Personal Growth

Need to LOL? Start here.

Some days you just need to laugh.

Like on those days you wake up in a funk? As in, a bad mood for absolutely no reason.

Or maybe you are in a bad mood for a perfectly good reason- an unexpected bill came in the mail, you kid got the flu for the second time, you got a speeding ticket or you and your hubby got into an argument.

I’ve found that letting myself wallow in a bad mood is never helpful. If I do that, my mood and my day just continue to get worse.

Instead, turn your mood around by having a good laugh.

“Laughter is the best medicine” is a cliche for a reason.

So where’s a girl to go when she needs a laugh?

Well, here are 8 places to go for a little LOL break.

Eight Ways to Take a LOL Break

Tune into Laugh USA on SiriusXM.
This is my hubby’s favorite. He listens to clips from a variety of comedians on his way to and from work. And unlike many comedy stations, this one is family friendly.
Browse People of Walmart.
If you want to see photos that are equally funny and horrifying, People of Walmart is for you. In addition to the site, you can also search for People of Walmart on Pinterest.
Watch your favorite comedy show.
I know that I am always guaranteed to laugh when I watch an episode of Parks & Recreation, Reba or American Housewife. Friends and The Office are also popular choices among my friends.
Watch clips from your favorite late night talk show or funny daytime host.
You can’t beat late night favorites like Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel and daytime hosts like Ellen or Steve Harvey. To get you started, here is a great hashtag segment from The Tonight Show about mom quotes and this classic video of Kristen Bell talking about her sloth obsession on The Ellen Show.
YouTube your favorite comedian.
Let’s face it; YouTube is awesome for this type of thing. You can’t go wrong with watching the three Js: Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan and Jeff Foxworthy.
Go old school and read the comic strips.
Remember those days of snatching your parent’s newspaper so you could get to the comics? Well, guess what? Some of your favorites may still be running and can be found at GoComics.
Search Pinterest for humor.
There is an entire category on Pinterest called Humor that features funny memes, e-cards and puns. One of my tricks to get a laugh is to keep a Pinterest board for things that make me smile or laugh. It’s a great place to go when I need a pick-me-up.
Play a game with friends.
If you are having a particularly hard week, invite friends over and break out a board game that will guarantee laughs like Charades, Speak Out, Pictionary, Apples to Apples or Taboo.

Even if these ideas don’t work for you, make sure you know exactly where to go when you need a laugh. Even the Mayo Clinic agrees that laughter has a ton of benefits, including relieving your stress.

And what gal over the age of 13 doesn’t have stress in her life?

Where do you go when you need a laugh? I’d love to hear your ideas so I can share them with others on the Defeating Busy Facebook page.

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5 Great Devotionals for Short Quiet Times

Don’t you wish you had more time to read a devotional and pray? It would be great to have an hour each day to study our Bibles and talk to God.

But let’s face it. There are times in life when you don’t have time for that. Like when you have a baby, you have a job with early hours, you have young kids at home or you are out of town and off your normal routine.

These are times when you need a different plan.

You need a 15-minute devotional time that still lets you study the Word and spend quality time with God in prayer.

That’s where these devotionals come in.

I have used all five of these and like that they are all scripture-based and dig deeper into the passage to help you apply it to your life.

Five Short, but Effective Daily Devotionals

Jesus Calling and other books by Sarah Young
If you’ve never read Jesus Calling, this is the format: There are a couple of paragraphs that are written as if Jesus is speaking directly to you. Then, at the bottom of the page, it sites the scriptures they based the devotional on. The pages are dated, and you just read one short page each day.
First 5 App
This app was created by Proverbs 31 Ministries and is the devotional I am currently using. It is based on an in-depth study of a book of the Bible. Each day focuses on one chapter, and they write a short devotional that helps you apply something from that chapter. If you want more, you can also order a digital or print experience guide (workbook) that gives you questions to answer about each chapter. I am getting so much from my devotional time going through the current study of 1 and 2 Kings.
Youversion Bible App
This is one of the most popular Bible apps out there; in fact, if you have a Bible app on your phone, this is likely it. They also offer tons of reading plans– everything from topical plans, to books of the Bible to plans that correspond to popular Christian books and movies. Plus, there plans from authors you wouldn’t expect like John Maxwell, Rachel Cruze and Mandisa. You can also set a reminder for a certain time each day to help you remember to read your devotional.
In Touch Daily Devotions
These daily devotions are written by Charles Stanley, father of author and pastor, Andy Stanley. You may have seen Charles Stanley’s broadcasts on TV. Although I do not watch him on TV, his devotions are solid. There is a short passage of scripture to read, plus a devo to go with it. You also have the option of listening to it via an attached audio clip. If you are a paper person, you can sign-up to receive a free print version via mail.
Rick Warren’s Daily Hope Devotional
Remember that super popular book from the early 2000s- The Purpose-Driven Life? The author is Rick Warren and he also offers a daily devotional. This one also focuses on a passage from the Bible with a short devotional and has the ability to listen to an audio version. What’s different about this one is that there are a couple of questions at the end to help you dig deeper in applying what you read to your life.

