How to: Deal with Change and Boost Your Productivity

With the change of the seasons, changes in routines are super common for so many people right now. And if you’re anything like me, this may take some time for you to adjust. I mean, the old Kelley would be so set on a schedule, so glued to a routine that any change felt like a hurricane that I would resist and resist and resist for months.

What I learned, though, is that the one constant in life is CHANGE. As we go through life, we might find that the resistance we have could actually be holding us back from our goals and our dreams. Looking back on the old me, I know I needed to become more adaptable - not easy for a creature of habit like me.

Whether you’re choosing change and maybe you’re starting to do some WBK workouts in the morning, or the change is something that’s required, like your kiddos starting school, I have some really great tips to help you to navigate transition with ease and dare I say, more productivity?!

1.

The first and most important thing is to ask yourself, is the change necessary or is it going to improve your life? It’s important to notice whether or not you feel like this will really better your life, or if it's really essential, that’s your why behind the change. Often times if the answers to those questions are “no,” then we’re trying to make change happen out of pressure to feel accepted or because we’re comparing ourselves to someone else. Remember, you are unique and individual and what’s right for someone else isn’t necessarily right for you, so really tap into those powerful questions.

2.

Be realistic about what you need to make this transition happen. Change takes work and time, and it’s important that you create a support system and you give yourself all of the advantages.

For me, having a weekly calendar and to-do list as we transition into more activities for West, more travel for our family and more work as the app launches is really important for me to feel like things are organized and ready. I even plan out our weekly dinner menus and spend Sundays writing out the top priorities for the week and assigning days to take care of certain tasks so I can feel more at ease as I move through the week.

I also know that having most mornings more open and afternoons more filled with work is what feels most supportive for me.

Start to explore what would make this change easier for you, ask people to help you out, take time to plan ahead, and create space for self-care.

3.

I don’t think most people do well with a major change or going cold turkey on things. I mean, if you do, good for you, but if too much change happens at once, it usually completely throws you off and isn’t sustainable. It’s OK to make small changes over time. The small changes in routine will help you adapt faster.  So start by waking up 5 minutes earlier to meditate and ground down into your day, or instead of thinking you’re going to work out for an hour, schedule 15 minutes every day and create that consistency.

4.

If there are things you have to do but don't necessarily want to do… things that are essential but pesky.. I've found that doing those things earlier in the week or earlier in the day makes them so much more likely to get done.

We all have something that we dread. Mine is washing dishes; I can’t explain it. It’s just not my jam, though.

Whatever your dreaded task is, get it out of the way by tackling it first. Write it on your list, so you can feel the satisfaction of crossing it off, even if it will only take 5 minutes. You have more energy earlier in the day, so it will make the rest of the day seem easier once it’s done.

Imagine if all it took to power up your productivity was answering one email, unloading the dishwasher, or folding some laundry - it’s totally possible!

5.

Reduce your screen time. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Whenever I take a break from social media, I notice how much of my time it’s taking up and how it’s not really a huge priority. We tend to spend a lot of time on screens these days and some of it even feels productive. But after hours on a screen, your brain starts turning to mush. Unfortunately, depending on your job, you may not have the luxury of simply turning off the screen

So how do you change your daily routine when it comes to screen time? Consider condensing your time on a screen into “power tasks” where you focus intensely for 45 minutes to an hour and then take a break.

I recommend taking more frequent breaks and scheduling them into your daily calendar, along with slotting specific times for social media, so it doesn’t become mindless and like a mental drain.

Creating space by reducing tech will allow you so much more time and energy to focus on the change happening in your life.

It’s SO important to offer yourself compassion during this time. Start to really think about what’s going to challenge you, how you might fall out of this routine, what’s going to be uncomfortable?

What can you do to be kind and gentle to yourself in those moments? I promise you, having a plan in the back of your mind for when this comes up is so important because you will need it, just like I do, just like we all do. ♥️

I hope that as the seasons change, as your life continues to evolve like it always will, some of these tips and questions you can ask yourself will help you to feel supported as you move through your routines, habits, and daily experiences.

You can find more information on letting go of perfectionism and embracing productivity without all the negative self-talk in the WBK Health and Hormones Course.

I’m with you every step of the way! X

K