by Rochelle Griffin

After reading the title, you may have asked yourself “Huh? Lead a team with Instagram? Instagram is a fun, creative, photo-sharing site. How in the world can someone lead a team using it?” As far-fetched as it may sound, yes you definitely can lead a team utilizing Instagram as one of your tools.

Being a leader means that you inspire others…empower them…encourage them to be their best…show them a path that leads down the road to success. As you lead a team of diverse people, it’s important to not lose sight that everyone will be at different levels of success or skill. Some individuals are just starting out, while others are seasoned.

Instagram is great because it can speak to ALL members of your team regardless of where they are in their business. It’s easy to learn and not intimidating.

Instagram is about culture…YOUR culture. While yes there are plenty of people posting the most random stuff on the site, if you are going to use Instagram as a business tool (and you are ☺ ), you will want to think more strategic.

We are a very visual society. Often people will emulate what you do by quietly watching. This means that your pictures have the ability to evoke emotion and show your passion.

Business is ultimately about relationship with both your clients and your team. Instagram allows people an inside look into your world and helps to build that relationship. People always want a sneak peek behind the curtain and to be able to “feel” your personality.

For example, I’m a WAHM with a health/fitness business plus homeschool our son, so I often bring a behind-the scenes look into my daily life. I show the freedom that I’ve been able to create because of my business, taking pictures of my family, my meals, my workouts, my vacations, etc. I always vary what I post to keep interest peaked, but I remain acutely aware of my brand.

As I’m posting pictures, including what’s happening in my business, my team watches. Because I teach my team to post to Instagram 3-4 times per day (consistency is key,) I post the same way. Please never ask your team to do something that you aren’t willing to do. It will create a disconnect and mistrust that will be difficult to right.

I have found that a great perk of using Instagram is that, instead of my team hearing me talk about success and the freedom that they can achieve, they SEE it first hand. This has a much bigger impact. They can see that I’m not blowing smoke and just saying words…that I’m actually DOING what I say.

I want to share 5 main tips for leading your team with Instagram:

•Have your team follow you on Instagram. They will learn by watching plus you will inspire them.

•Make sure that your Instagram profile matches your Facebook & Twitter profiles. Remember your team is watching and following your lead. Set them up for success.

•Post 3-4 times per day and vary the pictures. Although you may love your child, posting 10 pictures of him or her a day will run people off.

•Be yourself in your pictures. Not every picture has to be perfect. The imperfections will actually help people connect with you and make you real.

•Show yourself using your products in your day-to-day life instead of blatantly “selling” your products.

In short, Instagram is a fun, easy way to personally connect not only with your clients but with your team as well. Make it part of your daily social media routine and watch your engagement and relationships deepen. Then don’t be surprised when your profits increase as result. ☺

The post Encouraging & Leading a Team with Instagram appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

I first wrote & published today’s article back in November for National Adoption Month. I am re-publishing in honor of Mother’s Day yesterday as it speaks to ALL moms. It was on Mother’s Day, 12 years ago, that we received the “official” call. Enjoy.

While yes this month is special because we celebrated Thanksgiving, it’s even more meaningful to my family because November is National Adoption Month. I have a story to tell…it’s not one that I parade in public, although I definitely don’t hide it. In honor of National Adoption Month, I’d like to share a story in honor of our son…completely with his permission.

You have to go back in time to when I was 16 or 17. I remember distinctly standing in the kitchen of my childhood home with my mom. I told her that I had a gut instinct that I’d have difficulty conceiving. Of course, I had nothing to base my feeling on so my mom brushed it off. In my mind, however, I knew…and I was totally open to adoption.

Fast-forward a few years when I started dating my then-future husband, Keith. As we grew closer, we began having the typical serious “life” conversations. In these conversations, I shared with him my instinct and that adoption would be the route that I would probably go. He didn’t blink an eye. (I seriously have such a great man!!!)

