As a busy, professional, working mom, weekly meal planning and grocery shopping has changed my life. No more, “what’s for dinner?” at the end of the day. No more rushing to the grocery store to get three ingredients. We’ve saved time, money and (most importantly) our sanity by implementing this strategy into our family’s life. Try it for one month and let me know what you think.
Posts Tagged ‘ executive moms coach ’Audio Blog: What Inspires vs. Limits CreativityMonday, June 28th, 2010 Trying to force yourself into someone else’s box or path is a sure-fire way to squelch your creativity. Yes, there’s lots of great information out in the world on any topic you choose (life, love, career, business, kids, etc.), but so often I find that women get caught up in trying to find all the answers from others and feel they should ”do it” the way someone else says it should be done. This short audio blog discusses the topic of creativity and how you can use what you learn from others to either inspire or limit it. Listen to internet radio with Nicola Ries Taggart on Blog Talk Radio
The Secret to Leading Your Own LifeThursday, June 17th, 2010 Okay, so it’s not really a secret. But it’s something that many, many of us have to be reminded of on a regular basis. The key to leading your own life–on your own terms–is owning your choices and making choices every day that align with who you want to be in the world, what you want to accomplish and what your priorities are. Often women are reluctant to really step fully into a leadership role, both personally and professionally. But when you do–when you embrace the fact that you are a strong, competent, knowing, loving, creative woman–you look at your life choices from a more strategic, big picture vantage point.
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, there’s a good chance that you are not fully owning your leadership role in your life. Quick Tips to Jumpstart Your Life Leadership TODAY!
Remember, life is about choices. YOU have control over YOUR choices. If you are making excuses for choices that you are making that aren’t working for you, you are the only person who can change that. Want support in becoming the leader in your own life? Contact me with your questions or comments, or to schedule a Life Leadership coaching session. Sanity Through Structure: How to Enjoy Your Life & Kids MoreMonday, March 22nd, 2010 I had a great conversation with Phoenix Ries, a licensed professional counselor (and my step-mom!) who has 30 years of experience working with children and parents, as we discussed the gift you give your children, your family and yourself when you apply age-appropriate structure and routines to your childrens’ lives. We talked about the top three signs that you probably don’t have enough structure or the right structure for your children and what the long-term negative affects this can have on children as they get older. Actions Speak Louder Then WordsTuesday, February 23rd, 2010 “Actions speak louder then words.” We’ve all heard the saying before, and yet for some reason it’s so easy to forget this truth when we are busy parents. Don’t get me wrong, I believe words speak volumes as well. However, when it comes to our most important relationships—with our spouse, our children, those we work with and for, and those who work for us—the most powerful influence is when our beliefs (what we think), words (what we say) and our actions (what we do) are aligned. Take my children for example. I’ve been aware lately that my actions do not necessarily always communicate that which I believe is important and say to others is important—for me, my children and my family. I’ve been thinking about the fact that if my children just went by my actions (or modeling) alone they could easily be picking up on some not-so-great habits, such as:
Wow, as I see those in writing and contemplate how I would feel if my own children (especially my daughters) picked up these habits from my modeling, my heart sinks. If I believe self-care is important and necessary in order to be a healthy and happy woman, what actions would model that for my children? If I believe that taking care of myself is important so I can better care for others, what actions would model that for my children? If I believe that it is important to be present in our relationships and spend some time each day giving our undivided attention to our key relationships—with self, spouse, children, work team—what actions would model that for my children? If I believe that creating structure and routines around my day supports me in reaching my goals and being the type of person I want to BE in world (content, peaceful, present & productive), what actions would model that for my children? Coaches Corner: Think about modeling in terms of your life. Take a few minutes to reflect as to what you are currently modeling for your children in terms of the most important areas of your life: self-care, relationships, money, career, inner peace, etc.
