(not really – internet consumption is at a perfectly normal healthy level)

The Test Drive is going very well as the weeks press on. If you’re new to little light or haven’t read about my Law of Attraction Test Drive, you can check out the original post here. For those who have been following along, I am happy to report that the Law of Attraction is beginning to take hold and produce the results I’ve been after. That being a flatter stomach and, more significantly, a better understanding of the role my thoughts have in the outcome of my life both daily and on a long term basis.

It sounds stupid to say I wonder if positive thinking is better than negative thinking out loud because duh, yeah. It’s pretty obvious that sitting around thinking good things is more likely to bring more good things than griping and moaning will. And yet. We gripe and we moan. I’m not going to bother trying to figure out why that is because a) I do not have a PHd in Figuring That Stuff Out and b) I don’t need to know why that is. My area of interest is in changing that, in turning that around and putting my thoughts on the frequency of awesome so that, again duh, my life will be all of the awesome I want it to be.

Here’s kind of how the last five weeks of test driving the Law of Attraction have gone for me:

Week One: This is so easy. I will change my thoughts and then poof! tomorrow I will have a flat stomach.

Week Two: Oh good lord, this isn’t easy. My thoughts are being jerky and refusing to change even though I told them to last week. What do I have to do, work at this, like all of the time?

Week Three: Week Two, rinse, repeat.

Week Four: Oh, okay, this just takes a little time, I see. Because changing habitually negative thinking about (fill in the blanks) doesn’t happen over night. I get it. I feel better now.

Week Five: Oh look, my stomach is flatter! It’s working!

That’s really honestly basically it. I’ve realized and learned that habitual thinking takes purposeful effort to change and that takes longer than 24 hours. Here’s a breakdown of how I changed my thinking from HATE BOO YUCK to a far more encouraging way of thinking:

1, I began by thinking well of my existing stomach which created an atmosphere of good feelings and, in turn, allowed me to behave in a more positive way. If I sit around all day telling myself that I hate my stomach, I am so fat, I can’t wear any of my jeans because yuck yuck yuck, you can well imagine that I wasn’t living the way people with awesome abs live. I was more inclined to eat poorly and wallow in self loathing than I was to have an apple and do a few crunches.

This part took the longest, to be honest. Thinking poorly of my abdominal area is a long established habit that had no intention of going quietly. Trying to convince myself I was grateful for something I wasn’t actually all that grateful for fell on deaf ears for a while but, eventually, the seeds of happy took root when I wasn’t even looking and even though I thought it would never work.

2, Feeling better about the now made it a lot easier to plan for the future. I noticed immediately that once free from the negative self talk about my tummy area I started behaving more like a person who has great abs and, naturally, this led to an improvement in my midsection.

3, Happy feeds on itself and while I definitely still have moments of OH GOD YUCK I have developed the self awareness necessary to not let that kind of thinking go on for long. The habit of thinking negatively is not completely gone but there’s enough of the new habit created to wiggle its way in and take over when those other thoughts creep in. The more productive, positive, encouraging way of thinking is gradually becoming the new normal and soon the old and unwanted thoughts will just disappear and no one will remember their having ever existed.

What does all of this mean? Why are we talking about my stupid abs like they matter?

It’s not about the abs, strictly speaking. It’s about the Law of Attraction and figuring out for myself if it really works. I knew in theory that it did because it seems obvious that it would. Still, I thought it would be pretty powerful if I proved it for myself and I think that I have. I’ve learned that habitual negative thinking takes time to correct and unless you commit yourself to that change it won’t happen. This means that the power lies within me if I am willing to do the work and I like that. I like knowing that I don’t need to give up if something doesn’t happen over night. I appreciate that experience because now I know that if I give myself time new habits will form. I am limited only by the thoughts I choose to let govern my life.

The original question was Does the Law of Attraction really work? and I can honestly say that yes, I believe that it does. To me it’s about creating good habits and believing in the power of your own possibility. Limiting oneself with poor thinking and self talk makes no sense whatsoever. Negative thinking spirals and takes hold of everything. I know that I can achieve whatever greatness I seek by actively sending my thoughts in that direction. Whether it’s material wealth, creative happiness, fulfilling relationships or anything else – it is within me to create the life that I want.

