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"A LOT with Audra" is the podcast for women juggling big dreams and full lives. Each episode, host, Audra Dinell, Midwestern wife, mom and neurodivergent multi-six figure entrepreneur encourages women to embrace their many roles holistically by living a values-based life with confidence and joy. Through candid discussions, practical strategies and inspiring stories, this podcast is your guide to designing and achieving success without losing yourself in the process.
Ep93
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Midday Slump Reflection
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[00:00:00]
Audra Dinell: [00:01:00] Okay, so a few weeks ago, I got to go to a really great day of learning with a group of leaders who lead leaders, we'll say. And halfway through the day, you know, we had taken in some great content, had some great conversations, done some great activations, but everyone was hitting that mid-afternoon slump, right?
It was a rainy day. We'd been in it and on for hours. And I turned to a couple of the other women at my table and said something along the lines of, "Gosh, I have just been running for months straight, and I really just need a day for [00:02:00] me." And the first of the month was coming up, and we started to get into this conversation about how we'll have these wins in our life, whether they be little or big.
A little win could be cleaning out your closet for fall. A big win could be getting your master's degree.
Why We Skip Celebrations
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Audra Dinell: But we'll have these wins in our life, and we'll just move on to the next thing. We don't take time to celebrate. And earlier this summer, I had an experience that allowed me to really sit down and take stock of my career thus far and connect some dots backwards, as you know we can only do sometimes, connecting the dots backwards.
And, you know, at the end of that couple hour experience, I remember feeling just so proud of myself and just so grateful for the [00:03:00] journey, right? But so often we're head down in the weeds, doing the thing, trying to get to the next thing, that we don't take time for ourselves, but we also don't take time to celebrate the good.
Introducing Celebrate Me Day
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Audra Dinell: So this conversation at the table inspired me to use the first of the month to have a Celebrate Me Day.
Humility and Self Pride
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Audra Dinell: And man, it feels risky even saying that because I think, especially as women, we are societally cultured to stay small and safe and be humble about who we are and what we've done, and there's, there's beauty in humility.
So don't hear me wrong, please. I hope you hear the nuance in this. But I think that blanket advice that I've heard for many, many [00:04:00] years about staying humble, it's important, and it does not mean that we cannot also look ourselves in the mirror, take time, and celebrate the amazing things that we have done.
It's not just me, it's you, too. And if you're listening to this and you're thinking, "Oh, well, sure, that's, that's easy to say if you've done what you've done," but I promise you that each and every one of us has things to celebrate, but we have to pause, and we have to look back, and we have to spend some time reflecting.
Weekly Wins Practice
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Audra Dinell: I use the Full Focus Planner, and I'm back on it in the minimalist version. I stopped using it for about a year because it was getting a little overwhelming, but the version that was not the minimalist version had this really great piece that I do miss in the minimalist version. [00:05:00] And it had a spot every single week to look back over the week behind me and pull out the top three wins.
And I did that for a couple of years, and that practice was just really, really healthy because it helped me stop and, and see the good things. And these aren't even all things that I did anything to accomplish. Maybe it was just like, "Oh, I had a really great connection with my kids on this walk to school, and it just filled my cup," or, " This person dropped everything they were doing to come help me, and I just feel so thankful for that relationship."
But that practice of looking back over the week and pulling out three wins or good things I think was just really important. And it's something I'd love to get back into. So I wanted to record this quick episode just to encourage you. [00:06:00] You might need a Celebrate Yourself Day too.
How I Spent My Day
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Audra Dinell: And what that day looked like for me was I had a big to-do list, and I booked it on a Thursday.
That was the first of the month. And I quieted my list. I set it aside. I largely didn't check my email. And I did the things that really, really filled me up. I had a nice slow morning and walked my kids to school. So yes, for me, this day did include, like, taking the day off of work and, you know, having lots of solo time, because right now that's what filled me up.
I took my dog on a nice walk and did yoga on the porch, and I meditated, and I had some really good conversations with people I loved that day. I had a massage that day. Um, my husband kinda jumped in on it in a super sweet way and created this whole fall [00:07:00] treat, Trader Joe's scene on the table for me while I was at my massage. I picked my kids up and we watched Harry Potter, and it was like a rainy night, and it was just so wonderful. Um, and that really, really filled me up.
Make It a Quarterly Ritual
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Audra Dinell: And so I would love personally to do this once a quarter. Just pick a day at the beginning of a month, something fresh, and just say, "Okay, all the to-dos and all the people and projects and efforts I pour into are beautiful and good, but today is a day that I am celebrating me and I'm pouring into me."
So I share that structure, I share that idea, I share the thoughts behind it and where it came from. It's not revolutionary, but man, it filled me up and it might be something you need to do too.
Share Your Celebrate Day
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Audra Dinell: If you do, I would love to hear from you. Please comment on this podcast and tell us what you did. Comment on the [00:08:00] post.
Um, we'd love to hear how you are celebrating you too. So thank you, and I hope you have a great week.