As a creative, I’m sure I have told you this many times: It is my job to stay inspired and keep fresh ideas coming.
Now, the dilemma… As a business owner and two time entrepreneur (www.RockHardAtelier.com for fashion design and www.EmilyBrickel.com where I do creative consulting and illustrations – website in the works), there are also tasks and projects to get done!

my zen, and inspiration - inspiring desk!

Here is the fun part: balancing the two.
Undoubtedly the the most important, yet daunting affair is what happens when you exhilaratingly begin to grow your business and get more clients. (!!!!!)
How do you manage your task list, take time to forward-think, set goals, figure out growth, get inspiration AND create new ideas?

Well.
I for instance have struggled with this delicate dance of feeling inspired – having grand and fabulous ideas – writing things down – then inevitably getting WAY overwhelmed to the point of panic, break down, procrastination and total melt down.

With the help of many entrepreneur friends and mentors like Kelly Lynn Adams who teaches a course called More Time and More Money, my Mom Faith Brickel of Wine On My Mind.com , my spiritual mentors and running buddies Gabrielle Bernstein, Mastin Kipp at En*theos Academy, Arielle Fireman, as well as other hits of knowledge along the way, here are my tips to create balance,  rock your inner goddess and live a happy life like a Rock Star while making money from your passions.

** Side note: while these concepts are 100% authentic in helping you live your best life and your highest truth, I always need a refresher so save this list and come back to it any time you get over whelmed. I know I do. Also check out my mentor’s links!

First Make your work space clean, inviting and inspiring to look at.  Now

Getting things DONE:

1) Get a daily planner – (I like the Moleskin Hard Cover Red Daily Planner ) and plan out your day. I write down all of my tasks in what ever order that comes to mind but by color coding from red to purple (think rainbow people), or what ever color system that works for you.  This will show you the most important tasks in RED and so on.  Since I am notorious for over planning, many tasks will undoubtedly have to be carried onto the next day. I cross off the tasks I have accomplished, and through out the day refer back to my planner to see what to do next.

At the end of the day I rewrite the tasks I still need to do from that day onto the next day’s page and re-color code. So for instance today’s second priority tasks will now be the first and will now be in red.

Main Point: Physically writing your tasks and color coding them hard-wires your brain to actually process and analyze what you have to do, as opposed to typing it into a computer calendar where it may not actually sink in. When you have a planner you don’t have to worry about what happens if your computer crashes or your google calendar rearranges, deletes or fails to sync.

Lastly and most importantly, you can go back and see what tasks you have been re-writing in your planner for over a week and note why it is taking you so long. Are you intimidated by this task? Is it too big or ambiguous to tackle? Review and then break it out into 3-4 smaller milestones.

*Tasks should refer to work reaction based tasks like responding to clients and finishing projects, forward based tasks like how to market your company or a future goal for growth, personal tasks for your own well being like the gym, meditating, picking up groceries etc, and idea tasks like future blog ideas, plan to go to a museum, plan a promotion for your biz etc.

2) Three tasks a day keeps the stress away.   Choose three tasks each day that if you ONLY accomplish those three tasks you will go to sleep feeling productive. Circle them and do them first. Don’t stress about your remaining other tasks.  Just know that since they are written down, you know what else you need to do when you have time.

3) When your tasks come pouring in. If you have more tasks than space on the planner’s page, if one task takes a long time to complete, or you don’t know where in your planner to schedule them: take out a white clean sheet of paper (I like computer paper or lined notepads).

Write all of the tasks you know of from the top of your head, go back into your planner of unfinished tasks and add them all to the page, sometimes this takes up more than one page.  If your tasks include forward thinking tasks and tasks for the many hats you wear or the many businesses you run – your page might be 3- 4 long.

This is fine, just take a breath and note that: A) you no longer have to worry that you are missing something and B) if you are in line with your end goal some tasks may become unnecessary and your brain will filter the tasks that will actually get you to the prize. Once you wrote out all your tasks you can re-prioritize them into your planner.  Spread them out on allotted days or simply number them and keep this list as your master list to fold into the pocket of your moleskin planner.

