“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”~Mike Murdock
We all have daily habits and rituals that are as much a part of who we are as breathing. You may have a morning routine or a nighttime ritual that you go through to get ready for the day or to bring closure to the day. Sometimes these habits can become so ingrained that you don’t even realize how important they are to you. They just become a part of daily life. Every once in awhile though, something happens to prevent you from practicing your routine and you become very conscious of it. Recently our coffeemaker stopped working and for about a week, (while I tried to find time to go to the store and buy a new one) I did not hear the whirr of grinding coffee beans, smell the aroma of coffee brewing, and have a freshly-brewed cup in the morning. I really missed that!
Daily habits and actions also play a big part in helping you to get things accomplished and to start or maintain forward momentum. For instance, many time management experts talk about the need to develop good daily habits around handling paperwork such as mail, filing, etc. I have reduced clutter in my office by taking a few minutes each day to sort through new mail and put each piece in the appropriate place. At the end of the week, my bills are all together in the bill slot, catalogs and other junk mail are in the recycling bin, and my dining room table can actually be used for meals now.
The most important daily habits are those that you have neglected over time and that give you energy, happiness, and nourishment. Often, when work piles up and daily pressures mount you set aside the things that give you peace and joy just when you need them most. By introducing those self-nurturing habits back into your life — whether it’s a bath by candlelight, a brisk walk after dinner, or dancing to your favorite music – you just might find that energy and enthusiasm that seems to be slipping away.
What is one thing that you love to do that you have taken out of your daily routine? What would it do for you to start taking that action each day? Write down all of the things that you enjoy doing and that make you feel alive. Pick one of those things and commit to giving it to yourself in some way each day.
If you enjoyed this post, you can read more like it in our book, The Power of Thoughtful Leadership: 101 Minutes To Being the Leader You Want To Be, available on Amazon.
For help in getting back to what you love doing, contact Robyn at rmcleod@chatsworthconsulting.com.
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