So, aside from reading a devotional, what does my devotional time look like?

First, I find a quiet time and place, which is usually first thing in the morning when my daughter is asleep and my hubby is either asleep or at the gym.
I start with a short prayer to help me focus my thoughts and ask God to open my heart and mind to whatever He wants to show me.
Then I read the scripture and answer the questions in my study workbook.
I end my time by writing in this prayer journal, which gives me space to write what I learned about the passage and prayers for the day.

Everyone’s quiet time with God looks a little different. And that’s okay.

It doesn’t matter how long it is or what you read.

And it’s not about checking it off the list.

The whole point is that you can’t have a good relationship/friendship with someone you don’t spend time with.

Setting aside time to read our Bibles and pray allows us to do that.

Know him better. Hear from Him. Talk to Him. Be changed by Him.

There is no better use of your time if you are a Christian.

P.S. If this post was helpful to you, sign up for my weekly email newsletter here and make sure you don’t miss anything I post on the blog. You’ll also receive my free guide on 25 ways to re-claim your time, so you’ll have more margin to do important things like have a devotional time.

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Hygge: Why You Need It in Your Life

Have you ever heard of the term “hygge?”

For many years, the Danes have been named the happiest people in the world. In fact, several of the countries in northern Europe stay at the top of the happiness list.

Why?

According to many, including this article, hygge is one of the reasons.

So what on earth is hygge, and why should you care?

If you’ve heard of hygge, it probably came with advice to spend more time cuddled up with a cozy blanket in a candlelit room. But to the Danish, it’s more than that.

Hygge is a philosophy; a way of life built around simplicity, time to unwind and slowing down the pace of life.

And simplicity is what this blog is all about.

So how can we take a note from the Danes and incorporate hygge into our lives? Here are 5 things you can do in 5 minutes to unwind and slow down.

Sit in the silence.
If you are like me, silence is a long-lost friend. Even if I can manage to quiet my surroundings, my thoughts are usually loud. But there is nothing more peaceful than a few minutes of complete quiet.
Get outside.
Take a short walk outside or just step out into your backyard and soak up the sun for a few minutes. Connecting with nature is good for your body and mind.
Put your phone on airplane mode.
I find that Sundays are a great day to do this. Spend the distraction-free time doing something like playing games with your family, reading a book or taking a nap.
Play relaxing music.
Create a playlist of songs that relaxes you. Mine is a Pandora station filled with soundtrack music. It immediately soothes me, especially when I have had a stressful day.
Be still.
Women are fantastic at completing things and multitasking. It is so hard to turn that off. That’s why we’re starting with just 5 minutes. Stop moving. Stop thinking about your to-do list. Sit down, close your eyes and just be present.

Are you wondering how you’ll find a good time for hygge activities in the middle of your busy, loud life?

Here are three times that it may be easier for you to find quiet:

Before everyone else is awake or after everyone is in bed.
On the weekend, especially Sunday, which is typically slower paced than other days of the week.
In your car, when you are alone. You may be waiting on your kids or just arrive somewhere a couple of minutes early and can make time to unwind.

What do you think about hygge and how differently other cultures live compared to Americans?

I traveled to Europe with my husband on a work trip once and could see a huge difference in their speed of life. They lingered over meals and over conversations.

Something we could definitely benefit from doing.

P.S. If you are a Christian and would like to read how the Bible supports hygge, check out this blog post by Moms Have More Fun.

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9 Ways to Boost Your Energy

If there’s anything working gals, wives and moms want more of at the end of the day, it’s energy.

I have seriously gotten up some days and been tired by 10 a.m. Not acceptable.

But there are a few things I’ve discovered the past couple of years that help me boost my energy level when it is low.