4) Add some Zen. If you believe in a higher power or something greater than yourself – (even if you don’t know what that is) –  you can tune into the belief that Everything will get done in due time.  Know that time will expand when you are dialed into knowing that you have a life’s purpose and that there is a plan for your gifts.

The theory is that you are put on this earth for a very important reason, and that reason is to live your highest truth and live in abundance so you can serve the world with your gift/s. Using your intuition to know what your gifts are, when you focus on the big picture the little stresses will fade away. Then you can trust that everything will get done how it is supposed to.  Just take your vitamins so you are prepared to do what you CAN do.

My buddha illustration!

5) Exercise, eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner – and maybe add some snacks in!  They key to growth in life, in career and your relationships is based on the fact that YOU must be in tip top shape to get any of this done.  You are the vehicle by which your dreams can be realized and your life be a happy one. What can you do if you are sick in bed or on the couch unable to move? Your body is not only your temple, task master, ring master and vessel but it is also the means by which your thoughts and BRILLIANT, oh I do mean Brill-i-ANT ideas can be put to paper, organized, delegated and completed.

Don’t skip meals, don’t go for hours without eating, and if your body is hungry feed it. If your body is full, STOP. If your body is antsy, dance, work out, do yoga, go for a walk.

Your body is your #1 asset to your company, to your family and to your friends. Treat. It. As. SUCH.  You don’t get another body in this lifetime. Love it.

6) Laugh, take breaks, stop when you are fried and take time to play! The most important asset to having a fresh perspective, is taking your mind out of the game for a bit. Listen to your body and your frustrations. When you can’t focus, can’t keep your eyes open or just keep procrastinating – give in and take a break. Your body IS a machine – but all machines need to be maintained, refueled and polished to run smoothly and without a hitch.  Add into your schedule “me time” – this is especially important for women because we tend to put everyone else’s priorities ahead of our own.  Me time can be your work out time, reading a book, taking a class, playing with your puppy or anything that makes your feel ALIVE and EXHILARATED. Just like the flight attendants say on airplanes – should an emergency occur, apply your breathing mask first, THEN secure it onto others. Perfect segway for my next tip…

7) Live the fountain theory to nurture yourself:  Imagine you are a beautiful fountain, flowing with new water 24 hours a day – but you have a crack. No matter how much water flows through you, if you are leaking you will never get filled up and you will remain dry and barren. If you instead patch up the crack the flowing water will begin to fill your basin and collect to eventually overflow in abundance. Then you can flow out onto all the by pillars of the fountain.  Your fountain will prosper and will benefit many people who come to seek it’s water and marvel in its beauty. It is now a symbol of prosperity, hope and inspiration.

In terms of our energy, we must draw boundaries in draining relationships so we can fill the crack. It is with an understanding that you must fill your soul and body with nutrients, energy, time, inspiration, self respect and love in order for abundance and prosperity to flow. You, as the fountain are much more desirable when filling it with nurturing relationships, exercise, “me time”, inspiration, etc.  Think of the water flowing through you as energy, money and love. When your fountain is full and over flowing, you have more than enough energy to give to work, family, friends and the world. This is especially important for moms and business owners who drain themselves by leaking energy.  The fountain can only go so long being dry and barren before it starts to completely deteriorate and crumble. This is true with our own health. How can you expect to continue giving to others first if your own vehicle for providing these gifts of time and energy has a limited shelf life. Fill your cup first and you will be well equipped to provide for your family, your future and the world.

The Fountain of Trevi in Roma, Italy.

Now that I have hopefully “wet” your appetite for life, Rinse and repeat this cycle.

Set tasks, include things that will nurture your soul into your daily life and remember to breathe.

Hope that inspires you. Now go check your local museum exhibitions, write a blog or grab coffee with your friends!
xoxo
Emily