Nutrition Entrepreneurs Spring 2020

Ventures Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

Ready to Become More Efficient?

Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND Chair “Efficiency is doing better what is already being done.”

– Peter Drucker As a Franklin Covey Certified Facilitator, I have had the pleasure of helping others become more efficient. Along the way, I’ve applied some of the techniques I was teaching to help improve my own efficiency. Here are two quick tips I’ve found that work well for me: Time Management: The Time Matrix is a tool that helps filter all the tasks we have to complete during the day and stay focused on what matters most. It is divided into four quadrants defined by urgency and importance.

Quadrant 1 is for tasks that are both important and urgent (vital customer calls and major deadlines) Quadrant 2 is for tasks that are important but not urgent (planning and continuous improvement).

Quadrant 3 is about things that are urgent but not important (needless interruptions and low-priority email) Quadrant 4 is a list of things that are neither urgent nor important (aimless internet surfing and other time-wasters).

Make an effort to stay in Quadrant 2 which will help with efficiency and effectiveness.

Planning: Utilize five-minute planning tools to become more efficient.

Five-minute project planner: Getting ready to start a new project? Use the Time Matrix tool and answer the following questions: What is the purpose of the project? What are the desired results of the

project? How does this project advance my most important priorities? Who are the key stakeholders and what are their needs? Which factor is most important time, cost or quality - and why? What is the budget? What resources do you need?

Five-minute meeting planner: Did you ever have a meeting in order to actually have a meeting? It makes you feel like your time is wasted. Instead, use the Time Matrix and answer the following questions: What is the goal of the meeting and how does it advance your top priorities? What are the topics for the meeting, who is responsible and how much time should be allotted for each? At the conclusion of the meeting, record the decisions that were made and any follow-up tasks, including responsible person and deadline.

Five-minute presentation planner: Overwhelmed thinking about an upcoming presentation? Use this tool to answer the following questions: Who is the audience and what are their needs? What is the overall goal of your presentation? What are the three main supporting points?

What do you want the audience to do as a result of your presentation? How many people will be in attendance? What equipment and materials will you need?

Think about which tips resonate the most with you and practice using them. What are you going to do today to become more efficient and be ready for NE-thing?

Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND, is a funny speaker and former stand-up comedienne. She is not just mildly amusing - she is really funny. Lisa was bitten by the comedy bug at a young age, entertaining her family at the dinner table with knock-knock jokes. Soon, she discovered SNL and would memorize bits and make her siblings perform them. Today, you can find Lisa chasing after her almost-two-year-old daughter, and after volunteers to watch her daughter so she can perform improvisational, sketch and stand-up comedy again.

Spring 2020 Volume XLIII Number 4 Maximizing Your Time: Tips and Tricks for Efficiency

In This Issue: Ready to Become More Efficient? �������������������������������Front Cover Clear Out the Cobwebs and the Dust Bunnies, Too ��������������������������������2 How Do You Spend Your Time? ����������������������3 Easy Tips to Implement for a Distraction Free & Productive Workday ��������������������������������������4 Grow Social Media With This Time-Saving Canva Trick ������������������������5 Top Technology To Use for Maximum Efficiency in 2020 ������������������5 Making Time to Serve ����������������������������������������6 Be Intentional ������������������������������������������������������6 Sometimes Doing Less Can Help You Do More ������������������������������������7 The 4 D's of Productivity ����������������������������������8 Saving Time in Private Practice ��������������������9 Increase Revenue, Save Time ��������������������������9 Chart Your Way to Success ���������������������������10 Not Enough Time in the Day? Think Again! �������������������������������������11 Are Your Beliefs Creating Time �������������������12 or Taking Away Time?

Slay Your Social Media in 15 Minutes a Day! �������������������������������������������13 Five Ways to Use Your Time More Effectively �������������������������������������13 Essential Strategies to Reduce Distractions in Your Practice �������������������������������������������������14 Members on the Move �����������������������������������16 Diversity in Dietetics ���������������������������������������17 Product Reviews �����������������������������������������������18 Is it Worth It? �������������������������������������������������������19 Did You Hear? ������������������������������������� Back Cover

Ventures EDITOR Kim Hoban, RDN, CDN, CPT

INCOMING EDITOR Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD, CDN

EDITORIAL BOARD, 2019-2020 Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT Elana Natker, MS, RD Emily Merklen, MS, RDN Cathy D’Orazio, MS, RDN, LDN Lauri Egan, RDN, CPT The newsletter pertains to the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and reproduction rights are reserved. Publication of an advertisement in the Ventures newsletter should not be considered as an endorsement of the product or advertiser by the DPG. Viewpoints and statements in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect policies and/or positions of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. © 2020 Nutrition Entrepreneurs.

All rights reserved.

WE WELCOME INPUT FROM OUR MEMBERS. PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR: Kim Hoban, RDN, CDN, CPT NewsletterEditor@NEdpg.org

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS Email NEadmin@NEdpg.org

ADDRESS CHANGES AND MISSING ISSUES If you have a change of address, please contact the Academy with your new address information. If you missed an issue, email Lauri Egan at NEadmin@NEdpg.org

Clear Out the Cobwebs –

and the Dust Bunnies, Too! Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT Incoming Chair In this day and age, it seems each and every task can be delegated to technology. From groceries delivered to our door in minutes to apps that organize our calendars by voice command, we’re certainly not short on aids that save time and potentially boost productivity. But what about our actual work environments and the habits surrounding our evergrowing use of technology? Here are some quick and dirty – pun intended – tips on making sure both are helping you be your most productive self.

Clear out the mental cobwebs.

If you continuously find yourself scrolling through social media well past your bedtime and feeling less than productive in the morning (hello, disrupted sleep and sore eyes), you might consider building some boundaries into your nighttime routine. Trade the cell phone on your nightstand for a good ol’fashioned notepad and pencil. Settle in and clear out what’s on your mind by getting it down on paper. Whether you jot down your to-do list for the next day, journal, or practice gratitude, you’ll reap the benefits of disconnecting with technology before bedtime.

Mind your space ... ... As in, quite literally, your work space.

Is there a place for everything and is

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everything in its place? Just as it can be highly disconcerting to have seemingly nine thousand tabs open in your internet browser, a desk cluttered with more than the bare minimum (laptop, headset, light source) can be a hindrance to productivity. If you haven’t already, invest in a high-quality shredder and keep it near your doorway to minimize paper pile-up in your precious workspace. Plus, you’ll have more room for something pleasant that may boost creativity: a touch of greenery or some fresh flowers.

Full disclosure: I stopped to clear off and polish my desk while writing this article!

Unplug some more.

Focus on your current focus. Attempting to write? Develop a recipe? Secure a guest for your next podcast? Any of the above – and a slew of other projects – will come together more clearly and in shorter order when distractions are minimized. If you can’t walk away from other screens entirely, consider taking advantage of your phone’s airplane setting.

Nicole Rodriguez, registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, resides in the metro New York area, where she offers in-home meal prep, small-group training, and one-on-one fitness coaching. She serves as the in-house dietitian for NavaFit (an app that connects workout buddies across the country). A passionate Master of Beef Advocacy, she’s on an eternal quest for the best burger and sharing facts about the industry along the way. Eager to make a positive impact on the next generation of entrepreneurs, Nicole recently took on the role as leader of her daughter’s Daisy Girl Scout Troop.

How Do You Spend Your Time?

Kim Hoban, RDN, CDN, CPT Newsletter Editor “The key question to keep asking is, ‘Are you spending your time on the right things?’

Because time is all you have.”

– Randy Pausch I read the above quote from The Last Lecture well over ten years ago and it still sticks in my mind to this day as I make personal and business decisions. In order to be most effective with the time we have, it’s important to recognize where your time is currently being spent so you can adjust and remain aligned with your values and goals.

Start by Taking Stock Just as we often ask clients and patients to complete food logs or food and feelings journals, consider filling out your own time management log. Write down all the activities you complete each day, as well as how long it takes to complete them.

