by Amy Matthews | Sep 5, 2024 | Blog, Business, Mindset |
Let’s face it, it’s not easy to balance the stresses and demands of daily life. As the summer comes to an end, with increased responsibilities and kids returning to school, many of us will be running faster while things are coming at us from all directions. Adding to the mix, the growing uncertainty and shifts in the world around us, finding a sense of balance can be more elusive than ever.
It’s the reason people return to Rancho la Puerta time and time again: to regain perspective, reconnect with themselves and others, revitalize inside and out, rejuvenate, and renew. I feel fortunate and very grateful to teach my class there, “Create a Purpose-Driven and Freedom-Filled Life.”
Seeking work/life balance is like the quest for the holy grail. We yearn for it. We search for it. As we pursue it, it’s just out of our reach. Or, we think we finally found it, and poof, it magically disappears! Perhaps it’s the “idea of balance” that trips us up. The word balance conjures up a visual of life being easy, peasy, and breezy; where everything is perfectly in order and in its place. A trap if I ever heard one! The truth is, if we had balance, all of the time, life could be BORING.
My first career was in Silicon Valley and I had a very demanding job, with a ton of responsibility. Creating an explosive new market, and building a national team – it was non-stop. I flew cross country almost weekly to meet with customers, leaving at the beginning of the week and returning to San Francisco on Friday. I would spend the weekend decompressing and come Monday, I’d do it all over again. Rinse and repeat.
At that time, the last thing I had was balance! Due to my focus on success and a crazy work schedule, I knew I had to incorporate tools to keep me sane. I struggled with finding balance as many of my high-performing coaching clients do. Here’s what I learned: Balance is an inside job. When I feel rocky, off balance and overwhelmed, if I take a step back and prioritize self-care, I can return to equilibrium rather easily.
I think we all want to feel grounded, clear-headed, calm, a sense of ease and joy. Balance is trusting you have a good handle on all the aspects of your life and the belief that the universe has your back. So no matter what, amidst ups or downs, you flow with it rather than fight or resist what is happening.
Daily Go-Tos to Keep Focused + Increase Productivity and Ease
✅ Make Intention and Discipline Your Mantras
✅ Flip the switch from your active monkey mind by focusing on your heart
✅ Go for a walk between meetings and BREATHE
✅ Grant yourself a daily dose of gratitude
✅ Create blocks of time on your calendar to get things done
✅ Turn off notifications when you’re working on a deadline
✅ Respond to texts three times a day – rather than 100
✅ Reduce time on social media and how often you read/listen to news
10 Tips for Work/Life Balance and Success
#1 Start Your Day with a Positive Attitude.
Get out of your head and into your body: whatever that means for you. It might be a walk with your dog, meditation, yoga, a killer workout, or whatever floats your boat. Your intention is to be grounded, present, and ready to face the day.
#2 Be Authentic. Stay True to Your Values.
Authenticity Rules. Your experience, values, strengths, skills, passions, and DNA are unique. Embrace your individuality and all that you are. You’ll exude confidence and it will lead to your ultimate success.
#3 Think Good Thoughts. Say Good Things.
It’s important to bask ourselves in uplifting and positive thoughts so we feel inspired, motivated, optimistic, energized, productive, and feel good about ourselves. Choose your words wisely.
We often don’t realize how powerful our words are and how they impact others.
#4 The B Word. Boundaries.
Boundaries are essential for our productivity, success, well-being, and happiness. They empower us and contribute to feeling we’re in the driver’s seat of our lives. Who doesn’t want that?
#5 Clarity On What You Want.
To manifest what you want, you need a clear vision of what you want to create and a strategy and plan to get you there. You can always change a plan, but if you don’t have one to begin with, it’s hard to change it, right?
#6 Compete with Yourself.
It’s easy to put energy into what your colleagues or friends are doing or achieving. Stay focused on the activities that will bring YOU the results you want. Giving your attention to others takes your eye off the prize of being the best you can be.
#7 Don’t Expect a Certain Outcome.
I’m a huge believer in high standards and developing specific goals yet I’ve learned to not expect a certain outcome. Expectations are a breeding ground for disappointment. Be open to how situations unfold. If you remain flexible, the result may be better than you anticipated!
#8 Trust Your Gut.
The truth is, you’ve got to learn to use your instincts to be successful in business and life. The more you rely on your instincts and intuition, combined with your real-life experience, the better you’ll be at making sound decisions.
#9 Know Your Limits.
Contrary to popular belief, humans have limits! Check-in with yourself to see what you need at the moment. Instead of going to the event you’ve been dreading, perhaps a candlelit bath or meditation is a better choice.
