Archive for December, 2009

New Year’s Resolutions: How to Succeed

December 29th, 2009 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Goals and Obstacles

Ask anyone you know and it’s likely they have made (or are going to make) a New Year’s Resolution this year. We all love the chance at a new beginning, or “clean slate” for the New Year, so why then, do most resolutions fall to the waist side by Spring?

Here are some steps and tips to keep in mind so that you achieve your goals for the New Year!

1. Write down your goals. Then ask yourself these questions:
What is the reason I want to achieve this goal?
What is a realistic time to achieve this goal?
What will my life be like if I do achieve this goal?
What will my life be life if I do not achieve this goal?
How will my life be in 5 years if I do/don’t achieve this goal? In 10 years?

Asking yourself these questions will help give you a better understanding of the reasons you have for wanting to achieve your goal. If your goals are coming from the right place and have the right motives behind them, it will be easier to achieve your goals. If, on the other hand, your goals are from the ego, it will be harder to achieve your goals and you are likely to fail or have only temporary success.

Examples:
Wanting to lose weight to be healthier and live longer for your children instead of wanting to lose weight in order to show your high school friend up at a reunion.
Wanting to write a book to expand your own horizons and inspire those who read it (even if only a few people read it), instead of wanting to write a book for fame, fortune, and attention.

2. Now that you are sure that YOU want to achieve this goal for yourself, and not for other people or your own ego, you need to develop a plan.
List ever tiny goal that you need to achieve in order to succeed at your big goal. Think of every. little. thing.

3. The New Year is a great time to get a new calendar (either electronic or paper) and set dates for your goals. Now that you have all of the steps outlined to achieve your goal, put dates on the calendar that each step needs to be completed by.

4. Vision. Once you are committed to achieving something, write down inspiring affirmations, reasons for wanting to achieve your goals, and motivational quotes and put them where you will see them often (office, car, mirror, bedroom, etc.). Also cut out pictures from magazines or doodle some yourself. Vision yourself achieving your goals often to keep yourself in a motivated state.

5. Finally, remember that failure is relative. What I mean by that is: you may think you want to achieve something, but once you are in the process, every bone in your body and your whole being may be telling you otherwise. For example, you may think you want a big promotion at work, but during the trial course, you realize that you will have to work long hours, travel, be away from your family, and have loads more stress. The lower paying, less-stressful position you had prior may be looking pretty good. It’s okay to realize that something isn’t right for you, even though you may have wanted something your entire life. We all have heard sayings about how not to quit our entire lives (which is true if you are simply quitting because of fear) … but quitting isn’t necessarily a failure, or a bad thing, when you realize it isn’t right for you anymore. You are simply on a different life path.

If, at anytime in achieving your goals, you start to feel bad, lethargic, or empty towards your goals, re-evaluate the situation. Listen to your heart, body, and soul.

CHEERS!

Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

De-Stress in Seconds

December 29th, 2009 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Stress, health

Here’s a quick way to eliminate stress and boost energy overall: HUM.

Yep, hummmm. Humming through your nasal passages helps to release nitric oxide, which naturally dilates blood vessels, helps blood flow, and reduces stress. Humming throughout your nasal passage and throat to where it tickles your sinuses works best.

Add humming to your morning meditation routine to get your day started on a stress-free, energized, foot…or hum as needed throughout the day.

Also remember to take big belly breaths throughout the day (set an alarm on your phone/watch every hour if you need to remember), as this helps boost energy and produce nitric oxide too!

Here’s to humming!
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

Keeping Your Sanity During the Hustle and Bustle

December 16th, 2009 by Administrator | 2 Comments | Filed in Stress, health

I know things are crazy right now, but don’t forget to give yourself a little time each day to relax. I suggest working up to at least 30 minutes of “me” time everyday, but for now, start with 5 minutes in the morning and 5 in the evening. Here are some tips:

In the AM, sit quietly in a private space (retreat to your closet if need me). Concentrate on your breath and allow your mind to drift if it needs to, but come back to the breath. For the last minute do some light stretches while repeating your favorite affirmations.