Ideally, you’ll also note your feelings about

those tasks and what their priority levels are. Check in with yourself to see if the work you do throughout the day aligns with your goals for your business or personal life. Pay attention to if you are completing tasks at the “right” times. Consider tackling your most important tasks during the times of day when you experience peak energy levels.

Practice Gratitude Another good resource for reflection that can lead to improved time management is a gratitude journal. I like the Five Minute Journal, in which you start each day with some gratitude, an affirmation and a short list of what would make the day great.

This could be related to your work, such as meeting an important deadline, or a more personal aspiration like taking a break at lunch to go for a walk. Then at the end of the day, you take stock of the good things that have happened throughout the day, as well as reflect on what you could have done for a better or more productive day. This serves as a reminder that you have the power to influence your own perceptions of the day and create a better future with positive changes.

Leave Overwhelm Behind In this issue of Ventures, our incredibly knowledgeable Executive Committee members share their favorite tips, tools and resources to help maximize your efficiency and productivity. As you read through, take what works for you and leave the rest.

Try not to become so overwhelmed by all the advice on efficiency that you don’t implement anything. I hope the advice and tools you find support you in building for a more productive business and more meaningful home life. At the same time, I encourage you to remember that we are only granted so much time here. Ask yourself, are you spending your time on the right things for you?

Kim Hoban, RDN, CDN, CPT, is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and NASM Certified Personal Trainer with a passion for empowering women to live their healthiest and happiest lives. When she's not busy fighting diet culture, you can find Kim on the run, exploring a new hiking trail or in the kitchen cooking or procrasti-baking. Kim lives in Long Island, New York, with her fiancé, their son and two rescue pitbulls.

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Easy Tips to Implement for a Distraction-Free & Productive Workday Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD, CDN Incoming Newsletter Editor I recently ventured out into full-time entrepreneurship after years of working very structured full-time jobs. In this transition, I’ve had to learn how to structure my day for maximum productivity. While I’m not perfect at being productive all day every day, I have learned how to maximize my efficiency and productivity immensely by finding the “fun” in my work, using the Pomodoro Technique, and taking care of my emotional, mental and physical well-being.

Find the FUN in what you do In his book, Indistractable, Nir Eyal implores readers to look for the fun in every task, an approach that makes even administrative tasks fun to do. Sometimes I create tiny challenges for myself that make work fun (e.g,. can I finish this in X amount of time?).

Other times, I listen to music and dance in my chair as I finish writing blog posts or edit photos. Can you find the “fun” in all your tasks, even those you sometimes dread?

Pomodoro Technique Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? Invented by Francesco Cirillo, this is a simple time-management technique that helps you stay focused on one task at a time for short periods of time. The steps are quite simple:

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1. Write down your task. Be as specific as

possible.

2. Clear any potential distractions - this

includes cleaning your desk, clearing any unnecessary computer windows or tabs, and turning off phone notifications.

3. Set a timer for 25 minutes. I highly

recommend not using your phone timer; otherwise you might find it so easy to fall down the rabbit hole of ever-present distractions on your phone. Use an old-school timer or an online timer such as tomato-timer.com, which is specifically made to make the Pomodoro Technique easy to use.

4. Take a five-minute break when the

timer goes off. This is also a great opportunity to stretch your legs and walk around if you need some extra movement in your day, or you can just rest.

5. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Remember, 25

minutes on, five minutes off.

6. Take a longer break of about 25 minutes

after you complete four Pomodoro cycles. This really helps you break down your day so that you can stay more focused.

7. Bonus points if you write down which

tasks you completed during each Pomodoro cycle - this will help you track how long each task takes.

I really love using the Pomodoro Technique to structure my days when I have a lot of tasks to get done. I’m even using it right now to write this article. I find it beneficial for time-management and efficiency, and

the undistracted focused work helps me get tasks done quicker than ever before.

I also find that it helps me plan my future workdays, knowing how long each task actually takes, rather than how long I optimistically think it takes.

Take care of yourself for maximum efficiency All the tips in the world won’t help if you’re pouring from an empty cup. I have found that the following wellness practices help tremendously when it comes to making my workdays more efficient: • Meditating (popular apps like Calm and Headspace make it even easier to meditate from virtually anywhere) • Getting adequate sleep • Doing consistent joyful movement and exercise • Setting end-times for workdays • Spending undistracted times with friends and family These are just a few of the wellness practices I aim to incorporate into my lifestyle to help me thrive at work; however, I encourage you to find your own that work for you.

Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD, CDN, is the founder of Alena Menko Nutrition, a food and nutrition blog where she publishes healthful, plant-forward recipes and makes nutrition approachable with easily digestible information.

She serves as a nutrition consultant for brands and is also a freelance writer. When not in front of her computer or recipe testing, she can be found at her favorite yoga or HIIT studios, hiking, or diving into the vast culinary scene that makes up New York City.

Grow Social Media With This Time-Saving Canva Trick Amanda Sauceda, MS, RDN, CLT Secretary If you want to grow your Instagram, then start with growing your confidence with Canva. This past year my social media, specifically Instagram, has grown significantly and my #1 tool for that growth was Canva.

If you are unfamiliar with Canva, it is a simple internet application that will make you feel like a graphic design pro without needing much technical skill. Canva has built-in templates ranging from Instagram posts and worksheets, to resumes and presentations, with much more in between.

There are four components to include in your Instagram posts. I have created my

own Instagram template with these four components so that when it is time to create a post, I can just enter “duplicate” and my post is already halfway completed.

The four components to include in your Instagram post are: 1. A title A title will help you clearly convey the message or gist of the post; this is what will grab a reader’s attention quickly.

2. Your handle Have your handle somewhere in the post (I like mine under my title) so that people know who created it. Plus, if your post is shared, there is attribution.

3. B randing colors and fonts Keep your colors and fonts consistent so that people can recognize your posts. If you have the paid version of

Canva (which I highly recommend), then it will automatically save your branding colors and fonts.

4. B asic design There are many different design types that you can have. Designs that do well for me are side-by-side (i.e., before and after), quadrants (i.e., visualizing four steps), and posts with a picture in the middle and text surrounding it. There are many different design types so look at others for inspiration. Just make sure to give inspiration credit in your caption if you use another’s design idea.

Amanda loves pizza. She has a running list of places that are her favorites and places that she wants to try. Her number-one pizza place used to be a luggage room in the golden days of Hollywood and has a fermented sourdough crust that is to die for.

Top Technology To Use for Maximum Efficiency in 2020 Emily Merklen, MS, RDN Director of Communications As a lover and huge supporter of the good old pen-andpaper to-do list, I have to admit I have become much more reliant on technology over the past few years. I consider myself to be very technologically savvy, partly because this skill is required in the nutrition communications and marketing fields, and partly because I have always enjoyed the creative and efficient tools technology has to offer. I don’t think there is one day in my week - most weekends included - where I am not on my laptop or phone using some sort of application centered around efficiency.

And probably not to your surprise, these applications are centered around efficient communication and content creation. In order to help YOU become more efficient in your business or side hustle, I’m sharing my favorite applications that I’m constantly using to make efficient use of my time: Communicating & Planning: 1. Slack: Cloud-based, instantmessaging platform.

2. Z oom, Skype & Google Hangout: Telecommunications platforms.

3. Gmail: Email service.

Even though email is not a new communication tool, make more efficient use of Gmail by creating labels to organize your conversations, utilize the attached Google Calendar when scheduling meetings and to stay on top of your schedule, and use the task tab to create a digital to-do list.

4. Later: Marketing and scheduling platform for Instagram.

5. Hootsuite: Social media management platform.

6. Planoly: Marketing and scheduling platform for Instagram.

Creating & Editing: 1. Canva: Graphic design platform.

Check out NE Secretary Amanda Sauceda’s article in this issue for more about Canva 2. A dobe Photoshop: Imaging and graphic design software.

3. Prezi: Presentation creation software.

4. Snapseed: Photo-editing application.

5. A dobe Lightroom: Image organization and image manipulation software.

Organizing & Tasking: 1. G oogle Drive: File storage and synchronization service.

2. Monday.com: Team and project management application.

3. Asana: Team and project management application.

4. UpWork: Global freelancing platform.

5. iCheckClock: Stopwatch/ Productivity application.

