Motivation Monday: Productivity Essentials

Last Monday I went back to work full time after going part time when I started grad school last fall. I was working as a nanny, but have been in my current position since April, and was able to transition to full time before fall semester starts in 2 short weeks!
Now that my time is more limited, I’ve been trying to spend it wisely….not only is school starting in 2 weeks, but I’m also moving at the end of the month and I just had family in town for a week. Productivity and smart time management is more important than ever! Especially if I want to spend any time with my husband or pup….and I do.
Last week was a trial to see how a.m. workouts would go, and it seems like that’s going to be my best option for sticking to my workouts. I didn’t want to let myself get lazy, so I was at the gym at 6am last Monday…hopefully tomorrow will be the same!!

productivity

I’ve been keeping my eyes open for time management tips and trying to practice what I learn…here are a couple things that have been saving me!

  • Utilize the “Fringe Hours“- I heard about this book on this podcast last week and it really resonated with me. Utilizing the time that usually goes wasted (early morning, right after work)  is a great way to get more done and feel fulfilled.
  • Use the weekend wisely. I’m all about a relaxing weekend, but in order to feel a fresh start on Monday morning, I need to make sure a few things actually get done! My weekend must-do’s are cleaning, laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, and a little meal prep. A couple of well spent hours are crucial to starting the week on the right foot! But don’t forget to relax too!
  • Plan out my workouts for the week ahead of time so I don’t show up to the gym without a plan
  • Pack my gym bag and lunch the night before! Since I’m getting ready at the gym a few days per week (until we move and are super close to our gym), it’s essential I have absolutely everything I need for heading to work!
  • There’s no such thing as multi tasking!! I heard this from a business consultant who coaches people who make $$$$ and he said that basically our minds can do 1 thing a time. If we do 2 things at once, we are like an internet browser- toggling back and forth-then every time we go back to the first thing, it takes a minute to re-focus and we actually lose time. It’s better to focus on one thing a time! Who knew?
  • To follow up the above, I believe there is a way to maximize time and do 2 things at once- for example using the time that eggs are boiling to unload the dishwasher. When you simply have to start a task and then let it go on it’s own (landry, dishes, cooking) you can spend the time you are waiting to do something productive. Win win!

I know I feel better when everything is planned out vs when I spend a lazy weekend doing nothing, so it is SO worth it to spend a couple hours trying to GSD !!

Have a productive week! Let me know if you have any tools, systems, or hacks you live by to get more out of your 24 hours!

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What’s the real cost of juicing at home vs buying juice??

As you can see from my last couple posts/my instagram [@afitgirlsguide], I am a little obsessed with whole juicing again. It’s such a great way to get fruits and veggies in the diet…and in the case of whole juicing- fiber! I love whole juicing in my Blendtec because it keeps all the great fiber in it, vs separating it out in a typical juicer. And of course it’s tasty! I’ve been trying out some really great combos that are SO refreshing on a hot day.

cost-of-juicing

In the past I used to buy a juice every now and then from Sprouts or Whole Foods, but they are so expensive and I never really made it a habit [luckily]. After buying produce specifically for juicing, I am totally shocked at how much juice can be made at home for the same price!!

Recently I’ve been doing 1/4 lemon, 1/2 cucumber, handful of kale, handful of watermelon, and about 1/4 of green apple with some water in the Blendtec.

Here’s what I purchased from Sprouts:

2 lemons @ .50 each
4 cucumbers @ .50 each
1 container of organic kale @ 3.49
1 seedless watermelon @ 3.99
2 green apples @ 1.49 /lb

total price: 12.09

This amount of produce will probably make about 8 drinks, with watermelon left over. That’s $1.51 per drink!! And it’s a lot more than the amount in a tiny juice bottle or cup too! Compare that with $7.99 bottle of Suja and you are saving a lot of $$$.

Of course this requires you have a high powered blender or juicer, but if it’s something you use often, it’s worth it! Save more money on juice, buy more lululemon…no brainer.

Have a great weekend!

