Plan Simple with Mia Moran

You can have it all — work, motherhood, and wellness — and feel balanced. We were just never taught how. We have all used a planner to schedule our day, make our lists, and just be busy. But planners set us up for always doing and never being. It is time to create that balance in our lives. Highlights: The system behind the planner was made for men who were not balancing work with what was happening at home and with the children.Making lists is an intuitive, feminine, creative, calming practice however they can eventually take on a life of their own — becoming the never-ending, always expanding to-do list.Your intuition is smart too — the smartest. That kind whisper and nudge can tell you exactly how to parent, grow a biz and what to eat. But here is the thing about the wise voice within us … it does not understand time.On the other side of dreaming and sketching out goals and to-do lists, you have to find the time. Otherwise, we set ourselves up for emotions that stop us in our tracks.

Throw out your plan for the year. You could get great things done in 90 days — maybe even more meaningful things than what you previously set out to do in a year.We dramatically underestimate how much we can get done in two or three years, but overestimate much we can get done in a day or a week. Highlights:Change can happen faster than you think. The journey is a journey. There is always a next level and each level comes with its own obstacles. You will be on your journey each and every day.Figure out a workable next step and kept it embarrassingly simple. Each time you take a doable step, find the next doable step.Not change your thinking, you will have done all the same actions with very little result. This idea of listening to your intuition, taking a small step, seeing the next step is uncovered, taking that step … happens every week in FLOW365.Movement literally creates momentum and miracles.

Getting healthy and becoming who I am all started with a stack of 7 coffee cups on my desk.My life looked good: I had aspirations, an amazing husband, three kids under 5, and my dream career. But I was tired, and I wasn’t savoring my time with my kids. Everything about home started giving me anxiety — the mess, the food, getting three kids to bed. And one day I counted the coffee cups on my desk. Seven cups of caffeine, and I was exhausted!That was the day I decided to feel great.ChallengeConsider one 10 minute GOLD NUGGET that you could add to your day to create more balance.Trust what intuitively comes in and write it somewhere. Later today, or right now if you have a moment, schedule that thing in your calendar.

Ready to REALLY, once and for all, stop the craziness that is living with a feeling of overwhelm 24-7?                                                                  The Plan Simple Podcast Is For:●     Women who want to tell a new story about the balance of work and family●     Women who don’t want to sacrifice their health in pursuit of this balance●     Women ready for less stress and more lifeI am a mom of three, a wife, and a life coach who also makes time for wellness—and I am dedicated to helping overwhelmed women create lives where they have room for a meaningful career, an amazing home and family life, and are taking great care of themselves — we’re talking, mind, body spirit. We go behind the scenes into the successes and the dark moments and hard days.My goal is that you stay inspired and full of ideas to make lots of little, doable, micro changes in your life that when added up will make a HUGE difference in your life.Ready, Let's do this!!!Let’s move your life from overwhelm to ease.

“Your intuition is always looking out for what is best for your highest good.” –Heather DresselWhat does your intuition sound like? Heather Dressel’s here to talk about hearing your intuition — and acting on it. Creating the space to hear our intuition is why I do what I do. If you have trouble following your intuition or aren’t even sure what you should be hearing or feeling, this one’s for you.Before we get into intuition and Heather’s new podcast on that subject, we take a peek at what self-care looks like for her. Because here’s the thing: self-care looks different for all of us, just like intuition. Knowing what you need, not what you’re supposed to do for self-care, is important. And sometimes there’s an overlap of hearing what you need in the moment.You may be wondering: How do I know that it's my intuition? Or how do I trust my intuition? It’s a learning process because our intuition shows up differently for all of us. It might be a soft voice you hear, something you see in your mind's eye, a gut feeling … You can learn how your intuition shows up by asking questions and paying attention to what you feel.We talk about: The difference between intuition and mean girl voices or your inner criticFinding a balance of masculine and feminine energyThe power of asking: Is this going to move me forward? and how intuition plays with timeUsing your intuition with your to do listHow healing our energy and not trying to hold all the things can help us hear our intuitionBeing kind to yourself and seeing the invitation that was offered when you don’t listen to your intuition.BIOHeather Dressel is the founder of Divinely Sensitive and the Hear Her podcast. Heather is a highly sensitive empath herself, and launched her business to lead a community of women who identify as highly sensitive or empaths or both. Divinely Sensitive provide resources and support as they learn to honor their unique sensitivities and unleash their superpowers. LINKSHear Her podcastDivinely SensitiveDivinely Sensitive with Heather Dressel on PlanSimpleDoable Changes from this episode:LEARN HOW YOUR INTUITION COMMUNICATES. One of the things that can be tricky is figuring out what your intuition sounds or feels like, because it’s different for all of us. Start by getting still and quiet and asking a question. Pay attention to the response. Do you hear a voice telling you the answer? Do you feel a tingle in your gut? The more you know how your intuition shows up, the easier it is to tune in and notice it.ASK: IS THIS GOING TO MOVE ME FORWARD? You can ask this question of your intuition about anything. Is writing this article now going to move me forward? Is taking a walk going to move me forward? Is another cup of coffee going to move me forward? Practice asking and listening to the answer you receive.NOTICE WHEN YOU DON’T LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION. Don’t beat yourself up about not listening to your intuition, but notice when it happens. Get curious. What kept you from listening? Notice the invitation your intuition offered. Notice how things might have been different if you had.