#10 Go for It.
Taking risks isn’t for everyone. Fear is what usually prevents us from doing something uncomfortable. Acknowledge your fear, just don’t let it stop you from going after what you want!
Conclusion
Finding balance is a personal journey, it’s unique for everyone and there is no one-size-fits-all. Try not to make it another task to cross off your to-do list! Some people thrive with a killer workout, others a meditative walk, a dance party, yoga, breath work, art, sound healing, green juices, reading, a conversation with a friend, healing massage, great sex, deep sleep, or a combination of the above.
Let’s work together to discover what works best to bring you back into balance.
Book a complimentary call with me here.
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by Amy Matthews | Feb 28, 2024 | Business, In-Power, Inspiration, Mindset |
When I first began to think about creating my consulting and coaching business, I started to write every morning about what I wanted. I was in a reflective period, I had recently broken up with a boyfriend and was in a growth spurt.
First thing after waking, sitting in my living room with a cup of Joe in hand, I wrote. The title at the top of the page, WHAT I WANT. I wrote a stream of consciousness, permitting myself to write whatever came to mind, with no rules, and anything goes. Every day for a month, I wrote for 15 minutes. Then every day for another month and another month after that.
I got super clear. I got a conviction. I got committed. I got confident, to take action and start creating my life on my terms. Thus, the beginning of my coaching process.
That was 10 years ago. Back then, my business was called Eat the Brownie. I’ve always been super inspired to help people realize their full potential and get what they want, whether it’s more joy, freedom, money, success, peace of mind or whatever brings meaning. This is what “Eating the Brownie” is all about, knowing who you are, what you want and creating a life with #no regrets. (Read the story that inspired “Eat the Brownie” here.)
I call my morning writing ritual “Brownie Pages”, a take on Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages, the amazing author of the Artist’s Way.
What I know for sure is this: if you take the time to get out of mind mugginess, you will gain clarity on what you want. And if you take repeated action towards it, in 6 months your life will change. It’s how I got to where I am now. I changed where I live and what I do. My life looks very different than it did 10 years ago.
AND drum roll please..it’s time to do it again! Starting right now – 2 full months – I’m committed to writing “Brownie Pages” each and every day. So I can expand my vision for myself, my business and my life. And make 2024 the best year ever.
Who wants to join me? In just 8 weeks, you will have more clarity, conviction, and confidence to create the life you really want. Come on, let’s do this together.
Life is short, let’s get the party started. You in? Send me an email (amy at womanunruled dot com) and let me know!
by Amy Matthews | Feb 22, 2024 | Blog, Business, In-Power |
I was walking with my dog Pie the other day and there is a stretch by the water where I can take her off-leash. As soon as I unclipped her, I received a text from a client that required immediate attention. Completely immersed in my phone, a few minutes later, I heard a scream, “clean up your dog’s mess!”
As soon as I took my eye off the ball, Pie did her business.
I completely get why anyone would get pissed off when a dog owner doesn’t act responsibly. Totally fair. But the funny thing, I had poop bags exploding from my pockets for all to see. I still got the scornful look and a shameful-induced reaction.
So I said: “Thanks for pointing it out. You can see, I have bags galore. Shaming isn’t necessary.” The person must have been surprised by my comment. Then said, “Your dog is so cute.”
The art of humiliating and shaming others is at an all-time high. Bashing celebrities, music icons, political rivals, leaders of all kinds, you name it. It’s all over the news and social media, every single day.
Let’s break it down.
Shaming is s way of gaining power over others. It’s a way to feel in control. It’s judgment on steroids and its purpose is to modify behavior and keep people in their place. When a shamer points the finger, they feel greater than and feel good about themselves.
Business is hard these days. Revenue expectations and profitability goals are through the roof, companies are pivoting, some are faltering, and investors are aiming to acquire for pennies on the dollar. In addition, there is a disconnect between the values of the old guard and what the new guard of employees value and want from their jobs. Gen Z’s value autonomy, flexibility, purposeful work and work-life balance.
Clearly, the old model of wringing out as much as you can from employees is dead. Yet as a CEO or executive, the pressure to generate results while balancing the needs of your employees can be tricky, especially when delivering constructive feedback.
There are subtle ways providing feedback can come across as shaming. Before providing any, be clear on your intention and the specific results you want from the conversation. Script out your message, be clear, always start with a positive and look for positive outcomes.
To create a highly productive team and organization, focus on your people’s strengths, understand what they value, empower them so they feel motivated and inspired to make their biggest contribution.
Ways to work with me:
