Bookends With Benefits

"Livin the dream", "just another day in paradise", "rolling with the punches", "or "I'm surviving!" are common (sarcastic) answers we give when asked to describe our current life situation. It's like we're telling people (and affirming to ourselves) that every day is the same as the last...but life isn't getting any better.

How do we move away from this fixed, (unproductive) mindset?

Write this down & keep it somewhere you'll read it daily:

Complacency leads to complaining, yet challenge leads to evolution, and consistency leads to improvement.

Commitment to challenge creates an amazing life.

Imagine setting yourself up for total success, starting and ending your day in ways that improve your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Good news...YOU CAN!

It begins with your daily bookends. I'll help you get started.

What are "bookends"?

This is a term I use with my clients referring to their morning and evening "routines".

For the most part we have more control over what we do / use that time for than we do over the middle of our day, the majority of which is time for work, to-do's or school.

What you DO in your "bookends" is up to you BUT how they make you FEEL is most important.

Most people want to feel:

*Inspired & motivated

*Strong & healthy

*Energized & excited

*Organized & prepared

*Calm, peaceful, & at ease

*Purposeful & connected

Most people actually feel:

*Exhausted or lethargic

*Overwhelmed or anxious

*"Scatterbrained", rushed, or frantic

*Tired, bored, or apathetic

I don't know about you, but the second list of words sounds stressful...let alone experiencing them daily. If I had to choose , I think I'd rather experience the former (you're in luck because the choice is yours)!

But HOW?

The practices and habits you choose to begin and end your day with, are ultimately what allow the freedom to feel great. Doing things that cultivate those feelings you desire are crucial, and when compounded over time, create the overall feeling of your life.

In other words, you control how your life makes you feel, life doesn't control how you feel.

Start here:

1) Look at your current routines, practices, and habits both in the morning and evening. Self awareness and observation are always the first step to change!

2) Set an intention for how you want to feel to start and end your day. For example, "I want to feel energized, optimistic, and organized today!"

3) Determine what actions & habits HINDER that feeling. Things like staying up late, engaging in social media, and skipping your workout all take away from feeling your best!

4) Decide what habits you want to impart instead. A few you could choose from include:

*A morning walk or exercise to help you feel centered, revitalized, and energetic

*A short guided meditation to feel centered and calm before a busy day begins

*Drinking water before coffee to properly hydrate for energy and mental clarity

*Creating a to-do list for the next day before bed to ease your mind for great sleep

5) Lastly, think of ways to make them EASIER to apply. It's human nature to avoid difficult things (like building new habits), so setting yourself up for success is key!

Ways to create ease when implementing these habits include:

*Preparing for your morning habits the night before; laying out your workout clothes, filling up your water cup, preparing and packing healthy meals, setting up a meditation or prayer space, putting your walking shoes by the back door, writing out your schedule for the next day, etc.

*Stacking new habits on top of established habits; meditate while your coffee brews, walk while listening to your daily podcast, grabbing a pen and paper to journal in bed before turning out the light, no social media at dinner and after, etc.

* Create clear parameters; outline the exact time each day you will perform your practice as a part of your morning or evening routine and determine how long it will take you, anything you need to prepare prior to or do after it's complete, and a way to keep you accountable (goal tracking sheet, accountability partner or friend, or an end result "reward").

Then:

Once you have your bookends outlined, put them into place! See how supported and relaxed you feel, how much better your mood and energy levels are, and how smoothly your day unfolds.

I recommend "taking inventory" every few months or when any major life changes happen (changing schedule, or new daily requirements), observing what is working and what is not (based on how you feel), and creating a new plan based on the outline above.

Put some emphasis on your bookends watch your life improve!