Work-life balance is really a mindset issue and a boundary issue. –Aimee GreczmielIs work-life balance all in our heads? Aimee Greczmiel is a coach for corporate moms and recommends thinking about mindset management rather than time management when it comes to balance. After 18 years in corporate, she became an entrepreneur and helps working moms reach their goals and bring balance and “being” (as opposed to doing) energy to their work lives.Before kids, Aimee felt she had complete control over her time and where she was focusing her energy and attention — then she became a mom. It wasn’t just that she had less time. She had an awakening and found there were parts of her ambition and her achievement that didn't serve her in motherhood. Motherhood was more about slowing down, savoring, being instead of doing.So she took a deep dive into something so many of us struggle with: work-life balance. One big take away: if you don’t have any boundaries around your time, work will consume all of it. That’s true whether you are in corporate or an entrepreneur.We talk about: Developing a mindset of being present with your family (not thinking about work when you are not working) Communicating your priorities to leadership at work Thinking about mindset management rather than time management when it comes to balanceUsing the TFR model to deal with feelings and release mom guiltFocusing on the positive instead of always scanning for problems to solveGoing to the mental gym with tools like meditation and journaling that don’t take much time each day (and how it’s hard to see the benefits until you engage with the practice for while)BIOAimee Greczmiel is a former Fortune 500 VP who has taken her passion for mentoring and personal growth to help working mothers experience more patience, fulfillment, and ease both in and outside of work. Aimee guides working moms to get clear on their desired outcomes, so they may leave a lasting legacy for their family. Aimee is an action-oriented mentor who has helped hundreds of individuals reach their goals, while overcoming personal and professional challenges.LINKSwww.corporatemomcoach.comFREE 30 Minute Clarity Call with Aimee: https://calendly.com/aimeegreczmiel/30minFREE Self-Care Menu (Top 20 Self-Care Activities for Working Moms): https://www.corporatemomcoach.com/selfcaremenuInstagram: @aimee.greczmielDoable Changes from this episode:BE CLEAR ABOUT PRIORITIES. We talked about communicating your priorities, but before you can do that you need to be really clear about what your priorities are. If you say my family is my priority, what does that mean? How do you want to make family a priority? What does that look like to you? Put aside what you think is expected at work and think about what really matters to you. Write down what that means to you. FIND A POSITIVE. In FLOW365, we celebrate every Friday. We’re conditioned to scan for problems, move on to the next thing we need to do, but when we take time to celebrate, we acknowledge what we have done and we build a different energy and way forward. Find one positive at the end of the day. Write it down and share it with a friend, colleague, or your community (pick somebody who will celebrate with you)! TRY MEDITATION. Meditation has a lot of known benefits, and you don’t have to meditate for a long time to see benefits. Try a mediation app and commit to 5 minutes a day. This isn’t a quick fix, but one that builds over time.

