How would you feel if you knew your surgeon had a coach?

Inside My Mind

I hesitate to talk too much…about the specifics of how I personally organize my day for a few reasons:

• I don’t want to seem self absorbed.
• I know from coaching clients around the world that custom plans based on the right strategies work better than copying someone else’s exact techniques.
• I’m an ENFJ and not all–but many–of my clients are Myers Briggs INFP or ISFP so they sometimes need a bit different approach.

But that being said, much of what I do is teaching people how to develop the mindset and skill set of an organized person so I’m pulling back the curtain on my life. In the upcoming posts, you’ll learn about not only what I do on a daily basis but also get inside my mind on what I’m thinking throughout the process.

See below for a close look at how I start my morning…

I hope this helps you and demonstrates that I’m authentically living a life of accomplishing more with peace and confidence!

Elizabeth’s Morning Routine

My internal clock is set to 6 a.m. This is awesome on weekdays because it’s usually not a problem for me to get up when my happy nature sounds alarm goes off. It’s not so awesome on the weekends when I’ve stayed up later than 11 p.m. and want to sleep in–but can’t.

If I wake up with unpleasant thoughts in my head (perhaps from a weird dream) I  sometimes lay in bed a bit past 6 a.m. so I can process the negative emotions. I then get up and immediately grab my Bible and my journal from my nightstand and take them downstairs to the dining room and put them in my designated spot.

I love the fact that the house is quiet, and I’m alone at this hour. It’s very peaceful and my mind can wander and get lost in thoughts without interruption. I start my fabulous Bunn coffee maker (only 4 minutes to brew a whole pot!) and then put together a simple breakfast.

As I gather my food, I usually make a rough sketch in my mind of what I plan on eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That way, I know that I’m getting some variety in my three meals and enough healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. I also make note of anything that I need to buy in my “Grocery” note in my phone.

Now it’s time to sit down and eat. As I munch, I read a short passage and then take time to ponder what it means to me. Usually during my pondering time, I go back for seconds on breakfast food. (I eat small portions so I can go back for more!)

Next, I take time to meditate. Depending on my mood, this can take many different forms:

• Writing in a prayer journal.
• Listening to an affirmations CD.
• Laying on the living room floor staring at the ceiling and sorting out my thoughts.
• Going on a walk through my neighborhood (usually just on the weekends)

After my meditation time, I’m typically feeling peaceful, energized and in control of my emotions. As they would say in the excellent book Switch, my “elephant” is happy so now the “rider” can start to direct my focus.

Around 7:30 a.m., I start to transition from being to doing… I put away breakfast food and clean up any dishes. I go around the house fluffing pillows, shutting cabinets, collecting up stray items and generally reassuring myself that everything is in order in my physical environment so that I can more or less ignore it for the next 8 hours.

I then shower and get ready for the day completely if I need to leave the house for an appointment during work hours. (I have a tendency to underestimate how long it can take to get ready and get out of the house.) If I’m not going out until the evening, then I just put on clothes for going on a walk at lunch and leave doing hair, make up and jewelry until the end of the day so everything is “fresh.”

Sometime between 8 and 8:30 a.m., I sit down at my computer and begin my morning processing and planning routine… to be fully explained in an upcoming post…

To your brilliance!

Your time coach,

Elizabeth

P.S.-Rest assured! I don’t recommend that all of my time coaching clients get up at 6 a.m.! That’s just what works for me.

P.P.S.–Feel free to share your insights on morning routines.

About Real Life E®

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Elizabeth in Bogotá

activities into lists so that they can move forward on them without feeling overwhelmed. (David Allen does a great job of explaining why this technique is so effective in Getting Things Done.)

As a special holiday gift to you, I’m sharing my personal travel check list, including bonus tips for international trips. Bon voyage!

Elizabeth’s Preparing for a Trip Check List

If Driving:

• Make sure oil changed and any car maintenance done.
• Make sure up-to-date auto insurance in wallet and car registration stickers on license plate.
• Confirm address.
• Get directions or check that comes up on your GPS device.
• Book hotel and confirm check in time.
• Put gas in the car.
• Grocery shop for snacks and/or bottled beverages.

