That’s right, it’s not just a classic Bowie song.

This is my life right now…or at least, it’s trying to be. I told you all I’d start getting back to the blog regularly once summer was over. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, feel free to go check out my Summertime Hustle post real quick.

For those of you with me, summer vacation is officially over. The kids I watch are back in school, my work day doesn’t start until noon-ish, and the serious landscaping workload will start to simmer down soon. This all means one very important thing.

I’m Free!

Okay, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But I do have a lot more free time in the mornings to do things like sleep in, watch some morning TV, eat breakfast that doesn’t come in a box or plastic wrapper. (It’s the little things people!) Seriously, my work hours are the best during the school year.

Another thing I love is that it’s a great time for making changes. See how I brought that back around there?

In a way, working with kids puts my life on their schedule. The school schedule. So when I think of a new year and a fresh start, while most people jump to January, my brain goes to August. While my kids start another wonderful year, so do I. And a new year means changes.

Which, let’s face it, a lot is already changing for me whether I want it to or not. I have a literary agent working hard to get publishers interested in my book. I (hopefully) will get a publishing contract in the next year or so. I have an author website and social media that I’m slowly attempting to build up.

Side note: if you’re not already following me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest, feel free to check them out. I say some funny stuff occasionally. And my pics of my dogs and cats are just downright adorable.

So many things are already changing in my life, so I might as well use that momentum to work on some other changes I’ve been wanting to make but haven’t really had the time for lately. Along with a much-needed hair cut and some new shoes for my niece’s wedding this Saturday, I’ve compiled a short list. Because who doesn’t love lists?

Ready for it? Here you go…

Shannon’s 5 Steps to Becoming Awesome Even More Awesome:

1. Live healthier– Okay, so this one is kind of obvious, and I’m pretty sure it’s on just about everyone’s list. Eat better, move more, take vitamins, all that jazz. And while I want to do more of both of those, I’m also talking about mental and spiritual health. Which leads me to my next item.
2. More yoga and meditation– Make fun all you want. I did a decent stint of yoga and meditation every day for a while a couple years ago, and I didn’t realize just how much I loved it until I stopped. Seriously, it really was so good for relieving stress, and I hold onto stress like cat hair on a black t-shirt.

   
   Meditation should be easy enough once I carve out the time, but with my recent wrist problems, I might need a bit more time to get my inner yogi back in action.

3. Get more organized– As my writing career progresses, I’m going to have a lot of dates to keep up with. Along with important dates at work and my kids’ school calendar. I already started this one with my lovely new planner and notebook from Target. (And the best part is that they match!) This also includes figuring out a writing schedule and sticking to it, since so far I’ve failed miserably.

   

4. Get out of the house more– In case you couldn’t already tell, I’m one of those stereotypical introverted writers. Give me an hour and I can craft out some of the wittiest, most engaging conversation you’ve ever read. Set me in front of a complete stranger and I put the aw in awkward. As in Aw, bless her heart. It’s so easy be anti-social and to stay home every night with a good book or whatever TV show I’m currently binge-watching on Netflix. Unfortunately, I’m quickly learning that quiet nights in don’t always make for the most exciting Instagram and Facebook updates. Who knew?
5. Worry less about what others think– So this is probably the biggest one for me. I can be massively self-conscious when it comes to certain things. Ironically, not so much about say what I wear or how my hair and makeup look. I honestly really could care less half the time. No, the things I worry about tend to be more internal. Will I sound stupid saying this? What if I post this and literally no one cares? What if I get my book published and everyone realizes what an amateur I am? Or worse: what if I go through all this effort and excitement and everyone sees me fail?  Seriously, this is the kind of stuff that runs through my head constantly. And for what? I can almost guarantee no one else thinks this critically about me or my life. And it’s such a waste of energy. Not to mention only adds more to that giant ball of stress I already carry around in my pocket.

So there you have it, the short yet surprisingly long-winded list of changes I’m ready to make. I’m no fool; I know these will take time–not to mention some serious self-pep-talks–before I get it right. And lucky for me, I’ve got a wealth of family, friends, and encouragement around me to help me stick it out.

Got any changes you want to make? Any helpful advice for me and my list? Let me know in the comments. Maybe we can be accountability buddies, or just lend each other some helpful words of encouragement. You’d be surprised by how much one “Atta girl” can mean at the right time.

Hope to hear from you!