Overwhelmed? Find your Focus.
Eat right. Log your steps. Hit the gym.
Sleep at least 8 hours per night. Engage in play. Hangout with the people you love. Rock your job. Save for retirement. Live in the moment. Plan ahead. Live stress free. Care for yourself. Care for others. Give back. Practice your faith. Living “a healthy life” can be overwhelming when we look at all of the pieces at once that come in to play.
It can seem nearly impossible to fit it all in – and it can ultimately create the stress it is meant to keep at bay. The question is where do we start. How do we find the combination that works for us? We experiment with what works for us!
The experiment:
Create a list of things you value.
Narrow the list down to three you would like to focus on first.
Consider how those values align with the activities you are prioritizing on a daily and weekly basis. Take your time for this piece. You might even want to track your activities for the next week to have a more accurate representation.
After reviewing the list, evaluate where the gaps are.
Then, create two experiments surrounding the values and healthy habits above you feel are missing from your “priority schedule” list? Think small to begin. For example, if you would like to start a prayer or meditation practice, consider a two-five minute every other day practice instead of twenty minutes seven days a week. Baby steps will help you win the long-term race!
Once your experiments are built, set a time frame to test the experiment.
Assign a metric to evaluate how successful it is at meeting the desired priority focus. If it is successful, carry on. If it does not quite feel right or is not working for you. Consider a new experiment and offer yourself grace for trying something and learning from it!
Re-evaluate your values and priorities every 2-3 months.
Here are a few examples from my life -
First example:
Value = Love and self-care (bonus this met two values!)
Priorities = Spending time with friends and family, being active
Experiment = Meet my friend three days per week to run in the morning
Measuring success = We’ve been logging miles and filling our souls through conversation for eight years now. Sometimes we meet as many as five days per week!
Re-evaluate = Our schedules are still connecting and we’re both appreciating the benefits of the activity and accountability.
Second example:
Value = Helping people
Priority = Starting a business that is focused on helping people.
Experiment = Wake up at 4:15 a.m. and go to bed at 10:00 p.m. to launch the business.
Measuring success = Website and social media launched, client number increasing
Re-evaluate = I found this schedule conflicted too much with my self-care value so went back to the drawing board.
New Experiment = Extend personal deadlines. I created a calendar to keep me honest with progress, but by adjusting deadlines was able to have a good night’s rest and still make progress.
There is no one way to start YOUR health journey. We all travel different paths. We’re all fueled by different experiences and practices of self-care. The most important pieces are to establish your values, your passions, and your vision for your future. Then slowly build small experiments off of that foundation!
YOU can do this! I encourage you to embrace the journey. Celebrate learning from challenges just as you celebrate successes. Each are integral pieces of growth.
If you would like to partner with someone as you reflect on your values and vision, I would be honored to partner with you! Send me an email or give me a call (812-217-7078) and we will find a time to meet!