Author Archives: Chanel McLeary

So I will jump right in, I am a morning person so I naturally work better in the morning.

It really depends if someone is a morning or evening person.

So I use this knowledge to my advantage. Tackling challenging tasks first thing when I am at my best.

That alone of course doesn’t fuel me, I need to be hydrated to combat sluggishness.

Some days I need a very quiet environment and others I need music or a podcast.

Being in tune with where I am that particular day is key, as no two days are the same.

I’ve learnt I need a light breakfast each day any thing heavy makes me sluggish. Yogurt or pancake is enough fuel for me. It might be opposite for you maybe having larger breakfast helps you concentrate, avoiding the hunger pangs.

A weird one is since I was younger I’ve always requested a seat near the window. Even now as I work from home I still have my desk near a window. Believe, I’ve tried alternative seats and desks it really affected my mood and productivity. I really feel for people who work in dark or enclosed environments.

Equally if I worked outdoors with a desk I would find that too distracting. I like to see the outdoors through a window whilst working. I know it’s a little weird huh. As my son says ‘mum I think that’s a you problem’. Me and my strange quirks but that’s me and I’m sure we all have something that makes us different or extra cool.

Productive is unique to each individual and as a coach it’s what I do, working out what works best for each individual, I am given the opportunity to work with.

The best thing is, there is so many options out there. We can also take and adapt things others have used to assist us with our productivity.

Just as important is to eliminate what doesn’t work. For me it’s allowing enough time to meet deadlines, yes there has been time when I rushed it and scraped through. Just imagine if we didn’t rush how much better it would have been. That’s when we don’t live up to our full potential. I decide it’s not about scraping through as that’s often stressful. Taking time and at a pace that’s steady produces more peace around the things we do and enable better outcomes.

Also I realised certain foods made me sluggish so if I am needing lots of energy especially during the week I focus more on fuel food. The weekends I can have the odd snack.

As you may have noted effective productivity is intertwined with our environment, being a morning or evening person, knowing our bodies and what we put into it to fuel us, quiet or noise, what didn’t work in the past, food and hydration.

Find the productivity shoe that fit’s you.

Chanel x

I was in my early twenties. I was looking for a home for me and my family. A family member came to look at the property with me.

They had high hopes for this home but I really didn’t. It was actually close to where they lived at the time. I got a weird vibes from this place. I couldn’t pinpoint the reason at the time.

I wasn’t as assertive, as the person I am today. I allowed others at the time to sway my decisions.

So as you guessed I took the property I was worn down from the person I seen as a authority figure. From the start things unraveled various different issues connected with the property.

Spending years being frustrated by allowing others choices to impact my decision making.

The day came when I realised I am the problem in this case, because I needed boundaries and to take responsibly over the situation that would greatly impact us (the people who live in that space).

Doing it differently would look like, me being clear and stating that the final decision rests with me.

As we grow up we still allow the authority of other people close to us to govern our lives. This could affect our everyday decisions, our true authentic self, our calling and create co-dependency.

Are your decisions based off other’s unwelcome opinion. Where have you allowed others to take complete reigns?.

Some people deal with challenging people close to them who like to assert themselves into each and every situation through various means and ways.

Respectful ways of dealing with this and trying to protect relationships with words and actions-

A. Thank you for your input but I already know what I’ve decided.

B. Just listen and make the final decision you need to make.

C. Keep quiet about any decisions you need to make without interruption. Others can only get involved with what they know. (It won’t work with having kids or weddings sorry)

These ways can keep the peace to a certain degree.

Take away-

If we keep allowing others to make decisions for us we will miss out on great opportunities and the fullness of outlives because we’re be busy living it through someone else.

Chanel x

It’s not always a natural response to unwind or even where to start?. Each demanding day has its own demand this means it takes a different options for winddown time.

If it’s due to a disagreement then time sat in a quiet room alone to gather my thoughts.

If it’s due to finances then sitting down with a pen and paper working out a strategy and lots of prayer.

If it’s hormonal or where tension has built up in my body a nice hot Bath.

If it’s work related then watching something light on YouTube (I already have a playlist for these moments)

If it’s one of those demanding days that effects my confidence or causes imposter syndrome then I have a motivation playlist (podcast, YouTube) to reach for or a good book.

You might have something different but one thing I learnt, over the years is having, a go to when the day is demanding and knowing what that is. Is super important.

