the blog

In this episode, we continue on to part 2 of our favourite business apps! We share our favourite customer facing digital apps and tools for nurturing an authentic and memorable experience for our best customers. These resources have been personally tried and tested by us and have been in our toolkit for years, helping us craft the best customer experience.

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We chat about:

• Our favourite customer facing apps for easeful email marketing and content creation.
• We share our reasons why these resources have made our workflows easier.
• And the tweaks we have made along the way to integrate the various tools for a cohesive customer experience.

In this episode, we share our conscious approach to “pain points”. We explore this topic through a different lens - from a perspective where we aim to serve and add value to our customers in order to help them get to the desired version of themselves or goals.

We chat about:

• Why is understanding and empathising with our customer’s challenges and obstacles important?
• How to focus on our customer’s aspirations, intentions and goals instead of their “pain points”.
• How to get clear on their goals, desires and the challenges or obstacles that may be in the way.
• How to apply what we know about our customer’s challenges consciously in our businesses.
• Finding the common thread and weaving this through in all aspects of your business: messaging, offerings, branding, marketing etc.

In this episode, we share our favourite internal must-have digital apps and tools that help us wrangle our to-do list and get things done in our business. Most importantly, these tools made list because the have helped us build our systems for productivity, clarity and focus. We hope that our list inspires you to explore a few of these for yourself!

We chat about:

• Our favourite internal apps for ticking off our to-do lists, invoicing, time management, storage, security, project management, finances and more!
• Choosing simplicity over complexity when it comes to tools, apps and resources.
• Understanding that different tools may be required at different stages of our business journey.
• Finding the right tools for you and how you love to work.

In this episode, we chat about what it means to build an unapologetic brand and business; one that is embodied, authentic and true to your values, vision and mission. We share our top tips on how to infuse this into your own brand so you can tell your brand’s story from a place of conviction, confidence and clarity.

We chat about:

• What it means to be unapologetic, without needing to be overtly loud or brash in your brand.
• How to stay true to your own path instead of going with the flow.
• How to find your own sense of individuality and identity within your industry.
• The importance of clarity in your brand.
• Examples of unapologetic brands we love.
• Simple, stress-free and practical steps for setting boundaries effectively.

In this episode, we chat about how to smoothly navigate the ups and downs in our businesses that come with seasonal changes. We look at these seasonal changes, going from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere and going from summer to autumn in the southern hemisphere, from an energetic, Ayurvedic perspective.
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We chat about:

• Kapha energy when going from winter to spring and what this may look like.
• How to balance and pacify kapha in your life.
• How to balance and pacify kapha in your business.
• Vata energy when going from summer to autumn and what this may look like.
• How to balance and pacify vata in your life.
• How to balance and pacify vata in your business.

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Use this seasonal chart below as a gentle guide for the changing seasons:

Part of the health of your business comes from how you set boundaries. We chat about the importance of conscious boundary setting and how it creates space, flow, alignment and ease for your business.

This is a continuous practice in integrity and intentionality and ultimately serves not only yourself but others as well.

We chat about:

• Why boundary setting is one of the most important practices for business owners.
• Why conscious boundary-setting serves not just yourself but benefits your customers and team members as well.
• How to recognise the subtle signs when you may need to set firmer boundaries.
• What conscious boundary-setting looks and feels like.
• Simple, stress-free and practical steps for setting boundaries effectively.

The key to leaving a lasting impression comes from your ability, as a brand or business to create a memorable emotional connection with your audience or customers.

On this episode, we talk about how to cultivate and nurture that impression by expressing our brand voice and personality in a way that feels natural, authentic, relatable and personable.

We chat about:

• How to know what our brand voice should sound like.
• Knowing the difference between your own personality and the personality of your brand.
• The biggest mistakes businesses make when expressing their brand voice and personality.
• Allowing your brand personality and voice to feel cohesive rather than rigidly consistent.
• The first steps to take to discover your brand voice and personality.

In this episode, we share our own experiences around dealing with the dreaded work funk. We talk about how to consciously move through the times in our business when we struggle to feel motivated or creative and also how these challenging experience can help us become better business owners.

We chat about:

• Observing whether it due to a lack of motivation or exhaustion/burn out.
• Finding space in our business to invite inspiration and build creative fire.
• Moving with our energetic seasons (also see ep 06 on running a business in alignment with your energy cycles).
• Reframing a work funk as our energetic winter season.
• Repriotising self care and the simple pleasures (also see ep 16 embracing imperfection for new year).

On this latest episode, we dive deep into Brand Archetypes. We share what Brand Archetypes are, how we used them and we discuss how knowing our brand archetype can help us focus our brand so we can connect more deeply and genuinely with our customers and clients.

We chat about:

• The role(s) that Brand Archetypes plan in making a meaningful experience for our ideal client.
• How do they help us get clear in defining who we are in our business.
• How we can use Brand Archetypes to shape our message and content.
• Three mistakes people make when using Brand Archetypes in their brand.

The start of a new year can often come with mixed emotions. We may feel pressured to “start things off right” with a blank slate and new goals.

Or we may feel like we aren’t ready to move into the new year as we reprioritise rest, self-care and indulge in comfort foods. In this episode we explore a different perspective for beginning a new year; through embracing imperfection.

We chat about:

• The intense pressure of having a “perfect new year”.
• Why a new year doesn't need to come with a blank slate.
• Reprioritising the things that are deeply important.
• Beginning a new year with ease rather than overwhelm.
• Being ok with not feeling excited, super motivated or raring to go.

In this episode, we chat with Jo about her story and how she became a designer; how she made the shifts throughout her life and career towards design and why living consciously has helped her in this journey.

We chat about:

• Growing up as an only child in Melbourne, Australia.
• From studying chemical engineering to design.
• Living a conscious lifestyle and explorations in spirituality.
• Why Jo chose graphic design in order to express her creativity.
• Jo’s favourite way to begin the weekend.
• Jo’s long and tall dachshund x border collie pup.

In this episode, we chat with Donají to learn more about her story, her daily rituals and ideal day look like, her unique insights and experiences around building a design business and all the wonderful things in her life that make her who she is.

We chat about:

• What her ideal day looks like.
• Her intentions for creating more consistency.
• The projects that she is spending time on outside of work.
• How she manages inconsistencies and the ups and downs that come with running a business.
• Reminders for acknowledging all you have achieved instead of aiming for perfection.
• Remembering to take breaks to recharge.
• Chatting about Donají's expressive dog, Nala.
• Biggest lessons learned from being a brand strategist.

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An honest conversation around the high expectations that we set for ourselves and how we manage this to cultivate more ease in running our businesses. We share our experiences around over-attaching to goals and the mindset shifts that have helped them cultivate a healthier balance in setting a big vision and the expectations that go with it.

We chat about:

• Tracking the little wins and steps towards a big goal.
• Reminders to see the bigger perspective of your goal or vision.
• How attaching to our goals can sometimes make us question our value and worth.
• Moving with the energetic path of least resistance instead of micro-managing.
• Finding the right balance between goal setting and letting go.

To effectively guide clients through my intuitive and strategy-led brand process, I developed a number of questions that I ask them. These questions bring clarity and intention into building their brand, so that everything is deeply aligned with their values, vision and their business goals.

When we look at intuition through the lens of building a brand, it’s about creating a human to human connection. Intuition is the innate ability that we have, as humans, to understand or know something without rational thinking. And it’s this emotional connection and response that communicates what your brand is, and what it isn’t. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you focus only on making brand decisions based on how something feels. In my work as an intuition brand coach, I’ve found that the best branding outcomes happen when we explore both the strategic AND intuitive approaches.

A brand that feels intuitive nurtures the human connection.

When it comes to branding, these initial, intuitive perceptions can influence whether your customer chooses your brand over another. Integrating intuition into your branding process and brand discovery is necessary for ensuring that the final result resonates with your customers on an emotional level. The intuitive approach to the branding process and brand discovery allows your dream customers to feel understood and connected to your brand message. It creates a relationship that is honest, empathetic and built on trust - between your customer and what your brand stands for.

Intuitive branding creates:

1. a cohesive, high-impact first impression
2. an emotional or sensorial experience 

1 . Intuitive branding creates a cohesive first impression

Intuitive branding considers how the emotional energy of a brand comes across as a first impression. By making your messaging and all the visual elements that make up your brand intentional and simple to understand, you will create a strong first impression. In other words, your customer won’t have to jump through a series of cognitive hoops before “getting” what it is that you stand for.

“If your audience doesn’t understand your position instantly in that first communication, you’ve lost them.” 

~ Lee Hunt, brand strategist and thought-leader, in this interview with Billy Sobel

Ask yourself and your brand these 3 questions to create a crystal clear first impression:

1. What is the one thing that you want people to understand when they first see your brand in context?
2. What is the initial impression that people have about your brand at various touch-points?
3. And is this cohesive across the board? If not, how could you make it more cohesive and fluid?

2. Intuitive branding focuses on creating an emotional experience 

As humans, we are more likely to remember how an experience has affected us emotionally rather than the cognitive decisions and thoughts that came before it.  Emotions have the ability to stay with us, long after the experience is over.  For your customer, branding that has been intuitively conceptualised and designed has the ability to connect from an emotional place to be memorable and impactful.‍

Ask yourself and your brand these 3 questions to create a stronger emotional connection and response:

1. What emotions do your customers feel when they experience your brand offering, product or service?
2. How can you serve your customers in a way that helps them cultivate the feeling that they want to feel?
3. How can you create a stronger, memorable emotional experience for your customer?

Intuitive branding doesn’t have to be complicated. The goal, at the end of it, is to get your customer to understand what your brand stands for and how it can resonate with them. 

Perhaps you’re a business owner who’s tired of not being able to figure out your brand story. If you’re looking to get more clarity for your brand, click below to book a free 45-minute consultation for branding and design. And let me guide you into becoming more intentional about your vision and brand.

My Chakra meditation and visualisation practice is one of my favourite mindful morning rituals. It helps me ground, focus and reset my energy for the day ahead. It is a practice that I have created, shaped over the years and has played a significant role in guiding me through building an intentional business and brand.

Every time I do this meditation, I feel more deeply connected to my purpose and vision; not just for my business but how everything integrates back into my life. The purpose of this meditation is to observe how each chakra point feels and the emotions and energy that arises. What is your body trying to tell you in each moment? And what insight or clarity can you glean from this?

A Chakra, derived from the Sanskrit word meaning wheel. It is an energy centre in your body that your prana or energetic life-force moves through. There are seven major Chakra centres in your body. Keeping them in flow, in alignment and open allows for your prana to flow freely, bringing vitality and a sense of connectedness, contentment and well-being.

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Step One

For your meditation, seek a quiet space where you can sit in stillness without interruption (if only for a few minutes).

Close your eyes and take slow, deep breaths into your navel. Visualise your inhale breath moving from your Crown Chakra (top of your head) down through your body towards your Base Chakra (base of your spine). Exhale the breath through your Base Chakra and into the earth. Continue this breathing pattern until you feel centred and relaxed. Bring your awareness first to your Base Chakra and move up through each of your 7 Chakras towards your Crown Chakra.

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Step Two

Observe any emotions that arise and the energy it holds and become aware of any vibrational changes. You may like to visualise the colour relating to this Chakra.

How does the colour emanate from your Chakra in your mind’s eye? Is it a soft glow or is it fierce and burning? Is it hazy or is there clarity?

Soften into your emotions.

Do your feelings change in intensity or do they move to another part of your body? Follow it with a gentle curiosity. Does it feel light, expanded and open or does it feel contracted, closed and tight?

Even if it doesn’t feel like anything, sit with this numbness and lean into it. Perhaps you received a message from your higher self in the form of visual imagery, audio and other sensations too. Allow your senses to guide you intuitively. What is your intuition telling you? For example, if my Heart Chakra feels light and playful, then it means that I am experiencing the world with open-hearted, childlike curiosity.

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Step Three

Once you have meditated on all 7 Chakra points, bring your awareness to your entire body. Then bring your awareness to your energetic field which sits outside your body, and then into the room or space where you are.

To close the meditation, give gratitude for your practice.

So you have invested your hard-earned money and a good few months working solidly with a designer on a rebrand. You have wanted to do this for years but now that it's finally time to show your audience your fresh new look, you feel stuck or lost the next steps.

To help you move through this, in today's episode, Donají and I share their musings on what happens after a rebrand.

We chat about:

• Why fear can hold you back on launching your brand?
• How to fully show up with a new brand even if things aren't perfect?
• Taking things one step at a time to roll out your brand and allowing for it to evolve.
• The importance of setting goals and a strategy during the branding process.
• How our branding process helps our clients roll out and launch their brand.

A series of small conversations with Emmie Rae from The Daily Rest and me. In today's video, we talk about the practice of playing with yin and yang in our work.

We cover the reasons why we, as business owners, may have a tendency to be in a state of yang energy - active, practical, cognitive and focused. Being aware of this and taking note when we are off balance.