There’s no getting around how awesome that is.

Let’s Take This Law of Attraction Business Out For a Spin

Law of Attraction Test Drive Week One Update

Law of Attraction Test Drive Week Two Update

Law of Attraction Test Drive Week Three Update

I mention this because it brings to mind the general idea of muscle memory – or the fact that something or someone can have such a powerful presence on your life without you realizing it. I cannot help but wonder what other aspects of my life are on a certain degree of autopilot. I can’t help thinking that there must be a good number of things I think and feel and do simply because they’ve become a habit, an expectation. If something as undeniable as death does not immediately affect experience what less significant things are changing the outcome of my day, my life?

I’ve been fascinated with the idea that thought affects outcome for some time now but especially since beginning my Law of Attraction Test Drive. In the past few weeks I’ve been trying to purposefully alter my thinking in an attempt to see if the Law of Attraction is real. Realizing that so much of what I think, feel and do is likely happening out of habit makes me really wonder if I am manifesting the life I actually want or if the life I have is coming from habits created long long ago.

The absence of our wonderful little dog is a solid fact. There is no mistaking it and yet we are all having daily moments of forgetting that he is gone. It is no wonder then that far less tangible realities or thoughts are far harder to manipulate and control.

The past week – week three of my Law of Attraction Test Drive – has been no less challenging than the first two. I naively expected that the epiphanies of each successive week would make the next that much easier and that my thoughts will be retrained once and for all. This is not proving to be the case. It turns out that much as it will take time for my body and mind to fully comprehend the loss of our dog, so will it take time to change the way I think and feel about the look of my midsection. I am far more accustomed to the dog being here than I am to his not and the same is true of the way I think about my tummy.

I’m realizing that I must be diligent and painfully purposeful with my thinking in order to change my current habit of thinking negatively. I cannot get away with a few rah rah rah thoughts a day if I mean to begin using the Law of Attraction for good instead of evil. I must create new habits and that’s not a part time job. I have not given this the attention is is proving to require and the results are reflecting that. It’s going to take a lot more than I’ve been willing to give it until now and I’m ready to commit more fully. Not just because I want a flatter, more attractive stomach – although, admittedly, I do! – but because I want to show myself that I can change the outcome of my life with the power of my thinking.

Over time my family and I will understand on all levels that our dog is no longer with us – this won’t require concerted effort. Other less concrete thoughts and experiences are going to require more of my time and energy. I’ll be back next week to share how this process is going.

You can find the first three posts on The Law of Attraction Test Drive through the following links:
Getting Started
Week 1 Update – How She Go
Week 2 Update – This Ain’t Easy

This obviously had an effect on the amount of time I spent consciously thinking good things about my abs. As I mentioned in last week’s update -

…whenever I am stressed or busy or tired or hungry or getting dressed or getting undressed and so on I very often have negative thoughts and self talk about my tummy area. This seems to be a stress response for me: some people bite their nails, some people eat donuts – I hate my stomach.

The days since my last update have involved a lot of stress and sadness and although I made little effort at thinking positively about my midsection, I absolutely carried on business as usual with the self deprecating tummy talk. That happens without effort. I don’t have to tell myself to hate my stomach. I can do that no matter what else is going on because it is a well rehearsed and deeply ingrained habit.

an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.
~Dictionary.com

There are people who could have gone through an experience similar to the one I’ve been through this past week without being given to negative thoughts about their midsection. I’m certain of it. It is not a condition of losing one’s pet that I must feel as though none of my pants fit well. It does not necessarily follow that sadness over losing a loved one must result in a blubbery stomach and self loathing. It is no disrespect to the dog if I like my stomach and yet, I do not.

Hating my stomach is a habit and this habit is creating more of the same. Some people have the habit of being perfectly comfortable with their midsections and it is never an issue. The habit I have created – for whatever reason – is using the Law of Attraction to bring me more of what I think about and what I think about is blech, I hate my stomach, it’s never good enough.

Ask and ye shall receive.

