Hey Team,
Whether you are starting a new habit, expanding a previous habit, trying to change a habit that doesn’t serve you, or you have decided to wait before starting any of that, I’m wondering if you have taken any notes about your plan.
I‘m not suggesting that you write a thesis, I’m suggesting that you take a few minutes and write – on screen, on paper, or into a voice memo – about what you are up to fitness-wise or wellness-wise at the moment.
For example, if you are doing one of the myriad January yoga challenges, write a bit about why you want to do it, how you feel now and how you hope to feel later, what poses you like, what you enjoy about yoga, what challenges you.
If you are sticking with your existing program, write a bit about why that program serves you well, what you get out of it, what feels good about it.
If you are waiting to decide, changing a habit, adding a layer to something you are already doing, write a bit about that process, why it serves you, what feels good about it.
The purpose of this writing process is to help you be really clear on what you want. It’s about showing you that you. Are about yourself and what you’re doing, about showing that your choices have meaning and that they matter to you.
Oh, and by the way, if writing isn’t your thing, you can also just talk aloud to yourself or talk to a supportive friend. The goal is to create clarity for yourself, not to create a writing assignment for its own sake!
And even if you only have a vague idea that you might like to add something to your routine but you don’t know what it might be yet, writing about that will show you that you aren’t avoiding thinking about it, you are just following your own process and figuring things out.
Writing about all of this stuff can help you settle your mind about it and can help you commit to your decision – even if your decision is to decide later!
The process of adding new things to your life – even carefully planned incremental things – can be challenging.
And I’m hoping to help you be as kind to yourself as you can while you face the challenges inherent to the process.
Writing a few notes-to-self for clarity can be an important way to practice self-kindness and to create a reminder of why what you want matters.
But whether you write those notes down, say them aloud, give those ideas some thought, or do something else to encourage yourself, I hope you celebrate your efforts today – no matter what they are.
Here’s your gold star, Team!