If Flying:

• Book flight.
• Book hotel and confirm check in time.
• Coordinate pick up or transportation after arrival.
• Confirm flight time.
• Confirm when you will need to leave for the airport.
• Get directions or check that comes up on your GPS device both to the departure airport and from your arrival airport to your final destination.
• Coordinate rides or look into parking options.
• Grocery shop for snacks. If desired, bring an empty water bottle to fill up once inside the security checkpoint.
• Check luggage number and size (dimensions and weight) restrictions and fees
• Decide whether you will check baggage
• Make sure you have a quart-size Ziploc bag and 3-oz. or less size containers that fit in that bag.
• If desired, check in 24 hours in advance

Packing Strategy:

If driving:

• Determine how much luggage space is available if you are taking large objects and/or have many people in the car.

If flying:

• Decide whether you will check in luggage.
• Follow all airline standards for size and weight and items you can carry on. (An easy way to check the weight is to weigh yourself and then step on your home scale holding your bag.)

2-7 Days Before Your Trip:

• Decide what you will want to wear and/or bring
• Do any last shopping: food, clothes, toiletries, items to bring on trip
• Do laundry and/or dry cleaning

1-2 Days Before Your Trip:

• Check the expected weather conditions.
• Pack up all of the items in your bags to make sure that they will fit inside.
• Put liquids into a quart-size Ziploc bag.
• Go through your purse and other carry on items to make sure that you don’t have any prohibited items (sharp objects like scissors or liquids like lipgloss).
• Do online check in 24 hours in advance and print out boarding pass.

Morning of Your Trip:

• Do final packing of toiletries, food, books, etc.
  

  View from my window seat

• Double check the flight status and that you have your boarding pass and government id (passport if you are leaving the United States).
• Give yourself some “buffer time” so if you’re running late or hit bad traffic, you’re still OK.
• Enjoy!!

Packing List:

Clothes:

Use the weather report and any schedule events/activities to help guide your packing.

• Pants, shorts, dresses, and/or skirts
• Shirts, including one that would be nice for an evening event
• Sweatshirts or jackets
• Underclothes, socks, nylons
• Pajamas
• Work out clothes
• Shoes: dress shoes, workout shoes, informal shoes
• Swim suit and cover up (and if necessary, towel and goggles)
• Accessories: scarves, hats, gloves, jewelry, and watch
• Plastic bag for dirty clothes

Toiletries:

• Floss, tooth brush, tooth paste, mouth wash, skin care, moisturizer, deodorant, glasses, contacts, contact case, contact solution, and perfume
• Hair brush, curling irons, flat irons, gel, hairspray
• Makeup
• Vitamins and/or medicine

If not staying at a hotel or have particular preferences:

• Soap, shampoo, conditioner, razor, shaving cream, face wash, blowdryer

Miscellaneous:

• Wallet and government id
• Cell phone
• Camera (including extra battery and if applicable, device to upload photos to the computer
• Calendar/Planner/Notepad
• Books or other reading material
• Gum or other snacks or necessary foods
• All chargers for phones, computers, cameras, other electronic devices
• Print outs of insurance policies and all other travel documents
• Umbrella, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, sunscreen, etc. (depending on the weather)
• Computer
• Pens, paper, stamps
• Emergency contact numbers and addresses
• Any school work or other work materials
• Gifts and thank you cards for anyone who is hosting you
• Collapsible bag that you can use to bring home extra items

International Travel:

• Exchange money
• Double check passport up to date & visa OK
• Tell credit card company that I will be abroad
• Cell phone, calling card rates
• Access code for the country
• Give contact info to parents and roommates
• Go to travel clinic for immunizations, medicine and food precautions
• Ask about local customs in terms of acceptable/unacceptable dress and activities
• Ask about converters for electronics–voltage and/or plugs
• Buy travel insurance & emergency medical insurance
• Check that your carry-on items are allowed in each airport where you need to take a flight. (Restrictions can be different for different countries.)

