Life is a whirlwind...

Life is a whirlwind....

It's either circumstantially out of our control, crazy.....
Or it's self-inflicted, adrenaline junky-induced pandemonium.

My life gets whirling around in a tailspin when I am not saying no to people that I need to...

Or when I have my head's in the cloud too long, dreaming too much.

How to take yourself out of the whirlwind....PRIORITIZE!

Even if you're "not a list person"....write down the 3-5 most important things to you, for your family, and your future. This will streamline how to manage your time more wisely.

I don't know about you, but I get derailed easily. And since I love to talk to people, I derail others easily. I've come to accept that I will never be able to finish a single conversation with anyone....probably...the story of our lives are always in continuum. Going on and on, evolving from a love story to tragedy....or tragedy to a happy ending. Either way, there will always be details to share and prayers to request.

People are a priority to me...but after my health, my boys, marriage, family, and my personal walk with God!

Many find themselves in a whirlwind because they don't know where they are headed, and they don't have God as captain of their ship.

My life verse is John 15:5....find it...read it...meditate on it...and you will find the whirlwind dissipate and leave peace!

Laying down my dreams & taking a hold of my calling...

So the time has come for me cross over from my post & blog focus on losing weight, fitness to more about the true #1 priority in my life...the Lord. It's really no secret for those who have known me for the last 10 years to know who my #1 man really is! : )

My time & my words were so intertwined with church so long ago, I didn't know where my church ended & I began. (A little scary looking back now). My schedule was wrapped around this priority...but nearly 5 years ago when I had Daniel, my schedule got off beat. Then, once I had it zeroed in again, I had Jacob. A newborn, plus the worst year of Daniel's asthma = sleep deprivation...and my time w/ the Lord was very inconsistent.

Then one day, the end of February of 2011, I got told about Shakeology and this awesome business opportunity with Beachbody. I jumped on it since I had lost all my weight w/ Turbo Jam, one of their hit workout programs. Plus, Dave and I wanted to save about $25/month (each) on our Shakeology. (A wonderful supplement/nutritious meal replacement that works pretty miraculous in your body...visit www.shakeology.com/JenniferMorin for all the ingredients and to watch a video on what docs have to say. Best shake on the market, hands-down!)

I actually left to the rr to see if I
could run into Tony Horton after he
spoke to us...but met Shaun T.

Anyways....me being the overachiever I am set out on a mission to be a Diamond coach within this organization. I went to a Summit training event, met Shaun T. Creator of Insanity & Asylum...and Tony Horton, creator of P90X and P90X2, which I start on Sunday.  :)

 I was motivated. I caught vision of how to build my business. I had the passion to help people lose weight and avoid preventable diseases and death by obesity. I was on my way....



Me, Tony Horton, &
My friend Felicia - BB coach too!



I immediately started a 90 day to diamond group. And the group that shared the priority of becoming diamond coaches met with me. It was my accountability group to achieve my goal. But then...something in my Spirit started to happen...

My heart strings were getting convicted over the time that I was now "finding" (really making) to work my business. I had began to break $500/mo. in just a couple of months of hardwork. I was stoked. I was seeing visions of my new car in the horizon.

But, there was this 'voice' speaking truth that I needed to make time for the Lord first...then pursue my dreams. In fact, I sat in church one Sunday as the pastor was teaching and told God, "I want to work in the church again someday..."

And then the thought hit me...'Why am I burning my candle at both ends for material things?' 'How did I go from not having 30 min./day for a devotional to having 2-3 hrs. to work?'

And then I said, "Some things have got to change around here!"

I got a devotional that was appropriate: Life-Management for Busy Women...because that's what I was...I was busy, busy. And then I got to the chapter that made me examine true priorities above all else: #1, my relationship w/ God. #2, my relationship w/ my husband. And #3, my time/energy/care for my kids.

Yes, that was a blow to the gut. I had been missing the mark by far in all 3. And because my innermost desire is to always please God...I had to lay my BB business on the altar. And I did....

Note: I am still a Beachbody coach...

(to be continued....)

Sticking TO-DO LISTS help us manage our time!

How many of you struggle with TIME-MANAGEMENT? Have you ever tried using a TO-DO LIST - consistently?

I make my to-do list every night. Last night as I sat down to write it out before bed (so that I can rest with peace), I created a 'template' that I am going to type up & print out. There are a few things that are daily to-dos for me, and then there are 4 areas in which there are items to complete daily.

I thought I'd share what I am implementing. I'll use Word to create a document with 2 columns on my worksheet for 2 days (to save paper, right). I'm practical & systematic. Here's an example of how mine will look:

TO-DO LIST for: ________________(day/date)

Morning Routine:

1. Daily devotional/quiet time (5:15 a.m. @ the start of my day)
2. Workout
3. Personal Blog time
4. Emails (personal)

Work: (Include 3 action items to reach goals)

1.  Emails
2. Add customers to FB list
3. Set appt. with prospect(s)
4. Follow up with advertising co.

Errands: (List errands that must get done today)

1. Costco (completely out of food)
2. Car Wash (Hurricane Cheerios hit the back seat!)

Chores: (List chores that must get done today)

1. Declutter kitchen counter (company coming later)
2. Clean bathrooms (see above)

Activity with kids:

1. Weed out the pumpkin patch (it's looking overgrown)
2. Read some books
3. Wrestle & tickle

Evening  Routine:

1. Start dinner (by 4:30 p.m.)
2. Dinner w/ boys & hubby
3. Clean up kitchen
4. Unwind w/ family outside
5. Bathtime
6. Bedtime (8:45/9ish)

Not sure if your day can look like this. Each of my days does not always include chores AND errands, however, most times it does. Sometimes the #1 priority & the first thing we do in the a.m. is get out of house to the park. This is a template form that I'm going to print out & use w/ blanks under the work, errands, chores, and activities areas to fill in each day according to what is priority.

Arming ourselves with a to-do list, with blanks to fill in will help us be better managers of our homes, and that's the goal, right?

If we use budget sheets to direct our money, why don't we use TO-DO lists to direct our time?  Stick to the list, control your time on the internet & phone, and you will have better days of getting more done! When we use a TO-DO LIST & have better TIME-MANAGEMENT, then our day will flow with greater peace & patience.

(The above is what I typed up for the BakersfieldMom.com blog...but I couldn't wait for them to share...so since it's mine :) I thought I'd share it with my peeps TODAY. Also, I want to add that I have always used a to-do list, all throughout my life. Only after doing Chalene Johnson's www.30daypush.com did I realize that many have no idea about the power of to-do lists, making them consistently & sticking to them. They have the power to change your life!)