Strategies to Improve your Allergies

This year more than ever before, allergies have been a big topic out and about. Based on some great suggestions from  fellow allergy sufferers, I have compiled a great list of suggestions that you can implement TODAY to help relieve symptoms.

Change Your Pillowcase...Frequently
You can also add to this, wash your hair before bed. Think about it. You are exposed to the elements all day (including allergens), and then when you lay your head down at night, you are laying down with your day in your hair. If you are waking up groggy or with a lack of energy and are also experiencing allergies, consider changing your pillowcase daily or every couple days. I bet you will notice a difference!

Gargle Salt or Seltzer Water
If coughing is one of your symptoms, try gargling which can help break up the pollen in your throat. Kind of weird, but if you are ingesting pollutants in the air, the gargling can help relieve this. I tried this when I was having coughing attacks and it really helped.

Take a Supplement
It's no secret that the pollen is high this year & it can cause you to feel groggy & unexcited.
For me, this year it's been kind of a weird head feeling with a feeling of disconnectedness or sometimes fuzzy eyesight. When I started noticing symptoms early March (including a uncontrollable cough that hit me 3 days in a row), I started taking Clearguard. A couple days later, I noticed significant relief and did not any more coughing attacks or weird disconnected feelings! Phew. Then about a week after that, I stopped taking the Clearguard because I was feeling better (must not need it right?!). Wrong! About two weeks after that, I started getting the symptoms again. Three days ago I started taking Clearguard again and while I'm still experiencing the disconnectedness, the coughing has already gone away. Expecting the rest of the symptoms to decease soon. Clearguard is inexpensive and all natural with acerola cherry (power antioxidant), cinnamon, and Spanish needles. I have several other success stories, if you want to know, just email me (not trying to infomercial it up, but I do very much believe in this product!)

Exercise Outdoors in Late Afternoon or Early Evening
According to a report on allergies from health.com, grass and trees release the majority of  pollen in the early morning and afternoon. If you're like me, and love the outdoors, wait til later in the day. Good thing it gets dark late!

If your allergies are super serious (or you have major immune issues)...

Consider a High Quality Air Purifier
My grandmother, who smokes indoors, has one of these in her home, and it make a world of difference when it comes to air quality. She's the most fun, spunky, clever 88 year old that you'll ever meet, but before she bought the air purifier it was really tough to breathe indoors when visiting. The air purifier I'm thinking of is the Atmosphere Air Purifier. It's an investment, but it's well worth it if you have severe trouble with allergies or have any type of auto-immune issues. It's 99.9% effective at removing contaminant particles like pollen, bacteria, dust mites, viruses, smoke, etc. Email me with questions!





I would love to hear comments from those of you with allergies and what you do to relieve symptoms!

Interview Yourself

This message is short and sweet and it has to do with self talk. Yesterday I was driving in the car, on the way to a networking event and I thought to myself, "Would I hire me?" Better yet, "What do I bring to the table and do I know how to sell those skills AND figure out if the position/job/career is the right fit for what I am looking for?" It should be a two-way street right?

I don't claim to be an expert in job hunting, interviewing, and whatever else is involved with that process.  I have never gotten rejected for a job that I applied for, which really isn't  that impressive, because I have never applied for a job that really stretched me, if that makes sense. So I can't tell you how to answer questions, or what to say or not to say, but I can tell you about attitude...and I mean specifically, the attitude you carry about yourself.

In the car, I asked myself regular interview questions (I think!) and then answered them boldly and confidently. The reason I am blogging about this is because I learned a ton from the 20-minute conversation (with myself!) and thought you may want to try it too. It revealed a different side of myself, specifically to do with my career, what my strengths are, what my weaknesses are, IF I were looking for a job, what would be a good fit and what wouldn't.

After this, I had clarity and a little bit more understanding about what I'm all about. It was fun; it provided valuable information, and I felt refreshed afterward.

As far as questions go, this may vary a bit depending on your industry, but this is what I asked:

What are you looking in a job or career? 

For me, I know that I must be working with people in an active environment. My role must be in leadership, and it must involve helping make someone else's life, job, career, self image better, and it must involve setting expectations for something better than expected.