Use this to track the amount of time tasks are taking you, keep track of multiple tasks at one time, and even build that into a CSV or PDF. Do you have questions about any of these applications or do you use some that aren’t mentioned above that you find super-helpful? Ask or share with us on our new Facebook group Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG *Members Only* or email me at communications@nedpg.org.

Emily works in nutrition communications and marketing for a nutrition/lifestyle media company and a social media management agency. Emily loves to travel and experience new food and cultures. She can usually be found making food in her kitchen to share on @borntokale or at a boutique fitness studio engaging in joyful movement.

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Making Time to Serve Liz Friedrich, MPH, RDN, CSG, LDN, FAND, NWCC Delegate's Corner A colleague recently commented “You’re so busy. How do you have the time to be a delegate?” The answer is that I gladly make the time. Serving as your delegate requires regular attendance at NE meetings, participation in NE committees and projects, keeping the membership in the House of Delegates (HOD) loop, and three HOD meetings (totaling four days) annually. Each HOD meeting requires communication with the House staff and House Leadership Team, reading of background material and watching background videos. I also solicit information from you, my constituents, in advance of meetings and review your input prior to meetings to be sure to represent your opinions accurately. While a delegate’s workload varies from month to month, prior

to HOD meetings (this year in January, April and October, which are also usually busy in my business), things can get a little hectic.

work is often untouched, but knowing I can stay ahead of my “to-do” list, if I choose to, helps reduce my stress level.

We all have the same 24 hours in each day, but some people can accomplish more than others. I’ve discovered that the more I take on, the less time I waste. As a result, I often ponder what I did with my “spare” time before I became a delegate. The habits that help me stay focused and efficient as I juggle the various balls in my professional life are as follows:

• Sync your documents. I use OneDrive so my documents can be accessed from both my computers and my cell phone. This makes it easy to work while traveling.

• Plan ahead. Deadlines always loom but working ahead of them keeps me sane and on schedule.

• Make lists. Keep a running “to-do” list and cross things off when they are completed. My lists are on paper, but an electronic list also works.

• Always have something to do. Bring a project for the plane, train or hotel room.

I even bring small projects along on weekends and vacations. In the spirit of full disclosure, my weekend/vacation

Serving as your delegate requires time, but the rewards are many and include new skills, experiences, perspectives, colleagues and friends. An added bonus - it keeps me managing my time more efficiently. I will gladly take time to chat about the HOD, so feel free to contact me at delegate@NEDPG.org.

Liz is the owner of Friedrich Nutrition Consulting. Liz's happy place is a 100-year-old farmhouse overlooking the New River in Ashe County, North Carolina, where she spends her time tubing, kayaking and reading great novels. For questions about the HOD, contact Liz at Delegate@nedpg.org.

Be Intentional Brooke Fredrickson, RDN, LRD, CDE Treasurer Intentionality is something that has really helped me in life. Whether it is with my work, finances, relationships or health, being intentional requires taking the steps to do something on purpose. I know that if I am not intentional with my time, I will find PLENTY of ways to waste it, so having a plan is necessary for me. Here are some things that I’ve learned about myself and tips I use to manage my time.

• I know that my most productive and creative time of the day is the morning. I get up early to start on my projects that

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require a lot of concentration and brain power, knowing that by noon I will likely be spent. I save most of my “mindless” busy work for the afternoon.

• I write down my task list every morning making sure to list tasks in order of priority. I tend to be a bit of a procrastinator, so I have to check my calendar and use that as a guide to help me prioritize. I have found timeblocking to be helpful as well.

• I spend a lot of time in my car, so multitasking (safely and undistracted) on the road is a must for me. This is where I catch up on voicemails and return phone calls. I also use the talk-totext feature on my phone for recording great ideas that come to me in my car.

This is also where I catch up on my favorite podcasts.

So, what is YOUR best time of day? How do YOU establish priorities? And are there any areas in YOUR life where multitasking can work for you? Time is precious and finite, so be intentional about how you spend it. The more efficient you are at work, the more time you will have for things outside of work. Take inventory of what is important to you, what you want to accomplish with the time that you have, and make a plan.

Brooke is a business owner, speaker and writer. She offers nutrition counseling and healthcare consulting services in rural North Dakota. Her passion is to help women overcome body image issues and rigid eating patterns through her faith-based approach. She loves to be outdoors, spend time with her family and to eat really good food.

Sometimes Doing Less Can Help You Do More Creating an Efficient Calendar Stephanie Dorfman, MS, RDN Incoming Director of Meetings Over time, life tends to get busy and becomes a delicate balancing act of work events, social outings, family gatherings, daily errands and - at some point - we need to find time to sleep. A teacher of mine once told me, “everything important will get done,” which is something I live by. Keeping your calendar up-to-date and prioritized can help with efficiency, keep you relaxed, maintain organization and help check the important boxes off your daily list.

Whether you use a calendar on your phone or prefer to use a pen and planner, keeping your calendar in tip-top shape helps to visualize what your day, week and month

will be like. It prevents overbooking, double booking or overcommitting - leaving room for the important events or last-minute adjustments. Some planners even come with a goal-setting section to help with long-term goals to accomplish throughout the week, month and year - keeping you extra-focused on the important things in your life.

A key thing to remember as your calendar fills up: it’s okay to say no (or politely decline). We don’t want to spread ourselves too thinly and not have the ability to give 100% of our energy to the events we are attending, tasks we’re completing or family time we’re spending. It’s okay to schedule in self-care time, however you choose to spend it.

Maximizing your time and being efficient doesn’t necessarily mean constantly being busy. Having your schedule laid out on a calendar (including self relaxation time) can help prevent burnout and overwhelm.

Sometimes doing less leads to more productivity and higher quality work.

All in all, we get it. Schedules get booked, weekends get filled and calendars get so busy it’s hard to fit anything else in. Being efficient with your time and acknowledging when being overly busy becomes too much can help maximize your daily hours to the fullest. Make sure you are able to give your full attention to everything you do, prioritize and organize your calendar, take care of yourself and everything important will get done.

Stephanie is passionate about all things wellness, running outdoors, puppies, peanut butter, and spreading all of the joy. When she’s not at her corporate food service job, you can find her running (usually in Astoria or Central Park), baking challah, or laughing with family and friends. During the summer months, look for her at her favorite sleep-away summer camp, where her family still works and where her grandparents met. Stephanie loves being able to combine all her passions into her profession every day.

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The 4 D’s of Productivity Mandy Enright, MS, RDN, RYT Director of Sponsorship Time is our most valuable and finite resource.

Entrepreneurs know we need to spend time or money to create and grow a business. So how do we avoid burning the candle at both ends to keep business costs down? This simple assessment will best maximize your time and productivity: Delete, Delegate, Defer or Do It.

D

elete: How long have some of those items been sitting on your to-do list?

Are they truly important to moving your business forward? Go through and delete items that aren’t immediate or no longer relevant. Another way to delete items off your to-do list? Simply learn how to

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politely say “no” to items that detract from your business and income goals.

D

elegate: Guess what? You don’t have to do EVERYTHING yourself when it comes to running a business. Find reliable resources to delegate tasks that take time away from doing more important or income-producing activities. I personally find Upwork and Fivvr to be invaluable when it comes to getting help with projects and business tasks. Some RDs hire virtual assistants (VAs), while others effectively utilize interns and students. There is a resource for every task and budget out there – just ask around.

D

efer: Prioritize tasks. The most urgent items should always be tackled first but be careful not to keep letting new things become urgent before you’ve had a chance to cross items off your list. It’s extremely common to get phone calls and emails asking for last-minute and “urgent” requests.

As a business owner, you have the power to push back. If you already have a deadline

you’re working toward, ask for an extended deadline or simply say you don’t have time.

D

o It: Like Mark Twain said,“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” You know the frog. That item on your list you simply don’t want to do, but it needs to get done. If you let the frog eat you, it will never get done. Do the biggest, hardest, least-exciting task first and the rest of your day will be a breeze.