When the day is demanding your brain can go into fight or flight mode. Prepare because these days will come. Lighten the load.

For those time that I’m too overwhelmed I sit in the living room and just stare out the window watching the clouds move slowly. It calms my nervous system.

Music is another thing I have a playlist ready. I usually put on uplifting music because what I don’t want is to put on music to feed my negative emotions. I’ve been there me and my pity party music.

Going for a walk is a good headspace clearer. But as I live in the inner city I tend to lean on the things above.

One things for sure it’s got to be unique to you and what works for one doesn’t work for all.

This is why rest is so important. Rest when you can and don’t stress the small stuff.

Chanel x

We are led to think, that the wider world looks at appearances, success’s , personality as what makes someone unique.

Yes these things do come into play but actually what has been seen more recently with the increase in social media is people connect more with someone who has gone through trials and tribulations that they have openly shared and overcoming these difficulties.

These things create a personal and uniqueness towards the person going through or have been through trials.

There’s a saying that people love a sob story, but I personally think this term diminishes the severity of what the person has been through.

I believe it’s more that we feel connected and invested in others lives and at times see ourselves, our situations in that person. We are usually in the thick of it, and see in them the light at the end of a dark tunnel.

It gives us hope that we too will overcome what challenges we are facing.

Our uniqueness that separates us, is the things we have overcome despite the struggles and trials place before us. This can lead others to see strength, maturity, different kind of success, respect, hard work and more.

How we approach the difficult things changes us whether good or bad. It moulds and shapes us. It can completely change our character and this has a impact on how others see us and how we see the world around us.

I would even go as far as to say how we view and see the world creates how unique we are. When we follow others views solely without looking at seeking understanding for ourselves, forming an opinion based on a more rounded view, we risk being unique and end up being merged into a majority.

We’re call to be unique. as no one person has the same finger prints even identical twins. We are different and if there is one take away today it’s…..

Be uniquely you because you have different finger prints from every person that lives or has ever lived.

Your not called to be like anyone else, you’re trials and tribulations are all part of you as a whole package. But don’t let it hold you back. Your story could help someone else feel seen and give them hope.

Chanel x

Coming from a place of a previous ‘yes person’. I have now learnt the art of saying no.

So with that in mind I am a big advocate for saying no to things that interfere with goals.

Do you ever notice when you’re working towards goal, a counterfeit distraction will come along to distract and detach you from you’re path?

It’s a real thing and real struggle right there.

The counterfeit distraction always seems easier, fun and it may even have more benefits on the surface but it’s not what it seems at face value.

Personally if a person is presenting something that’s an interference to your goal. I like the idea of politely saying let me think about and get back to you. It gives you the headspace to really think about, if it’s an additional to your goal or hinderance.

To use the analogy of a cookie. Imagine the moment we’re thinking about cutting out cookies from our diet, what do we see more……… cookies and even our favourite one sale!

Believe me it’s not a coincidence 😮‍💨.

Doing the majority of work in secret saying no to anything that interfere with your goal. Then emerging from the quiet place.

Sometimes we need time to just focus on our goals.

Don’t be afraid to say no. I am sure your future self will thank you for it and others will impact positively by this accomplishment. Our outcome with our goals usually blesses others in many ways we didn’t even imagine.

Chanel x

You’re not putting up with rubbish anymore are you?

Some may not call it a compliment but I certainly do.

You see many times I was a yes person and allowed people to take the reigns. My voice drowned out and almost on mute.

I believed the lie that my opinions don’t matter and who would want to hear what I have to say. Those people made me awful.

Another element added to the mix, was being a child raised in the 90s. Parents spoke for you, a lot and to be honest I never really knew I had a voice to speak out until my mid 30s.

I now have this voice and have something to say, that is just as important as the next person. I also think kids deserve to be listened too and asked their opinion on things. To build up their voice. Also learning we all should listen and still be able to have opposing opinions without arguing.

Not sure quite went the switch came but it did and I felt more fulfilled.

I don’t let people walk all over me or dominate. I know what I don’t want or dislike. I’m not going back to that place.

Seriously someone needs to hear the story you’re carrying. That message you have about something you overcome or a topic you’re passionate about. Use it and use it some more.

Someone needs it.

No person is a waste so let’s stop allowing others to put rubbish in.

We should always do things in love and respect the world it sure needs it.

Chanel x