by Carmen Ohling | Oct 10, 2019 | Live.
People always tell me that they need more time in their day.
I disagree.
I believe that what you actually need is more energy. The amazing thing about energy, is that you get to protect it! You can shield yourself from distractions and other things that drain your energy. (This topic is something that we can ALL use – even myself.)
It’s probably no surprise that one of the biggest distractions for most people is their phone!
Did you know that the average person checks a social media app around 10 times (or more) per day. Often times, we end up reaching for our phones out of habit! On top of that, we don’t even realize that we’re checking it!
Fun fact: Studies show that when you check one of your social media apps, you’re average session is between 10-20 minutes. The math is clear and simple.
If you check your phone 10 times a day and spend 20 minutes each time on it, you are spending nearly 3 ½ hours of your day on social media! (And you say you need more time, huh?)So I ask, why are you on social media in the first place?
Most responses to this question including “trying to connect with friends or family” or even “connecting for business reasons”. But the truth is that most people fall into the 90/9/1 rule.
Here’s what that is:
- Most people are spending 90% of their time are consuming information.
- 9% of the time we are interacting with information.
- 1% of the time we are actually creating a post.
My next question for you is, what kinds of content are you consuming?
Often times, we are looking at people and wondering why we aren’t doing what they are doing, or we’re comparing ourselves and feeling less-than. These kinds of thoughts take up so much space in our brain!
This content is not building us up, it is sucking energy out of us.
It’s completely distracting us from all of the things we’re trying to accomplish in the first place!
So – if you are trying to get things done while dealing with these distractions, think of what you could be doing with the 3 ½ hours social media may be taking from you.
We have less than 90 days in 2019 and that means that if you still want to take powerful steps forward to reach your goals, you may need to tweak some of your actions. I’ve got you covered – here is a challenge and a tip.
Challenge: Don’t hop on social media for the rest of the day and cut yourself off mid-day for the next three days. I encourage you to do this as thoughtfully and as intentionally as you can. Don’t just try to rush through the next 10 hours and celebrate by curling up with your phone before bed. Really think about how checking out for a bit makes you feel.
- Are you more present?
- Are you actually listening to what your family and friends have to say?
- Do you feel more engaged with the world around you?
- Are more focused and alert?
- Are these feelings you haven’t felt in a while?
- Do you want to keep feeling this way?
If so, you can try incorporating something called ‘batch working’ into your routine. There are plenty of apps that can help with this, but essentially you’ll choose one task to focus on and turn off all notifications so Facebook, Instagram, email, etc. aren’t there to pull you out of focus.
I want to hear from you! Email me at carmen@carmenohling.com and type “I’m in!” the subject line so I know that you’re trying to make this change. I’d love for you to check back with me after your three days and let me know what showed up for you…..
I’m so excited to see what you discover.
Wishing you a ton of light and love,
Carmen
by Carmen Ohling | Sep 25, 2019 | Live.
Here’s some real talk – DON’T TAKE YOURSELF SO DARN SERIOUSLY ALL THE TIME!
Ever feel like life is feeling really heavy? Our jobs are demanding. Our family life is demanding. It’s as if time is slipping through our fingers and everything feels so high pressure. When we live our lives trapped by our to-do lists and driven by the outer expectations we think we have to live up to, we tend to respond in a certain way… by acting as if everything is always on the line.
I’m here to tell you that it is time to shake all of that off because the only thing that mentality does for you is dampen your big, beautiful spirit that the world needs to see!
If this resonates with you and you feel like you need to have it all together, I encourage you to try one of the things on the list that will help take the weight of the world off of your shoulders.
1. Lean into being silly
Have you ever been lucky enough to pull up at a stop light and see the person in the car next to you throwing a dance party in their car? They are totally feeling the song, singing along and dancing as if no one can see them. Well, a car tint only takes you so far, but I don’t want that to stop you! Lean into being light hearted, lean into potentially causing people to laugh. Life is too short to let your self worth depend on who’s watching or acknowledging you. Dance to the beat of your own drum. Literally!
2. Appreciate the positive, laugh at the negative
Hey, it could always be worse…Whenever it feels like you just truly are not having any luck, focus on the things that are in control and the rest? Take it with a grain of salt! Remember, you can’t always control what happens, but you can control how you respond. Your response doesn’t have to be negative, or uptight, or one made out of panic… you are an incredible woman who can handle anything that is blown her way.
3. Toss out other people’s opinions
An amazing quote that I’ve heard before says, “It’s not the critic who counts…the credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena.” Do you know what this means? It means that while you are off living your best life and living up to your highest self, other people’s opinions don’t mean anything. You can try new things and even if they fail, you showed up and that’s probably more than they can say! So don’t be driven by fear, do the best you can and laugh along the way.
