Tuesday, December 9, 2014

5 Tips to Create More Consume Less in 2015


2014 included a lot of down time. Which meant lot's of reading, Pinning, subscribing to newsletters, following blogs, adding podcasts to my Stitcher list, audiobooks from the library (who loves free?!), and general consumption of incredible amounts of information. So much good! And then there comes that moment when it's all spinning around in your brain and it's just. too. much.

When my brain is * all jazz hands * all the time * there is no quiet space.  

No room for that one big idea to be born. No space for that quiet whisper that has led me to so many greater places than I could have planned myself.

Lately, I'm reading more about how to blog than I'm blogging. Swallowing more ideas on ways to heal than I'm actively making time to heal. Somethin's out of whack here. Yes there is a time to learn and boy howdy do I love Google and YouTube for a quick how to. It just seems that far more learning comes from the doing. You know what I mean?

2015 is going to be so freakin' amazing! I'm planning it well: Plan A, Plan B and the one the Universe actually delivers. I will be ready.

Here are 5 ways I plan to consume less and create more in 2015:


1. Take Scheduled & Unscheduled Information Breaks
  • Every Sunday will be screen free. Even Instagram. Gasp!
  • We don't have a TV (or watch on a laptop) and plan to keep it that way.
  • I listen to radio news only (local and national) and not everyday.
  • Once a month I'm scheduling a three day information break. All books, audio, radio, screens (accept necessary email), newsletters, magazines- all information. I'll use that time for a mix of creating stuff like writing, and creating quiet through more yoga and tiny hikes.
  • When I start to feel that spinning feeling, I'll know it's time for an unscheduled break.


2. Unsubscribe Ruthlessly 
  • When I get all excited about something (green smoothies, anyone?), I can go a little overboard subscribing to newsletters, adding blogs to follow, and generally signing up for way too much information. After the dust settles (7 days or a few months), unsubscribe ruthlessly. If you find yourself deleting without reading, just unsubscribe. You can find it in a hot second if and when you really need the info.
  • When money blocks were a big growth area I was focusing on, I subscribed to over a dozen money manifesters, money block coaches, and the like. I got a feel for each, how our style worked together or didn't- then unsubscribed ruthlessly. 
 My new rule is follow 3 people for each focused subject if I want to dig deep, stay focused, and learn. 
  • Same goes for junk mail and sales calls. Take the extra minute and ask to be removed or call and request it. Worth it.

 3. Schedule time for blog and newsletter reading.
  • 2 hours a week (1 hour 2x a week)- 8-9am Thursdays and 2-3 Tuesdays are on my calendar to read newsletters and blogs. If it takes more time than that, it's time to unsubscribe and make tough choices. Staying focused is helping me do more with my time and energy. Workshops and self paced classes are different and scheduled in as I can manage them. Thanks to Courtney Carver for the 2 hour max idea!
  •   Create a filter in your gmail so newsletters automatically are filed in their own special folder. No wasted time moving them as they come in or tempted to get off task and down the rabbit hole!
Tutorial on Turnstone to create filters and another from Google.

4. Set a daily goal for creating. No consuming until you have created.
  • My starter goal is 100 words a day. No email, blog reads, or even instagram until that is done.

 5. Fill your self up so there is more of you to give! 
  • More staring at the sunset. 
  • More standing under trees. 
  • Sitting by the sea side. 
  • Pausing in the middle of anything for a few needed long, filling breaths.

What moves you? What fills you up? What feeds your creativity?

Leave me a comment below. I'd love to hear!
xo,
Amy








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