Most important – if a task isn’t incomeproducing or is just time-sucking, let it go!

Mandy is the FOOD + MOVEMENT® Dietitian and owner of Team with ME: Nutrition & Fitness Consulting. This Jersey Girl Mermaid is ready to meet you on the water anytime for some SUP Yoga or just a simple lazy paddle. Mandy and her husband are fur parents to a spunky and silly Cavalier appropriately named Shiva the Diva.

Saving Time in Private Practice Nicole Goodrich, MS, RDN Private Practice AUTOMATION. Every business owner needs more time. Lots more of it. Unfortunately, we cannot purchase time or create more time ... or can we? There is one word that will give you back your time: automation. The more processes you can place on autopilot, the more time you will have to do other things.

Invest in software that has built-in features for automation with client scheduling and onboarding. Look for software that will allow for online scheduling, send out appointment reminders and forms, and a porthole where clients can confirm or cancel their appointments without having to call or email your team.

ONLINE SCHEDULING. You want software that can be integrated into your website so clients can book

directly from your site. Remember to put the link in several places on your website.

Create an easy URL that can be referenced on your voicemail, and can be added to your marketing platforms such as email blasts and social media. Estimated time savings of 20 minutes per client.

ONLINE FORMS. When clients can book online and complete their paperwork immediately, it saves you even more time. Collecting important information such as credit card and insurance details upon online booking cuts out several more steps of your having to ask for information and enter it. You can even have templated “onboarding” forms such as Consent, Financial Agreement and HIPAA preloaded, and with a click a form is on the way to the client. Estimated time savings of 10 minutes per client.

APPOINTMENT REMINDERS. Most software lets you set up the frequency of appointment reminders. There are many choices such as text message reminder, voice calling, or emailing. You want to select the system that is interchangeable to ensure you meet your client’s needs.

Also, it needs to be interactive with the client allowing her/him to select “Yes” or “No” directly. Estimated time savings of 5 minutes per client.

Lastly, select software that has other features such as billing and charting available. When all your practice needs are integrated, ideally in one software, it makes automation effective while saving you a lot of time.

By investing in practice management software, you can save an average of 35 minutes per client. So, demo some of the software companies out there and pick the one that meets your needs to get lots of time back.

Nicole is a passionate dietitian who is the founder of several businesses including Anderson’s Nutrition, a multi-state, multi-dietitian private practice, and Nutrition Business Consultants and Services, which is geared to assist dietitians in creating and growing their businesses. She is a mom to two young kiddos, married to a foodie and loves to travel. Over 20 countries toured and many more on the list.

Increase Revenue, Save Time Deanna Wolfe, MS, RDN Corporate Wellness Here are my top tips for how to increase your revenue and save TIME (which is money, right?) when working in corporate wellness: 1. Automate your programs Are you creating one-off wellness programs for companies? Automate the process with an online platform like Teachable or Thinkific. Create a coaching program with all your resources through an easy-to-use

platform instead of recreating the wheel for every company you work with.

2. Offer a bundle package Are you doing one lunch-and-learn but don’t have a package offer? Think outside the box of lunch-and-learns as a dietitian. Can you manage the wellness committee? Can you assess its physical workplace? There are so many other things we can offer to corporations so put those in your package when corporations are asking for your expertise.

3. Charge your worth Do you feel you’re taking on too much, or on the edge of burnout? I’ve been there.

And it’s because I was undercharging for my services. Increase your prices and you won’t be spinning your

wheels. Start high, as companies always negotiate. Companies who understand the importance of well-being in its cultures will understand the investment.

Convince them by thinking bigger than just impacting health; what about how wellness will impact productivity, turnover and sales? That’s where you will get the attention of a CEO/CFO. Deanna is the founder of Dietitian Deanna, LLC, and helps women drop dieting and learn how to fuel their bodies. She also has been working in corporate wellness for 7+ years in sales, product management and leadership. Deanna lives in a city but always seems to travel where she can be outdoors with nature, has never met an almond croissant she didn’t like, and loves connecting with others in her online community.

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Chart Your Way to Success Jessica Beardsley, MS, RD, LD Second Career Dietitians Charting and writing notes can take a lot of time. I was trained in the Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, and Monitoring/Evaluation (ADIME) format, but after the initial assessment I found it more cumbersome than helpful for my weekly follow-up appointments. When I was a new dietitian I typed out almost everything a client told me, not knowing what I should edit out. As you can imagine, it was quite cumbersome to review my long prose-style notes. I would often spend time at the end of the day reviewing and editing each note and trying to add details that I had left out.

This was time-consuming, and not always accurate after seeing four clients in a row.

Several of them would inevitably blend together and I couldn’t remember who said what.

Another time-intensive task was prepping for a full day of clients. This required reviewing previous visit(s), considering their trajectory and planning the next step. I was taking time during and after each visit, and then again before the next visit, because my notes were inefficient. Guys, something you should know about me is: I LOVE efficiency!

If I can find a faster way of delivering a quality service (maximize quality, minimize time/effort), I’m all over it. Here’s the method I’ve developed over the years.

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In addition to being familiar with my client’s medical history, I focus on being keenly aware of three main things for my client: 1. What’s her/his problem/goal/ motivation? ... determined at initial assessment 2. What action step(s) did he/she commit to? ... updated at each visit 3. What should I cover on our next visit to help her/him on this journey? ... taken from initial assessment and each follow-up visit as things come up During our session, as well as at the end, I would repeat back the SMART goal(s) that my client committed to and type them in my note under “Actions” as I said them. I urged my clients to make these as SMART as they could be so I could ask them about the goal specifically at our follow-up.

For example: • “Client will hard-boil five eggs on Sunday evening to have for breakfast M-F.” • “Client will keep granola bars at work to eat at 4 p.m. before going to gym at 5 p.m. (T/H)” • “Client will stop when half of dinner is eaten to assess hunger (using scale) before finishing. Will track on provided handout.”

When a client states or hints at another area for improvement that I can’t address immediately, I add it to my list under “Follow-Up” along with a potential intervention. For example: • “Late-night eating, chips during TV [Hunger Scale, Emotional vs. Physical Hunger]”

“Eating at computer [Mindful eating, Satiety]” • “Elevated LDL and TC [Lipid-lowering strategies, Recipes]” • “Training for April marathon. Runs A.M. 5x/wk [Sports nutrition, Timing]” It helps to have talking points and/or handouts for common nutrition, medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and lifestylerelated topics. When you’re in a follow-up appointment, you can’t cover every topic that comes up; you must be strategic and use your time efficiently. By charting well you can improve your continuity with clients and ensure that important topics get covered and not forgotten. Your clients will know you are listening well when you keep them accountable for their SMART goals as well as circle back to potential challenges they have mentioned in the past. Give them a heads-up at the end of a session by saying: “At our follow-up let’s talk about _______” or “We can brainstorm some more ideas for ______ at our next visit.” This also gives them something to look forward to (that helps with client retention too!).

Note: These tips work well for most follow-up visits with my client population which consists mainly of adult females seeking nutrition counseling for weight management, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Jessica is a nutrition and lifestyle counselor in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She loves to read cookbooks but hardly ever follows a recipe as she prefers to use them as “inspiration.”

She specializes in intuitive eating and sports nutrition (her passions). When Jessica isn't cooking or talking about food, she enjoys rock climbing, dancing and reading with her two daughters.

Not Enough Time in the Day? Think Again!

Simply Repurpose.

Kimberley RoseFrancis, RDN, LD, CDE Hub Manager Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest! Ever struggle with there’snot-enough-time-inthe-day syndrome? If so, you’re not the only one. How is a dietitian supposed to show up on all (I mean ALL) social media platforms, manage the back-end of her/his business and spend time with friends and family?

While it is true that it is easier to go all-in on one social media platform, let’s face it, not everyone shows up on just Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn. As entrepreneurs we must be ready for NE-thing. I hear you; if only there were more than 24 hours in a day, right? Here are some tricks on how I show up on all social media platforms by dedicating 30 to 60 minutes a day.