4. Smile more!
Now, I’m not saying to fake it until you make it, but I do know that how we act is how we feel. So be playful! Wear the brightly colored dress! Put on that shade of lipstick you’ve been dying to try. Go out with your friends for lunch even if it’s just for small talk. Take the time to do the things you find enjoyment out of rest assured that everything else will be fine.
I hope this was helpful for you! Just remember, you’re freaking amazing and life doesn’t always need to be so serious. If you’re having a hard time letting go of your to-do list or are still feeling constrained in life, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! We can set up a free 15 minute call to discuss how you’re feeling and brainstorm ways to work around it. I am always here to chat and guide you through it, so you can change your mindset to bring you back to the lighter side of life.
Wishing you a ton of light and love,
Carmen
by Carmen Ohling | Sep 20, 2019 | Eat., Live.
Have you heard of the 90 Second Rule? This is something that I have used to become super conscious of my relationship with food. (Don’t think you have a relationship with food? Keep reading!) I will definitely share the 90 second rule with you below, but first, let’s start with some questions…
- Ever find yourself reaching for something sweet or indulgent anytime you’re going through a hard time? (Aka using food to numb yourself of unwanted emotions)
- Are you familiar with reaching for a snack when you’re sitting on the couch as you try to find a TV show to watch?
- Do you need more than one hand to count the times you’ve eaten out because a friend or coworker invited you to lunch or Sunday brunch?
- Is there a certain of the day you routinely pop open a bag of chips or candy?
If you said YES to any of the above, it’s time to interrupt this negative pattern and enter the world of food freedom.
But let’s be honest, for starters, I have been guilty of saying YES to all of the above which at their core mean using food in unhealthy ways to –
- Numb your feelings
- Entertain yourself when you’re bored
- Fit in with others
- Mindlessly eat out of routine rather than necessity
Again, I have been through all of these before and never stopped to listen to my body and check in with myself. It felt like a never ending cycle that I could not break. ⠀
Now, what’s this “food freedom” thing you ask? For me, food freedom means eating when you’re hungry, eating a variety of foods that make you feel good and having the utmost control to refrain from eating half a jar of peanut butter at a time.
Here’s how to get started. Use my 90 second rule! The 90 second rule works because when we experience a feeling or emotion, it only takes 90 seconds for us to feel it and allow it to pass. By sitting with yourself for a full 90 seconds, it stops you from reaching for food, it interrupts the pattern and it allows you to be in control of your choice. These are the steps –
✖️Whenever you feel like you’re itching to eat something, stop and be still for 90 seconds to check in with yourself. ⠀
✖️Feel the feeling you are trying to ignore. Is it stress? Worry? Sadness? Boredom?
✖️Ask yourself what you need- do you really need food or do you need to have a conversation, go for a walk, take a shower… do something that continues to interrupt your “normal pattern.”⠀
✖️Repeat as many times as needed. ⠀
At first this will be challenging and it should be, you’re trying to break years of programming! With practice, it will get easier and you will start to see and feel the results! ⠀
Need help working through this? This is only a part of what I help many ambitious women, just like you, work through in order to level up in their life. I’d love the same for you! If you’re interested in learning more about what having a coach is like, email me at carmen@carmenohling.com and we’ll chat about it.
Wishing you a ton of light and love,
Carmen
by Carmen Ohling | Sep 11, 2019 | Live.
We have all been there… those those days where we just feel our energy feels completely depleted.
As women, we are constantly juggling a million different things such as our family needs, children, work, and personal goals, so I understand why it’s easy to feel burnt out by 2:00pm. But I am here to tell you there is always something we can do to help our energy levels!
Here are some of my own quick tips that are natural and simple ways to heighten your energy and show up powerfully in your life.
- Get Moving
Move, Move, Move! Get outside, take a WALK. There are several benefits to walking such as increasing your energy, but it also will allow you to increase muscle strength and endurance which will reduce body fat. So get outside and connect with nature!
- Drink Up!
Well, drink water that is. A quick hit of 10-12 oz of water can make a huge difference! Often in today’s rushed society, we are dehydrated. Not having enough water impacts the flow of oxygen to the brain and causes your heart to work harder to pump oxygen to all your bodily organs making you more tired and less alert. So try keeping a bottle handy for when you feel like you’re slowing down.
- Sit Up
Sit up straight in a chair, feet flat, shoulders down and pulled back. Take a deep breath in then exhale. Repeat this 3-5 times. Many of us naturally breathe very shallowly, especially when stressed- taking a few deep breaths will invigorate you!
- Dress Up
Feeling down over a period of several days? It’s been shown that people feel the way the act. So instead of reaching for clothes that you know you could easily take a nap in, take a shot at wearing something bold and bright as the energy you’re hoping to radiate!
I hope these tips can help you give you that burst of energy you need to own your day! If you’ve been following my content, you know that I am a huge advocate of protecting your energy. My wish for you is that you will discover, protect and radiate the most amazing and beautiful light that already lives inside of you! If you need any help with that at all, email me at carmen@carmenohling.com so we can get you on the path to having endless energy.
