Treat your Calendar Seriously with Morra Aarons Mele

On this episode of the Plan Simple Meals Podcast, I’m really excited to talk with Morra Aarons Mele, an author, founder of a social impact agency, Internet marketer, and mom of three.

We started talking about the myth of balance, which led into discipline, boundaries and limits. Morra talks about being an overachiever who has learned to execute and move on. And we discuss how sometimes we violate our own boundaries, especially how we treat our bodies.

We talk about:

• the magic of being an ambitious introvert
• finding your vision: what you want, what your boundaries are and what the non-negotiables are
• managing your digital life and creating an online presence that works within your boundaries
• the idea of work-life fit
• putting everything on your calendar
• respecting your own needs—and your calendar

BIO

Morra Aarons-Mele is the founder of award-winning digital agency Women Online and its database of women influencers, The Mission List. Morra is the author of the forthcoming book Hiding in the Bathroom: An Introvert’s Roadmap to Getting Out There (When You’d Rather Stay Home).

LINKS

• Women Online
• The Mission List
• Hiding in the Bathroom: An Introvert’s Roadmap to Getting Out There (When You’d Rather Stay Home)
• Morra on Twitter: @morraam
• Quiet by Susan Cain

Doable Changes from this episode:

• CREATE A VISION. Schedule a little time to think about what you actually need, what your boundaries are, and what your non-negotiables are. This is the starting point to creating the life you love. So for now, start by listing those three things. 
• CREATE DIGITAL BOUNDARIES. Because we live in the digital age and can be connected 24-7, doesn’t mean we have to be or should be. What are your boundaries around being connected? There’s no right and wrong, but having boundaries is really helpful. Try setting one boundary this week—don’t check your email after 8PM or put our phone in a basket during dinner. 
• PUT EVERYTHING ON YOUR CALENDAR. Respect your needs by scheduling everything on your calendar—including down time. Go back to your boundaries and vision and notice how you are feeling when you look at your calendar. If it is too jam packed, find what can give and add some more off time. Schedule some in before you get too busy.

REALLY getting healthy as a family can be a big lifestyle change. But no matter how insurmountable it may feel, focusing on one doable change at a time can help you take small steps toward your big goal.

A healthy lifestyle is really made of lots of little things that when repeated regularly and added together over time make a huge impact on your life.

Choose one Doable Change every Sunday night — one thing that you are willing to play with for the week. The key is to keep it doable and fun! Write that thing on a sticky note or your phone so you remember it. Then put 3 things on your calendar that support it.

Choose from the changes above or download a list of 101 Doable Changes we made for you.

http://plansimplemeals.com/101-doable-changes/

If you are as psyched as I am to grow veggies on a patio this summer and indoors all winter, you are going to want to check this out! I have watched friends have these for years, and am so excited to have my own! (Psssst… There are amazing curriculums that have been created by the company, to make these a no brainer for schools too!) Read more here, or contact, tower@plansimplemeals.com to learn more, and set up a free 20 minute phone Q and A.