IS THIS MISSING FROM YOUR DAILY ROUTINE?

DO YOU INCLUDE A DAILY FAST WRITE AS PART OF YOUR ROUTINE? IF NOT, YOU MIGHT BE MISSING OUT ON SOME BIG WRITING AND BUSINESS BENEFITS. SEE WHAT THEY ARE...

 

Is this Missing From Your Daily Routine?

by: Kel Amstutz
Friday, March 13, 2020

WRITE EVERY DAY. 

How many times have you heard that very advice?

It's important. The more you write, the quicker you will hone in on your skills and improve what you do. And, the better writer that you are, the easier it is to earn the income you want.

When you are new to the game, to make your daily writing habit stick, it is best to put it on your calendar and treat it like a client meeting.

Once you have clients... and projects... and deadlines... writing every day is not a habit. It's a necessity.

If you want to make your clients happy and delivery good work on time, it takes a daily commitment (or, at least, that's always been my experience). So, the writing-every-day advice.. well, it gets heeded without your even thinking about it.

But, whether you are new to writing or you have been at this for a while and you're earning a solid living, there's a type of writing you can do EVERY DAY that will clarify your thinking, uncover new ideas, provide lots of fluff for your own content and marketing materials, and... and improve your writing skill and speed.

This sounds pretty freaking amazing, right?

It's also super simple. Anyone can do it. It doesn't matter what you skills or experience level is... you will get great things out of the exercise.

I know what you are thinking... enough already. What is this simple, powerful writing technique you are teasing me with?

IT'S FAST WRITING.

WHAT THE HECK IS FAST WRITING?

Well, it's not some ground-breaking thing. You probably ALREADY do it from time to time.

You just sit down at your computer - or, if you want to stay old-school, you can use pen and paper. Then you set a timer for 15-minutes. And... you write nonstop and without censoring yourself until that timer runs out.

Hey, I said it was simple. But, it's not as easy as it sounds.

Writing nonstop is hard. You have to LET GO of any notion of being perfect in what you write/type on that page. And, writing nonstop without censoring is even harder, because we want to fix everything we recognize as not being correct... and, we want to fix it RIGHT NOW. (you know it's true!)

By doing a fast write EVERY DAY, either before you begin your work or at the end of the day before you wrap up, you will train yourself to get out of your own way when you are writing.

That alone is reason enough to set aside 15 minutes a day.

When you learn to write without editing as you go, you'll see a big jump in your productivity.

You will also notice yourself starting to have better ideas. That is because the writing process uses the creative side of your brain, and the editing process uses the analytical side of your brain.

If you keep shifting OUT of writing mode into editing mode every two or three minutes, you never really let your creative juices flow freely. You are denying yourself full access to your amazing creative zone.  And that means, even if you do good work, you won't be doing your best work.

But, when you give yourself more time in your creative zone, your writing ideas start to get more interesting, fresher, and more original.

Writing this way has another benefit, too...

It's fun!

As humans, we pretty much live for two things... (okay, there are probably a few more, but there are two for certain.)  We live for connections with others and experiencing the creative flow state of mind... or that mental state where time doesn't seem to exist, you are completely unself-conscious, and everything just seems RIGHT.

The Flow State of Mind can happen in ALL sorts of activities... from hosting dinner parties to playing music or taking a walk in nature.  And of course, writing...

Allowing yourself to write without editing, as the 15-minute fast write trains you to do, will give you readier access to your creative flow state.

But, the benefits of this exercise do not stop there.

CLARIFY YOUR THOUGHTS, AND EVERYTHING GETS EASIER

You can use your fast write time to gain clarity on anything that's giving you trouble or that you're having a hard time expressing.

You know how sometimes you have an idea, but when you try to share it with other people, you have a hard time conveying the weight or importance or beauty of it.  It's a frustrating feeling.

It's so obvious to you that what you're trying to explain can be transformative. But, you just can't make the other people see it.  What's worse is you know it's a weakness in your own communication that's making it so hard to share it in the impactful way you mean to.

When you find yourself in that situation, at the beginning of your daily fast write, think about that problem, topic, or idea for a minute or two.

And then, start your fast write.

Because of the fluid nature of the fast write and because you aren't allowed to stop writing and think about what you're trying to say... you'll find that sometimes your thoughts begin to organize themselves in unexpected ways.

By the end of the session, you may just have the answer you have been looking for... the perfect expression of a big and important idea.

