5 Tips on How to get it all DONE.

Life seems to never slow down and as the saying goes … “There is never enough time in the day.” As many of you know, I am currently studying for my Master’s in Nutrition, working a part time job, staying FIT, and staying on top of it. You might have the same feeling of “how do I get it all done,” but at the end of the day you should be loving the life you are living. You make time for things that are important to you & sometimes I think that means taking a look in the mirror and figuring out what is a priority to you and the life you want to live. This blog will give YOU tips to succeed, build confidence, and keep you inline for a healthy and happy life, while still getting all your sh*t done.

+ Make time for exercise / a run / a workout – I attribute a lot of my success to starting my day in a healthy and active way. I always say that just 30 minutes of exercise a day will change your life & I stand by that statement. If you make time for yourself everyday, before your day gets crazy and fills up, I promise you will be more present, show up, and hold yourself accountable for your daily tasks. Sometimes I think half the battle is just believing in yourself, so if you get your workout done in the morning, you don’t have time for excuses later in the day. Running has given me so much confidence in my daily life and allows me to really take care of my mental + physical health. I am able to feel present throughout the day, manage stress, improve my concentration, motivation and mood. Staying active after retiring as a college hockey player has given me mental clarity, confidence, and purpose throughout my daily life. Build positive rituals that are realistic to your lifestyle and stick to them. The stronger you become, the better your life will feel in the long RUN. Everyone starts somewhere & I always say; a little is better than nothing. So put on your running shoes, sneakers, or Skechers 😉 and GET MOVING.

+ Make a list of the 5 most important things you need to get done – If you follow me on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/kathleen_ash/ you may have seen me bring light to this topic before. I read the book Atomic Habits in the beginning of 2021 and this is something that James Clear mentions in his book. I highly recommend this book for EVERYONE. When my life really began to get busy in college I had to figure out how to balance studying, playing hockey, a relationship, a social life, and getting my everyday sh*t done; which meant a list would be the most helpful way to stay organized. So before I even read this book I was all about creating lists. I truly think that if you have a plan that is written out (or typed) you are much more likely to complete the list. Before you go to bed, write a list of the top 5 most important things you need to get done the next day. Every night before I go to bed I make a list of 5 of the most important things I need to accomplish the following day. Sometimes my list consists of things like: 5 mile run, finish exam / school work, set up dr. / self care appointments, go to the grocery store, take car for an oil change … you get the point. Staying organized and having a plan will not only improve your time management skills, but allow you to focus on the most important tasks that need to be completed.

+ Keep a tidy and clean environment – This may sound strange or pointless, but hear me out. Have you ever heard someone say “When your room is a mess, your life is a mess.” I swear I cannot function in a disorganized environment. Everyday I make time for a little bit of cleaning, tidying or laundry. If you keep up on your chores, it won’t make your life as miserable when it comes time to clean. I never go to bed with a sink full of dishes, a disorganized living space, or an extremely messy room. I truly think that if you live in a mess, you have to consider why its such a mess and maybe stay in on a Saturday night to get your place in order. Cleaning is also a huge stress reliever. You feel accomplished, successful, and the reward is a tidy space and mental clarity. I might be a little type A when it comes to being clean, but when my living space is clean, my head feels clear, I can think straight, and I am much more efficient.

+ Evaluate your sleeping habits, prioritize self care & build in time for rest + recovery– Getting an adequate amount of sleep each night is crucial to succeeding in your everyday life. During the week I try to be in bed between 9pm and 10pm. I am someone who definitely needs a lot of sleep so this is something I am never willing to compromise. I try not to schedule too many things during the evening on week nights to ensure I get a good amount of sleep. Something I am trying to work on is self-care everyday. This doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive, but I would like to incorporate this more often in my daily routine instead of just on Sundays. If you incorporate self-care in your daily routine you will fill your cup, feel refreshed, reduce stress & feel your best. Some self-care ideas are: hair care routine, full skin care routine, manicure / pedicure, sauna session, massage, reading, watching Netflix, or a nap. I’ve stressed the benefits of daily exercise, but I am also paying more attention to my rest + recovery days. If you want to succeed in anything, it is crucial to evaluate when it is time for a day of recovery or a complete rest day. I am working on this in the New Year and prioritizing R&R just as much as I prioritize my exercise routine.

+Plan a few days ahead & make time for the things you LOVE – Life is short and it is so important to make time for the people you love and the things that bring you pure joy & fill your cup. Scheduling your week on Sunday can allow you to better understand what tasks, routines, chores, and work that needs to get done. Get your sh*t done so you can stay organized, stay on-top of your life, feel accomplished, and still have time for fun and a night out to dinner or a lazy night on the couch at home. I prioritize the things that are important to me and make time in my busy schedule for the people I love and the things I love. This is crucial to living a happy & fufilling life. While this blog post is all about how to get sh*t done, it is also important to plan time with family & friends and let go of the stress of daily life.