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Skinny Watermelon Lemonade 

A couple of weeks ago, I was at Menchies (best froyo place EVER), and they had lemon and watermelon flavored frozen yogurt in the same machine. The combo was delicious and perfect for a hot day. I figured it would be perfect for a summer drink as well. This is a super easy throw-together recipe, and it tastes so refreshing.

skinny-watermelon-lemonade

You will need:
1 cup chopped watermelon
1 lemon, peeled and seeded
4-8 oz water
Stevia, to taste
ice

Throw the peeled/seeded lemon in the blender with the watermelon and puree. If your watermelon isn’t that sweet (or if you’d like it sweeter), add a tiny bit of stevia at a time. Pour over ice with a bit of water. If you only want a bit of flavor, use more water!

Enjoy!

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Nordstrom Sale: fitness picks

The best sale of the year is here…the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. A million bloggers are picking their fall faves, but true to form- I’m focusing on the fitness outfits! There are some GREAT finds this year, including multiple pairs of nikes (!) …. check it out!

nsale-fit-picksThe tops:
1/2/3

The bottoms:
1/2/3

The shoes:
1/2/3

Happy shopping and have a great weekend!
*some affiliate links used

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Skinny Strawberry Limeade

With the crazy hot temps this summer, a cold drink is essential. Lemonade can be kind of a calorie bomb, so this is a tasty alternative. It’s super easy to throw together for a 4th of July BBQ as well.

strawberry_limeade

For each glass of limeade, you will need:
Handful of strawberries
Juice of 1 lime
1 stevia packet
8-12 oz water
Ice

You can either puree the strawberries, lime juice, and stevia or simply mash them together. If you are making a large batch (or don’t like “chunks”), I recommend blending or pureeing.

Enjoy!

 

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Summer Bucket List

I feel like I’ve been in summer mode since the beginning of June when the rain finally stopped here in Utah, but technically it’s only been summer for a few days…which means we still have months of warm summer nights. Summer is my spirit season. I LIVE for that warm sun on my body. I think it’s the California girl in me. I’ve already had some summer fun with my recent trip to CA, but I want to make the most out of the next couple of months! (esp since I’m back to school come August…)

summer_bucket_list

So here’s my summer bucket list:

  • farmers market saturdays + fresh summer produce
  • cool morning//evening summer run (when the temp is 100% perfection)
  • outdoor concert. I’m thinking I’ll need to make it to this beautiful venue, but if all else fails–there are concerts down the street from me on some weekends!
  • POOL TIME [w/SPF obviously]
  • bonfire+s’mores (bonus points if it’s at the beach)
  • Make this skinny lemonade!

What’s on your summer bucket list??

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Motivation Monday: My happy place

Happy Monday! I took an extend break from the blog (not really on purpose) over spring break/last week. Spring break was SO nice, but for some reason when I got back I felt super tired/lazy. WHAT?! Aren’t trips supposed to leave you feeling refreshed and awesome?! Anyway…I blame school, allergies, and….laziness I suppose. Now for a little spring break re-cap….

I went to so-cal to meet up with some old friends and see my family. It was delightful….and this was my view flying in. Heaven.

more heaven…

more heaven… 😉

froyooh and the most delightful acai bowl by the beach. heaven…and a little more heaven…

Since I sadly can’t be on vacay//in california 24/7, I started thinking about the little things that make a big difference for me…aka things that bring me to my happy place.

  • fresh flowers
  • pink pedicure
  • clean sheets
  • snuggles with my hubby and pup
  • candles burning
  • good workout tunes
  • fresh air//sunshine
  • clean&organized home/desk/purse
  • an intense workout
  • fresh gel mani
  • retail therapy
  • walking my dog on a sunny day

I realized that often we focus on the big trips/events/vacations to bring us to our happy place, but in reality, our quality of life could be better if we focused on a few small things more often. Here’s to finding your happy this week!

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Time Management

[FYI this is coming from a place of “note to self” rather than “do as I say”…] A few years ago (aka college) I never would have imagined myself writing a post like this. I stayed up late and procrastinated like my life depended on it. Now I prefer to get to bed early, wake up early, and I try to get shit done. The last couple days though I’ve found myself getting up super early to take my dog out, then I end up snuggling him on the couch for way too long…and then I am unnecessarily rushing in the a.m. Not fun.

