Our Theme, #TuesdayTucker For whatever reason this morning I had a bit of a demolish fest of the scraps that were left after a weekend of entertaining! Vegan sausage roll, hummus, edamame, peanuts... It got me thinking of an old blog post I wrote when this used to happen more often. It's just as relevant so here's an overview... ✅ Damage control when you find yourself in an UN-ideal nutritional day! ✅ 5 steps to turn any day around: 😀 One. It’s not an absolute right off! Whether we’re talking food – and you’ve overindulged or perhaps efficiency – and it's been an unproductive morning. Right now, is your chance to make a better decision regarding your next meal or your next task. Never wait until tomorrow when you can take control back TODAY. 😀 Two. Quit the self indulgent behaviours that are making the situation worse. You don’t need hot chips because you’re hung over. Or Oreos because you’ve got a tough proposal to write. Just like I don’t need 4 coffees because I’m tired. Let’s both grab a glass of water and I’ll see you soon for point 3! 😀 Three. Set a timer to help you make a start. I know it's not just me that can be inclined to eat mindlessly instead of working. My iPhone timer has got to be my most effective time management and productivity tool. Zero pressure to finish or get it perfect. Just begin a task (maybe exercise?) and stick with it till your timer goes off. The more daunting the task the shorter period of time I recommend you set it for. - A timer relieves the sense that you’re stuck for endless hours in a daunting or tedious task. - It adds a sense of urgency and focus for that short, achievable period. - I also find, with a timer running I’m less inclined to be swayed by distractions. 😀 Four. Learn from the experience. Whether it's the food you don't keep at home anymore or the better options you do always have on hand. There are always lessons to be learnt and potential damage to be out planned next time. 😀 Five. The absolute best advantage you can give yourself is to Back Yourself 100%.

Our Theme, #MondayMotivation, Today is the perfect day for this post because after a lovely 3 day weekend spent with a dear friend visiting from interstate I woke up early, ready to power into my day AND.... well, my Mojo seemed to be MIA! Here's how I got through: "Past Kate" had thankfully laid the groundwork for a productive day by planning my day to come the night before. With a list of tasks by order of priority with time allotted to each. "Present Kate" relied on these 3 strategies to get going: 1. I set my iPhone timer for 45 minutes and just made a start. Gradually working through the tasks and I will admit - I started with the easiest ones - and did bump a couple of important not urgent tasks to tomorrow. They'll get done. 2. I meditated and trained because I know they are non-negotiable to keep me calm and healthy. 3. When I started to fade around 2pm I went for a brief, calming, gratitude inducing walk in nature. As it got a little struggle-street I thought of "Future Kate" and these 3 points: 1. What will Make Me Proud when I crawl into bed tonight? 2. The Law of Recency, which states the action you most recently took is the one you are more likely to take again. So, if I want to be effective and efficient tomorrow I need to do the best I can today. 3. The Anti-Mentor, who is that person I really don't want to be - with the results I really don't want? Love to know your best strategies when you have a low mojo day?

I am so very grateful to everyone for joining Plant Positive and especially, for everyone who has been active and supportive throughout this past 30 Days. 💞 It's a small community however it has taught me, my goal of a safe space for vegans and the plant-based curious is possible. I know we have serious animal rights activists in this group AND we have people who still eat some meat, some time. The vibe remained positive and for that I am grateful. 💞 I genuinely believe the way forward to the compassionate vegan world I am seeking is paved with love and yet I KNOW how much that can cost those of us who are locked and loaded vegan For The Animals. 🎯 My learnings? The June 30 Day Jumpstart was transformative for me. I replaced a bad habit - drinking during the week with an AMAZING habit, journalling and got the calm and clarity I had been seeking. With a huge side of belief and self-respect because my food and exercise is on point and I felt like drinking during the week was incongruent with the person I wanted to be. That was why I was so pumped to share this Oct Jumpstart with YOU. I know how powerful habit change is. 🎯 And yet, I stretched too hard in this Oct Jumpstart. I aimed for too much and some of it felt wrong. Not bad, just not congruent and NOT sustainable. 🎯 The actionable learnings that hopefully will be of value for you too? ✅✅ You've got to know where your time and energy for a new habit will come from. That's why swapping a "bad habit" with a more supportive one can be so impactful. ✅✅ You've got to have fuel in the tank, to push through even if you're not yet seeing results for the new habit. I've been pushing too hard for too long and although I "thought" 30 Days was doable, I ran out of fuel! I decided (and this is a WIN) that sacrificing my two important learnings this year... 1. Prioritising the simple things that help me enjoy the journey. 2. Journalling in a non-rushed manner every day for calm and clarity. ...was NOT something I wanted to do to hit my own little (LARGE!) self-imposed targets that were not yet working.

Our Theme, #SundaySelfcare, Self compassion is an integral part of Self-care that most of us could get better at. My 8-Step Guide to Cultivating Self-Care is an actionable acronym to help make it happen! My personal fav is, Step 7: Realistic Expectations of Yourself and the People You Love. Framed another way, lower the bar to raise your chance of success. Your relationships with loved ones are potentially the toughest most fraught aspect of any big lifestyle change. Consider is your bar of expectation for those around you too high? My current Go2 so far as lowering the bar to raise my chance of success is: Focus on what I have in common with my loved ones rather than the reverse. Of equal importance are those expectations you have for yourself. On the matter of Realistic Expectations AND patience while consistently doing the work (both in your actions AND your mindset) I LOVE this quote from Rich Roll: I didn't reach my athletic peak until I was 43. I didn't write my first book until I was 44. I didn't start my podcast until I was 45. At 30, I thought my life was over. At 52 I know it's just beginning. Keep running. Never give up. And watch your kite soar. If you're yet to - I recommend you add the Rich Roll podcast to your list of essential listening! Do YOU have Realistic Expectations of Yourself and the People You Love?? (pictured is my vegan eggplant parmigiana from lunch today, so so good!)

Our Theme, #FridayFAQ, How Do You Stay Motivated To Eat Healthy Plant Based Meals? If eating plant-based is something you (or someone you love!) is struggling to persevere with, this 2-part blog / podcast is for you! It's actually from my second podcast (Plant Positive) that was only around for one season and yet remains evergreen and actionable! 10 Tips To Stay Motivated To Eat Healthy Plant Based Meals (Part 1) and (Part 2) Tip ONE: Focus on little hinges that swing big doors. Like, finding that Go2 vegan burger, marinated tofu / tempeh or falafel (to buy or make) that you love and is super versatile to turn into a quick Buddha bowl, salad or wrap. OR, getting into the habit of making extra dinner to take as leftovers for lunch the next day. OR, buying a salad / pre-washed greens and / or grains mix that only needs some plant protein and good fat added for an easy meal. What are your most impactful little hinges?