Monday & Tuesday: I dedicate one uninterrupted hour each and every Monday and Tuesday to plan all my Instagram posts and stories. As tempting as it is, I try not to waste time scrolling through my timeline, peeking at other people’s Instagram stories, and getting lost in Insta-world (side note: I dedicate my weekends for that). To make my life easier, my Instagram posts usually consist of the

same prompting and I encourage you to do the same. For instance: 1. S hare an expertise that sets you apart from others.

2. Repurpose a post from another social media platform (ex: YouTube, Pinterest).

3. A personality picture with a catchy caption. These posts create flavor, diversity and personality.

My Instagram stories are a bit different. I usually share: 1. A life quote or affirmation 2. A peek into a professional day in my life 3. A peek into a personal part of my life, such as family or friends. These posts create content you can share on your LinkedIn platform.

Wednesday & Thursday: LinkedIn is a professional, social-media platform that has the potential to build your brand, rank your name in Google, and possibly find your dream job. Showing up on LinkedIn for just 30 minutes provides you an endless supply of connections in and outside of the profession. Simply repurpose your content from Monday and Tuesday while researching your favorite company, making new friends and engaging with the posts from your favorite corporate wellness companies.

Thought Pinterest was dead? Think again.

Pinterest is a great way to attract clients looking for your services. Simply repurpose your content and post it to your boards. One great way to attract others is by creating and/or joining community boards. By dedicating 30 minutes you’ll be sure to see your following and monthly views increase. I know I sure did.

Friday: Give a little extra love to whatever platform you feel needs it. Lately, I find myself giving a little extra love to Facebook. Believe it or not, I just joined Facebook so it is my newest platform. I know I’m late to the game and still learning the ins-and-outs of the platform. Again, dedicate an hour to posting, commenting on the NE Facebook group page, creating your own group and networking.

Kim is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Certified Diabetes Educator with close to a decade of clinical experience. She thinks of herself as a virtual cheerleader.

Kim has two passions, the first of which is for students and dietetic interns. For this reason, Kim started a YouTube channel and has created step-by-step nutrition support videos and worksheets to help future dietitians accomplish their goals. Her second is for those newly diagnosed with diabetes or with uncontrolled diabetes and related complications.

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Are Your Beliefs Creating Time or Taking Away Time?

Chere Bork, MS, RDN Abundance Ambassador An RD coaching client wrote,“I never have enough time. When I wake up I feel this overwhelming list. I am beating myself up for not being in my office enough. I find myself doing other nonbusiness stuff that I need to do, but actually I feel guilty most of the time.” Does this sound like you? Maybe you have run out of time and have created days filled with guilt and regret. You feel like you need to update your website, create an amazing business plan and have digital relationships with the world to create a successful business.

However, none of this even matters if your beliefs stop you before you even start. Here are some ideas on how to create more time looking at your beliefs.

Happy registered dietitians are successful business owners who possess positive beliefs. Their positivity drives their actions, and their actions create their success. But let’s face it, every day we don’t wake up positive.

Our beliefs are never neutral. They are helpful or hurtful. We often forget that we get to choose our beliefs and that they can move us closer to our vision or further away.

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Call to Action: Notice your beliefs.

Everyone defines success differently. So, dump the RD “comparitis.” Life is really about the actions you do or do not do each day, and your actions are based on your beliefs. My success formula is easy: my beliefs + my habits = my life. What positive empowering beliefs will move you forward? What negative limiting beliefs stop you before you even get out of bed in the morning?

Call to Action: Notice if your beliefs are empowering or limiting. Notice what percent of your day you are “positive” or “negative.”

Your beliefs determine your feelings and from that you make decisions. If your dream is to have a successful RD entrepreneur business but secretly you think it’s going to be really difficult, your thoughts will win and you will feel behind and out of time.

Call to Action: Notice your feelings throughout the day and notice what behaviors triggered your empowering or limiting beliefs.

How do you go from limiting beliefs to empowering ones? It is all about choice. You get to pick your beliefs because they are not a fact. When I feel my beliefs going “south” I think of the most positive person I know: Gary, my husband. And ask myself, What would Gary think about this?

Chances are, it is NOT what I am thinking.

Call to Action: Who are the most positive people you know?

I think James Allen says it best in his book As a Man Thinketh,“Man does not attract that which they want, but that which they are. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.”

Struggle is overrated. All the business planning doesn’t matter if you have limiting beliefs. What matters is you get to pick your beliefs. And remember you can start over every day or every hour if you like. And you can create more time. You have one life to live; just imagine it is the one you love.

Better get busy creating success beliefs and more time.

Chere Bork, aka “The Dietitian Energy Igniter,” is the happy owner of cherebork.com and a Law of Attraction coach. She gives RDNs a confidence boost to live the lives they have always wanted. She helps them find clarity so that they can be the best they can be. She thought she was a failure many times in her career. And every time the challenge and adversity created a more beautiful meaningful life. She wants that for you – a beautiful meaningful life!

Slay Your Social Media in 15 Minutes a Day! Emily Holdorf, MS, RDN, LDN Technology/Social Media We all know that social media can become the ultimate time-suck if we aren’t careful. Try these simple tips to master your social media routine in just 15 minutes per day.

Five minutes in the A.M.: Use this time to respond to comments on your most recent posts and engage with your audience.

If you’re notorious for getting a little sidetracked when logging in, set a timer on your phone to keep yourself on track. This will allow you dedicated time to respond

thoughtfully and meaningfully to your most dedicated followers.

Five minutes at lunch time: Interact with like-minded professionals, people who frequently comment or like your posts, and find new accounts to follow or others to engage with. This chunk of time lets you comment on others’ posts and really get the conversations going. You could also use this time to pop into your Instagram stories or upload some highlights of your day so far.

Five minutes at night: If you like to have a more relaxed posting routine - maybe you post right in the moment or at certain times of the day in real time - you could utilize this time to do so. You could also use this time to schedule posts or quickly write some copy for tomorrow’s posts.

Using this method of periodically checking into social media and having a plan for what tasks you’re going to accomplish can help you to feel more focused and intentional with your time. This also helps you to feel less like you’re on social media all day long.

Try it out and see how it works for you and your business.

Emily is the owner of EmPowered Nutrition, which focuses on Intuitive Eating for busy, young professionals. You can typically find Emily in the kitchen creating recipes and taking pictures of food for her blog. When she’s not practicing nutrition, she’s exploring new restaurants and wineries, eating ice cream and spending time with family.

Five Ways to Use Your Time More Effectively Catherine Brown, CDM/CFPP Student Article When I started my culinary degree in 2014, I did not plan to also pursue baking and pastry arts, community health, dietetics, and turn our off-grid homestead into a viable business venture simultaneously. Yet here I am, successfully putting checks in a lot of boxes. I’m still on my professional journey with beginning a master’s degree this fall, completing several certifications, plus applying for a dietetic internship and sitting for the national exam … phew!

This, along with increasing growing space on our small-scale organic farm, reaching new customers, and ensuring quality time with my youngest before he flies off on his own in a year, means I have a lot of moving parts to manage. Along the way, however, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to work more efficiently and keep all the balls in the air. Here are five tips you can start using now:

1. Remember your WHY and don’t over-

analyze HOW. Keep your purpose front and center. Some refer to this as a mission statement or their life’s purpose. If you haven’t thought of your reason for being,

do that now. Be concise and write it down. Post it everywhere you will see it frequently. Every goal and task should support your purpose. If it doesn’t, strike it.

2. Record information in the moment.

Write it down, type it into your electronic device or record voice notes. When inspiration strikes, or you cross paths with an interesting person, or someone says something you want to remember, don’t trust your memory later. Valuable time will be wasted tracking down information or trying to recall that thing you didn’t want to forget.

3. Prioritize your to-do list. We all make lists

of things that need our attention, but lists can quickly get out of hand or make us feel defeated if we don’t check off all the things. To keep my list manageable and prioritized, I ask myself a few questions: What will happen if I don’t do this thing in an hour, a day, a week, a month? and How does this affect number one above? You’ll likely be surprised by how many items you can strike from your list.

