MADE Maven Special Women's Issue April 2018 | Page 20

MADEINC HOW TO MASTER THE ART OF SLOWING DOWN Robin Ayers It's very important to write things down. Your goals, your ideas, and your to-do lists. The reason is that if you keep all of it stored in your memory bank, it forces your mind to work overtime in trying to remember it all. When your mind is racing, it literally drains you and prevents you from creating fresh, new ideas. HOW TO STAY FOCUSED Hallemah Nash Embrace mastery of your own lane and what you do well without playing the comparison game. Comparison often robs us of the energy we need to sustain us. I focus on working toward my own goals and celebrating growth and incremental successes forward. Live life through the windshield and not the rearview mirror. When you consider your career or personal life, the rearview mirror is okay to glance at here and there so that you are reminded of how far you’ve come, but it’s not to be focused on. The windshield gives you the bigger vision of where you are headed and it deserved much more of your attention. Whether it's meditation, quiet time, or long baths, it's imperative to shut out the noise of the outside world for a period of time each day. Focus on nothing but your present moment and try your best not to have conversations with yourself about things that need to happen in the future or things that have happened in the past. An easy way to start is sitting in the moment and concentrating on being thankful for just breathing. Only allow yourself a certain amount of tasks every day. For example, write a list of 5 to-do's or 5 goals and don't push past that. After you've completed them all, give yourself permission to turn off the computer or turn off your cell phone for the rest of the evening. It helps with your psyche and it gives you freedom from the rest of the world. Health of the body and mind are critical to focus and clear perspective and I am intentional about creating space for rest, meditation, fitness and prayer daily. My motto is “mornings are for me” …not to catch up on work but to give my mind, body, and soul the fuel necessary for optimum performance. made-magazine.com | 20