At night, unwind by retreating to your quiet place (or bathtub if your so lucky) and lying down. Concentrate on your breath for the majority of the time. Finish up with some super light stretches, massage your big toes (it helps release melatonin) and give thanks for your blessings.

You will be amazed at how 10 minutes a day will keep you centered and less stressed!

Peace and Love,
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

Ask Brandi: I Feel Like I Haven’t Gotten Much Accomplished This Year!

December 16th, 2009 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Ask Brandi, Goals and Obstacles, Organization, Time Management

Dear Brandi,
As this year comes to a close, I can’t help but looking at the goals I set for myself last year and am realizing I am not going to achieve some things that I wanted to. This makes me feel very unmotivated and lethargic. Any advice?
Rachel

Hey Rachel!

Thanks for your question. First of all, big Kudos to you for actually setting goals for yourself! I can tell that you don’t realize what a great thing you have done by not only setting goals for yourself, but reviewing their progress. This calls for a celebration, so pat yourself on the back!

If you haven’t gotten as much accomplished as you would have liked, there are two things (or a combination of both) that could be wrong here.
1. You didn’t give yourself enough time to achieve the goal
2. You didn’t manage your time and plan well

I am betting you put too much on your plate. I am also betting you got much more accomplished than you are giving yourself credit for, but you are concentrating on what you DID NOT accomplish rather than what you DID accomplish. In the next couple of weeks there will be a complete E-zine on goals, but here are some of my favorite tips to get you started in the right direction for next year (let’s use losing weight as an example to keep things simple):

* When writing down your goals, have a base goal and a stretch goal. Make the base goal something easy that you know you will achieve and make your stretch goal much harder to attain. For instance, you may want to lose weight and you may want to make it to the gym everyday, but that’s probably a stretch. Set your base goal as going to the gym 3 times a week and your stretch goal as going 6 times a week. You are achieving your goal as long as you make it 3 times, and deserve a big pat on the back, and you can really celebrate if you happen to hit your stretch goal! If you set goals that are too rigid from the beginning, you will feel like a failure even if you really got a lot accomplished. By setting both base and stretch goals you are accomplishing goals at a comfortable pace while challenging yourself at the same time. Consider rewarding yourself with a manicure, massage, or scented candle when you hit a stretch goal for the month.

*Set mini-goals. If you are setting all your goals at the beginning of the year and expect to have them finished by December, you must create mini-tasks throughout the year. List all the steps it will take to achieve your goal and then assign deadlines for them throughout the year on a monthly or quarterly basis. This way you don’t forget about your goals until the end of the year. Say you want to lose 20 lbs this year. Set a goal of losing 1-2 lbs each month and check in with yourself to chart your progress monthly.

*When you accomplish a goal, no matter how small, put it on a separate list. Keep that list so that when and if you don’t reach a goal, you can refer to that list to see what all you have accomplished!


Good Luck!
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

What to Do When You are Dreading Seeing Someone This Holiday Season

December 16th, 2009 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Confidence, Goals and Obstacles, Stress

In recent discussions with clients, friends, and associates, I have noticed a common theme about the Holidays. While most people are excited to spend time with loved ones and catch up (especially during hard times when we are able to put the important things back into perspective), most people have at least 2 or 3 people that they are really dreading running into.

Sound familiar? Are you dreading seeing anyone this Holiday season? Are you stockpiling ammunition in the form of prepared explanations, justifications, and comebacks for judgmental family members? Maybe you are dreading what your grandma will have to say about your divorce, your cousin will say about your appearance, or your mom will have to say about the store-bought apple pie you are bringing for dessert.

Whatever your specific situation, we all have certain people that we’d rather not deal with at all or that we feel judge us. Here are some tips to deal with those situations without having to skip your get together:


“No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
This is one of my favorite quotes of all time and is oh-so true! Whenever you feel a need to justify or defend yourself, stop. You are the captain of the ship that is your life and you owe no one an explanation of decisions you have made for yourself. When someone starts criticizing you, remember that it stems from a problem they have within themselves and has nothing to do with you.


