“How do you have time to do it all?”

Not only is this a question that I get asked on a regular basis, but it’s also one that sparked the idea behind my business. As an executive virtual assistant I rely on organization and routine. But more than anything else, I rely upon my own self- care rituals that I have developed over the past fifteen years of being a working millennial in a world that prizes productivity over all else.

So when I am asked questions about being able to take on more work or how I could possibly handle the overflow of six separate businesses, the answer may not be glamorous but it’s true: I center myself in my day first, and that makes everything else easy.

By starting and finishing my day with well-carved hours of ritualistic self-care, I am honoring myself, my intuition, and my needs for a non-negotiable portion of every single day. I am negating any possible burn out or resentment by making sure that my needs are never questioned or ignored. So rather than reactively acting and fulfilling to-do’s, every single day is purposefully spent filling the cups of my clients- the women based businesses, entrepreneurs and overwhelmed individuals who have sought out my services. And not only is it easy to complete the tasks before me, but I do it with gratitude and joy because my sense of purpose is tied to helping others. 

Ok, enough preaching. How did I go from feeling overwhelmed, overworked and under-appreciated in corporate fitness to running my own business helping other hard-working women make themselves a priority? How do I center myself as a business owner? Here are three simple steps to do just that:

• Start every day with 30-60 minutes of time to yourself. A whole hour can seem daunting, so if you’re new to a self-care routine, start with 15 and work your way up to 30. Stay away from your cell phone, laptop or any blue light if possible. I use this time to stretch and breathe every morning. When I’m called to, I’ll journal- usually about my goals and ambitions but sometimes about things as small as why I love the smell of coffee so dang much? Avoid pigeon holing yourself into the same routine everyday. If your morning routine starts to feel like a chore then it’s time to switch it up! Remember this is your time to make yourself the main character- listen to what your body wants and follow your intuition as to how you spend this time.  If possible, spend a few minutes in the natural sunlight to center your circadian rhythm and signal to your body that it’s morning and time to start the day- trust me, this will go a long way with the nighttime routine as well. 
• Remember your why- look at it every day. This may take some self-discovery, and it can come in many different formats. It took me fifteen years to discover that my “why” was helping women support their lives. I worked in child care centers and schools, in body positive fitness and wellness spaces and everywhere in-between. Eventually I recognized that all of these jobs and years of experience were connected by my drive to help women become the best and most fulfilled version of themselves separate from what mainstream media dictated this look like. After this lightbulb moment it was easy for me to pivot my business to support my why in a way that I was set up for success and able to help the people I feel driven to help. I find it helpful to write it down on a post it so I can see it everyday and am grounded in my purpose whenever I sit down at my desk. Do you want to inspire change? Do you see yourself in a leadership position? Do you want to be a role model for children or the next generation? Maybe it’s more personal to your story- take some time to recognize the why behind how you are filling your day and ground yourself in it through everything you do. 
• Intentionally work with gratitude and appreciation: give love in every single task, even the ones that feel mundane and ordinary. This one might seem a little fluffy, but I can honestly say it has completely changed my work ethic. Circle back to your why: what is your purpose, your drive, what challenges you and drives you to grow and change and evolve? And is your current lifestyle supporting your why? I find when you are centered in YOUR purpose, everything else falls into place. So things that may have seemed tedious before, now feel less so because everything you do, big or small, is grounded in your purpose. 

So, how do I get it all done?

I make sure my needs are met first, so when it comes to helping others- not only do I feel motivated but I am excited! I genuinely want to make the calls and stay on hold, to organize your inbox and write out your calendar invites because everything I do is grounded in my purpose.

When it comes down to it, helping you, the busy entrepreneurs and the women who are running a million miles a minute, is helping me. Once you find your purpose, everything else will fall into place.