This can be help us choose a more conscious response so that we can lean further into cultivating a relaxing, calming, introspective, sensitive yin energy when we are in "yang mode".

Balancing energetic states such as the high yang of summer and the slower yin of winter energy is something that you can learn to use as a foundational practice and guide for running your conscious business in flow so you don’t feel stressed or overwhelmed. It can also help you define what to prioritse versus what you can hold off on.

I believe that knowing how to intuitively move between the yin and the yang will ensure that you are able to create a sense of ease so you don’t ping between the two extremes.

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If you would like some further support on branding and running your business from a space of intention, join my Facebook Group, a conscious community on branding and business.

In a previous blog post, I spoke about the importance of single-tasking. Single-tasking is so vital to how you go about your day. By choosing to focus on one task, we’re choosing to act with intention. And slowly, you will find yourself going about your tasks with clarity, gratitude and a calmer demeanour.

When I first chose to become a business owner as a self-confessed multi-passionate-new-project-starter, I struggled with trying to do #allthethings in my business.

However, I knew that life and business didn't need to feel like I had to grow five heads and eight arms in order to get everything I wanted done. My perspective and practice with consciousness and mindfulness played a huge role in guiding me towards doing business with grace, ease and intention.

This where single-tasking comes in. Something that surprised me when I choose to practise single tasking (in both my life and while running my design studio) was how I was able to let go of certain things. By going about my day with a sense of focus and commitment to single-task, I realised that I had developed a rather unhelpful habit of adding unnecessary stress and complexity. This was really coming from my desire for ultimate perfection (recovering perfectionist), greater "efficiency" and a fear of missing out.

However, when you try to do more than one thing at a time, it detracts your energy from focusing on the tasks that really matter. In a way, single-tasking is about creating a more minimalist lifestyle with more thought behind each action and decision.

Shifting from multi-tasking to single-tasking isn’t easy. Having worked with so many ambitious, business owners, I have seen how easy and comfortable it can be for my clients to subconsciously default back into multi-tasking mode. Especially because his habit has been so deeply ingrained in how we move about each day, something as simple as breakfast can be overrun by the urge to answer a work email whilst writing out content for our next Instagram post.

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So, I’ve written down a list of thirteen tips for single-tasking that will serve as reminders to help you focus on one task at a time: 

1. Eat breakfast without reading a book/newspaper/going online/checking your phone. Focus on savouring your meal. 
2. When you drive or take public transport - simply sit and observe. You don't always need to be distracted by a book or by music.
3. Watch a movie from start to finish without doing other things. I used to be so guilty of this - I would put a movie on and have it playing in the background while doing some else.
4. Listen to an album from start to finish without multi-tasking. This isn't often something I but I find that I appreciate the music so much more when I am actually listening to it.
5. Connect with the people you speak to - don't think about what you need to say next, just listen and respond based on what needs to come through.
6. Carry a notebook to capture any ideas that arise instead of impulsively switching tasks to follow your curiosity.
7. Get focused with 20 minute timed tasks using the Pomodoro method or commit to a deep work sprint of 60 minutes to help you get into a state of flow.
8. Declutter your desk so that you don't have any distractions which may take your attention away from what you are really there to do.
9. Keep only one browser window open at a time when you are on the internet. I always find I have 20 windows open so this is definitely a challenge for me!
10. Switch off your phone for a day on the weekend and detox from technology. Get out in nature and enjoy the spaciousness of spending time intentionally without any notifications.
11. Create boredom. Observe the impulse and emotions when we find ourselves with nothing to do. Become more aware of your craving to "take action" in order to distract yourself/
12. Slow down your evening with night rituals. Do these one at a time and focus on slowing your actions down physically to bring yourself back into the present moment.
13. Plan out your tasks for the day. Dedicate time to each task. Knowing that everything has already been scheduled in reduces overwhelm and the desire to squeeze as many tasks in as possible.

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Single-tasking isn’t something that you’re going to be able to do overnight. After all, it’s so easy to let things we come across during the day get sucked up into the whirling hurricane of a chaotic to-do list. 

By choosing to take a step when you are going about your day-to-day in your business, focusing on one thing at a time and letting go of the things draining you energetically, you will find that your day flows so much easier!

Donají and I talk about the key things that you need to take into consideration when it comes to nurturing your brand for sustainable growth.

Nurturing your brand is a little like cultivating a garden. It is a dedicated and consistent process that involves getting to know what will flourish and thrive, and what won't. Tune in as we share our tips for building a cohesive reputation for your brand.

We chat about:

• Approaching it from an intention of continuous improvement and curiosity.
• The big questions that can help you reflect and audit the growth and health of your brand.
• Reframing brand growth so that you aren't solely attached to getting the results.
• Continuously refining all the ways we are communicating to our audience.
• The importance of consistently connecting back to our customers to help us make the right decisions for our business.

Donají and I talk about the essential practice of rest and slowing down when it comes to working "in" our businesses.

We talk about our passion for building our businesses and the challenge of integrating self-care and life. We share the rituals that have helped us prioritise rest so that we can run energetically sustainable businesses.

We chat about:

• How to create a more space in how we run our businesses and reprioritise our "to do lists".
• Learning how to use the practice of awareness to check in to see when we need to rest.
• The importance of having interests outside our business for replenishing our energy.
• Accepting that rest looks different for everyone and what that means for you.
• How to stop thinking about our work 24/7 and actually switch off.

In this episode, Donají and I talk about the essential design must-haves for your website. We delve into how to make your online home a memorable, easy to navigate and integrated experience for your audience.

Why is this important? Because having an online home that cultivates an honest connection with your audience builds trust and loyalty in your brand over time.

We chat about:

• Keeping your website consistent and aligned with your overall business goals.
• The biggest mistakes people make on their websites that negatively impacts their conversions.
• Must haves to help your audience get what they need from your website.
• Advice for using images and copy the right way.
• Making it easy for people to connect to you.
  

Donají and I deep dive into the topic of energy and how leveraging our natural, energetic cycles have been invaluable for flow, clarity and creativity.

Learn the steps for applying this to your own business as a guide for decision making, planning and organising your day without the burnout.

We chat about:

• The importance of moving with the seasonal cycles in your business.
• How to leverage "summer", "spring", "autumn" and "winter" energy for focus and productivity.
• The biggest mistake business owners make energetically in their business.
• How to choose the right cycle that work best for you and your business.
• How to use the Ayurvedic daily routine (dinacharya) can be used to guide you through your day.
• Which activities should you be doing according to the Ayurvedic daily routine.

Donají and I dive into the four business decisions that we wished we did sooner or did differently.

We share our honest learnings and the steps we took to overcome these mistakes and the positive impact that these experiences had on our businesses.

We chat about:

• Having the right systems in place in your businesses.
• Investing in your business and the pitfalls of investing too late or not enough.
• Content creation and how to bring this into your business as a foundational, creative practice.
• Getting clear on your ideal client for simplifying your business and brand decisions for impact, cohesion and effectiveness.

Donají and I explore vulnerability and visibility when it comes to using social media for your business and brand.

We chat about establishing the right balance and holding intentional boundaries for sharing your thoughts, emotions and experiences with your audience.

We chat about:

• Why social media and the need to "show up" or "be vulnerable" can feel overwhelming for business owners.
• How to find your own definition of vulnerability that feels aligned for you and your brand.
• Reframing vulnerability so that it is constructive, supportive and helpful for your audience.
• Defining your boundaries for what you will share and what you won't share so you can balance vulnerability and visibility.

Donají and I share our business essentials. These are the systems, structures and foundations pieces that have helped us build, nurture and grow our businesses over the years in a way that is energetically sustainable and has kept us deeply aligned to our vision.

We chat about:

• How to schedule in your CEO day so that it helps you make the most of your energy and time.
• The tasks that you should be doing on your CEO day for max impact on your business.
• How the right coach can help you to bust through your mindset and old beliefs.
• Why investing in a coach or having a mentor is integral to helping you uplevel in your business.
• How having a vision helps you define your goals and find focus.
• Why accountability and having a support system can supercharge your productivity.

Donají and I are talking all about shiny object syndrome, why it happens to the best of us and how to overcome it when it strikes.

We look at how to find focus when it comes to our long term projects, goals and the things we know will make a significant impact on our business.

We chat about:

• Understanding why shiny object syndrome arises and when it can strike.
• The impact that shiny object syndrome can have for our business, effectiveness and clarity.
• The steps to overcome shiny object syndrome; what you can do and how to prepare ahead of time.
• How to create a sustainable system for intentional focus and flow.

In our first episode, Donají and I talk about what the Brand Journey Podcast means to us. We also deep dive into the intention we hold for the podcast as a resource for helping vision-led, conscious business owners nurture their brands and mindset for growth.

Wondering where you can listen?

We got you covered! You can find us in the following platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Audible

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How do you know whether the fear or uncertainty around a decision is because it is the wrong decision for you, versus whether it is something that will help you expand your comfort zone? How do you know whether it is coming from your head, your heart (intuition) or your instinct?

In this episode, Donají and I chat all about the role of listening to your intuition and the art of decision-making in your business.

We chat about:

• How to build daily awareness around listening to our intuition.
• When to listen to our intuition versus when to listen to our instinct.
• How listening to our intuition helps us expand our comfort zones for growth and make more meaningful decisions.
• How to get into the practice of listening first to our intuition and why that is important.
• How to find the right balance and knowing how to respond between listening to our head versus our heart (intuition).

Donají and I review the last 6 months and talk about the changes that we have made in our businesses and the key perspective shifts that have helped them nurture our business for growth.

This episode is a reminder to take time and space for reflection; for reviewing our vision, our goals and intentions, and all the lessons we have learned along the way.

We chat about:

• Realizing that we don't need to hit a certain revenue before it makes sense to invest.
• How to let go of certain tasks or bottlenecks in our business through outsourcing.
• Coming into our own sense of self-worth and value when it comes to our offerings and services.
• The practice in expressing to others what we exactly it is that we do.
• How investing in our business helps us align back to our integrity and values.
• Simplifying and being ok with imperfection when it comes to social media.
• The litmus test for long-term energetic sustainability.

Here are seven tools and resources that have helped me run my conscious design business & supercharge my workflow.

Over the last few years, I’ve tested out various tools as my design business has grown. These are tools that help add to the relationship between my clients and so, I want to introduce them to you.

These are ones that I have come back to time and time again. The key reason why I have chosen this list is because they have all helped me speed up and simplify my workflow so I could spend more time on serving my clients and growing my business.

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1. Webflow

I am a hugeeeee Webflow advocate. Why? Because it makes designing and bringing to life a memorable, creative, non-stock-standard site super easy. The platform is smooth to use and I love the flexibility that it offers both designers and business owners to turn heads with a wow-worthy online home.

Learn more about Webflow‍ *Affiliate Link*

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2. Figma & Adobe XD

This lightweight application is fluid and a dream to use. Plus they have a free version too which is great for anyone who just wants to get things started! I use Figma as well as Adobe XD to design content for social media and as a tool for UI / UX design. It’s an all-in-one UX tool that makes design effortless and it’s free to boot. You’ll no doubt become a big fan just like I am when you get into nested components and the auto-layout feature and see just how quickly it makes the whole design process.

Learn more about Adobe XD

Learn more about Figma‍

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3. Jpeg Mini

If you want to reduce the size of your JPEG files with minimal quality loss, this app will help you save so much time and space when it comes to uploading and editing. 

Learn more about JPEG Mini‍

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4. Unsplash

Gone are the days of cheesy, corporate stock photos. Unsplash has a quality and range that is one of the best for royalty-free stock photography. Who said you needed to pay hundreds of dollars for good quality images?

Learn more about Unsplash‍

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5. Procreate

One of the best tools to help further the skills of any illustrator is Procreate. The app is packed with  features that make illustration for designers easy, enjoyable and efficient. 

Learn more about Procreate‍

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1. Mojo Studio

This platform helps me create stunning mockups that make presenting work to clients in context so much easier. I love the quality of their photos and the customizability of their mockups allows for differentiation. To make things easier to begin with, they offer 50 free mockups when you sign up for their mailing list. 

Learn more about Mojo Studio‍ *Affiliate Link*

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7. Logo package express

A time saver for any brand or logo designer. This app helps package up logo files easily and quickly, creating the right folder structures and naming each file so that you don't have to! I use it for every logo project because it works and cuts hours from my design process.

Learn more about Logo Package Express *Affiliate Link*

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Sometimes you can be bogged down by the sheer number of tools that are available. Through a *bit* (more like a loooot) of trial and error, the above six resources have helped me create an efficient and streamlined design process for my clients. As a result, these time-savers have given me more time and energy to spend on creating the best work for my clients and also work on scaling my design business.

If you’re an intentional business owner who wants to gain clarity for their vision, I’m offering a free 45-minute discovery call. Allow me to help get insight into the true heart of your brand and business.

Looking to make running a conscious business feel light, spacious, and simple? Have a look at these seven tools and resources for creative and conscious business owners.