SAY GOOD-BYE TO WRITER'S BLOCK

When you fast write like this every day, another fun things starts to happen. Writing just gets easier. You are so versed in the experience of sitting down in front of a blank page and filling it, that when you sit down to work on a project the words just start coming.

Is it going to be ground-breaking work every time? Of course not.

But almost every time, it will be work that moves you forward, which means you will have an easier time staying in front of your deadlines and you might even find that you start completing some work ahead of schedule. How cool will that be!

FILL YOUR EDITORIAL CALENDAR

The fast write is also a great tool for coming up with ideas for your blog, your marketing materials, or your client's blog or email newsletter.

A blog is a big commitment.  Your readers expect to hear from you on a regular basis, right guys!

That can be daunting. What if you run out of things to say>

The 15-minute fast write can put an end to all that worry. Make one or two of your sessions each week about generating ideas based on recent experiences, conversations, or things you have read recently.

With that in mind, begin your fast write and just start listing ideas... nonstop, of course.

You will be surprised at how many ideas you are able to list off in a 15 minute period, when you put this kind of pressure and constriction on yourself. And, you will be even more surprised by how many of the ideas are useful and fresh. They won't all be, and that is ok. But, if you come away from each fast write session with even just five workable ideas, things will start to accumulate!

Within a few short weeks, you will have a running list of interesting and useful ideas for your calendar... or perhaps for your client's.

Writing every day is a great habit to get into. But, once you are writing every day for clients, make sure you are still spending time each day writing for YOU.

By doing a 15-minute fast write, you will tick that checkbox... and you will come up with more high-quality ideas... and you will improve your writing speed and skill. This is totally worth the short time commitment.

Give it a go for one short week and see what you think. Then... share your experience in the comments below.

MORE CLARITY AND MEANING THROUGH STILLNESS

IN OUR MEDIA-RICH, OVER-STIMULATING SOCIETY, IT'S HARD NOT TO BE EXHAUSTED. THE PRACTICE OF STILLNESS CAN BRING MORE MEANING AND FOCUS TO YOUR WRITER'S LIFE. 

MORE CLARITY AND MEANING THROUGH STILLNESS

By: Kel Amstutz
Friday, March 13, 2020

We live in a world that is noisier and busier than ever, right now.  Social media, a nearly constant stream of notifications from our phones... the 24-hour news cycle (which right now is all about COVID-19), instant access to everyone through text messaging and messenger apps. 

Recent studies are showing that, on average, Americans check their phones every 12 minutes (that is nearly 100 times per day!), and we are spending more than three hours each day staring at those tiny screens...

This sounds crazy, right?  But, it's facts people. I have triple check those numbers, which are growing daily.

So, what does this mean? 

Well, it means that it is harder than it has ever been to turn off your mind and just be still... be quiet. 

But, without that much needed down time, it is absolutely impossible for you to be at your very best.

If you find yourself longing for a more peaceful and meaningful life... it you have a desire to unlock your maximum potential, but you just can't seem to figure out how to get to where you want to be... the answer might lie in that stillness. 

In our media-rich, always-on, over-stimulated, over-scheduled, often-lonely society, it's harder than ever not to be exhausted - emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally.  And, doing those great things you want to do... you feel like you need to do... well, there rare when you are just down right exhausted! 

So... What can you do about it?

A few year ago, I discovered a disciplined practice, in one form or another, derived from all the greatest, wisest creatives, thinkers, and religious philosophers in our history - from the Stoics to the Buddhists, from Confucianism to Christianity. 

It's an ancient art... of slowing things down and quieting the mind, so you can be still... and, in that stillness, "see" clearly...

Stillness is the practice of simply being. 

The idea is rather simple, but it takes great discipline to achieve it.

I have found that the practice of Stillness come from routine and rituals.  To dig deeper, you must fight temptations... and strengthen your soul from such temptations.  This is the key to being about to be better at whatever and anything you do.

Think about it. Too often being still is confused with being idle or ambivalent. But, I've found that  being still is actually a key skill on the path of self-mastery, discipline, and focus. Being still helps you stay on the path. 

Stillness is what fuels creativity and inspires new and fresh ideas.  It is the foundation for becoming the master of one's own life.  Stillness makes space for presence and gratitude.  It allows you to succeed at your main thing. It is... the key. 

The key to being better... a better writer... a better human... a better parent... a better artist and helps unlock your full, true potential. 

 

I am a little hesitate to "tell" you how to practice Stillness.  It is something that I am still learning. It is the practice of just be yourself.  But, perhaps that is the value I can bring to you... as someone on the same journey of learning to find Stillness, to find the focus to be present... to find clarity. 

