Today I want to write about consistency.
Consistency is my biggest struggle.
I know HOW to do the things that need to be done to reach my goals... I know how to eat right (which I take for granted...that wasn't always the case!), I know that working out makes me feel stronger and healthier and happier, I know that I am more productive on days that I do my hair....which may not make sense to everyone, but it does for me! If I FEEL GOOD about how I am presenting myself...I am more ON IT all day! I know HOW to save money...I know HOW to make my husband feel like a million bucks. I know WHY I love helping people and HOW that love can move my business forward.
The only thing stopping me? CONSISTENCY.
Sometimes I just get distracted. I space out...move on to something else with the intention of coming back...I get called away. I just had to stop myself from checking my phone when I heard the little sound for email go off....I'm devoting this time, right now, to write this blog for you, and I'm still struggling to stay on task.
Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew. I have the best intentions most of the time, but I struggle to say no. Or think through whether or not really, truly have the time to follow through on what I am committing to.
Sometimes I'm just plain lazy. There I said it! Sometimes spending a few extra minutes in the morning with Matt Lauer is more important than doing my hair. When I joke that I dont brush my hair half the time....I'm not joking! I really don't. I throw it in a pony tail. I feel like a hot mess the rest of the day, and I am not as productive as I would have been if I felt like I had my life together, hair and all!
I mean I could honestly go on about all of the reasons why my life lacks consistency and follow through. I really could. Can you relate?! Please....please someone tell me you can relate!
So I am working really hard on ways to improve the consistency in my life. If Im more consistent my life will be less chaotic. I will be happier. My husband will be happier. My kids will be happier. Ill be a better mom! Ill be a better motivator. A better coach. A better friend. I'd just be BETTER.
The first thing Ive implemented is setting a timer for specific tasks. I do a power hour for my business and in my home, where I focus on 4 specific activities, for 15 minutes each, over the course of an hour. I unplug during this time and just do the task ahead of me, nothing else for 15 minutes. When the timer is up, I wrap up whatever I am doing at that very second, and move on.
For bigger activities, things that I know, realistically, will take longer than 15 minutes and will require my undivided attention without an interruption, Ill set a longer timer. For example...if I am doing a Power Hour in my house, and spending 15 minutes in the kitchen, then 15 in the living Room, 15 in the Bathroom and 15 in the Bedroom....I can move from task to task and pick up where I left off once I return. Writing this Blog post however really requires that I stay focused, for the entire time that Im working on this or else I will lose my train of thought. So I set a timer for 30 minutes, to keep myself in check with time. If the time goes off and I need more time...I'll give myself more time, but Ill be aware of how long the task is taking.
Does that make sense?
The second thing Ive implemented is getting away from keep track of everything going on in my life...in my phone! Technology is a wonderful thing, but I like the feeling of making a list. Seeing a calendar and WHAT I have written in on each day and not just a little Dot letting me know there is something I should remember to do on that particular day.
So I invested in a "Life Planner" for myself. It's a good old fashioned calendar, with monthly and weekly pages, and plenty of room to write. It's pretty...and Im attracted to pretty things. It's personalized...and I like seeing my family's names on our family planner...and it's functional! I like writing out my to do list and then crossing off what Ive done. I like seeing my family calendar and knowing who needs to be where, when.
If you want to check out a life planner for yourself, I ordered mine at www.erincondren.com and there are plenty of options!
The third and biggest thing I have implemented...but of course need to be consistent about...is accountability! I run accountability groups for my challengers and keep them accountable for their health and fitness goals. But I need accountability for not just health and fitness goals...but personal and professional goals too! I have a Success Partner for my business now, and I am spending a lot of time on personal development trying to find a way I can keep myself accountable with my personal and professional goals...and help others do this same. Because I enjoy giving others that satisfaction and it keeps me on track too.
So what about you?
What do you struggle to stay consistent with? What could you use more accountability with? What would it mean to you and your life if you got a better handle on your responsibilities and your time?
Any feedback you could provide would be awesome. It's always nice to know Im not the only hot mess running around ;) And it might give me some insite into what I can do to help you or others like you to not feel so overwhelmed! Comment below or shoot me an email.
Thank you!!!! xo- Meghann