As always, if you made it this far – thank you from the bottom of my heart for the love and support. If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it on socials or leave a comment! More to come in 2022 & let’s make this the best year yet!

With love,

Kathleen

Keeping Up With Kathleen

If you haven’t noticed, it’s been a while … & by a while, I mean an ENTIRE year. BUT I promise if you read this until the end … it will be WORTH your time.

What an eye-opening year we just witnessed; 2020 thank you for changing my perspective, opening my heart & mind to new ideas and most importantly for being the best teacher. Last year was one of the toughest years for so many people, including myself, but we got through it and we are stronger because of it. This blog isn’t going to dwell on the negative of 2020, rather find the silver lining of it all and carry it into 2021; to continue to be the best version of yourself and approach a New Year with a new perspective.

Remember it is the little things that you commit to every single day, that become the BIG things over time. Show up for yourself every single day; in your relationships, at work, in the gym, in your life. It sounds cliché but I promise if you commit to this, your life will begin to flourish.

A few things I am focusing on in 2021 …

To slow down, to take a deep breath & to give myself grace. We live in such a fast paced world, that we forget the importance of slowing down and taking time to rest & relax. I think that at times we all feel that we need to GO, GO, GO and we forget that our mental and physical health are more important than filling our schedules to the brim with activities that may not always fill our cup. I have made it a point to be careful what I commit to on the weekends and spend most of my time off from work, resting & relaxing or working on myself.

To enjoy each day, to find joy in the simple things & to be present in each moment. Over the years I have made the important things a priority, and sometimes I get anxious about the future or ahead of myself and forget to simply just enjoy the moment. So if you can relate at all, I encourage you to enjoy the simple things in life and be present. We all experience seasons of life and I strongly believe it is important to slow down and enjoy EXACTLY where you are at in life.

To be ALL IN. To stop waiting for a perfect time and to stop wishing for the perfect scenario. We have all witnessed how fragile life truly is and how our lives can change in a split second. Spend your days the way you want to and make the most of the time you have.

To be proud of the progress [you] have made. I realized that I could make excuses for myself on a daily basis or I could show up for myself on a daily basis. Discipline and consistency are key to success. Life is not about being perfect, rather making progress. You do not have to be the strongest person in the room or in the best shape of your life on the first day. Wherever you are in your journey … Just start. & I hope that one day you look back at your hard work & you are PROUD of YOUR PROGRESS.

This year I have committed to 75 HARD. I am on day 24 TODAY (January 27th, 2021) & I have never felt better. If you have any nudge or urge to start this program; here is your sign and I encourage you to just start. I have loved the program thus far. Before starting the program, I felt like I wasn’t giving my all in my life and I felt like I was making too many excuses for myself. I am committed to focusing on my mental health and on my physical health in 2021.

This year I have BIG intentions for my life. At the start of the new year, I began 75 HARD, I plan to continue studying for my Master’s in nutrition & continue to flourish in my daily life choices. Remember it is the little things that you commit to every single day, that become the BIG things over time. A few things to remember throughout 2021; find the silver lining in situations, put the work in EVERY SINGLE DAY, help people, support your friends; the people in your life, strangers, & most importantly be patient & be kind.

If you have made it this far, THANK YOU. I have pushed this to the back burner more often than I would like to admit. Life, work, studying for my Master’s, & fitness always seem to beat out the blog – but here I am, ready to start sharing again. Each year, around this time I get a spark inside of me to write, to share, and to inspire. So thank you for being patient and thank you for clicking on kathleenash.com to keep up.

Sweat, hydrate & be happy ⭐️

ATTITUDE & EFFORT

If you are succeeding, keep going. If you have doubt, keep going.

Attitude & effort— two things you have complete control of. I often get asked, how do you balance such a busy lifestyle while staying so positive & happy? Truth is, I’m not perfect, but every single day I try to have the best attitude towards whatever comes my way. I put in the most amount of effort into whatever I’m doing; working out, working, school / studying, chores, self-care, coaching, etc. However, I think it is so valuable to set aside an hour for yourself each day. This hour allows me to re-group, spend time reflecting, in order to be fully confident in the person that I am & the decisions that I am making for the day ahead.