4. Learn to say “no, thank you.” As a new

entrepreneur and a dietetic student competing for scholarships, awards, an internship and ultimately clients, it can feel like you need to do ALL THE THINGS right now. Pursuing every opportunity or saying yes to everything that comes

your way is the fastest route to a stressful, unbalanced life. Instead, evaluate each by asking yourself What will I learn from this opportunity? Compare this list to number one above. Seek and accept only those experiences that support your ultimate purpose.

5. Reach out. You have many more people

ready and willing to provide answers, support, mentorship and cheerleading than you realize. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you need to figure everything out yourself. Also, join professional listservs, social media groups or other passive forms of learning. Jump in and offer your own experiences and ask questions.

The road to becoming an RD/N and a successful entrepreneur may feel endless.

Keeping your focus on your purpose and learning to maximize your time will help you reach your goal. You can do this!

Catherine Brown, CDM/CFPP, is the chef, organic farmer and writer behind A Seat at My Table where she shares creative, simple recipes based on whole food ingredients. She is a Marine Corps veteran, the mother of three (almost grown!) children, has grown food in four states, and works as a chef at DiCocoa’s Café in Bethel, Maine. Her mission is to inspire more plant-based eating, teach people how to use whole foods to feel their best, and promote spending more time enjoying nature and less time in front of computer screens.

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Essential Strategies to Reduce Distractions in Your Practice Melissa Mitri, MS, RDN CEU Article In the age of social media and our current world of information overload, there are distractions all around us. If we’re not careful, it is all too easy to allow ourselves to get distracted. As an entrepreneur, distractions can severely decrease your productivity, focus and ability to meet your daily goals.

The ability to maintain a clear focus and reduce distractions as an entrepreneur is an essential skill. If you are finding yourself often looking back at your day and asking yourself what did I accomplish today? Or feel like you are working constantly but not getting real work done, this article is for you.

The first step in reducing distractions in your practice is being aware of where these distractions are coming from. The second step is then knowing how to reduce them.

While we cannot eliminate every single distraction, there are steps we can take to set our environment and schedule up for success so that we are not being constantly pulled from the important work we do.

Ever wonder how some entrepreneurs seem to be “doing it all” – writing a book, seeing clients - and are still able to be regularly active on social media? Even though it may seem so, they are not superhumans.

They likely use their time wisely, set strict boundaries and limit distractions in their everyday work.

Why is it so important to reduce distractions? If you are constantly moving from task to task in short bursts and always changing directions, it is not only exhausting, but it also ends up taking twice as long to complete those tasks than if you completed them undistracted. So, if you feel like your tasks are always taking a lot longer than you expected, it may be because you’re allowing yourself to get pulled from a task.

Here are the top five ways you can reduce distractions in your practice:

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1. S top trying to multitask.

The definition of multitasking is switching back and forth between multiple tasks. As business owners, we have so many tasks on our to-do list and it’s tempting to try to do multiple tasks at once in order to more quickly check items off our list. With many dietitians being Type A personalities, it is even more common to want to be able to check off the box and be done with a particular task, as long lists can feel overwhelming.

However, as humans, we are not designed to be able to multitask. It is not an innate skill.

To demonstrate this, I want to provide an example. If you have little kids and try to talk to them when they are watching TV or on the computer, you’ll probably find they are very slow to respond to you, if they do at all.

You may need to talk louder or even yell to get their attention. This is because naturally we don’t have the innate skill to do two things at once. If we try to, it’s difficult and not efficient.

Research shows multitasking does not improve productivity (1). In fact, it shows it takes longer to complete a task when we aren’t focusing on that one single task.

To reduce multitasking, focus on your top three priorities.

Write them on a sticky note. Use that to plan out your day and focus on one task at a time. If you have a longer list of all your todos, don’t allow yourself to see it until you’ve completed those three tasks. That will help reduce the overwhelm of a seemingly long to-do list and help you focus on the most important, revenue-generating activities in your business first.

Don’t consume any content or do anything else work-related until you complete that first task.

It’s amazing how we can be supermotivated when first starting a task and then start to get distracted by other things shortly into it. If you find your mind wandering or starting to think about other things you have to do for work, jot them down on a notepad so you don’t forget. Get it out on paper so that you can get it out of your mind and then continue on the task that you’re focused on. Don’t consume any content on social media, TV or anywhere

else for that matter until you complete those tasks. Consuming more content may pressure you to do more things and often makes you feel like you need to be adding more to your already filled plate.

2. P ut down your phone (do-not-disturb, shut off, or put away).

Your cell phone is probably one of the biggest distractions there is. It’s amazing how powerful such a small device is. We bring our phones with us everywhere and if you also use your cell phone for your business, you may feel pressured to be on constant alert and have it with you at all times.

But your phone can really reduce your focus and limit your productivity. If you find yourself constantly drawn to it or checking it to just “see” if you have any messages or new client inquiries, there are ways to better manage your time and use your phone more effectively.

Set daily time limits on your phone, track it, and stick to it.

First, you’ll want to track on average how much you’re using your phone in the first place so you know you’re setting a realistic time limit for yourself. Then, go into your settings and set a daily time limit. Continue to track it weekly so that you can monitor your progress and see if you need to modify it. Setting clear boundaries with the amount of time you spend on your phone will force you to be intentional and clear with the time you spend on it, so you’re not texting on and off all day or checking Twitter for the fifth time that day. This will assure you don’t go down the dreaded internet rabbit hole.

Remove tempting apps or put them into a hidden folder.

If you have certain apps that you are tempted to constantly open and they keep screaming out at you, remove them or simply put them into a folder so it’s harder to see them. It doesn’t mean you can never use them, but if they are harder to access, you’ll have to put more thought into opening them. This will help you really think about why you’re trying to go onto them in the first place so you’re not wasting time.

Put your phone in “do-not-disturb” mode or completely shut it off.

Especially when you’re working on tasks requiring more focus, like writing or a project, putting your phone on “do not disturb” will assure you are not interrupted.

Put your phone in your desk drawer or somewhere out of sight so you’re not tempted to check it. If you are still finding yourself looking for it, turn it off completely and hide it until you’ve completed that task.

There is no shame in admitting it if this is what you have to do.

3. S et aside a specific time to check email.

On average, professionals check their email every 37 minutes, or about 15 times a day.

This translates to about 1.5 hours spent DAILY on email. This is a lot of time spent, not to mention it is utterly exhausting.

Email is a necessary mode of communication, but seeing all the new emails coming through can be very overwhelming. It is important to not let it take over your day and to use it effectively.

Turn off email notification alerts.

Turn off alerts on your email so you are not constantly seeing them pop up on your computer. This can be so distracting and it is almost impossible to ignore. Turning off these alerts will allow you to focus your energy on the task at hand, not add more tasks to your plate that are coming through on your email.

Check only once or twice throughout the day.

You can set up a canned email response to specifically say that you only check email during x time each day, and so you are being upfront on your boundaries and when someone should expect a response from you. For example, you can check your email first thing in the morning and during your lunch break. When you go onto your email, fully engage and respond to the emails you are reading. If you are just reading them but are not responding, you are increasing the length of time you will spend on that task.

Don’t plan on opening your emails unless you are prepared to respond at that time or else you’re not truly taking action on them.

4. Track your time.

Use time blocks to plan your daily calendar and track your time to assure you’re sticking to it. One way to track your time is using an app called Toggl. This app helps you to track how you’re using your time and can be a huge eye-opener. You may be surprised how many times you are stepping away from what you’re doing, checking another website or tab on your computer, or

checking social media for the 25th time to see what everyone else is doing. If this is not serving you, tracking your time can be an extremely useful activity to see how you can improve your time management.

nutrition tip the client could use today, for example.

5. L imit social media and use it with intention.

If you’re trying to “be everywhere” and be present on every social media platform, you’ll quickly burn out. It’s virtually impossible, and it is not at all necessary.

Picking just one or two primary platforms at the most to stay regularly engaged in will allow you to focus your energy and time on building relationships on that platform. Pick the one where your ideal client hangs out the most. In this way you’re not stretching yourself thin and spending hours on social.

