Have you ever wondered if making certain lifestyle changes could help you create your dream business?
Two of the most common reasons people don’t start a business are self-doubt and the fear of failure. Many articles highlight this, but you only need to look around at the people you know to see that this is true. I was no different.
But it’s human nature to try new activities, so why are so many people afraid to take this risk?
At the core is uncertainty. Something the world is feeling in abundance nowadays. And the more uncertain we feel, the more we want to hunker down in the safety of the known – and that’s normal.
And yet there are so many possibilities available to explore.
A few years ago, a lovely friend visited me in France and said, “You’re living the dream!” Or she may have said, “You’re living in a dream!” Either way, I agreed – life was going great!
But I wanted more. I wanted to become an expert in a broader range of skills and be more in control of my lifestyle and schedule.
So, our present climate became the catalyst for me to change. By re-evaluating my lifestyle, I discovered strategies I could implement that enhanced my mindset and wellbeing, which consequently prepared me to create my business.
Let’s look at how you can do that.
Increase the (working) hours in your day
By changing my alarm to 5.15am, I’ve increased the hours in my working day. It’s that simple, and it makes a huge difference.
I used to think only new mums and military personnel got up at this hour of the day. I never saw myself as the sort of person who would rise this early to get things done. But wow – by starting your day early, you can achieve much more! Effectively, there are no distractions, meaning there is nothing else to do but the planned task.
I’d heard so much about the benefits of rising early but had never been able to implement it. Now, it has become a habit that I plan on keeping in my routine. Although, I must confess to sometimes needing to use Mel Robbin’s five-second-rule when the alarm goes off. Then once I’m up, I’m raring to go!
Here’s how I suggest you become an early riser:
- Set your alarm earlier, by 15–30-minute increments, until you gradually reach your goal.
- Go to bed earlier, in corresponding increments to your new morning alarm. Doing this will make it easier to rise in the mornings.
- Place your alarm away from your bed, so you must get up to switch it off the alarm. By then, you’re up. Now you simply need to stay up.
- Plan your tasks the night before to take advantage of your extra time.
- Celebrate what you have achieved with your favourite breakfast drink or snack!
Strengthen your mindset
Guided breathing is singularly the most significant change I have made during the last two years. It centres me and allows me to face daily challenges with a calm attitude. It also reminds me that anything is possible, something I had somehow forgotten along the way.
Two years ago, amidst the pandemic lockdown, I was sitting in a hospital car park (due to no visits allowed), waiting to hear the outcome of the removal of my partner’s cancerous tumour operation. I had 15 minutes before I could make the call when a video recommendation popped up on my YouTube feed. It was Wim Hof’s Guided Breathing (WHM).
Like many people, I’ve tried meditation, dabbled with mindfulness apps, and even accompanied my mum to her yoga class, but nothing ever hit the spot. So, I’m not sure what made me follow this video, but I am very grateful I did. When the video finished, the dark corners of my vision began to clear, all the colours around me seemed brighter, and it was a little easier to breathe. As a result, phoning the hospital felt less stressful – and the news was good.
My mindset has shifted since I’ve incorporated guided breathing into my daily routine. This practice has helped me develop a growth mindset. I now face the unknown with confidence.
If you haven’t already tried the WHM, I’ll let the man himself explain how you do that.
Develop more resilience
As a result of doing 20 minutes of exercise in the mornings, my energy levels have significantly increased, which has made me stronger and more resilient.
When I was younger, I did a lot of sports and competed regularly in track and field and road races. However, for many years, I neglected to exercise, with the consequence of feeling constantly tired and lethargic. I decided I needed to make a change.
I run in the mornings on a treadmill. I realise that running on a treadmill is not for everyone, but I love it! Whichever form of exercise you choose, morning exercise is proven to give you a boost of happiness to start your day. So, releasing additional endorphins means starting your day with a smile!
The reason I love treadmill running is twofold. Firstly, it’s an all-weather option – whether there’s a tiny cloud marring that clear blue sky, or a full-on snowstorm, there’s no reason not to do it! Secondly, whilst on the treadmill, I listen to my favourite thought leaders on YouTube. My current favourites are Evan Carmichael, Tom Bilyeu, Lisa Bilyeu, Andrew Huberman, Mel Robbins, Tony Robbins, and Rich Roll.