For the first 10 years of our marriage, we did try to conceive without success. I finally had exploratory surgery and found that my fallopian tubes were blocked. Both were re-opened but still no pregnancy. The next step for a biological child was in-vitro fertilization. Keith and I decided to not pursue that avenue. It was never important to me to give birth. It was important to me to be a mother. We decided to move forward with the adoption process.

Now if you’ve never been part of the process, trust me…it’s called a “process” for a reason…OY…long and drawn out. We were almost through with the grueling stages when we made the decision to put it on hold due to the cost. Adoption can be very expensive and we were already in debt.

About a year later, as I was working as a Hospice RN, I started talking casually with a co-worker about our families. I mentioned that we had stopped the adoption process, and she replied that her friend’s single granddaughter was pregnant and considering adoption. I smiled but truly didn’t expect anything to come from it and didn’t even mention it to Keith. Imagine my surprise when she called me about a month later to tell me that this girl wanted to meet us! Ummmmm…yea, I had to tell Keith. He was in shock as we had put the thought of children behind us for a while. I told him that I wanted to at least meet her.

We met her at her grandmother’s house one evening. I’ll never forget it. She was 6 months pregnant and having a little boy. We all hit it off right away, talking about our lives. We said goodbye, knowing that she was going to meet with some other couples as well. As soon as Keith and I were in the privacy of our car, I turned to him and flat out said…with all the conviction that I could muster…”She is carrying our son.” I KNEW she was. I was as sure about it as I was when I was a teen and knew I wouldn’t be able to conceive. Keith could hardly say a word for the next several hours.

Of course, there was still a period of pins & needles as we waited. On Mother’s Day 2001, she called me to tell me that we were the couple that she wanted to adopt her son! For the next 4 months, we had the privilege of going thru the pregnancy with her…to doctor appointments, ultrasounds, and then of course the birth! I’ll never forget it…the doctor placed Jacob into her arms and then she placed him into mine. As happy as I was, I could see her heart breaking. We each cried but our tears had different meanings.

Six months later, Jacob officially became a Griffin in the eyes of the law.

I wanted to tell this story in honor of National Adoption Month because not many people get to see the whole process, including what the birthmother goes thru. I am eternally grateful to Jacob’s birthmother as I can’t imagine life without our son. I have zero doubt that this was God’s plan for our life…he even looks like Keith & me! I always tell Jacob that he may have not been born from my tummy, but he was definitely born from my heart.

Thank you to all birthparents out there. You are such special people and are instrumental in making others’ dreams come true. Bless all of you!

The post Born From My Heart appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

Everyone craves stability…babies, children, and adults alike. As adults, stability often take the form of employment. We work, potentially for years, to build a solid foundation in either our jobs or our businesses. Is it ever too late to then change our focus? Even after all of the time that we invested into our current endeavor?

I received a wonderful email this week from Marsha in response to my article about getting older. She wrote:

“I have maintained a 100-pound weight loss for 40 years! I turned 65 in February, and I, too, have experienced the same issues with aging as it affects weight, body systems, etc.“

She then went on to write:

“And I really enjoy having continued vitality and viability in my later years.  In fact, I am exploring the possibility of changing the focus of my practice from strictly mental health to a health and wellness  “life coach” if that is the correct term.  Do you think that is too late?”

First of all, CONGRATS on maintaining the weight loss! Incredible! Once I moved past that incredible feat, I read the rest of the email and it really got me thinking…

IS it truly ever too late?

My short answer is NO, it’s never too late! It’s never too late to step into everything that God has designed you to be. If you remain open and trust, you will be amazed how events can evolve into something much bigger than anything you’ve ever dreamed about!

Case in point when I made the move from a 20-year nursing career to a Full-time Beachbody Coach five years ago. Yes it was scary, but as I began to step into who I was meant to be…in my gut, I knew that there was still more. I knew I wasn’t finished. I knew that I wanted to impact people all over the world, but I didn’t know how or what it would look like.

