Improving Your Life, One Habit At A Time
I’ve been using a Passion Planner* for years now, and nearly every month I list “get healthy” as something I can improve on in my monthly reflection. I add details like, “schedule it” to help motivate me, but it never seemed to work. Until late 2020. I’ve finally gotten serious about changing my habits, and I’m going to tell you how.
1. Word of the Year
This is the third year that I have chosen a Word of the Year, rather than focusing on a New Year’s Resolution. This is a “theme” that I have chosen for the year, whereas a resolution is often about changing something that I don’t like.
My word this year is STRONG. I want to feel strong physically and mentally. I want my children to see me as strong. I want to be a strong role model for other women. I want my body to feel as strong as my mind. Having a word to focus on all year that feels very positive, helps keep me in a good state of mind all year. I even have created graphics to keep on my desktop to see everyday.
2. One Change at a Time
My friend Debbie Page always says to focus on ONE CHANGE per quarter. The idea is that because it takes anywhere from 21-90 days (depending on who you ask) to develop a true habit, you can only really be successful focusing on one thing at a time.
Thinking about how many times I have tried to do too many things at once and then failed, this idea from Debbie truly clicked in November. You see, I’ve spent years focusing on my mental health, and really ignoring my physical health. I’m finally in a really good place mentally, so I felt ready to tackle my physical health.
I started with taking a multi-vitamin and probiotic to help with my gut health. After a few weeks of being consistent, I started tracking my water consumption to ensure that I actually drink at least eight cups per day. For tracking, I am using the Passion Planner Habit Tracker download. (Your own planner may have something similar, or if you’re more creative, you can find custom trackers you can create on Pinterest or Bullet Journal sites.) At the beginning of January, I added exercising four times per week. Mostly I’ve been walking, but on gross days, I’ll stretch or do a YouTube aerobics video.
I know what you’re thinking. “This is more than one change per 90 days!” It’s true! I have already broken my own “rule.” However, I stand by my method, because both the vitamins and water tracking are things that I have done before and been successful at. They were easy for me to get back on board with. If they had been new habits, I would have taken my time. The walking is new, so I will be giving myself the time to settle into that routine before adding in anything else.
3. Schedule It
Because working out takes time in my day, I have actually started adding it to my daily To Do Lists on the days when I have time. Saturdays and Sundays are a given, because I don’t usually work those days. On weekdays, I look at the days when I have 25-45 minutes for a walk, and add it in. Mondays are usually my busiest days, so I don’t walk then, and that’s ok.
4. Giving Myself Grace
I’m not perfect every week. I originally started out thinking that I would work out five times per week. I quickly realized that wasn’t realistic with my schedule of homeschooling, working my business, and caring for my family. So after two weeks of “failing,” I reassessed and adjusted my goal down to four days per week. This is still more than the weekly recommended amount of exercise, and totally doable for me. In the past, this failure would have sent me into a shame spiral, and I would have given up. This time, because I am stronger, I can see it as a minor setback and a place to grow.
5. Reflect on the Heart Prisms
Changing these habits fits nicely in the Infrastructure and Renewal Heart Prisms. It’s easy to see that caring for myself is renewal, and using a planner and habit tracker is Infrastructure. What might not be as obvious though, is that it’s also Willingness to Succeed and Willingness to Fail, because getting stronger has often been a big mindset block for me. What would happen if I actually get stronger? How will my life change? What happens if I fail? What lessons can I learn from that failure? I have a friend who lives far away, and we’re walking “together” by letting each other know when we go out. It helps keep us accountable, but it also helps us maintain our village, which is another Heart Prism.
Conclusion
Whatever goals you are working on this year, I encourage you to take it slowly. One habit at a time, whatever that looks like for you. If you need help, I would love to help you with coaching so that you can be successful at whatever your goals are.
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