Exercise
This is one of those things I make myself do even when I don’t feel like it. I know that I always feel more alert and happier after as little as 20 minutes of movement.
Get out in the sunshine.
When I feel sluggish or a little blue, it is really helpful to get outside. I’ve found that even a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood makes a huge difference in my attitude and energy.
Sneak in a power nap.
This one is a bit harder to make time for, but many studies have shown that a short nap of 20 to 30 minutes has a huge impact. And if you’re someone who has trouble falling asleep that quickly, even lying down and closing your eyes for that long has benefits.
Drink more water.
Sometimes slight dehydration feels like tiredness. Make sure you are getting in those 8 glasses of water a day to avoid feeling draggy.
Eat less sugar.
This is by far the hardest one for me. But eating sugary foods causes your blood sugar to rise and when it goes down again, you just feel tired and crave more sugar. Sound familiar? The only way to stop blood sugar-related sluggishness is to cut back on the sugar.
Improve your sleep.
When it comes to sleep, it’s not just about getting enough (7 hours minimum). It’s about the quality of your sleep as well. If you toss and turn or wake up several times at night, you wake up feeling exhausted. You can improve the quality of your sleep by keeping your bedroom cool, blocking out all light, using a sound machine and/or avoiding screens before bed.
Lower your stress level.
It’s really easy to feel tired when worries and stresses are weighing you down. If this is a regular struggle for you, make it a priority to carve out time for prayer or meditation to help better manage your stress.
Eat smaller meals more frequently.
Ever had a big lunch and wanted to spend the afternoon napping it off? Or feel like Thanksgiving dinner should come with mandatory naptime? That is proof that you are better off eating small meals more frequently than eating large meals that leave you dragging. Some people swear by eating every three hours, but experiment to find what works best for your body.
Make time for a dance break.
Keep a playlist of your favorite, energizing songs to play when you need a pick-me-up. It may sound weird, but cranking up the music, singing aloud and dancing will wake up your body and spirit. My favorite feel-good song currently: this one by Carrie Underwood and Ludacris.

Start with the habits that seem easier to you. Save the ones that require more discipline for later.

And unfortunately, some of these will require you discipline yourself to do them even when you don’t feel like it. And discipline isn’t always fun.

But isn’t feeling better and having enough energy to live your life well worth it?

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January 2018: Recap and Things I Loved

Maybe I’m just nosy, but I love reading recap and recommendation posts from my favorite bloggers.

Plus, doing a recap post each month helps keep me accountable for meeting my goals.

So, at the end of each month, I’ll write a post to review my progress toward my goals and share a few things that I tried that month and loved.

My 1st Half 2018 Goal Progress

Simplify home management.
Though I’m still struggling a bit to get a good plan for lunch, planning my meals once for the whole month (using themed dinner nights) was a huge help. I also decluttered quite a bit in December and at the beginning of this month, which has sped up my cleaning routine considerably.
Spend more time making memories with my family.
I didn’t make a lot of progress on this in January, but I’m going to make this a bigger priority in February.
Prepare for new baby’s arrival.
I knocked a few easy things out this month like making a few freezer meals, pre-registering at the hospital and washing all the baby clothes and accessories. I plan to really hit this one hard in February as well.
Make quality time with Jesus a part of my morning routine.
I am doing a study on 1 and 2 Kings through First 5 and am getting so much out of it. I have been working through the study after my workout on weekday mornings. Weekends feel more challenging and less structured, so that’s an area I can improve in the next couple of months.
Prioritize quality time with my husband.
We did squeeze a date night in at the end of the month when my parents came to visit, but I still want to work more on connecting, especially before our little one comes and things get really crazy.
Spend more time with my daughter doing things she enjoys.
This goal has actually been going well. We joined the local children’s museum at the beginning of the month and have been there twice. She loves getting out and doing activities, so I have made sure to take her somewhere to play one day per week.
Eliminate or reduce time wasters to spend more time on goals.
I have found more time by unsubscribing from emails, only checking emails when I set aside time to respond and batching errands and phone calls. Spending less time on Facebook is still a challenge, as well as deciding how I can still be productive when my brain needs a break.

Things I Loved in January

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
This book about what women need to know about the inner lives of men was a quick and easy read and opened my eyes to a few things I’d never considered. Check out my Facebook video recapping what I learned.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I read this book after Money Saving Mom recommended it. Though it is fiction, it helped me to better understand the life of a paraplegic and what would make someone consider assisted suicide.
Milestone Birthday Gift
My mom celebrated a milestone birthday this month, and I stole this idea from Pinterest to put together a basket of gifts related to things that happened the year she was born.
Dr. Jart Black Label Beauty Balm
This is technically the second time I’ve purchased this BB cream, but I am a huge fan. It is good for all skin tones, is very moisturizing on my dry, winter skin and covers my skin’s imperfections without feeling heavy.
Prayer Journal
I have been using this prayer journal as a way to write brief thoughts from my Bible study, a couple of prayer requests and things I am grateful for that day. So far, I love using it, especially since I prefer a paper journal to jumping on my computer immediately in the mornings.
The Happy Planner
I started out the year with The Day Designer, but the page-a-day format wasn’t working for me, so I switched to the Happy Planner. It has been so fun to be crafty for five minutes each Sunday night adding stickers and stamps to the layout for the coming week.
Geostorm
We watched this movie recently, and my hubby and I both enjoyed it. If you like a good action movie and aren’t bothered by unrealistic plots, add this to your watch list.
The Champion by Carrie Underwood & Ludacris
I know what you’re thinking. Who would put these two together on a song? But trust me it works. They recorded a song to promote the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics.
I Will Be Confident by Steven Furtick
Check out this video Steven Furtick and the peeps at Elevation Church put out if you need a kick in the pants to go after something God is calling you to do. Epic.
BLT Flatbreads by Emily Bites
It has been a long time since I’ve tried a new recipe that I absolutely loved, but these BLT flatbreads hit the spot. These were great for lunch but are an option for a light dinner too. Just a note: they are low calorie and Weight Watchers friendly, but they are not dairy or gluten free.