Now here I sit in awe of what’s currently transpiring in my life. Because of life circumstances and meeting my mentor, Sandi Krakowski, I’m able to impact more people than I ever imagined.

…and I’m not ready to stop.

All because I was willing to take a chance 5 years ago. If I hadn’t taken that chance, I’d still be the miserable nurse working in the hospital. I would have missed out on so much.

So Marsha and anyone else who is wondering if they should take a chance on what their gut is telling them…I say a big resounding YES! It doesn’t matter what your age is.

Do your research. Find a mentor. Go back to school if required. With today’s technology, the possibilities are endless.

It’s never too late to live your dream. In living your dream, who knows how many others that YOU will inspire to live theirs.

The post Stability or Gut: Which Should You Follow? appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

What I’m going to say may shock you…as it took me by surprise myself. Are you ready?

We are all getting older.

There, I said it. Yep, we are. I recently had to admit that although I may feel in my 30’s, my body isn’t and I have to monitor myself differently. Let me explain…

About a month ago, I badly sprained my ankle resulting in no workouts for 4 weeks. As a self-proclaimed emotional eater, I can tell you that fitness and healthy nutrition go hand-in-hand for me. Take away my fitness…well, let’s just say that my eating during that month wasn’t exactly stellar.

At the same time, I became aware that I was having a really hard time relaxing. I was constantly feeling stressed, even when nothing was going on. I blamed it on our recent move as we are STILL unpacking.

Two weeks after my sprain, I went into the Emergency Physician Clinic on a Saturday because I was still in pain. I needed to be sure that I wasn’t dealing with a fracture. Turns out that I wasn’t, but my blood pressure was high.

Say what?!?!?! I chalked it up to a fluke and forgot about it.

Two weeks later, I was in the grocery store with my family. My son always likes to do the automatic blood pressure machine that is by the pharmacy, so I decided to do it myself. Low and behold…my blood pressure was high again! Ok, it had my attention. I bought a home machine on the spot.

The next morning (last Monday) I made an appointment to see my physician that very day. I was starting to put two and two together. That feeling that had been plaguing me…the inability to relax…may have had nothing to do with my stress level but with my blood pressure level.

It was no surprise when it was high at my appointment as well. Hypertension plagues my family, so my doc shrugged her shoulders and said “Looks like genetics has kicked in” because other risk factors didn’t pertain to me. Before she put me on medication, she wanted blood work first. Plus she wanted me to monitor my blood pressure for a week.

OK, so this past week I’ve been monitoring my pressure. Also this past week, I’ve been back to exercising again, have been drinking tons of water, limiting caffeine, completely cut out alcohol, and eating clean.

Low and behold, my blood pressure has steadily decreased and has been normal for the past 5 days. Also, that “unable to relax” feeling has disappeared.

My follow up appointment is later today. My doctor is anticipating starting me on medication. She doesn’t know it at this moment, but she won’t have to.

Things that never affected my body systems in the past…sodium, alcohol, eating poorly… do adversely affect me physically now. It was an eye-opening moment for me. Gone are the days of working out & eating well to look good and fit into my jeans. Here are the days of working out & eating well to truly be healthy…otherwise I’m going to end up on medication.

If you are experiencing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar, I strongly suggest that you speak to your doctor to see if he/she will allow you a trial period of trying to get it under control with nutrition & exercise before turning to medication. Although I’ve always “known” that proper diet and working out could control these ailments, for the first time in my life, I personally now “KNOW.”

The post Mind Over Matter: How Getting Older WILL Affect You Physically appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

Take a chance. Live life to the fullest. Be adventurous.

We’ve all heard these statements, but this week I’ve been reminiscing about a trip that I took a year ago…a time I  took them completely to heart. I was in Tahiti on a trip of a lifetime, and I truly can’t believe how I put myself out there.