The techniques that I have found and use to practice my 20 minutes of Stillness each day come from tips and tricks I have read about, even blogged about previously in my posts. They are to: 

• Set a Time Each Day. Schedule this time. I put my Stillness time on my calendar as an appointment to ensure that nothing else can invade that time slot.  My time for Stillness is previous to me, it is a time that I schedule before I go to sleep at night, to quiet my soul and set my intentions, finding my clarity to ensure that I am able to keep the main thing... the main thing. 

I end my day with my Stillness, after I have completed my habits... my journaling, my creative writing... my stretching. 

I very briefly quiet my mind and find a few moments of Stillness before I lay my head on my pillow.  Then, I am able to end my day with peace.  

• Find a Place to Connect Your Mind, Body, and Spirit.  To be truly still, you must be physically still, your mind must be quiet, and you must feel at ease with yourself and the world.

For me, that is the easiest to achieve when I am getting ready for bed. I simply get comfortable. I connect with my surroundings by using my Himalayan salt lamp, my calm oil simmering, surrounded by nothing but quiet. This allows my mind to become quiet just before I end my day. This has the wonderful effect of connecting my energy with the energy of the sleep that I am about to embark upon. This is my quiet spot that has the right vibe that I am seeking. The main thing for me is to be in a place where I am not interrupted. 

For your Stillness practice, you just need to find a spot where you won't be interrupted, at a time when you can really focus and connect with yourself. 

• Set a Time. At this point, some advocate setting aside 15 minutes a day. Early in my practice, I didn't have an extra 15 minutes, especially when my kids were younger.  I started with just five minute stretches. That was enough to get me in my zone. Now a-days, I have some extra free time before I go to sleep, with my girls being a bit older and less needy and I can be still for 20 minutes. That is a good fit for me at this point in my life, but what is right for you will undoubtedly be different. 

One factor to keep in mind... it is surprising how the perception of this time can change from day to day. Some days 20 minutes seems like forever, but on other days, it goes by almost too quickly. 

I set a time to make sure I spend the intended amount of time in Stillness... and to make sure I don't get lost in being still and end up missing my bedtime altogether. 

• Relax Your Body. As I noted above, I prefer to sit in my bedroom, closing my eyes, I have even incorporated crystals to help myself have a physical connect to Earth.  You might prefer to sit in nature, or in a soft, comfortable chair with your eyes closed. To each their own.  The most important thing is to be in a place where you can truly relax. 

Relax your body deliberately.  Pay attention to your muscle tension and it's release.  Then, become physically and mentally quiet.  If being still is difficult at first, try to engage in any mindless physical activity, like rocking in a chair or watching something in its natural motion- like a fire or perhaps running water. 

To assist with the physical relaxation and mental quiet, I have used a recording of the ocean.  Listening to the natural sounds has helped to aid in finding mental Stillness in me.  Try falling rain, a thunderstorm... whatever helps you attain a state of relaxation. 

• Quiet Your Mind.  This will likely be the biggest of your challenges.  It was for me. It is very common for me to achieve a moment of mental Stillness and then I have some random thought (or several...) and get off track.  Don't worry about it when this happens.  Just recognize it and then return to your Stillness.  The more that you practice... the longer you will be able to hold your mind in a place of Stillness.
• Be Present.  I don't mean just physically present. When I say, "Be Present," I mean be aware, mindful, in the moment.  Don't think about the past regrets you might have. Don't think about your hopes and dreams in the future. Instead, collect your thoughts and be present - in the current moment. It is the most important time that you have. In fact, it is the only time you have.
• Learn to Focus You Mind and Feel the Moments (to Return).  This might be the most helpful component of being still.  What I am talking about here is learning to recall a "place or time of peace." To recall a mental picture of experience where you achieved a particularly vivid experience of peace and stillness.

For me, I go back to the time I spent lying on the beach in Oahu and being in a perfect state of Stillness as the sun beat down on me, warming my soul and the sound of the ocean surrounded my whole being.  

These profound moments give you a way to bring peace and calm forward, during your Stillness practice, or at any time you need to, really.

I resisted Stillness for the longest time, sticking to my belief that being Still was just a waste of time.  I was so wrong. 

The busier, noisier, more hectic my life became, the most I realized how important it is that you make the time to just be still.  It will help you rest better. It will help you stave off that dreadful burnout. It will help you focus on the things you want to achieve and help you put your best effort into whatever you are doing at any given moment. 

