How Going Digital Can Change Your Life
I'm passionate about operations, streamlining processes, and systems. This obsession and my organizational skills were vital on my journey from stay-at-home mom to COO after my divorce. Whether it's work-related or part of everyday life, this drive has been instrumental in my personal and professional transformations.
My ultimate goal, as I like to say, is to create systems to reduce overwhelm and anxiety, all so I can relax and sit on my butt. This approach has served me well in all areas of my life.
I've come to appreciate that my approach is a valuable skill I now use with my clients. I help them unlock their inner modern matriarch, enabling them to transform authentically—find more time, achieve balance, and get their lives together. I guide and teach my clients the skills they need to achieve effortless efficiency over everyday tasks.
The first time-saving key is to go digital. But I'll be honest—going digital was one of the hardest changes for me to implement... until it wasn't. For years, I had convinced myself that technology was beyond my grasp. This belief didn't come out of nowhere; it was deeply rooted in my past.
When I immigrated to the U.S. at age 8, I spoke very little English. I only knew how to count from 1 to 10 and recite the alphabet. Looking back now, I know I most likely did not even pronounce those correctly! To make things more challenging, I also struggled with dyslexia. (No need to point out spelling errors! 🤣 I've completely accepted that they're there whenever I write).
Throughout my life, I was often told that I was "stupid." This strong yet inaccurate belief about myself led me to become a perfectionist who never wanted to showcase anything unless I was absolutely sure I got it just right. I rarely tried to expand and grow unless I was sure I would succeed and meet expectations. It also led to me constantly beating myself up, feeling like I wasn’t good enough even when I was, and burnout.
During my college years in the 90s, the internet and everyday use of technology were just becoming mainstream. My ex-husband was a technology whiz! It was amazing how he could understand and use technology rapidly and expertly—our son has this same gift. Me, on the other hand? I was frozen in my distorted belief that I wasn't smart enough to gain technical skills.
I played small and kept myself small.
You would often hear me say, "I'm crafty and creative but not techy." Over the years, things have changed. I'm still working to fully rewrite this belief and catch myself saying this occasionally, but there's definitely forward movement in the right direction.
I started small, learning to use email and email applications more efficiently. I tackled various ways to use calendar apps to my advantage and fell in love with cloud storage. Although filled with fear, I could see how these tools would help streamline and simplify my life, moving me towards my goal of effortless efficiency.
Why Go Digital?
The truth is, there are numerous benefits to going digital that can significantly improve your life. Digital technology allows you to utilize tools that are constantly at your fingertips—whether it's your phone, tablet, or computer. Going digital may not appeal to everyone, but it is undeniable that it’s not just convenient and efficient; it's resourceful.
Making the change to a digital lifestyle may require a mindset shift and the willingness to learn new skills. However, the advantages are worth the effort, which I share in my Effortless Efficiency: Time-Saving Keys for the Modern Matriarch free guide.
Making the Change
When I decided to embrace the digital transformation, I had to face my fears and let go of outdated limiting beliefs.
Here's what I had to explore:
Self-Reflection: How was keeping myself small and holding onto my limiting beliefs serving me? What could I gain by learning new ways of doing things?
Challenge the Limiting Beliefs: Was it really true that I was stupid? What experiences in my life showed that this was false? What was true, and what was fiction?
Choose Commitment Over Fear: What was I more committed to, staying in my fear or working to overcome it?
It was a slow process of learning new skills, putting them into practice, and giving myself the time I needed to grow. Eventually, I learned and accepted that holding onto the past was not in my best interest. So be willing to be a beginner and give yourself the grace to make mistakes.
The reality is that if we don't evolve with the times, we'll be left clinging to a past that no longer exists. So, I'm here to cheer you on with the changes you're implementing and encourage you to keep going. Take it one step at a time, no matter how small. Those little steps really add up!
Remember, it's about progress over perfection.
Ready to Simplify Your Life?
If you're ready to dive deeper into effortless efficiency and learn more time-saving keys, download my free guide: Effortless Efficiency: Time-Saving Keys for the Modern Matriarch. This guide is filled with smart solutions to transform chaos into calm, maximize your time, and simplify your life.
