How do you Quiettime?

So, how do you orchestrate your quiet time? Do you have one to start your day? Have you considered it? Let me share what I do and how it helps me. As a very busy dressmaker and entrepreneur, I must start my day in the early morning before the day noise sets in, which is usually when the sun comes up. I have an Ethan Allen hutch that I open up, turn the inside light on, and begin to lay everything out. I have strings of white lights in my studio that I turn on for ambiance. I don’t turn on the big light until I’m ready to get to work. I get my hot tea, one piece of toast, vitamins, a few cashews (I read they are good for your mental state), and treats for Truffles, my studio dog. I sit down at the Ethan Allen and start with opening my journal. I write what I’m feeling, how yesterday went, if something happened, and/or I just check in to say I have a busy day ahead. Lately, I have incorporated a little Innercise to help me release anxiety, fear, and overwhelm, which helps me focus and gain clarity. When I can do that, then I am more aware of where my focus is. Is it on my problems or challenges at the moment, or is it on my plan or solution of the day? I realize there is a difference and that you can’t do anything about that which is challenging or troubling if you zero in your focus on it rather than the solution. After this guided visualization, I read a little bit out of my bible and sometimes note a verse or two that speaks to me in my journal in a different color of ink. All throughout at this point I jot down notes of things in pencil that I need to remember to write in my plan of the day (POD) on a piece of scratch paper. (I love freshly sharpened pencils and different colored ink pens.) Once my bible reading is complete, I pull out a sheet of my planner paper, date it, and begin filling it up from the 5:30am half hour to 7pm. Once I have done this, I am ready to go for my day.

So, how do you do your quiet time? If you don’t have one, I hope this inspires you to at least start thinking about creating space in your life to have one. I can’t imagine not having one. I need a plan for my busy life. To be successful, a plan is always a good idea.

-Michelle