Episode 136: It's Time to Check In!

In a video game, your character levels up or progresses through small actions by collecting coins, practicing skills, completing quests or acquiring tools & weapons. Skip those little steps and you stay stuck. You do small things again and again to win the game.  You practice certain techniques to get better and better at the game. Same with Atomic Habits, but instead of “leveling up” to win a game-you are doing small habits to create a fulfilling, happy life.  

The key to leveling up that I am going to talk about today is doing a semi-annual check-in—a kind of life review every six months. It’s simple, but it can completely change the way you look at your intentions, your habits, and your progress.  It’s zooming out and looking at a big picture of your game to make sure you are heading in the direction that will help you level up and win the game.

Never heard of Atomic Habits & how powerful small steps can be to creating big changes?  Check out these three episodes first!! 

Episode 123: Small Steps Are Still Steps

Episode 124: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

Episode 125: Change Your Behavior, Change Your Life

Link to James Clear's book Atomic Habits 

You have to zoom out so you can see where you need to to make changes & it doesn't need to be a big overhaul...what are small ways you can tweak your habits to make them easier, more obvious or more specific?  Remember, there isn't a perfect 6 month date on the calendar to do this check in.  What is most important is to DO IT. 

Patterns I saw in my own life as I sat down and did my own semi-annual (ish) review.

1. The habits that I have accountability partners with-I am 10x more likely to do.  And if they are friends outside of my family-even better! 

2. If I want to get up at 5:30am in the morning to accomplish my habits, I best get myself to bed by 10:30pm or whatever I set out to do in the AM isn’t happening.

3. I am most likely to do the habits that help me feel more alive. 

FOR YOUR CHECK IN ASK YOURSELF THESE 5 QUESTIONS:

1- What habits did you want to incorporate or intentions did you want to focus on these last months?

2- Which ones have you stuck with? Why?

3-Which ones have you stopped doing? Why? If it is important to who you want to become-what ways can you tweak the habit so you are more successful at doing it? 

4-What is your plan for the next week? Plug into your calendar all the habits that are nonnegotiable that you want to make happen. 

5-What is a way you can reward yourself in a month when you have consistently casted your vote for your new version of you?! 

If the new version of you includes incorporating something that will strengthen you; mind, body and soul-Come join me at https://www.youtube.com/@yogaforteenswithisha