In the last few years, I have spent many hours invested in finding the perfect workflow. Not only for myself, but to help my clients move through a coaching series or branding project with me in the most easeful way possible.

I quickly realised that the amount of time I spend working on myself is never just limited to client work. This is just a small fraction of where my energy flows. The rest of my time is spent on things like admin, invoicing, nurturing a small but growing team, making sure my terms and conditions are up to date, content creation etc! 

And I'm sure that as a business owner, you also wear a bunch of different hats when running your business. So today, I want to share with you the tools and resources I use in my business that have helped me speed up my workflow and keep things running behind the scenes (even when I'm not in the office). 

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1. Squarespace

I recommend Squarespace for the majority of my clients. And with additional custom coding from Squarestylist, I have been able to implement truly unique website designs for my clients time and time again. Squarespace is intuitive to use so my design clients can feel confident that they can make simple tweaks and changes themselves without needing a developer.

Learn more about Squarespace‍

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2. Webflow

For a deeply immersive website experience that breaks all the rules, Webflow is my personal favourite web design platform. Webflow has a much steeper learning curve than Squarespace, but it also allows a much higher degree of customisation.

Learn more about Webflow‍

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2. Dubsado

As I started working with more and more clients, I needed an easy way for keeping track of invoicing, new potential clients and contracts. Dubsado is the one tool I use for invoicing and sending out my contracts. I have dedicated a number of joyful hours to setting up my Dubsado so that any new client forms are stored and trigger the right email responses so that booking a vision discovery call with me runs effortlessly in the background. Having automation in these areas makes the onboarding process so much easier and its something that my VA manages a large portion of now.

Want to get your start with Dubsado and save a bit of money?

‍Use this link to get 20% off on Dubsado. *Affiliate Link*

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3. Calendly

If Dubsado has a bunch of features that you may not need for your business, I think Calendly is a great streamlined alternative for scheduling meetings. By integrating it with Zoom, the client application form on my website has become fully automated. Although I no longer use Calendly since moving my onboarding systems over to Dubsado, my previous experience with it has always been positive so it comes highly recommended.

Learn more about Calendly‍

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4. Flodesk

Flodesk is a platform that allows you to design emails with a more personal touch using a drag and drop approach. The thing I love about Flodesk is the quality of their templates and the ease of setting up workflows. The pricing for Flodesk at a set amount per month, irrespective of the number of subscribers. This worked out to be much cheaper for me versus staying with Mailchimp. Compared to other email design platforms, Flodesk has a smooth interface with a beautiful design that makes email automation super simple.

‍Get 50% off with this link for Flodesk *Affiliate Link*

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5. Notion

Notion is undoubtedly one of the best platforms to make use of when running your business. It’s an all-in-one organisational note-taking system that has an incredible number of features and customizable options. You can use it as a planner, note-taking app, calendar or all of the above. I currently use Notion for tracking my goals and vision and collaborating with Donaji on planning and keeping track of our podcast episodes.

Get $10 off on Notion with this Link. *Affiliate Link*

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6. Todoist 

Running your own business means you’re constantly bombarded on a daily basis with an ever-growing todo list. Todoist is my tool of choice and it helps me schedule my daily tasks. I love that I can tag my tasks based on the project, category, location or urgency. To supercharge Todoist, you can integrate it with your Google Calendar so your todos are automatically added as events.

Learn more about Todoist *Affiliate Link*

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7. Planoly

Planoly helps you manage and automatically post your Pinterest and Instagram posts. Pinterest and Instagram are two of the key social media apps that I use for my creative businesses so this app makes things so much easier because everything is in the one place. My VA uses Planoly for uploading the next images, scheduling and adding things like hashtags etc and I go in and write out the captions.

Learn more about Planoly *Affiliate Link*

When you’re running your own creative business, it can feel like you’re being bombarded by a mountainous list of to-dos that are never-ending. And getting super clear about what you need to focus on first, second and third and setting up strong foundations for an effective workflow can feel overwhelming.

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If this sounds familiar and you would love to see what life and business could look like with me as a coach to guide you through this, book your free 45 minute discovery call for brand and business coaching.

It can be so easy for us to live life trying to control each outcome so that it falls perfectly inline with our goals and vision. Bringing awareness to the flow of our thoughts, emotions, and reactions, rather than forcing the desired result or outcome, can help us gain a deeper understanding of who we are and reduce the tendency for us to propagate negative self-talk.‍

Here are three steps to bringing greater awareness through your day and ending negative self-talk:

Step 1 ~ Observe & acknowledge

Every time you observe a thought, acknowledge its presence. Observation doesn't mean joining in on the conversations inside our heads. It just means taking a step back and looking at it from the outside, like a spectator without judgment.

With childlike curiosity, take notice of the emotions that may arise. You may find that your body will also react to these emotions. As an example, fear can feel like a dull ache in the pit of my stomach. It might take a different form for you. ‍

Step 2 ~ Go through the (e)motions

Allow yourself a few moments to experience the feeling that you get from your thoughts. Many of us have the tendency to deny ourselves this. We instead suppress our emotions and bottle them up over time. Know that the feeling or thought is only temporary and it will pass with time. Know that in this moment, you are just where you need to be.‍‍

Step 3 ~ Accept and let it go

Letting your thoughts go is probably the most difficult step. We hold onto thoughts that no longer serve us or we set expectations about how we should be thinking instead. 

Especially with regards to negative thoughts, we have the tendency to put them on repeat in our heads. This weighs us down and over time it can drown out the positive thoughts which can bring us joy.

The best way to deal with these thoughts is to let go of them with acceptance and refocus. By sitting with the thought, you can accept that this moment is what it is, letting go of trying to control it. When you do this, you’ll notice a lightness - as if you’re no longer burdened. 

Refocus and redirect your energy towards the version of you that you want to be instead. What response or action would you take if you were this higher version of you?

This is a simple technique to help you live more mindfully day to day. And remember, it is only time and conscious practice that will help you release the cycle of negative self-talk.

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If you’ve been on the lookout to feel a greater sense of calm, clarity, and focus, check out my Etsy Journaling Templates for intuitive reflection and connection to your higher self.

It’s when the sky darkens and the hustle of the city slows down that the night ritual begins. An effective night ritual cultivates a grounded, calm energy and environment to prepare you for a good night’s sleep.

My own night ritual is something that has gone through a lot of change over the years. I think the reason for this is that my lifestyle has changed considerably. From working in a corporate office to moving overseas and becoming a student of Japanese to working for myself full-time at home.

I went through months where I tried to do too many rituals and it just left me feeling anything but grounded and calm before bed. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, I also had long stints where I worked myself to the extremes, where I had felt so disconnected from myself that rituals were the last thing on my mind as I drifted off to sleep in bed with my laptop open.

I'm happy to report that the last few years have been rather uneventful when it comes to working late nights. I have made little positive habit shifts towards finding a night ritual that feels more sustainable, easy and balanced.

Today, I would love to share with you some of the things you can do to create a mindful night ritual. Mix and match from the following list, add in some of your favourite things to do, keep things simple and make it your own.

1. Drink tea‍

I’ve mentioned this before, but I love tea. My favourite tea to help me get ready for sleep is a blend of peppermint and camomile. Camomile is gentle and relaxing while peppermint is refreshing and soothing for the stomach and helps with digestion. Perhaps you might take a liking to only one of the above two teas. Or perhaps, a different blend altogether. I find that any warming tea that has lavender, camomile, fennel or turmeric can help us wind down and it will do wonders for your night routine.‍

2. Light a candle or use a diffuser‍

An aroma diffuser can be the perfect addition to your night routine. Infusing essential oils during your night routine can be the perfect relaxation ritual. I love a blend like Aesop's Catherine oil blend; spicy, warm, and comforting. On the other hand, something as fresh fragrant of lavender or jasmine on a warm summer's evening can help set the mood. When it comes to candles, try a soy-based candle with a gentle, subtle fragrance. A personal favourite of mine is BlackMILK's candles - I love that these candles have a wooden wick, which recreates the crackling sound of a fire, adding a particularly satisfying backdrop to your evening.‍

3. Meditate or breathwork

As business owners, it can be difficult to switch off our thoughts at night. I tend to get a burst of energy, clarity and creativity in the evenings. This means that it can take me a while to feel like my mind is ready for sleep. This is why meditation or even chanting can be supportive to still the thoughts. Meditation can be practised in various ways. So experiment with different styles to find something that resonates with you.‍ Spend a few minutes in quiet and stillness each night.

Try being mindfully observant of your thoughts, emotions and the environment around you. You can do this even when brushing your teeth, putting on your pyjamas or sipping your tea. Or try closing your eyes and sit in a comfortable position. Focus on your breath just for a few moments and find a sense of flow. Notice how deepening your breath can change how you feel in your body. Keep your eyes closed and listen to whatever arises without judgement to your thoughts.

4. Yin yoga or yoga Nidra

Yoga helps bring fresh oxygen into our bodies and the below poses where the heart is lower than the head are good for releasing stress and tension. All while finding balance. You can relax by stretching in the child's pose, plow pose or shoulder stand. If you’re not sure of how to go about it, find helpful tips in our podcast episode all about rest. If you have the time, try a late-night yin yoga class or a Nidra (sleep) yoga class to stretch and release any tension from your muscles to prepare your body for deep rest.‍

5. Set the right temperature

Temperature is more important to sleep than you think. Personally, I like to reach straight for my hot water bottle on wintery nights. I like to place it on my bed to warm it up as I move about the house, getting ready for bed. The heat from this is so soothing and puts me straight to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. A warm wheat pillow with a few drops of lavender oil to enhance relaxation is also a great addition to this ritual.‍

6. Journal

Journalling is wonderful for emptying out all our thoughts and worries from the day that have been consuming our energy and attention. Think of it like a detox for your mind. Use it reflect on your day or to let go of any thoughts you are holding onto. I also love including a prompt for the three things I am grateful for in my journal entries - learn to notice the little things that may be so easy to miss during the busy-ness of your day. Try The Intuition Journal or see our Etsy shop for contemplative templates to help you wind down.

7. Read

Diving into a book can help you release the worries of the day. I dedicate about 20 minutes each night to reading. I accept that I am a terribly slow reader so I often sit with a book for a long time before I finish it. For me, I love just savouring a good book.

8. Disconnect from technology

I’m sure you have found yourself on one too many mindless scrolls before bed. Your device is not just a big distraction - the blue light emanating from it suppresses melatonin, a hormone that’s super important for sleep. It’s so easy to get carried away so I recommend making a conscious effort to switch off your devices before starting your night routine. I personally try to switch off my computer and my phone by 9.30 pm. 

9. Look after your skin

We can get dehydrated during the night as we lose moisture through sweat, so remember to hydrate your skin with a rich moisturising serum or oil. Find one that contains Vitamin E to help with skin repair. If you have the time, go the extra step and do a light face mask as well.

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While I’ve included a few tips you can try and experiment with, remember that it really depends on what your body is telling you. Pick a few things from this list each night that you want to do and savour the time you have before you go to bed. A night routine isn’t just a night routine. It’s a dedicated practice in self-care. One that involves being mindful and intentional about how you end your day.

If you want to be more mindful of how you go about your day and how you end it, delve into The Intuition Journal . I created it for creatives who want to mindfully declutter and create a more conscious ritual for self-care.

As an only child, I was happy to spend time alone  - mindful, content and confident in my own skin. I loved books, drawing and just observing the world around me. 

However, by the time I was in university, meeting new friends, going out to parties or dinners became my life and a priority. And I found myself spending the majority of my spare moments with friends. 

We have a natural tendency to seek companionship, to share our time and the things we love with people. At that stage of my life, having a strong core group of friends made me feel better about myself. Not to digress, but it is important to have a solid network of people you can depend on to share your burdens, heartaches and challenges.‍‍

This becomes unhealthy when companionship is used as a distraction from the fear of being alone. 

I remember becoming used to having this emotional support from the people around me - to cheer me on, pick me up and reassure me that everything was ok. This became the source of my confidence and I ended up craving this ego boost whenever I felt lonely. At that point in my life, it seemed so much easier to get this validation from others than it was to find it within myself. But when it comes to self-confidence, it shouldn’t be dependent on what other people’s opinions are of us. Being comfortable with ourselves needs to come from within.

Therefore, learning to spend time alone is important. It gives us time to reflect, sit with our feelings, tap into our intuition and rest. It also gives us time to do what we really want to do - such as our hobbies, cooking, going for walks, or going to a yoga class. Read my post on 50 Things To Do Alone for some creative ideas!

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Here are a few tips I have learnt so far in my journey to become more comfortable in my own world:‍

Don't devote all your spare time to spending it with other people.

Whenever you feel an unhealthy need to surround yourself with your friends, family or partner, take a step back and ask yourself why it is that you feel this. Are you reaching out because you need others propping you up to feel better? Or do you seek to connect and bring joy into their lives?‍

Carve out time to be in your space every day.