Before I get into just HOW I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, I first must tell you a bit of my past. I grew up as a very timid girl. I can’t explain to you just why…perhaps environment. I had so many phobias that they actually became (and still are) a running joke between my hubby and myself. Should I even admit to you that there was a time that I was afraid to turn left when driving if it wasn’t at a stoplight? (Anyone remember “I can’t get left” from the movie European Vacation? Ha!) Or that driving in the rain was enough to make me break down? Swear. I’ve since overcome these fears, but what was it in my past that made me fearful? When did I lose the adventurous spirit that children have?

My self-discovery over the past few years has unleashed the inner adventurer in me with a fury. I actually PUSH myself into situations now…wanting to prove something to myself. So, back to a recap of this amazing week abroad. I had so many “firsts” that I’m sitting here shaking my head in disbelief. A few still stand out for me:

Day 2: We spend the day on a boat and head out to where sharks and stingrays are. I get in the water and touch the rays. This was HUGE for me because on my honeymoon, 20 years ago, we swam with stingrays. Well, actually my hubby swam with stingrays…I CLUNG to him instead. Pretty sure he lost some skin that day. I was petrified of the docile creatures.

Day 4: We went to a private island and had Polynesian Olympics…most of the time in the rain…drenched. It was AWESOME!!!! I threw spears at a coconut (and actually hit it!), milked a coconut, native danced, raced in an outrigger, and lots of other games. I felt like a kid again and didn’t care how I looked. Wow. First.

Day 5: I went on an aquasafari. This is called “snuba” in the USA. Basically we were taken on a boat to an area about 10 feet deep. Then they put this helmet-thing on you that allows you to breath, and a diver takes you under the water to the bottom. The helmet weight keeps you under water. I was able to hand feed fish AND I touched a sea anemone (which DID have a Nemo fish in it!).

This day was a big deal because I’m claustrophobic. I had to take some deep breaths when the helmet was first put on…my heart was pounding pretty fast…I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to do it. Then, I felt myself get pulled under. For a split second, I thought I’d die…then, low and behold, I could breath! Not only could I breath, beautiful fish were coming directly up to me. I was able to stay under for the whole 30 minutes. First. Not gonna lie…I WAS relieved when it was time to come to the surface.

Day 6: Another big day for me. I went parasailing. As the instructor strapped me in, she told me that the ride purchased was for 350 feet in the air, but she was going to give us 1000 feet just because…WHAT?!?!?!…then she let us go! For a minute, it was scary. Trust is something that I always have to work on. Ummmm…yea, being strapped to a parasail involves the ultimate trust. Well, after my hands stopped the death grip on the straps and I took a look around at the scenery, I was breathless. It was one of the most beautiful sights EVER. When I say that there were at least 6 different shades of blue water, I’m not kidding. It was as though a great painter had been there. First.

So…what lesson can be learned from all of this? Am I trying to say “Hey, look at me and everything that I got to do while I was gone?” Nope, not at all. I’m trying to say to you that you can’t let life slip by because you are afraid. Life is too short, too precious. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s not. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. After all, who knows WHAT I missed out on all those times because I turned right instead of left. Turn left and see where it leads.

The post Step Outside Your Comfort Zone: Life is Too Short appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

We’ve all been there…taken an unintentional break from our fitness. It may be due to various reasons: illness, injury, falling off the wagon, etc. Regardless of the “why,” the important question is HOW to get back to it when we are ready. I’ve just recently experienced this very situation after having to take a month off from exercising due to a sprained ankle. I’m pleased to say that I’m now on day 3 of being back to the endorphin release of a good workout.

I’m going to share with you 6 tips to help you transition forward if you’ve been on hiatus as well. These have personally helped me get started again.

1. Start slow. Don’t expect to start where you left off. Trying to start at the level where you last were will be setting yourself up for failure and potential injury. Give your body time to adjust. Be flexible with your routine.

2. Listen to your body. I can’t stress this point enough. It’s easy to want to “go hard” when you first start because you are motivated, but your body may have other ideas. If you feel any pain, shortness of breath, or other difficulties, pull back…take a break. Your body is giving you signs of what it needs. Listen.

