I learned from my mistake

I’m beating myself up. My ezine hasn’t been distributed in two weeks. I could have screamed “Iceberg right ahead,” because I saw the problems coming. And, instead of doing what I now know how to do, I did what I used to do. A little blame here, a little overcompensating there, and, before I knew it, my schedule was messed up and I didn’t complete tasks on time. Years ago, I would have planned a pity party and repeated, “I’m so busy. I have no time. I’m so tired.”

Not now. I can’t do that anymore. I know better so I need to do better. I need to take responsibility for my actions and hold myself accountable. The bottom line is I didn’t manage my time and projects effectively; therefore, I wasn’t productive in all the ways I needed to be and that upsets me.

It should have been clear that May was going to be a busy month: a couple of speaking engagements, my first-ever webinar, two conferences, an important meeting with a big corporation, and, of course, supporting my clients. And all of these events weren’t just “show up,” they were be at your best and SHINE. The webinar, in particular, was a lot of work. Nothing I couldn’t handle, but a series of tasks that required planning, strategy and time.

One of the big problems is that I let my environment envelop me in clutter. First, it’s the paperwork around the apartment because I’m switching bags a lot and not putting things away every night. Then, it’s the books I’m using to research facts and statistics that get left on my desk “until tomorrow,” which never comes because I’m rushing. Why am I rushing? Because I am allowing myself to feel choked by my to-do list instead of taking time to plan each and every day and literally map out what needs to done first, second, third, etc.

The webinar presentation day was approaching and I still wasn’t feeling comfortable with my seminar. I needed to align my powerpoint slides with my word document outline. I wanted to be sure I was presenting not only the facts, but also very tactical and practical solutions for managing stress for success. I was getting easily distracted which was frustrating me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it: my “iceberg.”

The pile of The New York Times, New York magazines and Time Out New York magazines on the floor of my apartment. Oh yes, I’d read the daily Sports and Arts sections from the paper, but not always the main and business sections. What if? What if there was something I needed to know and hadn’t read it yet? (Hello Jodi from five years ago!!!) What happened to the “now” Jodi who realizes that she doesn’t need to know everything about all things, that she learns from connecting with others AND can access anything from The New York Times online?

Five, six, seven years ago, those newspapers and magazines were a staple in my apartment – almost a piece of furniture. Back then, I never felt as if I could relax because I always had a pile to sort through, a stack of newspapers and magazines with hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of facts I expected myself to comprehend and remember. Why couldn’t I? Wasn’t I smart enough? Thinking I wasn’t smart enough, I’d walk to the kitchen and eat some sugar. You can see where this leads – not a good place.

But that was then, this is now. I read what I can every day (depending on my schedule) and then recycle everything because I don’t want the pile in my apartment. It’s just not healthy for me. For some reason, this time around I lost track of my competence, and judged and berated myself for not being perfect. And missed my own deadlines! That’s enough to make me sick, seriously!

I am grateful for realizing what I was doing before I let anything else slip through my fingers. I live and work in my apartment and it is more important than ever that I allow my mind, body and spirit room to think, expand and grow. I owe it to you and the rest of my community, to look and feel my best so I can inspire, educate and empower you to be your best.

I know my triggers and I know how to “recalculate” just like the voice in our GPS devices. I know I say it a lot, but I am so grateful for everything I’ve learned along my wellness journey. I’m taking the right actions again to chart the course to success and accountability. I hope you’ll join me on the adventure.

Next Steps:

1. Take a look at your environment (home/office/car). Is it neat and orderly or cluttered and messy?
2. Think about how you are managing your to-do list. Are you in control or is the list managing your life?
3. Are you overwhelmed? Do you need help? If so, please ask for it. Check in with your spouse/partner or friend or colleague. Let them know you are feeling out-of-control and need help prioritizing your tasks and activities. Asking for help is a strength not a weakness.
4. Take a walk. Go to a yoga class. Take a deep breath and determine what your “iceberg” is and how you can “recalculate” your course and continue to move forward.
5. Breathe.

These steps will help you feel confident in your abilities, take the actions you need to keep moving forward and growing and manage your stress. If you are concerned about your diet or if your lifestyle is not supporting your health and well-being, Contact me or call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.