More than Meg

You’ve probably heard it before… “Look good, feel good,” or maybe (for my college girls) “Dress well, test well.” I’m here to confirm this cliche.

Ok, I know, I know…barf right? WELL let me tell ya, as a full-time working woman, if there is one thing that gives me a little extra boost (besides my venti iced coffee from Starbucks–extra points if it’s cold brew) it’s 5000% what I’m wearing that day.

I can think of a few different examples right off the bat.

Scenario #1

Come home from a long day at work, man that nine to five can reallllyyy take it out of a girl. So, here I am with a choice–I have been telling myself all day that I’d take my dog on a walk but then, out of the corner of my eye, the couch starts to call my name. Keep in mind, work clothes are about 10 seconds away from being thrown on the floor and swapped out for an XL comfort colors tee shirt from my college days.– So, again, here I am…Do I bum it? (yeah, we all have our moments) OR what’s that? Those new leggings and sports bra haven’t gotten any use… I go with the matching set and almost INSTANTLY I have a wave of energy. Not only do I get outside with the leash (& pup) in hand, but I am feeling myself, and instead of walking, I jog. It’s like magic!

Scenario #2

It’s Monday (or Tuesday, Wednesday…you catch my drift) 6:30a.m. I want NOTHING more than to snooze my alarm and wake up at the absolute last minute I can to make it to work on time. I mean come on, who cares if I’m wearing the crinkled up tee shirt dress at the back of my closet, instead of that cute structured blazer with pencil skirt and freshly steamed shirt, right? WRONG. Ok, so some of you might be saying, “but Megan, I just don’t have time. Not everyone wants to dress like that.” To that I say, ok, fine…but trust me when I say that waking up a few minutes earlier or taking a tiny, little bit more effort to put on something you know will make you feel like a boss babe (maybe even get some double takes in the hallway) can seriously impact your whole attitude throughout the day.

Even if you don’t exactly relate to either of these examples, what it really all comes down to are the little things & taking the time to put effort into yourself FOR yourself. That’s the biggest part, FOR yourself. Remember, you are the one who has the power over how you seize the day, attitude, outfit and all. So, don’t let the details fool you, they make a difference.

Now go out there, put on your best outfit, and treat the world like it’s your runway!

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Happy Monday everyone!

OK, so maybe Monday’s aren’t always “happy” so to speak… BUT one great thing about a new week is a fresh start.

Anything that went wrong over the weekend, or even the last week, means you get a blank slate starting…NOW!

Personally, it has always been a challenge to stay motivated and optimistic when life gets crazy. It’s easy to get in a rut and believe there is nothing you can do to make your life what you’ve always imagined it to be.

Although it is easier said than done, all it take is a little time investing in yourself to get there.

So with that, I wanted to start off the week with a few ways that I think help re-focus your life, starting with the ever obvious…

Just start.

Ok, so maybe this isn’t so obvious. When I heard this advice, honestly I was like, “Wait, why didn’t I think of that?”

Think about it…all of the things you’ve thought about doing but you never did because it can be overwhelming and scary starting something when the end goal or vision is so far away or you don’t know the outcome (especially when you’re a perfectionist like me).

See, the thing is, all it takes is one step in the right direction to get on the path to your destination. Which brings us to my next point….

Just ONE right thing a day, adds up to 365 right things a year.

A friend recently brought up this point and it totally shifted the way I felt about what I see as “success” and “productivity” in a day.

Instead of getting down on myself because I didn’t get EVERYTHING done that I wanted to, it’s nice to take a step back and be reassured that I have accomplished something. 

Something is better than nothing, right? Soon those “somethings” add up, and that’s a win in my book!

Which brings me to the next point. There are different types of “somethings”. In other words, there are so many ways you can invest in yourself and they are all important to live your most fulfilling life (well, in my opinion). Investing in yourself takes practice, but I promise it’s well worth the effort.

Invest in things that…

1. Feed your soul

Sometimes we get so tied up in all the factors of life going around us, we forget about ourselves. It’s important to take time to intentionally focus on what feeds our soul; learning, passions, reflection, goal setting, being thankful, faith.

I find that setting an intention every morning can REALLY help. Okay, okay…before you start thinking, “what a cliche”,  hear me out.

I’ve been guilty of hopping on my phone right as I wake up to check all those notifications too. BUT what if, instead, you read a bible verse or a chapter of a book? Or maybe you just write down one thing you are thankful for in a blank journal, piece of paper, your hand…whatever you choose!

Taking a minute to remember that you are the most important person you have to take care of, and practicing these simple habits, has the power to bring us right back down to earth. Just one minute is all it takes.

2. Feed your physical self

I don’t want to put too much stress on the “physical” image. However, I will say, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.

When you get moving, all those endorphins get PUMPED! Something as simple as a 20 minute walk with my dog has the power to change my day. It’s nuts.

There is something about the connection between the mind and body that helps you go about your day with a clear and positive mind.

That being said,  it is just as important to listen to what your body NEEDS. Sometimes you are so drained, a nap is just what the doctor ordered…or maybe you just really need a coffee to get going in the morning (I know I do)!

LISTENING to your body is different than RESPONDING your body or mind.

I hear it all the time, “Ugh, I have to do a longer workout today because I ate that (insert “bad” food here)”…and you might be that person (I’ve been there, I’m not perfect). But listen, the difference between being in tune with your body and punishing your body for what it craves are very different things.

Now, before this gets out of hand, by no means am I saying you should go listen to that craving to eat a family sized bag of chips…but the point of fitness, health, and diets are to do what makes YOU feel good and helps your body operate and function at its best.

3. Feed your connections to others

This might sound obvious, or maybe it’s just my extrovert side coming out, but humans crave connection. It’s how we form our own thoughts and beliefs and grow into who we are as people. Connections drive self awareness.

If we all lived in our own bubbles, shut off from the rest of the world, could you imagine how boring life would be?

Surrounding ourselves with people from all walks of life gives us new perspectives and challenges our way of thinking. When you learn about how other people experience the world, we develop empathy and understanding which helps us to discover ourselves.

So next time you are starting to feel lonely, bored, or isolated and all you want to do is stay in and re-watch episodes of The Office on Netflix (which has it’s time and place), try reaching out to a friend, or go out for a cup of coffee and challenge yourself to just say “hi” to someone… I think you’ll be surprised!

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