GSD

 

Suffice it to say…budgeting my time has been a big lesson this past year or 2. It’s funny to me that when I have the most time available (and think, wow I have 3 hours to get x and y done) and then 2 hours pass I’m freaking out…But there are some days I surprise myself so I’d thought I’d share a few time management tips I’ve learned that help me have more good days 😉

  • Plan Ahead. Duh. Prioritize anything time sensitive and fill in the rest. (aka bills, deadlines, due dates, post office, Rx, etc. take top priority). By looking at the week ahead, you won’t be caught off guard (aka rushed) when one of these pops up in your calendar. I also like to look at my school assignments for the month ahead as well…
  • It’s all about the list. Having a specific list of things I need to get done during the week helps me fill time gaps. (aka an extra 30 minutes to scrub the bathroom, but doesn’t necessarily need to be done on a certain day). That way you aren’t twiddling your thumbs or checking facebook or instagram when that extra little chunk of time does arrive.
  • Timing. Don’t just think about the to-do item. Lists are great, but estimate how long each task will take. There’s a big difference between a 45 minute workout and a 45 minute workout + 20 minutes of travel time + 1 hour of showering/getting ready.
  • The day before…Get your clothes ready or lunch ready if you need to leave early. Take a few minutes to actually think/visualize how the day will go. This is beneficial for 2 reasons. 1) science says we are more likely to get things done (aka workout) if we imagine ourselves doing it before hand. 2. it will help you remember if you are forgetting anything important.
  • Those extra minutes add up. You might be saying “What extra minutes?”, but think about the amount of time in the last week you spent on social media, waiting for your kids in the car, riding the train, watching TV/netflix, reading blogs (guilty)….it adds up!! I have a pretty lengthy commute on the train to school, and sometimes after class I do need to let my brain veg [and listen to serial. again.], but a lot of the time, I could/should be doing reading for class (or even pleasure), writing, homework, planning, whatever.

The point is, we only have so many hours in a day. I don’t think we should be going crazy keeping every minute busy, but by prioritizing and using the time we have efficiently, we can make time for work and play without feeling like a hot mess 24/7.

Do you have any time management tips?? DO TELL!

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Favorite Posts…

I was perusing my archives and thought I would re-share some of my favorite posts just in case you’re in a blog-reading mood this weekend. Happy Friday!

37cda-weekend

Why I won’t be doing a Juice Cleanse anytime soon (or ever)
Tips for beating the January blues 
Why I lift weights
Why I meal prep
Inexpensive workout clothes
Avoiding weekend weight-gain
A few reasons to try group fitness classes
A few tips if you just joined a gym (or it’s been a while since you’ve been there)

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Friday Faves: Best of 2014 Edition

I always love seeing people’s resolutions, etc this time of year, but I also wanted to share my favorite things of 2014 a la Oprahhhhhh…

Best of 2014

Books: The Power of Habit#Girlboss
Makeup: NYX concealer** (budget buy)// Chanel Vitalumier Aqua Foundation + LM Tinted Moisturizer (this combo is the bees knees)
Beauty Products: Mario Badescu Glycolic Cleanser & Kiehl’s Everything [I just can’t pic a fav]
Products: Keurig (a Costco impulse buy that I don’t regret at all) // Dollar Shave Club (#genius)// iphone 6 // Beats by Dre (i had the smaller ones and got these for Christmas. They are amaze for cardio…don’t slip and don’t fall out like ear buds)
Clothes: Gap Sports Bra & Nike Frees (#fancy i know)
Food/Drink: Kombucha [cannot get enough] & Kirkland egg whites. Why am I sooo weird?

**it took me a sec to fall in love with this. After seeing it a bunch on MM&L, I was determined to make it work…turns out the key is making sure your eye area is super moisturized when covering dark circles! Otherwise it goes a bit dry**

Tell me your absolute faves of the last year!

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