Ever felt like your life is not heading in the direction you want? Perhaps, somewhere along the way you ‘lost the plot’ and wonder where am I going and why?! Or maybe you have clarity on where and why ….. yet you are just plain tired or burned out?
I get it! So, I wanted to offer 7 tips – which may seem basic (and yes, most relevant tips are basic)….yet, when embraced – consistently and deliberately – can help us create the life we want. So….here they are:
Tip 1: Start every morning with time between you and your Higher Power. This can be prayer, meditation – in the form of T.M. or centering prayer – or whatever you prefer. Yet, 10-15 minutes before you start your routine will center you, anchor you, and align your mind, body, and spirit. For me, I practice centering prayer, which I learned from Thomas Keating over 40 years ago. I have been trained in T.M. and yes, it can be a powerful, transformative practice as well. How we ‘center’ ourselves is a personal choice – yet, there is no replacement for a daily (or twice daily – my preference) practice.
Tip 2: Get outside early in the day. This can be in the form of a walk with your dog, or a saunter in your backyard, or even a cup of coffee on your deck. The point: breathe in fresh air. Listen to the birds opening the morning. Relish the beauty of nature. Yes….that may sound ‘woo woo’ – yet, it is truly what gives life LIFE. Nature….our Earth….the flowers’ fragrance….the sunrise….these are GIFTS which need to be appreciated to enrich our days.
Tip 3: Create a list of the OUTCOMES you want for the day and the week. This is not our ‘to-do’ list…this is what we want to have ACCOMPLISHED by the end of the day…..and how this plays into our weekly goals. I do this at the end of every day for the next day….it helps me to ‘turn it off’ and feel like I have a plan for the next day. AND it enables me to jump start the next morning.
Tip 4: Build your schedule for the day and week. I typically create my weekly schedule on Sunday. I always have ‘flexibility’ built in – yet this gives me a framework for my week AND it enables me to honor my schedule AND establish my boundaries for the week. If I did not set boundaries, I would spend the majority of my time supporting, boosting, and mentoring others. YES!! I LOVE that work…after all, we are all in business of being in service to others. However, as the adage goes: I have to put my oxygen mask on first. So….setting boundaries is key – and it starts with creating a schedule for me to frame my week.
Tip 5: Get out of your comfort zone. My momma used to say: ‘stretch and grow’. We grow the most when we get out of our comfort zone – period. So, how do we do that? Well….every single day I try to do at least ONE thing that puts me in a ‘wobbly’ position. And, if I need a boost to ‘go there’, I embrace Mel Robbins tip of counting back 5-4-3-2-1 and then I PLUNGE forward. Works every single time. Make the ‘hard call’. Have the ‘difficult conversation’. Go the class which tests your limits.
Tip 6: Listen to your biorhythms and shake up your day. I am best in the early morning (5am-8am). Most folks are not ‘available’ that early – so I try to get my work done during that time. Many of my clients want to meet in the afternoon when I am often in a lull. So, I need to shake it up – so that my energies are up and I can be fully present for my clients. So, what I try to do every day at lunch time is to MOVE. I love to take a yoga class during the lunch hour….and if that is not possible, I will walk Lulu for a quick 15-20 minutes. It gets my blood moving and interrupts the routine.
Tip 7: Run Your Race. This life is YOUR life. It is not anyone else’s. So – if you are not thrilled with what you are doing….change it. If you want to pursue another objective….do it. If you are not where you want to be….declare where you want to be and move forward. Choose. Decide. Take Action. Comparing ourselves with others can be paralyzing. We need to ask ourselves – are we INTENTIONAL with how we spend our time? Do we lean in and go where it can be scary? Am I energized when I am ‘working’ or am I ‘slogging through’? At the end of our lives….we will answer to no one but ourselves AND our Higher Power…..what do you want your ‘answer’ to be?
Net: we own our days. We own our lives. How do we want to contribute? Whatever your answers are (and yes, they can and do change over the course of our lives)…..embrace them.
My best,
Kristin
3 things I can help you with right now:
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- Need a new perspective or ‘jolt’ to your thinking – go to kristinkaufman.com to learn more about about my books, workshops, or where to find me online. It is ALL there…..