3. Be sure to have support. I’m speaking of emotional support. Especially if you find it hard to get back into the groove, support is essential to your success. My Success Workbook is a great way to stay on track as well if you have fallen off the proverbial wagon.

4. Stay hydrated. Your body won’t be used to exercise and will need the fluid to flush out toxins. Water is essential to get your body back to optimal working level.

5. Don’t beat yourself up. Illness & injury often can’t be helped. As far as falling away, well quite frankly, we all mess up occasionally. It’s time to forgive yourself and simply more forward.

6. Think health, not weight loss. Remember why you are doing this to begin with. Sure we all want to look good in our jeans, but ultimately we want to be healthy for our families and ourselves. Striving to improve our health will naturally result in weight loss anyways.

While it can be difficult to get back into a health & fitness routine after being away, it’s absolutely doable in small steps. Instituting these tips will make the transition easier. Now go out there and have fun!

The post Getting Back to Fitness: 6 Tips to End a Fitness Hiatus appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

I have always had a rebellious streak and leader’s heart…two traits that one may consider polar opposites. I respectfully disagree.

Growing up, if my mom told me to not do something, I was the kid who stuck her toe over the line just to see what would happen. Then regardless of the outcome, there was a good chance I’d step over the line again just because.

Don’t get me wrong. I had a healthy respect for laws and wasn’t breaking any but I would definitely push.

In college, it meant that I would play by the rules, get the grades, & have fun all at the same time. It also meant I would bring home the guitar player or the bouncer (who went on to become my hubby I’m happy to say) to meet mom. In the 80’s, it was the long-haired guys that would provide the element of surprise for my parents.  I was growing up and learning how the world works.

Once I hit corporate America, I began to struggle and feel stifled. Even as a RN manager, although it may not be considered the typical “corporate” job, there was administration to answer to and politics to maneuver through.

For a while, I could play the game but then I’d begin to feel restless and my rebellious spirit would begin to stir.

Then I became an independent business owner in direct sales and became a leader in my industry. Along with it came accolades, requests to speak, and truthfully the same politics from corporate America. This time, however, it was expected that my knowledge would be freely shared among the masses.

And for a while, I played the game.

Then my spirit began to stir again. I knew in my gut that there was more…that I didn’t have to play this game…that I could move beyond the constraints of the box put around me.

But how?

Well, I didn’t know…until I met my mentor, Sandi Krakowski, the pink haired, tattooed multi-millionaire with a heart of gold. Her looks alone screamed REBEL and I was immediately drawn. Through her actions & words, she showed me that it was ok to be myself and still be able to lead and prosper.

I jumped into the water with two-feet not knowing what to expect…only knowing I was excited about moving in another direction to build my business on my terms.

Little did I know that I would be jumping into a pool of controversy.

Some people stopped talking to me. I was removed from certain Facebook groups.

Interesting.

But a funny thing also happened…

My income increased and…

My rank increased and…

My reach of clients increased and…

My work hours decreased and…

My stress level decreased.

It turns out that I’m only a rebel when I feel that I’m not being fully myself. When I’m being myself…the person who God intended me to be, there’s nothing to rebel against. I’m simply at peace. Life happens organically and naturally.

If you are struggling right now, if you are feeling stifled, if you are feeling pressured into something that isn’t you, I want you to know that there is more out there. You don’t have to feel this way. Find a mentor who will support you for exactly who you are…who will help you grow without putting you into a pre-conceived box.

Once you feel this type of freedom, promise…there will be no going back.

The post Rebel WITH a Cause: Being Who You Are Meant to Be appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

Business owners, do you ever feel like you are breast feeding or changing diapers in business? There is a culture among direct sales companies to create dependency in the masses vs. raising up individual business leaders. I don’t think that people start out to initially become dependent nor do I think that leaders start out to make others dependent on them. Unfortunately it is the reality of what happens over time. The leaders tend to remain this “elite” group that the masses strive to be a part of but very few actually achieve it. In fact, it’s less than 1% that joins this particular group.

