What sparks change in your life? It’s a question that companies make billions out of each year, particularly as the world heads into the annual end-of-year festivity cycle. I’ve often pondered this question and definitely don’t have all the answers, but lately I’ve been thinking about it more and more and recently had an epiphany that I want to share with you now. I’ve been having trouble sleeping over the past few months and it’s gotten to the point where I wake up every morning feeling like a truck has hit me. I used to work early in the morning and late at night to fit around family life but lately I’ve struggled to get anything done past 8pm. The other problem with not sleeping is that it’s really easy to pack on weight. Your metabolism is out of whack and you are too tired to go for that run or even take the dog for a walk. It becomes a vicious cycle. I used to do Zumba four days a week. Now I only manage one class a week, and lately I’ve been half a sleep or out of breath as I struggle to keep up with my super fit instructor. It’s frustrating to watch what you eat, avoid sugar, wheat and dairy only to find that it doesn’t make a difference. I’ve gained 5 kilos in the past 2 months. With every kilo I’ve gained, I’ve felt a sense of gloom at how much effort it’s going to take to shift it. I don’t want to be a downer and leave you feeling depressed about indulging over the holiday season, or make you feel like the changes you do make aren’t going to pay off, but I do want to share something that I’ve learned recently about achieving goals and creating change.
Change Something
Recently I interviewed internet business guru James Schramko on my podcast and something he said stuck with me. He said “If you want tomorrow to be different, change something.” Note he didn’t say “change everything.” Much of the hype around weight loss, health, nutrition and business ownership focuses on changing everything. You are told to make the leap, dive in, take a chance and go for your dreams. All of these are great, but if life gets in the way and you are going for the fences, changing everything can create an all or nothing paradigm that can actually do you more harm than good. A few weeks ago, I changed something. I went to do a sleep test. They wired me up and monitored me overnight. Being a bit triggered by medical poking and prodding, it was way, way out of my comfort zone but I persevered because I knew something had to change for me to get my life back. The results finally came in and my Doctor sat me down and said I needed to lose 30 kilos and that that would help me sleep better. Ummm, excuse me? Just like that? I’ll click my fingers and make a wish shall I?
Make the Right Changes, One Step at a Time
The thing is, making any change can be good but if you want a specific result, you also have to make the right changes. For me, the first step in getting my weight back on track is to get a fancy contraption to help me sleep better at night. I will look like a Dalek, but who cares right? Getting better sleep will help me reclaim some energy to walk the dog and go to the gym. It will also help me regulate my metabolism. Then there’s the problem of breaking established habits.
You Can Kick Unhelpful Habits
Habits can seem hard to kick. It’s like our brain is hardwired to follow the same patterns everyday. How many times have you woken up in the morning, made a coffee and then thought “I really should make a green smoothie?” I’ll confess, that’s been my pattern for a long time now. The problem with habits is that they can be great for us if they’re helpful, but they can also keep us trapped. To break a habit, neuroscience research suggests making small, subtle changes to your responses so that you react differently to triggers in your life. I see a bit of a theme here. Losing 30 kilos may seem like a daunting prospect but my life, health and even my business success depends on it. However, it’s not going to happen overnight. Small, incremental changes that will help me inch toward that goal and I’m putting it out there here to keep me accountable.
The Real Secret to Your Success
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed by the goals you’ve set yourself and a bit over it at this time of year, I want to encourage you to plaster these words on your fridge, bathroom mirror and computer! “If you want tomorrow to be different, change something.” Small changes are achievable and can lead to new habits, new thinking and a better life and business. That really is the secret to success, but it has to come from you. Nobody can make you change your ways. It has to come from within. All the diet, exercise, affirmations and coaching in the world won’t work unless you are driven by an overarching and internalised “why”, not in the long run anyway. Once you do make a change, you’ll be amazed at how good that will make you feel. What are you going to change today? How are you going to create a different tomorrow? Why not change something and see what happens? Have a wonderful holiday season!
