Self development

  • Entrepreneurship, Holistic Wellbeing

    How I rock the miracle morning as a busy mum

    Wellness has always been a big part of my life and since I started growing my own business 5 years ago I have made personal development part of my daily routine. As well as being a content creator I have a side business as a wellness ambassador, which I love, and if it wasn’t for finding that I don’t know when I would have been introduced to the importance of Personal development and I often wonder without it if I would have found it at all. It’s funny how things happen for a reason.

    One of the books I read early on in my personal development journey was The Miracle Morning. I have recently picked it up again, determined to implement some of the suggested routines for success.

    If you haven’t ever heard of or read the Miracle morning, it is a number of items to do every morning to help put your mind in the right place first thing so you’re ready to tackle the day. These 6 habits, if implemented will change your mindset and set you up for success. Now these aren’t my idea so I urge you to go and check out Hal Elrod and also grab your own copy of the miracle morning.

    How I achieve the miracle morning as a mum

    Being a mum means my mornings are pretty rushed. My daughter is often a later riser (thank goodness!) and as a late riser myself I find that I will tend to sleep until she wakes because I perform at my best when I have the most amount of sleep. With this in mind it does mean that my miracle morning can only take place when my daughter is up, which does mean I tend to be somewhat distracted while I do it.

    To enable myself to get each of the six habits done I have to split them up and go for them when I see my window. The ideal time set out in the book is 1 hour although there is an amended 6 minute version for when you’re in a time crunch. 

    I personally don’t set a time limit for myself of the mornings where I am with my daughter, because sometimes I might get a longer period of time and sometimes I might struggle to find myself 6 minutes. In my mind, the most important thing is to get it done rather than worry about how long it takes.

    I start my morning off with a brief moment of self reflection, just a moment to pause and get acclimated to my day and I will often do this with my cup of coffee. A common phrase in our house is how amazing that first sip of coffee is in the morning. For me that first sip is the perfect moment to sit in silence and reflect.

    Next I move onto affirmations and I have them written down in a notebook. If I have time I will speak them outloud and several times. If I don’t I will just read them and pause briefly to reflect on each one.

    Next I try some visualisation. I say try because this is the one I often find the hardest when I am in the middle of a busy day already. Visualisation is also something I personally find the hardest too.

    After this I write in my gratitude journal and usually just a line or two about what I am thankful for that day. I also have space for an evening reflection in my journal so I make time for that before bed too.

    Next I do some quick stretches. I would love to commit to more of an exercise routine but I am not there yet.

    Lastly I read and I will be honest here I rarely manage to get this done in the morning and instead end up doing this much later in the day when my husband has my daughter and I have some time alone to work. 

    Life as a toddler mum is busy and chaotic but I hope I was able to show you that even though it seems hard it definitely is possible to create a routine around these habits and weave them into your everyday life. You can do it in so many ways; some people get up an hour earlier to get them done. I am not there yet but hopefully in the future that is something I can do. Have you ever tried the habits set out in the miracle morning?

  • Holistic Wellbeing

    Why a morning routine can keep your positivity high

    Some of us crave routine and some of us thrive in the chaos, and then there are some of us that land somewhere in the middle. If you had asked me whether I had a morning routine a couple of years ago I would probably have said no, because having worked for myself full time from home before I was a parent was definitely a different ball game entirely. I definitely had the time to relax and do what I want and when I wanted to do it. 

    So was it parenthood that suddenly convinced me that I needed more structure and routine? If I am honest I am still not sure. I am a big advocate of personal development, growing my mind, working on my mindset and focusing on the actions and activities every day that help me thrive and develop that abundance mindset I am so passionate about. Parenthood definitely changed my life and it’s entirely possible that both combined helped me reach a place of organisation, routine and to ensure that I am focusing my energy in the right place throughout the first part of my day.

    I am a firm believer in the importance behind in how you spend the first part of your day in that it certainly sets the tone for the rest of the day and with that in mind I like to ensure that I can spend my first hour or two in the best way possible. 

    book on the table with some coffee

    Start your morning right

    I enjoy my sleep so I am never going to be the person who jumps out of bed before everyone else and I don’t generally open my eyes until my daughter indicates that I should (and sometimes she even opens my eyelids for me). If however you are an early riser and enjoy some time to yourself before the chaos of your household ensues, then set an alarm to wake up and hour before everyone else. This is a great time to spend just for you without any distractions. 

    If you’re like me and getting up an hour before you need too sounds like the worst idea you have ever heard then don’t worry, you can still be productive, proactive and able to get your mindset right before you start your day. You might have to do your morning routine around little ones, your significant other and an overzealous pet, but I promise it can be done.

