How to manage your time better using your astrological chart
Have trouble identifying your purpose in life?
Maybe you don't feel all that fulfilled at the end of the day.
Unsure of how to best use your time and energy?
Perhaps you simply want to use your time in a more confident, productive, and joyful way than you already do.
No matter where you are right now… integrating your astrological chart into your schedule, time, and life might be the tool that helps you welcome in the next phase of your life and business.
Read below to discover how to use your chart to be more effective as you work towards your goals AND human.
Co-contributor: Alison Brownell
Let’s learn a little about Astrology
Astrology is the study of how planets and stars influence us.
Everyone has an astrological chart based on the month, day, year, time, and location they were born.
When everyday normal people think about Astrology, they’re often thinking about their Sun sign. Meaning the zodiac sign the Sun was in when they were born.
Thanks to the popularization of astro columns in newspapers in the early 1900s, and the fact that the Sun is straightforward to track because it's in the same place at the same time every year.
However, there are more planets than just the Sun in the sky. Each planet has its own archetype. There are also 12 signs, each representing a key part of life, from health to money to relationships and everything in between.
Where each planet is in the sky on your birth date, is the zodiac sign it’s in.
Our charts tell us so much more than just you’re a Virgo or Capricorn (aka where the Sun was when they were born.)
(If you've ever looked at your zodiac sign and felt disconnected from it, that might be why.)
When you put your birth information into this free chart calculator, you’ll see a complicated-looking circled chart. It’s a list of all the planets and where they were at the time you were born.
Where to look in your chart in terms of managing your time better?
There are two main places in your chart…
Saturn
If you ask yourself: How do I create a life where I feel accomplished and fulfilled? Well, Saturn is the place to look! He's so important in our charts, and yet still gets a bad rap.
Saturn is like that really difficult teacher you had all year, but once you finally graduated, you felt accomplished for making it through.
He's the dude that wants to make sure you’re on the right path – that you're spending your time wisely and doing the things that will help you grow.
Saturn will ask you if you want to spend time on the things you are doing on a macro scale. For example, am I working the right job? Am I studying the right subjects? Am I pursuing the right goals for me?
He’ll also guide you on a micro-scale. For example, Did I take good enough care of myself today? Did I spend time on the things that bring me joy?
Some helpful examples:
If your Saturn is in Pisces, it’s preferable to live and/or work in solitude and in contemplation. Being a remote worker at home? Heck yeah!
People with Saturn in Gemini's strengths include preciseness, accuracy, and logical thinking. They make an excellent teacher or guides.
For Saturn in Cancer, they’d be well suited for businesses related to real estate, home, family, and nurture.
When it comes to managing your time, what you choose to fill it with it’s the most foundational piece and extremely important.
Saturn will tell you (probably, over and over again) what to focus your precious time, energy, and life on depending on what astrological sign he’s in when you were born.
If you want to learn what to best focus your time and energy on, look to Saturn. I recommend you use this free Astrology website to get a breakdown of your Saturn.
Mars
Aside from Saturn, the other most important place to look at, in your chart, is Mars. In Astrology, Mars is associated with confrontation, energy, strength, ambition, and impulsiveness.
Mars is the planet of energy and action, it dictates how you take action. Where to place your time and energy is your Saturn, how to use them is Mars.
It's important to understand your unique rhythms and patterns in order to make the most of your time.
More helpful examples:
If Mars is in Libra… that’s the energy of partnership. So to be able to collaborate with people to get things done is an important piece of your process. Also having a balanced way of looking at projects is key.
Mars in Capricorn, your ambition is strong. This might look like someone who needs to set up their schedule and time around feeling accomplished. They also might tend to work late or on weekends because they’re so driven. (Watch for burnout here!)
Mars in Sagittarius needs to have freedom and doesn't necessarily like to be told how things are done. When it comes to traditional time management, time blocking might feel super restrictive for these people.
How to apply your unique Saturn and Mars to your schedule?
Look up your Saturn. What sign was Saturn in when you were born?
Look up your Mars. What sign was Mars in when you were born?
Write down the things about each planet’s sign that resonate with you.
Take Saturn’s sign and think about it in terms of your goals and how you spend your time on a macro and micro level.
Take Mars’s sign and think about it in terms of your rhythms, energy, scheduling, and how you take action.
Want to build a schedule that’s sustainable, unique to you, and in alignment with your astrological chart?
Book a sustainable Schedule VIP day to get organized and be more efficient with your time (while still being human!) now.
About the co-contributor:
Alison Brownell has been studying astrology and reading charts for nearly fifteen years. Combining this information with coaching and communication skills honed as a former college counselor, Alison is able to help you connect to your highest self in a way that feels mystical yet practical, and always empowering.
5 Powerful healing herbs for moments of stress and recovery
The nervous system weaves the connection from our brain, mind, emotions, and intentions with our physical body.
It helps us communicate with the world around us through movement, touch, taste, smell, and perception and regulates our internal environment through breath, circulation, digestion, and so much more.
So, when our nervous system is dysregulated, we can feel dysregulated physically, mentally, and emotionally.
If you’re running a business, your nervous system gets deregulated quite frequently.
From nerve-wracking sales conversations, long hours, feelings of overwhelm, and the pressure of making money to pay the bills… it’s a lot.
However, when you take care of your mind, body, and spirit, life and business become so much easier.
Read this guest blog post to learn how healing herbs can take better care of you, your nervous system, and your business.
Written by: Andie Inscoe, MS (she/her)
Why are herbs so important?
Short- and long-term stress can interrupt the healthy function of the nervous system and the harmonious function of the body as a whole.
This leaves us feeling stressed, anxious, depleted, overwhelmed, tense, and restless, with poor digestion, low energy, susceptibility to sickness, and overall weakened resilience.
