• Do you want to become more assertive and successful in your work relationships?
• Do you want to feel healthier, get fitter, and feel more optimistic about your life?
• Are you ready to free yourself from procrastination, and start freeing up time to do the things that really matter to you?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, or want to make similar changes in your life, then you have come to the right place.
I'm Marien Perez, principal coach at Coach You Ltd. As a professional life success, and performance coach, I know that creating new habits and replacing the old is the key to making meaningful changes in your life.
It all starts with one change
It's true, one change as small as it may seem can be the catalyst to propel your life into a new direction.rnThink of some habits that you want to change. How would you feel if you started making these changes right now?
If you were to make simple life changes like biking to work instead of driving, tackling the bills head on - instead of letting them pile up and overwhelm you, or journaling every night for a ½ hour instead of watching TV…
Wouldn't you feel better?
And once you feel better you want to do more: you’ve given yourself momentum. Then it’s a case of keeping it going until you create a new habit.rnThen, when you stick to these new activities on a daily basis for 21 days, a new habit tends to replace the old one, and the power of your actions adds up, helping you make the changes you want in your life.
rn4 Simple steps to creating change
? Step 1: Define what you wantrnStart by defining the goals and the habits you want to establish. rnMake these goals as specific and measurable as possible. Rather than a generalized “being more assertive”, write down exactly what you will do, for example, “I’ll ask for what I want once a day”, or “I'll journal every night for 10 minutes”.
? Step 2: CommitrnWrite your goal down. This works because by declaring your goal to a piece of paper, you are making a stronger commitment. And your commitment will be even stronger if you share it with others. rnCommit to the change you want to make, and report regularly on your progress. This is a huge step toward making the habit a success.
? Step 3: Start smallrnStart your new habit in small increments to ensure success. It’s easy to become over-enthusiastic about the change we want to make. The problem is that when you start like this, you soon run out of steam. rnStart off slowly, with one or two habits. Don't overwhelm yourself. It’s more important to create momentum and confidence, then step up your efforts with time. By starting out doing less than you can actually handle, you build up energy and enthusiasm. This doesn’t just apply to habits, but to any changes you want to make in your life.
? Step 4: Be flexible and enjoy the processrnBe flexible. It’s OK to change your mind. In fact, it’s recommended. If you find making two new habits is too hard, go down to one. If two is too little step up to three. Make sure this doesn’t become a chore, if you keep enjoying, you’ll keep doing. rnThe steps might be simple, but they are not always easy. You might find yourself needing the extra support that a life coach like me can provide. If you find that to be the case, then please contact me, I'd love to speak with you about your goals and the direction you imagine for your life.
Sticking to your new daily habits
To keep you motivated and make your new habits stick, you can use a little psychology to keep moving towards your new path.
If you find yourself reaching for the keys instead of biking to work or reaching for the TV remote instead of your journal, ask yourself how you’ll feel in the long term if you do that. Wouldn't you feel better if you got into biking instead? How will you miss out if you don't change your habit? What are the consequences of not pursuing your new path? Is it worth it?
Sometimes what is difficult is not making the new habit, but getting rid of the old one. In order to replace the old habit, you want to associate pain with the habit you want to stop and pleasure with the new activity.
To stay motivated, give yourself a reward when you make the changes and follow the new habit that you want. This will motivate you to keep going. It is human nature to repeat what makes us feel good in the short term. Stick to your new habits and treat yourself by cooking your favourite dinner, watch the film you’ve been wanting to see or get yourself a bunch of flowers.
Envisage the negative consequences of your actions, and give yourself positive reinforcement for your new habits: your chances of success will increase exponentially.
The FREE Checklist Builder tool
To help you keep in control and stick to the changes you are making in your life, and as part of my success coaching program, you can download the Free Checklist Builder. This tool will help you analyse your progress and support you to reach your goals.
People that have been using this tool for years claim it has saved them time, making it easier for them to stick to their new habits and resolutions, as well as to keep track of their progress and keep themselves motivated.rnThe Free Checklist Builder will create a 21 day checklist for up to 8 items per day. All you need to get started is MS Excel to start tracking your changes.
rnYour journey begins today
Wherever you are in life, whatever you want to change, these tools will help. Goals are meant to be achieved. To start moving towards your goals today, and download my FREE Checklist Builder from
www.coach-you.co.uk
Then, if you are ready to take things to the next level by working with an experienced life coach, email me
marien.perez@coach-you.co.uk, or call me on 01865 751 432 to schedule a free introductory coaching session.
All that being said, tell me, what do you REALLY want for yourself?