Recently, I have been focusing on running. I run for at least 30 minutes, 5-6x per week. I try to take at least one day off per week, however, this is a struggle for me because I love how amazing I feel after a hard workout. But it is absolutely necessary to give your body time to rest & repair.  Running allows me to reflect, recuperate & gives me an opportunity to spend time alone. I have been running anywhere between 2 and 5 miles and generally speaking run about a 7:30-8:00 minute mile. I usually stay between 7.8-8.5 and every few minutes will add a sprint around 9.0, when I am running on the treadmill. However, with the recent change in the world & the closing of gyms, I have been running outside & have been focusing more on longer runs between 4 and 6 miles. I have been incorporating more stretching and have been doing at least 10 minutes (but I really need to work on increasing the amount of time I spend stretching) … so with the extra time I have at home, I have been making this a priority throughout the day.

I generally prefer to workout in the morning because it allows me to hold myself accountable & to stay dedicated. Life can get busy and sometimes it feels like there isn’t enough time in the day. It is important to set your priorities straight. I am not motivated every single day, but I am consistent and dedicated, which allows me to accomplish a workout everyday. I think it is important to push yourself and continue to grow each day mentally and physically to be the best version of yourself, even when you “don’t feel like it” or “don’t have enough time.”

The past few months have been a huge adjustment for me & I am still figuring the schedule that works for me, but I am more focused, productive & happy throughout my day when I start my day with a run / workout. I dedicate this time to take care of my mental and physical health. I promise you, you will be in such a great mood after you complete a hard workout and get a good sweat in. My days and my life are filled with so much more joy, presence, and pure happiness and I attribute this to working out.

As I have shared on Instagram, I recently started my masters in nutrition. I work a full time job, I am the youth ambassador for a hockey program & I still manage a healthy life style, a social life & time for rest / self-care. How do I make this all happen & succeed in each one? My ATTITUDE & EFFORT.

You are in complete control of your thoughts, choices & manifestations. Keep your life full of positivity & work hard in all areas of your life. Make time for important tasks & prioritize these tasks based on their importance. I am someone who always has to make lists & write things down on a calendar to keep myself organized. By doing this it allows me to focus on one day at a time & the tasks I have that day. I am able to be present, stay dedicated to myself and my obligations, while enjoying my life to the fullest.

It is important to get real with yourself to understand where you want to spend your time, energy & effort. Everyone is busy, everyone is tired & no one has time. You have to be honest with yourself and figure out what is truly important to you & your health, in order to achieve your goals & be successful.

You are in full control of your attitude AND effort. Life is never perfect & there will always be hiccups or bumps in the road, but that doesn’t need to affect your attitude nor your effort.

Whatever journey you are pursuing or whatever direction your intuition is pulling you in, put your best attitude & effort in, ALWAYS.

If you are just starting your fitness journey, start small, but put your best attitude & effort in. If you need encouragement or motivation, do not hesitate to reach out to me. One push up, one glass of water, one positive affirmation. Do it for YOURSELF. Take care of YOURSELF and be good to YOURSELF.

I wish you all health & happiness.

Sweat, hydrate & be happy ⭐️

2019

 

Hi everyone! I hope you are well. First of all, thank you so much for following along! I am so excited to get my website up & running and share my journey with all of you. I have huge goals for 2019 & I can’t wait to share them. For me, I love the New Year- it is a time to reflect & a fresh start. 2018 was a packed year for me, full of adventure and surprises. A time to learn & grow and clean out clutter in my life.

A few things I learned in 2018.. stop comparing your life to others. Focus on yourself and your goals, but be happy for other people’s accomplishments. Eat as healthy as possible, but make sure to stay balanced. Your health is the most important thing in your life. NEVER take it for granted (I’ll get more into this later). Happiness should be your #1 priority because if you aren’t happy with yourself, you will never be happy in life. Sweat once a day. I promise you will never regret it.

2019- about to be a year full of change, growth, and new beginnings. I have exciting news to share(…later), my last semester of college, graduation, and a future career. My passion is health & fitness and I aspire to create content for others to be inspired by. If you’re not about the fitness life, don’t worry, you might come around and if not, that is okay too. You can still follow along. There will be more to my website than just health & fitness. I also love eating(…dessert), my relationship & family, and life… don’t forget, fashion.

My goals for 2019 are super simple. Health & happiness are at the top of my list. Both being #1. This passed year I had a bit of a scare with my health and realized how gosh darn important your health really is. If you aren’t healthy how are you supposed to be happy, enjoy your family, and adventure throughout this crazy life? You can’t. Take care of yourself. Being happy is key to a successful life. The little things in life will make you the happiest and they are so simple. I encourage you to make your health a priority in the New Year & strive for at least a little bit of happiness in each day.

Share your goals with me if you do wish. I would love to hear & be a supporter of your unique journey as well!

That is all for now,

Sweat, hydrate, & be happy ⭐️