Herbs offer a gentle hand when we are going through stressful times or enduring the ever-present stressors of modern life.
The phytochemicals in plants communicate directly with our cells, protect and support the healthy structure and function of tissues, organs and harmonize the whole body.
Healing herbs have the power to soothe and relax the mind, body, and spirit, restore nerve tissue, increase the body’s resilience to stress, provide nutrients and minerals, support the immune system and digestion, improve sleep quality, and so much more.
5 Powerful healing herbs
Chamomile
Latin name: Matricaria recutita
Part used: Flower
Herbal actions:
Relaxes the nervous system
Eases digestive troubles
Aromatic
Reduces spasms
Mildly sedating
Chamomile is a friend when stress brings you into the space of feeling physically and mentally agitated, overwhelmed, very emotional, or “fussy” by your surroundings. It settles stomach tension, cramping, and upset caused by nervousness or uneasiness. It is a calming flower, with a mild sedative quality that eases anxiety before bedtime and calms nightmares.
Preparation(s):
Infusion - add 1-2 tsp to 1 cup of recently boiled water. Cover and allow to steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Tincture - 1-5 dropperfuls, 1-4 times daily in a little water
Rose
Latin name: Rosa spp.
Part used: Buds
Herbal actions:
Ease the heart
Elevate mood
Reduces stress
Aromatic
Relaxes the nervous system
Reduces tension
Aphrodisiac
Calming to the heart and mind
Rose’s loving gifts center around the heart. Rose is a tried and true remedy for stress surrounding grief, loss, depression, anxiety, and emotional shock, especially involving loved ones, love affairs, and any emotions felt strongly in the heart space. It calms, relieves tension, and lightly elevates the mood. Rose is useful when feeling a lack of self-love or when wanting to enhance love and intimacy for yourself or with others.
Preparation(s):
Infusion - add 1/2-1 tsp to 1 cup of recently boiled water. Cover and allow to steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Tincture - 10 drops to 1 dropperful, 3 times daily in a little water
Rose Hydrosol - spray around and inhale 2-3 deep breaths, as needed
Milky Oat Tops
Latin name: Avena sativa
Part used: Milky tops
Herbal actions:
Nutritive, mineralizing
Tonify and restore healthy function to nerve tissue & the nervous system
Uplifting to the spirit
Milky Oat Tops bring strength and restoration when stress has been chronic or long-term, bringing vitamins and minerals to nourish and replenish a depleted system. Oat Tops encourage recovery from intense overwork, overwhelm; feelings of fatigue, depletion; physical and mental exhaustion; and particularly stressful periods of time or illness. It is gently calming and brings along a sense of long-needed wellbeing.
Preparation(s):
High mineral, nutritive infusion - lightly grind ½-1 cup herbs and add to 1 quart of recently boiled water, allow to steep 8 hours to overnight. Strain and enjoy.
Skullcap
Latin name: Scutellaria lateriflora
Part used: Aerial parts
Herbal actions:
Tonify and restore healthy function to nerve tissue & the nervous system
Reduces spasms
Induces sleep
Reduces anxiety
Skullcap is called upon when having trouble relaxing, with tension tightening especially around the head, neck, and shoulders. When stress results in an overactive mind causing mental, emotional, and physical irritation, that may result in light spasms. There may be feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, panic, or oversensitivity to light, sounds, or textures. Skullcap is especially calming at night, as it soothes the mind and body and encourages sleep and restfulness, and can be helpful if stress is keeping you from sleeping.
Preparation(s):
Infusion - add 1-2 tsp to 1 cup of recently boiled water. Cover and allow to steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Fresh plant tincture - 1-4 dropperfuls, 1-3 times per day in a little water (MUIH)
Reishi Mushroom
Latin name: Ganoderma lucidum
Part used: Mushroom fruiting body
Herbal actions:
Increases non-specific resiliency to stress (adaptogen)
Immune supportive
Calming to the spirit
Antioxidant
Cardiotonic
Reishi carries when there is long-term stress where the immune system may be compromised, with frequent sickness, colds, and flus. When stress is unyielding and there is a necessity to shoulder through, Reishi mushrooms increase our resiliency to consistent stressors, provide protective mechanisms for the nervous system, and enhance immunity. It is calming and uplifting to emotions, the spirit, and an overactive nervous system.
Preparation(s):
Pre-extracted powder or capsules - 1 g, twice per day
Dual extract tincture - 1-5 dropperfuls, 3 times per day in a little water
Tips for sourcing bulk healing herbs and herbal products
It’s important to look for the Latin Name of a plant when sourcing to make sure you’re getting what you’re looking for. Some plants with the same common name can come in many varieties or even be completely different plants in different places!
You want to use reputable sources to avoid unethical harvesting, adulteration, and poor quality. Plant compounds are only as rich as the soil they were grown in.
Always consider the sustainability of harvesting and growing practices, and at-risk status of plants. Click here to review my favorite resource for this.
Bulk herbs
When possible, buy local! Mountain Rose Herbs has a directory of local herb growers by region.
Pacific Botanicals (online retailer)
Mountain Rose Herbs (online retailer)
Tinctures
Learn how to make your own! There are many online and print resources available for Herbal Medicine Making. I recommend:
Pre-extracted Mushroom Powders
Which healing herbs are you interested in incorporating into your life?
Let us know in the comments below!
A Note on Botanical Safety: All information is provided solely as a personal resource for maintaining optimal health and wellbeing. The information provided is not medical advice. Herbs are not intended for the treatment of disease, injury, physical, or mental ailment. Always consult your healthcare provider when taking herbs with specific conditions or while taking medications.
References:
Notes and teachings from the Master’s of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism program at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Courses taught by Andrew Pengelly & Betsy Miller.
