Life Made Simple with CarlaRae

Latest Episodes:

#77: These Three Must-Read Books Will Change Your Life! May 29, 2017

Show notes

Personal Development of any kind is one nonnegotiable habit that you need to intentionally engage in every day... and if you do, I promise you, it will completely change your life!

Some people call it self-improvement, some call it self-help, or personal growth, self-actualization, self-transcendence, or even spirituality. Whatever you want to call it, it's about setting time aside for reading books, listening to podcasts or audio books, or reading blogs that help motivate and inspire you to become a better person and live your best life.

The fact is, each one of us has some area of life that we need a little inspiration and motivation in. We all have aspirations, dreams, goals that we want to reach, whether it be success in your career, wealth, your health, relationships, living a happier lifestyle and so on. But like I explained back in episode #56 of Life Made Simple, it is almost impossible to wake up every day feeling motivated to reach those goals and aspirations in life. Motivation doesn't always just happen naturally. It doesn't consistently find us every day. We need to find motivation!

And how do we do that? Well, we need to continually surround ourselves with things and people that keep us motivated to push us to reach those goals and accomplish the things that we really want in life. We can't wait for those feelings of motivation to just magically appear. We need help sometimes.

Daily personal development is one way to do that. We all should devote just a little bit of time every single day to some sort of personal development. Even if it's just a couple minutes.

Examples of personal development include reading books, watching videos, or listening to Podcasts. If you want more specific ideas, you can go back and listen to episode #9 or #56.

Now, I have to admit, I'm not a big reader. I actually prefer to spend my daily personal development time listening to other podcast shows while I drive, shower, or do the dishes. But sometimes, I do enjoy reading a chapter here and there of a really good book.

On today's episode of Life Made Simple I share with you 3 of my favorite personal development books.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Episode #9: Why You Must Make Personal Development A Daily Habit

Episode #56: One Habit That Will Completely Change Your Life

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode77

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Resources Page: CarlaRaeArneson.com/resources

Buy on Amazon: Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy

Buy on Amazon: The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley

Buy on Amazon: The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#76: How & What To "Prune" Out Of Your Life May 18, 2017

Show notes

Last week I confessed to you that I am a collector of good ideas and good intentions. And then for this Monday's Episode #75, I introduced you to one of my new favorite life strategies... the Rose Bush Analogy.

If you haven't listened to either of those episodes yet, go back and check them out before you push play on this one (which is essential the third one in the series).

If you're all caught up, here's a quick review....

Our lives are like rose bushes. There are parts of our lives that need to be consistently and constantly pruned and trimmed down.

Ideas, to-dos, things, and even people in our lives are all like rose buds. And just like a rose bush, pruning away many of those ideas, projects, and relationships — even if they have really good potential — allows the remaining ones to fully blossom.

But how do we know which ones to prune? Especially when they all seem really good?

During this episode, I give you questions that you need to ask yourself in order to figure out exactly what to "prune" from your life.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Episode #74: I Collect Too Many Ideas & Good Intentions

Episode #75: Treat Your Life Like A Rose Bush - "It's Time To Prune!"

Episode #8: How to Make a "Perfect Day Itinerary"

Free Worksheet: CarlaRaeArneson.com/8download

Or send a text to 44222 with the word PERFECTDAY

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode76

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#75: Treat Your Life Like A Rose Bush - "It's Time To Prune!" May 15, 2017

Show notes

On last week's 3 Minute Thursday episode of Life Simple, I confessed to you one area of life that I've struggled with for many years. Like many other people out there, I battle with having way too many good projects ideas and not enough time or energy to tackle them all. In that episode, I explained how all those ideas are GOOD ideas and they are all GOOD intentions.

But for the sake of my sanity and for the sake of my journey to find simplicity, I need to somehow pull the reins on my tendency to collect good intentions and somehow let go of many of them that I have hoarded over the years.

But the big question is, how do you do that?

On today's episode, I share with one amazing analogy I recently learned that has become a total game changer for me. It's a strategy I'm still trying to wrap my head around and apply to my own "crazy busy" life.

It's one life lesson that I honestly believe can be the key to achieving true simplicity in all areas of life.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Episode #10: "Can You Have Too Much of A Good Thing?"

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode75

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#74: I Collect Too Many Ideas & Good Intentions (CarlaRae Confesses) May 11, 2017

Show notes

Recently, one of our listeners reached out to me with an issue that she's been struggling with and she wanted some advice.

Abby from Columbus, Ohio struggles with having too many ideas and projects that she really wants to pursue yet she knows that there are just not enough hours in the day do them all. She feels overwhelmed and doesn't know how to let go of some of those really good ideas.

Well Abby I can completely relate and I'm sure that many other listeners struggle with the same issue.

I have a confession... I am a collector of ideas. And they are all GOOD ideas. Recipes I want to try, craft projects I want to do with my son, house projects that I really want to complete. I have paper files, pictures on my computer, and websites that I've bookmarked full of ideas that I've collected over the years. And don't get me started on all the fun stuff I have pinned on Pinterest... we all know that website is dangerous for an idea collector!