I hope this helps you to have a Happy and Stress-Free Holiday Vacation.

Feel free to leave your tips!

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the founder and CEO of Real Life E® a time coaching and training company that empowers individuals who feel guilty, overwhelmed and frustrated to feel peaceful, confident and accomplished through an exclusive Schedule Makeover^TM process. Real Life E® also increases employee productivity, satisfaction and work/life balance through custom training programs.

Elizabeth has appeared in Inc magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and on NBC. She was selected as one of the Top 25 Amazing Women of 2010 by Stiletto Woman and as a member of the Young Entrepreneurs Council that includes HootSuite CEO Ryan Holmes and Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich fame.

I thought you might like an update on some of my recent travels!

“I loved Elizabeth’s energy & authenticity. She was able to share very well with both the students and professionals.”-Angela B.

“I absolutely loved the section about what you wear making a difference.”-Jennifer G.

Thank You again to all of the Fabulous organizers of the SWE event at UNC! (Also many thanks to Mya who took these photos.)

Gen Next: Do You Need a Schedule Makeover™?

Enjoy!

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time coach & trainer who empowers individuals to build businesses and achieve work/life brilliance™ through Schedule Makeovers™. Her empowerment coaching frees individuals from guilt, overwhelm, and frustration!

Discover how you can start enjoying your life TODAY! Look forward to talking with you!

Elizabeth has been featured in Inc magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and on NBC, and is happy to be interviewed for your broadcast or publication.

I make the tough choices that I ask you to make.

I’m a time coach who aims to authentically live out my advice. That means I have to face the same challenges you do. Like this one…

Are you stuck and don’t know how to launch your enterprise?

Do you feel like your business has overtaken your life?

If you answered, “Yes!” to any one of these questions, I might have the solution for you.

This November, I’m offering a home study course so that you can FINALLY move forward on your business. You see as a time coach for individuals across the country and as someone who constantly looks to overcome my own time challenges, I’ve seen that Real Change happens when there’s not only information but also regular encouragement and accountability.

This course is aimed at people who are looking to start or build a new business that allows them to work their ideal schedule. (If that doesn’t apply to you–feel free to contact me at esaunders@RealLifeE.com about individual coaching or look for upcoming courses on different topics.)

To Help You Focus and Move Forward, You Receive:

• Four 60-minute Conference Calls on setting up a schedule, managing your work load, handling information overload, and doing business development
• Recordings of the Calls so you can listen to them at any time
• Four Action Guides that give you specific instructions on how to apply the information from the call to your life
• 30 days of E-mail Coaching where you can ask questions about the material or any challenge that comes up

This level of coaching typically costs around $1,000 but when you sign up for this course, you get all of this information, encouragement, and accountability for much less. See below for details…

“I cut 15 hours from my monthly activities that now go into relaxation pot. My other tasks/social activities and events were condensed into something more productive which now allows me to pursue my freelance PR consultancy. Thanks, Elizabeth. When life seems to be too hectic, she shows you have to take a step back and evaluate all that you do. I would highly recommend Real Life E® to anyone who is in self-employed or thinking about it.”

If you’re tired of saying you’re going to start a business and want to Just Do It…

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by where to begin so you don’t move forward…

If you want to create a business where you don’t have to sacrifice your life…

This course could be for you.

Registration closes on 11-1 but you’ll want to sign up ASAP to take advantage of the best deals:

Before November 1: Single installment of $358

After November 1: Look for new course offers in the future or contact me at esaunders@RealLifeE.com about individual coaching.

Click here to register: Yes! I want to move forward on my business and my life.

Do you really want to put this off any longer? Make a commitment to yourself to move forward on your business and get control of your life today.

I look forward to you joining me in November!

Elizabeth

P.S.-Tell your friends! Not only will they be much less stressed after this course but also you receive a $20 Starbucks gift card as my thank you if they sign up.

