There’s nothing like the impulse of new beginnings. They’re loaded with anticipation, excitement and possibilities. Even though it feels like we're still in "stop-start"mode with isolation and everything seems so unpredictable these days, what can you do to give your post-pandemic life the impulse of a new beginning? Make sure you take note of what you want to do differently and start taking action, one step at a time.
No doubt that all the disruptions to your routine, the additional stress of working from home while entertaining your kids or home-schooling, or perhaps the opportunity to slow down for a little while, have provided some juicy insights and big realisations. No matter what your experience was during this time, what lessons have you learned from it?
Here’s an exercise to help you consolidate your learnings. It’s called “Stop. Start. Continue.”
First, write down all the things you want to STOP doing. Maybe you realised that your stress levels decreased during that time of isolation. What were you NOT doing that made this possible? Make a note of the things that don’t serve you, that sap you of your energy, that keep getting in the way of your happiness. Hint, hint: multitasking is a great one to add on a STOP list!
Then, write down the things you want to START doing. What’s going to help you feel at your best, mentally, emotionally, physically? You may feel called to start having a more nourishing morning routine for example, so you can give the right impulse to your day.
And finally, write down what you want to CONTINUE doing. What have you done differently during this time that you really want to keep doing more of? What’s working for you that you want to build on? Maybe you found a way to be more organised and want to keep this system in place. How can you make this happen?
If what you’ve come up with feels overwhelming, start small and work your way down the list slowly. Pick only one thing to stop, one thing to start and one thing to continue. Stick with those three things for a little while, adjust them if you need to and once you feel comfortable to move on, pick something else to work with on your list. You’re aiming for progress, not perfection.
If you need support clarifying what each of these steps look like for you or if you’re looking for someone to keep you accountable, please reach out. I’d love to help. You can book a session with me HERE.
Here's to new beginnings!
Author: Elise Clement. Elise is a holistic psychotherapist, certified life coach and matrescence specialist. You can find out more about Elise and her work HERE.