Self Care Tip: Busting the Myth that Consistency is Boring

Some say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. Which means that the definition of sanity would read something like doing the same thing over and over and expecting the same result. If that’s true, it sure is good news!

Being consistent is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself. But, consistency gets a bad reputation sometimes. There’s a lot of myths out there about what it means to be consistent. Here’s just one:

Being consistent means being BORING

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that one. Routines? Boring! Doing the same thing over and over? BORING!

Let me ask you this…what’s boring about:

• Setting yourself up to be successful?
• Providing the optimal environment (both internal and external) to get what you want out of life?
• Giving yourself a safety net of knowing what to expect (which means LESS drama, LESS chaos, and MORE peace)?

I believe (from both my own personal experience and my experiences with my clients), that many of us grow up with drama all around us. We come to know it, become intimate with it, expect it, and then count on it like an old friend. Its allure is intoxicating. Because if we’re caught up in drama, we don’t have to focus on the other stuff going on in our lives, and then (gulp!) we don’t have to take responsibility when our lives aren’t going the way we want. But drama comes with a huge price – not knowing HOW to take good care of ourselves on all levels, or worse yet, not fully knowing that we DESERVE to take good care of ourselves.

When we grow up with drama, we learn to trust it. And that means anything that isn’t filled with drama seems BORING and awkward. It’s hard to be caught up in drama AND consistently making good choices about your self care at the same time. (I dare you to try!).

Here’s some GOOD choices for your own self care that you can do on a consistent basis that will help you reach your goals (no matter what they are):

• Go to bed at the same time each night
• Create a bedtime ritual for yourself (which can include things like a skin care regimen, dental hygiene, putting on scented body lotion, journaling your gratitudes for the day, etc.)
• Say something positive to yourself each morning when you wake up
• Eat breakfast every morning
• Say “no” when you really want to
• Ask for help when you really need it

Remember, sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone to get different results. So instead of expecting DIFFERENT results with the same action, try expecting the SAME results with the same action. But only if you’re ready to give up drama.

And for even more ideas on how to be a better you, please join me for my next monthly FREE Telseminar, “Consistency is Key: How Routines Can Boost Your Confidence.” Simply go to the REGISTRATION page at https://krylyn.com/free-teleseminars/consistency-is-key, and enter your name and email to get signed up. Even if you can’t attend the live call, you will get access to the recording of the call, but only if you register.

How to Reach Your Goals by Being Consistent

March is the beginning of Spring and RENEWAL. And the perfect time to renew your commitment to yourself and to any new goals you’ve set for the New Year. Sure it’s easy to get off track, and that’s exactly why it’s important to take a look at it now. Before it gets even more off track and you move to an attitude of “why bother now.”

One of the biggest reasons we get off track with our goals is because they seem so overwhelming. And when life gets messy (with all the responsibilities, obligations, and endless things to do), it’s challenging not only to take on something new, but to keep it going. But when you give up on a goal, it can feel like giving up on yourself, yet again. Which can lead to further feelings of frustration.

So how do you get off the spinning wheel of overwhelm, frustration, and giving up on your goals? The answer is CONSISTENCY.

When we aren’t consistent in our efforts, we don’t get consistent results. It’s that simple. So getting to your goals requires consistent effort. It’s often the small steps we take that make the biggest difference. But when we get overwhelmed and side-tracked with all the details of our lives, it’s easy to succumb to the pressure and go back to what we know, even if what we know isn’t good for us.

Think back to when you made your New Year’s goals (or any recent goals for that matter). You probably had some excitement around the goal as you looked into the future at the result of reaching that goal. You also probably had an intention of reaching that goal that fueled your motivation and your energy to be able to work toward the goal. But what happened a few days or weeks later? Did your enthusiasm waver or did your intention get replaced with negative thoughts and inaction?

