Philip McCluskey is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, health coach, and author. He is the Director of Loving Raw, a website dedicated to sharing the raw food lifestyle and also a Team Leader of We Like It Raw, the web’s most popular raw food blog.

No More
I started the 9-5 game at the age of 19, worked the same job, behind the same computer, living the same boring life for 11 years. I grew a successful company from the ground up, all while sitting on my butt growing sideways.

Enter raw food. I started to experience a shift in consciousness after switching to a raw foods lifestyle. I started to birth the phrase “no more” deep down inside me. This life was no more for me. No more would I sit and live in mediocrity. No more would I ignore my internal fire and ambition. I would from now on live a life of inspiration, motivation, passion, adventure, and integrity. I would experience authentic living.

So I left the company and dove head first into my passion for helping others through example. Little did I know that this journey would transform me into someone so different, so new, so free, that it would literally eliminate all rules and change me to my very core.

Setting the Stage
After years of dreading the sound of my alarm clock - having nightmares and even daymares about it - I decided to join the elite class of those who have chosen to never use it again. As a matter of fact, unless I have an appointment, I don’t really acknowledge the notion of time at all. What I do instead is set up my day in stages. There is no specific time associated with each or any stage, just an event. Usually I do them in order, but if I don’t that’s all right too. When I am following my internal blueprint of life ambitions and passions, there is no need for rules!

Stage 1: “Rise and Shine”
This is the expression my mother used to say to me every morning. It is such a cheerful expression that I always woke up in a good mood that it still finds a wonderful place in every morning of my life.

The exact time I wake up varies. Some days I wake up at 7 AM, other days 10AM. It really depends on when I went to sleep the night before, what goals I am looking to accomplish the following day, and what overall intentions I have for the week.

Being free from rules already sets the stage for having “The Best Day Ever.” I move right into my daily affirmations. Standing in front of the mirror I affirm:

I love myself
I accept myself
I appreciate myself

It may seem funny to some, but it truly works and helps to align me with love, joy, and gratitude, all while capturing the moment.

Stage 2: “Prepping”

After waking I immediately hydrate with water and MSM. I knock this out right away, then wash my face with water and brush my teeth, usually with Oregano oil.

When I am not Juice Feasting, I make a big half-gallon green smoothie for the day. This usually consists of a head of kale (or other greens), 1-2 bananas, and 1-2 mangos (or other sweet fruit). I add some super food powders like Spirulina, Pure Synergy, Maca, and Mesquite, and then I am off. This simple superfood smoothie is so packed with nutrients that it lasts me right until dinner - no lunch.

Stage 3: “Booting Up”
I like to get out of the house and into exercise mode as soon as possible. I usually do a quick overview of the day’s emails before I leave. If there is a heavy workload I will knock out some quick priority responses, usually to the WLIR Team. I do a quick scan and then “unplug.”

Stage 4: “Building Up”
Working out used to be such a hassle pre-raw, which is why I guess I never followed a regimen for more than a month or two. Now I take such pleasure in building and shaping my body that it has become a joy. I have always been amazed at watching people work on cars, or people that can take things apart and put them back together. Finally, I found my passion to do the same. After all, my body is my vehicle, my home, my temple.

So whether I am doing 45 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weights (high reps until failure, low weight), jumping on a rebounder, or trail running through the forest, I have learned to enjoy the experience and appreciate the feeling, and the burn.

This is usually the time I take to set my intention for the day, and the week. Doing so helps me stay organized and motivated. I actually enjoy organization - it's not a chore! And if something doesn’t get done, I know it wasn’t meant to happen.

Stage 5: “Creating my Day”
After working out and showering, “creating my day” official begins. It’s not officially work though - it's way too fun to be called that - and it’s definitely not a job... I don’t believe in them… it’s more my passion. This can take shape in many different ways:

Online Counseling
Giving Lectures
Working on my book
Working on WLIR projects
Making YouTube Videos
Event planning with The Squad in NYC
Nurturing a Raw Community on over a dozen different websites

Stage 6: “Super Salads”
After pursuing my passion for the day, sending emails, traveling, chatting with friends, making new contacts, sharing experiences, laughing, living, loving, well… its time to eat.

Dinner usually consists of a creative salad made with Love. I try not to go heavy with the fats anymore, but still enjoy taking my time prepping for my palate. I usually enjoy a high water content salad including kale, spinach, sprouts, cucumber, celery, tomato, avocado, seaweed, hemp seeds with a lemon juice dressing. Occasionally I get a bit more creative but overall the simpler the better. My body loves salads so much I can’t imagine ever getting tired of them.

Stage 7: “Unwind”
I like to unwind in the evening with relaxation. That could be sipping on nettle tea with a friend, reading my favorite Anastasia book, listening to music, watching a documentary, or simply meditating.

Or, it could be dancing in NYC until 4AM…

Remember - No Rules!

Philip