Work-Life Balance: Finding a "Home-Base"

The idea of balance has been haunting me for a few years now. I tend to go from one extreme to another. I'll feel overwhelmed with too much work then bored with not enough. I'll feel anxious about socializing then feel very lonely. I'll feel very inspired and motivated then listless and lethargic.

I think it has to do more with understanding my personality and needs than it has to do with true "balance." I'm still learning how to manage my extremely introverted nature.

Work-life balance, and balance overall, is about balancing energy. But you have to know what truly drains you in more than just the physical sense.

Everyone's idea of balance is different. It is possible to work 60 hour weeks and still be happy or sacrifice money to work part time and be there for your family. You can think of it in terms of what's important to you, but that might get muddled by what you think SHOULD be important to you. Remove any guilt and really dig deep.

Does writing for your blog and inspiring clients make you come alive? Does the thought of a new book and a comfy night at home sound more appealing than a night out? Maybe you don't like the job you have during the day, but your side gig keeps you going. This is all okay.

Spend a week {at least} really paying attention to what gives you energy and what drains it. Make a list so you can consult it when you're starting to feel burnt out, frazzled and alone. It could be as simple as incorporating your favorite yoga class more often or scheduling in a night every week with friends.

Once you know what drains you and inspires you (gives you energy), come up with ideas and ways for you to return to your own personal "center."  Your life doesn't need to be balanced all the time. Just know when and how to return so you don't get burnt out. You'll create your best work when you know how to manage your energy.

How do you return to home-base and re-center yourself?

Where to Find Free Photos for Blogs {Round-up}

I don't really need to explain why stealing photos is bad, right?Thankfully, there are plenty of resources to get free photos.

Free Photos for Blogs:

• Where to Find Free Images for Your Blog --A helpful list of 16 free photo sources and the requirements to use the photos.
• search.creativecommons.org
• http://www.rgbstock.com/
• http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/
• Free stock images from Hubspot + other marketing goodies

Favorite Sources for Blog Images:

Death to Stock Photo While free photos are great, it takes time to sift through and find the high-quality photo that's just right for each post. I'm super-strapped for time these days, so I got a $10/month membership to dttsp. The photos won't be right for everyone, but they match the feeling and needs of my blog pretty well for now. They offer a free monthly option too, so I highly recommend checking them out.

Your Own Photography: Even if your blog is just for fun, taking your own pictures is a great option. You'll be in control of the content and may be able to add a personal element to your blog. While a lot of bloggers eventually opt for a DSLR camera, chances are you have a pretty good camera on your smart phone and there are plenty of easy photo editing options available online.

Afraid someone might be using your original photos? Do a Google Reverse Image Search. I also use this to check the original source of photos I find and want to use.

Do you take all of your own photos or find them online?

Vision Board Friday: Be Brave

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The Basics: 4 Health Tips for Entrepreneurs

If you're new to working from home and/or entrepreneurship or have gotten off track with your health, this post is for you! Feeling your best will lead to doing your best work. + Drink enough water Drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. Dehydration can cause headaches, muscle aches and false food cravings, among other things.

+ Move your body Set an alarm every hour. Take a short walk and stretch. Download a free pedometer app on your smart phone and aim to get 10,000 steps per day. Bonus Tip: Every 20 minutes or so, move your eyes away from the computer screen and look at something far away for at least 20 seconds. This will reduce eye strain.

+ Release stress Set specified working hours. If you have proper discipline and motivation, you can still take advantage of the flexibility of entrepreneurship, but try to limit stretching your work hours too far into the evening. There need to be boundaries between work and family/you time.

Being an entrepreneur is stressful. It's on you to land the clients, pay the bills and stay inspired. Find a way to release your stress and focus on your own wellness. When you feel good, you do your best work. Try meditating, yoga (my personal favorite!) or taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood.

+ Eat more fruits and veggies (especially green!) For those entrepreneurs who are working from home, this should be relatively easy. You're not hauling produce into an office or figuring out how to keep apple slices fresh for 6 hours. Try replacing one carb-loaded snack a day and go from there. Eating fruits and vegetables keeps your energy high without the afternoon blood-sugar dip.

What health + wellness habits have you adopted while working at home?

Vision Board Friday: Be Kind

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

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The Best Time to Write a Blog Post

Have you ever wondered when the best time is to write a blog post? When are you at your creative peak? While it may differ from person-to-person, I've come across the advice many times to write first thing in the morning, and it works best for me. Write in the morning before you do anything else and before the day can get to you. It's a similar notion to "exercise in the morning before your body realizes what's going on." This may not be an easy habit to start, though. Most people aren't getting the quality of sleep they should, so waking up with enough time to coherently write a few thoughts probably seems like a joke.

However, you'll be surprised what comes out. I've done it two ways: gotten coffee and gone to the computer -or- used an app on my phone without even leaving bed. Be careful, though. Don't be tempted to check Facebook or check email. I have a bad habit of leaving my work email open on my laptop, inviting me to tackle the never-ending barrage of new mail. Learning to control the urge will take time but feel refreshing in the end.

