Cut the Crap. Quit making excuses. Finally.
“Wasted potential is the saddest kind of tragedy”
How many times have you heard it or said it? I’m too tired. I don’t have the skills. I’m not a morning person. I don’t have TIME. I’m too busy. How many times have you heard these excuses? I’ve heard them too many to count and said these same things way too much.
Why does it matter though? I like watching my tv shows, I like sleeping in, I like my bed, I like scrolling through my FB or Insta timeline for what can turn into hours on end. Sure, ok. That’s perfectly fine, more power to you. No judgement from me. But, if you’re like me, I said I liked all those things, but my mood was always worse when I engaged consistently in those things. I was lethargic all day. My mornings would be crazy hectic and I always thought that was just a part of life. I was wrong. I know I need purpose in my life. I want my life to matter. We weren’t meant to go to work or school, to then come home every night and veg out in front of the tv. Gasp, Keri, but I like my shows. Alright, so do I. I’m not insinuating we’re perfect and that it’s not ok to indulge, but everything is fine in moderation. My husband, Mark, hates that word, moderation, but it really is true. So again, why does it matter, our habits. It only matters if you care what kind of life you want to live. If you’re fine with the status quo, that’s cool- more power to you. If you want something more, if you want to reach your full potential, if you want to make your mark on this world, you have to cut the crap and that starts with being aware of your habits.
Merriam Webster has these definitions for us:
Habit
a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior
an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary
a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself regularity or increased facility of performance
Choice
the act of choosing
power of choosing
a person or thing chosen
a number or variety to choose among
You get the idea, right? Whether good or bad, we have choices in life and we chose our habits.
I used to use all the excuses, but especially the, “I’m too busy & I’m not a morning person” excuses. Oh man, they were my go-to! I loved them. What changed for me and FINALLY allowed me to cut the crap and push through my excuses. One book. No, I don’t receive any affiliate $ from this link. I authentically want to share the information I learned with you, because it was so freely shared with me. Thanks Shea Conkey Nuckols- I really appreciate you.
This book is amazing ya’ll. It completely transformed my perspective. That’s what it took. It changed my perspective and mindset and that’s the most important part. Your last thought of the day will be your first the next morning. If you tell yourself that you’re going to be tired and won’t get enough sleep, then that’s exactly how you’ll feel the next morning. The book suggests that people can be just fine with anywhere from 4-8 hrs. of sleep. The author suggests that 9 hrs. + is actually too much, especially if you have depressive tendencies. I agree. I think everyone has their sweet spot though. It’s hard as heck to get up at 5 am (I know, bear with me) after I’ve only gotten 5 hrs. of sleep, but it really only stinks for the first hr. I’ve found personally, that I need a minimum of 6 hrs., but operate at my best when I get 7-8 hrs. Now, if I do get 5 or 5 1/2 hrs., when I lay down at night, I tell myself, “you’re getting enough sleep today. You will wake up at 5 am tomorrow. You won’t hit snooze. You will have energy today. You will get up!”
Ya’ll, I was addicted to that snooze button. Mark would about want to smother me with a pillow- I would hit snooze for an hr. I’m 32, obviously I’ve had these bad habits for awhile. After implementing what the book suggested, I’ve only fallen off the wagon 2 days, out of 10. Waking up and implementing what the book suggested, to get my day started right, makes me feel SO GOOD! I’m ready for my day. It’s amazing. Even on the weekends! I set my alarm for 6:30 am, instead of 5 am.
I can wake up early, I can go run a mile everyday, I can have a less stressful morning routine with the kids, I can pour into myself and feel like I have enough time. Everyone always used to tell me, self-care, self-care, you’ve got to practice self-care. Ok, when? I didn’t think I had the time. I knew I needed to, I even knew what I needed to do, but when? This gave me the time. This cut all the excuses. Plus, to be really honest, I didn’t know how badly I was neglecting myself until I started implementing the changes.
Want a quick overview of things you can do right now?
tonight:
set your phone and your alarm clock across the room at night. DO NOT put it by your bed
set your alarm for an hr. before you really need to get up
put a glass of water by the bed
when you lay down, tell yourself, “I will not hit snooze. I am getting enough sleep tonight. I will wake up to my alarm clock. I will have energy. I want to take control of my life. I was meant for more. I will not hit snooze.”
try to go to bed at decent time. Give yourself a minimum of 6 hrs. It will make it easier to get this routine started
in the morning:
first thing, shut off your alarm and DO NOT take your phone with you. This is important
turn on your bedroom or bathroom light
brush your teeth
drink the glass of water that’s sitting by your bed
what now? The hr. of your day needs to be set aside for you. Not for the kids or the significant other, your boss, your family, YOU. It should be a time for personal growth and reflection. What does that look like for you? Reading the bible, journaling, meditating, yoga, writing down affirmations and reading them aloud, working out, reading a personal development book, working on the side hustle you don’t seem to have time for. Whatever it is, it can be a combination of all the things above, whatever is going to enrich your life and bring purpose is what you need to start your day with
Still struggling? Need inspiration for a morning schedule? See mine below. Keep in mind, everyone works differently, so what works for me may not work for you:
wake up at 5am, no snooze, phone across the room. I leave it there
brush my teeth
drink a (room temperature) glass of water
grab my personal development stuff: bible 20 minutes, personal development book 20 minutes, read affirmations aloud 5 minutes, & work on Values First. That last one is important, it really is my passion in life. To make sure all youth, especially young ladies in poverty, reach their full potential and have the tools/resources to do so. Find something you get passionate about, it will start your day off amazing
spend quality time with the kids or my husband. This could be helping them by laying out or making breakfast & making sure they’re good to start their day right (30 minutes). My kids are old enough to self regulate, for the most part. If your kid(s) aren’t quite old enough yet, check out our AM/PM checklists. They’re a great way to keep the stress levels down with the AM/PM routines. Another way, is while I”m talking to them, I load those last few dishes or put up the laundry in the dryer. How tidy your environment is definitely has an impact on your motivation levels. What does your environment look like? Also, if you find you’re putting off a task, mine is those stinking yeti cups that you can’t throw in the dishwasher… and have to hand wash them all, do it within 5 seconds. Do it right away. If you put it off, you’ll never get it done. It feels good to make the conscious decision that you didn’t really want to do something, but you did it anyways and now your environment looks better
go run a mile and after, I post a motivational video in the VF Diamond private FB group. I don’t sell anything in the group. This is purely to motivate and inspire others to reach their full potential. I want to support these ladies the best I can!
Get ready for my day job
We weren’t made to go to work or school, to then come home and watch tv. We were meant to learn, grow, connect, & live life- not just watch it happen. What do you want people to remember you by when you’re gone? What do you want to give back to this world? Who do you want to influence or help? What is the purpose of your life. Whoa, deep I know, but really what is it? Be a lifelong learner. I’m absolutely passionate about that fact. The other is, nothing is a bigger tragedy than wasted potential. I believe you have SO MUCH untapped potential. You just have to get out of your own way, because no one is stopping you, but you. No one can make your life situation or your circumstances better, but you.
Love,
Keri
P.S. Check out the YouTube videos below. I also don’t receive any $ for plugging these. I really want to inspire you. I personally start playing them when my kids alarms go off (they love it… not really, but baby steps), then again when I’m running & again when I get ready for work. I don’t watch them. I just listen.
Warning: mild language
Do you already do all the things above? Great! That’s amazing!
If you have children and would like to help them reach their full potential, check out the link below.