Aligning Values with Actions: Building a Sustainable Lifestyle to Avoid Burnout
Michelle Parsons
Helping automotive retailers increase profits and retain more customers, via high value retention strategies and unrivalled dealer support ?? | Automotive | Customer Retention | IPRU | Sales | Aftersales |
Burnout, that sneaky little monster that loves to rear its ugly head when we least expect it.
But fear not!
We hold the power to conquer it by aligning our values with our actions. It's time to kick burnout to the curb and build a sustainable lifestyle that empowers us. Join me as I delve into the importance of aligning values with actions and get ready to unleash your superhero self and avoid burnout like a boss!
Understand Your Core Values
Often burnout creeps in when we are living a life out of alignment to what matters. Spending time, energy, money or attention on things that you dont hold highly, or that don't take you a step towards where you are striving to get to is exhausting and utterly frustrating! Take a moment to reflect on your core values—those things that make your heart sing and your soul do a happy dance. Discover what truly matters to you, because let's face it, life is too short for anything less.
Setting Meaningful Goals
Now that you know your core values, it's time to set goals that make you feel like a total boss. Break them down into bite-sized tasks and watch as you check them off one by one like a superhero marking villains defeated. Start small, tiny, literally bite-sized chunks! If you bite off more than you can chew, more than you currently have capacity for it can set you back and trigger feelings of failure. Whereas, starting small and celebrating your successes will boost your sense of control and accomplishment, provide some satisfaction and self-pride and more often than not, helps increase motivation and positive emotion. Remember, you're not just setting goals; you're crafting a roadmap to a life that aligns with your true self.
Creating a Work-Life Balance
OK, I am often reminded that I don't believe in Work-Life Balance, but this is what most will relate to and are seeking... and there is some truth to it. I just don't believe there is this perfect equilibrium 100% of the time. Think of it as a pendulum swinging, the further it goes towards the hard graft and hustle, it needs to swing make into rest in equal measures. You can go hard for a short time and by planning in activities that bring you joy and much needed rest you will find yourself far better equipped to go hard when needed. Think of it as a hurdle race, not a sprint!
Set strong boundaries and don't let work or stress take over your life. Take time for yourself, your loved ones, and those hobbies that make you feel alive. We can't be superwoman ALL of the time, like you, your cape sometimes needs a rest!
Prioritising Self-Care
Carve out time for rejuvenation ... Whatever that looks like for you! Whether it's treating yourself to a spa day, getting out into nature alone and undistracted or even as simple as reading a book or doing a jigsaw. Indulge in activities that relax or re-energise you and make you feel like you can conquer the world. Remember, self-care is your secret weapon against burnout.
Building Supportive Relationships
Surround yourself with a league of extraordinary people who understand your mission and cheer you on. Together, you'll form an unstoppable force against burnout. Energy is contagious! Have you ever been stuck at an event next to the dullest person in the room?? How did you feel? ... Vs. Have you ever sat next to the most vibrant and inspiring person in the room? How did you feel then? Energy vampires literally suck the life out of you, though it doesn't mean you have to eliminate all contact with them, be wise in your choices and aware of what energy you need to be around at a given time.
Simplifying Your Lifestyle
Unclutter your life, both physically and mentally. Rid your space of unnecessary chaos, and let go of obligations that don't align with your values or dont serve you. Embrace simplicity and make room for the things that truly matter. Trust me, fighting burnout is much easier when you're not tripping over all the unnecessaries!
Practicing Mindfulness
In a world full of distractions, mindfulness is your superpower. If inner Zen is not you, think of it like this, mindfulness is simply being in the present. Smell the flowers, feel the clothes on you, feel the ground beneath you and take time to BREATHE. Whether it's through meditation, deep breathing, or simply savouring the taste of your morning coffee, embrace the power of now. After all, you can't enjoy today if you're constantly lost in thought about tomorrow's to-do list!
Embracing Work that Aligns with Your Passions
Align your work with your passions and watch your energy soar. It's time to say goodbye to the villainous boredom and hello to a career that makes you feel alive. Remember, passion is your secret weapon against the monotony of everyday life.
Engaging in Meaningful Activities
To feel fulfilled, we must find time for hobbies and activities that light up our souls. Embrace your inner artist, adventurer, or bookworm. Dive into activities that make your heart skip a beat and your spirit soar. After all, you deserve a break from saving the world now and then! Maybe get creative? It's proven that creativity increases positive emotion, which in turn boosts happiness. Whether its painting, arranging some flowers or upcycling some old furniture, the choice is yours. You might even rekindle an old passion or discover a hidden talent!
Continuously Reassessing and Adjusting
We are continually evolving; I am not the same person I was yesterday and neither are you. So, regularly assess your values, goals, and lifestyle choices as these do change over time due through either change in circumstances or our natural evolution. Be open to adjustments and changes, because as you grow, so does your superpower. You have never known as much as you do today and you will know even more tomorrow. You can use this knowledge and self- awareness to asses and adjust as you please. Stay true to yourself, and never be afraid to rewrite your story. You're the author, after all!
Simple, right??
It all sounds so simple, right? Well, yes the science is simple, but the putting it into practice is not necessarily easy. When we are physically and emotionally exhausted it's hard to think beyond our current situation and everything feels incredibly overwhelming.
So, my advice to you is start small (remember the bite-sized chunks?). Pick one thing here that feels manageable right now, no matter how small, and practice building the habit to establish this slowly as a new way of life. Once in place, come back and pick a new one. Slowly and surely, you will evolve from where you are today taking steps towards reclaiming that life of fulfilment, peace and happiness that you long for.
So, which one are you starting with?
Of course, there is a short cut. If you would like to explore a quicker and more certain route to success, please feel free to contact me about my programme Reignite. These few tips are barely scratching the surface of what is inside Reignite. You will also have 1-2-1 coaching and access to me to support you on your journey.
Remember, you have the power to craft a life that energises and fulfills you. So, lets get you there, back to woman you are meant to be and let the world witness your unstoppable force!
If I can help you on the way or you would like to have a no strings attached conversation about working with me, please get in touch.
Michelle x
You're no peppercorn, so why all the grinding? I help ‘always on’ female founders create momentum & freedom in their business without burnout. Join my 4-week Breathe, Lead & Thrive Program (enrolment now open)
1 年In addition to life coaching, I'm a mindfulness meditation teacher and breath coach so i'm pleased to see you've stripped back mindfulness into it's simplest and truest form. Jon Kabat-Zinn defines it in this way: “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.”
Student at Hult Ashridge
1 年Hi
IT Service Desk Manager - Mental Health First Aider
1 年Michelle Parsons, ICF ACC Performance Coach Merci for sharing
Leading teams to success by unlocking their potential
1 年Great article
Creative Writer | Artist | Publisher | Photographer | Owner of Songbird Publishing | Certified Information Professional | Frugarian
1 年I really love how you brought up simplifying your lifestyle. As everything becomes more digital, it's so important to remember that faster and more efficient often comes with stress and pressure. Simplifying your life really is like a breath of fresh air.