Create daily habits that support your busy life
"Conventional wisdom holds that motivation is the key to habit change. Maybe if you really wanted it, you’d actually do it. But the truth is, our real motivation is to be lazy and to do what is convenient. And despite what the latest productivity best seller will tell you, this is a smart strategy, not a dumb one."
- James Clear, author of Atomic Habits
If you are like me, there are many times when you feel that your current pace isn’t sustainable. Whether you are launching a new business, starting a new job, volunteering at your child’s school, attending activities, or simply trying to fit in some social time with friends in the midst of it all, life can wear you down.
You wake up already running late and not giving yourself enough space.
This was a mistake I made years ago, but since implementing a morning routine that includes getting up before I need to, I rarely need more time. I feel like a master of that time, or at least more in control than I once was.
There are certainly mornings when the structure can fall apart.
Aside from those minor interruptions, these habits serve me well, even when the family schedule changes. School started more than a month ago, and the slower days of summer quickly melted into the fast-paced days of the school year. I manage multiple schedules, work, goals, appointments, and Boy Scout activities. I adapted to the transition seamlessly because I still use the same morning habits I did over the summer. Drink water when I first wake up. Journal three total pages while drinking my coffee. And a morning workout routine that varies depending on my available time.
If you are starting to feel worn, it might be time to take inventory of your habits, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good habits will fuel you and keep you moving. I can hear the groaning now as you mumble that you lack the motivation and determination to start habits, but what if I told you that you hadn’t changed these habits because you lack motivation but because you lack a full-proof plan?
The above quote says it all. I love that author James Clear understands that we all lack motivation and need to make building habits easier. Now, start building habits that protect your energy and sanity. If you live an overbooked and overworked life, you are robbing yourself of the opportunity to live a life filled with all you love and enjoy.
Too often, we are simply selling our dreams short.
Earlier this year, Future Forum released the data from their workplace snapshot. According to this data, “Burnout is still on the rise globally, with 42% of the workforce reporting it—a slight uptick (2 percent rise) from the previous quarter and an all-time high since May 2021, when Future Forum first started measuring employee burnout.”
This slight increase might not seem like a lot, but it can impact relationships, jobs, and health.
According to the Future Forum study, women and adults under 30 were most likely to feel stressed. Stress that reaches burnout can affect us mentally and physically, and we mustn’t let our stressors reach that level. Our habits are crucial to keeping the stress in check.
When I was teaching in the classroom, I gave it my all and then some. The word burnout wasn’t in my vocabulary then. At the time, I wouldn’t have even known what it was. My belief system until about four years ago was to be everything and do everything. Perfectionism was an expectation I aspired to because I saw so many people who I thought epitomized this in everything they did.
When the pandemic happened, I started to question that because once I stopped going at that pace, I realized that the daily hustle wasn’t leading me anywhere but to burnout. I also realized that these ideas did not help me do better work or make me more effective. The constant effort to achieve perfection and nonstop work only made me tired and sick. Change was needed to stop me from burning out and wearing out.
Changing jobs and prioritizing self-care has changed my stress level, and the skills I use now have increased my productivity and boosted my creativity.
When coaching, I have found that others have the same worries and concerns. So many worry about perfection or reaching their goals, but habits supporting them can be elusive, leading people to abandon all those intentions. The good news is that they don’t have to be so short-lived. You can take inventory of life, finding minor tweaks that better support your goals and efforts. Doing this before burnout becomes all-consuming makes the road back to an easygoing life much easier.
Implementing small, self-care habits can be the safety net you need, turning your unrested life into one that fills you with energy.. This plan is crucial when you start to feel overwhelmed and even before you reach that point. Some vital components can help you prioritize self-care during a busy time. The following checklist can help you implement critical components that will stave off burnout:
Make sleep a priority: Studies have shown that sleep is critical. Listen to your body because this will not only keep you healthy but also make you more productive.
Get up and move: Our bodies were not meant to stay at rest. We were meant to move and move regularly. Implement a plan or habit. Try to reach a daily step or exercise goal. This is one of my nonnegotiables, and the days I don’t move, I feel sluggish and lethargic.
Eat to fuel your body: The key here is not to eat due to stress. I will admit. I stress eat. Chocolate and sweets are my downfall, but I balance these moments with fresh fruits and vegetables. As for those processed foods, I keep them at a minimum.
Change your mindset: Carol Dweck’s fixed versus growth mindset concept is essential here. Don’t be so focused on the outcome. Focus on the process of growth and learning. Failure isn’t the end. It is only a start.
Fill up the tank regularly: It’s easy to keep walking that treadmill without stepping off for a moment to enjoy life or to refuel your soul. Awareness of what you need is vital in maintaining your energy, and be sure to refuel with the hobbies that light you up regularly. If you don't, you will find your mindset a constant challenge and setback.
Putting one or all of these healthy habits into practice could seem overwhelming, especially when your life is more about non-stop hustle, and let’s face it. Implementing all of these habits at once is daunting. I created “Three Steps to Making Your Habits Stick.” These short steps could be all you need to stop doubting your ability to change, so if you are ready to take the first step, click here. Stop saying you can’t and take the first step to living the life you want.