I wrote a blog post on Being Here Now, which is about dedicating time for yourself to sit in stillness. Whether you spend your time meditating or do other activities you enjoy, make the choice to spend time alone and love your own company. ‍

Prioritise yourself.

A lot of times, we may feel that we need to provide companionship, support and help to those we love. However, it’s also important that we put ourselves first. Only when we devote time and energy to looking after ourselves can we have more to give others when they need us to be there.‍

Spend time doing the things you love doing alone.  

Be inspired, invigorated and rejuvenated by doing things on your own. It could be sitting under a tree and reading for the afternoon, making a beautiful dinner, or taking yourself out to the movies! Go out and explore, experience and discover this for yourself! Find the things that you love doing and enjoy doing them with yourself for company. ‍

Seek reassurance from yourself.

No one understands us better than we do. So why should we constantly look outside, to others to get their perspectives on how we should live our lives? By prioritising ourselves, we strengthen our relationship with ourselves. Look to become your own cheering squad and stop the negative self-talk.

As a creative, I’ve always loved exploring different avenues. When I realized the need to spend more time alone, I took some time off and let go of the need to surround myself with people whenever I felt isolated. I balanced this with seeing my friends and family, but it now comes from a genuine desire to connect.

This isn’t something that’s going to be easy. In fact, it’s going to be something that you need to get used to. I’m not going to lie but there will be days where you feel the weight of loneliness. But know this - these feelings pass with time. For the most part, you will learn to be content to be on your own, independent and free. ‍‍

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If you want to explore more by connecting with yourself, our Intuition Journal guides creatives in cultivating nourishing daily rituals that bring purpose into your life.

In a previous blog post, Why you need to spend time alone, I wrote about the importance of finding confidence and joy within ourselves, rather than always depending on others to prop us up.

Finding ways to spend time with yourself isn’t as hard as you think it might be. As a coach, I find that there are so many ways to spend more meaningful time with yourself by putting your energy into things you love.

I want to make things easier for you. So, here are 50 things you can do alone by yourself.

One of the tools I used to plan out my time alone that goes beautifully with this list these Etsy journaling templates - a bit of a choose your diary adventure if you will, full of worksheets, journal and planner sheets to help you get organised and plan for a more intuitive life. Have a feel for each item on the list. Whatever you end up doing for yourself, be sure to listen to how you feel and make sure it lights you up from the inside out. 

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Here are 50 things you can do alone to spend more time with yourself: 

1. Start your own vegetable patch in your garden. Or plant them in larger planter boxes if you don't have space.
2. Bake something that you’ve never made before. I personally love flipping through old recipe books, searching for delicious treats. 
3. Spend a day at a museum or art gallery.
4. Journal. Journaling in the morning can help set the tone for the rest of my day.  I use my Etsy journaling templates to write up a list of all the things I want to do each day, declare my dreams, plan out my vision and track my wellness habits. 
5. Meditate - sit, be still and devote time to listening to your breath.
6. Review and update your vision for yourself. What does this future version of you look like?
7. Have dinner by yourself in a nice restaurant - take time to really enjoy the food and it’s nice to take yourself out on a date every once in a while. 
8. Read your favourite chapters from the books you love. 
9. Go to a farmer's market, basket in hand and stock up on fresh, seasonal, organic produce. 
10. Go for a walk - in nature, outdoors and enjoy breathing the fresh air.
11. Make some popcorn, add your own toppings (be creative!) and have a movie marathon.
12. Listen to an album from start to finish without doing anything else. Or find a playlist that resonates with how you are feeling.
13. Go out for a long Sunday brunch. 
14. See a film at the cinema on your own - this way you won't have to share your popcorn.
15. Do a grocery shop at your favourite organic grocers and splurge on something you don't have very often. My local organic grocer offers personalised tea blending. I just tell them what kind of tea I want and they create a herbal blend from various organic herbs.  
16. Start a herb garden that will sit on your windowsill. This is perfect for small apartments. Most herbs are quite hardy and will last throughout the year. And wouldn’t it be lovely to serve yourself dinner with herbs you’ve grown? 
17. Create a mixed tape or playlist for all your different moods and occasions. You can one for all your different activities - running, yoga, studying, working - and even fun activities like gardening, reading and sleeping!
18. Take your bike for a leisurely ride and go to your favourite cafe.
19. Rearrange your wardrobe and discover old clothes again. It’ll be like you had a new wardrobe without even knowing it!
20. Clean and organise things around your home. Try using Marie Kondo's KonMari method for decluttering in order to spark joy!
21. Visit the florist and pick out a bunch of flowers for your bedside table. Use your good vase!
22. Create a calming space in your home for working on your hobbies or projects.
23. Create a beautiful meditation or spiritual corner - make a little altar for your crystals, meditation bowl and candles.
24. Take all your old clothes, books and furniture and donate these things to charity. Make room for the new by clearing out the old.
25. Paint, draw, sketch, write - let your emotions and intuition guide you with this one.
26. Make a terrarium from a selection of succulents and moss. 
27. Go somewhere in the city that you have never been to before. 
28. Go to a gig, enjoy the music and dance like crazy.
29. Read up on your horoscope or consult your tarot cards, angel cards! 
30. Send a handwritten letter to a friend, lover or family member.
31. Create a Pinterest board to help visualise and bring your next adventure to life.
32. Make an Acai bowl or smoothie bowl, topped with fruit, yoghurt, superfoods and granola.
33. Light a candle, take a relaxing bath - try adding some essential oils and herbs like sage, camomile or peppermint!
34. Do a face mask. Make one from the ingredients in your kitchen! Combine 1 tablespoon of honey, a banana and a few drops of lemon, mix it up and apply to your face.
35. Roll out your mat and do yoga to rejuvenate, energise and relax.
36. Think of 50 questions that you want the answers to and consult Wikipedia.
37. Do a gentle juice cleanse for the day.
38. Rearrange things in your room using Feng Shui to bring more light, flow and harmonious energy to your space. 
39. Give an old chest of drawers some fresh paint or replace the doorknobs in your house with vintage ones.
40. Give yourself a mini-retreat weekend - eat healthy food, go for a massage, spoil yourself and really relax! We all need self-care weekends. 
41. Sleep, doze or power nap as much as you need to.
42. Sip a cup of tea and look out the window.
43. Go to the park, pack some homemade sandwiches, bring a picnic blanket and a good book.
44. Catch up on all your favourite blog posts.
45. Travel. I love travelling on my own because it really pushes me to live outside my comfort zone, to trust my intuition and to learn more about myself. 
46. Give yourself a manicure - try a different style like Leopard prints, marbling effects, dots etc.
47. Wake up early to see the sunrise. Or make time at dusk to catch the sunset.
48. Go for a jog or walk by the beach. Breathe in the salty sea breeze and watch the waves lick the shore. 
49. Study. I love studying in my spare time. Sign up for online courses on any topic you have the interest to learn more about. 
50. Take a photo to depict each hour in your day.
51. Make a gratitude list. Add to this list whenever these pockets of gratitude open up. Remember this list when you feel unhappy and read through it. It’ll instantly cheer you up and help put things in perspective.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this list - don't! It's not about ticking everything off, but taking the time to find the things that bring you joy in your day. Even if it is just one simple 10 minute ritual or activity. Perhaps you will have found some new things to try from this list or discovered old hobbies you had forgotten. 

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For some additional help with journaling and reflection, sign up below to get your journaling templates for consicous creatives.‍

I love the fact that there are so many uplifting, happy things that you can put your heart into during the mornings. So today, I thought I would write down a list of things that you can do to bring you more joy in the mornings.

Hopefully you will find a few things that resonate with you that you can start incorporating into your mornings too.

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For looking after our bodies

1. Sleep. Allow yourself to rest a little longer so your body can recuperate if you are feeling under the weather or energetically deprived.
2. Moisturise - its 's important to keep our skin hydrated throughout the day! I use coconut oil for keeping my skin soft and moisturised. The vitamin E in coconut oil also helps repair skin tissue.
3. Remember to floss. This is somewhat of a reminder to me as well. Flossing and good dental hygiene is super important!
4. Dry body brush to stimulate your lymphatic system and remove dead skin.
5. Do some stretches on the bed before you get up!
6. Take a hot bath with essential oils and epsom salts, or try a invigorating cold shower.
7. Do some yoga. This is great as you get out of bed. It allows you to get in touch with any aches and pains that you may have. It also brings energy and vitality into your morning.
8. Another option is to head over to the first gym or yoga class for the day and sweat it out!

For getting out into nature

1. Go for a walk or run outside. I love the brisk morning air and an early morning walk can be absolutely invigorating! Enjoying nature before anyone else does is simply blissful.
2. Tend to your plants - I water my plants in the morning. It's a good time to look after your plants so that you prepare them for the weather ahead.
3. If you live near the beach - go for a walk on the sand and feel the sunlight on your shoulders!
4. Watch the sunrise - love this!! For early risers only!
5. Take the time to ride or walk to work instead of catching public transport or driving - if appropriate. Take a more scenic route and enjoy nature as everything is waking up.

For nourishing your soul with food

1. Prepare a cup of tea - using your favourite tea cup. Sit down and enjoy it, don't let it get cold!
2. Or, for those who love coffee - make yourself a beautiful pot of roasted coffee. Enjoy the smell and the energy it brings you.
3. Prepare a nourishing, warming breakfast that you have not made before. Use grounding Ayurvedic spices such as turmeric, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon.
4. Have breakfast in bed. Make a really beautiful breakfast and eat it in bed. It's your little treat to yourself!
5. Make some warm water with a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or a wedge of lemon to start your digestive system in the morning. It will make you feel uplifted!
6. Make a green smoothie - perhaps even make enough so that you and take some to work.
7. Eat seasonally. I combine this with Ayurvedic cooking to ensure that my body feels its best during each season.
8. Prepare a healthy, nutritious lunch to take to work. It's so much more meaningful to have your own lunch rather than purchasing something and eating it in a rush.
9. If you live near a market - you can do a spot of shopping before starting your day. Feel the vibrant liveliness and buzz of the markets in the morning.

For connecting and turning inwards

1. Greet your partner, family members or your pets with a big hug.
2. Make breakfast for someone you love today.
3. Spend a short, designated amount of time catching up on some emails.
4. Chat with a loved one! I often catch up with my mum in the mornings with a phone call.
5. Take your dog for a walk. One of my favourite things is getting woken up by a pet. I just love their joyful faces greeting their owners in the morning. Spend time with your animal friends!
6. Leave a cute note for a partner, family member or loved one wishing them a happy day!
7. Meet a friend for a coffee or tea before work starts.

For cultivating lightness and joy

1. Just for a bit of fun, check your horoscopes to see what the day may bring!
2. Put on some music. I put on music when I am doing my yoga because it makes me happy and lifts my energy. But I also enjoy popping on a record whilst making my tea.
3. Read a poem or re-read a few pages of your favourite book.
4. Sing in the shower.
5. Take time to choose a perfume or essential oil that resonates with how you are feeling for the day.
6. On a morning where you don't have to work - go out for brunch and let the morning blur into the day. Take it super slow!

For creativity and expression

1. Do a visualisation meditation - sit for a few minutes and focus on each thought that comes into your mind. Observe it and see where it takes you. Allow yourself to be immersed into your own world without judgement.
2. Write or draw.
3. There is no reason why we can not do our hobbies in the mornings before work. Choose something and do this for 30 minutes!
4. Pick out your clothes - get creative, channel how you want to feel for the day and choose colours to let this shine through.
5. Watch a Ted talk. Get inspired!
6. Choose a book or podcast for your ride to work on the train, tram or bus. Where are you going to escape to during your commute this morning?
7. Take a photo of your morning, capturing a brief moment in your day visually - try this every morning for 4 months and see how things have changed over time.

For feeling energised

1. Wake up earlier to seize the day. Join the 5 am club or Miracle Morning club
2. Create an affirmation or intention to start your day.
3. Find one word that brings out the feeling that you want to bring into your day. Add it to your reminders so it comes up every few hours.
4. Review your goals and vision that you have set for yourself. See what you have achieved and add anything else to it.
5. Take stock of the week. Make a list of things you are grateful for - set a positive perspective for your day.

For clarity and stillness

1. Spend a few minutes with your thoughts - ask yourself what sets your soul on fire, what  are you afraid of, what is your purpose. Continue peeling back the layers with the question "why" and tap into our intuition.
2. Meditate - if only for a few minutes - allow your mind to quiet and embrace the stillness. This can mean just sitting in stillness. Read about my chakra visualisation meditation here.
3. Journal - get out all your thoughts, cleansing out negative energy before you start the day. It provides you with clarity.
4. Take time to read the newspaper - do it in the old fashioned way, wear your slippers, put on your night gown and do the crossword while sipping a cup of tea.
5. Stay offline. Don't connect online with social media until later in the day - keep this time as your time only!
6. Do some deep breathwork or Kundalini chanting before you leave your room in the morning.