So am I any further along than when I started this project? Yes, I believe that I am because what I hoped to do was discover if the Law of Attraction is real (check!) and if it is to begin using it to my advantage (working on it!). I am confident that the Law of Attraction is working but I also know that in some ways I am using it poorly. The realization that it’s a matter of creating better habits is encouraging to me because habits can be changed. Not always easily but still, the power is mine to do with as I like and I’m loving that.

This next week is all about changing those habits and making the Law of Attraction work for me. I’m excited to see this happen and can’t wait to begin applying it to other areas of my life as well.

My new way of thinking over the next month will go from

Waa, my abs suck, I’ll never have a flat stomach, Waa.

to something far more encouraging like

My abs are freakin’ awesome and they get more awesome every single day! I do everything it takes to be tummy proud and I love my flat stomach!

I began this process with enthusiasm but I have to admit, it hasn’t been easy to sustain. I do not tend naturally to these positive abdominal thoughts (telling!) and I find that I am not remembering to purposefully have them as often as I’d ultimately like. That is not to suggest that I have no thoughts about my midsection – rather the contrary, actually. I’ve noticed that whenever I am stressed or busy or tired or hungry or getting dressed or getting undressed and so on I very often have negative thoughts and self talk about my tummy area. This seems to be a stress response for me: some people bite their nails, some people eat donuts – I hate my stomach.

I naturally wonder why this is but ultimately I don’t think the why matters. If it wasn’t this it would be something else and the idea, I think, is to replace the bad thinking with good thinking either way. It is certainly no wonder that my abs aren’t as nice as my diet and exercise level would otherwise predict. I have definitely established a Law of Attraction to the contrary. One that is deeply entrenched in my subconscious and will take a great deal of conscious thought to correct.

Initially I was disappointed in myself for not having an easier time of this which ironically resulted in more negative Law of Attraction and then more disappointment and more belly hatred and back and forth and back and forth. It is no wonder that my occasional bursts of tummy love made hardly a dent. It’s going to take more than a week for me to believe what I’m saying and create the habit necessary to turn my thinking around permanently.

My disappointment has now given way to understanding. I believe this past week has shown me that the Law of Attraction is definitely at work here. Not in the way I want it to be but I am thrilled to know that my thoughts do have power. Now I’ve just got to get them working for me instead of against me. I am in the driver’s seat and all I’ve got to do is figure out how to point the car in the right direction. That I can do.

Look for the Week 2 Update next Wednesday.

Vanity sizing is the practice of many clothing manufacturers to label an article of clothing as smaller than it actually is in order to make the buyer feel good about themself and, therefore, be more inclined to purchase.

I’ll admit that it works on me. This size 2 business just feels good, there’s no getting around it. The fact that there was no such thing as a size 2 twenty years ago, however, is not lost on me. I am not so naive as to think that women have actually gotten so much smaller that they had to create new sizes. I am well aware that a size 6 from 1986 is now likely labelled a size 4 or, in some stores, even as low as a 2. We all know it. It’s a little game we play:

At Gap I’m a 2 or a 0, at Old Navy I’m a 0 or 2 (yes, the order matters), at Sears, I’m a 6.

Guess where I never shop? That’s right – Sears. Because Sears does not make me feel good about myself. Sears is mean to me. Sears tells me I am fat. And that means Gap, Old Navy American Eagle, Banana Republic and so on are winning. The little white lie they’re telling works. They have taken our Universal Insecurities and created an entirely new way of doing business.

On some levels I don’t take issue with the practice of Vanity Sizing. I don’t think it’s immoral and I don’t feel betrayed. I look at it as a New Math kind of thing. Metric as opposed to whatever you call inches and feet. Imperial? I can’t remember.

The problem I can see developing is that some people are using vanity sizing to justify getting bigger and bigger and – in my opinion – less and less healthy. Certainly a person doesn’t have to weigh 110 pounds to be healthy or to look good but there is no denying that vanity sizing creates a justification for letting the pounds creep up while still feeling like you’re the same size you were ten years ago.

Gap size 4 pants from ten years ago are strangely similar in size to a Gap size 2 from today so if I buy a current 4 I might think I’m the same size I used to be when, in fact, I am not.

Confusing, right? And that’s just what retailers are hoping for. The more confusing the make it, the more likely you are to just believe the tag in front of you. I’m a 0! I am the skinniest person alive!