Notes and teachings from Matthew Wood from the Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism.
Sajah Popham, Advanced Clinical Herbalism: The Nervous System [PDF Document].
Sharol Tilgner, Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth.
Thomas Easley & Steven Horne, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory.
About the Contributor
Andie Inscoe (she/her) is a clinical herbalist with a Master’s of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Tailoring herbal remedies, lifestyle, and food recommendations, Andie offers virtual herbal consultations for creating sustainable practices that support nourishment, balance, and healthy function of the mind, body, and spirit.
Andie is passionate about working alongside folks who feel run down and at odds with their health/lifestyles, want to connect more fully with nature, and are looking to dig deeper and connect with their own fundamental ability to life and healing. Together they seek to understand what’s going on underneath symptoms and strategize ways to best support themselves in this moment.
3 Ways generational trauma impacts your ability to be your own boss
I’ve noticed as of late, we are having a more open dialogue about the impact of childhood traumas.
We may find it easy to notice how our trauma shows up in our relationships, but what about how it may show up in our work environments and career choices?
Specifically with wanting to be our own boss.
It’s easy to want to go off on your own when you are sick and tired of other people telling you what to do.
What happens when you take the leap and become your own boss?
Unresolved trauma can prevent you from getting what you truly want–freedom, flexibility, and success.
Whether you’re in the beginning stages of entrepreneurship or have already taken the plunge, it’s so important to be mindful of past traumas.
In this blog, you’ll discover what generational trauma is and list 3 ways that old childhood trauma may show up in your ability to be your own boss.
Written by: Susan Abdel-Haq, LMFT
What is generational trauma?
Trauma is a term that we are starting to have more and more conversations about. Gone are the days when we contextualized “trauma” as being just “ an emotional response to a terrible event.
The reality is that trauma doesn’t just exist as isolated and single incidents.
According to GoodTherapy.org, “Intergenerational trauma (sometimes referred to as trans- or multigenerational trauma) is defined as trauma that gets passed down from those who directly experience an incident to subsequent generations.
Intergenerational trauma may begin with a traumatic event affecting an individual, traumatic events affecting multiple family members, or collective trauma affecting larger community, cultural, racial, ethnic, or other groups/populations (historical trauma).”
This can largely show up in how we were disciplined, raised, and even the messages that we get growing up that shape our core beliefs about ourselves and others.
These patterns are sometimes overt but oftentimes they are more unconscious and require more self-reflection.
How childhood trauma affects your success
Taking patterns from old work environments
Are you…
Valuing the product and services you provide (Aka charging what you are worth)?
Creating a traditional 8 am to 5 pm schedule that previously burned you out?
Holding on to this belief that in order to “make it”, you have to be working 24/7 and answering emails past the work time that you want?
Unfortunately, a lot of work environments may also be reinforcing old beliefs that are no longer helpful such as “You aren’t doing enough”, “You don’t get a say”, or even that your value is solely based on what you “produce”.
It can be easy to repeat old toxic work patterns, but you get to break away from all of that.
You get to create a schedule that you want!
YOU are your own boss now and get to create an income and lifestyle that works for you.
Check back in with the reasons why you left your old position to be your own boss. Are you repeating them?
If your current work setup feels all too familiar, then it could be a sign to make some changes.
Self-Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs about yourself and what you are capable of achieving are often common for folks who have generational trauma.
Examples are:
“That probably won’t work for me”
“No one would pay me for that”
“I could never have what that person has”
When you come from a household where there is trauma such as neglect, emotional abuse, or dysfunctional modeled behavior, it can be extremely hard to release old narratives.
A way to break these patterns is to first start to notice when you are having these self-limiting beliefs then remind yourself why you want to become your own boss in the first place.
Is it to leave a greater impact? Triple your income? Work less? Meet more people?
Embrace the new narrative!
Boundaries (or lack thereof)
Most folks would agree that boundaries are important. However, boundaries are harder to set and enforce when they weren’t healthily modeled in your childhood.
When there has been trauma, people tend to steer in one direction (either being more rigid with no room for flexibility or being too loose and not feeling in control).
There is also often doubt when it comes to your overall judgment and follow-through of boundaries.
Take a moment to really think about what your limits are. Consider things like:
What drains me of my energy?
How many hours do I want to work?
What times do I want to be available?
When/how do I want to respond to inquiries/clients?
Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out.
Remember that boundaries evolve over time and give you many opportunities to trial and error certain things.
How to achieve what you really want: Be a good boss to yourself
When you treat yourself well, that’s when you achieve fulfillment, be more productive, and experience more energy.
Imagine how much easier it’ll be to achieve your goals.
However, if you’re struggling with making the most of your time, generational trauma might be impacting you.
As with anything, you can’t change what you can’t see.
That’s why having these 3 ways childhood trauma impacts your ability to be your own boss in your awareness is so beneficial.
The process to becoming your own boss isn’t easy and requires a lot of internal work. However, there is a strength that comes from surviving trauma and that same strength will ultimately lead you to success!
Always remind yourself that being your own boss takes so much courage and vulnerability.
And when in doubt, always go back to why you started your own business, make sure your needs come first, and reach out for support from trusted therapist or coach.
Want to feel confident, in control, and at peace with your time? Click here to get free + supportive resources!
About the contributor
Susan Abdel-Haq, LMFT is a trauma informed licensed psychotherapist practicing in California. Susan is trained in both EMDR and Brainspotting and enjoys integrating other modalities in her clinical work. She is passionate about holding space for people to work through the hard stuff and tap into their strengths. Susan specializes in working with folks who are struggling with relational trauma, Narcissistic abuse recovery, toxic family of origin work, people-pleasing, substance-use disorders, anxiety, and exploring aspects of their cultural identity to work towards healing.
