Balance.

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. Do you start your day in a positive way? No, not having the "positive vibes only" mindset, but practicing habits that contribute to you maintaining optimal mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. In this episode, Nick and Ray close out our month-long conversation on cultivating the 3rd pillar of our Sustainable Self-Care System, our morning routine. They share 5 habits we can consider adding to our morning routine that will help us start our day in a positive way. Some of the habits options offered up in this episode will be ones we have recommended before, like sitting in stillness [mindfulness] and drinking water. Others will be new approaches to keeping our energy aligned with our values and goals, like setting an intention for the day and defining our top 3 most important tasks [MIT's]. Use what you learn in this episode to define what you want your morning routine to look like for this season of your life. Remember, this is a living routine so it's okay to make adjustment

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. Could you use a message of encouragement during this season of your life? In this episode, we welcome Renay Achille to the show. She is a mom, caregiver, author, and fellow member of our Patreon Community. Renay shares her story of how cultivating a morning routine to prepare herself for the uncertainty associated with caring for her mother, birthed her first published book, Messages From The Master. She also shares her current morning routine and a powerful message to encourage you to embrace what makes you unique. We have had family members as guests on the show before, but getting an opportunity to highlight our mother is extra special. Without her, there would be no Balance Period. The story she shares with us in this episode is powerful, especially for those of us who are experiencing uncertain times. Her ability to maintain a present perspective and stay disciplined with keeping her cup full now has her in the position to reap the harvest of the seeds she sewed years ago. R

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How do you manage your morning routine? In this episode, Nick and Ray continue our month-long conversation on developing the third pillar of our Sustainable Self-Care System, our morning routine. They offer 3 tips we can use to better manage our current routine so we can align the habits we practice to start our day with our values and goals. They also highlight the value of prioritizing time for peace in the morning and how that can help us more mindfully manage our energy throughout the day. What did you learn from tracking the first hour of your day? You will now be able to take what you learn to more intentionally manage how you start your day! Remember, you can only manage what you measure so expanding your awareness of how you currently spend your time positively impacts your ability to manage your morning routine. Have you taken accountability for your quality of life? If not, now is the time to do so. You are responsible for making sure your cup is full, period! It may no

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How do you spend the first hour of your day? In this episode, Nick and Ray begin to discuss the third and final pillar of our Sustainable Self-Care System, our morning routine. They focus their attention on highlighting the connection between the habits we choose to practice in the morning and the ripple effect they can have on the rest of our day. Each of them shares how they spend the first hour of their day and the experiences that influenced their adoption of a morning routine. Challenge: For the next week, track how you spend the first hour of your day. You can keep track of your morning activities in your written journal or in the notes app on your phone [we recommend using your phone!]. By measuring how you currently spend your time, you will be able to use the data you collect to make more informed decisions about adjustments you can make that will support you feeling good so you can function at your best! As the month progresses, we will be offering up a variety of ways

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How do your mid-day habits influence your quality of sleep? In this episode, Nick and Ray conclude our month-long conversation about developing the 2nd pillar of our Sustainable Self-Care System, our mid-day routine. In addition to sharing more details of their own mid-day routines, they also offer up 3 habits we can begin to cultivate during the day that will incrementally improve our quality of sleep. Each of the habits discussed is from the perspective of expanding your awareness of how each practice influences your quality of sleep and overall quality of life. How much caffeine do you consume a day and when in the day do you consume it? How much time do you spend outside exposing yourself to natural light? When do you eat your last meal of the day and how big is that meal? Answering these questions for yourself and referencing the insight provided throughout this episode will put you in the best position to know if you have room to make adjustments to your current routine. Th

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How mindfully do you move your body? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss how we can be more intentional with our movement as we develop the second pillar of our Sustainable Self-Care System, our mid-day routine. They talk about the benefits of incorporating more movement into our day and how it can contribute to us living a happier and healthier life. They then provide 5 practical ways we can begin to add more mindful movement into our day so we can feel more energized and be more engaged in moments that matter the most. Remember, taking accountability for the quality of your life isn't just beneficial for your wellbeing. It also ensures that you are setting the best example possible for our next generation to know that it's important for them to do the same! The leading cause of death in the US is heart disease. Although we are unable to change some risk factors — such as family history, sex, or age — there are lifestyle changes we can make to reduce our risk! One, in particul

Pause, and observe a DEEP breath. How do you manage your mid-day routine? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss how we can continue to cultivate the 2nd pillar of our Sustainable Self-Care System, our mid-day routine.  They offer 3 simple ways we can more effectively align the habits we practice during the day with our values and goals. Download the free Energy Management Guide referenced in this episode: Download Here [https://balance-period.ck.page/742a74403a] If you have any questions, please email us at podcast@balanceperiod.com Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How often do you check-in with yourself? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss the value of checking in with ourselves and how this practice connects with the second pillar to our Sustainable Self-Care System, our mid-day routine. They share the specifics of how they check-in with themselves and how we can begin to cultivate this habit in our lives today. Remember, how you feel matters! Checking in with yourself will expand your awareness of what you're feeling so you can more effectively give yourself what you need when you need it. Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. Are you willing to commit to consistent sleep? In this episode, Ray discusses one of the keys to continuing to develop our evening routines, making the commitment to invest our energy to getting consistent sleep. He shares 3 ways we can execute on improving the quality of our sleep for the remainder of 2022 and beyond. Remember, you are unable to fill anyone else's cup if your cup is empty, and getting high-quality sleep is a simple way you can contribute to your cup filling up. Sustainable Self-Care System Products & Discounts [Link in Bio] Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. Are you the author of your life? In this episode, we welcome Devin Scott to the show. Devin is the Chief Visionary Officer [CVO] of Athlete 2 Entrepreneur, an organization here to help retired and transitioning athletes find their purpose. He shares his story of finding his identity after retiring from a successful football career and why he chose to become an entrepreneur. He also shares one of the habits he practices to help him get higher quality sleep on daily basis. If you are a former athlete or know a former athlete, be sure to check out what Devin has going on! Details below: Instagram: @devindscott Website: www.a2elive.com Facebook: @FreedomFinders317 Remember: The stories we share on this platform are here to remind you that regardless of where you are on your journey, you have the opportunity to take accountability for your quality of life and align the habits you practice with your values and goals. Use what you hear in this episode as motivation to stay consistent an