You see, they don’t just vanity size – they vanity size in perpetuity. Eventually a size 6 from 1986 will be labelled a 00000000 and we’ll all think, wow, I must be almost invisible. I might as well have 2 pieces of cake! Why not! I’m so skinny I should probably GAIN weight! When, in fact, you probably already have.

It is important to note that it has recently been revealed men’s clothiers have also been using vanity sizing to their advantage. The gents are also falling pray to this policy of deception.

Vanity sizing gives us the sense that we are thinner than we really are which may lead some people to accept a higher than healthy weight (because look, my pants say I’m so thin!) and it may even lead to a steady weight increase as, over the years, your size seems to stay the same even if you do not.

You might wonder if this really matters. Who cares if we, as a nation, put on a few extra pounds? Aren’t we supposed to be okay with that? Love yourself as you? Well, in some ways it doesn’t matter. Being a size 10 woman who thinks she’s a size 8 because of vanity sizing isn’t a big deal. A few pounds, give or take, aren’t going to make a big difference to your overall health. Still, there is no denying that North Americans are getting fatter and fatter and that disease is also on the rise. Many factors are at play in the fact that we’re getting sicker and lifestyle is certainly one of them. Being tricked into thinking that you’re getting smaller over the years as you eat more and more donuts is probably not a long term good thing. We’ve basically been given permission to be the opposite of the thing we think we are with these lower sizes.

The idea of a ‘muffin top’ in reference to the fat that lops over our pants is a relatively new phenomenon. There were far fewer people with this problem forty years ago. It is a well researched fact that an excess of abdominal fat can contribute to heart disease and other illnesses.

For a lot of us vanity sizing isn’t a problem. We might be buying into the myth a little and the only effect is that we feel good about ourselves and it translates nicely into our daily lives. But for many, Vanity sizing is having a detrimental effect on long term health and that’s a concern. The answer might seem to be that we call these various manufacturers on their practice of delusion but I think the responsibility lies with each of us. We need to realize that this is happening and be aware of the decisions it leads us to make. If you’re okay with gaining ten or fifteen or twenty pounds and are well aware that your vanity sized pants aren’t a true representation of your size, then I say go for it. It’s your life, be who and what you feel comfortable with. But I think it’s important that we not be fooled into thinking we’re something we’re not just because the tag in our jeans is making flattering claims. I might have size 2 jeans today but if I still have size 2 jeans six years from now and I’ve gained 30 pounds in the meanwhile. I see this as a dangerous side effect and not for reasons of vanity. There is far more at stake in this game.

What are your thoughts on vanity sizing? Please let us know in the comments section below.

That right there is a basic summary of The Law of Attraction. What you think about is what you create. If you’ve got debt and all you think about it debt you’re going to get more what?

a) Wealth
b) Puppies
c) Debt

Duh, obviously, c) Debt. The basic premise of the Law of Attraction suggests that thought begeteth reality. So if you want to get rid of debt you should be thinking about abundance, right?

Yes, that’s right.

So does it work? Can you think yourself out of debt, into skinny jeans or onto a better career path? Are thoughts power? Are they what stands between you and your Perfect Day?

I think yes. I believe that we do create the bulk of our lives with the thoughts that we have. Having said that, I’ve never actually kicked the tires of this here Law of Attraction. I know, in theory, that many good things have come to me because of the thoughts that I have put into the (cue hippie music) Universe. But I’ve never purposefully tested the theory. I’ve never said

Alright, lookit, here’s my positive thought, Universe, let’s see what you’ve got for me.

And I think the time has come to take the Law of Attraction out for a spin and see what’s under the hood. Is there really something to be said for the energy of thought and where it takes you, your life, your future? Let’s find out.

I’m going to start with something at once simple and tangible. I consider myself to be in pretty good physical shape. I exercise daily and eat well enough. I can honestly say that, for the most part, my tone and conditioning are above average. It’s the ‘for the most part’ that’s the problem. I’m in good shape and yet my abdominal area remains a constant issue. I can’t get it to fit in with the rest of me and it doesn’t make sense. There’s always a little more of it than there should be and I don’t think it’s a question of adding more crunches or bumping up laps on the track.