Franco, D. F. (2021, January 7). Understanding intergenerational trauma: An introduction for clinicians. GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/Understanding_Intergenerational_Trauma
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.
Feeling overwhelmed in life? Take a deep breath with this powerful story.
Have you seen that meme that’s like…
“I’m just trying to survive while working 8 hours a day, while being a parent, while starting a side hustle, while making sure my house stays somewhat clean, while also trying to take care of myself?”
Amy was living that day in and day out.
Joy? Forget about it.
If you’re living that right now too, I see you.
Take a deeeep breath.
Maybe another one.
And another.
While you may want to burn everything to the ground today, I’m here to remind you that something different is possible.
A overwhelm and stress-free (or at least a looooot less) might feel impossible today, and as a holistic time coach, I’m here to remind you it is possible.
Let Amy’s story give you hope that a life full of ease, peace, and balance can happen for you too.
Want the journey towards that life to be a lot easier (and quicker)? I invite you to work with me!
Tell us who you are and what you do.
My name is Amy Cissell. I’m a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal women’s fiction, paranormal romance, and contemporary fantasy. And I’m a day jobber.
What was your business and life like before you began working with me?
I was overwhelmed & felt guilty about being overwhelmed.
I had too many things to do, unrealistic goals, and a fear of saying no to more and more.
I was balancing parenting, a day job, an insane writing schedule, a side hustle, and taking care of house stuff.
I felt terrible and worked from 7 am - 10 or 11 pm almost every day, less dinner times.
I took almost zero time to take care of myself, and I didn't even know what was important.
What doubts did you have before working together?
I really didn't think anything would change. I didn't know HOW it could.
There was so much to do and unless this was magic "make more time/time turner" situation, there was no way to get through my to-do lists any faster or to cure the procrastination that I felt so guilty about.
I worried it would be a gigantic waste of money.
What surprised you about working with me?
It was so fun! And positive. I learned things about myself - something I didn't expect after 4.5 decades of living and a million therapists.
What has happened in your life or business since we worked together?
I have learned to say no.
I scaled back my side hustle (editing for indie authors) to my two favorite clients in 2022 and made sure that everyone knows I'm not available for more.
I planned my 2022 writing schedule with realism so I won't find myself stressed and overwhelmed about my goals.
I was able to take a leap to a new day job that will pay more and better benefits knowing that it's not forever and I can make everything work without feeling like I've done too much.
I've made more on royalties in 2021 than ever before, and my editing business is booked through 2022, so I know what my income stream will look like.
I have discovered what I enjoy about NOT working, and although it's sometimes still a struggle, I no longer feel (very) guilty when I take that time for myself.
I take every other Sunday completely off work, and every other Saturday off after 3 pm.
I take time in the mornings to enjoy my solitude before jumping into my schedule.
What would you say to someone considering hiring Becca?
It's literally life-changing.
I work less, have waaaaaaay less stress, and am getting at least as much done.
I've remembered what gives me joy and try to link everything I have to do with that.
I don't have to find joy in my day job, but I can find joy BECAUSE of it.
I have the money to do things I love to do and I know that there is no reason to always be on 100% all the time.
Ready to go from feeling exhausted and overwhelmed to having time for yourself, rest, and everything else your soul is craving?
Click here to schedule a no-pressure consult call with me now.
A practical guide to applying your human design type to your schedule
“Human beings have a right to be their own authority.” -Ra Uru Hu (founder of HD)
Hell yeah, they do!
Have you been trying to figure out how to get things done in a way that feels really good to you?
Without getting overwhelmed or super rigid in your approach?
Maybe you've been wondering how to fill your agenda with activities that make you feel like you're living your purpose on an energetic or soul level?
Yep, I hear these questions so often as a holistic time coach.
Let’s be real… traditional advice around time blocking and scheduling often makes us feel like failures in some way or another.
However, thanks to Ra Uru Hu, we do have the right to be our own authorities, especially when it comes to our precious time.
When you apply your human design to your schedule, it becomes so much easier to design your day to feel good to you and your soul. Continue reading to learn how!
This blog post is an expanded version of my Instagram Live conversation with Lexie Sparrow.
What is Human Design?
Human Design is a self-knowledge system. Similar to astrology, your chart is calculated based on when and where you were born.
However, Human Design combines Kabbalah, I'Ching, Myers-Briggs, astrology, biochemistry, genetics, and the chakra system all in one into this one big super-system.
Your chart tells you about your conscious and your subconscious gifts which are extremely helpful not only in your life but in business as well.
Conscious gifts are innate or things that you are generally aware of, for example, being a natural-born leader or speaking what other people are feeling.
Subconscious gifts are ones that we aren't necessarily aware of, but other people see in us.
Your chart can also tell you what some of your roadblocks are going to be. Because with your gifts also comes the opposite, which will be the challenges and the spaces where you can learn and grow.
What are the human design types?
The first place to start on your chart is called your energy type. Your type tells you when you're most productive, how you know when to do something, and signs that you’re on the right track. Which, as you know deeply impact how you spend your time.
Think of the Enneagram or Myers-Briggs self-assessments, if you’ve ever heard of them. For the Enneagram, you get a number. With Myers Briggs, you get a four combination. Human Design you get a type.
Your energy type is like the model of a car. But as we all know, there are different years that car was made, there are different colors, different interiors, or different add-ons. So this is like the very beginning of your design and a great place to start when diving into it.
There are five main types which I’ll go into each below: Generator, Manifesting Generator, Manifestor, Projector, and Reflector.
Generator
(AKA: The speeding train)
Yes, a train takes a while to get going, but once that train is going, it's going to take a lot for it to stop. This is what the generator energy is like.
