I always say, life is a journey. Sometimes you are running top speed through the valley and other times you are grasping for oxygen at high altitudes. Most times you are going steady through long stretches of mini climbs and plateaus.
from pinterest
But one thing I’ve started recently saying to myself is that I’ve got to live life like it’s rigged in my favour. And that statement alone has made me realize that through self and situational awareness – you can quickly see what activities and behaviours are supporting you and what are self sabotaging you.
from pinterest
Below I share 7 ways to stop self sabotaging yourself. Whether that’s in personal relationships, with you 9-5, business pursuits or personal goals – consider how you may be engaging in these activities and how it’s effecting how you live your life.
from pinterest
💫 leave any situation where you are not valued
💫 deprioritize your mental wellness for anything
💫 what everyone else is doing
💫 disregard your feelings, instinct, needs or emotions
💫 showing up as someone you are not
💫 stay on a path just because it’s the path you are on
The kids had a PA day on Friday and we decided to go to the AGO! PA days can be hard to accommodate as a working parent and our usual PA day is some form of winter activity and lots of TV. But we decided to change things up and I took a day off to spend time with the girls!
It’s been about 12 years since the last time I went to the AGO (embarrassing!) And in hopes of not repeating my 12 year absence, I got a yearly pass!
The girls had a great time. The big open space, engaging environment and children’s spaces made for a great few hours of culture!
Below are some tips on how to make the most of your next trip with the kiddos to the art gallery!
Plan to spend 2-3 hours at the art gallery. That might mean packing snacks, water or even a lunch
Find out if the art gallery has amenities like coat check, digital passes & free stroller rentals. This will just help you plan your day
Figure out what exhibits you want to check out. Maybe there is a limited time on an exhibit or maybe the theme/topic of the exhibit will resonate with your family (ex: for us it’s Indigenous or anything related to South Asian culture)
View the art in different ways: up close, at at distance, on an angel and don’t forget to read the plaque!
Talk about what you see. It could be as simple as “did you see the bottom of their shoes” or “how many of xyz do you see in the painting” to “what does this piece make you feel”
I cannot take credit for this. But I really wanted to share it. (Edit: all pictures are from Pinterest)
I’ve been following @Art0fLife_ on twitter for a few months and I love when people re-share their content. It means 1) it resonates with folks and 2) it needs to be shared more.
The 9 habits shared by @Art0fLife_ are very specific, so I’ll be sharing them with a more consistent mindset as opposed to a “follow this exactly to find results”.
Should preface by this saying, I’m will a Work in Progress. I do do a handful of these, but there are areas where I know I want to improve.
Image from PinterestImage from Pinterest
Wake up early at the same time every day: really dependent on what time you go to sleep, but if you know the hours of sleep you need (somewhere between 6-8 for most of us) you can get into bed and get that sleep in consistently. Why wake up early? because you get time to yourself and it ensures you are ahead of everything and anyone
Journal daily: Don’t know what to write? brain-dump, goals, gratitude list, thoughts that make you spiral. Getting things out of your head will dramatically improve your creativity and mental wellness.
Learning/Studying for 30 min a day: This is so important for anyone and unfortunately we do less of it in mid life and beyond. Whether it studying certification material (hello scrum, agile, data or product) or hobby (wood work, coding, knitting, content creation). Learning creates increase neural pathways and can also help you create multiple income streams.
Exercise daily for at least 30 min: not only for the physical side, but also for the mental wellness side. Consider ways to incorporate cardio (swimming, running) and resistance training (weight lifting, resistance or body weight exercises).
Meditate for at least 5 min: Essentially sitting in silence or with a guided mentation will help you practice mindfulness and give your mind a break.
Create a proper sleep schedule: including a wind down routine. This will do wonders for your performance, productivity and mood.
Walk in nature: I love my forrest baths. Nature is a proven way to improve anxiety and increase happiness. It helps to also get the creative juices flowing. I would love to do this daily but it’s only once a week currently. Will be looking to improve this.
Read 20 pages a day: read anything (fiction, non fiction, self dev, poems, history etc). Reading an actual book helps to improve focus and knowledge (even if that is just what a word means and how to spell it).
Drink 2.5-3L of water daily: water is essential to our body and our recovery. So staying hydrated is key.
I think feeling your emotions is an important part of the human experience. But in certain contexts it’s great if you get yourself out of the mood you are in.
Sharing a few hacks on how to change your mood – quick!
Today’s post is a quickly, but I wanted to just share that today was a great day. I was very intentional and it manifested in productivity, professionalism and amazing time with friends.
Toronto is a great city and there are no end to the fun, festive and free things to do around the city during the holiday season! Be sure to bundle up and be sure to check out the list below on some ideas on how to enjoy the season (on a budget)!
*NOTE* images are not mine and have been referenced below.
Distillery District
The last time I went to the Winter Village was 2019, and the photographer in me wants to re-create this magic through my lens! This place is full of beautiful sights (every corner is perfect for a selfie) and tastes (thank you coffee and chocolate)! Entrance is free on weeknights before Dec 27th + children under 9 are free of charge!
Yorkville is beautiful any time of year, but having it all lit up makes it amazing. The best photo op would be in the light tunnel! And the christmas tree totally gives Rockefeller Center vibes!
This rink is ALWAYS jam packed so keep the little ones close to you and on the edge of the rink. The best part about skating here (other than – it’s FREE as long as you bring your own skates and snacks) is the MUSIC. Whether it’s 90s christmas pop or top 40, you’ll have a great time whipping across :)
Miniature displays and twinkling lights? Sign me up! I’ve yet to check our the Royal York windows but I’ve heard that they are enchanting. Grab your mocha or hot chocolate and enjoy the stroll past these beautiful displays!
We recently went to Las Vegas! This is actually my 5th trip to sincity (and 3rd trip with at least 1 kiddo!)
We tried to do some new things this time. So sharing some of what we got up to! All activities are family friendly (aka dooable for the kidos and the grandparents!
Hike in Zion National Park
After our Banff Trip, we knew our kids enjoyed hiking in nature. So we weren’t going to let a 3hr drive stop us from experience that is Zion National Park. There is a variety of hikes for all level of hikers but of course we stuck to the easy paved hikes. I would have loved to spend another day or two there but doing the lower Emrald pools hike was a great taste of Zion. The views are breath taking. And going in November meant you weren’t dealing with the desert heat.
Venice Gondola Ride
This quick copy cat ride of the famous gondola experience in Venice is a great activity for any age. This is my 3rd ride, but my youngest one did this for the first time when she was 5 months old! Although the ride is super quick (under 15 min) there is an opportunity to learn about vegas, hear a beautiful serenade and enjoy some time in a boat on the water (always relaxing)!
Flamingo Habitat
This place is a vibe! In the middle of the Las Vegas strip is a gorgeous outdoor setting with palm, trees, waterfalls and cute animals! This completely free activity is like a trip to a mini zoo. Kids of all ages will love the animals and watching the fishes (which are mesmerizing to watch on the bridge).
Seven Magic Mountains
7MM is an outdoor art display of stacked colourful boulders. It’s a great place to do an IG transition and they are even safe enough to climb (carefully ofcourse! for the perfect shot) I did read if you got at 9am, you’ll beat the crowds, but we went mid afternoon to get the most sunshine!
Cereal Killersz
The Cereal Killerz Kitchen is actually a Cereal Bar. They have every cereal ever made + some rare ones that were only available for a short time and then of course some you haven’t head of! The best part was that they have alternative milk options! You can a classic cereal and milk bowl, or a millkshake. I would definite go back here next time!
