NEW YEAR | NEW YOU

As a new year begins and we all focus on our resolutions, I decide to go an alternative route and create intentions throughout the year. This means everyday I will wake up with purpose. I will be aware of what I am doing but also why I am doing it. However, in order to do so I must be fully present and clear. Resolutions/intentions require a plan/ritual as well as discipline. The plan is the easy part (if it’s simple) but the discipline part, well that you must acquire.

| MAV MANTRA |

Empty what is full, fill what is empty.

CLEAR SPACE | CLEAR MIND

I’m an extremely visual person, meaning if I see clutter, I feel cluttered. As this affects my energy and ability to work, I now realize the importance of a tidy workspace. For me, the first step is to reduce. Since I complete all my creative work from home, I need my office to feel minimal yet inspiring. I began throwing away old items that no longer served me. Instantly I felt a weight lift from my mind as my apartment began to take on a different air. My room became a sanctuary and my living room became a workspace.

HEAVY vs. LIGHT

Next comes organization. Now that I can move more freely, it is possible to re-organize my life with the remaining necessities. I bought a planner. I got file folders. I started to find my plan, a roadmap. That’s when I found the idea of light vs. heavy lifting; a method where you segment your to-do list based on the amount of energy it requires. Then I found my flow, a rhythm.

OFF THE MIND | ONTO PAPER

The night before I write out tomorrow’s tasks. This organizes my thoughts and prepares me for the day ahead. Secondly, it serves as a stress relief as it clears my mind of worry and therefore helps me sleep. This is what I call off the mind, onto paper. I divide tasks between two columns, heavy vs. light and promise myself to be reasonable and balanced in my expectations. (Need a guide? Try a planner with a pre-made checklist like this one from Anthropologie).

BYE, PROCRASTINATION

  I make it a point to focus on the heavy stuff first in order to get it out of the way. What I found in return was this created a reward program if you may. No dessert before dinner ring a bell? The whole concept of having the sweet finish to something substantial has been around since I was two. Trust me, I tried eating my dessert before every meal. Sometimes I still do. However, finishing your work before playing is meant for your benefit and here’s why:

When you promise yourself something after the hard work is completed, you appreciate it more. Ideally when you complete your heavy task first, you can check that off your list and fully enjoy your light task or reward. Of course we want to rebel from discipline but discipline can be great if we re-work our definition and feelings towards it. In truth discipline creates a lifestyle of self-improvement and fulfillment.

 RESULTS

I tried this method out for a week and for me, it worked. I noticed new waves of productivity and clarity. Along the way I learned some valuable lessons too. I found that in having balance in work (or any area of life for that matter), makes all the difference in having an enjoyable process and experience.

LESSONS

-Be reasonable

-Focus on the task at hand

– Take a break if you reach a point of mental/creative exhaustion

– Come back to it later

-Plan the night before

-Use decrement. If the day is very heavy make sure to counter balance it to avoid burnout! (Or lighten your load)

-Use playtime to re-new (meditate, take a nap or a bath, eat a snack, go for a walk, etc.)

– Rest is okay! It can refresh your mind, perspective and creativity (just don’t get lost in the fun zone)

-Don’t feel bad if you don’t complete everything, simply move it over to tomorrow

-Applaud yourself for what you did complete

– Have fun!

__________

Activity is imperative but so is resting. Try to find a healthy balance between the two! I guarantee if you do, 2016 will be prove to be a successful and productive year for you! This is the year of foundation building. I hope you create the blueprints and habits needed in order to flourish in the years to come. 

Get digging, start blooming, and show me the monnnnnney!

|| MUSE | STYLIST||

Morgan Ryan

|| PHOTOGRAPHY ||

Puno

|| FEATURING ||

TONI