You have a bunch of energy, most especially when you’re excited about something. But because it’s hard to stop doing something when your sights are set on something, it's important to wait until you know this is something I have to do.
Now it's not always possible to just work on things that we love to do. This is when delegating (or outsourcing) can come in and really support you.
How to apply your type when you’re designing your schedule:
Be sure it feels good to you. Create your calendar around the things that feel exciting, or a “hell yes” often as possible, and especially early each day and week.
Once you know when you’re most energized, it’s easy to create and stick to a rhythm making it easy to re-create into a reliable weekly agenda.
Refer back to your vision or goal in each time block description or task you add, especially for the things that you have to do but don’t love doing.
Include reminders to slow down, pause, or log off at the end of each day.
Group similar projects or goals together in your schedule so you can go deep and fast.
Take moments to look back at your schedule to look and celebrate all you’ve done.
Manifestor
Manifesterors are initiators, independent, quick starters, and change-makers. This energy is often described as a pushing energy. Manifestors are like, “I'm going here today, you can come with me if you feel like it and if you don't, then don't come with me, but I'm going.”
You are “supposed to” use your energy to inform people about what you’re actually going to do and allow others to follow along.
How to apply your type when you’re designing your schedule:
You need space to follow your energetic urges for what you want to work on and to be impulsive. But you also need some boundaries and systems in place, because otherwise nothing will ever get finished. Create a calendar that is essentially the bare minimum structure so you can accomplish the things that need to get done but still can react to things, change your mind, and flow.
Have a big to-do list somewhere, and then at the start of each day, add into your calendar the specific tasks that feel like a “hell yeah!”
If you’re finding you're just not finishing projects, reach out and hire a VA to keep you accountable or do all the small tasks you don’t want to do.
Your energy fluctuates so do not expect yourself to have an everyday morning and evening routine.
Wondering how to create a schedule made for you?
Digital Calendars For Humans will teach you how.
Manifesting Generator
MG’s have a ton of energy like a generator, but just as a manifestor does every day looks different. They are the original multi-passionate human. They can multitask and love to use their energy in many different ways.
How to apply your type when you’re designing your schedule:
Do not add anything that doesn’t excite you in some way in your schedule or back yourself into a corner by doing one thing a day (you probably won’t feel very accomplished at the end of that day).
Give yourself lots of options with some structure that generally feels aligned with your energy. I call this intuitive calendar management!
Put time caps on things, and maybe not to cap where you have to end it but like have a little check-in with yourself to make sure you’re still excited about it.
Have a big to-do list somewhere, and then at the start of each day, add into your calendar the specific tasks that feel like a “hell yeah!”
Remind yourself it’s okay to work on like five or six different things in a day, but keep track of where you started and finished on each project.
Projector
(AKA: The lighthouse)
Here we have a non-energy type. What does that mean? They don’t have much of their own energy and they derive energy from other people. They are generally called the non-workers. Efficiency (work smarter, not harder) is the name of their game.
However, you can quickly burn yourself out by kind of stealing other people's energy, so to speak. So rather look at output energy versus input energy. Output energy is things that are really going to drain you or steal your energy (ie, meetings, calls, or teaching). Input energy will give you energy back (ie, learning, studying, and being creative).
How to apply your type when you’re designing your schedule:
Batch output vs. input days or make sure that you’re balancing output activities with input activities every day and week.
Implement short work sprints and build in more rest breaks. For example, Wednesdays off instead of working the whole week and having to wait for the weekends.
Plan your weeks in a relaxed state, perhaps in your bed or on the couch with candles and music.
Sign up for regular co-working dates to leverage the energy of others.
Design your days in alignment with your natural gifts and talents. What are you really good at doing? How might you apply that to your time?
Struggle to follow traditional time blocking advice? Click here to read my top 5 secrets.
Reflector
We have another non-energy being. The rarest of the population, coming in at 1% of people. Reflectors don't have consistent energy. What often happens is they're picking up on other people's energy all the time which it can be really hard for them to figure out how they actually feel about what decisions they want to make.
If you’ve ever been around someone who’s excited and working hard, it’s easy for you to follow along (generally).
How to apply your type when you’re designing your schedule:
Include a lot more time to work on and sit with things so you can really figure out what's best for you in the big picture, not just in that moment.
Schedule things at least one month or two in the future so you have plenty of time and space to change your mind, make decisions, and tweak things.
Dedicate time to tune out the noise, go inwards, and come back to your truth. Regularly.
Creating a system of repeating tasks to automate things so you don’t have to think about them is amazing for you.
Apply unique-to-you boundaries to protect your energy within your agenda.
Grab your human design chart for free
Click here to go to the website I used to find my Human Design chart.
There are also a lot of amazing human design readers who will sit down with your chart and give you a customized reading which you can then integrate those findings into your calendar and time management.
However, beware! It can be easy to collect information and tools like Human Design without integrating and seeing the huge benefits in your life.
Integrate your Human Design Type.
Get the most out of your time.
Grab Digital Calendars For Humans now.
About the co-contributor:
Lexie Sparrow is a Holistic business strategist who helps coaches, healers, and wellness entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses online using tools like human design. Learn more about Lexie.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.
Why time management books might not help you manage your time better
Why time management books don't help you manage your time better
It’s summer 2022. That means fewer work hours, more adventures, and a lot more reading for me. Personally, I have no goal in terms of the number of books I’ll read. However, I’ve read 16 books so far this year... and I have no plans to stop!
If you struggle with spending your time how you want to, focusing, getting things done, or procrastinating less, I'm guessing you're planning to read a time management book (or maybe, five) this summer.
Before you pick up any books, you need to know why most time management books don't actually help you manage your time better!
