Fall is a transitional season I always look forward to by the end of summer. With fall comes a sense of routine, back to school for parents and students, fall sports, and much more. It is no secret that this fall may look different for many people than it usually does. And to be perfectly honest, it isn’t the last time in your life that you may feel this sense of lingering uncertainty, anxiety, or slight fear.
Regardless of school schedules, work hours in an office or from home, and other unknowns that may come throughout this season, I hope to encourage you to stay positive and take responsibility for the many things you can actually control. In these times of uncertainty, ask yourself what actionable and realistic things can you proactively focus on?
The world is always changing, and sometimes your plans may not work out. As a planner, I know how frustrating this can be! I encourage you to be open-minded as opposed to overwhelmed. It can be so easy to get caught up in other people’s plans, expectations, or even your own ideas you have in your head. Be open, curious, and proactive in taking charge where you can.
I’ve recently been asked if I will be recommitting to our family's previous routine and busy fall schedule when quarantine is lifted and things go back to a relative “normal.” My answer? I’m not sure! The stress and chaos of the last several months has been intense for so many people. I am very grateful that amongst the stress and chaos, I can say that I personally did find many positives that have come out of my quarantine experience...the extra rest, slower pace of life, less driving and the return of those family dinners that I’ve missed so much! And while our evening schedules are sure to be filled with our activities once again, I will never forget the good vibes that came from having more downtime. More time to simply be.
I am sure that no matter how out of control my schedule may feel, I know that I always have a choice. And you do, too! It is so easy to feel stuck, overwhelmed, and overcommitted. How can you make sure you’re saying yes to yourself and your priorities just as often?
My personal goals and priorities certainly start with the base of health and overall wellness, especially as I continue to age and mature. If I’m not healthy and thriving, how the heck can I help anyone else thrive in life? If you’re ready to take personal responsibility for your daily habits and routines, I feel these ten areas are a great place to start gaining your power back. Stay positive, focus on the things you can control, and use this time to grow.
1. Nutrition
As the fall season approaches, nutrition can be very challenging for some. Your schedule may change; you might be on the road more often, and making time to eat healthy foods requires extra planning and preparation. What will your new meal routine now look like? You’ll need to allocate time to plan the weekly menu and hit the local market or grocery store amongst your busy schedule. Remember, the best intentions are not always executed without an actual game plan that’s realistic.
Try This! For each meal, look for variety and vibrant colors. Reach for real foods over processed options. Simply put, incorporate foods that will rot if they’re not eaten promptly.
2. Hydration
What does a single day’s worth of drinks and liquids look like for you? If water isn’t at the top of your list, hydration will be an area I encourage you to focus on. Limit your sugars and high caloric drinks to special occasions. Commit to water as a habit, and remember, treats shouldn’t be an everyday occurrence. If a glass of wine or iced latte is a treat for you, enjoy it occasionally instead of every single day.
Try This! For any drink of the day, choose water first. Whether you enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or a soda in the afternoon, commit to drinking a glass of water first. Truly focus on hydration, then the extras.
3. Sleep
Sleep is an essential activity for all of us. From babies and children to parents and adults, sleep aids your health in so many different ways. Do you enjoy 7+ hours of sleep each night? When you wake up, do you actually feel rested and rejuvenated? If your answer is no, you may want to reconsider your sleeping schedule and habits. Shift your view of sleep from an unwanted necessity to a personal commitment. After all, sleep allows for hormone balance, cellular refresh, and so much more.
Try This! If sleep is hard for you, try addressing some key areas that make falling asleep or staying asleep a challenge. If your mind wanders or gets anxious at night, sleep with a notepad next to your bed. You can jot down to-do lists or those random thoughts you might have throughout the night on paper and free your mind from worry until the morning.
4. Movement & Physical Activity
Movement throughout the day and physical activity are key to keeping your body agile, improving your metabolism, and overall wellness. Do you move your body 30+ minutes a day, 5-6 days a week? If you’re not quite there, make it your goal to try to hit these benchmarks and stay physically active. And remember, movement and physical activity is so much more than “exercise.” Find safe and easy activities that you enjoy and create a habitual way of living an active lifestyle.
Try This! Unsure what movements or activities to do? We have some fun and mostly free ideas to share! Go for a run, ride a bike in your neighborhood, go to a gym, take a fun movement class, walk or hike with friends and family, go canoeing, swim a few laps in the pool. These are all simple ways to stay active and reach that goal.
5. Time Management
Do you intentionally set aside time to plan the logistics of your upcoming responsibilities and goals for the week? If not, this simple task can dramatically improve the way you utilize your time. By switching your planning from a reactionary mindset to a proactive habit, you can transform your relationship with time and improve your energy resources. Create space for things like your kids’ schedules and commitments, meal planning, physical activity, downtime for yourself, and the other aspects of your life that are directly related to your priorities and deserve your attention too. Continue to evaluate where you are spending your time, energy and money. We can learn so much about ourselves when we take the time to do this!
