inspiration

2014: goals + resolutions

Is it February already? Well I guess we’re one month down, but the good news is I have 11 more to accomplish my goal list :). I wouldn’t be staying true to myself anyways if I wasn’t fashionably late.

More “me” time

You know.. those moments when you just shut out the rest of the world. I want to be lost in a book, or my own thoughts, or in the treasures of an antique shop. I want to wander and feel free, and not feel guilty for doing so. Time is a precious thing, just as much is how we spend it.

Prioritize my life better

There’s a theme here: time management. Something I used to be so good at, and now I’ve become better at procrastinating. There’s no better time than the present. I know now that if I want to feel refreshed, I need to be truly devoted to what I’m doing in that moment – whether its work or play. This process of prioritizing for me includes journal-ing, scheduling, and developing better organizational skills.

Finish my design licensing exam

It will be two years this fall since I passed the first two sections of the NCIDQ exam… I’m so close, I just need to take that last portion! Time to hit the books and pass the test in October.

Take on a new hobby

What shall I try… learn the guitar? gardening? pottery class? Hmmm… possibilities are endless. Time to make those Pinterest pins a reality.

Eat healthier

This is a must for me this year. Not just because I want to lose those 5lbs 2013 stuck me with, but also because of a little thing called Silent Reflux. It’s a type of condition similar to GERD, but is concentrated in the throat area. Not to get all Dr. Oz on you, but it has literally gotten so bad that I cough after every meal, and every morning I wake up with the taste of acid in my mouth and/or a sore throat. A high fat diet can aggravate the symptoms (ta da – that must be it), so it is believed a low fat/low acid diet can provide relief of symptoms for some people. The thing is, a lot of the great things in life I’m supposed to keep to a bare minimum: most fruits, beef/pork/bacon, chocolate, alcohol, soft drinks, milk/cheese/dairy, etc. etc. etc. But I’m proud to say I’m on week 3 of eating healthier and I’m already feeling better. Of course I allow myself a couple cheat meals a week so I can have my cheeseburgers and pizza (I mean, how else would I survive!?)

Run a 5k

This was on last year’s goal list but this time I can GUARANTEE I’m doing this one this year! Why? Because I just signed up for New Braunfels Doggie Dash. That means the whole fam will be running together in March! Let the Couch to 5k program begin. (PS. If anyone has any tips or workout plan for someone such as I that doesn’t regularly work out, your advice is welcome)

Make a difference in someone’s life

I want to start giving back and volunteering. I want to help people, inspire, and encourage. I realize this one is kind of vague, but I’m not sure what outlet this will be yet.

What are you determined to accomplish in 2014?

(images link back to their source)

thursday thoughts: be true to yourself

12 ways to recharge your creativity

Do you find yourself drained, uninspired, or unable to think? If you said yes, you’re not the only one. I’ve been in Strugglesville in terms of my creativity for some time now. I feel burned out, like the spark just isn’t there to create anything. This is very strange for the girl who used to sketch all through class, scrapbook and craft for fun, and spend hours writing. In light of my recent creativity crisis, I identified what I feel like has been blocking my creative flow. Things I took for granted that seemed to have slipped away quietly through the years. So here’s 12 ways to get back that creative spark.

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1 . Walk away. Get away from your desk right now (okay, well after you’re done reading this 🙂 ). Creative types are always thinking, so even taking 5-10 minutes to yourself will refresh your mind and help prevent a burnout.

2. Go out into the wild. Experience nature. Do something spontaneous. Live in the moment.

3. Watch a funny movie. You probably are not laughing nearly enough. Smiling and laughing release feel-good endorphins into our system. These free us, and allow thoughts to free flow too. I heard some crazy stat the other day – how an average kid smiles over 400 times a day, but adults only smile about 20 times a day! I think we can learn something from the kiddos.

4. Sketch. You don’t have to be an artist. But getting those pretty pictures in your head on paper will help you to visualize your goals and bring those ideas to life.

5. Get lots of sleep. How do you expect your brain to come up with amazing things if it is overworked and tired? Try getting at least 7 hours of shut-eye every night.

6. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. There’s a study out that says you are a mixture of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Spending time with great people will bring out the best in you. If you can’t spend time with someone who motivates you, create a list of what inspires you about them, and try incorporate those traits and values in your life.

7. Reflect and remember. Devote some time just to stop and think. Take the pressure off yourself and clear your head. This will allow thoughts to just come to you. Analyze what worked for you and what didn’t. Remember times when you succeeded and failed, and learn from both.

8. Try something new. New experiences bring on unique reactions. Stimulate your emotions.

9. Do something you absolutely love. Whether its listening to music, reading a book, playing on Pinterest, or going to your favorite restaurant. You must treat yourself every once in a while to keep your spirits up. If you are neglecting yourself, you will become miserable. And an unhappy mind is a sure-fire way to kill creativity.

10. Travel. A flight halfway around the world would be perfect, but if that’s not possible, even hitting the road to explore a neighboring town could provide you with new insight and inspiration.

11. Keep track of your ideas and thoughts. Keep a journal. It could just be a simple notebook. Log your dreams, ideas, goals, and feelings.

12. Believe. In yourself. In your work. In where you’re headed. Attitude is everything. You must believe you can create if you truly want to be creative.

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I want to know – what do you do to help spark your creativity when you’re caught in a creative rut??