People in Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones
Do you have an overweight Aunt that makes comments about those who go back for seconds? Have a bankrupt cousin criticizing your career? Maybe you are engaged, and your thrice divorced future mother-in-law makes comments about the fact this isn’t your first marriage. Comments from people who have absolutely no room to talk about a certain area of life are especially annoying, so don’t listen to them. Easier said than done, but the fact is, no one is perfect. If we all swept off our own porches before criticizing how dirty others porches are, we would realize we have no room to talk. The problem is, most people don’t do that. Even if someone is successful in one area of life (let’s say marriage), they may not be successful in an area that you are (let’s say career).

The perpetual judge.
When you have a particular family member that criticizes you, it’s easier to deal with it when you only see them for a few hours once or twice a year. You can avoid one-on one conversations with them, have a trusted partner watching your back to change the subject when the conversation goes sour, or just deal with it knowing it will all be over soon. But, what about when it’s a close family member like a sibling or parent that you have to see on a regular basis? Let’s say that your sister is a stay-at-home mom and you work a full-time job. Both are great options, but you simply made different choices for your lives. She constantly criticizes you for not cooking and has a snarky comment when you bring a store-bought dessert. You can say with a smile, “sis, I don’t criticize you for not working, so don’t criticize me for not cooking.” Most of the time this will do the trick. In this situation it is probable that she is actually jealous of that fact you have a career and she doesn’t, so she feels she is inferior to you in that regard, and tries to make up for it in homemaking.

Remember to keep your head up this Holiday Season and don’t let the 1 or 2 people you dread seeing keep you from enjoying the time you have with loved ones.

And, if you are reading this thinking, “There is no one I dread seeing this Christmas,” consider yourself lucky ;)

Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

Ask Brandi: HELP! It’s the Holidays and I Feel so Overwhelmed!

December 9th, 2009 by Administrator | 2 Comments | Filed in Ask Brandi, Organization, Stress

Dear Brandi,

I feel so overwhelmed right now! I always get stressed out around Christmas, but wish I could enjoy it! I feel like I have so much to do: presents to buy, a house to clean, meals to cook, trips to plan, cards to send, and a business to run! Annual reports for my business are right around the corner and I don’t see how I have the time to get everything done! HELP!

Susan, Colorado

Hi Susan! You aren’t alone. The Holidays can definitely be a stressful and busy time of the year. Here are my suggestions for you:

1. Delegate.

If you have too much to do, then you simply have to delegate. Consider hiring a Virtual Assistant to help you with business tasks and mailing cards, and ask your spouse/kids for help at home. There comes a time in your business when you just simply can’t do everything at home and at your business all by yourself anymore, and if you don’t get help somewhere, you risk getting burned out. Could you hire a housekeeper or get your family to pitch in more? Could you order your Holiday meal from a restaurant or get everyone to bring a dish? Could you hire an errand runner to do your shopping? List the items that ONLY you could do, and then decide who else would be able to handle what’s left on your list.

2. Relax.

This is a great time to implement breathing, meditation, yoga, and affirmations into your schedule. Also give yourself at least 20 minutes a day to do something for yourself (take a bath, read a book, watch TV, etc.). This will help you feel less stressed when you are doing things for everyone else!

3. Make a list and check it twice.

List the business tasks that HAVE to be done by the end of the year. Work on them first and put everything else to the side if you need to. You can do less important things after the first of the year when things are a little less hectic!
Remember, even if the Holidays are stressful, they don’t last very long. They will be over with and you will be back to normal in a few short weeks!

Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach

At-Home Beauty Scrub

December 9th, 2009 by Administrator | 2 Comments | Filed in Beauty, Style

Okay, so I LOVE doing at home facials, manicures, bubble baths, and scrubs. There’s just something about pampering yourself at home that is oh-so-good! My new favorite thing is a scrub that you can make entirely from stuff you probably already have in your kitchen (so it’s natural and wallet-friendly)!

