Developing an action plan
One of my favourite books on making lifestyle changes is Take time for your life by Cheryl Richardson. Written quite some time ago, it remains, to my mind, one of the best life coaching books out there.
Cheryl Richardson invites us to take stock of all the drains on our energy: financial, emotional, spiritual, physical, clutter, etc. and helps us map out an actionable plan.
Another good book is Finding your own north star by Martha Beck.
Both of these authors invite us to reflect on our priorities and assess whether our daily decisions reflect what matters to us most.
So, where can you begin?
Who do you need in your corner? Do you have an accountability partner?
What obstacles do you anticipate?
If your goals don’t pan out at first, what is your plan to remain compassionate towards yourself and reassess your goals and adjust them?
I have always found it easier to focus on manageable changes in my life. I may not be able to pay off my mortgage in a year, but I can certainly commit to not buying lunch three days a week and put that money aside in a savings account.
It can also be helpful to create a support system with a few friends who share your goals and you can offer each other moral support when things get challenging. I know for a fact that I only get up to go to my 6am workout five times a week because I really enjoy my gym friends and we encourage each other to show up each day. If I don’t show up, I get a text that says “come tomorrow!” and so I do.
In conclusion, I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I do think that we can all make small realistic changes that can have a powerful cumulative impact on our physical and emotional wellbeing. The key is to decide where to begin and be prepared to make many course corrections along the way.
More resources: The Compassion Fatigue Workbook, TEND Resources.