    Avoid technology

    In a world full of technology it isn’t always easy to not reach for your phone first thing in the morning so this one might be a work in progress. We live in a world where we’re permanently switched on and connected to each other and sometimes that is a little overwhelming. Taking time at the beginning of the day to focus on your goals and routine, without technology, can be a huge help. If you’re feeling the burnout of always being connected in everyday life you might want to consider turning off the notifications to all or some of your apps. For example, the only apps that notify me are my text messages, phone calls, and WhatsApp, everything else is off and I have to physically open the app to see any notifications. If you rely on your phone and/or devices a lot start with small steps; first try 5 minutes in the morning when you wake up and gradually increase it. I promise you will feel a difference in yourself when you’re able to distance yourself from these distractions first thing. 

    Feed your mind with positivity

    Positivity grows and spreads the more you surround yourself with it but unfortunately so does negativity so it is of such importance to keep your mind positive. Life isn’t always easy so I am definitely not saying you are going to be able to stay upbeat, positive and happy 24/7 but you can choose how you respond to certain situations. 

    I decided a long time ago that I wanted positivity to overrule negativity in my life and I removed, as much as I could, anything that produced negative vibes. Sometimes that’s rearranging part of your house that you don’t love, sometimes it’s unfollowing someone on social media and sometimes it’s removing a toxic relationship from your life. 

    laptop and books on table

    Think about a positive way that you can start your day:

    Maybe you could start journaling

    Or start writing in a daily gratitude journal*.

    You could listen to something uplifting in the form of an audiobook or podcast.

    Maybe you might want to start doing some yoga or meditation.

    You can visualise something you want to achieve.

    Or you could speak affirmations to yourself.

    You could blast your favourite music.

    Or even just take some time to yourself to drink your morning coffee.

    There are so many ways that you can start your day right but by all means don’t feel like you have to do everything at once, just pick one thing from the list above and start there. I have cultivated a morning routine for a while and while it is definitely subject to change in general Put on a podcast, drink my coffee, write in my gratitude journal and speak affirmations over myself.  Let me know in the comments below which of the above list you are committing to trying to feed your soul with positivity?

    coffee and notebooks

    Take a moment

    This might seem like there are loads of things you need to be doing to get your day off to the best start but remember these are just ideas and the best schedule for your morning will be the one that fits in with your life. You don’t have to try and cram everything in by any means but there is a lot of value in starting one thing at a time and seeing how you get on.

    Another great thing to add to your morning schedule is to just take some time for yourself. It doesn’t need to be a long period of time but it does need to be a time period in which you just get a moment to breathe, recharge and focus for the day ahead. You can even combine this with another one of your morning activities such as yoga or writing in a gratitude journal. Equally, I can find some time just sitting and drinking my coffee. Wherever you can squeeze in 5-10 minutes of time by yourself, just you and your thoughts, I definitely suggest giving it a try.

    Have a single, specific task in mind

    Each day, you will embark upon and complete innumerable tasks just as a matter of getting through the day. Because these are standard tasks, you probably don’t think much about getting them ticked off, but they are proof that you are making an impact on the day. To ensure that you get that “reward” feeling from your brain, it’s worth having a single specific task to complete each day, something that’s separate from the usual. If you need new glasses, make it a task to check out the best new brands and order a pair if the time is right. If you are planning a change of diet, resolve to check out three interesting recipes within the new diet. They needn’t be big tasks, but getting them out of the way helps, psychologically

    Have a loose routine in place for your day

    A routine doesn’t have to be a fixed schedule for the day, it certainly isn’t in this house, but just some ideas on things you can do and a guide to how you want your day to go. Every day can look different and that’s ok (and totally normal too) but I do like to have a general idea what our days will look like. I have never been someone for a strict routine, which is good because babies and toddlers don’t always allow for that, but I have realised that now my daughter is a toddler that I have a rough idea of how I want our day to go. Whether you’re a parent or not if you feel like having a rough schedule (or maybe even a stricter one) would help I recommend just make a rough note down somewhere until you get into a routine.

    I hope this post gave you some ideas about ways to start your day, create a loose morning routine and gave you some tips on ways you can keep productivity and positivity at an all-time high. Let me know in the comments below what positive activities you plan to add to your morning routine?

  • Holistic Wellbeing

    3 podcasts you need to start listening to today!

    I absolutely live for personal development and recently I have gotten into podcasts in a big way. If you haven’t checked out my blog post about my top audiobooks for entrepreneurs then make sure you go and check that out after you’ve read this post, it has some great authors who are absolutely killing it.

    Podcast

    Right, back to podcasts.

    For the longest time I didn’t really find myself getting into podcasts even though my husband and a lot of my friends swore they were awesome, I just didn’t think they were for me. But then something flipped a switch and now I love them, isn’t it funny how that works? 

    I literally start my day with a podcast every single day and I find the inspiration often fires me up to have a great day. Another thing I love about them is how you don’t even need to take time out of your day to listen, you can just pop one on and enjoy listening while you’re getting on with your morning routine. I find I always listen to mine when I get up with my daughter, while I make my coffee and while I make and feed her breakfast. It’s honestly multitasking at its finest.