What you do:
-Take the coffee grounds you have left in your pot from the AM and put in a bowl
-Add a couple scoops of brown or white sugar
-Drizzle in several tablespoons of olive oil or grape seed oil (or a little of both) until the concoction is a little “gooey”
-Squirt some lemon juice on top

Now head to the bathroom! Get in the tub and get your body a little damp. Rub the scrub all over your body (be careful on the face/eyes). You can rub it on and then let it set in for a few minutes while you read your favorite magazine if you wish (the caffeine helps cellulite and tightens your skin and increases circulation while the oil moisturizes). Or, if you are in a hurry you can rinse right off (the lemon juice and sugar helps exfoliate).

You can either do this before your shower or bath and then wash off with soap, or you can do this at the end of your shower/bath and rinse in order to have a super-boost of moisture!

Tip: Your tub or shower will be slick, so you may want to put a towel down or spray a cleaning spray when finished (the next person in the tub may appreciate it)!

Enjoy your smooth, moisturized, exfoliated skin!
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

How to Reach Your Goals by Being Healthy

December 9th, 2009 by Administrator | 3 Comments | Filed in Brandi's Life, Organization, health

If you are like me, being healthier is always on your to-do-list! The most common New Year’s Resolutions have to do with weight loss, diet, and exercise. But, did you know that by reaching your health goals you are also setting yourself up for success in personal and professional areas as well?


When your body is functioning at it’s optimum level you have more success in every area of life. Some examples:
1. You have more energy. When you have more energy, you get more done.
2. More time. Being healthy means less time being sick, less time at the doctor’s office, and less time feeling sluggish.
3. More creativity. One result of not exercising and eating right? Brain fog. When you have brain fog it’s almost impossible to think clearly and outside the box.

Unfortunately, this week, I know the symptoms of lethargy and brain fog all too well. After spending 10 days in California and stuffing myself with rich food on my trip and Thanksgiving, I am run down this week. As many of you know, I struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the smallest slip-ups in my nutrition, sleep, and supplement routines leave me feeling run-down for days. Luckily, I haven’t felt this way in a while now, and it’s enough to make me want to not fall off the wagon ever again!

Most of us know what we need to do to be our healthiest, we just don’t implement. Let’s talk about some ways to be healthy and stick to the plan!

See your doc.
Whenever beginning a diet and/or exercise plan, be sure to talk it over with your doctor. She will be able to tell you if you have any health concerns that would affect the way you need to eat and exercise. If you are clueless about nutrition, your doc will also be able to refer you to a nutritionist. In addition, be sure to go for your annual appointments.

Eat well.
Once it’s been determined what you should be eating, make it easy on yourself to stick to the plan. Eat foods that nourish your body and don’t skip meals. Plan your meals for the week on Saturday and go to the grocery store. Make it easy on yourself by having healthy foods and snacks on hand (and throwing out the junk food).

Start moving.
A trainer I had once told me that most people fail at their exercise plans because they can’t stick with their routine. They get super excited and motivated for a month or so and hit the gym for hours each day. Schedule exercise into your day. Even 15-20 minutes adds up. Also incorporate movement into your habits: take the stairs, fidget at your desk, pace while on the phone, and knit while watching TV. A recent study showed that among a group of non-exercisers who had similar diets, the “fidgeters” of the group weighed up to 30 lbs less simply because their fidgetting during the day added up to about 350 calories burned. Every little bit helps!

Write down your goals.
Write down what health goals you want to achieve. Next, make a list of the steps you need to take in order to achieve each goal. Lastly, write down the motivating factors behind each goal (living a long life to be here for your family, feeling better and work, having more confidence, etc.).

Journal.
Get a small notebook that can easily fit in your purse and keep a food and exercise journal. This will help create consciousness. Also be sure to jot down how you feel after eating and exercising!

Affirm.
Create positive affirmations that support your goals and say them throughout the day. Jot your affirmation on a post it and stick to the mirror to be sure to get your day off on the right foot! My favorite health affirmation? I am slim, trim, and healthy!

Let’s work on our health together, oh and don’t forget to get your SLEEP!

To our health!
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com