Rather, I’m paranoid about my abs and I worry constantly that they’re not good enough, that I don’t do enough to have a flat stomach. My mind has itself convinced that a flat stomach is just too hard to come by. On the days when my abs do look good my brain tells me it’s an anomaly, a deviation from the norm.

In other words, I’ve used the Law of Attraction to think myself into a less than perfect midsection even though my lifestyle suggest that this should be a non-issue. More to the point, I believe I can reverse that effect with better quality thoughts.

As I said, I’m starting with something it’ll be easy to gauge. After a month of retooling my thoughts to the frequency promoting abdominal awesomeness it will be easy to tell if it worked. There won’t be any well-sorta-I don’t-know-kinda-yeah about it. It’ll work, or it won’t. And I think that will depend heavily on how committed I am to retraining my way of thinking on this issue.

My new way of thinking over the next month will go from

Waa, my abs suck, I’ll never have a flat stomach, Waa.

to something far more encouraging like

My abs are freakin’ awesome and they get more awesome every single day! I do everything it takes to be tummy proud and I love my flat stomach!

That’s basically it. I can’t wait to see how this turns out and if any of you have something you’d like to try to test drive the Law of Attraction, please join in. I’d love to have company on what I think is going to be an enlightening journey. I look forward to proving to myself, once and for all, that my thoughts really do have power and affect all aspects of my life.

I’ll report back in a month with what I know will be great news.

The rest of this series can be found with the following links :

Law of Attraction Test Drive Week One Update
Law of Attraction Test Drive Week Two Update
Law of Attraction Test Drive Week Three Update
The Law of Attraction and a Flat Stomach Test Drive Final Update!

I get that. It resonates with me because one of the things I most love to do is to visit places – neighbourhoods, cities, countries – I do not know and to lose myself in them. Not to be literally lost because that’s scary but to be immersed in something unfamiliar. There is a definite and undefinable something in being outside of your comfort zone which leaves you feeling more connected with yourself than when you are surrounded by everything you think defines you. There is a self awareness in those moments of new experience. There is greatness and inspiration in seeing new places and meeting new people. There are also parts of you waiting to be discovered – or even rediscovered.

It doesn’t take a tour of Egypt or a visit to the Amazon Jungle to get lost and find yourself. A walk through a local park you haven’t been to in years can be all it takes to inspire new ways of thinking and reacting to the world around you. So many of us stay stuck in our usual routines for days, weeks, years at a time and lose a part of ourselves in the monotony of the every day. Step outside of your daily rituals and get to know yourself again. You will come back from the experience refreshed and more enthusiastic than ever.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone is an excellent way to reconnect with yourself and take stock in where you’re at this stage of your life.

Staying in touch with yourself might seem like a pretty easy task. You’re always around, how can you not be connected to the person staring back in the mirror? The truth is, we lose ourselves in being busy every day. Take the time to go out there and see what you’re all about. Travel outside of your comfort zone and get a little lost. You will be the better for it.

But take a map. No sense being silly about it.

I came to know Happy Tapper Founder Carla White after commenting on Twitter that I loved the iPhone App Gratitude Journal. Carla replied saying that I made her day and I was thrilled to ‘meet’ the real person behind such a wonderful App. Carla has since designed two additional Apps, Vision Board and Little Buddha, both of which I own and love.

Over the past year I’ve gotten to know Carla a little better and can’t help but be drawn to her amazing energy and enthusiasm. I have definitely come to view her as a success in the field of iPhone (and now iPad too!) App creation. She took the initial idea of creating a Gratitude Journal App from a seedling to incredible success without any previous experience in App development and has since written an eBook titled Inside Secrets to an iPhone and iPad App for aspiring creators. I have purchased and read her book and can honestly recommend it to anyone interested in developing an Application for the iPhone or iPad.

The Courage to Succeed
Carla White

Denice @ little light: Thank you for agreeing to be a part of “The Courage to Succeed’. I’ll start by asking, do you consider yourself successful and if so, do you feel comfortable saying so?

Carla White: Yes, I would say I’m successful and feel extremely proud saying so. The journey to success is amazing and changes everyday, and I’m pleased I’m on the right path.

Denice: How do you define success for yourself?