When you're familiar with your benefits and what your coverages are, it definitely empowers you to have the conversations that you need to have.  –Kyana BrathwaiteBe empowered with your healthcare! I’m talking with Kyana Brathwaite of KB CALS. She provides caring advocacy and liaison services to help people find their way in the often confusing and not warm and fuzzy healthcare system. Most of us learned not to question doctors and not to trust our bodies, and it’s time to get past both of those things. We talk about finding healthcare providers you trust and can work with (and why that might not look the same in every situation). We also talk about advocating for yourself. But beyond the actual practitioners, there’s the cost and how insurance works. Most of us don’t know what’s covered or what’s not. And when we’re in a health crisis, we may not slow down to ask the questions we need to ask. Kyana wants to change all that.We talk about: Logging in and playing with your insurance website or your patient portal so that you know how to navigate itBeing the expert in your own body, giving input into your healthcare, and expecting a doctor to work with youResearching providers before you ask for a referralExploring ancillary benefits, like gym membershipsWhy you should read your summary of benefitsInterviewing providers and knowing what you need in a providerBIOKyana Brathwaite is a registered nurse, wife, mom of two wonderful kids, and CEO & Founder of KB CALS – Caring Advocacy & Liaison Services. She has worked in the medical field for over twenty years and knows that healthcare interactions can be a deeply personal experience. KB CALS partners with clients to assist in wayfinding, provider matching, benefit utilization, insurance research, and health and wellness planning by coordinating a community of support, including medical practitioners, health systems and insurance providers to best fit your needs. LINKShttps://www.resourceinhealthcare.comDoable Changes from this episode:PLAY FOR 15 MINUTES. So often we need to learn about how our health benefits work when we are under duress. Taking time to learn how to navigate the system and find information before you need it can take a lot of pressure off. Learn how to log in to your health insurance site or your healthcare portal. Play in there for 15 minutes a week (put it on your calendar). Look around at what’s available.SET UP YOUR TEAM. Know what you need from each provider. Take time to research providers you may need. You can read reviews, talk to people you know, call the office and ask questions. Look at your insurance for coverage. If you can do this before you need it, even better. Think about your providers now. Do you trust them? Work well with them? If not, start looking at new options. SLOW DOWN. When faced with a health crisis, many of us rush into action or just say yes to whatever is suggested to us. In most cases, it’s okay to slow down. Ask questions: What are my other options? Is the procedure covered by my insurance and what will my costs be? Could we try …? What are the risks of this action / of not taking this action? Who else does this work? Make a list of questions you might need to ask next time you are faced with a health issue.

“Healthy, focused food and simple recipes and cooking should be fun and easy.”  –Debbie BrosnanOn this episode of the PlanSimple Podcast, I’m really excited to talk with Debbie Brosnan from the Effortless Kitchen about taking the stress out of cooking and making meal prep more enjoyable. If you’ve been around, you know that I didn’t not know how to cook for a long time. I couldn’t find kale in the grocery store. I just had no idea what I was doing. Taking a cooking class made such a difference for me, and if you are thinking “I don’t know how to cook” or “I’m just no good in the kitchen,” a cooking class might be just what you need. We talk about cooking classes and people who are intimidated to even try one (and why Debbie’s class aren’t intimidating for anyone) and other tips to make meal prep, including planning and shopping, easier.We talk about: Gaining confidence in the kitchen (and the grocery store)Having five go-to meals in your pocketPrepping ingredients (like cooking grains or roasting veggies) ahead instead of preparing whole meals Getting your whole family involved in the meal processHow leftovers are your friend — for lunch, frozen for future meals …Tips for adapting recipes and meals for different eater’s needs/preferencesBIODebbie loves all things food and found her way from personal chef to virtual cooking class instructor as she and her business adapted with the need for virtual events. Debbie is a passionate self taught home cook who began her journey cooking alongside her mother and grandmother as a young child. Her focus is on healthy food that tastes amazing using simple recipes so that those who take her classes will continue to make those dishes and others in their own kitchens. The Effortless Kitchen offers weekly classes, custom parties and corporate events and all are interactive and fun. By popular demand, recorded classes are now being offered for those who can’t make the live classes and want to cook on their own time. Debbie is thrilled with the shift in her business as she can reach more people and share her gift with everyone. In 2022, Debbie is adding on culinary travel as an offering for those who have the travel bug. LINKSwww.theeffortlesskitchen.comFree Potato Soup with Grilled cheese croutons classhttps://cook.theeffortlesskitchen.com/fosignupOTHER LINKSTess’s Cooking ClubDoable Changes from this episode:TAKE A COOKING CLASS. If you are uncomfortable in the kitchen, cookbooks can be daunting. A class can help you learn a lot of lingo and techniques and see what they really mean. See the links above for a free recorded class from Debbie or her schedule for live Zoom classes. She’ll make the process easier from start to finish and you’ll get some camaraderie along the way. PREP AN INGREDIENT. If prepping all your meals for the week feels like too much, what about prepping one ingredient. Make a big batch of rice or other grain. You can use it throughout the week or freeze portions of it to make meals easier later on. Or you could roast a bunch of veggies to use in salads or as a side. FLEXIBLE MEALS TO MEET DIFFERENT EATER’S NEEDS. If you are juggling different dietary needs and preferences in your family, try grain bowls. You can choose a grain that works for everyone or even use cauliflower rice. Then everyone puts together their own bowl with different protein and veggie options. Another way to approach it is to look at your recipes and know your substitutions (like coconut aminos for soy sauce) or see what could be left out (does the recipe really need cheese)?

