My " TO DO" List

---Nest boutique fall apparel ---( Side note, be sure to go check out the Nest Boutique to find all of the cute pieces to this outfit and MORE!)

Each day I have been starting off with a to do list, which is so not like me but has helped me in so many ways to start good habits! Each night I have been writing down the " TO DO" list for the next day. It usually has a theme of the same things and a few tweaks to appointments or homework that needs to be done. I am not a crazy to do girl and actually hate lists..But I have noticed that when I write it down and have it on my night stand to put a check mark on in the morning, I actually do it and a few things have turned into habits already where I do not have to check the list. That is my main goal for this entire exercise. I wanted to share what is on my regular to do list and how these tiny things have been impacting my life in small ways!

1. Wake up -- Thats a good thing to have on there haha.. What I really mean when I put that is wake up EARLY. You get so much more out of your day when you rise early! Start fresh.

2. Read Book Of Mormon -- This book. It has literally been changing my life and really changes your mood for the entire day! I am way happier on days that I took the time to read before I leave the house. 

3. Make Bed/ Morning Prayer -- Making your bed first thing in the morning makes you feel like you accomplished something already. It helps to start your day off right! Also I have made it more of a habit to pray in the morning. I can't fall asleep without saying my prayers at night but in the morning it has always been a struggle.. Just as reading the BOM has made a great start to the day..saying morning prayers has too! 

4. Exercise -- Just by doing the tiniest little workout in the morning helps get your blood flowing and brain going! Some mornings when I am running late I will even just do sit ups, crunches, wall sits, and plank for a little..My real workout is at night or on days that I don't get up early to head to work. You always have a little time to do some exercise though! Even a short amount of time makes a big difference if you do it every morning. Successful, happy and productive people make it a priority to get moving every day! 

5. Get Ready -- REALLY get ready..You feel good when ya look good;)  But really...Don't you agree? If you look like crap..you are going to feel like crap..But if you fake it you will get through hah. I remember in high school whenever I was sick I would always look the best..I would get so done up wearing a cute dress, makeup, hair curled etc..People would ask, " Whats the occasion?" I would just answer, " I'm sick today." Turns out this wasn't always the best idea because  I actually had a few people during the year who would ask if I was feeling good when I looked cute one day and I would get mad saying ,  " Can't I just look cute?!" Haha I guess I really only tried when I was sick hah!..Other than that I was all about the sweats and T life. 

6. Put the phone down -- My new goal is to not check my phone or be on it unless I am completely done with tasks or have down time. I am so sick of not being present with friends or just waisting so much time on my phone. You can live without checking instagram every minute...You don't HAVE to see others posts. I could rant about this for hours...But maybe that will be in a different post... Don't get me wrong I am on Insta a lot and love it...But I should be using it on down time.

7. Read for 30 min -- I have been making this a PRIORITY every day because I have really missed reading ( I use to be that girl that would make an excuse not to go out just to finish a book..Nerd alert) Now I say I NEVER have time..Yet I have so much time for instagram and that crap? Reading is GOOD for you..It exercises your brain, helps with grammar, and is fun! So it is usually random times but I try to pick up a book for at least 30 minutes or longer either in the morning, down times nannying, or before bed. 

8. Meditate for 30 min -- Lately I have been turning on some cheesy meditation music or some kind of piano music and just stop and completely relax my mind and body. I do this in the morning but no matter the time it is so good for you!. My sister who has been sick with Candida has been meditating and she has shared with us how it has really helped with anxiety and stress. Also, Harvard just did a study about meditation that is pretty cool! Check it out here ....

http://www.feelguide.com/2014/11/19/harvard-unveils-mri-study-proving-meditation-literally-rebuilds-the-brains-gray-matter-in-8-weeks/

9. Night time Gym or Yoga -- This is HUGE. Exercise helps you sleep better and Yoga is a great way to wind down. It can tie into meditation a tiny bit but is more of a way to remove bad toxins..Meditation is more about mindfulness. My goal has been to exercise for an hour/30 minutes every day and end with yoga.

10. One act of service -- For me this can range from just calling or texting someone to visiting or making someone food.. However small or big it is, it just makes you feel good. 

11. Chillax  -- How terrible is it that I actually have to put this on a to do list for myself? I always like to be on the go..That is not always a good thing! You NEED time to relax and just have fun. I have fun haha..But I rarely just decide to sit and watch a movie or take a break. So, I have made it a priority to just stop and actually relax and have time to do whatever I want! This can tie into hanging with my roommates or going out though..I don't literally say, " No guys I can't go out, I have to watch Netflix." Please no. 

12. EAT HEALTHY -- My whole life I have been pretty aware of eating healthy because of my health nut Dad..I use to be the kid in elementary that was embarrassed by my brown sack lunch of celery and fruit when my friends had to " Cool Stuff" like Pizza and fast food..I was embarrassed?? It wasn't till Junior High when I was grateful for my sack lunch as everyones elementary baby fat...was still on them..or....

Haha just kidding..

Recently I took a mini 2 week break and just ate CRAP. I am not lying when I say that it was the first time I had ever not cared what I was eating...I may have just slipped into the whole college life for a week or 2..But I am back on track because I felt DISGUSTING..My body can't handle certain foods because I have never eaten it or would rarely eat it! I had to do a little detox but I am back. I obviously eat sugar and yummy stuff occasionally..But I wanted to share my usual every day food choice:

Breakfast: Eggs, fruit, Water with lemon

Lunch: Peanut Butter and Honey sandwich on gluten free Udis bread, green grapes, salad, sweet potatoes

Dinners: Chicken, any veggies, any fruit, Salad, sweet potatoes

What I stay away from: Gluten, Soda, red meat, bad sugars..

Weakness: Chocolate milk.... hahaha. Which is funny because I hate milk and have to have calcium chews instead.  

(Obviously I eat more than these things...But the gist is I try not to eat Gluten..) 

Some days I mess up on my to do list..Sometimes you have to add on, 1. Doctors Appointment, 2. Date with Billy...then date with Bob.. haha just kidding;)..You get the point though..But thankfully these habits are small and take little time and we have 24 hours in a day...It’s easy to think of all of the good habits we wish we had. As it turns out, setting good habits can be a powerful way to achieve our goals and help keep us focused and organized. Once a good habit is etched in our brain, we’ll be much closer to achieving our goals without even thinking about it. This post was to share the original things that are always put on my to do list...But my list always has about 10 different things on there.. I promise you these habits have truly been helping and impacting my life. I guarantee if you make an effort to even do one of these habits each day you will be happier! To do lists are a pain..And can be so annoying..But make a GOOD to do list to help remind yourself of goals and sooner or later you can throw the list away and your goals will be AWESOME habits forever!