In the last few years, I’ve discovered the art of single-tasking. However, this wasn’t always the norm for me. Up until a few years ago, multi-tasking seemed like the most efficient way for me to juggle various tasks at the same time. I felt at my most productive when I was ticking things off my to-do list. It seemed to have a positive impact on my life, at work and I continued with it at home as well. While preparing dinner, I’d do my household chores while also doing all the other things that come with running a business.

Over time, multi-tasking became more than just a habit - it was a way I went about my day. It was rare for me to be single-tasked focused - doing only one thing at a time - like eating my breakfast without staring at the computer screen. By the end of the day, when I’d finally finished ticking off all my tasks in a chaotic scramble, I felt restless, anxious, and disconnected. It was a struggle to find calm as I moved throughout the day.

By doing various tasks at the same time, we no longer move through each moment with intention, but simply going through the motions. I believe that each intention holds energy (whether negative or positive). And by doing things without intent, without thought, without focus, we’re not giving this task our positive energy in order to truly experience the moment. As a result, we end up gliding along the surface of our experiences - failing to go deeper.

A few years ago, I decided that this needed to change. I created a little mindful challenge for myself in order to re-establish a habit - to be more single task-focused. Over the years, this is what I’ve learned about the art of single-tasking:‍

Accept that single-tasking comes with distractions

Throughout our day, it’s so common for us to become easily distracted - by other people and by our own thoughts. When you’re in multitasking mode, you’ll find yourself typically reacting to these distractions; obviously you’ll want to action these tasks immediately. Instead, what you should do is gently remind yourself to pause whenever a distraction comes along, connect back to the present moment, sit with your thoughts, and set your intentions on completing one task first. After a bit of practice, it’ll become simple and easy to do. While we accept that distractions will always continue to flood in, consciously choosing where to invest our energy makes all the difference.‍

Do the little things with mindful intentions

By pouring positive energy into every little thing we do, we’re able to experience the moment holistically and with gratitude and intuition. Try applying this to even the simplest of tasks - whether it’s making a cup of tea or washing the dishes. You’ll find yourself feeling a lot calmer throughout the day. As a result, you’ll find that this aspect of single-tasking will help you appreciate the little things in your day so much more.‍

Lower your expectations

One of the reasons why many people multi-task is because they want to feel more productive. They want to control the situation because that’s what they think will give them the best result. However, you have to know that this is not feasible - after all, you’re only human. Perhaps you also have your own conscious business or are a busy creative and you just crave more space in your day.

So, give yourself space to do one task at a time - without the added pressure of having to do everything on your list. While you will still need to prioritize your tasks, you need to tune into your intuition more to do that. By understanding what feels right for you in the moment, you’ll be able to focus on the task at hand.‍

Write ideas and tasks down

I’m sure a big distraction for you is when random ideas come to mind. Something you should do is write these ideas down once you complete the task you were doing. This means you can keep track of the things that inspire you throughout the day without worrying about forgetting them. 

Try this for a day and see the zen and zing it brings into your life. Ever since I started single-tasking, I’ve felt a lot more calm, connected, and energized throughout the day. 

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So, if you’re looking to be more in tune with yourself and get rid of the multitasking habit taking over your wellbeing, why not try our 10 Days of Journaling? It’s a free email course, perfect for creatives who want to tap into their intuition and be more conscious about their daily routines.

A few years ago, I turned 30.

Turning 30 was one of many big changes going on in my life and I felt a strong pull to retreat so that I could spend some much-needed time for myself. It was a period of time where the energy was continuously shifting, where it felt like the ground was constantly moving, unstable beneath my feet. Energy shifts tend to come to us when we’re ready for change, for the next step, for something new to come into our lives. But not without its challenges. With this change begins emotional highs and lows that bring up resistance, discomfort, and unease.

Coming back to my story, I’d just turned 30 in that month of July. And for the first half of the month, I found myself coming to terms with this "pivotal point" in my life. To my surprise, there was so much fear that kept coming up - the fear that I had not achieved the things that thirty-year-olds "should" have done. Even though intuitively, I knew that I was on the right path, I still felt pressured to be part of these societal expectations.

And so, in order to let it go and move forward, I made the decision to sit with this resistance.

I wanted to observe its presence without judgment. Which was why I spent the next 6 weeks dosing up on self-love and being so kind to myself. And gradually, with time, my discomfort simmered down. It felt similar to the aftermath of a downpour of rain. The glow of the sun slowly drying up the ground, revealing something better beyond the horizon. And I felt this little buzz of energy, of lightness, of expansiveness returning to me. Every time I feel moments where I’m experiencing energy shifts, Otherwise, I’ll end up tightening my grip on all the areas of my life, trying to control the outcome.

Up until thirty, I’d been afraid of these energy shifts. I’d choose to try and stop time by holding onto all the things in my life, being afraid to let go of them completely. And so, by choosing to listen closely to my intuition, I can focus on the act of letting go. By the act of mindful decluttering. The interesting thing is that once I started to release my hold, I realized that space - energetically, emotionally, and physically - was created to welcome in better things.

If we’re looking to let go of thoughts, habits, and clutter that no longer serve us, it’s best to work on creating space for something new. Here is how you can do with the help of intuition and mindful decluttering:

Mindful decluttering of your home and workspace

Spend a weekend going through your closet, removing the things that you no longer need in your life. The same goes for your office or workspace. Ensure that your desk is clean and organized - that any files or documents on your computer are stored away. A clean space is what you need.‍‍

‍Simplify your decision making‍

Wherever possible, simplify things.  As soon as things start to get complicated, take a step back and try to see things from a wider lens. It’s best to ask yourself what the intention would be for you to take a certain action. Even our decision making needs a bit of mindful decluttering. How is it that you can make a decision within the next thirty minutes to take action or let it go and move forward?

‍Clean and reorganise your space at home‍

Something as simple as cleaning the house or even reorganizing our nuts, seeds, spices, and cooking powders will physically have helped clear out things we no longer use in the kitchen. Something I’ve found useful is identifying all the ingredients that need to be incorporated into my cooking more often, instead of having it stowed away in mason jars only to be later forgotten. See if you can identify spaces and items that you can make better use of.‍

Meditate and write down your thoughts‍

Meditation practise is one of those things I try to incorporate into my daily mindful rituals. Adding onto this is journaling. By journaling, we grow more aware of our thoughts and feelings, and are able to move through the day with greater intention and lightness.

We need to ask ourselves - what areas of your life are we holding onto with a grip that’s too tight?  What do you need to do in order to let go, to release and welcome in the new? Meditation and journaling are practises that can help guide us in this process.  ‍

Focus on one task at a time

As detailed in this post about single-tasking, being able to do one thing at a time without feeling the pull to do several other things, helps you go about the day with intention. Single-tasking, i.e. being focused on one task at a time helps create more space in terms of time during the day. Time moves slower, things appear to be calmer and you’ll find yourself enjoying even the boring chores on their own. ‍

Accept that the process will take time‍

When you desire change, the process of transformation can feel never-ending. Or it can feel like you’re always just one step away from where you came from. We have to intuitively progress through this discomfort with patience and compassion. Typically, we’re always in a rush to escape discomfort. Sometimes, however, we try to force the process - to move us forward without learning the lessons that we really need to. And so, we inevitably manifest the same situation to happen again, as life tries to teach us the lesson again.

So take your time as it is never a race. Focus instead on moving through it slowly, gracefully, and be incredibly kind to yourself. You’ll notice that once you move past these energy shifts, you’ll find yourself on the other side - one where you’re finally experiencing lightness and the stir of butterflies in your stomach. I know I did. The most interesting thing is that you’re never really certain of what things will come into this space you’ve created. But, there is something beautifully humbling about taking a step into the unknown.

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If you’re looking to mindfully declutter and create a more conscious daily ritual for self-care, have a look at our 10 days of journaling. It’s a free email course aimed at creatives who wish to be more intentional with their daily routines.

Since I was young, I have always looked at the world with so much curiosity and passion. I seemed to pour my heart completely into everything that piqued my curiosity. It was like an  endless chase to attain greater understanding and new perspectives that kept me interested.

However, as my curiosity gradually seeped its way into all areas of my life, I often found myself smothered by my interests and hobbies. It was so easy for me to get trapped in the exploration stage of a hobby, only for me to move on to the next thing that caught my eye.

As a multi passionate creative, I spend my days delicately balancing my energy between all my interests and projects. For example, I absolutely love studying Japanese and learning about alternative health and doing my yoga as well as illustrating, designing, cooking and blogging. I guess I have always loved learning and the feeling from discovering something new just lights up my heart.

But, as a result of this, I feel a sense of guilt when I spend more time on some projects or hobbies than others. It is constantly a balance. And for the long list of unfinished projects and hobbies that I have pushed aside, I feel like I have failed them in a way. Multi Passionate creatives also feel the judgement of others as they try to understand why we can't just choose one thing and stick to it. And we curse ourselves for overcomplicating our lives with so many passions.

However, I have recently started embrace my multi passionate personality. For me, this intense curiosity about the world is something that I am so grateful for. I find that it is a source of inspiration which breathes new life to different ideas and ways of thinking.

We are constantly trying to make sense of connections, as we love viewing the world from a wider lens as well as zoomed up close. We seldom find ourselves "bored", and we truly embody the idea of living life to the fullest, as our plates are never empty!

But in order to move ourselves forwards with our projects, hobbies and interests, we sometimes need to take a step back.

As we head into spring, I am feeling like the energy that I have been cultivating during my months of self reflection, turning inwards and hibernating is finally propelling me forwards at lightning speed. I love this feeling, this expansiveness that brings so much hope, excitement and joy as I follow this energetic pull to start new again.

As I make my way down this new path that lies before me, I feel like I am also guided by a sense of ease and calmness. Unlike all the other times where I have dived head first into a variety of different projects at once, this time I am feeling like a part of me is standing strong on supporting my foundations. Its like this energetic excitement is balanced by stillness and a return to "simplicity". It is the gentle reminder in the background, telling me that it is ok to take things one at a time, to be ok with only having a few projects or hobbies on the go.

So, over the next few months, I am going to be focusing my energy onto strengthening my foundations so that I can fully channel my energy towards the projects and hobbies that I really love. For me, this means ensuring that all the projects, hobbies and interests that I do will be aligned with my highest self (in this case - my core desired feelings).

It will allow me to step up, to move forward a little each day on the projects and passions that I prioritise. And although, this may mean saying no to new projects that I really want to start in September for later, I know deep down that this will actually make things more sustainable, longer term.

Create your top 5 intentions for the day

One thing that has really helped me in the past has been writing down a list of 5 things I want to do each day (outside of work). These things may be related to your hobbies and projects, which is a great way to ensure that you are spending a little time each day devoting your energy to this.

In this exercise, I also ensure that I am creating this list with a connection to my intuition, really listening to what it is that I need to do for myself each day. For me, all my projects and passions are aligned to bringing out my core desired feelings which are connection, authenticity, intuition, passion and creativity.

This is not just a "to do" list but it is more about setting your intention for the day ahead.

I do this after I have my tea in the morning. Make your tasks realistic, enjoyable and aligned to bringing out more joy to your day.

For example, my 5 things for today are :

1. To meditate for 5 minutes
2. To do some yoga stretches in the morning
3. To contact a few bloggers
4. To put aside some time for writing a blog post
5. To do some reading before bed.
   

Balance is about the yin and yang, the feminine and masculine, the flow of energy around you. Yet, many creatives might not consider the concept of balance in their lives. Many people live in black and white, swinging from one extreme to the other, always looking for a clear answer or solution so that they can move forward.

For instance, it felt normal for me to give 110% towards something, for weeks at a time. I would go through phases in my life - I stuck to my yoga routine, eating well, blogging and other commitments.

But when I found myself completely exhausted from this, I would retreat into a reclusive state of doing nothing for weeks. I'd become disconnected from everything else that was going on around me.

And then when I did realize I was feeling lonely, I went on to another extreme. Feeling I should never rely on friends, family or the external world to bring joy, I challenged myself to retreat from social outings and be alone.

I lived in this extreme state and punished myself with negative self-talk whenever I felt like wanting to connect with others. I told myself that surrounding myself with people was a distraction because I couldn't be completely happy with my own company. And that’s when it hit me. There is a balance to everything. 

In the case of loneliness - there are times where we, as human beings, would feel the need to connect with others. This is natural and it doesn’t mean that we’re not happy by ourselves. It’s about living a life fulfilled. 

Reflecting back, forcing away from spending time with people to prove a point was not the way to go about it. Once I recognized that this approach came from such an aggressive, forceful, controlling perspective, I felt a strong call to let it go. After all, being so controlling was not serving me.

Since then, I’ve been letting myself ease into my day with gentleness. With the acceptance that energetically, life will always be trying to establish a healthy balance. Sometimes, I need to ease into things at my own pace, to take my time and sit within my comfort zone. And there are other times where I need to feel energised, to push myself outside my comfort zone a little to experience something new.

