We are inundated with a million choices, and have so many tools at our fingertips these days it's almost too much. It's rare to just pick up the phone as ask a question, we would rather look it up on the internet. When I have a question about my business or my twins, I often times go to online forums. Last week we talked about making a strategic health plan to give you the steps to move forward to reach your goals. But what if you are having a hard time just deciding what to do first? Do you start with diet, fitness, mindset?? It's all important. Rather than getting caught up in the details, it is often best to sit quietly and ask yourself what your body needs now. No should's, no guilt, simply "what does my body need now to help me feel more calm, confident, and in control?"
Once you have let yourself listen, it's time to get some information and then start the decision making process. A wise person once told me to seek out 2-3 people in my life that I can reach out to at a moments notice to get advice from when making a decision. They aren't making the decisions for us, they are simply there to remind us of the why behind the decision, help give us experience gleaned from their own lives, and to help us weigh out the options in black and white. A third party beyond our heart and mind can often times make a world of difference! That's where a caring trainer or health coach can really help.
Once you have reached out to a reliable and trustworthy sage, and you have narrowed down your options to exactly what you want to do, there is a simple three step process:
1) Put your decision in writing in clear and descriptive terms. For instance, if you say I am going to go to the gym on Tuesday and Thursday morning, narrow it down even more to what time, what you do to prepare yourself to get there, and what you will do once you get there!
2) Put a date on it. It is super easy to say, I am going to clean out the car....and then it keeps getting put off (and please do not look at mine!). When you put a date to something it creates a deadline, and the sense of urgency becomes much more palpable.
3) Go public. This is where the conversation and conversion begins. When we talk about what we are going to do we have to both get excited about it, defend it, or wiggle our way through it until we become more comfortable with our intentions. In the talking we convert our thoughts into words which then move us into action. Talk with as many people as you can, post it on facebook, or join a like-minded community.
We love to support people in their decision making process. Not only do we do this on a daily basis in our coaching, but we also offer quarterly Nutrition and Lifestyle Programs to give you the nudge to the three steps above with a community of people who are doing it with you! Challenging yourself is tough, but it is much better when you have some buddies who can support you through it! Check out our upcoming 21 Day Wellness Reboot and Detox for more information on getting involved with a tribe of life-changers! We start May 4th, 2013!
When I say "strategic" things like accounting, business development, or college planning come to mind. What doesn't come to mind is when I will work out, what I will do, and for how long will I commit to the workout. Still, most of us plan our vacations better than we plan the day to day things that could have more meaning and add more fun to our daily existence. Too often we drudge our way from one to do item to the next without stepping back and really thinking about what will make our lives more exciting and meaningful. We regress into a state of just getting by and letting life happen. Unfortunately, entropy will only ensure that if we allow ourselves to constantly go with the flow, our health may just flow right out the window.
Never in my life have I had to engage in so much planning to get anything done. That includes my workouts, or even just a quick stroll with my 4 month old twins. Last Friday I had the liberty of rejoining the morning