Carla White: Success means that I’m in good health, having loving relationships, and am challenged to improve myself everyday. The material side of success is a byproduct of these very important life aspects.

Denice: What a wonderful answer. In your journey to the success you now enjoy, were there ever times you doubted yourself? Did you ever feel like giving up?

Carla White: Often. Normally those days are when I don’t get enough sleep and am trying to take on too much. It’s when I work wisely and balance my time that I feel best.

Denice: Where did you find the courage to work through those times and carry on?

Carla White: Normally the universe gives me a gentle nudge to keep me going. Sometimes I have to go for a walk to find that nudge, but it comes. If it doesn’t, I know it’s time to take a different path.

Denice: Do the people in your life support your achievements and encourage you to aim higher still?

Carla White: Indeed. But what is funny, is some are rather oblivious to my accomplishments which is fine by me. I am not my job, so I’m glad they don’t define me based on it.

Denice: You are a successful iPhone App creator and eBook writer while also working a day job – is that job in a similar field? Do you see yourself ever quitting that job to work full time on your App career?

Carla White: I design for NASA at my day job. I would love to run my business full time, but also have such a great career, I’m not ready to make the plunge. I’m sure the time will come one day and I’m sure I’ll be ready for it.

Denice: How much of your success do you attribute to the right mental attitude?

Carla White: 100% of it. Believing that I’m capable of achieving my dreams and that I’m worthy of them is extremely important. I also find that I attract other successful people because of my attitude. I love to have fun and I want others to enjoy life as much as I do!

Denice: I like that – not many people include the part about feeling they are worthy of the success they want to achieve. Why do you think you have been able to succeed where perhaps others have not?

Carla White: My motto is “do what you love to help others and you will always love what you do”. Perhaps some people miss those points. They are chasing the money rather than doing what they love. And their goals are for the wrong reasons. Or perhaps they don’t feel their worthy of success. We all have special talents and are capable of achieving success.

Denice: When you look back, do you think you knew you would achieve this level of success?

Carla White: I always embraced challenges and loved to dive into things head first. Often friends would comment on this calling me “crazy”, which I thought was a compliment.

Denice: Do you think that success feeds on itself and creates more success?

Carla White: If your energy is directed in the right way, yes. People can also have a lucky win fall and not be able to reproduce the same results. If you are heading in the right path, success will attract success.

Denice: Do you think that success is a skill that can be learned?

Carla White: I think positive mental attitude is a habit that we must practice every day. Knowing what you want, believing you can achieve it, and understanding that you are worthy of it are things that must be practiced all day every day. And be grateful for everything you have, both good and bad.

Denice: I agree completely with being grateful for everything you have – both good and bad. What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to find success and feels like giving up?

Carla White: I would ask them if the path they are striving on is truly what they want to achieve. If it is, I would then wonder if they are grateful for everything in their life. Gratitude tells the universe what we love and want more of in our life. It’s a key first step. From there, knowing, believing and going for it just come naturally.

Denice: Is there anything you feel is an absolute prerequisite for success?

Carla White: Connection with others and lots of laughter all day long. Go with the flow and find the humor in everything.

Denice: How has your success as an iPhone App Creator changed your life?

Carla White: I have met people from all over the globe who have taken the time to tell me that my apps have changed their lives. This is my greatest accomplishment. This keeps me going.

Denice: Is there anything you would like to add about having the courage to succeed?

Carla White: Give back. I donate 10% of my profits to charity and it’s not only rewarding, I think it’s the best business deal I’ve ever made. The universe rewards us for selfless giving.

Denice: Do you have any exciting new projects you’d like to tell us about?

Carla White: Now that we have all apps updated for iOS4 and retina display, we’re plowing ahead with Gratitude Journal for the iPad. It has some superb new features and looks fantastic.I can’t wait to get it out in the world!

Denice: Thanks again for being a part of “the Courage to Succeed’.

Carla White: You’re welcome. Thanks for asking me to participate.

You can learn more about Carla’s Apps for the iPhone and iPad on her website, Happy Tapper. Her eBook Inside Secrets to an iPhone and iPad App is available for purchase and download here.

You can also find Carla on Twitter.