“Your clothes can empower what you're gonna do for the day.”  –Stefanie JohnsonLet’s feel great about all the clothes in our closets!!! On this episode of the PlanSimple Podcast, I’m really excited to talk with Stefanie Johnson, the founder of SwapIt. SwapIt is a clothes swapping business that helps women and people who wear women’s clothing create a wardrobe that doesn't force you to choose between what you love, your budget or your values. The SwapIt store is organized differently. You can’t just go and find your size, because sizing is irrelevant. While this might sound difficult and like it would take more time, when you aren’t tied to a size that, let’s face it, might not fit, you can focus on what the clothing looks and feels like—is it you? Could you see yourself wearing it? My daughter, who is tiny, walked out with a sweater in XL that she loves. In a regular store, we probably would have missed it. Stefanie also talks about shopping your own clothes in a different way. Instead of looking at the clothes in your closet every day to decide what to wear, Stefanie suggests making a Look Book. Take pictures of yourself in your clothes. Put all the pictures together. Then when you are choosing clothes, look through your pictures. We talk more about the benefits of a LookBook and how to create it. We also talk about: How we feel in our clothes and the mindset of clothes that don’t fitOur need for white space — in our calendars and our closetsTime blocking and giving all the parts of our lives the attention they deserveHow you can outfit plan, just like you meal planThe pain of laundry and how to deal with itHow to find your style and work with the clothes you have (or want to swap)BIOStefanie Johnson has always been a big thinker and problem solver. Upon completing her BA in finance from University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Johnson moved to New York City to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector.  During her time at the non-profit she participated in a greening fellowship. Throughout the Fellowship, Johnson learned how to incorporate sustainable practices into a nonprofit’s decision process. But she wanted to do more.  Johnson believes that being green isn’t about having less, it’s about doing things differently.  So in 2015 she founded SwapIt - a new take on thrifting that includes swapping clothes and personal styling. Beyond her entrepreneurship she is a wife and mom of three young kids. LINKSwww.swapit.coolFB @aswappinggoodtimeInsta @aswappinggoodtimeDoable Changes from this episode:CREATE YOUR LOOK BOOK. Start trying on your clothes. Mix and match things you don’t normally put together. If you find an outfit you love, take a picture for your Look Book. If in this process you find something you just don’t like on yourself, let it go (donate or swap it!).TRY A CLOTHING SWAP. If you are in the Boston area, check out the shop! If not, you can organize clothing swaps with people you know. It’s a great way to add new pieces and clear stuff out of your closet you won’t wear. IMPROVE THE LAUNDRY EXPERIENCE. We talk about a bunch of tips for making laundry a better experience: you could send it out, get a partner or kid to take over the task, try pre-sorting to simplify the process, or pair it with something you enjoy (like listening to a podcast or fun music. If you happen to love laundry, try one of these tips for another household chore you don’t love.

Every single business owner has the perfect way for them to make a difference in a way that they naturally connect with other humans.  –Christina FreiThis episode is part of a series for the entrepreneurs in the Plan Simple Community about making the touch points in your business feel easier and more purposeful. I’m super excited to talk to Christina Frei about marketing. Marketing is something a lot of us don’t love (often because of our preconceived notions). Christina says that marketing is really an opportunity for business owners to make a difference in people's lives, so that they make the decision to move forward and work with you. It’s a transformative transaction.It starts with the “inner game” of marketing. Are you ready to go out and change lives? Do you feel unstoppable? Do you know your magnetic way of helping others? And from there you find your innate marketing genius. We talk about: Having a contribution mindset and a generosity practiceRemembering that fun is part of the equationShowing up as a compelling leader or expert (wherever you feel good showing up) and how that inspires people and makes them want to work with youAvoiding marketing resignationUnderstanding your own innate marketing archetype and using it to your advantageWhat generosity really means (a reminder a lot of women, especially moms, need)BIOChristina Frei is a marketing consultant, author, and creator of the Generosity Practice mindset work and the Innate Marketing Genius tools and method. She helps brilliant, mission-based entrepreneurs look smart and get hired. In between, she chases her dog around with a stuffed animal snake, meditates on a pink couch, and obsesses over the perfect cup of green tea, all in a seaside town north of Boston.LINKShttps://www.innatemarketinggenius.com/The Generosity PracticeDoable Changes from this episode:GET GENEROUS. Think about a time when you loved giving something to someone and they loved receiving. Think about the energy that flowed out of that experience. What would you feel great giving right now? GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY. Start noticing how you feel when you send an email or do any other kind of marketing. Are you feeling resigned? Like somebody is going to see your message or respond? How can you change that attitude? Remember major change takes time, but you can assess and switch up your mindset before you hit send.FIGURE OUT OUR MARKETING ARCHETYPE. Christina identifies five marketing archetypes: nurturers, adventure guides, door openers, steady presences, and celebrators. Listen to her descriptions in the podcast or take the quiz on her website. What’s your type? How can you work with your type instead of with what marketing gurus tell you that you should be doing?