Then there are business ideas, goals, and dreams... I have a hundred of them waiting in the wings for when I finally have time to pursue them all. It seems that there is always another opportunity to chase or a new idea that sounds exciting.

Now, you would think that being a collector of GOOD ideas is a GOOD thing... but in many ways, it's not.

Tune in to this quick and brief episode about my struggles with having too many good ideas and good intentions.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode74

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#73: Do You Have A Home For Pending Projects And To-Do's? May 08, 2017

Show notes

It's no secret that one of the best ways to simplify your life is to get organized. And when it comes to organizing your home, one of the biggest factors is what to keep and where to keep it all.

We've all heard that famous saying, "A place for everything, and everything in its place."

It's obvious what the phrase means... it's the notion that everything should have a place to be stored and that it should be returned back to that place when it's not in use.

So, in our pursuit of simplicity, it is so important to designate a home for everything.

But, do you ever find that there are times during our endless efforts to get organized when we know we assigned a home for everything (we're sure of it!) but somehow, there are still piles of random stuff lying around?

Now yes, if we actually took inventory of those piles, we might just realize that most of the items do in fact have a particular home, but maybe we're just too crazy busy to actually take the time to tidy up and put them away.

I'll be honest, that happens to me more often than you think. Over the years, I've definitely developed the habit of tidying up every day, but sometimes life happens and I don't always make it a priority. Like I've always said, I'm not perfect... we're on this journey together!

But sometimes it's not a matter of not taking the time to put things away. Sometimes, those random piles of clutter are the result of not having a designated home for one particular category.

It's a category that most people don't ever even realize they need a designated home for.

What category am I referring to? It's your pending projects and to-dos.

We all have them. Little and big projects, that for whatever reason aren't completed, fixed, or finalized. And meanwhile, while we try to find the time to complete them, where do we put them? Well, anywhere of course! Anywhere we can see them as a reminder to ourselves to do them.

On today's episode of Life Made Simple I give you an inside look at some of those "pending to-do" items cluttering up my own home and how to find a special designated home to keep them all in.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode73

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#72: Try To "Turn People Into Trees" Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

We are now deep into spring. My family is started to venture outside more often for evening walks and weekend hikes. And I'm sure you can agree... there's nothing quite like being out in the middle of nature on a beautiful spring day!

It's so nice to sit in nature because nature just is. We allow it to be and that's how we come to appreciate its beauty.

Think of a tree that has fallen to the ground. Just because it appears to be dead, it doesn't mean there's no life in it. It just means that growth is happening in a new direction and in a different way. Maybe there's moss growing on its trunk, maybe the roots are tethering themselves in new grass. There is still beauty in that tree.

We need to try to look at our own life in the same way. Sometimes when life is challenging, you may feel like you've fallen to the ground and stopped growing, but that's simply not true. Realize that your discovering new directions, viewing life from another perspective. Sometimes, it's time to plant your roots in new grass. Sometimes, you need to allow life to happen.

I recently stumbled across a quote that I wanted to share with you from Ram Dass, who is an American spiritual teacher and the author of the book Be Here Now.

This is what he says. "When you go out into the woods and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You appreciate it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn't get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don't get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying "You're too this, or I'm too this." That judging mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are."

Do you find yourself in a constant battle of judgment with yourself or with the circumstance of your life? Or do you ever find yourself in a constant battle of judgment toward others? We all do to some extent.

Next time you find that judgmental voice creeping up to steal your happiness, remember what Ram Dass suggests and turn people into trees. Try to appreciate them, despite their flaws and imperfections, despite what direction they are going, despite how fast they are growing. Allow others and yourself to just be. And find the beauty in that.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode72

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#71: A Unique Strategy To Maintain An Organized Home Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

I want to help you simplify your life. I am here to give you strategies, tips, and action plans on how to organize your home. BUT... not only do I want to help get you organized, I want to help you to STAY organized, as well.

Getting organized is only half the battle. Maintaining an organized home is just as important, and sometimes just as challenging.

There are a handful of valid reasons as to why people can't seem to maintain an organized space. One reason is that bad habits are hard to break and good habits are hard to form. Another is that picking up and maintaining a clean home simply takes time that some people aren't willing to commit to on a daily basis.

But then there's another reason why it can be so hard to keep your home organized. It's the fact that chaos can be contagious! Chaos and clutter can easily spread. And if you're not careful, no matter how well you organize one room, the chaos from another room can easily re-infect it again.

Have you ever experienced what I'm talking about? You organize your dining table; you clear it off and it's nice and clean, so you move onto the next space. But then, by the following week, a whole new species of clutter has returned to the cleared table.

Clutter moves from room to room to room. It just rotates around the house. And no matter how good your de-cluttering efforts may seem, your simply chasing your tail in an endless loop!

Like I've said in previous episodes, success is dependent on about 20% strategy and 80% psychology. So today, I want to give you one mindset for success to help you keep your house clean, clutter free, and organized. It's a very unique technique that you may not have ever heard of before. And it's one that I insist that all my clients learn.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode71

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#70: A Few Thoughts On "Paralysis By Analysis" Apr 20, 2017

Show notes

Are you an over-thinker? I sure am! My brain loves to work over-time. Especially when I'm trying to sleep... or worse yet, when I'm trying not to think or worry about something.