P.P.S.-If you have any questions about the course, please let me know. You can e-mail them to me at esaunders@RealLifeE.com or let me know what day and time you would like to set up a 10- to 15-minute call. I only want you to sign up if this is the right solution for you.

“Coaching with Elizabeth has had a great impact on my life. I’ve worked on trying to improve my time management and organization for years, but going through a coaching series with her helped me actually get more of what I “know” into practice. It’s not so much about what you should do (if it were, no one would struggle with weight loss, because all you need to do is “eat right and exercise”); it’s about actually getting it into practice.

It’s not like I was incapable of getting through a day; I was already quite successful by many measures. But adopting better time management practices and seeing tangible progress in a matter of weeks has enabled me to have greater confidence about managing my time, to be more peaceful, to feel like I am in more control. This has given me a clearer mind for decision-making, a greater ability to rest, a greater ability to focus and produce results.”

Internal business consultant, Fortune 100 company

Before you invest another minute in your business or career, listen in to this FREE teleseminar to make sure you are on the right track:

Building a Business (or a Career) That Fits Your Ideal Schedule:

Tuesday, October 6 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT/6 p.m. PT

Anyone can participate: Phone: 712-432-0600, Code: 775908#

Find out how to start and build a business that will help you to achieve work/life brilliance™ instead of keeping you from the people and activities that matter most to you. Coaching clients will receive a recording (Contact me at esaunders@RealLifeE.com to find out how you can start time coaching today!) Plus I will release details on Schedule Makeover™: To Build a Business: a four-week course that will lead you step-by-step through the process of setting your schedule to start or build a business. You don’t have to do this alone!

Elizabeth Grace Saunders does Schedule Makeover™ coaching with clients throughout the country. If you’re struggling to stay focused and motivated, contact Elizabeth at esaunders@RealLifeE.com to get help today!

Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance. You can sign up for more info at http://www.RealLifeE.com/coaching or http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com

I stayed focused over the past month so I could visit my cousins in Ohio, attend an Opportunity International conference on eliminating poverty, and spend time with my parents. Why do you need to stay focused?

I wrote this guest post for Chic Entrepreneur — a great resource (by another great Elizabeth ;o) for women looking to start a business.

Although having a flexible schedule can seem like a dream, it can soon turn into a nightmare! That’s why as a time coach and trainer, I help people take back control of their time and then channel it toward their personal and professional goals.

Here’s how to time block your schedule to stay focused and motivated:

• Decide on Start and Stop Times: Not only will setting your hours keep you from feeling guilty, but also it will keep you focused when you are working because you have established a time when you are free to stop.
• Set Your Top Goals: Each week, Review your top priorities and write them at the top of your weekly calendar or put them in a visible place on your digital calendar. This will keep you thinking about what’s most important.
• Time Block Your Projects: To keep moving forward on your goals each week, “soft schedule” blocks of time when you will complete projects or devote time to certain activities. For instance you could block out two hours on Wednesday to write up a proposal or set aside one hour each morning to answer e-mail.
• Plan Your Day: Each morning, make a quick list of your meetings and your top tasks. Number your activities in order of importance and write down how long you think it will take you to do each one. Then start moving through your day, moving from one project to the next in number order. If a project is taking longer than you expected, reevaluate whether you should continue with it or move on to the next task on your list.

Time blocking is so effective because it:

• Gives you a clear outline of what needs to get done and when you can complete it so that you feel less overwhelmed.
• Keeps you moving forward on key priorities on “autopilot” instead of procrastinating and stressing out about big projects at the last minute.
• Turns your days into quick sprints of work instead of never-ending marathons.
• Allows you to feel good about what you accomplished
• Helps you realize when you’ve overcommitted and need to scale back.
• Gets you back on track quickly when unexpected activities arise.

Elizabeth Grace Saunders does Schedule Makeover coaching with clients throughout the country. If you’re struggling to stay focused and motivated, contact Elizabeth at esaunders@RealLifeE.com to get help today!

Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance. You can sign up for more info at http://www.RealLifeE.com/coaching or http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com