My hope is that this blog will either convince you to read romance fiction instead (😂) or help you make the most of any book you have or will read so you can truly start spending your time how you want to.
What’s wrong with time management books?!
I’m going to say this bluntly (with love). Almost every time management book claims it’ll help you...
accomplish more in less time
work less and take off more
find time for relaxation
take better care of yourself
feel less stress and anxiety
Yet the chance of that actually happening is slim to none. Why?
If they did deliver on their promises, 201,000 people a month wouldn’t be searching for time management help still.
Millions of people wouldn’t be working 50-60+ hours a week or unable to take off without feeling guilty.
Of course, another question is…Is it the advice that’s bad or is it the inability to integrate the advice given? I’ll get back to that in a sec.
For many reasons, the very concept of productivity books isn’t working.
The main reason is: You have to make time to read a book… that’s supposed to give you more time?
As you are merely trying to get everything done in your business and life, reading and integrating the tips in any book become yet another thing for you to do.
Blegh.
What if the time you spent reading about time management books, you spent listening to what you needed?
What do you want to do with your time? How might you make that happen? The strategies that you come up with are 10x more likely to work anyways.
This is what I support my clients with as a holistic time coach. Click here to read more about working with me.
Of course, sometimes we do need strategies from outside to experiment with, which is where time management books can help us. Here’s my best advice:
How to best use time management books
(In my “expert” opinion)
1. Take them with a big grain of salt
I used to read time management books that promised I'd become a productive magical unicorn if I followed their advice. I'd get all excited, thinking I'd finally figured out all my problems, try to implement the advice, and then discover it didn't work for me.
Or, it would work for a little bit… until they didn’t. So I’d move on to the next book while internalizing that something is wrong with me.
Does this cycle sound familiar at all?
The productivity industry has convinced us of three things: we need to be better or different, it will fix us, and if it doesn’t, something is wrong with us… not it.
When you approach any struggle in your life with any shame or guilt about who you are, progress is nearly impossible.
So before we go any further… I’d like to tell you that you are amazing. You don’t need to be fixed. Nothing is wrong with you.
Read the time management books that make you feel good about yourself, that align with your values, and laugh at the books or pieces of advice that don’t.
Don’t find any time management books that do that? Consider working with me!
2. Shift your expectations
Most of the folks I coach have really high expectations of themselves and feel like they should already know how to perfectly get things done and manage their time.
On top of that, time management books have an underlying assumption of: “You’ll be able to get everything done one day following my advice, and that’s when you can relax.”
Most productivity books and tips are imbued with toxic productivity and hustle culture. Read more about toxic productivity and how it impacts you here.
Your high expectations, societal pressure, and the underlying tone of toxic productivity only lead to overworking, more stress, and exhaustion. Yep, you read that right. Time management books often share advice that does the literal opposite of what they say they’ll help you get.
Time management isn’t easy.
Choosing what to do with your life and actually doing it is terrifying.
A book won’t make that decision for you.
When you read a time management book with a lot lower expectations, it will be much easier to throw out the things that don’t feel good to you.
3. Make them fit you, not the other way around
The people that write books about productivity, or create apps and programs, are sharing what works best for them.
Speaking of, did you know most productivity tips, apps, and strategies are made for software developers and engineers? Makes sense they don’t work for the majority of people!
That being said, you will most likely never find a time management book out there that has been made by someone in the exact same situation that you are in right here, right now. Unless you’ve written a time management book!
Yes, there will probably be some time management tips, strategies, books, and things out there with people similar to where you are but at the end of the day, there is no one exactly like you.
Which is a beautiful thing. However, it does make it a little bit more difficult to manage your time in a unique-to-you way.
What do you do? You get to create your own rules!
When you read a book, think of it as reading about someone else’s rules. Then ask yourself what rules of theirs make sense or feel good to you?
At the end of the day… the best time management strategy: How can you be more you?
4. Small changes, seriously.
I know so many people preach small changes and progress. But if you’re anything like me… we just want to get it all done as quickly as possible and keep moving.
Again, if you're already struggling with time, you don't have time to read books, and then implement all the information they throw at you.
When anyone attempts to change a ton of things about how they organize and spend their days and weeks, it will be extremely overwhelming and unhelpful. It will end in throwing everything out, and starting over.
It’s important to choose one to three small (I’m looking at you!) shifts that feel good and you’d want to make after reading any time management book.
Now that we’re here, to answer my previous question: “Is it the advice that’s bad or is it the inability to integrate the advice given?”
It’s both/and. Some advice really sucks, but other times, we try to change too much at once when we’re already stretched thin on time.
That said, the jury is still out for me whether time management books help people manage their time better. After reading this, what do you think? Will you read any time management books this summer? Let me know in the comments below.
Ready to feel more confident, in control, and at peace with your time? Click here to get holistic time management resources from me!
This one small change can make a big difference in your life
When you’re struggling to stay afloat, it’s extremely difficult to make changes.
However, in order to get out of that place, change is non-negotiable.
It’s the conundrum of the dog chasing its own tail.
How do you figure out what change will make the biggest difference?
How do you trust the change you’re making is the right one?
That’s what Jennifer and I’s work together really answered for her.
One of the biggest benefits of getting a coach is talking to someone else from a different place physically, mentally, and emotionally.
As Jennifer’s time coach, I offered a calming and pressure-free space for her to identify the tiny (almost invisible) shifts she needed to make great progress… and she did!
Read more about her journey below and how focusing on just how she used her time made a HUGE difference in her life.
Tell us who you are and what you do.
Hi! I’m Jennifer Garcia, Career Coach & Resume Writer. Best Resume Coach
What was your business and life like before time coaching with me?
I was struggling with staying afloat. I wasn't using my time in the business to move it forward only to barely sustain it.
