How to Keep Momentum, Even During Times of Challenge
Sharing a little light bulb moment that I had last week, when I was pulling on some of the strategies I have been using to keep momentum towards my goals, during this very strange and challenging time.
There are 5 Strategies that I have developed through years of experience, paired with learning and working with my own coach, that have begun to be second nature. Since I have been using many, without thinking about them…..I hadn’t considered sharing with you all. (Insert forehead smack emoji here!). That was until I had had a particularly tough day last week and began to dig in to some of these, moving through some challenges successfully. That was the moment that I thought “Why am I not sharing this?!?!!” (hence the forehead smack emoji!).
So, today’s Monday Morning Coaching Kick-start at 8:15am dug into all of these strategies. We will chat again tonight at 8:15pm. Join the notification list for zoom access information through the pop-up window on the website or the bar at the bottom of the page.
And I’d like to share some highlights of these strategies here.
Specifically, I encourage you to:
Recognize that the things you are going through are hard. Don’t compare them to other’s struggles. Your emotions and struggles are as valid as anyone else’s.
Second, sometimes we have really tough moments in which we lose control. We cry. We’re sad. We feel defeated. Totally, 100% ok…..let yourself feel those emotions, and have some rest.
And this is important……now move on to:
1) Find opportunities for pockets of time to get things done. Crisis and hard times can feel “all or nothing”. Like it’s one thing or the other. But that’s not true. Even when times are hectic, there are times of quiet to get things done. Find those. Be productive in those windows.
2) Ask yourself: “where am I “leaking” time?” Be honest with yourself; take inventory of how you’re spending your time. If you’re dealing with crisis in your personal life and still trying to run a business, you do not have time to binge watch three seasons of a Netflix series. And consider the binge watch may be a coping strategy or an avoidance strategy because, understandably, you’re dealing with a personal crisis and would rather not feel that pain. BUT, is avoiding, or using an unhealthy coping strategy going to move you to a better place? No.
3) This is my favourite and has become a mantra for me the last while. This is mindset shift from trying to “fix” something that I can’t fix (which is very hard for many of us who are action takers, hence how important the mindset shift is). My current mantra is: “This is normal for now. Not forever, but for now. And what are you going to do about it?”
That is, this is your current reality and you need to figure out how to work within what is going on, again for now. Repeat after me: “this is not forever, but its for now, and what are you going to do about it?” Move towards action….that will help regain/continue momentum.
4) Find your support network. To whom will you turn when you are struggling? If its a medical issue, you connect with your doctor. A fitness goal, your personal trainer. A goal that you’re trying to achieve or a transition in your life you’re not sure how to navigate, your life coach.
5) Dig in to your self-care. Oh, come on…..if you know me at all, you knew that was coming! Your wellness must come first. If you’re unsure about this one, scroll back in the blog a bit and read the self-care article. Or head to the “get started” section and there’s a downloadable workshop there.
To clarify, I am not suggesting that you work yourself to the point of burnout and ignore the hard stuff. Quite the opposite. Lean into the hard stuff. Let yourself go through it. Reach out for help if you need it. Care for yourself in the process.
And then, life goes on right? So how will you keep moving forward along with the hard stuff?
You can do it. You’re worth it.
In kindness and in health,
Coach Deanna