Breaking the Email Addiction

I have a problem. A big problem.

I'm addicted to email. It's ridiculous. I log more hours on the computer than I would ever like to keep track of. The thing that keeps me coming back for more?That damn refresh button on gmail. Maybe a publisher has gotten back to me and is eager to publish my book, maybe a long-lost classmate will reach out to connect with me...the possibilities go on and on.

My only solution was to quit cold turkey.
I used my recent 10-day vacation to Kauai as a way to kick the email habit. I didn't take my laptop and made sure that the place I was staying didn't have a computer either. I was shocked to discover that when one is basking in the sun, the thought of email is completely eliminated. I didn't even feel the itch to login. I was sure I was healed.

Fast forward 4 weeks to present day, and my email addiction is back. It's not as paralyzing as it was pre-Kauai, but it's still there. I've limited myself - when I'm on the phone coaching (which is most of the day) I will only let myself check personal email at lunch time and after work. But, I still keep getting the nagging feeling to go completely off the grid. All the time. Is that possible??

The problem is that my work -- writing and coaching -- almost exclusively require computer and email time. Well, that's not entirely true. For writing, I only really need access to a browser to search for resources, and word processing for actual writing. For coaching, I don't need the Internet at all, unless we're working specifically on locating resources for job and career transitions.

So, there is potentially a lot of time to NOT be on email...right?
I only wish there was a way to do my work and not be stationary all day.

Any ideas?
How do you keep the email addiction at bay?
What strategies do you use to stay focused and be in the moment--not sidetracked by email?

Leave your tips here!

Much love,
Heather :)

Healthy Models Coalition Encourages Us to Break the Dysfunction

As a woman, I have been both disgusted and mortified as our culture continues to promote an anorexic, underweight body as the body type of choice. The result of this campaign of unhealthiness? Record numbers of perfectly fantastic women denying themselves food and purging when they do--heaven forbid--eat.

Meanwhile, we've all sat around apathetic as unhealthy looking models and actresses are offered up as the status quo.

So, what can we do?
-Cancel all subscriptions to "beauty" magazines of any kind.
-Stop watching television shows that promote these unhealthy attitudes (I just nixed having TV all together.)
-Speak up! See a girl/woman in need--go talk to her. See/hear a man/woman making negative comments about women's bodies? Call them on it.
-Write to your favorite actresses/models who are underweight and share your thoughts. Better yet, write to his/her agent as well.
-Join the Healthy Models Coalition.
-EAT.

Change starts with us, so it's important that we first have a healthy body image and feel good about ourselves. Working with a skilled counselor or coach may be necessary. Then, we can stop spending money towards enterprises that fuel these unhealthy images. From there, joining organizations that adore women and treat them as goddesses - no matter what the size (I'm thinking Bitch mag, Planned Parenthood, Codepink) is in order.

What else can we do? Follow in the steps of France, who has banned all anorexic looking models!!! Those French people, are SO ahead of us...But, perhaps with the Obama administration, our country will work towards being healthy in every way. It's time for the dysfunction to end.

Leave your comments here!

-Heather :)

What Economic Downturn? Happy New Year!

I spent my time during the holidays on the beach in Kauai, Hawaii. I know, shocking, right? People travel during a r********?! (it's curse word in my world). Actually, people are doing a lot of traveling and shopping during this alleged lull.

It wasn't just me and the locals in Kauai, I can assure you of that.
As I laid out my towel on Po'ipu Beach on Christmas Day, I looked around at the sea of people before me. We were all crunched together, trying to make room for one another.

The ocean had so many people in it, boogie boarders and snorkelers were bumping heads.
I couldn't help but chuckle. With all the negativity in the media about the country's economic woes, it was refreshing to see that not everyone is buying into the fear-mongering.

And when I couldn't get into, not one, but TWO restaurants on a random Monday night in Po'ipu, I couldn't be angry. I was thrilled. Take that CNN, NBC/ABC/CBS/FOX, Bill O'Reilly and the like (you know who you are). Ever noticed how those guys get so worked up when they are delivering the bad news? It's almost like they're enjoying it...thriving on the negativity, if you will.

It always blows my mind how easily we the people tend to believe whatever the media is sending our way. We panic, which only makes matters worse. What we actually need to do is go out to restaurants, travel, shop and support one another.

Because in case you hadn't noticed, the mega-media conglomerates and government officials aren't hurting for money. The people that suffer when big business and government go corrupt is the regular folks. So, if we refuse to play the game and instead go out there and spend our cash and support local businesses, we won't crumble--we'll get stronger.

It wasn't just in Kauai where people were out spending cash either. I saw it in Honolulu as well. The beaches were so packed in Waikiki, I could barley make my way to the bar to order a Mai Tai. At 11am (sorry I had to, I was on vacation!).

Now that I'm back home to the freezing temps and snow there isn't much to do, so I decided to take refuge at Powell's. Except that it was so crowded and the lines to buy books were so long, I couldn't even spend time wandering like I typically do.

So to those fear-mongers out there preaching doom and gloom: get over it.
The rest of us have.

Wishing you the most ABUNDANT and fabulous 2009!!!
Happy New Year!!!
xoHeather :)