“Stop getting distracted by things that have nothing to do with your dreams or goals.” – Unknown Humans need shortcuts to survive. Our brains create habits because we literally don’t have the capacity to focus on everything all the time. We only have a limited capacity for attention and focus every day. The more decisions and actions we can make automatic, the more mental energy we have left to direct to things that truly matter. Now more than ever, we’re constantly bombarded with information: news apps, social media, fitness trackers, weather updates, health metrics, and notifications about all these things. Add to that the input we get from the physical world (interactions with other people, our work, the physical spaces we spend time in), and it’s no wonder our brains rely on shortcuts to navigate it all. While these shortcuts serve you, always relying on them without reflection can lead to a life that's misaligned with your evolving values and goals. What’s important to you changes over time. If you live automatically, your lifestyle may not evolve with you. In my last few years of teaching, I was miserable. I felt stuck and stagnant. I wasn’t supported or growing in my job. My days were robotic: get up on the third alarm (yes, three alarms because I dreaded starting my day), eat the same breakfast, put on my "uniform" (jeans and one shirt I owned in multiple patterns), and head to school. I’d get there early, not because I needed to, but because it’s what I had always done. After work, I’d either go for a walk or, more often, land on the couch until bedtime, getting up only to reheat my meal-prepped dinner—the same one I’d eaten every night for years. Weekends weren’t much better. I’d often “rest,” which really meant hours in front of the TV (hate to break it to you but…that's not rest). I was in a rut, restless and bored, but I didn’t understand why. All I knew was I couldn’t stand it anymore. So, I blew it all up. Within eight months, I ended a serious relationship, moved and bought a house, quit my job, and started a business and master’s program in a new field, with the hope that these changes would fix how I felt. While the novelty shook things up, it was ultimately overwhelming and didn’t address the root cause of my dissatisfaction. Sure, I was ready to leave teaching and maybe had outgrown my little apartment and the relationship with my ex, but I probably didn't need to make all those huge changes at once. The real issue was the smaller habits and lifestyle choices I’d never questioned. I was still living the lifestyle I'd created five years earlier when I was in survival mode as a new teacher. Wearing the same clothes and eating the same meals simplified my life when I needed all my energy for teaching. But as I grew and gained experience, I no longer needed to expend so much energy at work and had more for myself, but I never used it for myself. Massive changes didn’t fix the foundational habits that no longer served me. So what could I have done differently? And what can you do if you’re itching in your life–feeling stuck, discontent, disconnected, meaningless, frustrated? How do you know when you’re stuck in habits that aren’t serving you? Start with mindfulness. Pay attention to how you feel and think about your life. Are you experiencing dis-ease in your job, relationships, home, and general lifestyle? These feelings are signs something needs to change. Then, redefine your values. Your values—beliefs about what’s most important to you—influence your actions, thoughts, and emotions. They evolve as you learn and grow, so reevaluate them periodically. Reflect on what matters to you right now. Checkout my free guide, Life in Alignment, A Practical Guide to Living Your Values, to help you unlock your core values and take the first steps toward designing an aligned life. Create or revisit your vision for optimal health and life. Based on your values, imagine the life you want. Assess how you’re currently living in relation to that vision. Make changes. Adjust your lifestyle to align more closely with your vision and values. Remember, this process is simple but not always easy. It’s the small, consistent actions—not the occasional big moves—that shape your life and how you feel about it. Living in alignment with your values brings fulfillment and purpose. When you’re out of alignment, you may feel lost, aimless, or unmoored. Are your actions today reflecting the life you want to create? If not, it’s time to pause, reflect, and realign. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, remember: it’s not about doing everything or being who others expect you to be. It’s about figuring out who you are and what you want, then taking intentional steps to build an aligned life. As a Well-Life Coach, the first thing I do with clients is help them define their values so they can build lifestyle systems that are aligned with the things that are most important to them in life. My coaching programs are designed to give you one-on-one support and accountability through a customized program to help you build healthful foundations in all areas of your health, from exercise and nutrition to community and emotional well-being. You learn and implement simple systems and habits to transform your health and life. If you're interested in exploring how we can work together to support you on your journey to a well life and living easefully, let's hop on a free 20-minute clarity call. On this call, we'll discuss your goals, your challenges, and whether or not Well-Life Coaching is the right support for you.
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AuthorHi! I'm Elaine and it is my joy to help purpose driven women find harmony between their desire to make a difference in the world and their need to nourish their body, mind, and spirit. Archives
January 2025
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