Create Your Own Perfectly Supportive Environment

August 5th, 2011 |

I am writing this blog post, on my laptop, from Miami Beach.

I decided it was too cold in Atlanta, told Erick I was leaving for a few days, packed up the car, and drove down to Miami. Didn’t tell any of my friends I was coming. This was not a “come-back-to-my-old-neighborhood” trip. This was specifically because I wanted to work at the beach.

See, I set it up that way – to be able travel on a whim.

For my business to run well, I have created supportive environments to enable me to go anywhere, at any time. In this case, my supportive network includes a laptop, the appropriate software, an internet connection, and the support of my beloved. Add all that up and here’s what you get: writing and submitting a blog post on deadline and without stress.

When you have environments that support you and your business, success is not only possible, but also enjoyable. Important areas of your overall environment include your body, your energy, your home, your office and work space, which all impact your mental, spiritual and emotional environments.

Of your external environments, your home is one of the most important, particularly if you work from home. This should be a sacred place for you – a place where you feel safe, taken care of, content. At a bare minimum your bedroom and workspace should reflect calm.

I know sometimes it simply isn’t possible to stay on top of it all, but if you make consistent effort (and ask for help!), the quality of your home environment improves significantly.

Where do you begin?

1. Make a list of things that are broken, need replacing or to be thrown away. Then start doing this today. Pick three things in your home right now that you can either toss or give away. Then do so, and feel the space clear.

2. Set a timer for 30 minutes and just go at it: chip away at any clutter. Handle the paper piles on the floor, or the “filing” that’s anything but “filed.” Then at the end of 30 minutes, stop. And do something else.

You’d be surprised how much you want to keep going. Don’t ask yourself to be perfect in this. Sometimes the clutter is too much and you just need to take yourself to a bookstore or a Starbucks to get some work done. When that’s the case, take ten minutes in the morning to clear your space so you can clear your mind for the work of the day. Then do it again at the end of the day to prepare for the next.

3. Are there tools or equipment that need to be tossed, replaced or upgraded? Choose one thing that would make your work easier and more enjoyable if you replaced, upgraded or tossed it, and make it happen as soon as possible. For me, it was upgrading from a simple inkjet printer that had a recurring paper-jam problem to a wireless color laser printer that ran smooth as silk. Stop tolerating mediocrity around you and get on with bringing your work into the world.

4. Your body is an environment you need to take care of as well. Are you getting regular exercise? Are you eating as nutritiously as possible without depriving yourself of foods you love? Do you get haircuts as often as you should or would like? Do you treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, massage? Do you get enough sleep? Do you rest when you need to? Do you run on adrenaline or use food and exercise as your means for energy? Choose one area of your body environment you can improve on right away and make the commitment to do it. It could mean going to bed half hour earlier each night, or taking a 30-minute walk this afternoon. You could skip the sugar bomb you planned for dessert tonight and opt for fruit instead.

What environment upgrade could you make happen today that you know will make you feel proud of yourself for doing so? Declare it in the comments below. I’d love to hear it and support you in that ‘upgrade’.

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