The direct sales industry says that people have their own independent business as contractors, yet among the ranks, they really don’t behave as if they do. Instead people tend to move in a herd and God-forbid, they decide to do something that the herd isn’t. The masses become paralyzed that their sponsor, upline, whatever the word that you use, won’t agree with them, so they are afraid to think for themselves for fear that they will make a mistake.

I’m about to take a huge burden off of someone’s shoulders with my next two statements.

You are NOT responsible for others success. THEY are 100% responsible for it.

They are also responsible for utilizing or not utilizing tools. You have no control if they don’t follow through…you have no power if they quit, so stop taking the responsibility away from them and making them co-dependent on you. Let them think for themselves. Likewise YOU are responsible for your own success as well.

Attempting to do it all…be it all…for your organization simply isn’t sustainable long-term. I equate it to trying to be Superwoman or Superman in your family. Can we all say burnout!?!?! Training your team, feeling responsible for creating success…over time the load will become too much to bear on your shoulders.

Promise that I’m not just blowing smoke your way. I speak from experience. I did exactly this…and before I knew it, I was working 80-90 hours per week, was miserable, & had people expecting me to be at their beckon call. Sure the money was great, but it was at the expense of my family who hated what I did. You know those “elite” leaders that everyone strives to become? Promise that they make sacrifices to reach that point…and not all are pretty.

Instead of making people dependent on you, give them the tools and let them fly…or fall. Teach people to be leaders in their own right…a leader of their business…a BUSINESS OWNER! It’s not your job to grow THEIR organization. It’s theirs.

Am I saying that you don’t have any responsibility as someone’s mentor? Nope, that’s not what I’m saying. You do bear some responsibility, but what is your role?

Your role is to:

1) Give them the tools to be successful

2) Support them & be their cheerleaders

3) Call them out when dependency shows itself

4) Point them in the right direction to find their own answers

That’s it.

Then you turn your attention, as a responsible independent business owner, to growing your own business.

If you’ve already created dependency in your organization, it is reversible but will take some work on your part. It’s time to establish firm boundaries and stick to it. Some won’t be happy about it. Some will be down right ticked off. It’s ok, and it’s not your worry.

When you fully place the responsibility of others’ success directly into their own laps, you will be amazed how people will step up to the plate. You will see your organization grow, mature, and develop deep roots. You will have set people free to be more successful than you’ve ever imagined. ☺

The post Breast Feeding, Diaper Changing, & Dependency in Business appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

You may have NO clue what this picture means, but it’s a HUGE deal! This morning, I officially achieved Eight-Star Diamond Coach status with my Beachbody Coaching Business.

You may say.”Okkkkkkkkkk…and this means……?”

I’m going to tell you exactly what it means. It means that I have a business team of ROCKSTARS who are:

• changing their lives
• changing others’ lives
• building a legacy for their family
• creating FREEDOM
• firing their boss
• going on vacations
• getting healthy

I am SO DARN-TOOTIN PROUD of my team that I want to shout from the rooftops!

How would YOU like to be a part of a winning team and change your life…regardless of what the media tells you the economy currently looks like?

At this very moment, I’m accepting registrations into my 60-Day Beachbody Business Coaching Mentorship.

Look…my mentorship works. My track record proves it, and I know what it takes to be successful in this business.

I’m not going to ask you to sacrifice your individuality (I’m not looking to make a bunch of “mini-me’s”) or to be tethered to texts, phone calls, and emails. NO WAY!

Instead I’m going to show you how to maintain your own voice & reach the masses!

My mentorship always fills up quickly, so don’t hesitate.

GO NOW!

A Toast to Your Health,

The post Diamonds ARE a Girl’s Best Friend in a Beachbody Business appeared first on Go Fit Coach.

by Rochelle Griffin

To-do or not to-do…THAT is the quintessential question.

