20 Simple Ways You Can Be Happy, Healthy & Wealthy in 2011
The new year is here and each of us has a fresh start, a clean slate...a chance to be and do better.But sometimes being a mom and an entrepreneur can make it tough to take advantage of the gorgeous white space of opportunity that lies ahead of us each January 1st, so I made a list of 20 simple ways you can be happy, healthy & wealthy in 2011.
20 Simple Ways You Can Be Happy, Healthy & Wealthy in 2011
1. Look ahead
Every year, my friend Laura Roeder buys a big ol' Year At A Glance calendar and maps out the year ahead for her business - promotions, marketing, launches, everything. My friend Alexis Neely takes it a step further and creates a 12-month "life and marketing plan" so she can achieve the success that she wants without her business and her family life colliding.
2. More kettlebell
Christopher Walken might need more cowbell, but I need more kettlebell. Because my butt is not where it used to be ten years ago. Somehow I've gone from J. Lo to Spongebob and it's time I got my booty back. I'm doing the "Perfect Posterior" workout from Tim Ferriss's new book The 4-Hour Body because it's quick & effective, uses only a kettlebell (mine's 35 pounds) and takes just 30 minutes per week. Bonus: this workout firms way more than your butt - it tightens & tones your stomach, legs, shoulders & back too.
3. Become a sixer
Save time, save money and for Pete's sake, stop staring into your closet each morning wondering what to wear. Simplify your life by taking part in the Six Items or Less experiment. If you've known me for a bit, you know this won't be a big stretch for me, but I'm really looking forward to the chance to streamline my wardrobe even further.
4. Avoid the Benjamin Blindside
Download Daily Worth's 2011 Money Planner so you have a realistic - and predictable - budget plan for the entire year. While you're there, sign up for their daily email and become financially savvier this year.
5. Be in the (tech) know
You know that drawer full of shiny new gadgets you just had to have but have no idea how to actually use? Well pull 'em out and head over to Digitwirl, the weekly web show that makes tech work for you. Get on the list to receive their weekly 3-minute (who doesn't have 3 minutes?!) video that shows you how to use technology to make your life better.
6. Business or hobby? Pick one.
While watching the awesome "How To Failproof Your Business" video series by Naomi Dunford and Dave Navarro, they cracked wise about something I've been talking about for years - the difference between a business and a hobby. If you answer one question this year, let it be this - do you have a business or a hobby? Your answer will dictate everything else you do over the next 12 months.
7. Just because you can doesn't mean you should...
Stop trying to be a one mom band. Instead, outsource your weaknesses & time sucks so you can focus on your strengths. Whether it's accounting, laundry, grocery shopping or shipping, if it slows you down, get it off your plate. Earn extra points for outsourcing to a mom.
8. Help me help you.
I'm Jerry Maguire, you're Rod Tidwell. Do you have a question or need advice? Email us to let us know how we can help you.
9. See the human side of business.
I've been a fan of Chris Brogan's for years now. Lately though, the man is on fire with his Human Business Works newsletter. He describes HBW as "part self-improvement, part business improvement, and part motivation and guidance" - I say it's hot sauce for your entrepreneurial life.
10. That's your schedule and you're sticking to it.
No really, I mean it. We all know that creating a schedule helps us squeeze every bit of juice out of our workable time, so why aren't you doing it? Need some guidance? Go learn how to balance things better and how to be happier.
11. Live a kidcentric life
My Facebook friend Meredith Sinclair posted this 2011 goal: "To follow my personal dreams with unabashed confidence and passion, while still being able to STOP, look into my kid's eyes when they're speaking to me, to hear them, and know that if anyone ever asks them what's MOST important to their mom, they'll say without hesitation...well, US of course." Meredith's post really hit home for me because so many mom entrepreneurs start businesses so we can stay home with our children and spend more time with them. But what happens very often is that we let our business take over our life and our children fall to last place on our priority list.I urge you to ask your children what they think is most important to mommy (no prompting) and see what their answer is. If they answer "US!", then keep doing what you're doing. If they answer "Your business!", it's time to revisit 1, 6, 7 and 10 on this list.
12. Be a lady who breakfasts and lunches.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Eat.
13. Have some vision...
And attract what you want in life. Sure, it might be a little woo-woo, but Angela Jia Kim proves that it works.
14. But first, get specific about the life of your dreams
Think about this one long and hard - what do you need to live the life of your dreams? A $100,000 income, weekly massages, two family vacations per year, Christian Louboutins, a Honda Odyssey, a three-day workweek,...what? Then, once you've gotten reeeeally specific about your dream life, write down the specific action steps you'll need to take to make it happen. Then, do it.
15. D.J. MogulMom
Music is a huge part of mine and my kids' lives - we always have something playing at home and in the car, whether we're making dinner, folding laundry, headed to school or at the computer. Play DJ in your own life and listen to music that motivates, inspires or relaxes. Top on my list right now is Willow Smith's Whip My Hair.
16. Have FUN
What makes you laugh? Dancing, singing, cooking, making snow angels, watching birds? Yeah, do more of that.
17. Drop the rope
Do you have toxic people in your life? You know the ones - no matter what you say or do, they're never happy? The ones who engage you in verbal and emotional tugs of war? Well make this the year that you drop the rope.
18. Amigos. Amies. Friends.
Join an online mastermind, start a book club, attend a conference, heck...get on Twitter. Make more friends and watch your world expand.
19. Be grateful
Every day, record at least one thing you're grateful for - in a notebook, a journal or online. Practicing daily gratitude has a way of helping us focus on what we have, instead of what we don't.
20. Believe in yourself. You rock.
How are you going to be happy, healthy and wealthy in 2011?