It is 97 days until the C-word today. Yes, I’m not sure that I wanted to know this either! For many, September serves as a catalyst to making big changes as we realise that we need to finally start taking action to achieve a goal or do things differently. If nothing alters in the next three months, we will soon be in exactly the same place that we felt that we were a year ago.
Hence, an increase in enrolments on training courses (and coaching), starting a new hobby or interest, scheduling to see old friends and implementing new habits. In other words, movement and momentum towards objectives and outcomes increase dramatically at this time of year.
If you think that over the last few months you have gone off track, the new season represents the opportunity to get back into your routine. Whatever this may be that helps you to achieve brain-friendly peak performance every day, boost your confidence and feel like “I’ve got this!”
Now, this is where it is important to work with YOUR brain and not against it, or attempt to compete with another brain. I’ve had coaching clients come to me who have become very demoralised as they have tried to create lengthy, complex, new morning or evening routines with numerous steps, that take hours to complete. All towards a bid to feel like that they are a perfect human. Plus, night owls who try to turn themselves into larks with an aim to join the 5 am Club!
My view, determined by supporting real people and evidenced by neuroscience is that if you cannot remember what contributes to you feeling great daily and must execute a long list of multiple items, then for most people, this is far too complicated. You are likely to be setting yourself up to fail. This is then counter intuitive because you end up feeling bad. Very bad. You compare yourself unfavourably to whoever you got the idea from to add X, Y, Z into your day. You go into a downward, negative spiral in your thinking. You give up. You stop doing the very one to two things that make you feel epic!
It is not about achieving perfection. The goal here is to focus on what contributes to your personal effectiveness, what feels fun, gives you energy, creates joy and means that you share your resulting positivity and confidence with all of those around you.
As you’re a Brighter Thinker, you probably want to excel in all areas of your life (not just work). What I have discovered through coaching thousands of people around the world is that often people deny themselves doing the very thing that helps to make everything else go smoothly.
For example, highly creative individuals allow themselves to get bogged down in admin and managerial tasks (or roles) when what really lights their fire is the process of creating.
Small business owners who love variety get stuck working in the same place every day when what boosts their motivation is going to new venues and having a change of scene.
Directors and team leaders who have a high need and skills towards relatedness and social interaction yet hide away working remotely in their home office, depriving their team of benefiting from their extrovert energy too.
So, what’s ONE thing that you can start doing or reintroduce to your day or week that will make a massive difference to your happiness – and mojo?
If you feel that you require permission to “allow” yourself to do it, hey, permission is granted.
Let me know what you decide to add in that sparks joy.
Remember, Rachel, keep it simple.
Keep focused on what is FUN and ENERGISES you!