Here’s some tips for bringing a little more consistency to your goals (and life):

1. Get clear on your intention. Make sure your actions consistently are aligned with your goal. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, you want to eat healthy and exercise more often than not. I’m not talking being 100% perfect all the time…that’s impossible. I’m talking about making good choices more often than poor choices. Keep your intention close to you, in the form of a picture or a statement, and post it where you can see it several times each day.
2. Do what works. First, you have to know what works. Find someone else who has already reached the goal you’re aiming for and ask for some pointers. You can also find information on the internet, at the library, etc. But resist the urge to quit something just because you don’t know HOW to do it. There’s always ways to find out HOW to do something in this information age.
3. Be gentle with yourself. I cannot emphasize this point enough. We all need some incentive when we’re making changes. Reward your successes and acknowledge your accomplishments. Keep positive thoughts and energy surrounding you as you make changes. If you slip up, forgive yourself and move on.

And to learn even more of the benefits of being consistent, please join me for my next monthly FREE Telseminar, “Consistency is Key: How Routines Can Boost Your Confidence.” Simply go to the REGISTRATION page at https://krylyn.com/dev/free-teleseminars/consistency-is-key, and enter your name and email to get signed up. Even if you can’t attend the live call, you will get access to the recording of the call, but only if you register.

From Wishful Thinking to DONE: How to Accomplish Those New Year’s Resolutions

Buckle your seatbelts, cause it’s that time of year…again. Time for a fresh start. A clean slate. A new beginning. It’s January 1^st.  It’s the time of making goals, reviewing where we are compared to where we were, and exploring where we want to go from here. Happy (Flippin’) New Year!

For some of us, the new year is a joyous celebration of all the possibilities of what lies ahead. There’s excitement and anticipation and a resolve to make some positive changes in our lives. We’ve got our resolution lists ready, the best of intentions, and the energy of possibility looming in the air.

But for others, it’s a time of mixed emotions, regrets of goals not realized, and a self-defeating attitude of “it didn’t work before so why try again.” We may wallow in promises made to ourselves and broken. You may know (either from personal experience or from what you’ve heard) that most New Year’s resolutions fizzle out by the end of January? That’s a lot of hopes, goals, and dreams being cast aside in a short period of time. And for what? Lack of wanting? Probably not.

You’ve probably heard the old saying “best of intentions.” We all have them. But stuff, (like life) just gets in the way. And we can find ourselves right back where we started. But we must keep in mind that wanting something isn’t enough to make it happen. True and lasting change requires not only a decision on our part to WANT a change but also some action to BRING ABOUT a change.

What change are you WANTING for the new year? Many resolutions involve:

• Better Health (lose weight, eat better, exercise regularly, manage stress, etc.)
• Better Relationships (find a partner, lose a partner, better communication, more time with friends and family, etc.)
• Better Career/Education/Finances (go back to school, make more money, pay off debt, get a better job, etc.)

But you must also find a way to BRING ABOUT the changes you are wanting. Because if you don’t do anything to get what you want, how do you expect to get it? It’s like planning a road trip without a map. You may know where you want to go but you don’t have a clear plan on how to get there.

Here’s some suggestion for how you can take your intentions and resolutions from wishful thinking to DONE:

• Write It Down. It’s one thing to think about what you want, and another thing entirely to write it down. Putting what you want in writing makes it more real. Think of it as a declaration and announcement to yourself and the world of your intention. Then write out the steps of HOW you will reach each goal and WHEN. Remember to set realistic goals for yourself.
• Get Visual. There’s tremendous power in pictures. Just think about TV and movies and you can easily see how getting the full story without pictures can be a challenge. Create a vision board or collage of what you want. Include pictures, drawings, and any other visual representation of your goal. Then post it where you can see it every day.
• Enlist Some Support. Achieving goals is easier with some support. Think about your own accomplishments and the support you received along the way. Support may look different for different people or different circumstances. Support can be a friend lending an ear (or shoulder to cry on) as you vent your fears, failures, and stumbling blocks. Or support can be someone lending you something you need to achieve your goal. Once you have a clear idea of your goals, figure out what kind of support you need to reach those goals, then go find it.