When we look at things from a wider lens, we will come to understand that balance can also help us with decisions. Sometimes, we make decisions for ourselves that would lead to the best outcome at that moment. 

But, in balance, we also need to consider a bigger, more longer-term perspective as well. And also, there is accepting the balance between the head and the heart to get to a place where both exist harmoniously! Because ultimately, life is all about cultivating balance, and it can be applied to so many different things. We’re always in constant ebb and flow, push and pull, giving and receiving.

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If you have the tendency, like me, to live in the extreme - in the highs and the lows - why not take the time to come back a little from the extreme edges? Seek a gentler space to be in with our 10 Days of Journaling course. Sometimes, understanding how to have a routine filled with intention is exactly what we need to cultivate balance.

A few years ago, I went through what can only be described as the most challenging year of my life. 2014 was a year where I was called to let go of all the things that I had been holding onto - emotionally, physically and mentally - so that I could grow and emerge a stronger person on the other side.

The year started with a relationship breakup in January. At the time, I was shattered by this. Not only was I deeply shocked and hurt, but I had been disappointed to start the new year in this way.

I later realized that this event had become the catalyst for me to re-evaluate various aspects of my life that I had been holding on to and control.

A lot of our energy is spent trying to make things go exactly how we want them to. So, we must release this control and desire for things to always go our way. This catalyst gave me permission to do exactly that.

It wasn’t easy. It first started with letting go of habits that no longer brought out the joy and lightness in me such as multi-tasking, saying yes to things because I felt obligated to, etc. I also let go of things that weren’t adding value to my life - physical objects and even relationships that were no longer bringing out the best in me. 

Just because I’m an intuition coach doesn’t mean that I’m perfect at what I do. Even I can acknowledge that letting things go is a forever process and there’s still so much we’re constantly working on - whether it’s an emotional attachment to objects that aren’t bringing us joy or friendships that are taxing on us.

Whether you’re looking to let go, release, detach or declutter in any area of your life, here are 4 mindful lessons to letting things go: 

Lesson 1: Acknowledge discomfort and be open to change

Acknowledge that you will feel extreme emotions and accept that your feelings and perspective will change continuously through this process.

The process of accepting and grieving the end of my relationship and then moving on took a really long time. This act of letting go was one of the hardest things I have had to do as it took me on a seemingly, never-ending roller coaster ride of emotions. 

Acknowledging this is necessary when we are in the process of growth. So sit with the discomfort, be observant without judgement and feel what you need to feel. Instead of keeping all your emotions buried below the surface, build the courage to release them so that you can move through it and grow even further. 

Tips :

• Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings around what you want to let go of. What feels heavy in your heart? What makes your stomach clench when you are asked to show up for it?
• Spend time meditating on how you will feel when you have released what you are holding on to. Do you feel lightness, ease and calm once you have moved past this?

Lesson 2: Trust in the process

Time will teach you that if the timing is right, the lesson will appear. At this point in time, we have all the necessary resources within us to take this lesson and grow from it. Surrender to the process without pushing, fighting against it or trying to control it. 

Once you start to trust the process of letting things go - you will find yourself easing into it. Things became so easier and simpler when you aren’t trying to control your feelings. As you reflect, you might also become aware of the things you need to declutter from your life because it’ll feel heavy to keep holding onto these things. 

Tips :

• Ask yourself what you need to do to let go? Do you feel pulled to spend time with family or friends or do you crave your time alone? What process feels right for you?
• Be aware of when you are simply substituting in distractions instead of actually experiencing your emotions. Distractions can help us cope. However, it is also important to balance this with sitting with your discomfort as well.
• The full moon is a beautiful time to release things that no longer serve you. Perform a full moon releasing ritual or simply write down what you wish to set free on a piece of paper and burn it.

Lesson 3: Practicing self care and doing the things you love

Depending on the situation, detaching from people, experiences, things, memories and stories will take time. It can be a long process so it is important to be forgiving and gentle with yourself. When I came out of my relationship, my heart was closed off to the rest of the world for a long time. I was so fearful of opening up and being vulnerable that it also stifled my authentic voice. 

If you’re scared to open your heart again, practise self-care and doing things you love. For me, I invested my energy into writing, drawing, creating, learning and connecting with friends. These things gave you a channel to express yourself authentically so you can gain back your inner confidence.

Tips :

• What did you love to do when you were younger? 
• While you are releasing the old, know that you are also creating a beautiful space for things that bring you joy to enter into your life.
• What can you do from a wellness perspective that can make you feel amazing? Release toxins from your body with a soak in a bath with Epsom salts, embrace a balanced and healthy way of eating or maybe even a juice cleanse.

Lesson 4: Letting go of the physical things too

Sometimes we displace our emotional energy onto physical things. And then, we hold onto these things because of their sentimental value. As you begin decluttering, you’ll realize that sometimes having less is more. I know I did. When I moved into a small apartment, there was simply not enough space for a lot of the things that I owned.

So, I began hacking away at my pile of giveaway clothes and items until eventually getting rid of them from my life. When you declutter down to owning only the things you truly need - the things that bring you joy - the energy that emanates from your decluttered space will be refreshing and liberating. 

Tips :

• Move through various rooms in your home. Give away, sell or throw away things that no longer add any value to your life. 
• Create good energy in your physical space by cleansing with sage.
• Before you buy something new and shiny, ask whether it’s replacing something you’ll get rid of.
• Adopt a one-in-one-out strategy to shopping.
• Review your bills, financial or medical administrative items. How could you simplify this? Do you have too many bank accounts, credit cards, superannuation funds? 

Before understanding what it is you need to declutter, become more mindful of your daily rituals and habits. The Intuition Journal, is a beautiful experience for creatives looking to reflect and see if there’s something they need to let go of.

Living in the big city means we aren’t too inclined towards outdoor activities. It’s much easier to spend time inside. Even with friends, we might just head on to a cafe for a chat. But it also means that we tend to neglect the outdoors. When I spend too long holed up inside, I begin to feel a strong pull towards connecting more with nature - to come out of hiding, to seek freedom, to feel grounded and alive.

When I feel like I’ve spent too much indoors, I go on a weekend getaway and head for the hills.

I notice that I immediately feel refreshed and find a new awareness of the environment around me. I revel in this space that has an uplifting impact on my soul. It’s important to incorporate more opportunities to connect with nature. The screen can’t be your only source of connection.

Here are 12 ways to connect with nature‍

Feel the earth beneath you

Grounding activities such as yoga (maybe select a thinner mat), running or hiking are great for helping us connect back with the earth! We are often separate from the ground we walk on, with every path we tread paved in cement, concrete or carpet. Rebalance this separation by spending a little time each day with your feet on the earth, sinking into the grass, or leaving behind footprints along a beach.‍

Go the scenic route

When going to and from work, running errands or doing your everyday chores, snap yourself out of autopilot and take a more scenic route. One of the things I love about staying at my partner's eco-house in the hills is the invigorating drive to work. I drive past the Ferntree forests, running creeks and farmsteads. Even though it takes me twice as long to commute to work, I feel on top of the world when I arrive. ‍

Create from nature

This piece (pictured above) is something I created with shells and corals that had washed up on the shoreline as I went on a walk. While it wasn’t something I could keep, the process of foraging is so intriguing and has made me so much more appreciative of the things we can find in nature. Also, check out the below video of artist, Belinda Evans and her creative process. She is a Melbourne based artist who handmakes beautiful pieces all inspired and made from nature!‍

Have outdoor playdates

So many activities, meetups and playdates seem to take place in restaurants, bars, cafes, movie theatres,  yoga studios, shopping centres etc. Let's flip this around and start suggesting activities where you meet your friends outdoors instead. Opt for picnics, walks in the park, berry picking and even camping trips. Incorporate Nature Into Your Travels: This was taken in Nikko, Japan during the start of Autumn. ( picture )‍

Incorporate nature into your travels

One of my favourite places to travel to is Japan. This place just displays a stunning balance between nature and the sprawling neon cities. For those that love the intense, swelling energy of buzzing cities, balance this by spending a few days retreating to a tiny cabin in the woods or even swinging up high from a treehouse! ‍

Start a natural medicine cabinet

Take the time to declutter your home of manmade medicinal products. Incorporate oils like lavender (to help you sleep), clove, calendula (to heal your skin), tea tree (for your acne) and coconut oil (so many uses) into your medicinal stash. Bring the outdoors inside: succulents at our home ( picture )‍

Bring the outdoors inside

We have been busy decorating our home with lots of hardy succulents. Plants are a wonderful way to bring the outdoors inside. Bring greenery into your home - plants cleanse the energy of our homes and filter the air we breathe. ‍

Align your day to the sun

Dinacharya is a daily routine that respects your Ayurvedic dosha. To start, begin your night ritual when the sun sets and rise with the sun. Generations before us would have called it a day after sunset and their body clocks will have been much more aligned to the sun and the moon than ours are.

By surrounding ourselves with computers, mobile phones, etc, our natural body clocks are misaligned. This makes it more difficult for us to wind down each night. The additional challenge for this experiment is to spend one night without switching the lights on in the house after sunset, allowing your body to truly adjust to the night. ‍

Nourish with whole foods

At the base of it, food is such a vital part of connecting with nature. See how you can incorporate more ways of connecting your food with nature. Perhaps, spend some time at a farmers market and explore the produce on offer. Add one new vegetable or fruit into your basket each week that you’ve never cooked with before. 

If you are fortunate enough to have some space at home, why not grow your vegetables and herbs too? There’s nothing more rewarding than cooking with fresh organic ingredients you’ve taken the time and love to grow yourself. Even in the smallest of apartment balconies, you can grow herbs and veggies like rosemary, mint, dill, chives, sage, thyme and super red hot chillies. Don't have space at home? Research community gardens around your area instead.‍

The moon and its rhythms

In recent years, I’m become enchanted with how the natural cycle of the moon can affect our moods and emotions. Release the old at the full moon and create intentions for the new moon.‍

Take a walk and soak it all in

A simple walk takes only 10 minutes out of your day and can be quite a meditative experience. Enjoy the freedom of exploring, adventuring, meandering and wandering without the rush to get from A to B. Take the time to really experience the environment you’re in - notice the patterns on the bark of a tree, follow the Fibonacci sequence on a pine cone, smell the flowers, and soak it all in!‍

Start a vegetable patch or grow some herbs

Adding to our earlier point about nourishing with whole foods, gardening is incredibly healing and can be so grounding for our base chakra. It allows us to connect deeply with nature by observing how plants are nurtured and grow with the environment they’re in. The beauty of slowing down and moving with what feels natural is such a poignant lesson that we can learn from watching seeds sprout into a plant.

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Connecting with nature is so simple. This list is filled with 12 ways to connect with nature - some as short as taking a ten-minute walk to something as long-term as gardening. It’s something that you can slowly incorporate into your life.

Here's a further resource for helping you live with more intention and intuition. I love using these journaling sheets to take stock, reflect and plan what my life could look and feel like.

As you get older, it can be so easy to forget the simple bliss that comes from experiencing the world through a childlike lens - full of gentle curiosity and wide-open wonder. When I reflect back on my childhood, I remember tea parties under lemon trees and darting through sprinklers in bursts of giggles and excitement. Of summer days spent foraging for insects amongst tropical ferns. Building fortresses made of sheets and pillows that became temporary hiding spots. 

As we grow older, we come across instances that remind us of this younger self - this younger self that we’ve left behind. And how, somewhere along the way, we’ve had to learn to turn down the volume of our inner child. We’ve come to reluctantly accept that our inner child’s voice, desires and dreams have gradually faded away. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way.

Elizabeth Gilbert encourages us to “be childlike in our pursuit of life”. 

In doing so we will refuse to let our to-do lists, our jobs, our bitterness or cynicism shut down the joy of our experience of being in the moment. At the same time, she points out that bringing out our childlike selves doesn’t mean we should be childish, acting without maturity. 

Reconnecting with our inner child can be such a healing, mindful and cathartic experience, awakening a sense of playfulness within. As an intuition coach who’s worked with many creatives constantly looking to reconnect with their inner child, I’ve developed a few questions that’ll help you do the same.

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You can use these questions as journal prompts to explore your own connection with your inner child and see how you can bring them back into your life:

10 journal prompts to connect you with your inner child.

• When was the last time you made a decision just because you felt the desire to do so? Remember when you were young and got to lick the icing off the wooden spoon?
• Recall a time when you fully experienced the joy of the moment. How did you feel?
• What do you feel drawn to do today if there were no limits on how long you spend on it? What if, just for today, you could lie in the grass under the blue sky and just enjoy it?
• How does it feel when you experience something fully for the first time? How does this bring you into the present moment? 
• When have you blown off your to-do list in preference for something that made you happy and spontaneous? Sometimes, I’ll stop whatever I’m doing and break out in dance just because.
• When was the last time you simply watched nature, completely absorbed by it?
• What would happen if you wandered down a different path instead of taking your usual route to work? Just to see where it could lead?
• What would make you deep belly laugh until you cry?
• When did you last dare to dream - not just small goals that sit and wait for us at the end of a long to-do list, but big, bold dreams that scare you a little?  

