The Year of Simplify: Quiet Nights

Hey June!

I am halfway through my year of simplifying and still going strong. One of the biggest changes I've made this year is to dedicate most of my weeknights to doing, well, not much!

For most of this time that I've been blogging, being 'out and about' was a big priority for me. Going to events 4-5 nights a week was normal. Nowadays, I'm throwing most of my energy and mind space into my job. Between that and 6:00a.m. workouts every day, I am spent by the time I get home from work. The last thing I want to do is put on my game face & outfit for yet another round of cheese, wine and networking.

Don't get me wrong. My days working at the Chamber of Commerce taught me that networking is invaluable, and I value the connections I make greatly. But what is it worth when you're too exhausted to hold your end of a decent conversation with someone you've never met? I don't want to waste anyone's time. I am constantly learning how to say no in order to take care of myself - and to be able to say 'YES' to the events that really appeal to and inspire me.

New artistic indie boutique openings, for example.

Most nights lately have been spent at home. Taking naps. Cuddling with Spike. Enjoying the process of making dinner. Food prepping for the rest of the week. Stretching. Reading. Trying to stay offline for the most part. Texting my family and admiring pics of my baby nephew. Catching up with my boyfriend at the end of our long days.

The quiet is wonderful.

Unfortunately, the tiredness and desire to be offline at night has made it really difficult to find time to blog. I have so many ideas for this little blog and sometimes it brings me to tears that I can't write as often. Not just because of time, but because I need my head and soul to be in the right frame. I'll find my groove again. I always do.

Follow my year of simplifying here.

What’s on Your #UltimateBucketList?

With my birthday just passing, I’ve been thinking a lot about my wish lists. I always try to be pretty modest when it comes to asking my loved ones for things, but in my head you know I’m always dreaming big.

How do you dream big?

Let’s say you won the Washington’s Lottery jackpot. What would you do with it? No guilt, no holds barred, and no limitations on what you’ll do with your winnings. The Washington’s Lottery and I want to know what’s on your #UltimateBucketList!

What’s on mine, you ask? Just like my birthday wish list, I like to keep my bucket list full of things not too far out of my proverbial reach. I like to dream big so I have something to shoot for when I’m setting my goals. Aspirational, yet attainable. I like that when I try my luck in Washington’s Lottery, it can vary from Scratch tickets in my birthday cards to crossing my fingers to take home a prize from one of their sweet Jackpot Games. Different prize levels make dreams of all sizes come true!

That being said, here are just a few things on my #UltimateBucketList:

A European castle tour

Image via Pinterest

A huge, dreamy library

Photo via

My own non-profit

Image via Pinterest

A luxury cruise with my mom

Photo via

A hybrid gym (for my sculpt & HIIT work, my boyfriend’s jiu-jitsu & MMA and my BFF’s Zumba classes ☺)

Image via Pinterest

The perfect tropical fitness getaway

Photo via

Tell me what’s on your #UltimateBucketList!

Head over to Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram and share your #UltimateBucketList items with me. Who knows - your wildest dreams just might come true with the next Washington’s Lottery drawing!

Follow Washington's Lottery on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram as well.

Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by Washington’s Lottery for this post. All opinions are mine.

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Less priorities. More time & focus on 'em.

Less screen time. More presence in the moment.

Less posturing. More giving back.

Less noise. More silence.

Less rushing. More mindfulness.

Less comparison. More growth.

Less television. More satiating curiosity.

Less networking. More connecting.

Less calendar appointments. More playtime.

Less talkin' bout it. More being 'bout it.

Less yes to everything. More yes to the things that matter.

Less time for fake ones. More sippin Cristal (smoothies) with these real ones.

Less shopping. More thoughtful curating.

Less spending. More saving.

Less things. More experiences.

Less Pinterest. More real life.

Less digital. More analog.

Less burgers. More burpees.

More Glow. Always more @fortheglow.

More mentoring. More getting mentored.

Hopefully less sugar! LOL

Less consuming. More creating.

Always elevating the fresh.

How Keeping a Time Journal Keeps Me Productive

Have you ever gone to bed wondering what you got done all day? You remember being busy - maybe even productive. Yet you're not quite sure what you did, and if any of it was stuff you were supposed to get done today.

This year of simplifying has helped me realize that routines are my steez. Not that routine rules my life - not by any means - but having some of it helps keep me productive when I need to be, for as long as I need to be. In order to make time for self-care, reading, writing, dates with my boyfriend and cuddles with my bulldog, I have to use my time in the office or in front of a laptop wisely.

I've been exploring different ways to be more productive, and studying my own habits a lot more closely. We have to find the systems that work best for us, right?

Something that's really helped me lately is so simple yet so effective. I've been keeping a time journal - nothing fancy, just a blank page in my notebook where I track times alongside what I do. I don't make it too complicated so that I'm not hard on myself when I don't stick exactly to the format.

Sometimes a day of meetings go by and I'm recapping at night.

Sometimes I'm tracking what I do down to the minute.

I note when I'm distracted.

I note when I go to the bathroom.

I jot down as much as I can but don't get overly descriptive. What I've seen so far is so eye-opening!

The simple act of writing down what I do during the day absolutely helps me stay on task and productive more than I do when I'm not. I don't want to see hours of wasted time in my time journal, so my conscience puts in more effort to put in work. It brings me back to my to-do list and strategic dashboards more often each day.

I know when I get tired and am more likely to get distracted. I know Mondays will always be more productive than Thursdays, when I've worked out early every day that week and am just spent.

Time journaling has helped me recognize my most and least productive times of the day, and from that I've been able to carve some routines with flexibility that work for me. Sure, meetings come up and life happens, but I now have an anchor of sorts that pulls me back not just to my to-do list, but to my personal and professional goals.

To simplify our lives and make space for what matters, we have to understand what we're allowing to take up our time and focus!

Follow my year of simplifying here.