Urgent vs. Important

by Christine Lusita | | Meditation

Ditch the distractions. While you’re doing your “musts,” do not peek at your email. Turn off Instagram, Twitter-feed pings, and Facebook announcements. And no phone. Yup, I said it. No phone. And yesss, you will survive.

Block your time. Give yourself a solid, focused 30 to 60 minutes of undistracted work. Try these two tips from time-management gurus: One, do short bursts of in- tense work followed by short stretches of recovery (from Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr in The Power of Full Engagement). And two, shorten your deadline and tighten up your schedule so that you’ll increase your focus (from Tim Ferriss in The 4-Hour Workweek). Focus = productivity!

Take a break. This means making a cup of tea, walking around the room, stretching, folding the laundry, doing a set of pushups, or taking 10 simple breaths at your desk.This does not mean you get your phone back! Sorry! Each time you check your email or watch a Kardashian on Instagram, you not only clutter your focus, you create what time-optimization guru Cal Newport calls “cognitive residue.” In short, you fill your head with info-gunk that can take up to 20 minutes to clear. Could five minutes of Kardashians rob you of an hour of focused work time? Don’t take a chance. Get up and stretch!

This is an excerpt from The Right Fit Formula

Coconut Creamed Spinach

by Christine Lusita | | Recipes

This vegan creamed spinach is made with coconut milk instead of dairy. A delicious side dish for your dinner table.

  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1⁄2 shallot, finely minced
  • 5 oz. baby spinach leaves
  • 4 tbsp. light coconut milk
  • 1⁄2 tsp. mild curry powder
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper

Heat olive oil over medium in large sauté pan. Add garlic and shallot. Cook until fra- grant, about 1 minute. Add spinach and stir around until it begins to wilt. Add coconut milk, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined, about 1 minute.

This recipe is an excerpt from The Right Fit Formula.

Miso Crunch Bowl

by Christine Lusita | | Recipes

This hearty, whole grain dish couldn’t be easier!

  • 1 c. cooked healthy grains (quinoa, farro, barley, wild rice, or brown rice)
  • 1 c. swiss chard or spinach, thinly sliced
  • 1 c. green cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1⁄4 c. carrots, julienned
  • 1⁄4 c. edamame
  • 4 tbsp. miso-lime dressing (below)
  • 1⁄2 lb. cooked shrimp, marinated with salt, pepper, sesame, Korean chili flake, and sesame oil
  • 1 avocado, cut in half
  • 2 tbsp. fresh cilantro leaves
  • 2 tbsp. scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp. toasted black sesame

Divide grains into two bowls. Toss swiss chard, cabbage, carrots, and edamame in a bowl with the dressing. Place atop grains. Add shrimp and avocado and garnish with cilantro, scallions, and black sesame.

Creamy Miso Dressing

Makes 1 cup

  • 41⁄2 tbsp. light yellow miso
  • 3 tbsp. rice vinegar or wine vinegar
  • 41⁄2 tbsp. raw honey
  • 3 tbsp. yellow mustard

Whisk ingredients in a bowl until they are well combined and the miso has dissolved.

This recipe is an excerpt from The Right Fit Formula.