Wishing you a ton of light and love,
Carmen
by Carmen Ohling | Sep 5, 2019 | Live.
Have you read or seen the interview on YouTube about Kim Kardashian pursuing a career as a lawyer? I know not everyone may be her fan, but you can’t neglect the work she is putting in when it comes to wanting to be and do more. It is awesome to see her being unapologetic about who she is and going after what she is being called to do.
Here, as we see it a celebrity who has it all but feels she hasn’t truly fulfilled her life’s purpose. It is empowering to know that our soul will always crave more and that we are all capable of achieving all that we desire.
We all have those few things that not only excite us about life but ultimately give us life. Those things that allow us to vibrate on a higher level making us contagious to those around us, so contagious they want to know what we are doing so they can feel the way we do!
Here are some things that excite me in life:⠀
- Doing what I know I am called to do which is empowering women to become obsessed with their own lives⠀
- Living simply, with love, kindness & freedom ⠀
- Taking the steps to reach my dreams and live my best life, unapologetically and on my own terms ⠀
- Empowering myself to fully shine every day, which empowers other women to step into their power and fully shine. And then, the BEST part, magically the ripple effect of those gorgeous women empowering the amazing women in their lives. ⠀
Ask yourself right now, what truly excites you? If you have a hard time answering that question then try answering, what are the most important things in your life?
It is time you pursue something you love that is purposeful and authentic.
It is okay to sit down and think about your future, set goals, and visualize what you want your path to look like. Your future and the path you visualize must resonate with your heart and not someone else’s version of success or happiness. Your life, your success, and your happiness are all in your hands.
After you figure out what excites you, see how you can make it your reality. Remember from my last blog, you don’t need to have all the knowledge on how to make this happen. Simply taking any action – regardless of how messy that might be – is the first step.
Is more romance in your marriage exciting to you? Maybe finally putting that date night you’ve been wanting on your calendar is the first step.
Is getting a certificate or degree in an interesting area of study exciting to you? Perhaps researching a few top or local programs for your area of study and reaching out to get more information from admissions is something you can do.
Is the idea of having a circle of like-minded women you can count on exciting to you? Maybe going to women-centered work out classes or book clubs is the way you can start connecting with them.
Whatever it is – take action. Because here is the thing about pursuing things that excite you… your whole life starts to change.
You might notice that it’s easier for you to jump out of bed in the morning because you have things to look forward to. Your mindset may be more positive because of the confidence you’ll gain from actively creating a life you love. You will feel stronger and more powerful because you know you’re the one in control of your own life!
I am so excited for you to begin your journey of what excites you and gives you life. If this blog resonated with you, email me at carmen@carmenohling.com and let me know what action you’re taking to create excitement around you. Also remember, I am always here to help so if you need some ideas on how to move forward, shoot me an email as well.
Sending you a ton of love and light today,
Carmen
by Carmen Ohling | Aug 23, 2019 | Live.
If we’re being really honest here, the fact is that most people know –
- What foods are nourishing to their body.⠀
- That they should practice daily movement.⠀
- That they are super overwhelmed and should reduce stress.⠀
- They numb out with food and alcohol and this is an issue.⠀
- They should save more and spend less money.⠀
- Know what they need to do to reach their goals.⠀
The list goes on and on…..⠀
The biggest problem that prevents people from meeting their goals, and pretty much the real cause of their daily suffering, is that they are not able (or willing) to take action on what they know. Or, perhaps they do take some sort of action, but it’s an action that is a non-essential one and is not going to actually help them move forward. Here’s a classic example…
Have you ever decided you wanted to start a workout regimen? You might have gotten this big wave of inspiration and felt like you were really ready to stick it this time so the first thing you do is… buy a new workout outfit. Then, that outfit maybe sees itself through one or two workouts before getting tucked to the back of your closet. Does this sound familiar? For many, it does! Dishing out money in order to feel like we’re making progress is the easy part. Sticking to workouts that leave you drenched in sweat and out of breath, not so much.
There could be many reasons why the example above fell through though. Maybe being at the gym surrounded by people who look like they know what their doing while you fumble your way through a few machines is intimidating. But that still doesn’t change the fact that you know you should be putting in the work.
Maybe you’re going through a period of burnout at work and you know you should try to take a day off or not work late into the night, but the thought of letting go or missing an important email is stressful! But that still doesn’t change the fact that you know you won’t be able to maintain that workload forever.
We all know what we need to do, but we procrastinate, make excuses and let our fear of failure and judgment cripple our action.⠀
Enough is enough.
Simply knowing is not enough.
You must take action in order to get to where you want to be in life. So tell me, what are you going to choose? What is your next step?⠀
Not sure where to start? Feel free to send me an email at carmen@carmenohling.com and I will personally help you develop your first step!⠀
Sending you a ton of light and love,
Carmen