I felt like I was constantly spinning my wheels and feeling burnt out and, honestly, hopeless.
I wanted to quit my business because I had no time for family or self-care.
You helped me change all that!
What did you love about working together?
I loved how our sessions were so calming! I honestly didn't expect that from a time management/productivity coach.
I expected it to be regimented and clear-cut. While you helped me have a clear vision, you never ever told me what to do or "should" do.
You gave me nudges in the right direction and encouraged me to learn and grow at my own pace. It was beautiful! Really.
I loved how I never felt pressured to get things done. I was already giving that kind of pressure to myself a lot. It was SO reassuring to come into a session with Becca, breathe together, and then trust that by making tiny (almost invisible) shifts I was going to make great progress. and I did! We did it together! That was so cool!
THANK YOU!!
I feel like the tools I have learned now can last me forever. You're so gifted as a coach and strong as a leader. I am so happy and thankful to work with you.
What has happened in your life or business since we worked together?
On month 1, week 1 I felt really skeptical (another thing I'm gonna fizzle out on). By month 2 I had some momentum. By month 3, I was pleasantly surprised to have reached my biggest goal!!
You helped me create more momentum and bring in more money in my business. It was really quite magical!
My business generated my monthly goal as a stay-at-home mom and part-time worker.
In my life, I have been calmer and let go of the anger and fears that held me back before.
I have time for rest, and better freaking sleep!! I am sleeping in now and not regretting it. I don’t feel behind or judgmental first thing when I wake up.
Better physical health, a better marital relationship, and better family relationships with my kids and with my siblings, parents, and friends.
I also have a better relationship with myself! I am now so much kinder to myself.
What do you think made those things (listed above) possible?
Trust and faith.
I had to believe in you and trust that you are capable and leading me on the right path to success. But ultimately, learning to trust myself and my own intuition. Being more open to (and ready for) having joy and fun in my life.
See yourself in Jennifer’s story and feel ready to see similar changes in your life? Click here to schedule a pressure-free consult call now.
How to Delegate So You Fall In Love with Your Business Again
It’s exciting starting and growing your own business, isn’t it? It’s an opportunity to create something exactly as you envision it.
No one is there to tell you what to do or how to do it. It’s your baby to nurture and develop and give you the freedom to be yourself.
But all too often, reality sets in. And it’s not always a great reality. Your baby is demanding. There are so many things to do.
So many behind-the-scenes tasks it takes to run a business that you weren’t exactly thinking about when you pursued your passion.
Tasks that aren’t necessarily in your zone of genius and are taking way longer than you know they should.
So there you are with this amazing thing you’ve created, but you’re tired. You’re stressed, you’re overwhelmed, you’re headed for burnout (or maybe you’re already there), and you might even feel like shutting it all down.
If it’s any comfort telling you you’re not alone, please know that is true. I’ve seen it time and again with the business owners I work with.
So many of us are extremely capable and could probably win a multi-tasking contest if there was such a thing. We figure, hey, I’m great at getting lots of things done, so that’s what I’ll do in my business - all the things.
But guess what? Doing everything in your business is exactly what you should not be doing. In this post, I’ll be stepping you through a simple delegation process that I take my clients through.
Written by: Cory Zacker
Learning how to delegate
The key to a successful business that can grow and flourish is learning how to delegate. If you get clear on the tasks you love doing most (and that light you up) and get even more clear on the things that drain you, you’ll be well on your way to improving your delegation skills.
And hear me when I tell you this: assigning tasks to someone else does not mean you’re any less worthy. It does not mean you’re lazy or incompetent or less than. It means you understand what you do best and are willing to entrust someone else with those things you want to let go of. That’s a big part of the mindset of delegating and something I encourage you to embrace.
Assigning tasks to someone else
So how do you get clarity on what exactly you want to pass on to someone else? I like to use a simple strategy I call the Yea, Nay, Give Away exercise. It’s concise, clear, and will probably take no more than 15 minutes to complete.
Make three columns on a piece of paper (or a document on your computer) and label them Yea, Nay, and Give Away.
Yea
In the Yea column, list those things you love doing in your business. The tasks that energize you and come easy. For me it’s face-to-face client work, networking with colleagues, and writing. Those are three of the things that light me up.
Nay
In the Nay column, list the ones that take too much time and sap your energy. Things you might not be that great at and resent spending your time doing. (Remember, you might add a few personal things in this column that are taking you away from your business, e.g., cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.)
This one is easy for me. Numbers are important in any business, but they’re just not my thing. I pay attention to them, but I don’t want to spend time doing my bookkeeping and accounting myself. It doesn’t come naturally to me and it takes way too much time.
Give Away
Then in the Give Away column, choose some items from the Nay list that you can either get rid of altogether or delegate to someone else. (Hello, accountant!)
Once you have your Give Away items, take a good look at them and figure out who or what can help you. Would hiring a virtual assistant for a few hours a week take care of some of those tasks? Or maybe a babysitter/mother’s helper can tick a few of those boxes. Can a bookkeeper take over your billing? Or maybe a tech person could set up automation for you.
Why delegating actually makes you money
When you get clarity on what you need and who can help you, delegating doesn’t seem so hard. I’ve seen just a few hours a week of hiring help make a huge difference in someone’s business.
Take Sherri - an amazing woman I know with a hugely successful business. She was doing everything herself and was overworked and overwhelmed. Once we figured out who she needed to hire and what tasks she was going to delegate, Sherri had way more time to nurture her current clients and find new ones. Within a month of hiring a project manager, she was able to sign a new client who paid 5x what Sherri was paying her new team member. So delegating actually made her money.
What assigning tasks to others can do for you
So what does delegating in your business bring you?
Time - sweet, delicious, abundant time just for you. Time to not only rest and recharge, but to do what you love doing (remember that Yea list?).