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How is your sleep hygiene? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss the value sleep hygiene has on our quality of sleep and overall quality of life. They offer up 5 healthy sleep hygiene habits we can begin to incorporate into our evening routine as we continue to develop this first pillar of our Sustainable Self-Care System. Here's an article that provides more details on what sleep hygiene is and some additional habit options you can try: Sleep Hygiene Article Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How do you manage your evening routine? In this episode, Nick and Ray offer up 3 simple tips for managing the first pillar in your Sustainable Self-Care System, your evening routine. Ray also dives a bit deeper into chronotypes and how we can use them to make more mindful decisions about the habits we choose to practice in our lives. Recommended Resources: The Power of When [Paid Link] | Chronotype Quiz Enjoy the show. Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How often do you get quality sleep? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss the value of expanding our awareness of our quality of sleep so we can more effectively create our evening routines. They reference the book The Power Of When and recommend a quiz from that book that will help us identify our chronotype and be more intentional about when we go to bed. [Chronotype Quiz] Challenge: Keep track of how you spend the last hour of your day prior to going to bed and how you feel when you wake up in the morning. Either write down what you observe in your journal or a note on your phone. Remember, for the month of January we are providing you with resources on how to develop the foundation for the first routine in your Sustainable Self-Care System. Be sure to send us a message if you have any questions about how to develop your evening routine. Let's learn, grow, and incrementally improve our quality of life together! ***The links we provide may be paid links, meaning Balance Period

Pause, and observe a DEEP breath. Are you prepared for 2022? In the last episode of 2021, Nick and Ray share the New Year's resolution that has the ability to change our lives forever, cultivating our Sustainable Self-Care System. They break down how we can begin to incrementally improve the quality of our lives so we can feel good, function at our best, and set the best example possible for our next generation. They also offer a few tips that will help us stay disciplined and consistent along our journey. Check out our membership options on Patreon and join us as we take our community step-by-step through the process of developing their Sustainable Self-Care System: https://www.patreon.com/balanceperiod Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. Do you set New Years Resolutions? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss the origin of creating resolutions and provide perspective on why it's important to adjust our mindset before we enter 2022. They share an approach to setting this year's resolution so that we can actually execute on incrementally improving the quality of our life beyond the first week of February. Be sure to tune in next week to learn exactly how you can grow into 2022 and be the best example possible for the people you get to influence for years to come. Let's learn and grow together! P.S. Take a moment to tweet about something you learned from this episode and add the hashtag #balanceperiod

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. What lessons did you learn this year? In continuation of the last episode, Nick and Ray each share 3 things they learned along their journey through 2021. They also highlight the value of discipline and consistency in the pursuit of incrementally improving the quality of any area of our lives. Be sure to spend some time reflecting on what you learned from this year so you can be more intentional about how you choose to spend your time and energy in 2022! You can also download our FREE Energy Management Guide that will show you step-by-step how you can start feeling good so you can function at your best. [Download Here] Let's learn and grow together

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. Have you reflected on 2021 yet? In this episode, Nick and Ray do a mindful reflection on 2021. They reference the 3 intentions they set back in January and discuss how each manifested in their lives throughout the year. They also each share one additional way they were able to incrementally improve the quality of their lives during 2021. Be sure to take some time to do your own mindful reflection so you can be more intentional about how you spend your time and energy in 2022. Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, and observe a DEEP breath. Are you prepared to manage holiday stress? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss the common causes of holiday stress and how they approach coping with the stress associated with the holiday season. They also share 3 tips for managing stress this holiday season so we can stay grounded, enjoy spending quality time with the people we love, and continue to be the best example possible for our next generation. Let's learn and grow together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How do you use technology to support your Sustainable Self-Care System? In this episode, Nick and Ray discuss how investing in certain pieces of technology has helped them continue to improve the quality of their Sustainable Self-Care System and overall wellbeing. They also share 8 specific products and services they have used to measure their habits, educate themselves, and more effectively manage their Sustainable Self-Care System. Here is the link where you can access the document discussed in the show with discount links for some of the products and services: Click Here [linktr.ee/balanceperiod] Let's learn, grow, and save money together!

Pause, observe a DEEP breath. How big do you dream? In this episode, we welcome Natalie Murdock to the show. She is the brand CEO of Notes from Corrin, a brand focused on encouraging individuals in their growth in The Lord, one day at a time. Natalie shares her story of overcoming depression and aligning herself with her life's purpose. She also shares a few of the self-care habits she practices that help her feel good and function at her best. Here's how you can get connected with Natalie: Instagram - @nataliecorrin_ | @notesfromcorrin Podcast - Another Day, Another Chance