What motivates you? Why do you want to pursue this project/position/career?

What are you really good at?

I know that I am really good with developing ideas, being creative, inspiring new projects, getting the ideas of something rolling, but that I need support when it comes to organization and implementation.

What type of work environment do you thrive in?

Do you like working with people? Managing people?

What type of leadership do you respond best to in the workplace? Surprisingly, I like harsh, truthful, almost negative-inspiration management (in the workplace). For example, tell me something is too challenging for me, or that I can't get it done, and I will prove you wrong. Set low expectations for me, and I will look for every excuse to get out of that environment. For me, the manager doesn't have to be the sharpest or the smartest, but simply needs to lead by example, and help take me (and my associates to the next level)

What are your strengths? And how do you work on improving them?

This is simple for me. My strength is encouraging people, of finding a "why" for what he/she is doing. For taking that info, digging deeper and figuring out how to help someone get from where they are to where they want to be, but aren't sure they can get to. My heart is for people and I thrive on helping others, so if I am in an environment where this is possible, it works. If I'm not, or I feel like my ideas, creativity or passion is being stifled, I'm no longer fit for that environment.

What are your weaknesses? And how do you deal with them?

Organization. Flat out. Specifically with paperwork. I'm great with scheduling appointments and events and getting things done, but ask me where my last invoice is or for my mileage record (I'll show you logs in my iPhone, on my computer, in a random notebook--or 2). It's ridiculous, but I have learned to laugh about it and celebrate small successes in organization, like today, I punched holes in a set of papers I regularly access in a binder. All the papers are finally in the binder (not in order), but they are at least all within the rings :)

If you can answer these questions about yourself (and whatever others pop into your head), it will give so much clarity into what you are really looking for out of a career, job, project, position, client, etc and really help you delve even more into who you are!

Embrace Your Skills

That's about right!

I envy organized people. You super organized people are all super human. Walking into a house and seeing style, design and order, I am instantly in awe. How do you do it?

People who have never been to my apartment or looked in my car, usually think that I am super organized. This is funny. Am I putting on a good facade? For real, I don't EVER try to pretend that I am organized. Over the summer, I subletted an apartment from a good friend, who is super organized (she's one I am always in awe of!). She returned home to reclaim her apartment about 5 hours before I thought she was going too. Not good. There were piles. One pile was my purse that I had dumped on the floor to sort (over a week prior). There was a pile of books that needed to go in a box, several piles of clothes, dishes in the sink, a vacuum in the middle of the floor (it's like I started vacuuming and then got distracted--who does that?!) She thought it was hysterical, because she always saw me as super put together. In some ways, yes, but when it comes to my home, my car or my notebook. No...

Sometimes I put together a notebook or organize a drawer and I am super proud at that moment. But you know what happens? Two days later, I can't find anything, and I spend more time looking for it, than if it was out of place! Who can relate?

Technology is awesome and every so often, I'll try out a new iPhone app, thinking, "YES...this is the one, I'm going to use this everyday and keep track of things; this time it will be different." Guess what?! It's not. I have yet to embark on a new organizational track that I follow for more than 48 hours. Why? It's not a skill. It's not my nature. And guess what else?! It's ok.

My brother alphabetizes his DVD's. He also folds his trash when he's in the car, which is hilarious--especially when he mandates that I do it too when I'm in his car. I remember once, he handed me a energy bar wrapper and said, "ok, now fold that up and put it in the can." What?!! He is super organized and I envy/accept that! I'm lucky if 1) a dvd is in a case, and 2) if it's in the right case. If you ever borrow a DVD from me, PLEASE check to make sure the right one is in there. It's a 50/50 shot.

Recently, I heard John Maxwell (THE expert on leadership training), teach about focusing on your strengths. He said, in his dynamic and expressive John Maxwell way, "Why would you give more attention to your weaknesses than your strengths?! If you focus on your weaknesses, you'll get weak. If you focus on your strengths, you'll get stronger."