Try This! Plan for the upcoming week before this week is over. I’ve learned over the years that I prefer to do my planning on Fridays. This allows me to make note of the things I didn’t accomplish that week and will need to be pushed into the next week. Setting aside time to plan for next week’s activities allows you to add peace of mind to your weekend so you can fully engage with life and find the rest and rejuvenation you’ll need before your weekly commitments resume. The actual day you choose to do your planning doesn’t really matter. Just find a time that works for you!
6. Personal Development
Do you intentionally set aside time each day to invest in yourself and your personal growth? If you don’t, today is the perfect day to start. Personal development and investing in yourself will not look the same for everyone. You don’t necessarily need to take an online course or study for a new certification. Personal development can be as simple as listening to free, motivational podcasts or grabbing a recommended book from the library. Find things you enjoy and “study” areas of life you want to grow and expand, such as finances, ways to eat, or how to set intentional goals.
Try This! Small habits that you can repeatedly commit to have the ability to spark big change. Learn to start where you are, with the resources you have available to you. I promise you; there is something for everyone. If you’re unsure where to start, check out some resources I have on my website, including great reads, planners, and more.
7. Meditations and Affirmations
Do you intentionally set aside time each day to observe your thoughts? Your internal dialogue with yourself is a huge factor in how you perceive life, how you address your problems, and your relationship with yourself. Acknowledge the power of your thoughts and notice how they may support you or sabotage you. Why do you think what you think? Why do you feel what you feel? Sit with yourself and your answers. Allow yourself to be quiet. Listen to your intuition. Where are you struggling? What can you actually do about it? Engage with your outward physical habits along with your inner habitual thinking and really connect the two.
Try This! The amount of noise, distraction, information at your fingertips, questions, decisions, and other aspects of life can make it hard to calmly get through the day. If you don’t know how to recover from this in a systematic way, you can’t balance it. Find a way in your habitual life to rebalance, reboot, and come back to yourself. For me, it’s a quick nap. No time for a nap? Not a problem. Even just 5 minutes of alone time a day can be very powerful. Ask yourself, “What decisions do I need to make right now to support myself?”
8. Goal Setting - Personally
Do you sit down and set goals each month in your personal life? Take some time to reflect on the last year of your life and ask yourself if you’re where you envisioned you would be. If you are, great, and if you’re not, it’s not too late to change that moving forward. Whether your goals are focused towards improving your finances, family or other relationships, try to visualize the big picture and strategize how to get there. Those little steps aren’t always exciting to focus on but they will support you and your ability to make progress. They may not always feel like life-altering decisions, but there is power in consistently making those decisions and your commitment to yourself.
Try This! Take time this week to sit down and write out the personal goals you have for yourself. Your goals don’t need to be major, but they do need to be honest. Once you have your goals down on paper, put a reminder in your calendar to check in with yourself in 3, 6, and 12 months to evaluate your progress and how far you have come.
9. Goal Setting - Professionally
Do you set goals each month in your professional life?Try This! Take the time to follow the same steps as #8 and apply them to your professional life.
10. Happiness and Fulfillment
Rate this statement on a scale of 1-10. “I feel happiness and fulfillment at the end of most days.” Do you feel a sense of true happiness and fulfillment? Unfortunately many people don’t. It’s easy to go through life, achieving goals and finding “success,” without ever feeling a real sense of satisfaction. Don’t sacrifice happiness and fulfillment simply to find success in other areas. Overall balance is key.
Try This! Check-in with yourself and ask yourself, “Am I happy?” “Does my life feel on purpose?” Does it feel reasonable what you expect yourself to accomplish in a day? Sometimes we simply get used to feeling “fine”. I always encourage self-reflection and taking the time to ask yourself how you’re really feeling and how can you feel even better?
The outcome in addressing all 10 of these areas is not to feel overwhelmed or the need to have each completed perfectly. The goal is to grow. The goal is to prioritize yourself, your health and your overall connection with life. You may find you are excelling in some of these areas and lacking in others. Ask yourself what small changes can you make to begin to improve the areas you’d like to upgrade and take it one step at a time.
This journey should be attainable for everyone. Wherever you find yourself, do what you can with the resources you have. You don’t need to purchase costly tools or courses if you’re just getting started. Figure out what is attainable for you and be sure to commit to yourself. Through personal responsibility, self-reflection, and frequent check-ins, you may be surprised by how much you can blossom. And if you do feel the need for some extra support or resources, hiring a coach may be a great choice for you and your current desired upgrades.
Do me a favor? Get started today! Make a commitment, no matter how small and adopt an attitude of growth and optimism. Life is happening right now and time will continue to move forward. What can you do today to show yourself some extra love and support in order to live your best life?
