AUPA Tuesday Tip - 01/18/11

These were the mascots of my childhood breakfast experience. Although my mom would always make our family a homemade breakfast, there was something about these snap, crackle, and pop guys that stayed with me as my image of breakfast.





However, the older I get, the more rushed life becomes, and the less breakfast I am able to enjoy, my mornings tend to look more like this --->. LOL.


This mornings Tuesday Tip is a simple one. To enjoy a more productive day, don't skip breakfast. There are several studies that have been done that educate us on the importance of eating a balanced breakfast before we begin our day so that our focus and concentration is better and we are more effective in our daily goals. Sometimes, we tend to forget the practical things that help us to excel. In this day and time, when we get so many nuggets of insight via social networking links and other quick interaction with our peers, we tend to forget the practical. There is nothing magical about today's tip and it doesn't seem new to most of us. However, making this one adjustment in our day can help with health benefits and productivity over all.

Below are some helpful links that have information about eating breakfast:

WebMD: The Many Benefits of Breakfast

MyOptumHealth: The Benefits of Eating Breakfast

Women Fitness: Top 10 Reasons not to skip your breakfast

LiveStrong: Side Effects of Not Eating Breakfast

AUPA Tuesday Tip: Create time to have breakfast in the mornings before you begin your day. This is not a new, revolutionary concept, but one that I think we should be reminded of often as adults. There are amazing benefits to starting your day with some nourishment.

AUPA Tuesday Tip - 01/11/11

As I looked at today's date, I thought about how funny it looked to have so many ones in a date. I thought about how this sequence might have special meanings in certain cultures and how people will remember this date in the future. Later on, I saw several post on facebook where my friends commemorated today's date with a special status or even documented what they were doing at exactly 11:11AM/PM on 01/11/11. Most status were funny or contains jokes and other silly commentary but as I sat and read the silly thoughts on my friends minds as they celebrated this one moment in time and space, I realized the importance of celebration.

Every since I was a little girl, I have been all about celebrations. Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, and other significant milestones were always so exciting to me and I could hardly wait for them to come around. Sometimes, I would even make up a reason to celebrate. Whether I'd gotten a 100% on a spelling test or beat my brother in UNO, a huge celebration was going down if I could find an inkling of a reason to celebrate.

Now, as an adult, I realize how important it is to stop and smell the roses and just celebrate life. Celebrations don't always have to be personal or about you; they can be celebrations for others as well. They say laughter is good for the soul and keeps you young, so in the name of good health and spiritual well-being, I encourage you to celebrate something today. Even if it is just a celebration because it's 1/11/11!

AUPA Tuesday Tip: Take time out to celebrate life. No matter how big or small, take time to find things to celebrate and use those celebrations to serve as a reminder of life's blessings. Make your heart smile today and celebrate something. Add a friend or two to double or triple the fun!

AUPA Tuesday Tip - 01/04/11

It's a new year!!! I am so excited to have made it to 2011! And Authentically U thanks you all for your continued support.

So with a new year, comes change. AUPA is trying our hand at a blog this year so tell your friends, jump on board, and join the dialogue. You never know who you might help.

This years first "Tip Tuesday" is about Vision. There's lots of talk about people who do vision boards at the beginning of the year but I am interested to know the feedback of how effective these have been for most people.

• Have you done a vision board?
• Did you continue to look at it through out the year?
• Where was it placed?
• Do you think it affected your decisions?
• How was it helpful?

Last year, was my first year doing a vision board. Some of the things actually happened (I had a ring on my board and I got married) but other didn't (I had water bottles on my board but I DID NOT end up drinking more water as I had planned). However, my board was strategically placed on my closet wall so I saw it every morning when I woke up and went into the closet to get dressed. Seeing my visions was helpful but I must admit that by the time summer came, I was a bit tired of seeing the same images. So, perhaps for me, I should do them every six months. Perhaps, I plan more short term goals, than long term goals? However, with that in mind I have decided to do my vision boards every six months. But finding out what works best for you is key. So try it our for a year and if you end up like me, board with the images (or maybe even your progress), then try every six month or maybe even seasonally/quarterly. There are really no rules to it, but consistency is important.

Today's Tuesday Tip: Make your goals visual! Seeing is believing so if you have goals that you want to achieve, create a visual image of the way you see the outcome and place it where you can be reminded of the "big" picture as you make daily steps to achieve the goal. Also, be sure to have a clear understanding of whether your goals are long-term or short-term. Some goals just are NOT meant to happen over night.

Get ready for Efficiency Tip Tues. @ 9am and 2pm EST on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Authentically_U!!!!

Every Tuesday, get a quick tip on living a more productive life!!!

www.TamekaCooksey.com

AUPA Tip Tuesday:

Never underestimate the power of a connection!

Connecting w/ others can create opportunities that 1 cannot create alone.

Getting Organized

(This is a follow-up from the "Getting Organized" feature article in the August 2010 edition of AUPA Connections.)


One of the most often asked questions I get from clients and supporters is, "what is the best way to get organized?" The short answer is that there is not a simple, cookie cutter, magic way that can guarantee you will develop and maintain organization. There are many factors that affect a person's ability to be organized. How much responsibility do you have on your plate? How much time are you willing to invest on the front end to set up a system or routine? How much of a priority is being organized?

When it comes to organization, there are a few key tools that can get you started and on your way to being more organized. In addition to what you saw in our newsletter, I have added 5 more things here that could help.

• Buy a planner
• Have an accountability partner
• Put yourself on a more rigid schedule
• Eat foods that help with focus
• Take time to rest

(If you did not see the full article in our newsletter, sign up in the box to the right.)

2009: AUPA Tip Tuesday Archives!

Get ready for Efficiency Tip Tuesday!

Every Tuesday @ 10 am and 2 pm EST on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Authentically_U!!!!

Every Tuesday, get a quick tip on living a more productive life!!!
http://www.tamekacooksey.com/

June 16, 2009 AUPA Tip Tuesday: Never underestimate the power of a connection. Connecting w/ others can create opportunities that one cannot create alone.

June 23, 2009 AUPA Tip Tuesday: Write down the vision. Not only is it biblical but studies have shown that documentation helps 1 stay focused on the goal.

July 7, 2009 AUPA Tip Tuesday: Perfect your listening/interpretation skills! No matter how good you are at what you do, if you don't know what the client needs, you will have know idea on how to provide the best services.

July 28, 2009 AUPA Tip Tuesday: Use your resources! Many times we overlook the people or tools that are available to us that lie right under our noses. Multiple programs, people, and situations are available for you if only you seek and keep an open mind. If someone or something may be helpful to your "agenda", don't pass up the opportunity to include them (or it).

To set up a consultation on how to live your best, most productive life or conduct business more efficiently, http://www.tamekacooksey.com/