These questions exist not just to help you reconnect with your inner child. They exist to also help you understand how you’re living your day to day life. Life shouldn’t be a list of to-dos and goals that you’re setting out to achieve. It’s full of little moments that allow you to live life meaningfully and to the fullest. After all, don’t we encourage children to be children and embrace the bliss of play, nature, freedom and discovery? It doesn’t have to end just because we’re now adults. 

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Want more journal prompts to tap into the essence of who you are? Have a look at our Etsy Journaling Sheets - intentional journaling templates to help multi-passionate creatives get a better hold on their intuition.

Conscious living is the desire to simplify and declutter aspects of our lives (and ourselves) to give breathing space for where we want our energy to flow. However, we’re often limited by time and the ability to somehow do all that we want.

The potentiality of having 3 hours dedicated to just morning rituals sounds amazing. However, the majority of us don't always have the time to fit it all in before needing to scoot out the door. Not to mention days where we’re scrapping by in survival mode and running on empty?

Which begs the question - how can we begin and end even the busiest of days as mindfully as possible?

You can begin with stripping everything back to its most essential - a concept we refer to as "bookending" our day. In other words, how do we begin the day and how do we complete our day consciously?

How do you bookend your day?

Even on these days you can still create rituals to begin and end your day beautifully by dedicating little conscious moments to yourself. Here are three prompts to create your own ritual to begin and end your day:

• What is the first thing you do when you wake?

Before you begin your day, take a moment to reflect and sit in stillness before beginning the day. Like I explain in a blog post for creating mindful mornings, meditating as you connect with yourself to understand your emotions and feelings can be a beautiful way to reflect before starting the day. 

• How can you make this a consciously connected, and intuitive action?

If, perhaps, you do want to start your day with meditation, gently observe your breathing and the thoughts that flow in. Meditation allows you to still your thoughts and draw awareness back to where you are, how you’re feeling and connect with yourself for a few moments. It’s all about setting a conscious intention to begin your day and for years, I’ve started my day with meditation.

What emotions are you feeling at this moment? What do you need to release with a sigh because you’re holding onto things that give you pain and anxiety? And if you are feeling discomfort; where is it and how does it feel? Sink into connecting with yourself, however, you are in this space and time. Whatever activity you choose to begin and end your day with - choose to take that time to reflect on your state of mind. 

• What is one ritual/thing that you can do that helps you cultivate energy, wakefulness and renewed vitality to begin your day? 

Why not part-take in an activity that could serve you in the best way possible - whether it’s writing, decluttering, nourishing yourself with a homemade meal, having a good conversation with a friend, doing some gentle yoga stretches or connecting with nature. Morning rituals can be best customized according to how you like it once you ask yourself, “What is it that you truly need?”

Look into your overall well-being. Similarly, with your night ritual, there are a variety of activities to choose from to customize a calming way to end the day. Whether it’s drinking tea, moon salutations, reading or lighting a candle as you disconnect from technology, choosing how to end your night can be a mindful and reflective experience.‍‍

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Journaling is a daily practice you can do to begin and end your day. Our Etsy journaling sheets allows you to track your wellness habits while planning out your day and creating mindful rituals. It’s a great way to set your intention for today while also being reflective of how your day went. By creating these essential rituals, you are consciously choosing how you want to begin and end your day.

How do you complete the year with intention? What did you learn about yourself? How did it challenge you? What did you gain? And what did you give? Its time for a little reflection some end of year rituals! And how will you begin the next one?

Here are some essential practices for reflecting on a year that has passed - best done a week or so prior to the year end!

Create a sacred space

Light a few candles, burn some incense or clear your space with white sage. You could hold a crystal in your hand. Make this space comfortable, quiet and still - set the scene for how you want to close your year. Keep your journal or your Journal Sheet templates with you.

Begin with meditation

Spend a few minutes in quiet meditation and soak up the energy of this sacred time of the year.

• How does this energy feel?
• What emotions and images come up?
• Where in your body is your attention pulled towards?
• What energy or feelings lie in this part of your body? Why?
• What does the energy of the new year feel like?

Capture your thoughts in your journal or you could use your Meditation Journal Sheet from the Etsy journaling templates too for this exercise.

Reflect on the year for each area of your life

In your journal, write down each area of your life and your thoughts, feelings, experiences that moved you for this area.

Capture your intentions for the next year for each area of your life

It's a beautiful time for appreciating the completion and a beautiful time to set your intentions for the year ahead. These don’t have to be New Year resolutions, but simply an intention or energy that you wish to hold for the year ahead.

Write down a list of your goals for next year, whilst exploring exactly why your soul wants this for you. Does it make sense for your higher purpose and how much will it move your soul to lean towards this goal or intention.

What did you learn?

What did you accomplish? What are you grateful for? What did you learn about yourself? How did your soul grow? How did it push you to sit with the uncomfortableness of it all? What were your biggest challenges and most amazing moments? What were the moments that made your year? What do you hold gratitude for?

What do you need to release and let go of?

What habits do you need to do less of in the following year? Release it all with love and grace. Accept that these habits, perspectives or ways of thinking has taken you so far. What do you need to do for yourself to heal from or release this? You may like to write this and then burn it to release the energy it holds. It is time for you to transcend from these experiences to something new.

Declutter and clean

In Japan, one of the rituals that is done before the end of the year is 大掃除 (osouji) which is a deep clean. The ritual of purification, cleansing and decluttering is a custom that many households partake in as a symbol of welcoming in the new. In Shintoism, the religion that is widely practiced in Japan, the priests perform a ritual called the susharai in December where dust is cleared and the shrines are purified for the year ahead.

So welcome in the new year with a little spot of decluttering, donating the things you no longer need, and cleaning. You could do this for your home, your work space and even computer as well. I love the feeling of starting the new year fresh, having filed my emails and documents into archives.

How do you want to feel moving forwards?

What are some mantras that you will hold for yourself in the year ahead? These are different to New Year Resolutions or goals in that they are defined by the way you intend to show up - how do you want to be?

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What are some of your end of year rituals and new year intentions? You may like to use my Etsy journaling templates to help you reflect further and guide you towards a positive start for your new year ahead.

During my brand discovery and strategy workshop, I developed a few questions to ask my branding clients - questions that will bring clarity and intention when building their brand. When we look at intuition through the lens of building a brand, it is about connection. Intuition is the innate ability that we have, as humans, to instantly understand or know something without rational thinking.

And this is how your brand will communicate most effectively.Now, this doesn’t mean you focus only on making brand decisions based on how something feels. In my work as an intuition coach and brand designer, I’ve found the best branding outcomes happen when both the strategic AND intuitive approaches are explored.

A brand that feels intuitive nurtures the human connection.

When it comes to branding, these intuitive, initial perceptions can influence whether your customer chooses your brand over another. Integrating intuition into your branding process and brand discovery is necessary for ensuring that the final result resonates with your customers on an emotional level. 

The intuitive approach to the branding process and discovery allows your customer to feel understood and connected to your brand message. It creates a relationship that is honest, empathetic and built on trust - between your customer and what your brand stands for.

Intuitive branding creates:

1. a cohesive first impression
2. an emotional or sensorial experience 

1 . Intuitive branding creates a cohesive first impression

Intuitive branding considers how the emotional energy of a brand comes across as a first impression. By making your messaging and all the visual elements that make up your brand intentional and simple to understand, you will create a strong first impression. In other words, your customer won’t have to jump through a series of cognitive hoops before “getting” what it is that you stand for.

“If your audience doesn’t understand your position instantly in that first communication, you’ve lost them.” 

~ Lee Hunt, brand strategist and thought-leader, in this interview with Billy Sobel

Consider these questions in your brand discovery to create a crystal clear first impression

1. What is the one thing that you want people to understand when they first see your brand in context?
2. What is the initial impression that people have about your brand at various touch-points?
3. And is this cohesive across the board? If not, how could you make it more cohesive and fluid?

2. Intuitive branding focuses on creating an emotional experience 

As humans, we are more likely to remember how an experience has affected us emotionally rather than the cognitive decisions and thoughts that came before it. Emotions have the ability to stay with us, long after the experience is over. For your customer, branding that has been intuitively conceptualised and designed has the ability to connect from an emotional place to be memorable and impactful.

Consider these questions in your brand discovery to create a stronger emotional experience

1. What emotions do your customers experience when they experience your brand offering, product or service?
2. How can you serve your customers in a way that helps them cultivate the feeling that they want to feel?
3. How can you create a stronger, memorable emotional experience for your customer?Intuitive branding doesn’t have to be complicated. The goal, at the end of it, is to get your customer to understand what your brand stands for and how it can resonate with them.

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Perhaps you’re a business owner who’s tired of not being able to figure out your brand’s story. If you’re looking to get more clarity for your brand, click here to book a free 45-minute consultation for branding and design. Let me help you become more intentional about your vision and brand.

Building trust and a genuine connection are so important when working with a client or a customer. It’s why creating a first impression that is an honest and true depiction of who you are is so important because it creates a lasting emotional memory for your dream client or customer.

There are things that I do in my client onboarding process to build trust, connection and wow my dream clients in my brand design and coaching business. 

They’re honestly so simple and are the reason why I’ve been able to build strong working relationships and conscious interactions to create a better final result and experience. 

Here are three things that will be helpful for any creative business offering a service that will wow your dream client or customer: ‍

1 ~ Send a personalised video or audio welcome message

When your dream client sends you an email or DM wanting to work together, don’t send an automated response back. Instead, put some thought behind this and send them a warm greeting to say Hi. By doing so, you are creating another point of connection. Sometimes, it can be intimidating for people to reach out, so help people feel comfortable about reaching out. 

Here are resources to help you send a personalized video or audio welcome message:

Loom, Soapbox, Bonjoro‍

2 ~ Make the most out of your calendar booking system‍

I use Calendly, which allows me to add a few questions and upload a file (such as an Intro packet) onto my meeting invite. Calendly also automatically creates a Zoom room so my client knows where to go for our chat.

I ask a few more questions at this stage to help set the scene for our first meeting so my clients will know roughly what we will chat about. Make sure to edit all the text, where possible, replacing it with your own copy so it sounds like ‘you’ and not an automated response.‍

Questions to ask during your first meeting

• What are your goals and intentions for this project/business?
• What are your biggest challenges, pain points or obstacles for this project/business?
• What is your budget? I like to give a few options here: less than $5k, $5k-10k, $10-$20K. This helps me build the proposal and the quote.
• What are your timelines for this project?

Here are resources to make the most of your calendar booking system: 

Calendly, Acuity, Dubsado‍

3 ~ Seek clarity and build connection in your first meeting

Instead of jumping into solution mode, spend more time trying to understand exactly what it is that your client needs help with.‍ Seek to understand your client’s biggest challenges, intentions and goals. And instead of prescribing a solution from your offerings or services, think about what would be best for this client - this is so incredibly valuable. Use your intuition here and practice the quiet art of listening.

Ask questions to delve further when you feel there is more the client wants to say. Sometimes, people need a gentle nudge and a little encouragement for them to feel comfortable speaking up and saying more. In some cases, I have even recommended other designers to potential clients if I feel like they would get a better outcome.‍ Reserve the urge to take jus job, just because it is available. Trust that the right client and the right job will always have a way of finding you.‍‍

Here are your actions checklist

• Send an audio/video welcome message to a new client 
• Add 3-5 easy questions to your meeting scheduler. 
• Add a downloadable Intro Packet. 
• Write any copy in your own brand voice. 
• Practise active listening. 
• Gather information to understand. 
• Provide value.

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If your to-do list is overwhelming you and you’re unclear on how you should be running the business, click here for a 45-minute free consultation to get more clarity on your vision.

It’s so important to apply the following principle to create balance in your business, work and life. To create vitality, balance, abundance and flow, focus on bringing one of these three areas (spiritual, emotional and physical) into greater harmony (whilst still allowing for the ebb and flow) and alignment.

As a brand designer and intuition coach, I have been applying this theory for energetic alignment in:

1. the work that I create
2. how I show up in my business 
3. how I co-create with my clients. 

