At about this time every year, I find myself talking to countless women who have pushed their wellbeing down the priority list over the past few months. Weighed down by the unrealistic expectation that they’ll effortlessly glide through the holiday season.
The reality is that the ebb and flow of our routines is a totally normal part of our busy lives. Summer really is hard and tests us to the limit. But what I’ve learned over the years is that it is possible to break this cycle and control how much your habits flex, even when the pressure ramps up. And September is the perfect time get started.
So how do you reset your routine when your habits have slipped?
Transforming Your Lifestyle
The lifestyle change element of the It’s So Simple programme is probably the most important part – but also often the most misunderstood. Because when I talk about lifestyle transformation, I don’t mean creating a perfect lifestyle every day. I don’t even mean creating a perfect lifestyle on the good days. What I mean is creating a resilient lifestyle that flexes with the different challenges you face. A lifestyle that you can wear comfortably, that supports you and lifts you up whatever comes your way.
When you speak to an It’s So Simple client (and we’re always happy to intro you to a client if you want to get an unbiased view their programme experience) I guarantee they’ll talk about how this lifestyle transformation feels before they talk about any physical changes. Lifestyle transformations change lives, the physical changes are happy passengers. And there’s no miracle drug or fad diet that can transform your lifestyle – this change is down to you and your action.
So if you’re feeling that glimmer of motivation and inner steel to reset after a few months off, how do you get started and set up for success? Here’s my cheat sheet…
Make A Choice
This might sound obvious. But it’s vital. I can’t bring the first bit of motivation, it’s a non-negotiable that always has to come from you. What I can do is turn your motivation into actions then habits.
So, once you have that motivation, you need to change it to a choice with action. When you wake up thinking, “I’m fed up feeling like this, I want to feel better….” challenge yourself to add a choice and an action…. “…so today I CHOOSE to start my positive habits and I’M GOING TO go for power walk for 30 minutes.”
It’s sounds simple. But ultimately, it comes down to a choice and action, and you start the process with just one choice.
Start Small
When you’ve made your choice and set your action, it can be tempting to change everything all at once. Rip the plaster off quickly and dive into exercise, nutrition, sleep, hydration, supplements, self-care….
My advice is to resist the temptation. Nothing kills your motivation like not delivering on your choices when you’re starting out. Instead, try layering positive habits up, adding a little more each day.
Day 1…go for a power walk
Day 2…add in a healthy breakfast
Day 3….nail a workout at home
Day 4…skip the Thursday night wine
This is what the process of lifestyle change looks like. Start with an achievable action, get it done, celebrate and then add more in.
If you need a little inspiration to get started, try this simple, protein-packed, sticky beef rice recipe for a healthy weeknight September supper.
The Power of Words
You’ve made a choice and decided the actions you’re going to take. Reinforce your choices by writing them down – ideally on paper. Once you’ve written it down, make sure you mark off each action you complete. Take pride in your streak and fight for it like crazy.
Accountability Wins
If you think writing down your plan in words is powerful, see what happens when you also make yourself accountable to others. This was without doubt the biggest part of my transformation.
I committed to myself AND to others. I told them what my plan was and I told them when I achieved it everyday. I know I bored them senseless but I didn’t care. I was on a mission and they were going to play a key role in helping me, even if they didn’t know it.
It’s why accountability sits at the heart of the It’s So Simple programme. My coaches and I are your biggest cheerleaders her to drive you to achieve more than you ever thought possible. You don’t need to go through the process alone like I did.
Change Your Tune
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely to have achieved loads of amazing things in your life. Use your successes as proof to silence your inner voice that talks your efforts down. So, what if you’ve tried to kickstart previously and haven’t managed to make it stick? You’re capable of truly amazing things.
Change won’t always be easy, but it really can be simple. Once you see how good change feels, it becomes infectious. Positivity flows into every part of your life and I promise you that you’ll glow. So, here’s the deal: you bring the initial motivation, and I’ll show you how to turn it into change that lasts. Who’s in?
If you’re still feeling a little unsure about how you can turn your motivation into action, why not book in your breakthrough call with one of my coaches? They’re completely free this month and will arm you with the practical steps to get you back on track.