Many of us have a love-and-hate relationship with social media. If you have an online business, social media is a necessary business and marketing tool. However, if you let it, it can quickly creep into your personal life and before you know it, you’re spending hours aimlessly browsing Instagram and feeling more overwhelmed than ever.

Focus only on one or two platforms at a time.

Social media can be a wonderful tool to get clients and also to connect with other health professionals. But if you use it without a solid plan, you may start to focus too much on what others are doing and start the comparison trap. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and that you are never doing enough, which can really zap your energy and productivity.

Final Thoughts

Limit the time you spend on social.

As business owners, we may often feel the pressure to be “everywhere” and constantly present on social media, but in reality that is not the case. By creating a clear schedule and picture of what your day will look like, you’ll begin to use social media and email with intention and make the most of the time you are spending on them. Registered dietitians who set clear boundaries with their time and don’t allow themselves to get distracted are the ones who will go further, without feeling burnt out in the process.

Just as you will do on your other phone apps, you can also set a daily time limit on social media. This can include Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platforms you use most regularly. Set a time limit and stick to it. Your phone will notify you when you’ve reached your limit. If you reach your limit and aren’t done with a post or comment, just let it roll over to the next day. Be clear and realistic with how much time you can devote and how much time you truly need to spend on social so you don’t get distracted.

Use social media with intention.

Set specific times to go on social media, and don’t go on without a purpose. If you don’t know why you’re clicking on that app, don’t open it. If you don’t have a plan in place, you will likely start going down that rabbit hole and wasting time.

Instead, go on for a reason. For example, maybe you’re going to post a video or picture to your Instagram stories, or you want to respond to comments on your post at the end of the day. It is much more efficient to do this all at once, rather than going in multiple times per day and responding to comments one at a time as they come in.

Also, don’t feel like you have to share EVERYTHING on social media. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time, only share what is important to your ideal client - a recipe or

Setting up a plan to reduce distractions in your practice will help you to get more important tasks done in less time. The more you can limit the most common distractions mentioned in this article, the more focus, energy and growth you will start to see in your practice.

REFERENCES 1. Buser T, Peter N. Multitasking. Experimental Economics. 2012;15:641-655

CEU quiz at NEDPG. org. Login and go to Resources & Information > CEU Library. Scroll down to the Newsletter Courses.

Passing the quiz with 80% will grant you immediate access to your CEU certificate.

Melissa Mitri, MS, RDN, is the owner of Melissa Mitri Nutrition, a private practice where she specializes in helping women lose weight and improve their relationship with food without strict diets. She also is a freelance writer and selfproclaimed science nerd.

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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE Melissa Halas, MA, RDN, CDE, is the founder of SuperKidsNutrition.com and MelissasHealthyLiving.com. She recently resigned from 20 years of teaching sports nutrition, functional foods and family health to focus more on her writing. Melissa released three books in 2019: The PlantBased Boost, Nutrition Solutions for Athletes and Exercise Enthusiasts; The Plant-Based Boost Cookbook, 100+ Recipes for Athletes and Exercise Enthusiasts; and The Super Crew’s Breakfast Cookbook for Kids, 50 Tasty Recipes + 100 Nutrition Activities.

Karen Duester, MS, RD, is pleased to share Food Consulting Company’s new service for food labelers - Food Label Insiders.

This community provides instant answers to everyday and challenging nutrition, labeling and regulatory questions.

Membership gives you quick access to a comprehensive, curated library of expertly-authored content, answers to anonymous questions during monthly office hours, and a community discussion board. Insiders.foodlabels.com.

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Lettuce celebrate Lisa C. Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, Owner of Sound Bites Nutrition LLC in Cincinnati! Lisa designs and sells food-pun swag (tee shirts, note cards, mugs and totes). A portion of her proceeds go to programs that support those suffering from food insecurity.

In January, she teamed up with Clancy Cash Harrison to collaborate on a royal-blue “Lettuce Beet Hunger” tee. The color is Clancy’s signature hue. Clancy, a champion in the food insecurity world, will use the tees that say #FoodDignity (on the back) for her podcast guests and attendees of her talks to raise awareness about food insecurity. Ketchup with Lisa’s line of food-pun humor at soundbitesnutrition.com/shop.

With the success of their culinary nutrition webinar series last year, Abbie Gellman, MS, RD, CDN, and Julie Harrington, RD, have turned it into a culinary nutrition cooking class series in New York City, helping other healthcare professionals gain confidence in the kitchen to help translate evidence-based nutrition into “food talk.” Focusing on different disease states, Abbie and Julie are hosting both hands-on and demo-style cooking classes.

Learn more at CulinaryNutritionWorkshops.com.

Earn 7.5 CEUs for workshops & 2 CEUs for demos.

Diversity in Dietetics Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LDN Diversity Article In this Ventures Diversity Q&A, we connect with Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LDN, the founder and bilingual Registered Dietitian at Nutritiously Yours, based in Philadelphia. Dalina received her bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Penn State University and completed her master’s degree and dietetic internship at Immaculata University. Throughout her career, Dalina has worked in the community of Philadelphia as one of the few Spanishspeaking RDs helping clients ditch diets and eat healthy.

Tell us a little about your background.

My parents are from the Dominican Republic and I am a first-generation Dominican American. I grew up immersed in the culture and speaking Spanish as my first language. I grew up in Philadelphia and completed my bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University and completed my master’s degree and dietetic internship at Immaculata University. I currently live outside of Philadelphia.

How has your background enhanced your dietetic practice?

Being fluent in Spanish has greatly enhanced how I practice. I have always been an advocate of speaking to clients in their native languages, and being one of the few RDs in Philadelphia who can communicate with the Latino community in Spanish has opened up so many opportunities.

What is your definition of diversity and why it is important in the dietetics field?

Diversity to me is inclusion of all body sizes, abilities, ethnicities and races. This is particularly important in dietetics because every client deserves to work with someone who looks like her or him and understands his/her language and culture.

How do you encourage people to honor the uniqueness of each individual?

I encourage everyone to continue to honor their cultures, specifically with food. Every country has unique dishes that mean a lot to their people. I love learning about traditional dishes and giving my clients the OK to enjoy them without guilt. There is something to be said about having a dish that reminds you of home, which truly makes you feel comforted and loved.

How do you challenge and promote sensitivity and inclusion in the dietetics field?

I am always speaking to students, colleagues and anyone who will listen about the importance of being culturally sensitive; I love that the question uses this word (sensitivity) instead of “competent.”

Competent makes it seem like you can conquer a culture and know all about it, when in reality that is not always the case; even within cultures there are variations.

Being sensitive means you are open to learning and listening about another culture and willing to understand and empathize.

This is why I am such a supporter of Diversify Dietetics; it truly embraces cultural sensitivity and allows students to flourish within the field of dietetics while embracing their culture.

How has diversity helped you in your job role?

For me it has been KEY in helping me become the dietitian I am today. It has driven me to be the business woman that I am. I am always focusing on how I can bring my culture into my counseling, my website, my social media. I have so many women reach out to me because they feel “seen” for the first time in nutrition. Many feel that there’s a lack of representation of Latino foods in a lot of the recommendations for nutrition. Making sure that I bring my diverse background to the forefront of all I do has helped me reach a lot of women.

What is one tip you have for others to be more culturally sensitive/aware?

Listen, always listen, and ask questions. Stay curious and learn all that you can about that person's culture before making a nutritional recommendation. And be sensitive to how important certain foods are for people, cognizant of the nostalgia and comfort foods can bring.

How would having more diversity in dietetics providers improve our field?

It would make many patients and clients feel heard and understood. Speaking to someone in her/his language or speaking to someone who looks like you and knows your culture can make all the difference in how that patient takes the information you provide and uses it.

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Product REVIEWS Title: Mindful and Instinctive Eating Practitioner (MIEP) Certification Program (8-week online course) Date issued: N/A Version Number: N/A What is included in the price: $1,997 if paid in full (saves $367) or 12 monthly payments of $197. Includes lifetime access to the MIEP Training, use of the MIEP Credentials (upon successful completion of certification exam), course Study Guide, access to a private Facebook group, live Q&A to connect with your instructors and fellow participants, and 48 CEUs approved by CDR. Required/recommended equipment: Access to a computer with internet Major Function: 8-week online training program Target Audience: Exclusive to Registered Dietitians, RDs-to-be, and Registered Dietetic Technicians Capabilities: N/A Limitations if any: The course enrolls in cycles, so you might have to wait a few months before your group officially starts.

