Catch your breath

Breath, just breath. Today, find a quiet spot (even if you have to stay up late or lock yourself in the bathroom). Now close your eyes and take a deep breath. Breath in starting with your stomach, filling up every inch until you cannot inhale any more. Then exhale in reverse. Start with the top of your lungs until you get to your stomach. Do this slowly for five or six times.

When you find yourself overwhelmed, in chaos, in constant forward motion, it's a good idea to stop and breath.

How are you going to reach your business goals?

Write out your goals. Start backwards. Where do you want to be in 5 years? 3 years? 1 year? Now look at your one year goal and determine what it will take to get you there. What will you have to accomplish each month in order to reach your goals? Now the hard part. What daily activities are you going to have to do in order to reach your goal?

Examples: If you want to make $5000 more this year then how much more are you going to have to sell, advertise, write, call, etc.

Write down your plan/map to your goals and read over that month's goal everyday of the month.

What are your financial goals?

Write them down. Are you trying to get out of debt? Do you want to buy a new car? Any car? How about a house? Maybe you just want to stop living paycheck to paycheck. Do you have a 401k or any other retirement plan? What about your kids college (wedding LOL)?

Expert note: Financial guru, Clark Howard, says start your retirement fund before college funds for your kids because kids can get scholarships and grants and loans, no one is going to fund your retirement.

Charting your progress in the relationship department

We've made a few changes in the way we handle relationships. Have you noticed a difference? Are things a little quieter? Maybe more peaceful or at least more relaxed?
Have you eliminated negative people from your life? If not, then maybe you should consider it. Sometimes you have to save yourself from these people.

Have you noticed that your family members are nicer to you? Are your kids being nicer to each other? The trickle down effect is amazing. Change yourself and the world changes with you. At least your immediate world.

A healthier you

Now that we've discussed the food issue, it's time to discuss hanging our eating habits. This week try to eliminate one soda per day. Replace it with a glass of water. Next try to incorporate 10 minutes of exercise everyday. Even if it's walking, jumping jacks, running in place, leg lifts, etc.

Remember, it's about your health, not your pants size.

Cleaning basics

Now that you've been keeping your sink clean and your bed made, it's time to do a little more. Everyday this week I want you to sweep your hardwood and linoleum floors and vacuum the carpet. Pick a day this week to dust the whole house or dust one room per day. Don't forget to clean the sink and make up your bed. If you have kids, try giving them a dust rag and let them dust the big items. If their old enough, get them to sweep/vacuum their own rooms. Your home is a small community. They are part of the community so they get to help. Don't feel bad asking them to help. You are teaching them valuable life skills.

Creating your categories

Time to work on your Family CEO manual. I hope that you already have your binder
decorated and ready to go. Here are some categories that should be included in your binder.

-Daily Routines
-Weekly Routines
-Meal Plans
-Recipes
-Grocery Shopping List
-Budget
-Cleaning notes
-List of Important Dates (birthday, anniversary, holiday)
-Emergency Numbers
-To Do List
-Calendar with appointments on it
-Goals for family
-Goals for yourself
-Gift List-write out everyone you have to buy for and when you find a gift that fits them (buy it) and write it out beside their name-when their birthday or Christmas rolls around then you're already prepared