Do you sometimes feel that you are chasing your tail? No time, not satisfied with your lifestyle, feeling that you are just Surviving rather than Thriving? You need to TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE NOW!
Taking charge of your life to Thrive
Life can be complex. We have many areas of our life and people in our life that influence how we live and what we get out of life. It isn’t easy to accept that we have the choice of how we live our life. We are probably used to being a partner, mother, daughter, friend and feel the weight of responsibilities in our life. Most of us would say that compromise plays a big part in life if we are in relationships, have children or aging parents. BUT WE ARE INDIVIDUALS TOO AND WE NEED TO FEEL IN CONTROL OF OUR LIFE AND HOW WE LIVE IT.
Taking charge of your thoughts
I’ve recently been reading Self-Coaching 101 – How to Use Your Mind to Feel Better by Brooke Castillo. Her model, CTFAR is a tool to use to change the way we look at problems she explains that it’s purpose is:
to change the thoughts that cause you to suffer. You get to decide what you think and you have the option of thinking something terrible or thinking something that feels great.
Our thoughts play an enormous part in how we view life. As I wrote in ‘N’ is for Negative Self-Talk – Silencing your inner critic , we can develop a ‘negative spin cycle’ and can become slaves to our negative thoughts. Of course, we can’t stop negative thoughts coming into our minds. That is part of being human. What we can do is take charge of our thinking and consciously try to overcome the negative by addressing the thoughts and why we are feeling the way we are.
Taking charge of your time
We all have the same number of hours in a week but how you spend those 168 hours is up to you. If you feel that you are overwhelmed with no quality time then TAKE CHARGE. Look at where your time is going. Write down everything you do each day for a week and see where you can make changes. You might be surprised to see where all of your time goes, how much is productive or enjoyable and how much is wasted or perhaps not even important.
Taking charge of your time will ensure that you can enjoy your lifestyle rather than constantly feeling that you are running in circles. Make a point of including some quality time each day for yourself, partner time, family and friends time. It might mean getting up earlier than you usually do or making a regular date night in your diary. My daughter and her husband take family walks with my grandson and grandpuppy, each evening. It is a time for them to chat, walk Poochie, get some exercise and just have time out of the house and away from technology.
Take charge of your time by reducing the amount of time you spend on social media. Taking a technology free day is ideal but if you can’t, make sure you don’t sit looking at screens for hours on end. You don’t have to answer that email right now. You don’t need to respond to that text that isn’t urgent, right now. Make conscious decisions on how you react to technology each day.
Taking charge of your health
I am passionate about keeping fit and active at any stage of life. Taking charge of your health by:
- Eating well,
- exercising regularly,
- resting your mind,
- taking time out for reflection and gratitude,
- getting enough sleep
- annual check ups with your GP
- annual screening because of family medical history
all combine to keep you healthy and thriving
What is one thing you can do today to take charge of your life?
In my next post in the A to Z Guide to Thriving, I’m discussing ‘U’ is for Understanding – How self-awareness can help you Thrive. I do hope you will join me.
If you have missed previous posts in the AtoZ Challenge 2018 just click here to find them all.
You might also like to check out my Over 50 & Thriving series. In this series, published every Thursday, guest writers give insight into what ‘Over 50 & Thriving’ means to them.
Want practical and motivational ways to learn to Thrive rather than just Survive in life? Click here and Subscribe to receive my daily posts as they publish plus a FREE COPY of my E-Book ’10 Ways you can start Thriving Today’.
Let’s Start Thriving Today!
#atozchallenge
32 Comments
I agree that taking the time needed, to catch our breath, take stock, and review and revise as necessary, is essential. In fact, this “Time Out” will be the focus of my next A – Z post. Great minds think alike!
What a great post. So true. I may take a look at the coaching book you recommend too ?
I’ll definitely take a look at Self-Coaching. I love book recommendations. Thanks for this one, Sue.
I consciously take control of my time by not texting. My friends who are into texting seem to be to be tethered to their phones with expectations from others that they will respond instantaneously. I like having made a conscious decision not to go there.
Thanks for more great advice Sue. I take charge of my life by scheduling my exercise sessions in my calendar. It makes that time definitely me time. I’m very selfish about that these days
That is a great way to keep motivated and in charge, Jen.
Yes it was quite interesting Karen. Good for you re texting. It can really take over can’t it. Sometimes I will start to text and then just actually phone to speak to the person rather than going back and forth.
Thanks Sam and yes I found the coaching book quite helpful.
Yes we do,Donna! We all need time out and I don’t take enough of my own advice sometimes. After the AtoZ Challenge I will be making some changes.
Great post Sue – and I love how our ideas meshed for this letter of the AtoZ – we are definitely birds of a feather aren’t we? Not many more letters to go!
Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
T for Take Control
We certainly are sisters from another life that is for sure. Yes I’m counting the days…..
When I was a teenager, I remember thinking to myself, “I hate myself,” all the time until I made a conscious effort to stop. Whenever I thought that I hated myself, I would stop and think, “No, you don’t, you are a good person and you like yourself.” And that did work for me. It got me out of a depression and got my life started again. But now I am 51 and tired. I don’t have the energy that I had when I was young. I made some bad choices that have left me homeless and 393 pounds. I don’t have the energy I need to change my life anymore.
I was helping a friend just yesterday with her philosophy homework. Many philosophers believe that a person is not self determined, that everything they do is controlled by their past experience, heredity and those things can’t be changed, and therefore a person is not responsible for the things they do. I don’t necessarily believe that, but we tell our children that they can be anything they want to be as long as they work hard. I don’t believe that to be true. Not in this day and age.
Oh Danna I know it is harder when we feel tired but even baby steps are better than nothing. Let me know if I can help in any way x
Love your post! I took the day yesterday, for me, for that exact reason…needed to put myself back in control of my schedule and take stock of how I’m spending my time. It felt really good!
It does feel good Candi and we all need it regularly. Good for you!
This is a great post. Taking charge of your life is so important. I do best when I have a plan of action and find that when I’m not following one that I flounder and get easily distracted by all the shiny things.
I’m exactly the same Jennifer. I need a plan although I know that sometimes I need to adapt if something changes it. But having a plan of action keeps me and my life on track. Have a great day! xx
When I did my digital detox in January, I found out how much time I actually had. I just had to take charge of it. So often we allow distraction and a passive attitude toward the things we say we are passionate about, dictate the direction we head. We need to take the bull by the horns and go after the things we want to accomplish. What do we value most? That’s where we need to be spending our time. Great post, Sue!
Facing Cancer with Grace
Thanks Heather and yes a digital detox is something I need to do regularly. I’ve been sick over the last week and just haven’t been able to check social media or instagram daily. It has been enough to get the AtoZ challenge up to date. The world hasn’t ended so I guess I don’t need to connect as often as I think!
If you don’t take charge and take care of yourself, no one else will do it for you. You’re the only you that you have 🙂 Shared x 4 ♥
So true, Dee, thanks for sharing xx
Oh my goodness – I so have to take charge of my time. I can waste so much of it! And the more I have, the more I have. It’s a real discipline, isn’t it?
We all have the same amount of time Christine, but I agree it is easy to waste it. I like my old fashioned diary where I can write down what I need to do each day. It is a discipline although there is also merit in having time to do nothing when we are feeling stressed or just need a break. x
I read something the other day about how you’re CEO of your body. You set the strategy and the outcomes & have to put the work in – or otherwise. It made sense – as does this.
Some people are so clever aren’t they Jo – ‘You’re the CEO of your body’ I love that! x
Great reminders, Sue. Positive thoughts are good for our health. Our health and time are priceless. #teamlovinlife
Thanks Natalie, I love your comment about our health and time being priceless – so true! xx
I can very much relate to what you say in this post Sue. How we think can affect everything! I’ve caught myself going off on a negative tangent over the blog award I’m finalist in. Typical of me! I have a function to attend in Melbourne. I’ll be going alone. My anxiety has been triggered and my inner critic has been activated – you’ll be all alone, you won’t win, you’ll look a fool, you won’t know anyone….and on it goes. I’m actively trying to change those thoughts so I can actually go and enjoy myself! #TeamLovinLife
Okay Min, firstly you are a wonderful woman and although I haven’t met you IRL I can feel the beautiful person that you are. Secondly, you need to have a serious conversation with your inner critic and send her packing. Look at what you have achieved – you are a finalist and if you don’t win the world won’t end. You look great, you won’t know anyone and that can be intimidating but you are all there for the same reason. Believe in yourself as others believe in you. xx
I’ve definitely taken charge of my life. Perhaps too well. I’m learning to listen to my body a bit more… It’s a work in progress.
SSG xxx
I’m like you SSG but since I turned 60 last year, I am learning to listen to my body more. Training for the marathon this year was hard but I was much more aware of what my body needed, including recovery days. Keep up the good work and learn to be kinder to yourself. xx
There were several points here that really resonated with me. Since I’ve been so horrendously busy over the past 3 months, some things that I used to do for myself had to take a back seat for a while. I’m hoping to get my life back now. Diet and exercise are two areas that I’ve neglected so I need to get resume healthy eating and exercising every day. Thanks for the reminder Sue. #TeamLovinLife
You’ve had a massive few months Kathy with selling, moving and of course your son’s wedding. The key is not to beat yourself up about it but make the commitment to get back on track now you are settling down. You’ve done it before so you can do it again, I have faith in you xx