It’s March 18th, 2020 and I’m writing today’s post from my tiny, sunny Florida office. It’s been a beautiful start to the year. In January, I launched my first digital course for photographers whom are looking to build thriving businesses and lives, and, as of last week, just completed the seven weeks of course content with an incredible group of talented, creative entrepreneurs. Watching them move through the course that I poured a year of heart and soul into was something I’m so grateful for.
After a few weddings and trips, I was like most people around the globe come mid-March—a bit unsure and uneasy as I watched global, and then local, events unfold. My world seems to get smaller by the day, with so many people feeling the effects of these changes. With things changing daily and fear creeping into many minds and homes, I wanted to share some very simple and practical ways that I am ensuring that I stay positive, productive, growing, and of course, well.
Remember, one of the best things you can do to improve the world
is to improve yourself.
In unsure times, there is a tendency for us to take our progress, and our positive habits and routines that have brought us success, and retreat. And while yes, this circumstance is actually requiring that we physically retreat, mentally and emotionally, you don’t have to. In times like these, we are given the gift of a pattern interrupt. A chance to look at our lives and decide what is working and what needs to change. We have been afforded an opportunity to evaluate our path, and if we need to, course correct and spend valuable time going inwards to re-center, re-align, and make decisions about what we desire from our life.
Each and every day, our integrity is tested in small ways. In trying times, the stakes are raised and we are truly put to the test. This is why we see so many people falter and snap. To decide to do the right thing, to choose kindness and calmness over chaos and fear is always a choice. Often a difficult one. However, those who ground themselves in their values and double down on their vision will persevere and flourish. Look at history and you will see this time and time again.
Today, I urge you to treat yourself well. To treat others well. To be the change you wish to see in the world, and, to most importantly, trust that it will all be okay.
Here are my practical tips to keep moving forward now and always…
1. Declutter your environment.
Your environment and your surroundings affect you energetically, and thus, how you think and act. There are a million de-clutter/tidy challenges out there, just ask Google. It’s the perfect way to make small but powerful progress each day. For me, I’ve committed to listing three items of clothing per day on Poshmark.
2. For my creatives, it’s time to refresh your portfolio.
Spring is the perfect season to prune that portfolio and ensure you are only showing your very best and what you want to attract. Commit to editing a shoot per day or one per week, but commit to getting your best work forward.
3. Brush the dust off of your blog.
(I’m putting my money where my mouth is here) and get a fresh post on there with new work or new words. Just do it.
4. Create a content calendar and batch content.
My Abundance Plan students learned all about the benefits of batching content and planning a month’s worth of posts in a day. It gives you peace of mind knowing you have content created and a plan to follow.
5. Review your numbers.
Another key piece of The Abundance Plan is reviewing your costs, Profit & Loss statement, and package offerings to ensure you know the health and wealth of your business. In trying times it’s natural to want to pull the covers over your head and hide, but ultimately, that won’t serve you in the long term. Yes, give yourself some grace, have a Netflix + Chill day, and then get after it the next. Now is not the time to stay in the dark as to the health of your business. Knowledge empowers you so you can create a plan.
6. Cook!
Cooking is always my go-to to restore and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. There is something that a home-cooked meal, music playing, and a glass of wine can do for my soul that so many things cannot. I have a million healthy and delicious recipes I’ve collected and used over the years in my Pinterest, and I can’t recommend enough the pleasures of diving into creating a beautiful meal.
7. Exercise.
Many of you joined me in January for my #ktmerry30day challenge of sweating for 30 minutes for 30 days. I have kept the challenge going—still no days off—and now more than ever, I think it’s so important to stay in motion. I’ve cut out going to the gym (for obvious reasons) and have dedicated myself to living room workouts with the Jillian Michaels app, Youtube yoga videos, and of course, running outside.
8. Giving back in your business.
I’m passionate about building ‘giving back’ strategies into your business plan and now is a perfect time to brainstorm on what you want that to look like. Maybe it’s volunteering your services one day a month, donating a percentage of sales of a certain product, or gifting your clients something that gives back. When you give back, it will come back to you sevenfold.
9. Love animals?
Reach out to your local shelter and offer to foster. Now is the perfect time to bring a furry friend into your home and help out shelters who are overburdened.
10. Be a good neighbor.
Reach out to your elderly neighbors before you go to the grocery store and ask if you can pick anything up for them.
11. Love Letters.
Write a letter a day. It could be a thank you card for something recent or long ago; a letter to a friend you haven’t caught up with in a while, or a note to a family member to let them know you love them.
12. Reading happy hour.
One of my favorite rituals we have is reading happy hour. Each evening we grab a book and our drink of choice and sit outside to read for 30 minutes or an hour. Like all things, it becomes habit and one I really looked forward to. Now, we are getting some fresh air with our books and sitting by our community pool (with plenty of distance from others) and taking a few drinks and snacks to make it extra fun.
13. RemoteHappy Hour.
Yesterday I emailed my girlfriends, who I have been pretty terrible at keeping in touch with, and asked them to join me for a Zoom happy hour on Friday night. Knowing I won’t be going out is the perfect excuse to stay in and catch up with some of my favorite people. Who can you schedule a digital date with?
14. Mind your mind.
It’s very easy to keep the news on all day or get sucked into everyone’s thoughts on social media. Before long, the underlying stress will bring your mood and health down. Stay informed, stay smart, but don’t overdo it. Maybe it’s a fifteen minute check-in three times a day with the news or social, but find what works for you and police yourself.
15. Make plans.
As Leo Tolstoy said, “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” Plans and projects give you a positive way to channel your energy, and your nerves. Whether it’s a few things from this list or creating your own, give yourself something to work towards and to look forward to.
I’d love to hear from you and if you implement any of the ideas here. If you are interested in learning more about being part of our next group of Abundance Plan students you can join our waitlist here. Enrollment will begin this Fall.
Most importantly, stay productive, stay calm, and stay well.
've spent the past decade capturing love and chasing beauty across the globe, and I believe every story like yours is different and special, and deserves to be told exceptionally.
Drawing on years of experience in the fashion and editorial photography industry, my photographs are graceful, honest and boldly natural, while completely intentional. Whether it’s the opportunity to narrate the retelling of once-in-a-lifetime wedding days, or the ability to communicate issues of global importance, or all the stories in between, I look at photography as the method by which I get to leave the world a little better than I found it.
What we’ve spent the last decade learning as we built our business, we share with up-and-coming, soul-driven photographers who want to change the world with their work.