"You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be." - Napoleon Hill
NOTE - This post was originally posted in January 2022. I felt that the message in the post is still and always will be relevant.
Welcome 2023! It's a new year - time for change...new thoughts, new goals, another year to get things right.
In October I decided to take small break from baking until March of this year to recharge and get a better perspective on work/life balance. During this time of non-baking, I am working on some things around the house, working behind the scenes tasks for the business, and building a stronger foundation for this blog, spending time with family, and taking the time to relax and enjoy life.
I am finding that pacing myself, setting small goals, and doing what works for me, is working perfectly. I am not rushing to do what everyone else is doing, and I am trusting my instincts to know that everything works out in due time.
With that said, I would like to share a few things to keep in mind for the new year.
Set Goals
Create a list of your goals. Break down the list into a timeline: Yearly goals, monthly goals, weekly goals. Whatever works best for you. The list can be as simple or as detailed as you like. What do you want to accomplish in 2023? Make more money? Stay consistent with daily tasks? Take a new class? Drink more water? Gain more social media followers? Write it down so that you can have that goal right in front of you and can hold yourself accountable for completion. Review your list at the end of your goal date. It's a great feeling to cross the goal off your list see what you were able to accomplish.
Take Care of Yourself
Self care is non-negotiable. As the saying goes, you can't pour from an empty cup. Take time to do things you enjoy. Get a facial, get a massage, go get that mani-pedi. Get lots of rest. Even a simple cup of tea will suffice, if that's what makes you feel good. As business owners, we constantly have business on the mind, even when we are not supposed to. Take a walk, watch your favorite TV show, eat a healthy snack. Do whatever is going to make you feel your best at all times.
Have a Strong Network
A strong network is SO important. We fail to realize that, especially during these challenging times. Your network can be family, friends, or fellow business owners that you can turn to personally and professionally. Meet up (remember to practice social distancing), call, text, or meet virtually just to say hello, have a good laugh, or bounce ideas off each other,. I am blessed to have strong family relationships, a small circle of friends, and baking network that I can lean on.
Make Life Easier for Yourself
We have technology and calendars for a reason - to make life a bit easier. If you can automate/schedule any tasks at home and for your business, do it.
Professionally - I have found that allocating specific days for administrative tasks (website management, online ordering) and baking help keep my week in order. Utilize apps like Planoly to schedule social media posts,, and Canva to design the posts. Instacart has been awesome as it saves me time from doing my baking shopping in-store and spending extra money.
Personally - When doing tasks around the house, I set my timer for 30 minutes. If a task is completed before the 30 minutes, I move on to the next item on the to-do list. These ideas can help maintain a good work/life balance.
Boundaries
SET BOUNDARIES. Let's say that again - SET BOUNDARIES. Everyone doesn't need access to you all of the time. Boundaries alleviate stress, worry, and everything associated with not holding your ground.
Breathe
There will be times when you just aren't motivated. Trust me, I have several of these moments (almost everyday it seems). Take a step back, take a deep breath, and do nothing. If you aren't feeling it, don't do it. That's your mind/body telling you you need to take a break. Step away, take a nap, take a walk, or my favorite, go get something good to eat. You will be surprised at what happens when you take a moment to breathe. You will come back with a clear mind, fresh ideas, and ready to go.
Enjoy What You Do
Last, but not least, enjoy what you do and shine. Your talent is a God given gift. Do what you do and shine, throw glitter, and sparkle while doing it.