Secrets of Success

Clean out one drawer...

...or cupboard, or closet, or shelf, or tote... etc. Set a goal that once per ___ (week? day?) you will clean out one of section of your living space. (Glove compartment, plastic container full of office supplies, dining room table, junk drawer, craft corner -- you get the drift!)

Putting away the Groceries

When I bring home my groceries now, I take the time before putting away the fruits and veggies, to wash and cut them up. Having baggies in the fridge with veggies that are ready to eat is super helpful in our busy household.

Get ready the night before

I always have my lunch packed, clothes ready, and put my bag (complete with keys, wallet and phone) in the same place every night before going to bed. No wasting time in the morning looking for things.

Reusable Shopping Bags

As soon as I unpack my groceries from my reusable grocery bags, I put the empty bags near the door that is on my way outside. This way I can grab them on the next trip out to the car and have them ready for my next shopping trip.

Make a plan

Start the day off by making a plan for the day. Write down everything you think you want to achieve that day, include exercise and when you have done each task tick it off. You will get a great feeling of sattisfaction when you see how much you got ticked off.

Keeping Track of Everything

As a mother of 5 kids and someone who works full-time outside the house, it is very important that I stay organized. I put all appointments, contacts, and things that I need to do in my Palm Centro phone. That way I always know where I have to be and what I need to do.

Keep it together

I keep menu's, recipes and even pictures of exercises I have cut from magazines ( and glued onto note book paper) in a 3 ring binder.

Portion control

Buy a big bag of nuts, or dehydrated fruits. Measure them out and put them in plastic containers so you don't have to think about it when you're hungry in a pinch. I leave some in my car! You can put them in 100 calorie measurements or 50 calorie.

Set the timer

This isn't a new secret to most, but setting the timer for 10-15 minutes to get in some cleaning works well for me and sometimes it motivates me to keep going to finish a project.

meal plan

I plan my meals a day ahead this keeps me on track and there are no surprises and I stay within ranges