I’ve decided to try out a new weekly feature type of post on OrganizedJen.com every Sunday.  It’s a Week In Review of sorts, which will occasionally include photo recaps from Instagram.  The format might change from time to time, depending on what feels right on any given week.  I’m also considering delving into more personal things from time to time, in a Housewife Confessional kind of style, if you’re familiar with those videos on my MHWL channel.  So, let’s dive in!

Meeting Deadlines:

Being my own boss of sorts has been a real challenge for me.  I thrive under structure and have always been more of a follower than a leader.  One of the reasons I think I liked school so much is that it was the perfect framework for a busy bee like me.  Completing tasks by working through a curriculum set by teachers?  Right up my alley!  Now that I’m setting my own curriculum of sorts, becoming both the teacher and the student, I find myself getting frustrated more often.  I never realized how nice it was to have someone else in charge of setting how much is reasonable in terms of work to accomplish in any given time period.  With me in charge of myself, there are hugely high expectations and I am super hard on myself when I inevitably fall short of them.

I have been working very specifically in the last week on making more reasonable work goals for myself, especially where it concerns my day-to-day productivity   I have found that I can actually accomplish about half of what I think I can in a day.  Rather than get down on myself for not being able to do more, I am working on starting my day with a more reasonable number of tasks in mind.  This way I can actually meet my daily goals and end each day with a sense of accomplishment rather than failure.  Changing one’s natural tendencies is serious work in itself.  It’s going to be a long process, but definitely necessary for me in order to continue doing the things I love and enjoy doing them.  I genuinely love being an Original Content Creator and all it entails between filming & editing YouTube videos, writing blog posts here, posting on my two tumblr accounts, and interacting with you guys on Twitter and Facebook.  Trying not to spoil it by becoming a crazy and unreasonable boss of myself is a big priority.

Speaking of deadlines, I did manage to get my newest tumblr, Positively Polished, up and running.  I know it seems counterintuitive to add another thing to my plate right now and I’ve received quite a few comments questioning my reasoning behind it.  Having a little place on the web to post all of my #POTM (Polish Of The Moment) photos, nail polish hauls, and polish release information is something that I’ve wanted for a long time.  I’m big on posting different topics in different forums.  That’s just me.  A place for everything, you know?  Consider all of my internet content to be like my closet.  I have separate racks, bins, and shelves for the different kinds of items in my closet, just like I have various social media platforms for the different categories of content I put out on the world wide web.   To me it’s as simple as that.  I’m not trying to say that it’s for everyone.  It works for me so I go with it.  Do what you like.  Like what you do.

Running, Yoga, & Trying To Eat Healthy:

I’ve been very happy to be back to regular training between races.  I decided not to try for any big mileage days in order to avoid stressing out my legs too much in this short time I have before the Disney World Princess Half marathon (in TWO weeks!!).  I’ve been running between 3-6 miles about every other day on the indoor track at the gym thanks to the alternating icy/snowy/wet winter conditions outside lately.

Getting a good stretch post run is super important for me to stay healthy!

I’ve enjoyed using the This Is Yoga DVD set that Don’s sister and her husband gave me for my birthday  along with my brand new Jade yoga mat on the days between running.  Tara Stiles is my yoga hero of late!  I feel so lucky to have found her DVDs since losing my favorite yoga teacher at the yoga studio I frequent last summer.  She only teaches in the city now, which makes it much harder to make it to her class.  Tara Stiles has been filling that yoga void ever since.  The practice is also much less labor intensive, which has been a necessary part of my half marathon training.  My at home practice with these DVDS (as well as the Daily Yoga one I mentioned in a previous post) has been the perfect amount of mild strengthening with a moderate stretch to keep me limber.  After my next race I might venture to try out new teachers at my yoga studio as there is nothing quite like practicing with others in a class setting.  For now between the at home yoga and my running I am feeling very strong.

Trying to eat healthy, however, has been a real struggle these past few months.  I find I typically have a hard time finding the right balance again after the holidays, especially with all of the travelling we’ve been doing.  Historically, March is when I get my eating really back in gear.  I suppose it’s because spring is finally on the horizon and I start craving lighter fare naturally.  Don and I have been eating a lot of homemade chicken soup lately (and yes, we will be posting a Cook Nook video on TBBB sharing that recipe soon).  It’s been our go-to meal between the holidays and traveling to keep ourselves in check this winter.