Review: Do you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, but not gaining traction with your clients? If so, this course is for you. This eight-week online course is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to improve the way she/he counsels clients to promote lasting behavior change by refining your motivational interviewing techniques. For both the topics of mindful eating and instinctive eating, you will learn about seven different elements that help you understand your client in a different light. The course is thorough, thought-provoking and quite refreshing. It is evident that a ton of heart, experience and dedication was put into it. The modules are presented as a spoken slideshow, so it is important to know that in advance as it may not be an ideal learning method for some.

In full disclosure, I was graciously granted access to just a portion of the modules and therefore this review is based on those alone.

Reviewer: Dawn Dragone, RD, LD/N Title: Clinical Dietitian/ Virtual Nutrition Coach Affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs (this review reflects my personal views, not the views of my employer)/ Dietitian Dawn Nutrition & Wellness

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Title: Finally Full, Finally Slim Author: Lisa Young, Ph.D, RDN, CNN Date: 2019 Publisher: Center Street Price: $19.89

Title: My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes Author: Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDE, FAND Date: 2019

Review: Let’s face it, science is confusing and hard to digest; nutritional studies are not the exception. Just what it takes to lose weight and keep it off can seem elusive if not contradictory to many. And fad diets are aplenty. Dr. Lisa Young, Ph.D, RDN, CNN, author of The Portion Teller, provides credible science simply and engagingly in her latest book Finally Full, Finally Slim.

Information is broken down into “BiteSized Goodies,”“Wedges of Wisdom” and “Slices of Advice,” amidst an engaging text that guides its readers toward healthier living by addressing portion control, healthy plating, mindful eating, and so much more. It includes simple recipes, easy swaps, and even ways to decrease stress and improve your sleeping habits.

This book is an inspiring, easy read.

It can be used by entrepreneurial nutritionists to help explain and guide their clients toward healthier living.

Dr. Young is an internationally recognized dietitian/nutritionist and portion-size expert.

She is an adjunct professor at New York University (NYU). You can find her book Finally Full, Finally Slim at amazon.com.

Reviewer: Lauren O’Connor, MS, RDN Title: Food & Nutrition Consultant Website: Nutri Savvy Health

Publisher: Self-Published Price: $24.99 on Amazon.com Review: In My Indian Table, Vandana shares her deeply personal and heart-warming connection with the cuisine of her Indian culture. This well-written and easy-to-follow cookbook serves to inspire a love for healthful Indian cuisine that aligns with the time-pressed schedules of families around the world.

As a novice with Indian cooking myself, I found Vandana’s suggestions for success, cooking tools/equipment list, summary of ingredients, and culinary terminology to be tremendously helpful. Each of the more than 60 vibrant recipes also includes a detailed explanation about its history, flavor profile and ingredients, as well as any notable nutrition callouts.

Purchasing unique and unfamiliar ingredients can be intimidating; however, Vandana was mindful to incorporate those that can be easily found in a local grocery store. When this isn’t the case, she provides substitutions or simply suggests omitting them. Readers of this cookbook will also appreciate her thoughtfulness in limiting the number of different spices and ingredients required throughout, while repurposing them across various recipes.

As a dietitian, I applaud Vandana for her creation of this beautiful resource that promotes such a healthy way of eating.

This cookbook would be a colorful addition to the collection of any individual who seeks to enjoy vegetarian cooking and traditional Indian flavors all in one.

Reviewer: Beth Stark, RDN, LDN Title: Manager of Nutrition and Lifestyle Initiatives Affiliation: Weis Markets (This review reflects my own opinion and not that of my employer)

Is It Worth It? Roberta Schwartz Wennik, MS, RDN Guest Article Googling the words “maximizing your time” turns up 46,100,000 results. So, if you believe you’re the only one with the problem, rest assured you’re not alone. The usual tips include: • Make to-do lists.

• Take a break from your social media apps.

The Very, Very Shortened Description of Using the MBTI® for Making a Decision To make the decision about the question, “Is it worth it?” you need to know the bare basics of the MBTI®. There are 16 personality types, each with four letters (standing for different preferences) per type name.

For now, I’ll just share the letters that are involved with making decisions: Sensing (S), iNtuiting (N), Thinking (T) and Feeling (F). The order in which you use these preferences is referred to as the Z-Pattern, as shown in the following infographic:

• Stop multitasking.

• Don’t handle paper twice.

• Do the most important tasks first even though doing the easily-accomplished tasks would clear off your list faster.

Next, consult iNtuiting (N). Maybe giving the presentation will open up other opportunities for you down the road. But preparing for it will take away time from other projects that are now in the pipeline.

Let Thinking (T) analyze what you’ve come up with so far. Doing the presentation can be considered part of your marketing plan for your business. It could also be an income source if you’re getting paid for your time. Is the business value of the presentation greater than the value of the project you’re working on now?

Feeling (F) gets the last say. You need to put your stamp of approval on whether to do the presentation or not. Will it personally give you a confidence boost?

You know it may take time away from your business, family and/or friends.

How will that affect you and them?

The list could go on and on. But I have a better approach. One where you don’t need lists of ideas for how to become more efficient. Besides, following somebody else’s ideas may not be right for you. When they don’t work, you may feel like a failure.

Your decision?

No, you need to be in control and determine what is best for you. You simply need to ask one important question about everything you do or need to do … Is it worth it?

Too many of our hours are frittered away doing things that waste our energies on matters that aren’t worth our time.

However, if you decide something is of value, your time becomes maximized.

If you have the tools to make that decision, you're on your way. And I have the perfect approach for you — a personality-based approach. I’m a certified practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). It has guided most of what I’ve done as a dietitian, allowing me to work with people according to who they are, not what I think is best for them.

Sensing (S), you have to consider what your workload is right now. Also, you should try to remember whether you’ve been in this kind of situation before and what the result was. Did you get behind on other things because you took on too much?

I can’t make that decision for you.

That’s the beauty of this method. It’s totally yours. If you decide to do the presentation, go through the Z-Pattern again, sometime afterwards, to analyze the effects it had. There’s always a next time to make a different decision if it didn’t have your intended results. If it did, you know you maximized your time. In other words, it was a “good" decision.

How to Use the Z-Pattern to Maximize Your Time Here's an example. Suppose you’re asked to make a presentation. Is it the best use of your time? The answer requires a decision applying the Z-Pattern. First, using

Roberta Schwartz Wennik, MS, RDN, is the owner of Advantage Diets. She is a certified practitioner of the MyersBriggs Type Indicator® (MBTI), a personality-based tool that has been an integral part of her nutrition practice. She is also an editor and writing coach. When she isn’t writing books, she loves to cook, garden, knit, hike, bike and travel.

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Ventures

www.nedpg.org

Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

Kim Hoban, RDN, CDN, CPT 24 Copperbeech Road Saint James, NY 11780

Have You Heard?

We started a new private facebook group during FNCE® 2019 that is exclusive to YOU, our NE DPG members. Joining is easy! Head to Facebook and request access to the group Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG *Members Only* and you will be asked to provide your Academy number and email address associated with NE DPG so we can verify it’s you.

This group gives you a chance to interact in real time over social media with your fellow NE members, applaud their accomplishments, share job opportunities, ask challenging work questions, stay up-to-date on the latest happenings with NE DPG events, and share what you’ve been up to. The last Sunday of every month is “Self Promotion Sunday” where we encourage you to share your latest accomplishment, business venture, certification - ANYTHING, big or small, that you are proud of that month. This does not take the place of our Member Marketplace and Hub on our website, but provides another alternative to timely communication with NE members and the executive committee. We invite you to engage with our posts, ask questions, and respond to prompts as you feel comfortable.

Here are some of the great conversations that have been happening so far in this group: