This Friday Introduction is a little different than my normal, fun-loving, random fact filled Instagram post! I want to share a reflection as my first blog post of 2019: this time this year, verses this time last year. As we begin the New Year together, I look forward to sharing both personal and professional happenings, just like this post, for all things Laurel Wedding Co! Enjoy!

Over the holidays, I had so much fun thinking through goals and ambitions for this year. Before I go any further, this is not a blog that has anything to do with New Year’s Resolutions! I’m not talking resolutions – I’m talking goals. Simple ambitions I came up with that ideally would lead to some kind of personal and professional satisfaction, plus  advancement!

I found myself on a run last week, praying and talking to God, realizing the first quarter of 2019 is almost over and I am left feeling like I have nothing to show for it. While I was sort of complaining, the Lord turned that into ambition and I had the most productive run I’ve had all year (after all, it’s been cold and it’s only February ;)! I left my favorite running trail full of ideas, ambitions, and motivation of practical steps to move forward – energetically feeling confident that I can get something done in this first quarter that shows accomplishment. I ended the run wishing I had my journal or planner with me to jot down all the thoughts I’d had just to keep them straight! (and let’s be honest, so I wouldn’t forget them).

In my attempt to not forget all the idea’s I was flooded with, I want to share with you, as my first blog post (in a while) of 2019, just a few recent revelations of my own.

As I am halfway through my second year of owning and operating Laurel Wedding Co. full time, I can’t help but reflect back to how I felt this time last year. I was passionate and motivated, although I like to think today I am even more energetic to “do weddings,” if that is even possible!

However, this time last year, in the midst of the joy and freedom I felt owning my own business, I was also full of anxiety, stress, and time that honestly, I had no idea what to do with. Somedays, I remember looking at the clock at 5pm and feeling totally down, not sure what I had even done all day, not to mention feeling totally unaccomplished.

Slow is normal in the beginning. Expected even.. Slow was and is not my speed, and I had to learn how to accept and operate in the “slow” before I could operate in the fast-paced, exciting environment I desired. My now-husband, but boyfriend at the time, could obviously pick-up on my frustration and confusion as to what was going on. I had just been given the opportunity to take Laurel Wedding Co full time, and after months of putting it off, I finally took the leap! And this time last year, in the midst of what should have been a busy booking season, I had nothing but time without the busyness.

Time can be a great thing. Time is good for rest, time is good to process, time is good to workout and cook healthy meals. But I learned and believe, too much time can be a bad thing.

Too much time can cause us to over-think. Too much time can cause us to actually be unproductive, instead of using our time wisely and efficiently. I, for example, was starting to flirt with too much time, and I was painfully aware of it.

My now-husband in all of his wisdom, thankfully got me out of this rut and helped me to face the dilemma of “too much time.” This worked for me but I can only offer it as a suggestion to those starting out or finding themselves in my position:

When the day ends, give yourself 3 things to accomplish the next day. Start small with making your bed, trying a new recipe, maybe even bodly reaching out blindly to make a new connection with a vendor. 3 tasks might be hard to come up with at first, but don’t be surprised when all of the sudden you have 5-10 things on your task list that are slowly more productive for your business (consultations and meetings will soon outweigh your laundry needs!)

Next thing you know, you might just need to color-code your calendar to keep your busy life straight! At least that’s how I keep my planner organized. (shameless plug, I still love and use a paper planner. I use my phone, I use my computer, but in my opinion there’s nothing like crossing of a task in a planner! Click here for a link to the BEST PLANNERS EVER. Trust me, they are worth the investment.)

From this reflection, I only want to continue to grow and share a little bit of my journey over the last year and a half, in case in might inspire you to take a business risk or lifestyle change that you didn’t see coming either.

Goals and ambitions are great. Needed even, especially when you start out. But, don’t let your goals get the better of you. I started this post with letting you know this was not a post about resolutions, mainly because I’m behind on my 2019 goals already 😉 BUT. When our goals or ambitions start to increase our anxiety or stress, I believe they are no longer making us productive.

For me, this looked like reassessment. Maybe turning what I thought was a short term goal into a longer term goal. Maybe adding smaller goals, more practical, more attainable goals in the short term that lead to the now long term goal.

There is freedom in letting yourself off the hook, especially when life is busier than you expected.

Don’t get me wrong here, there is value in work ethic and pursuing our bottom-line goals, pushing through the busyness – but, only when that busyness is a season you can handle emotionally, mentally, and maybe even physically.

In this new year, I have already chosen to reassess my goals to take the pressure off. And let me tell you, the result has been pure freedom! And increased productivity, if I do say so myself.

From 1 social media post a day, I’ll shoot for 3-4 funny yet intentional posts a week.

From 1 blog post a week, I’ll shoot for 1-2 well written, itnetional blogs a month.

Maybe reassessing now, in a wedding planner’s “slow” season, means better preparedness for “busy” season quickly approaching this Spring?

Time will tell. But for now, from year 1 to year 2, while I can’t wait to share some wonderful weddings we had the privilege to be a part of, I’m most excited to share this emotional and professional growth that happened when I wasn’t even really aware of it until now.

Work hard. Work smart. Reflect, and don’t be afraid to take the pressure off. And then share with me your journey so I can learn from you! After all, I’m not even two years old yet =)

Photography by the amazing, Olivia Rae Photography!