Don’s Homemade Chicken Soup & Cheese Curls (365 Everyday Value brand from Whole Foods)

My biggest problem is not about eating healthy meals, but reducing my sweets intake.  The holidays always suck me back into very bad habits and I find it’s such a struggle to get back on track with that specifically.  Sugar is so addictive!  This week is the first since the holidays that I’ve felt like I have a real handle on the situation again.  I like to allow for a couple of treat allowances per week and try to steer clear of sweets on the days in between.   Seeing all of the delectables out for Valentine’s Day is definitely tempting, but so far I’ve been able to resist (with the exception of Tuesday Treat Day, which is when I typically indulge in a cupcake).

Check out these cute Valentine cakes at my local Whole Foods.

Personal Growth:

Honestly, it hasn’t been the best week ever emotionally speaking for me.  Putting yourself out there on the internet for the world to see definitely opens the door for unmitigated criticism.  I am super sensitive in my non-internet life.  It continues to surprise me that I am able to manage the negativity that comes with being a public person of sorts.  I haven’t quite put my finger on the reasoning behind it, but I find I am much more resilient in my internet life.  This has been filtering more and more into my personal life with time as well.  I strongly believe that being on YouTube and interacting with people via the internet has helped me to grow as an individual.  I feel like I’ve found my niche in this world, which is another constant surprise to me.  If three years ago you would have told me I’d be doing what I do now, I would have laughed in disbelief and shrugged it off as impossible.  I am a true-blue introvert (still am) and was an intensely private person up until I found YouTube.  For some reason talking to a camera comes naturally to me whereas talking to people in person absolutely does not.  From what I gather, this is what the majority of my viewers like best about my videos.  You guys tell me constantly how it feels like you’re sitting down with a friend when you watch my videos.  I love that!  I don’t have many friends in my personal life, which is something I might touch upon in more depth at a future time.  Since finding YouTube, I have received the gift of friendship many times over by connecting with viewers all over the world.  You are all very real friends to me and for that I am extremely grateful.

Of course, not all of my viewers have such positive opinions of me.  I’ve never been one to expect or wish for everyone to like me all of the time.  On the contrary, I think it’s perfectly natural not to like certain people.  I don’t think you really have to have a reason either.  Some people just rub you the wrong way, you know?  I can absolutely rub people the wrong way and that’s perfectly fine by me.  That’s just the way we work as humans.  Why people would subject themselves to watching a video of someone they don’t like, however, is something I’ll never understand, but to each their own, right?  Some people are more vocal than others about their dislike of me.  It seems like periods of greater negativity come in waves.  The past couple of weeks have felt like that to me.  Most of the time I can see and accept the criticism and negativity, let it go, and then move on.  It’s during big waves like these that I can get a bit bogged down by it.  I try to find something constructive out of these comments if available that can help me to learn and grow as a person.  When I’m in the wave there’s usually a big thing or two I need to work through emotionally.  This has happened several times during the past year and I’ve always come out feeling stronger and more sure of myself than before.  Nothing good comes easy, though, and there’s a lot of working through things that has to happen before the growth can occur.  I feel like the wave is tapering off now and I can see a new path once again before me.  This is such an adventure for me and no good adventure is without its moments of turmoil.

Of course, it is extremely helpful that the majority of my viewers are incredible supportive and enthusiastic about what I do.  I am grateful every day for the encouragement you guys give me.  Big ((HUGS)) all around!

Winter is best when I have my Winnie to share the glorious outdoors with!

I’m ending this week in review feeling more grateful than anything else.  Love is what it’s all about.  I get to share with people in a way I never dreamed possible.  I have an incredibly supportive family and the best husband on the planet, not to mention the sweetest pup ever, all of who love me with a fierceness that is impossible to deny.  I am a happy girl even during periods of stress and personal challenges, because I love me for me.  I feel so blessed for all of the love in my life.  Thank you for being a part of that! I love you all ❤