Can you do it all?
​
No.

There is NO productivity tip that will turn you into a super human.
Nope. None. Nada. 

Yes, you can give have empowering and purposeful work,  and yes you can have passions and interest. You absolutely can (and MUST) nourish and exercise your body. And of course you've got to take care of your family.

But take a moment to look at your list. Because I have got to tell you most of us have our list so far out of whack that no wonder we feel like frenzied f-ck ups!

If you're juicing all you can out of life but still aren't satisfied trust me I know what that feels like. And like so many people you just might be stuck on the hedonic treadmill. 

Here's the jist. If you're going to find more satisfaction in life you have got to start disappointing people immediately. And sometimes the person you are disappointing is the fake, unattainable version of yourself that you've been constructing in your mind. With the highlight reels of people's lives (ahem: social media) blasting away at us 24/7 and a world that seems to speeding up resource consumption at a break-neck speed, it's not our fault that we have unrealistic expectations of ourselves. BUT it is our responsibility to recognize the trap and immediately begin to untangle ourselves.

Maybe you're asking yourself, "How do you maintain the balance pursuing your passions and maintaining a healthy body and mind, and a thriving home life?"

News flash. Balance is a myth. And doing it all is a trap. 

There are seasons for all things. So if you are hoping to raise 4 kids, launch a multi-million dollar business, run a marathon, and travel the world all at the same time - it might be time to get very good at disappointing people.

Here aer some strategies, habits, and insights  that you need to employ NOW if you want to move from FOMO & frenzied into YOLO & loving life.

• Know your highest values, and say NO to anything that doesn't fit. This one is simple but not always easy. That's why I employ a simple test.
  • STEP 1: Set a timer for 60 seconds. Write down as many words as you can that answer this prompt. "_________ makes life worth living."
  • STEP 2:  Set your timer again for 60 seconds. Cross out as many words as you can as quickly as you can until you get down to 3-5 top words on the list.  The key here is to go with your gut. Don't overthink what you're crossing out. Let your instinct lead you.
  • STEP 3: Write your final 3-5 words at the top of a blank piece of paper. Then journal on the following prompt. "What in my life upholds these things? What is taking away from these things?"
• Remember your health is your #1 asset. If you don't have time to exercise and eat right you need to get real about anything that is getting in the way (this might include kids' activities, side hustles, or responsibilities you've volunteered yourself for that no longer fit).
  • ACTION ITEM #1:  Schedule (3) 45- Minute workouts into your week as appointments in the same manner you might schedule a meeting at your child's school or a conference call with colleagues.
  • ACTION ITEM #2:  Many grocers allow for online cart building. Make a list of healthful foods that you LOVE and add these items to an online shopping cart and save the list. This way every time you go to shop for groceries you will have a pre-programmed list of foods that you not only love to eat, but also offer nutrition to serve your amazing body. 
• Show Love to Your Future Self. This one can be hardest, but it helps if you work backwards keeping in mind the values exercise from up top. Imagine yourself 5, 10 ro 20 years into the future. Get clear on now what you want to have accomplished but rather how do you want to FEEL. From there reverse engineer steps that you might need to take to allow yourself to come closest to that feeling NOW. Often we find that not much needs to be ADDED to life rather we have to start pruning out what isn't working. This can mean disappointing your boss, perhaps reframing some expectations you put on yourself, or getting real with a loved one or spouse about a lingering issue. 

If you want to do it all — grow your business, show up for your family and friends, and nourish your own wellbeing — you have to start disappointing people including the self you thought you had to be in order to please the true self you already are. 

I'm going to cut to the chase.

If you're a fitness or wellness entrepreneur and you're not keeping, managing, and growing your email list - you are not only leaving money on the table, you're not serving your clients as well (or as easily) as  I am sure you desire!

Here is the Number 1 reason you need to tend to your list (or start one) right now!

#1 : You Own Your List!
No matter how many followers you have on Instagram or TikTok the reality is that consumer information on social platforms are not yours. As wonderful as the free world of social media is the truth is that it's evolved rapidly and with it the ability to reach consumers organically through it has shrunk.

Bottom line: exclusively relying on social for communication leaves you vulnerable. And if Facebook chooses to change an algorithm or TikTok decides to change it's policies, before you know it your entire communication and marketing strategy could be in jeopardy. 

There are many ways to start capturing emails and in future blogs I'll chat about that.

But for now your job is to pick an email marketing provider. For those with 500 people or less I recommend Mailchimp. Here's why...

Free & Low Cost to Begin
It's free to begin and if you choose to pay for the service it scales as you scale. If and when you want to switch platforms, be it because you intend to offer digital courses or need a more robust customer management and e-marketing platform, it will be simple to download your list and move forward.

Landing Pages (even before a website!)
Mailchimp also has low-cost paid versions that offer landing pages. So if you're not quite ready to take the plunge in building out a full-scale website, a landing page is all you need to take your list building to the next level. 

Plays Nicely With Other Platforms
Another great thing about Mailchimp is that it integrates with many other software platforms. Basic HTML functions can help you develop email newsletter sign up links once you do (and if you do) decide to build out a website. I've personally worked with Mailchimp integrations via Weebly, Wix, Wordpress, and many different CRM softwares.  Even if you don't end up with Mailchimp forever you can go the distance with a free or low-investment provider for a long time!

Now, is Mailchimp the only option? No way! There are many great free and low cost providers out there. And truly when you're getting started it's good to anticipate that at some point your tech may change. But, dont let choosing a provider stall you. Start building your list now - it just may be the most important first step in going from dabbling to dazzling when it comes to your small fitness & wellness biz.