Even if you can only start off with five minutes a day - DO IT! 

You will soon see the difference it will make on your life and you will be so glad that you did.

With a Stillness practice, it will not matter how tough yesterday was, or how difficult today is looking to be. When you are at peace, full peace with yourself, you will find focus, clarity, and the meaning behind the tasks before you. And, everything you do will be that much easier, that much better, that much more joyful... because of it!

{DEAR MOM WHO WANTS TO STAY HOME}

Dear Mom Who Wants to Stay Home With Her Kids,

I see you. 

Getting up each morning and leaving your babies. 

You want to stay home, but just can’t afford it.

• I see you. 
• I have even been where you are. 
• I promise you that it is possible for you to be a stay at home mom.

After I had my first kiddo, I felt that tug... that grip that was almost choking me. I knew I wanted to be able to stay home with her. 


However, I believed it was just a “pipe dream”, something that we could NEVER afford to do. Only rich people were able to stay home with their kids. And we were far from rich….

Then...when we became pregnant with baby #2, I knew deep in my heart how hard it was going to be to go back to work and leave two babies behind.

I did though. I went back to work. I sucked it up each and every day and left my babies. I missed my first child's entry to pre-school. I missed drop offs and pick ups. 

This is where I knew I had to make a change. I had to find a way to be home. I had to be there for  my family....

So, the HUNT was on. 

• I scoured the internet. 
• I searched the help wanted pages. 
• I stayed positive and hopeful.
• I did NOT give up. 

My kiddos were Five and Three when I finally "Got the Job" and was able to create my home office. A Company had faith in me, my reference were spot on and I was finally... 

H O M E. 

The job was tough, but I muddled through it, giving it my all, putting my best foot forward. I had recommendations that fell on deaf ears, I had process improvements that were unappreciated, I even stayed five steps ahead of management, but it wasn't enough. The market was closing in on our small the inevitable finally happened after one, short year. 

During that year, things were good. 

• I had sick kids, no problem. I took them to the doctors and flexed my work schedule to accommodate. 
• School functions, it's OK. I was a good worker, I documented my time and was super accountable, just for the sheer fact that it was a work at home position. 

With one door closing and another opening...which was not a work at home position, I rolled with the punches. But, it was like God was trying to tell me that there is so much more out there for me. 

• My heart longed to be with my family. 
• My kids missed me. (Not that Hubby did not rock out mornings and after school routines) 
• I missed them all. Seeing my Hubby on the weekends is not my cup of tea and leaves me moody and miserable. 

• I needed to change our life. 
• I needed to get back home. 
• I needed a plan of action so that we could live comfortably with me back home.  

So, naturally, being the planner that I am it was time to figure it out...

How was I going to be a work at home mom again? 

I sat down with my Hubby and here is what we did, and 

Dear Mom, I believe you can do it too!

1. We  wrote out our Budget: The fact of the matter is that you cannot cut expenses and manage your money without a budget. 

2. It was time to cut our expenses: Believe me-you can do this! There is SOMETHING you are spending money on that you don’t have to. How about eating out? If you are home, you will cook more, meaning less money buying out. You will also have more time to price match, and even clip coupons. Gas will be less because you will not leave the house ever day. You will also save money on child care, work wardrobe, and other purchases that may be related to your job.


3. We talked about saving the money from our paychecks: After you have made a budget and you know what you can cut out, designate a set amount each paycheck to go directly into a savings account. This will help give you a “cushion” when you quit your job. This is not the same as an emergency fund (which you should also have).





4. Then I started looking for a way to earn a little extra income from home: This will ease you or your spouse’s mind, or if you are coming up short then this is a good option. I have a business, It Works!, in which I went Ruby earning a $500 bonus and currently earn around $1500 a month. I am a Marketing Network Rep and I literally work from my Cell Phone utilizing Instagram. I do this while my kids play, in a matter of seconds. It is that easy and I am making half of what I made with my State Job, and I have the potential to grow bigger and bigger. I am making my dreams of being a stay at home Mom reality and I am here to help you make your dreams reality too! I would love to coach those who have the same goals in life as I do. Don't get me wrong, I work hard, I hustle, but to me, my goal, my dream is to be home with my kids, to watch them grow, to have financial freedom and to not miss a thing. I don't want to earn a paycheck, I want to live a life with a great paycheck to match. 

