Self-care is setting yourself up for success

Every day, my clients teach me something new!  In recent conversations, we were looking for ways to reduce the chaos and overwhelm of running a small business. How can we streamline the process so that we stay motivated and even have fun with the business?

I'm a big believer in systems and habits that allow you to focus and continue to move forward, even when motivation wanes.  I wanted to share two tools that can be applied in any situation to help you move forward, not just in business, but whenever you're staring at a big project and wondering, 'how will I ever get this done?'.

1. Take care of future you

I must have been 8 or 9 years old, it was evening and I was in the kitchen watching my grandmother.  She had placed a large tray on the kitchen table.  On it was a silver teapot, a beautiful blue and white china teacup and saucer, a small dish filled with sugar cubes, a plate with sliced lemon, and some silverware.  She carefully arranged this welcoming tableau and placed it at the head of the table, where my grandfather usually sat.  This was his breakfast setting for the following morning. 

Reflecting on this practice, I now realize how smart she was. Rather than having to get up early and rush around the following morning, she placed everything for the next day so that her morning routine was simpler and easier. This simple act took no more than 5 minutes, and it provided a welcoming start to the next day.

I followed a similar routine when I had a studio practice. When my kids were young, I rose at 4 am and spent two hours in the studio before they got up for school. It was wonderful to have two hours of uninterrupted time working on my paintings. But my brain wasn't always as awake as I wanted it to be and some mornings were not as productive as others.  I soon started a practice at the end of each studio practice:  I made a list of the next 2-3 things I wanted to do in the studio when I returned.  Having this list sitting there at 4:10 am in the morning allowed me to easily step back into the work routine, without having to make a decision of: "I don't know where to start".  It helped me to stay focused on the most important things without relying on my mood for the day.
I've recently re-started this practice for my coaching business as well as my daily life.  Doing some simple prep work has made all the difference in the world, enabling me to keep the momentum going between work sessions.  My grandmother was on to something, I'm so glad I was paying attention.

Bonsai tree, Huntington Gardens, 2022
Years of consistent care are required for these amazing results!

2. Acknowledge and recognize yourself for past accomplishments

Another practice I've recently started is my "write down my baby steps" journal.  I found a lovely Rhodia journal that is my new secret pleasure. Inside, I write down today's date and all of the things I've done towards building my coaching practice. 

My lovely success journal!

This tool has increased my motivation in many ways.  Because the brain is wired to look for failure, it's much more common to think that little progress has been made.  But the documenting of successes helps to retrain the brain to recognize and acknowledge progress. 

By seeing progress day by day, there's more understanding of the work it takes to reach a goal. It's human nature to underestimate the work it takes to achieve a goal, and then feel impatient because things aren't going 'as they should'.  Seeing a list of tasks that you've completed toward your goals provides a sense of accomplishment as you continue forward; a sense of "I am successful!"  When you feel successful, you stay motivated to achieve larger, more complex goals.  Writing things down also ensures that we remember the work we've put into a project.

This new daily practice has had another surprising consequence.  Because I've been consistently making daily entries, I want to continue this streak of wins. Even if it's just listening to a coaching podcast or reading a coaching article. This practice reminds me of my commitment to coaching excellence and how I want to continue growing and improving daily.

So, my dear readers, I hope you find these tools helpful. I wish you a wonderful summer solstice and maybe even some time to relax and refresh.

A little neighborhood humor from West Seattle!