Yes, I’m taking some liberties with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but I’m sure that even Shakespeare himself would have agreed with the importance of keeping a to-do list. Do you have trouble staying focused, remaining on task, or simply remembering to pick up milk…or worse yet, your child…on the way home from the gym? We all have the same 24-hours in a day, yet some people seem to accomplish so much more. Why? It’s the to-do list to the rescue.

Now, some of you will be thrilled at reading this. You are like me…you like to be organized and know what’s going on. When everything is in its place, you are happy. Others of you immediately broke out into a cold sweat when I mentioned the word “list.” You operate from a place of spontaneity. You are lucky if you can find clean socks in the am. Well guess what? I’m talking to ALL of you. Whether you are organized or not, a to-do list can set you free and increase your productivity at lightening speed. It can also help you set your priorities if you struggle with finding time to do your workout, among other things.

Let’s face it. We live in a hectic world. We juggle all the daily tasks that come with being a parent, a wife, a husband, an entrepreneur, etc. In every area of our lives, we have so many “things” that have to be done, it’s no wonder that our brains swim and we sometimes can’t remember what day it is. We aren’t wired to overload ourselves in this manner.

There was a time in my life when I didn’t make to-do lists. I simply kept everything in my head because I KNEW I could handle it. Well, one time I forgot to deposit a check into the bank. The end result was multiple overdraft/low balance fees that nearly wiped out our savings account by the time I realized what had happened. It was a very expensive lesson to learn. I also have found that if I don’t put myself as a priority on the list, I won’t do things for myself…like my workout.

There are many ways to organize a to-do list. Paper, computer, smart phone…your choice. You can have one master list daily, which is what I do, or you can have multiple ones based on areas of your life. I have found that one master list works for me. After trying multiple methods over the years, I figured that I was an old-fashioned “pen & paper” girl…until I discovered the Remember the Milk app. I’ve since tossed out my paper and am as organized as ever. 

4 reasons why a to-do list can improve your life and increase your productivity:

1. You will rest better at the end of the day. Make your list out the night before. By doing a nightly “brain purge,” you actually can improve your sleep. You free your mind of stress and will wake up more rested. This also saves you valuable time in the morning when you are trying to get the kids off to school or trying to find the time to workout. With a single glance, you already know what the day has in store.

2. The list will keep you focused. Do you have difficulty staying on task? Are you pulled in a million different directions? A to-do list will help pull you back into the realm of action. Action = production.

3. The list is like having your own personal cheering section. Nothing makes me happier than crossing items off my list. I know that when I cross something off, I’ve accomplished it. The more lines thru my paper, the more productive my day has been. I can hear the cheering now.

4. The list reduces stress. When you write down what needs to be done in your life daily, you are actually going to make room for more creative processes to occur. You are no longer bogged down with mental clutter.

I want to also share some tips that I’ve personally used to make my to-do list more effective:

1. Only put on the list the items that need to be done on that day.

2. Prioritize the list. After I make my list, I go back through it and write either an A, B, or C. A-tasks are the ones that I know that I MUST accomplish that day. There is some kind of deadline attached to them. My workouts are assigned to A. B-tasks are the ones that I SHOULD accomplish that day. C-tasks are the ones that would be nice if I were able to do. When I start to work on my list, I know that I must complete the A-tasks before I go on to anything else. Period. Then B-tasks are next, followed by the C’s.

3. At the end of the day, check your list. If you still have item not crossed off, simply transfer them to the next day’s list when you do your nightly “brain purge.”

In short, while you may not find making, maintaining, or using a to-do list glamorous, it is definitely one of life’s little pleasures that can completely simplify your life. If you still aren’t convinced, give it a try. I encourage you to take the next 7 days and make/use a list yourself. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover decreased stress and increased productivity in many areas of your life…and I, for one, am ALL about that!

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