Dear mom, if you truly have a desire to stay home then I hope these financial tips will help encourage you to take that first step. For me I spent $99 dollars and now I have my own business! 

Staying at home does not have to be a pipe dream. 

You CAN do it, and it will be a step that will allow you more time with your kids, more memories made, and one that you will likely never regret.

MY WEBSITE: http://kelamstutz.myitworks.com

Check it out today and CHANGE your LIFE!

@KelleyAmstutz

/kel.amstutz

KAMSTUTZ09

Wellness with Kel - A journey to a better Life, a better World, a better ME...

Six months ago, I joined a company based on my passion for providing a Non-Toxic lifestyle for my children.  

• I bought the products.
• I tried the products. 
• I loved the products. 

Then...I was demoted to part time in my job and backed away from my home business future.

I didn't start the business to "sell" the products, but instead, I wanted to get the great discounts. The thing is: 

• I love the products. 
• I stand by the products.
• I USE the products.

I feel good about the company and I want to share my passion for what the company does for my family, promoting good health, showing me (yes, literally!) the benefits of using the products and I want to:

GROW my home business. 

I know, it took me six-months to discover what was already right in front of my face. I am a slow learner! 

Six months ago, I sat in on a conference call (with slideshow) and listened to a pitch about a company with products that promote health and wellness to be used in the home. I had a moment of enlightenment as I saw the scientific breakdowns and the energy that came from the presenter. 

I wanted to learn about the company, as it was winter and I had spent the past three months (if you follow me on Facebook, you know this) of battling one sick kid, then two sick kids and many, many doctor appointments and trips to the pharmacy. 

Maybe the products that I use in my everyday life were actually harming my kids, causing their immunity levels to be deficient and unable to built up to fight off the colds and flu's that were inhabiting our home. 

I ordered my products...that very night, after that conference call. With these questions looming around in my head. I had to find out...was there truth here?  Could the science back up the affects of curing these sick kids? 

I switched my kitchen cleaners first. With much skepticism, I might add.  

I tossed out my "kitchen" wipes and moved to a plant based disinfectant. The product is shipped as a concentrate - the company does not want to sell you water, after all.  I ordered the handy spray bottle for a few extra pennies and got to mixing.  The bottle even has measurements, this Mama loves easy stuff! 

It smells a little different. I would not say bad, actually the fam loves it, it smells very clean and fresh. It handles messes like a champ (picked up a microfiber cloth also!) and this skeptical girl started to see the effects in a days time.

My kids were getting better. (no joke!)  

OK. I can dig this.

So, my next move was the laundry. I mean, clothes are kind of a big deal in our house...and since I am blessed with two girls, it would be nice to have jeans that stand through the first one, right.

Well, this is where I am truly blown away. 

First, the clothes smell so clean. Then, the detergents are made to clean, not break down fibers.  Next, after the clothes wash, then dry, my lint tray is virtually empty.
I am not kidding.

No Lint.  

Now, usually, I have a hairy monster in the lint trap, so this was SHOCKING to me!

But, it doesn't stop there.

We have switched just about everything as far as cleaning products goes and seen a HUGE difference.

The dental products are amazing. I am in love with the toothpaste. Plaque build up has disappeared and they even have Cinnamon flavor, I mean, Close Up brand cinnamon toothpaste... MOVE OVER! (do they even make Close Up anymore?)





Vitamins are important as we get older and the line of multi-vitamins is amazing. Energy is not a problem here! Hubby and I am avid users.

My point is, the convenience is great, ships right to your door step, and the prices are on point!   The products are amazing. The benefits for health and wellness, I have seen with my own eyes. 

My family is healthier because of this opportunity.

I have found the PASSION.

I can help you create your own story with a company that has great products...




One of the best things about the company is that the income you earn can be passed to you children, in the event that something happens to you, which is something that is unique to this company.




If you just want to check out the GREAT products and see the benefits for yourself,

REACH OUT

I can help you with product knowledge, the business, or just what the company has done for me in just the six short months that I have been lucky enough to be apart of a better life.

I would love to present to you the products, the pitch and get you as excited as I am about this opportunity and get you using the products, endorsing the products and earning a stay at home living, along with myself!

Let's talk!

Click on the links to email now!

http://tinyurl.com/kelcares

@KelleyAmstutz

/kel.amstutz

KAMSTUTZ09

Also posted on: https://kam0900.wordpress.com

And... introducing: 

I am very excited about the new Diffuser and oils. The Diffuser uses high frequency vibrations to create fine mists and without chemicals or heat!