    I have a great list of podcasts that I listen to regularly, so whether you’re working on your big dream or you are just looking for some inspiration to listen to then look no further. Today I have created a list of 3 podcasts you need to start listening to today to get you started into the amazing world of podcasts.

    Firstly, if you are looking for a great Podcast platform I recommend Spotify (although I have also used Podbean and enjoyed using that too – I just swapped to Spotify because I already use their premium service).

    podcasts

    Jenna Kutcher:

    I am a new subscriber to Jenna Kutcher’s Golddigger podcast and I can tell you she has fast become my favourite. I discovered her through another podcast, Ed Mylett, who I will touch on in a minute and I’ve been hooked ever since. Anything and everything you want to know about creating your own online business and being successful is right here; from how to’s about social media through to what you need to know about blogging and beyond. I promise you that you will find something for you. Also, I absolutely love how down to earth she is and how easy her podcasts are to listen to.

    Rachel Hollis:

    Another newbie to the Rachel Hollis train in the last few months, because I will be honest and say she wasn’t really my bag at first. I don’t know what changed if I am honest but now I really love her Rise podcast (I still need to make time to listen to her two personal development books but I am getting to it). I love her podcast for similar reasons for loving Jenna Kutcher’s podcast in that it’s a lot like hanging out with a friend, she’s so down to earth and she gives incredible advice about how to start your own business, no matter what that business is.

    Ed Mylett:

    I have found when it comes to audiobooks, paperback books or podcasts I really love listening to other successful women but there is something about Ed Mylett’s podcasts that really draw me in. They are inspiring, they are deep, they are emotional and they have me nodding along with every word. I could honestly listen all day and never get bored. 

    I hope this has been helpful to some of you out there who haven’t known where to get started with podcasts. There are so many incredible people absolutely killing it in the world of podcasting, so whatever your interests are I am confident you can find someone you love to listen to.

    Leave me a comment below with your favourite podcasts that you love to listen to – I would love to check them out!

  • Entrepreneurship

    Top 5 Audiobooks for Entrepreneurs

    Why I love Audiobooks!

    Running my own business is so busy but so worthwhile and I am always looking to expand my knowledge and building on my self-development is key for the industry that I am in. I used to be an avid reader as a child and teen and somewhere along the way I just seemed to lose the ability to sit down and read. Enter Audiable.

    When I realised that I really needed to spend more time on my self-development, and that meant a lot more reading than I was currently doing, I did what any person would do, I went out and purchased a couple of recommended books. They then remained on the bookshelf, largely unread and at most I had probably skimmed a couple of pages. I really needed something that would help me absorb these incredible books and get me back into the swing of reading and gaining this knowledge. A friend of mine mentioned that she had been getting audiobooks. I had dabbled with an audiable subscription before but I hadn’t really used it and ended up cancelling it. This was the perfect way for me to get through these books, I could listen to them wherever I was; doing the washing up, working at my desk, while in the car and even before I fell asleep at night. I immediately renewed my subscription and downloaded my first book. Given that I had already had a subscription before all my old books immediately appeared. What I love about Audiable is that before your paid subscription even starts properly you will get 1 credit so you can download your first book for free. This is a great way to help you discover whether audiobooks might be for you. Like I said, I listen to a lot of self-development books, and today I am going to go through my top 5 audiobooks for Entrepreneurs.

    Book on table

    My top 5 audiobooks for Entrepreneurs

    1. She Means Business – Carrie Green

    When I read She Mean’s Business the only words I had were: WOW.

    Honestly, that’s not me just hyping it up. If you’re a female entrepreneur, Carrie dives into the way she started, how she has found success and gives you some actionable tips to help you reach where you want to go with your business. If you’re a female entrepreneur I honestly couldn’t recommend this book enough.

    1. The Magic of Thinking Big – David Schwartz

    Although published in 1959, The Magic of Thinking Big is still relevant and still perfect for entrepreneurs today. The book talks about setting high goals and thinking positively in order to achieve them. David Schwartz also gives the reader a step by step guide in how to achieve their goals and truly embrace the magic of thinking big.

    1. You are a badass – Jen Sincero

    It’s full title, You are a badass: How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life. A book that crosses over between the realms of self-development and self-help, this book is nothing like how you have imagined self-help books would be. Uncover what is holding you back and help yourself move forward.

    1. 7 Habits of highly effective people – Stephen Covey

    The 7 habits of highly effective people evaluates the 7 habits which are exhibited by people who are successful in their fields. These habits help to produce the desirable results in your life and also in your business.

    1. Entreleadership

    Entreladership was written by Dave Ramsey and helps you uncover the ways in which you can grow your business to new heights. He gives tips on how he grew his multi-million dollar company, all from his living room.

    If you want to get started with audiable and claim your first free book, all you need to do is sign up with your Amazon account.