Join us next month when author Claire Cook joins us to discuss The Courage to Succeed. Claire’s latest book Seven Year Switch is now in stores.

take a long walk
Whether alone or with someone who shares your enthusiasm for creativity, a long walk is one of the best ways to get the creative juices flowing. A good wander lets the mind drift off in many directions and while you might start out stuck on every day issues, you will eventually find yourself walking in time with new found creative enthusiasm!

If you are unable to get out for a walk – perhaps you are single mom without childcare or maybe you’ve got another issue keeping you at home – try to engage in some form of physical activity to spark your creativity. Yoga is an excellent source of creative energy but the best exercise is any that you enjoy. Hop on your treadmill or elliptical machine, do a cardio video or maybe go insane!. Whatever you do, it’s likely your creativity will enjoy a resurgence!

start something new
Sometimes whatever we’re working on gets a bit sticky and what we really need is a break. Starting something new reopens the creative network in our minds and in no time you’ll be back on the original project while also having started something new and exciting.

surf the internet
I love when I have a few minutes to stroll through inspiring websites. Other people’s creativity makes me wild with desire to get creating myself! I am eternally grateful for all of the people out there who share their creative genius so that others can be inspired to discover their own!

We all get into creative slumps from time to time and it can be difficult to climb out of them. Try one or more of these ideas next time you feel like you need a creativity boost!

you might also be inspired by ~
competitive mothering: i’m handing in my jersey
carpe the hell out of your diem

Here are seven home office essentials to make working from home a success:

1. Designated Work Space: Ideally you should have a designated room with a door you can close to the world outside. Realistically, this isn’t always possible. If your work from home situation requires you to set up shop in a common room it is essential to establish a static base of operations. This means that all of your work related files, paperwork and other needs are kept in the same place for easy access. A corner in the basement, a couple of shelves in a closet or even decorative boxes on an in-full-view bookcase can do the trick. It’s best to keep these things as close to your work area as you can but the most important thing is that everything be together in one place. Running willy nilly all over the house to find something you need will adversely affect your work flow and affect your enthusiasm for the job.

2. Cleanliness: This one isn’t going to seem immediately essential but believe me, it is. You want to create an environment which fosters a positive outlook and keeping your work space – and home in general – tidy and looking great will go a long way to that end. Letting the housework get out of hand will make staying focused on your work more difficult. Be sure to dedicate a portion your non-work hours toward maintaining a tidy house so that when you sit down to work you’re not feeling like there are a thousand other jobs you could/should be doing. Other chores such as banking and yard maintenance should also get appropriate attention during personal time so that they don’t become a possible distraction during your work day.

3. Designated Work Hours: This is of paramount importance for a successful work at home career. People who work in a traditional office environment are more easily able to leave work at the office, whereas working from can feel like the work day never ends. Assume the attitude that you will work only during specified hours and stick to it. There will likely be occasions when you’ll have to break that rule but it’s essential to adhere to it most of the time. People who feel like they never get away from work are far more likely to burn out.

4. The Right Equipment for the Job: Earning your living from home deserves as much, or more, respect as a traditional job. Don’t scrimp on the tools of your trade. Using shoddy equipment won’t benefit you in the long run. Get the best you can afford and upgrade as you go along.

5. Call Display: People think that work from home is the same as ‘hey, he’s at home all day, let’s give him a call!’ Avoid unnecessary interruptions by warning people that you will only be answering work-related calls during your designated work hours.

6. A Good Work Ethic: Let’s be honest, not everyone is cut out to work from home. Many people have tried it and found they just didn’t have the necessary level of discipline and quickly returned to the workforce. It does indeed take a great deal more maturity and dedication to do the work when you could just as well fold the laundry, watch Oprah or surf the internet. It is possible to develop a good work ethic even if you come into your work from home experience a little weak in that area. It’s important to go into it knowing yourself well enough and understanding that you’re going to have to be diligent to establish good habits.

7. Prettiness: This isn’t so much essential as it is a lovely bonus. If money and environment allow, it’s wonderful to have a great looking work space. It’s easier to work in an environment you enjoy and feel proud of. There are many design options for home offices at varying price points. Do as much as you can to make your work space a pleasant place to spend most of your day.

Working from home can be a liberating and inspiring experience. Incorporating these tips into your work day will help ensure home office success.