What if you take an hour...or 15 minutes even... to clear your mind and sort through a few ideas? Get your worries and stresses out first. Clear them away so you can think bigger. Have a section of your notebook/word document/online journal for personal thoughts and for the thoughts you want to share with the world (i.e. your blog post drafts).

Steps for writing in the morning: 1. Commit to a specific amount of time each morning 2. Choose how you'll write (computer, phone app, journal) 3. Choose your location (free from distractions) 4. Set an alarm for your time limit and don't stray from writing

Try it for one week and see what kind of results you get. I was very surprised! Blogging will be much easier when you have a collection of drafts and ideas ready to go.

Recommended phone apps with website access + syncing: Diaro 3 Evernote

If your experiment fails: The true best time to write is ANY time, as long as you're writing daily. Schedule it in.

Bonus Tip: Use a small notebook or phone app to collect thoughts as the day goes. Inspiration will strike at any time, so be ready to collect your thoughts, conversations and questions to use later!

How to Choose a Target Market

You have great ideas and skills to match, but you're thinking, "Why exclude anyone who can benefit even slightly from my services? There are so many people who need help!" First of all, congratulations on recognizing your passions and becoming an entrepreneur! Second, you can't help everyone, but you can get really good at helping a select group. A target market will give you a clear focus and make your marketing easier. You'll become an expert in your field. Plus, you can build up a network of colleagues in your industry (health coaching, graphic design, etc.) who specialize in something different. Build a referral network.

Reasons to narrow your target market:

+ You'll eliminate some of your competition. + Research will be easier (both to find clients and to help clients). + You'll be able to focus your marketing materials, blog posts and newsletters more easily if you know who you're writing for. + You'll get to know this group's specific problems intimately and become an expert. (Tip: You'll be able to charge more if you specialize.)

Questions to ask yourself:

+ What groups are you already part of? (Spiritual, hobby, organizations or other specific groups.) + What health issue or life obstacle have you overcome? + Do you have a specific passion close to your heart? Maybe a family member or close friend has dealt with a life-changing event. + What industries have you worked with in the past? What expertise do you already have?

Beginning steps to choose a target market:

+ Write down 3 target market ideas, with at least one being somewhat larger than the others. Is there any overlap? For example, "Young Women" and "New Mothers." You may want to try targeting "Young First-Time Mothers" + Do your research. Is there a need in those markets? Can you solve a problem for them? + Make a list of where you can find this group. You want to hang out where your target market is, not where your competition and colleagues are. This includes both in-person and online locations, such as the local yoga studio or an online forum.

Get to know your target market:

+ Can they afford your services? + What problems do they face? + What do they fear? + What goals and dreams do they have? + How do they spend their leisure time? Careers?

Answering these questions will give you a great start. Now it's time to start connecting! Get over to that yoga studio, local park or online forum.

Remember: There's nothing wrong with starting where you are and adapting later. This goes for marketing in general, too! Check in with yourself every 3 months and make sure this is the path you want to be on. Check your Google Analytics to see who you're attracting with your website. Don't know about Google Analytics? We'll get to that later :-)

Why You Need an Email Newsletter

I hear questions like this all the time, "I already have a blog. Do I really need a newsletter?" The answer is YES you need a newsletter. Here are some reasons why:

Why you need a newsletter:

+Everyone has email, but not everyone uses social media. It may be hard to believe, but it's true. My fiance refuses to join any social network.

+Social media channels are over-saturated. You have a better chance of reaching people through email. People are more selective about the emails they opt-in to receive, but they're more engaged with the ones they do. "It’s much easier to ignore a status update than a new inbox item."

+People won't check your website for new updates as often as they check their email (24/7 these days).

+"According to Experian, $1 spent on email marketing typically provides a return of $45 to $50."

+Your email list is your best tool. These people took the time to sign-up for your newsletter, so you know they're interested in your product or service. Plus, it's already targeted to your market. -OR- maybe you'll discover your market is different than you thought. The statistics from your email newsletter will tell you a lot.

How to get sign-ups/opt-ins:

+Offer an incentive. Make it a valuable piece of your work. Use an e-book, bundle of recipes, training videos, etc. This is a great way to demonstrate that you really are an expert in your field.

+Add opt-in forms to the following places: top of your side menu bar (so it's above the fold), in your header and/or on your "About Page." --Tried and true locations from socialtriggers.com.

+Social Triggers also warns that clutter on a website is the number one conversion killer. I couldn't agree more. Embrace the white space!

Recommended newsletter providers:

Aweber - Highly recommended by others, but have no personal experience Mailchimp - My personal favorite. Free up to 2000 subscribers, professional looking templates and connects easily to your website, social networks, etc.

Action step: Dedicate an hour this week to choosing your provider and getting your newsletter set up on your website. Schedule it in!