doesn’t need to look exactly the same every day and you can give yourself options.

12. Anchor activity

    Have an Anchor Activity for yourself, or something you do for 2-5 minutes each morning no matter. This could be journaling or taking 5 deep breaths. The purpose is to show up and check-in with yourself. It doesn’t always have to be all or nothing when it comes to your morning routine.

Reminder - you don’t need to integrate all of these at once.

Pick 1 that resonates the most right now and start integrating into your schedule.

I have the full 1-pager checklist if you want to download & save for later!

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Need guidance on which 1 to get started with?

I open a few 15-min spots on my schedule each week to chat with people about their morning routine & schedule (for free)! Feel free to grab one before they’re gone :)

#1 Way I Started Customizing My Life

The first time I realized I could customize my life was when I chose to be sober curious.

I knew I didn’t want to be sober, but I didn’t want to drink all the time or have those hang-xiety mornings.

So sober curious it was - drinking on occasion.

This showed me:

• I didn’t have to pick either extreme

• I didn’t have to do what everyone else was doing

• How incredibly empowering it was to live on your own terms

2+ years into being sober curious, it has given me the confidence to:

1. Start customizing other parts of my life

2. Unapologetically get super specific about how I want to spend my time

To name a few examples:

• The house with minimal yard - because I don’t want to spend a lot of time on yard work right now

• A business that is primarily marketed through writing, instead of video - because I know I would keep writing even if no one read it (can’t say the same with video)

• A schedule with minimal travel - because I love my routine & would rather spend money on my home

• A job that allows me to choose when I go to the office - because it provides the flexibility I need to become the well-rounded person I want to be

Things don’t have to be black or white, and there are more options than you way think!

An easy way to start customizing your life?

Each morning, take 5 mins to write down the super specific things you want and how you want your time spent.

Want a more organized way to go about it?

Identify the 3-5 sections of your life (health, family, job, etc.) and write specifically how you want each section to look.

But be careful - those things may just start happening, so start mentally preparing to make space for them :)

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Need someone to tell you that the things you want aren’t crazy?

I absolutely love chatting about customizing your life & time, and I have a few 15 mins spots on my schedule this week to do so if you want! Feel free to grab completely free :)

You're More Than Your Career

When I was 22, I wish someone had told me you’re allowed to be more than your career.

It was pounded into my head to do everything to get THE job.

Thankfully, I got it, but then what?

I remember dragging myself out of bed every morning to commute to my first job thinking…

“I think there is more than this”

I wanted to be:

• Healthy

• Seek out new interests

• Live an exciting, well-rounded life

I didn’t really have anyone around me showing me this.

So I had to take action for myself!

• I started with healthy habits like journaling and morning routines.

• I explored interests like strength workouts, yoga teacher training, podcasting, blogging, etc.

I started to feel in control of my life!

The biggest mindset shift that got me there?

Things can co-exist if you want them to!

• Career & side project

• Business & relationship

• Health & career

When I started believing this, I found:

• Doing my side projects made my career better

• Not escaping my job allowed me to grow my business authentically

• I could wake up for me, instead of for work

• Pursuing my interests led to finding people who had the same interests

At 22, I wish someone had told me…

• You’re more than you think

• Things can co-exist if you want them too

• You’re the designer of your life

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I wish I had someone to show me what was possible, so hope to be that for whomever needs it!

If you want someone to talk through pursuing your interests, I have a few spots on my schedule this week available! Feel free to grab completely free :)