Please share your comments! Trying to Hold it TogetherThursday, February 4th, 2010 Ever have one of those days (maybe even weeks) when you feel like you are just barely holding on. Just barely holding it all together. Just on the verge of losing it. Afraid that if you just let your guard down for one moment that the flood-gates will open, chaos will implode, and you will never be able to pick up the pieces? When you are in SUPER WOMAN mode–taking care of the kids; managing the house; trying to be a loving wife; oh, and running and leading a business–it’s easy for your guard to go up, your emotions to go numb, and your drive to hold it all together to kick into high gear. How do I know this? Um….been there. Like, yesterday. After five days of my in-laws in town at the same time that my husband was in the middle of a big work project, my own work projects in progress, the baby teething and then getting a cold and then finally me getting a cold, I was done. D. O. N. E. DONE. I needed a break. I wanted to just let go of all responsibilities, even for just a few short hours. But the voice of perfectionism and guilt and self-judgement jumped in and told me that I should’t be exhausted, I shouldn’t be anxious, I shouldn’t be needing a break. Instead, I should keep going, I should clean the house, I should get more work done, I should make a home-made meal, I should do the dishes. Should…should…should. Sometimes the pressure to do it all and do it all well and to keep it all together (actually, more like LOOK like I have it all together) becomes so intense that I fear if I really just admit how I am feeling, if I give way to my emotions even just a bit, if I get pushed just a little bit more, that all hell is going to break loose. What will happen if I fall apart? What will happen if I take a mental (self-love) day? What will happen if I don’t make dinner tonight? What will happen if I tell a client I need to push back some deliverables or move a meeting? What will happen if I just stop, even for a few hours, and not DO anything? What will happen? Life will go on. My kids will be just fine. My husband will understand. My business will still be successful. My friends will love me even more for being real and honest and not perfect. So let this be a reminder that as we practice masterfully blending career and kids, life and love, work and play, that it’s okay for it to not always be pretty or perfect or complete. It’s okay to tell others that you’ve had enough. That you need a break. That juggling and blending and balancing work you love and a family you adore can be challenging and messy and exhausting. Share that side with those around you so that they can support you when you need a break from holding it all together. Quick Tip Radio Show: Creating a Job ChartThursday, January 14th, 2010 Listen as my 4-year-old co-host, Lindsay Taggart, and I discuss creating her job chart to help her take ownership of her morningtime, dinnertime and bedtime “jobs” so I can stop nagging her and help decrease the stress (and tears) in our house. (You may want to listen to this with your child. It’s a quick 10 minute segment. See the sample chart here so you can make your own with your child after you listen.) I LOVED doing this with her! We had so much fun and afterwards she asked when we could be on TV! Anything is possilbe, Lindsay…anything is possible! Creative Parenting Solution: Use Pictures to Stop NaggingTuesday, January 12th, 2010 I am sure I am not the only one who finds themselves frustrated by the constant nagging that can occur when one has a child (or two) whom you are trying to get up and out the door in the morning or sitting down for dinner or to bed at night. Today I decided to get creative with my nearly five year old daughter after another morning battle around getting dressed. She responds well to visual direction and reminders (she’s her mother’s daughter). We used pictures and award charts for things in the past like staying in her bed, using the potty at night and most recently when she decided she wanted help to stop sucking her thumb. This morning she and I sat down together and in 20 minutes created the below job chart for her morning, evening and bedtime routines. From now on, rather then me repeatedly reminding or nagging her to go get dressed or put the napkins out or brush her teeth, I’ve told her that instead I will simply ask her what is next on her chart. It’s now on the refrigerator and she is eagerly awaiting dinnertime so she can use it. As a leader in both your work and your home it’s important to think outside the box, get out of your head, stop doing the same thing over and over if it’s not working and get creative about solving your everyday challenges. I am sure that this job chart will not eliminate all nagging from my house, but I love the fact that my daughter and I sat down together and came up with a plan so that she can feel more excited and successful about what she is supposed to do and I can feel less stressed about getting her to do it. Coaches Corner: Think about a specific challenge you have on a regular basis with your kids. Brainstorm some ideas with your children if they are old enough about how you can work together to come up with a solution. If you are stumped or your kids aren’t old enough to have the discussion with, submit your challenge to me and I’ll give you some ideas in a future blog post.
DISconnect to REconnectWednesday, December 30th, 2009 Well, I did it. I went a week without a computer, Twitter, Facebook or reading blogs. Okay, I did turn on the laptop a couple of times, but apparently the Universe was watching out for me and adamant in supporting my intention to DISconnect electronically in order to REconnect with my family over Christmas week as each time I tried, it failed to connect to wireless. Okay, I can take a hint. I made the decision before we left for our 10 hour drive to Oregon that I was not going to post to Twitter and Facebook during our holiday break. I will admit that there was the one photo of the three kids I posted on Christmas morning, but other then that, I found it pretty easy to DISconnect. The week off from connecting with people virtually really did help me REconnect with my immediate and extended family. I was more in the moment with what was going on, not thinking about what I was going to post or Tweet about. I enjoyed the down time more. When riding in the car (did I mention 10 hours…one way?), instead of pulling out my Blackberry to check or post on Facebook or Tweet, I talked with my husband, sang with my kids and enjoyed the scenery. Hey, I even READ A BOOK! Did I enjoy REconnecting with my virtual friends after that week? You bet! But what I’ve noticed over the past couple of days is the contrast in how present I am with the people physically around me when I am on the computer or my phone tweeting, texting or checking out Facebook versus when I am not. Don’t get me wrong; these are all great things and I believe that they can support personal and professional lives. However, my challenge to myself and to you is to take a technology break at least once a week, even for an entire week sometimes. Schedule into your life some times when you are DISconnected from your virtual friends in order to more fully REconnect with those that right in front of you–your kids, your husband, your friends in your community, even yourself Audio Blog: Do less. Be more.Monday, December 14th, 2009 Today’s audio blog message is based on the previous blog entry, Calming the Chaos of the Season, in which I share some tips for doing less and being more this time of year. Don’t think you have time to listen? Remember, it’s only 15 minutes long. Perfect for the busy mom. Take a few minutes just for you! |