Growth - yup, it’s true. With more time on your hands, you’ll be able to nurture your leads, create new offers, and reach more potential clients. I’ve seen it happen.
Peace of mind - fewer tasks equals less stress. Less stress equals a calmer you.
You created your business out of passion. So I’m inviting you to take some time to make more time for this thing you love. And more time to step away from it when you need to. (And it’s okay to need to.)
Let’s try to eliminate the word solopreneur, shall we? There’s no reason to do it all by yourself and learning how to delegate is the key to falling back in love with your business.
Want to feel confident, in control, and at peace with your time? Click here to get free + supportive resources!
About the contributor
Cory Zacker is a business consultant and strategist, as well as a certified Positive Psychology coach. She helps brilliant service providers grow, nurture, and manage their business with personalized growth strategies and business mindset coaching. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, Cory uses her business wisdom plus her warmth and humor to help entrepreneurs align with their core values, simplify their systems, and manage and grow their teams all while reducing the stress and overwhelm of growing their thriving business.
The Truth About Time Pressure (Why You Always Feel Rushed)
The unsettling truth about time pressure (and why it's not your fault)
The meaning of time pressure
How often do you feel pressed for time or catch yourself rushing through the day?
Often? You’re not alone. According to Gallup Poll in 2015, 48% of Americans said they don't have enough time.
That right there is time pressure.
The Conversation defines time pressure as “…how rushed or pressed for time people feel on a daily basis”. It also relates to whether individuals perceive they have sufficient time to do what they need or want to do (including time for work, family, leisure, travel, study, volunteering or exercise).”
Time pressure can also be known as time scarcity, time poverty, or time anxiety.
The impacts of living with time scarcity
If you’re an entrepreneur or a self-development fan, I am sure that you have read about, taken courses, or done some healing work around a scarcity mindset when it comes to money.
Time poverty is no different.
According to the American Psychological Association, a scarcity of resources, including financial resources, shapes everyone’s decisions and behaviors. Living with scarcity drains mental resources and increases negative emotions, which narrows our focus and impacts our day-to-day decisions.
When you’re focused on a resource(s) being limited or running out, it takes you out of the present moment and prevents you from living the life you want to live.
Scarcity creates additional stress and anxiety, which we know now the massive impacts of stress on our bodies and minds.
Time pressure has a significant and negative impact on your ability to effectively manage your time, grow your business, and live your life.
I do also have to mention that some folks feel more motivated and work well under deadlines which is an acute form of time pressure. However, when you have a chronic feeling that there are simply too few hours in the day, that’s when the negative impacts start to set in.
Why time anxiety is not your fault
I do an exercise with my holistic time coaching clients to get a gauge on any time pressure or anxiety they have.
Often, they're shocked about how many negative thoughts they have around time that adds to felt time pressure.
Some common thoughts are:
“I'm always late”
“I'm so behind”
“I can’t believe it’s already (insert month/year)”
“I'm way too slow”
“I'm so busy”
“I don't have the time”
“I never have enough time”
“I don't have time to relax” or “I'll relax when I'm done”
“I'm not productive”
“I waste so much time”
(Notice any over-generalizations or all-or-nothing thinking?)
Once my clients start noticing their time scarcity mindset in their lives and business, it’s a lot easier to make decisions and create sustainable time management strategies to mitigate other time pressures.
The three biggest questions that I asked myself when I started healing my time scarcity mindset were:
What did I see and learn from my parents, caregivers, and those around me as a kid, growing up around time?
What do I currently think and feel about time?
Why do I believe them? Why do I think they're true?
Personally, I realized that I had adopted a scarcity worldview from my childhood, education system, and previous wage-labor jobs. My clients are frequently in the same situation.
Time anxiety is not limited to just your or my personal experiences though. We also need to investigate who or what taught so many people that what we get done is insufficient or that there is never enough time.
Time poverty is a societal (and systemic) issue
Mindset work can feel gaslight-ey.
Thoughts are hard to catch. Especially when you don’t or you feel like you don’t have enough time.
Not enough time is 100% real, nor are all 24 hours the same for everyone.
I appreciate that the APA states that any negative actions connected to scarcity are not the fault of individuals experiencing a form of poverty; scarcity research indicates that these are universal processes.
I mean…if in 2015, 154 million Americans said they felt time scarcity, it makes sense to me that it's a systemic issue just as any other large-scale issue is.
This is where I always come back to the negative impacts of capitalism.
Redflag shares, “The competitive drive to accumulate wealth through the exploitation of human labour is the starting point for understanding capitalism and oppression.”
Human lives (aka our time!) are the most important resource to profit on the planet.
There will never be enough time to get everything done. It’s literally impossible.
This is why the traditional time management and productivity advice encouraging us to get more work done, faster leaves us exhausted and confused.
Time abundance and liberation are possible
Feeling a lack of time is one of the things that is easy to revert back to. It’s normalized and engrained to think, say, and communicate to the people in our lives about how busy we are and how little time we feel we have.
I want to make sure I share with you that there is hope.
Time abundance (feeling like you have more than enough time) and time liberation (feeling free around how you spend it) are possible for you. I believe they are possible for everyone.
Both require individual AND systemic shifts, that are equally important.
Individually, if you want more time, or at least to feel like you have more time, in your life TODAY, I suggest starting with your thoughts rather than anywhere else.
Why?
Because if you have a time scarcity mindset, you will never have enough time no matter what planner, calendar, hack, or tool you try.
Addressing your time beliefs can make a huge difference in your relationship with time and really support you in managing your time more aligned with your values.
What’s coming up for you after reading the unsettling truth about time scarcity? Feel free to comment below. I’d love to support your investigation, healing, and thriving.