Top three tips for making your life easier

 This part week, I started to get the sneaky sense that fall is just around the corner. I know it’s a month away, but suddenly people are talking about school, final vacation plans, signing up for after-school activities. All of that is happening now, and all I can think is no! I don't want it to be fall. I want summer to keep going forever. 

One reason I love summer is that it makes things feel easy. When the sun is shining and school's out, I just feel like it's easier to relax and let things flow. But as the leaves start to turn, and change is in the air, and the responsibilities of the school year loom ahead, it feels like that easiness is coming to an end. It's time for structure, alarm clocks, and mega to-do lists. I start to get a pit in my stomach, and it's saying, Oof, this is going to be hard.

But you know what? Just because things get busier and more regimented doesn't mean they have to get harder. In fact, "hard" and "easy" are states of mind. We choose which one we want to feel. So it's up to us to make sure we're not making life harder for ourselves.

Of course, it's not always easy (ha!) to remember that. So here are three of my favorite tips to help you keep coming back to that place of ease. 

1. Create an environment that's conducive to what you want.

We all have things we don't want to do. I really should work out tonight, or Ugh, I have to go to work. Thoughts like those just add weight to our shoulders as we try to convince ourselves to do the things we hate. So create an environment you love, where you'll want to go to do those things. Bring your treadmill out of the dirty cellar and into your living room, where you'll be more likely to use it. Decorate your office with plants, pictures, a yoga mat, whatever - so that you want to be there. You'll get more work done, and you'll feel more at peace while you're doing it. 

2. Let go of the belief that in order to succeed, you have to be stressed

Many people believe that productivity and stress come hand in hand - and so, sometimes unconsciously, we invent something to stress about, just to make us feel more productive. Change this belief by consciously telling yourself, I am productive, I am doing enough, and any other affirmations that ring true for you. Watch your self-talk while you're working: do you gripe about how hard it is? If so, make a conscious effort to focus on what's positive. Remember that the most successful people are the ones who prioritize self-care. Make sure to do at least one act of self-care a day – whether that's a hot bath, reading a book you love, or going to bed early.

3. Use your doubts to your advantage. So many of us wake up with the belief "I don't have enough time" – and that thought just sucks our energy right out. Next time you have a thought like that, try this trick: ask yourself, "Well, what do I have time for?" Even if it's just a 10-minute run, or knocking out a half hour of work before a meeting - take advantage of those small chunks of time. You'll be surprised how much you can accomplish. 

Use this approach for other energy-sucking thoughts, too. If you catch yourself thinking "I'm not good enough," counter that with "What are you good enough for?" If it's, "I don't know how?" Well, what do you know how to do (even if it's just one thing)? How can you learn what you need?

It's so easy to fall into a pattern of thinking life is hard. The funny thing is, it's believing that that makes it real. This is especially true when we're facing change or an unknown, like with the school year creeping closer every day. Just remember: you have the power to create your day. You can make your life easier – no matter how many things are on your to-do list. 

Go out, be easy, and shine.