The human mind loves to think... which of course is a good thing. But sometimes it never seems to want to stop. Over-thinking can become a toxic habit that causes more damage than many of us realize. In fact, most of us over-think so much that many people consider it a worldwide epidemic.

If you ever suffer from over-thinking, here are 10 quotes for you to keep in mind:

You will never be free until you free yourself from the prison of your own false thoughts.

Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try!

Stop worrying about what can go wrong, and get excited about what can go right.

Overthinking – the art of creating problems that weren't even there. Ouch, so true it hurts.

Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere.

Stop overthinking. You can't control everything, just let it be.

Dear mind, please stop thinking so much at night. I need sleep.

Overthinking is one of the biggest causes of unhappiness.

Don't ruin a new day by thinking about yesterday. Let it go.

A quiet mind is able to hear intuition over fear.

So, if you ever find yourself over-thinking, try to quiet your mind. Maybe try and remember some these quotes Hopefully they'll help you to keep things in perspective.

Simplicity University will be open for registration this spring! If you want to get on our mailing list to get info about our new courses and workshops that will soon be offered through Simplicity University, just send a text to 44222 with the word "SIMPLICITYU". Or you can just go to Simplicityu.com for more information.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode70

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#69: Wake Up, Sleepy Head! (Sleep Habits PART 2) Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

Last's week's episode of Life Made Simple, Episode #67 was titled "Good Night, Sleep Tight!" During that PART 1 of our two part series, we dove headfirst into one of the most important factors regarding your health: sleep.

In that episode I gave you a bunch of tips on how to refresh your bedtime routine, I gave you strategies on how to banish some of your bad bed habits, and I gave you some ideas on how to set the stage in your bedroom for a good night's sleep.

If you haven't listened to PART 1, push pause on this episode and go back and push play on that one, again, that was episode #67. You really don't want to miss it!

So while last week we looked how to fall asleep and stay asleep, on today's Part 2 episode of our Sleep Habit Series, we're going to look at how to wake up in the morning and get out of bed... because sometimes, it's kinda rough waking up!

We've all been there. Even though you might get a full night's sleep, you still somehow wake up feeling exhausted and unenthusiastic to face the world. You don't have one bit of excitement about starting your day. It takes you twice as long as it should to get ready and dressed... and you can never seem to find a thing when you need it. Can you relate?

If you have a hard time waking up in the morning, even after a good night sleep, then tune in to today's episode. In an effort to relieve and remedy my own morning misery, I came across some really great articles and ideas that I wanted to share with you. On today's Part 2 episode titled "Wake Up, Sleepy Head!", we look at some tips and strategies to freshen up your morning routine to help you wake up feeling well rested and recharged.

Don't forget, Simplicity University will be open for registration this spring! If you want to get on our mailing list to get info about our new courses and workshops that will soon be offered through Simplicity University, just send a text to 44222 with the word "SIMPLICITYU". Or you can just go to Simplicityu.com for more information.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

PART 1 Episode #67: "Good Night, Sleep Tight!"

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode69

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Admiral William McRaven's Book: "Make Your Bed"

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

#68: Get More Done With A Foucs Frame Apr 13, 2017

Show notes

Last week, I came up with a new tool that I want to start using in my own life to help me get more stuff done every day. And I have to say I'm kind of excited about it! So I figured I'd share my idea with you for today's episode.

It's no secret that the number one best strategy to accomplish important daily tasks is to keep track of them with a to-do list. I love to do lists! And I can honestly talk for hours about how to make and maintain your to do lists... but we'll save that for another day.

One type of to-do list that you might be familiar with is a "Focus List". Everyone has a long to-do list of things that they intend to do and want to do, but we all know NO ONE has enough time to do everything on their list... at least I sure don't!

Instead of trying to tackle your entire to-do list in any given day, first thing in the morning you should write a focus list. That's when you pull only a few important tasks from your big master to-do list that you can feasibly do that day. That way, you can FOCUS only on those few to-dos. Which means when you write your focus list, you have to be honest with yourself and realistic about how much time you really do have to get things done. It also means that you need to have your priorities in order (which of course is another topic I can talk for hours about).

When I figure out my focus list every morning, I sit at my desk, I glance at my schedule for the day and I then take a look at my master to-do lists. I figure out what really needs to be done, what I really have time for, and then I write it on a little piece of paper or sometimes even a little post-it note. I then keep that piece of paper front-and-center on my desk all day long while I'm working so I can focus on those specific to-do's. Which is why it's called a 'focus' list.

Sometimes I make a focus list for things that need to get done around the house and I leave it on the kitchen counter.

Last week I had an idea. Instead of writing my focus list on any random little scrap of paper or post-it note, what if I were to write it on a focus frame?

Now I'm sure you've seen something similar before on Pinterest of Facebook. It's really quite simple. Tune in for today's episode and I'll explain exactly how to make one.

Links Mentioned in this Show:

Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode68

Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com

Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com

Free Guide: "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY

Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"

Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE

Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson

Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae