Change is coming...or is it?
Is it still ok to say Happy New Year? I reckon I can just about get away with it, given that this is my first blog of 2019! So, Happy New Year! I hope you've had a peaceful start to the year? If not, please treat yourself gently.
Change is coming…
I was fortunate to be able to switch off completely over the Christmas break, creating space in my brain for all sorts of new ideas and insights that I’m itching to share with you. But, instead of rushing to make them happen, I chose to honour my need for a break. Were you able to resist the urge to work on your business over Christmas? It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it!
Is change afoot for you too?
I know it’s not for everyone and that’s totally ok, but I do enjoy a spot of reflection and introspection at this time of year. On 1st January I wrote a list of behaviours, beliefs and habits that I want to drop this year, and a list of those I want to cultivate. Did you do something similar? If so, how’s that working out for you so far?
If you’re struggling to stick to the changes you committed to, these two questions might be a good place to start:
Are the changes you committed to right for YOU?
Are they aligned with your values, or are they things you feel you should be doing? If you’re finding it hard to stay motivated, it’s always worth checking in to see if you have a strong enough reason to follow through. If you don’t, there’s absolutely no shame in letting it go.
Are the changes you committed to front and centre of your mind now the novelty of January 1st has worn off?
Old habits are hard to shift and new ones require effort to establish. That’s why regularly connecting with your goals is so powerful, preventing you from reverting to old patterns or – and I’m terrible for this - completely forgetting about them!
What that regular connection looks like will be different for everyone. I use a habit tracker which helps me to a) remember what I’m committing to and b) keep an eye on how I’m doing. My tracker is a simple table that fits inside an A5 notebook. If you want gorgeous design, check out Pinterest for loads of inspiration (just try not to get lost down the beautifuul-things-rabbit-hole)!
If January hasn’t quite got off to the start you’d hoped for, don’t despair! Spend a little time checking in with your motivation, experiment with ways to regularly connect with your intentions and see if that helps get you back on track. Let me know how it goes!