(Please not, the above is definitely a paraphrase...if I could find the notebook where I wrote this down, I could quote Mr. Maxwell better!) Here's a blog post from John Maxwell, "Removing the U from Failure" that sends a similar message.

So all these anecdotes and silly stories are leading up to "the well with all" message today, which is:

Embrace your skills

Focus on what you are good at, and keep doing that, get better at what you are good at.  If you embrace your skills, you will get stronger overall, and your weaknesses can be minimized (or at least subsidized by someone else!). You see, one of my goals, is to get to the level where I can hire someone to do the organizational things (I'm sure I don't even know what all those things are!), and just focus on what I'm good at.

This doesn't mean that I currently embellish on my lack organization (like putting my socks in the dishwasher just because), but it does mean that I don't spend a significant amount of time trying to change something that could be just part of me. You see, this week alone, everyday I have set the goal to organize my closet. Everyday this week, I have walked in, stood there for a couple minutes, stared at the closet and thought, "I don't ever know where to start."

Two months ago, I set the goal to punch holes in several sheets of paper for a binder that I use regularly (you super organized people are cringing, 'why haven't you done it?'). Here's a hint : if you have to set a goal to punch holes in paper, you are not organized. Guess what?! It's ok. Embrace it. Go do what you are good at.

Last story. When I worked at the gym, we had signature sheets for our clients to sign after they did a personal training session. My binder was green (everyone else's was black). My sheets were in no order, while most everyone else had tabs. I liked my green binder, because it was easy to find, but I always kind of wished my sheets were alphabetized. One day I came in to train and my green binder was gone. It was replaced by a black binder with tabs labeled A-Z and my clients placed under the appropriate tab. A colleague of mine who knew that I would NEVER do this on my own, had organized and conformed my binder for me. I will admit, for the first week, it took me longer to find each persons signature sheet, but I was super thankful for it, because it made me feel organized. He is super organized.

Do you know your skills? Do you know the traits that make you, YOU? What do people commend you for? When do you know you are in your zone, bringing your A-game?

Seek those moments, embrace your strengths and then take every opportunity you can to fulfill them. You will lift yourself and others up when you take hold of this.

Now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing you don't have to be perfect, just the best version of YOU. Ahhh...

Eating for Energy: 8 Tips

Sometimes the simplest plan, is the best plan. Especially if you are busy! Staying properly fueled AND keeping it healthy can be tough, especially with a hectic schedule. Eating properly is an everyday process and as busy as you are, you should carve out time to plan for healthy, energizing eating (it may actually save you time and help your productivity in the long run). Here are 8 tips to get going.

1. Keep fueled. Eat often. This could mean anywhere from 3-6 times a day. Listen to your body, know what pattern you prefer. This keeps your metabolism running steady and your mind sharp. If you are busy, figure out ways to eat healthy on the go that work for you. Prep food in advance to take with you for a busy day (this is a challenge for me!).  Stay fueled, and you will stay energized!

2. Hydrate. Keep a water bottle with you during the day and make sure you are drinking. It not only helps keep you alert and avoid dehydration and drowsiness, but it can also keep you from craving unwanted snacks, like candy or potato chips.

3. Take a whole food multi-vitamin. Test yours. Does it break down in a glass of water. If not, can you be sure that it will break down in your body? I wouldn't bet my health on it.

4. Get B12. Many people are actually deficient in B12; there is actually a genetic test that can tell you how your body metabolizes B12. You can ingest B12 under the tongue, in pill form, or in my personal favorite form, a healthy energy drink. I find it helps with sustained energy and mental clarity. Score!

5. Eat iron-rich foods. Have you heard that kale is the new beef?

6. Eat foods with Omega-3's, like salmon, tuna, olive oil, avocado or ground flax seed or take an Omega-3 supplement

7. Limit saturated fats and fried foods

8. Eat carbs (whole grains, fruits, & vegetables) with each meal. Start your day with complex carbs (and protein) and taper throughout the day.

If you are exercising in the evening after work, be sure to fuel up with a snack a hour or two before you workout, so that you get the most out of it. This doesn't mean that you need to gorge, but don't neglect! After your workout, be sure to eat a good source of protein to help your muscles repair.