Thanks for joining me for this recap post.

I encourage you to review your goals at the end of each month as well.

When we stop to evaluate our progress, it motivates us to keep going and gives us the chance to celebrate how far we’ve come.

Here’s to an epic year!

And if you enjoyed the section about things I loved this month, sign up for my email newsletter. Each week, I always share something from the week that I am loving- whether it’s something I’m watching, listening to, reading or making.

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12 Painless Ways to Improve Your Health

Many people set health goals at the beginning of the year, but often they give up after only a few weeks. Why is that?

It’s common that when we want to improve our health, we make it too hard. We are too ambitious (want big results quickly) or try to be too perfect (the “I will never eat carbs again” mentality).

No wonder we fail, and shortly thereafter, give up completely.

This year, try a new approach: baby steps.

Darren Hardy, author of The Compound Effect, says:

Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE

That’s why I put together this list of 12 hacks to will help you get healthier that don’t involve kale or burpees.

Eat more veggies.
Veggies are packed with tons of nutrients that do powerful things in our bodies. Veggies are the Avengers of foods. If you only make 1 change to your diet, this is it. Start with eating more of the veggies you already like, and then experiment with new veggies.
Swap sugary drinks for water.
Even if you still eat sweets, you can eliminate a ton of sugar from your diet by swapping soda, fruit juices, sweetened teas and “frappa, latte, cino” coffee drinks for water. Plus drinking more water naturally detoxes your body, improves your complexion and may help with weight loss.
Consume probiotics.
All the latest nutrition research is showing that many of the health problems we face are the result of poor gut health. But you can improve your gut health by eating probiotics, which are in foods like yogurt, kombucha and fermented veggies. At the very least, make sure you are taking a high-quality probiotic supplement.
Take a technology break.
Give your eyes and posture a rest by getting away from your phones, tablets, TVs and computers for at least 15 minutes a day. Unplugging is critical in our available 24/7 world.
Move every hour.
They say sitting is the new smoking, so make sure you are moving at least once every hour. Activity trackers can remind you to get moving or simply set a reminder on your phone that goes off every hour.
Keep a food journal.
Just the act of writing down what you eat will make you more aware of how much and what types of foods you are eating. If you’ve already written down 10 Oreos, the thought of writing down another 10 Oreos may discourage you from eating them.
Prioritize sleep.
Many of us skimp on sleep in order to get more accomplished or have more time to ourselves. But our bodies pay the price for that decision. Aim to get at least 7 hours of sleep for your mental and physical health.
Try to eat mindfully.
How often do we eat while standing, using our phones or doing something else? Make a conscious effort to sit down while eating and pay attention to how your food tastes. Really enjoy the experience.
Always eat off a plate, not out of the bag.
It’s much easier to eat a half a bag of chips if you eat from the bag than if you put them on a plate. Combine serving your food on a plate and eating mindfully, and you’ll naturally eat less.
Don’t keep trigger foods in the house.
You know your trigger foods. We all have those foods we cannot say no to. Whether it’s ice cream or pasta, don’t keep your trigger food in the house. It’s better to make a special trip to enjoy your favorite food at a restaurant than it is to have 24/7 access to it at home.
Keep healthy food visible and ready-to-eat.
The opposite of #10, keep healthy foods like fruits and veggies prepped and very visible so you reach for these first if you want to nibble on something or are just too lazy to fix food.
Spend at least 10 minutes daily on a quiet, relaxing activity.
We live in a busy, noisy world where quiet is hard to find. It is overload on our minds and causes stress, which hurts our efforts to get healthier. Take 10 minutes each day to be quiet. You might like to read, go for a walk, just sit still, color, pray or journal. Find an activity that is restorative to you.

And most importantly, don’t try to add all these new habits at once. Talk about overload.

Start one new habit at a time and give yourself a chance to get in a rhythm before moving to the next.

Baby step your way into accomplishing your health goals, and this year will be your healthiest yet.

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