Transform Your Life
One Change at a Time

•Do you want to become more assertive and successful in your relationships?
•Do you want to feel healthier, get fitter, and feel more optimistic about your life?
•Are you ready to free yourself from procrastination, and start freeing up time to do the things that really matter to you?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, or want to make similar changes in your life, then you have come to the right place.

As a professional success and performance coach, I know that creating new habits and replacing old ones is the key to making meaningful changes in your life.

It all starts with one change!

It’s true, one change, as small as it may seem, can be the catalyst to propel your life in a new direction. Think of some habits that you want to change. How would you feel if you started making these changes right now?

If you were to make simple life changes like biking to work instead of driving, tackling the bills head on – instead of letting them pile up and overwhelm you, or writing a journal every night for half an hour instead of watching TV…

Wouldn’t you feel better?

And once you feel better you want to do more: you’ve given yourself momentum. Then it’s a case of keeping it going until you create a new habit.

Then, when you stick to these new activities on a daily basis for 21 days, a new habit tends to replace the old one, and the power of your actions adds up, helping you make the changes you want in your life. Use the checklist builder to help you create new habits. It works wonders.

“So how do I start to make changes in my life?”

Define what you want

Start by defining the goals and the habits you want to establish. Make these goals as specific and measurable as possible.

Rather than a generalized “being more assertive”, write down exactly what you will do, for example, “I’ll ask for what I want once a day”, or “I’ll write a journal every night for 10 minutes”.

“I’ve often set goals that I didn’t stick to afterwards.
How do I ensure I commit this time?”

Write your goal down. This works because by declaring your goal on a piece of paper, you are making a stronger commitment. And your commitment will be even stronger if you share it with others.

Make it a habit. Once you commit to the change you want to make,  report regularly on your progress. This is a huge step toward making the habit a success.

“Yes, but how do I make sure I don’t give up within a couple of days?”

Start your new habit in small increments to ensure success. It’s easy to become over-enthusiastic about the change we want to make. The problem is that when you start like this, you soon run out of steam.

Start off slowly, with one or two habits. Don’t overwhelm yourself. It’s more important to create momentum and confidence, then step up your efforts with time. By starting out doing less than you can actually handle, you build up energy and enthusiasm. This doesn’t just apply to habits, but to any changes you want to make in your life.

“What if I change my mind?”

It’s OK to change your mind.

In fact, it’s recommended.

If you find making two new habits is too hard, go down to one. If two is too little, step up to three. Flexibility is important to keep this light and fun if you keep enjoying it, you’ll keep doing it.

“What if I still feel I need help to make change happen in my life?”

The steps might be simple, but they are not always easy. You might find yourself needing the extra support that a life coach like me can provide. If you find that to be the case, check if life coaching is for you. Or maybe you prefer career coaching. And if you are not sure, just contact me, I’d love to speak with you about your goals and what you want in your life.

“How do I make a new habit stick when my old habits are strongly ingrained?’”

To keep you motivated and make your new habits stick, you can use a little psychology.

If you find yourself reaching for the keys instead of biking to work or reaching for the TV remote instead of your journal, ask yourself how you’ll feel in the long term if you do that.

Wouldn’t you feel better if you got into biking instead? How will you miss out if you don’t change your habit? What are the consequences of not pursuing your new path? Is it worth it?

“OK, but I have been doing something different for years…
how can I help myself so I don’t fall back?”

You are right, sometimes what is difficult is not making the new habit, but getting rid of the old one. In order to replace the old habit, you want to associate pain with the habit you want to stop and pleasure with the new activity.

To stay motivated, give yourself a reward when you make the changes and follow the new habit that you want. This will motivate you to keep going. It is human nature to repeat what makes us feel good in the short term. Stick to your new habits and treat yourself by cooking your favourite dinner, watch the film you’ve beenwanting to see or get yourself a bunch of flowers.

Envisage the negative consequences of your actions, and give yourself positive reinforcement for your new habits: your chances of success will increase exponentially.

“You’ve mentioned it’s important to keep track of my progress,
do you have any tips on how to do that?”

Yes – download the FREE Checklist Builder tool
This tool will help you analyse your progress and support you to reach your goals.

People that have been using this tool for years claim it has made it easier for them to stick to their new habits and resolutions, as well as to keep track of their progress and keep themselves motivated.
Your journey begins today!

‘How could a life coach help?’

If you have found it difficult to take the steps outlined in this article, a life coach can guide you and encourage you to make changes. If you have followed the steps in this article successfully, you are already doing brilliantly on your own, but a life coach can help you to move even further and faster towards making the changes you want to make and enjoying success in your chosen area.

Hi! I’m Marien, Oxford-based life coach. Call me on 01865 751 432 (Oxford) to find out more about my coaching services, and how to make your vision happen for you. Or if you prefer, email me to arrange a free consultation.