Struggling to Stay Consistent? Here’s why Building Good Habits is ALWAYS Worth it.
I’m going to start off by saying— I am the last person who would willingly stick to any form of routine or practice good habits. Exercise? Yeah, right. Meal planning? Way too much work. Early mornings? Not a chance… unless, of course, there’s a vacation involved. Lol!
But to my surpise, over the past 2 years, I’ve slowly embraced the use of systems and routines that have drastically improved my quality of life.
So what sparked the change?
In early 2023, I was watching Tony Robbins’ UPW conference when he talked about the power of a solid morning routine. He referred to it as “priming your day”, and I thought that was genius! After he walked us through an exercise demonstrating what that looked like, I was all in.
Discipline has not come naturally to me, so I always felt like I would never be able to stick to a routine. Every time I tried to follow a to-do list or habit, I’d always eventually give up. It was just too much change at once.
But I still held onto a little hope. What if I made small, manageable adjustments instead of trying to switch everything at once? I was hopeful that if I took baby steps towards change, then maybe, just MAYBE— it could actually work.
And that’s exactly how it happened! Slowly, but surely I’ve been building these habits— and they’ve made a huge difference in my life!
It amazes me how simple shifts in our daily routines can have such a profound impact on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
I started off with waking up at 5:30am— I know, it’s early. But by rising just an hour earlier than usual, I’ve been able to truly maximize my mornings. This extra time has allowed me to fit in a workout, spend quality time with the Lord and knock out other important tasks done before heading to work.
At first, I really struggled with waking up early. It was brutal the first few weeks— I kept hitting snooze until I decided to just go for it. And wow… I never thought the day would come where I’d say this, but I love being an early bird now.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman. I noticed that she starts her day off intention, discipline, and diligence— and it really spoke to me. I realized, that is the kind of life I want— to wake up with purpose and truly seize the day.
Here are the top changes I’ve incorporated into my daily life!
1.Start Your Day By Giving It to God
Before I even THINK about starting my day, I surrender it to God. This beautiful act of surrender is life-changing. It’s a way of saying, “Lord, I place this day in Your hands.” And honestly? It’s the best routine you could ever build into your life.
As a sub point, I want to mention nature walks with God— just walking and talking to Him about EVERYTHING. The good, the bad, and the ugly. No filters and no holding back. It’s incredible how freeing this is and I always feel so much lighter after I’m done. It’s comforting knowing He’ll always listen to me. Not only is this a powerful habit, but it also keeps me grounded in my faith. You truly can’t lose!
2. Take good care of yourself— For REAL.
Taking care of yourself isn’t just a buzzword, it’s essential. Our bodies are temples of the holy spirit, and it’s our job to treat it that way. I learned that when I treat my body right, I show up better in every area of my life.
Prioritize Sleep— (7-9 hours!).
Sleep is everything— it’s the foundation your body needs for optimal function. Skimping on rest will only leave you drained.
Fuel Your Body Right.
I used to skip breakfast because it just felt like too much work. But once I started prioritizing proper nourishment, I immediately noticed how much better I felt throughout the day!
Keep your body moving.
Whether it’s a quick exercise, a morning walk (yes, even in the winter!) or simply throwing on my weighted vest, staying active has been a game-changer. It doesn’t have to be complicated— just move.
3. Set up Systems to Help you Navigate Everyday Life.
Having solid systems in place makes all the difference. You will have to make time for them– but it’s so worth it! Here’s what I do:
Weekly Meal Planning
Planning meals ahead of time ensures I’m eating good food. and saves me the daily stress of wondering, What’s for dinner? If I make enough the night before, I will also take those leftovers to work for lunch— saving me time and money!
30-minute or 1-hour-resets
These don’t have to be long— even a 15 minute reset makes a difference! I’ve recently started incorporating these into my life, and my only regret is not starting sooner! I simply set a timer and clean to keep my sanity. This is so helpful for dishes, but sometimes I will also sweep the floors or straighten out my workspace. Anyone else feel like a cluttered space = a cluttered mind?
Weekly business calendar
I run multiple businesses and time management is KEY to preventing burnout. Having a structured calendar helps me tackle tasks one day at a time instead of feeling overwhelmed by my never-ending to-do list. Over time I’ve learned my limits and still manage to be highly productive! (PS- Stay tuned! I will be sharing my business calendar template with you all soon. Subscribe below for updates!)
4. Slow Mornings and Grace
Small, intentional habits have completely shifted my mindset and energy levels. And they stick, because they actually make life better! One thing that has helped me to stay consistent is allowing myself a slow morning on the weekends. I work all throughout the week, so taking at least one day to move at a gentler pace has been so beneficial. This usually happens on Saturdays. I get to sleep a bit longer (7-9am) and take the morning at a more relaxed pace, while still keeping a few of my weekly habits.
This way, by the time Sunday rolls around, I can reset, plan for the week ahead, and step into Monday feeling refreshed and ready to get back into to a solid routine.
I believe that the key to my consistency is ditching the all-or-nothing mindset. Giving yourself grace is so important when life throws you curveballs. Sometimes you just have to adapt, and that’s okay!
In the past, I would let one “off” day completely derail me. If I missed an early monring or broke my streak, I’d convince myself that the whole week was ruined and tell myself, I’ll just start fresh next Monday. But I’ve learned that’s not the case. If the next day gives me the opportunity to get back on track, I take it. No guilt, no shame, just progress over perfection.
This is important to remember, especially if you’re just starting to develop new habits and routines!
5. Keep Your Heart in the Right Place
At the end of the day, no routine or habit or routine will truly transform your life if your heart isn’t aligned with the right foundation. Life can be challenging, which is why I will always emphasize putting Christ at the center.
Run to God with everything. He is our living hope, the one who never changes. When we lean on HIS wisdom instead of our own, we find strength beyond what we thought was possible. Growth takes time, but if you stay rooted in Him, you will see the fruit of your efforts!