2 Proven methods to start improving your life today
"How can I coach myself?" and "Where do I even start?" are questions I often get asked.
First, it is relevant to highlight that an accredited Coach will have done several hours of training and pratice to become a Coach, and that there is more to coaching than my tips below. A Coach asks powerful questions that you might not have thought of, they detect beliefs, blocks or triggers that you might not be aware of, and they know how to promote your progress, steer you in the right sirection and keep you accountable.
This being said, you can totally start coaching yourself and find your next best step using the steps and tips below. Recognise when you need to pause or ask for help. Seek support wherever appropriate.
If you feel like your life is out-of-whack, and you don't know where to start improving things, you will find this article helpful in gaining clarity, finding inspiration and getting started.
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading” - Lao Tzu
Method 1: The Wheel of Life
We often recommend the “Wheel of Life” as an exercise to get started. It is a customable tool that gives you a great indication of where you can improve your life and make holistic improvements to boost your wellness.
Extract from the "Wheel of Life" workbook designed by Sophie Anderson Coaching®
Grab a pen and paper for this exercise. Draw the wheel above.
Here we go!
1. Review each segment of the wheel and change labels as necessary to reflect your reality.
2. Think about what success or satisfaction means for each section. Take notes of what you want: your dream outcome. This is your “10/10”.
3. In each segment, individually rate your current satisfaction with this aspect of your life, 0 being not satisfied at all, and 10 being fully satisfied.
Be honest and spontaneous! This tool is for you to understand where you need to draw attention to in your life, and make it more fulfilling.
4. Pick one aspect to work on now. There are no rules, here! Pick the easiest, the most urgent, or the one that motivates you the most.
5. Write down a compelling plan with at least 3 actionable steps for this segment of the wheel.
Hot tip: Think of things you can either start or stop doing, people you can approach, and elements of your environment that you can optimise.
6. Put a reminder in your diary to review your wheel at least once per month, and do this exercise again.
7. Contact an Accredited Life Coach to support your journey to fulfilling other aspects of your life.
Design your life, you are so worth it!
Method 2: The "freestyle" method
4 Steps to a powerful action plan.
This method is inspired by the progress made in real coaching sessions, and how I guide my clients to taking action and achieve the results they want. I have designed the steps based on my studies, experience, and evidence-based methods.
It has been tested and proven to work efficiently.
Here we go!
Grab a pen and paper, get comfortable and follow the steps below.
Step 1: The desire for change
What are you wanting to change specifically?
Per example, “I want to stop scrolling all night and going to bed late”, or “I want to have more projects at work”, or “I want to have more quality family time”.
Now, answer these questions:
1. How is the current situation impacting your life right now?
2. How much energy and head space do you have to take the lead in exploring new perspectives and ideas regarding this issue?
3. What will happen if nothing changes in 3 months, 1 year, 5 years?
4. How will your mental health improve as a result of this change? Your general wellbeing?
5. How will this change impact your life and the lives of people around you? What’s important about that?
6. How exciting is it to you to make this change? How challenging? How compelling?
Photo credit Kitera Dent on Unsplash
Important
If this change is not compelling to you after you’ve done this exercise, it could be that you are trying to become someone you are not, or perhaps you think you need something that you don’t really want or need. It happens, don’t be hard on yourself! Peer-pressure, advertisement, trends, in-laws *cough*, a false sense of lack or even boredom could be the reason, amongst others! Either way, you may now gracefully move on, or reframe the change you wanted to make to a meaningful one.
Step 2: Clarity
Describe your ideal situation. Make it awesome, powerful, attractive.
Photo credit Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash
Step 3: Empowerment
What do you have control over?
List all the little things you could start doing or stop doing to enable that change. Take into consideration the obstacle that could be in your way and find a solution to them as well.
Photo credit Fionn Claydon on Unsplash
Even the smallest step creates a ripple effect
Step 4: Action Plan
Decide on one aspect to start acting on today.
Decide on one thing to do during the week.
Decide on one thing to do during the following week.
Step 5: Review
Book a date with yourself or a session with a coach to review your progress in two weeks.
Photo credit Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Change does NOT have to be hard and uncomfortable. I quit drinking cold-turkey following the steps above, and it's never been hard.
Change does not have to be hard and uncomfortable
Remember that an accredited Life Coach is professionally trained to help you go through changes in the easiest, most effective way.
We’re here to help! And I'll leave you with this powerful quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
"Real change, enduring change, happen one step at a time"
-Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Written by:
Sophie Anderson
SHARE
About the Author
Hi! I'm Sophie and I am so glad you're here! I help women and men make small, incremental changes that create a positive ripple effect on their entire life.
You have the power to turn your life around, starting today.
I am here to help you succeed.
Cairns Residents: Join our thriving Community!
I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I coach, collaborate and grow, the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji and Yirrganydji Peoples. I acknowledge and pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the world’s oldest living culture and embrace their continued connection to land, waters and community. I pay my deepest respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present.
I also recognise, value and celebrate diversity and act in the spirit of inclusion.