According to Ayurveda, to create vitality in your life, the spiritual, physical and emotional aspects should be in alignment and harmony. This has been foundational in helping me navigate tricky business decisions and allowed me to create more space to be in a state of flow. This isn’t just helpful for other designers but also for conscious entrepreneurs, coaches and creatives as well. ‍‍

This is also true for your business. So let’s define the 3 aspects you want to balance when running your conscious business: 

Choose one area to work with today. Clarify and define the following:⠀

Spiritual ~ purpose & alignment⠀

Clarify and define these things:

• Your vision. This is your big why. 
• Start with why to define your purpose.
• Your values - what is the intersection between your values and those of your business?
• Your brand's mission statement.
• Your reason for being or your bigger purpose and intention.⠀⠀

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Emotional ~ feeling & energy

‍Clarify and define these things:

• How your customer feels - this is an aspirational state of being.
• Your brand message - how do you convey your brand through words?
• How you feel about your work. How does it feel to show up in your business?
• Your brand voice and branding. 
• What does your brand look and feel like?⠀

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Physical ~ tangible change

Clarify and define these things:

• Offering, product or service. 
• What offerings bring you the most revenue?
• Tangible impact and transformation - eg. Increased awareness, increased profit.
• Marketing and brand strategy. This is a plan for how your business will evolve.
• Your goals and aligned actions.⠀

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6 questions and prompts for your business and work:

1. ⁣What will you do to create better alignment and integrity?⠀
2. Why does your business exist? 
3. What is its greater purpose? 
4. How do your customers feel when they work with you?⠀
5. How do you want to feel about the work you create?⠀
6. What are the tangible changes?⠀
7. How can your business inspire positive behaviour change?

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Do you dream of building an intentional business that allows for balance and flow in all other areas of your life? Book your free 45-minute discovery call below to see what we could do together in 6 months with private 1:1 coaching.

As someone who spends the majority of my time working at home, I found that I needed to infuse various mini tasks and activities which I could do at home in between work breaks. Of course, getting out of the house and into nature would also be a highly rejuvenating practice to do during a work break, but for the purpose of this post, I'm going to focus on the things that we can around the house!

Here are 12 conscious things you can do at home:

For Your Self-Care

1. Cultivate healthy routines for sleep and rest. Create nourishing evening and morning rituals.
2. Wake up and see the sunrise. Use this time to ground, reduce stress and sit in stillness.
3. Clean, declutter and reorganise and create intentional energetic space in your home.
4. Spend more time on the things that are fulfilling and in alignment with your values.

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To Support Others

1. Donate the items that you don’t need or use. Call and ask your local community what they require.
2. Make intentional online purchases to support businesses. You could also share, comment or like a post belonging to a small business to help.
3. Practice empathy and kindness. Ask how you can be of service.
4. Video-call your loved ones. Honor your relationships and continue to cultivate deep connections with others.
   

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For Your Business

1. Review your goals and actions. Does it all feel aligned? What worked well? What requires a little more focus.
2. Brainstorm a new idea. Make a mind-map, vision board or create a plan to bring it to life.
3. Practice deep reading. Take notes, question the content and actively learn what is important. Share what you learn with someone else.
4. This is a fun one - make music playlists to inspire different moods and boost your productivity during the day.
   

A series of small conversations with Emmie Rae from The Daily Rest and me. In today's video, we talk about how to manage being self-employed as an over-achieving Generator and the role that human design has in our approach to work and running a business.

We talk about saying yes to the things that intuitively resonates deeply with your highest self, how to prioritise all the projects and ideas that you want to explore.

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If you would like some further support on branding and running your business from a space of intention, join my Facebook Group, a conscious community on branding and business.

A series of small conversations with Emmie Rae from The Daily Rest and me. In today's video, we talk about moving effectively through seasons of hard work and creativity (Summer and Spring) and seasons for rest and completion(Autumn and Winter).

We delve into the importance of being disciplined when it comes to your rest practice, where you lean into slowness and space for your intuition to land. And when it comes to those  Summer seasons where you find yourself working longer and with greater focus and creativity, it is equally important to make time to cool the heat of this summer energy.

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If you would like some further support on branding and running your business from a space of intention, join my Facebook Group, a conscious community on branding and business.

A series of small conversations with Emmie Rae from The Daily Rest and me. In today's video, we talk about creating a space to play in that feels creatively exciting, interesting and special for you.

We delve into how to use our fear in a way that is constructive and as a guide for continually moving forward in the right direction. And allowing ourselves the space to play, create and approach our business and work from a place of gentle curiosity rather than chasing hard and fast results.

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If you would like some further support on branding and running your business from a space of intention, join my Facebook Group, a conscious community on branding and business.

A series of small conversations with Emmie Rae from The Daily Rest and me. In today's video, we talk about how to navigate the over-saturated space of online marketing and social media ‘hacks’. We chat about the importance of knowing what truly works for you and allowing yourself to let everything else go.

Here are the main 4 things that helped us decide what strategies to choose for building out business:

1. Know what your key values and pillars are in your business. Implement the strategies, advice or tips that help you develop these values further.
2. Know what works for your business intuitively. Use your intuition when it comes to working with the strategies - lean to things that feel most expansive, aligned and help you grow in your business (and life).
3. Leave the things that feel heavy or boring. If batching your tasks or scheduling every to do into your calendar isn’t giving you Marie Kondo joy-sparks, find the systems that work for you instead.
4. For things that are important for your business but isn’t something you love doing; for me these are admin and accounting tasks, hire or delegate these tasks to people who are experts in this field.

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Do you dream of building an intentional brand? Book your free 45-minute discovery call below to see what we could do together.

A series of small conversations with Emmie Rae from The Daily Rest and me. In today's video, we talk about how to deal with the fear of putting yourself out there, particularly on social media.

We cover the importance and role of fear in growth and expansion and how to tell if it’s a genuine fear (to keep you safe) or an ego-based fear. We also delve into the need to take stock of the fear so that you can understand where it is coming from and the micro-steps that you can do to move forwards.

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If you would like some further support on branding and running your business from a space of intention, join my Facebook Group, a conscious community on branding and business.

I have been doing a loooot of work to level up my business behind-the-scenes recently. I have been intentionally focusing my time and energy on content creation, testing out a sustainable marketing strategy that aligns with my values and improving my client process and experience.

And because life and work can feel a little busy and hectic sometimes, I wanted to share a recent snapshot of how I have been spending my days and hours. The reason I wanted to share this with you today is because I'm really happy with the flow, focus and effectiveness that I am able to cultivate in my work days - much of this, I believe, is due to how I have been planning my work day.

Why focus more on content, marketing and the client or customer experience? More than actual client work?

Because it creates a consistent foundation for connection, establishes your brand and offers value and support for your clients/customers.

Content creation & marketing

Content creation and an aligned marketing strategy is important because:

• Establishes trust in your brand through consistent messaging and positioning.
• Is an opportunity to help others and to offer value and my own learning.
• Encourages deeper conversations and supports the community.
• Increases your own knowledge, skill set & expertise.
• Generates potential leads and more eyes on your work.
  

Put this into action by:

Creating one piece of content that uplifts or provides value & share your learning with your community.

Improving your client and customer experience

Your client and customer experience is important because:

• Provides a positive, engaging experience.
• Elevates your client and their business
• Encourages co-creation through empathy and holding space.
• Nurtures trust and connection so that the process is easy.
• Creates advocates for your brand.

‍Put this into action by:

Implementing one change in your current client or customer process that improves the experience makes it more memorable & positive.

You business and life flows in a natural seasonal cycle. This is based on your energetic cycle in your body. Depending on what rhythm or cycle you are more sensitive to, will denote the season that you are currently in.

The seasons in your business are the same as you would see in nature and take on similar characteristics:‍

Summer: Energy of expression. High Yang. Expansion.

Do more:

This is the season for you to shine. The work that you do will naturally have a momentum and pull towards high intensity activities like writing, content creation, collaborations, meetings and facilitating workshops, launching or implementing a project.

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Autumn: Energy of completion: Low Yin. Contraction.

Do more:

Like an autumn harvest, this season is about receiving. You will be reaping the rewards from your hard work in summer, finishing a project, doing admin & invoicing, asking for testimonials, celebrating and reviewing how you are going in your business.

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Winter: Energy of renewal: High Yin. Contraction.

Do more:

Winter allows for space to reflection and decision making. The quieter energy of winter is perfect for research, reading, slowing down and prioritizing rest and renewal.

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Spring: Energy of creation. Low Yin. Expansion.

Do more:

You will feel the craving to begin new projects, create new connections, up-skill and learn. Planning, creating strategies, idealization and conceptualization will happen naturally during this time.

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Intuitively, tune in and see if you can tap into the season that your energy is currently in and begin to apply this to how you work. Additional resources for this topic that I really loved are : Kate Northrup who writes about using the menstrual cycle for work, Ezzie Spencer for lunar cycles and I am Sahara Rose for the Ayurvedic approach.

As Simon Sinek says, “Start with Why”. This is foundational for your brand and business because it:

• pulls and drives you towards your vision.
• helps you make decisions.
• keeps your brand and culture aligned with the higher purpose.
  

In other words: Your why is your purpose. It is the passion, motivation and drive that gets you out of bed each morning, ready to move your business one step closer to your vision.

When you are in alignment with your why, you will feel a sense of clarity and focus because everything you do will have stemmed from this. Your why is determined by your core values. Define your values and you have your why. But many brands don’t actually know what their why is. Or how to find it.

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How to define your why

Create a list of your top 5-10 core values that came from these three things below:

1. Create a list of what your brand believes in and knows to be important and true.
2. What mindset, behaviors or ways of thinking have made the biggest impact on how built and grew your brand?
3. What mindset, behaviors or ways of thinking have made the biggest impact on how you overcame pivotal business challenges?⠀

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Do you dream of building an intentional brand? Book your free 45-minute discovery call below to see what we could do together.

When we make decisions in our business or in our lives, we may choose to follow our:

• Head - cognitive thinking
• Heart - intuition
• Gut - instinct‍

Instinct and intuition are terms that are often used interchangeably, but there is actually a distinct difference between the two. Your instinct is a gut reaction which shows up when you feel like your basic needs are not met, in order to protect you and keep your safe.

In contrast, your intuition is a gentle nudge of inner knowing that helps you move closer to your higher self through growth and alignment.⠀

As long as your basic needs are met; follow your intuition so that it helps to set the direction for where you want to go. And then, consult your cognitive brain to help you plan how you will get there.

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Do you dream of building an intuitive brand? Book your free 45-minute discovery call below to see what we could do together.

Do you have a hard time hitting the desk running, so to speak, on any given work day? Try following some of these strategies to jump-start your work mornings and make yourself more productive and engaged from the get-go.

1. Allow for time to connect and ground before your day gets crazy. Savoir and prioritize your morning - even if it is just for 5 minutes.
2. Plan out your day in a way that supports your body’s natural rhythm and energy. I base mine off dinacharya - Ayurvedic system for daily routine and adjust to fit my own rhythm.
3. Observe when you have the most energy, and when you feel tired or are reaching for that chocolate bar. Plan your breaks to balance out your energetic dips and peaks.
4. Get clear on your most important tasks. Dedicate most of your time to this. What actions would move you towards your vision most effectively?
5. Use your breaks to truly rest and anchor back into your body - spend time in nature, being in the sun, move your body, or put your legs up the wall (rest pose).
6. Be open to adjustments. This is really an experiment to see what works well and what doesn't for you. So take note, observe and tweak your ideal day as you need to.
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Now, of course, we won't always have ideal days - sometimes work life can get a bit messy. But its ok - keep tracking how you go. Work with a coach to stay accountable and work on shifting your mindset (as required). Try different approaches as you go along. ⁣Apply what you can based on your own life and how you work

Join the community below, where I talk more about taking into account Ayurveda and seasonality to for intentional business owners over in my Facebook Group.

When was the last time you felt like you were working from a state of flow and ease in your business? Recently, I have been delving into learning more about the flow state because I am on a bit of a mission to create more consciousness in how I run my business.

The flow state or being "in the zone" is your optimal state of consciousness. As intentional business owners, getting into a state of flow can positively impact how you run your conscious business and manage your energy. For me, I would find myself in a state of flow when doing something creative like design, branding, coaching or concept creation. Working within this state of flow has been proven (based on research from McKinsey) to increase productivity by up to 500%.‍‍

In your flow state, you may feel like you are "in the zone" and may experience:

• complete immersion in what you are doing.
• energized from your work.
• joy from being in the "deep now".
• distortion of time (faster or slow).

One way to get into your flow state is by controlling two key factors:

1. Skill.
2. Challenge.

Match what you are skilled at with something that feels challenging. This allows you to focus in on that particular task whilst also feeling confident that you can complete it.

3 Steps to get into a state of flow

Step 1 : Increase your skill level

Practice or build your skill or expertise so you feel competent & confident doing it. Example: Get better speaking in front of a camera by practicing on Insta-stories.

Step 2 : Find your focus

Apply your skill or expertise to a task or project. Example: Create my first Youtube video of me speaking.‍‍

Step 3: Make it challenging

Adjust the difficulty by setting a goal for the project so that it feels challenging but achievable. Example: Create a 20-minute video tutorial on something that I am comfortable speaking on.

5 things that can help you get into your flow state faster

1. Commit to a single task, no multi-tasking set a clear finish goal.
2. Do focused, deep work for 90 minutes using the Ultradian rhythm.
3. Listen to ambient, binaural, alpha, theta or classical music.
4. Quiet internal distractions like meditation, yoga, journaling before you work.
5. Remove external distractions in your environment.