The Nature of Passion: Embrace Change
When I was younger, I was passionate about Snoopy. Today, I’m indifferent and no longer desire to collect Snoopy memorabilia. Back then, I might have been known as “the girl who collects Snoopy memorabilia.” Now, my activities have changed. You are not defined by what you choose to do; you are defined by the effort you put into those activities. Passion is key to success in anything you pursue.
Time for a Fresh Start?
I love mornings, Mondays, new months, and new years. Each new beginning excites me with the possibility of changing my life’s direction. Monthly, I create new habit trackers, to-do lists, and goal lists. While I was incarcerated, I realized I needed to change my daily routine monthly to stay motivated and avoid boredom. Some habits remain consistent, but I generally create a new routine every month or two.
In my early twenties, moving to a new place was an opportunity to reset my life. I would clean out my closet, discard unused items, and create new routines. Today, moving is the last thing I want to do. Instead, I change my routine, deep clean, and organize my space to satisfy my need for novelty.
Finding Joy in Movement
I love walking outside in new places, enjoying nature, nice neighborhoods, and getting lost in the beauty around me. I hate walking on a treadmill—it bores me quickly, and my OCD kicks in as I obsess over tracking my time, distance, and calories burned. What changes do you need to guarantee success in your life?
For me, I dress in my workout clothes first thing in the morning, pack my work clothes, makeup, hair tools, breakfast, and lunch in my gym bag, and hit the gym at 5:30 am. This routine ensures I get my workout done and prevents me from spending money on unhealthy convenience store foods.
Planning Meals for Success
Another habit I practice is weekly meal planning. I plan at least five meals and shop for groceries on Sunday or Monday, so I know what we’ll be eating each evening. Waking up early allows me to prepare ingredients, ensuring I don’t get lazy and back out of making dinner. This habit has saved me and my partner from eating out or grabbing fast food countless times.
Making Discipline Easy
Discipline alone doesn’t work; you need to make tasks easy to accomplish. For instance, if all the ingredients for dinner are bought, cut, thawed, and ready to cook, you’re more likely to stick to your dinner plans because it’s easier.
I struggle to sit at my desk and work on my book. I’ve found that a cute coffee shop, library, or other inspiring location helps me get excited about writing. It gives me an excuse to get out of the house and experience new places while making progress on my book.
Simplify Your Goals
- Lose Weight – Buy fun, healthy foods. Shop at a new grocery store. Find easy, new recipes you want to try.
- Exercise – Make morning gym visits easy. Pack your bag and lay out clothes the night before. Explore new locations, take dogs to the dog park, choose a new trail weekly, walk while golfing, or stroll in a beautiful neighborhood.
- Write a Book – Plan inspiring places to write that get you out of the house and keep you motivated.
Show Up Where the Work Gets Done!
Run experiments. Try a library, coffee shop, park, or gym. Don’t be afraid to change and experiment often. I know I need new experiences to stay motivated.
Schedule Your Goals
Have time, location, start time, and stop time scheduled before you start. Leverage your goals by marking them on the calendar. Can you overlap two goals to get both done simultaneously? For example, take your dogs to the dog park and walk with them.
I would love to hear about your hacks around simplifying tasks and leveraging new experiences.
B2tRUE 