Listening to their thought-provoking interviews leaves my brain buzzing and ready to start my day! If you haven’t heard of some of these names, click through to see what you think, and let me know who your current favourites are.
Here are some tips to help you to start exercising:
- Just Do It! Nike has got good reason. Start today and do anything to get you going. Walk around your lounge five times, run up the stairs three times, do squats while you brush your teeth, running on the spot while your dinner warms in the microwave. Just start.
- No more excuses. All excuses are valid – I’ve made them too – but they’re still excuses. Set a time for each day. Stop with the excuses!
- Put your running shoes on and get out the door. Starting is the hardest part. After that, it all gets easier.
- Start small and slow. If you start gently, you’re more likely to continue long-term. To begin with, if you think you can run for 20 minutes, only run 5 or 10, then slowly increase over a few weeks. The benefit is that if you hold yourself back, you’ll be eager to get to your next workout. That eagerness is highly motivating!
- Try to exercise 2-3 times a week at first, with the longer-term goal of exercising for 20 minutes five times a week.
- Let your body recover. Rest is as important as exercise. Listen to your body. Depending on how my body feels, I like to exercise every other day or Monday to Friday and then rest at the weekends. Either way, not only do my muscles get the chance to recover but also, I’m impatient to get back running the following session.
- Overcome challenges. If you need to stop during a workout, or miss a session, brush yourself off and start again. Don’t let a bump in the road allow you to give up. Think positive!
- Have fun! Exercise can and should be fun! If it’s not, slow your pace, add some music, or listen to your favourite podcast. Enjoy the feeling of getting fitter and release those endorphins!
Improve your organisation skills
I used to like to improvise and disliked words such as timetable, agenda, and schedule as they felt like a constraint. Finally, I realised that my laissez-faire attitude was causing undue stress, as I was not accomplishing my goals. I needed to create a structure and follow routines.
By establishing a structure and putting routines in place, I’ve created order and feel calmer, and I no longer spend energy worrying if I’ve forgotten to do something. In fact, due to feeling in control, I now have more mental clarity, which has increased my ability to think creatively.
These habits have enabled me to increase my productivity and raise my motivation in all areas of my life.
Here are a few suggestions to help improve your organisation:
- I use Daniel Seah’s Emergent Task Planner (ETP) to write down the three tasks that will most significantly impact my goals. I put all my focus into completing these tasks to accomplish them before I start anything new. Previously, I would put off tackling critical tasks and consequently worry about them all day. Now that I complete these first, it feels like a weight is lifted from my mind, meaning I’m more effective for the rest of the day. The ETP is a great way to bring me back to my priorities when I digress.
- Use colour coding. I’m currently studying for a Psychology degree, which has 11 sub-subjects. At the start of each semester, I create a study timetable listing every topic. Each morning I only need to glance at the schedule colour code to see which topics I studied yesterday and which subjects I’ll be covering today. So, now the time I spend scrolling through it is minimal.
- Organise your documents, both digital and hard copy. Get rid of obsolete forms to create more digital and physical space. Then both you and your computer will work more efficiently.
- Do one thing at a time. Focus on one unique activity. Effective multitasking is a myth – stop it!
- Check your email only three times a day! Try, at the end of the morning, after lunch, and half an hour before the end of the day. Remove that 5-minute update notification – it’s distracting you!
- Learn to say no. You will keep better control of your time and priorities. Remember, you are in control of your life. So, whether you use digital or paper tools or you’re juggling many projects or just one, make sure that your strategies work for YOU.
My current challenge is learning to STOP. When I’m engrossed in an activity or tackling a challenge, I find it difficult to shut off for the day, so my phone alarm is invaluable. I finish each day at 7pm (don’t ask, it’s a French thing!) So, at 6.45pm my final work alarm says: Finish Work & Make Dinner. I stop, write my plan for the following day based on what I’ve achieved that day, and close everything down – slowly – hoping my partner starts the meal – and sometimes it works.
It works for me
If you resonate with any of these ideas, try them and see if they work for you. These are some of the changes that I’ve made. They are transforming my life and have enabled me to create my business.
When I read inspirational success stories, they are most often due to the forming of good habits and the consistent discipline of these habits. So, once you’ve found what works for you – complete and repeat – tweaking (not twerking) where necessary until you achieve your goals.
If this post has been of help, drop me a line, subscribe to my newsletter and let me know about your experiences.
Until next time,
Go BOOST! Buildup Ourselves One Step at a Time.