Creating a sustainable routine is one of the best things you can do if you want to make healthy living a habit.
Routines are reliable. Anything you can “set your clock to” is a support system to help you further your agenda. And if the agenda is to create healthy living habits a routine can make those often-daunting endeavors appealing, and possible.
The problem is that we want instant gratification. And while that can feel good sometimes, it is not a sustainable or effective way to grow.
The desire for instant gratification leaves you rushing! And that can be fatiguing.
You are in a rush to get things “done”. I see my clients do this.
I do this.
We all do this. And the reason usually has a fear attached. There are fears of being in the moment, digging deep, facing “ourselves”, and of the unknown including who you will become because of this new habit.
You rush to get to the finish line to lose weight, organize the mudroom, change your career, and find a loving partner. Somewhere deep inside you want to get quickly to the end because you’ve told yourself, or have been told, that the end is where all the magic happens. It’s where all the madness goes to die.
But the truth is that the magic is in the process, in the plan. The magic happens in between and on the way to the proverbial end {which I think isn’t an end. It is just a beginning again.}
Rushing forces you to focus on how things should turn out or what you think things should look like. You pay no attention to who you need to become or might become while taking your time and making changes. We rush, worry, and take on the whole, big, and sometimes scary project all at once instead of biting off a little at a time, relaxing into the flow, and trusting what it will all reveal.
It might take six weeks before you finally sort through all the boxes in the basement. It might take a year of working out before you realize how strong you have become. You might need three months of eating healthy before you feel the full effect in your body and mind.
Instead of rushing, choose to build a routine to support your endeavor.
A routine will help you move forward, however slowly. It is a message you send yourself that you are ready. You are willing to do what it takes to accomplish this “thing”. It’s a message that says despite the fears and the challenges, you are in!
It’s a beautiful message and a great way to create a life you love.
Focus on getting into a routine instead of rushing the process.
Here are three ways to create a sustainable routine to reach your goals.
1. Focus on the vision
Having a clear vision of what you see for your space or your life is the key to staying motivated. Period. When you can clearly articulate what you want – whether through a vision board, a journal entry, or a conversation with your partner – you can more deliberately take the steps to achieve it. And get back on track when things get tough. Be clear with yourself on what you want to accomplish. If your vision is clear, your goals will follow suit. And, importantly, a routine will be easier to adopt.
2. Break the project down into small chunks.
I call this part of building a routine eating an elephant one bite at a time. Most large goals have many steps. And those steps can’t be taken all at once if you wish to make palpable and effective change.
If you want to create a sustainable routine, you must start small.
If you want to change your diet start with a healthy breakfast or eliminating bread at lunch for one week.
Go to one yoga class or one gym workout a week.
Choose one box in the attic, one drawer in the kitchen, or one category of clothes to purge and let go.
In time the small bites start to feel easy to chew, and when they do you can add another bite. However, biting off more than you can chew will give you indigestion. And make it all feel unworthy of your effort. If you want to build a routine to reach a goal keep the tasks small and manageable so they are appealing.
3. Choose a time daily to do the work
Scheduling time to do the deliberate steps is the key to creating a routine. All in all what and when you schedule depends on the project and your preferences. For instance, if you want to get healthy by walking more throughout the week schedule when you will walk. Perhaps early morning works best around your already non-negotiable tasks. Maybe after work fits best.
Scheduling does two things: 1. it signals importance and highlights what you know you need or want to do. 2. It reminds you that you have time for this work.
Schedule anything you wish to do more of and that you know helps you reach the larger goals you have set. Schedule time to declutter, food shop, workout, or build a website for your new business. You can even schedule time for a date you are manifesting into reality.
Schedule it so you see it. When you see it you are more likely to do the task and thus build a routine.
You are the architect of your life. You have the power to choose how you wish to spend your time. And importantly you can choose how you view your ability to make necessary changes in your life. Don’t rush through in doing things that can have a profound effect on your well-being when they are taken in stride.
Focus on what you can do daily – morning, noon, and night – to move the needle forward toward your goals.
