238. You are your own most important project
To-do lists, deadlines and responsibilities - Sure, they might matter but not as much as YOU matter... working on Project YOU is the most important work of your life... let Sarah tell you why and how!
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Transcript
Hello and welcome back to the Drink Less Live, Better podcast.
-:I'm Sarah Williamson and you can follow me on Instagram.
-:For a bit of inspiration, check out my website to download resources and read my book for insights and wisdom. Drink Less Live Better Related.
-:I have some coaching spots open at the moment.
-:Pop me an email if you'd like some more information.
-:Okay, let's get on with today's episode.
-:You are your own most important project okay, I'm going to say it again so we really get to the truth quickly in this episode.
-:You are your own most important project. You.
-:Yes, you are in the middle of endless to do lists, deadlines and responsibilities.
-:It's really easy to forget that the most meaningful thing you'll ever build, refine or nurture is yourself.
-:The most important place to bring awareness to is you.
-:Today, I'll share five practical tips you can use right away to treat yourself as the project that matters most.
-:And I'll give you a few cheeky insights as to where I have got my most important project wrong and right in the past. Let's start with why. You are your most important project.
-:Any big project you've ever worked on.
-:Perhaps a career goal, a degree, your own business, a home renovation, or anything else.
-:You probably created a plan, invested resources such as time, money or energy, tracked your progress and made adjustments along the way.
-:Now imagine applying that same level of commitment and care to yourself, your health, your mindset, your growth, your relationships and your well being.
-:Unlike any of those previously mentioned projects, you are lifelong.
-:Your career may shift, your roles and responsibilities may evolve, but at the core, the person you're becoming is the thread of that runs right through.
-:That is why treating yourself as your most important project isn't selfish, selfish or indulgent. It's strategic.
-:Because when you're, well, growing and feeling aligned, everything else you touch will benefit. Okay, tip one. Let's define your vision.
-:Every successful project starts with a clear vision.
-:Each if you're your own most important project, the question is, what is the vision for the next bit of your life?
-:Doesn't have to be your whole life.
-:Maybe it is the next month, the next six months, or the next year.
-:It doesn't have to be a perfectly polished mission statement. No, definitely not.
-:Instead, think of it as a north star or a compass point.
-:Do you perhaps want to be a more patient parent? A healthier version of yourself?
-:Someone who lives with less stress and more contentment?
-:Take a minute to write it down.
-:Even a few sentences in a diary can give you some clarity and help you measure whether your daily actions are pulling you
-:closer to or moving you further from your vision.
-:Tip 2 Invest in your energy Projects will always require resources.
-:For you, the primary resource might probably be energy.
-:That means sleep, movement and nutrition are not optional.
-:They will be the fuel that allows you to create, connect and contribute to the project.
-:Here's a reframe Instead of asking do I have time to work out or get enough sleep?
-:What kind of energy do I want to bring to my life this week?
-:Protecting your energy is a non negotiable and it's really responsible.
-:When you take care of your physical and mental well being, you increase the bandwidth to which you can commit to your project.
-:I'm really aware that my physical energy levels are highest in the morning, so I save that best energy for myself and my workouts.
-:I know that my emotional energy reserves are better in the late afternoons and early evenings, so that's when I tend to see my coaching clients. Number three Track your progress.
-:If you hang out with me in my email club, you'll know I'm a fan of tracking habits.
-:Very few projects survive without some form of tracking or accountability. It can be simple. Maybe it's journaling once a week.
-:Maybe it's rating your stress or happiness on a scale of 1 to 10. Maybe it's setting a monthly challenge. The key is the awareness.
-:By tracking even small things, you start to see patterns.
-:What drains you, what strengthens you and where you're making progress.
-:Progress you can see is progress you'll sustain.
-:My favourite tracking app is called Streaks.
-:Tip number four Build a support system. Projects are generally never accomplished alone.
-:If you're serious about treating yourself as your most important project, surround yourself with people who support your growth.
-:That doesn't mean creating an echo chamber.
-:It means intentionally spending time with people who challenge you to be better.
-:Encourage your goals to champion you when it goes right and remind you of your worth when you forget.
-:Sometimes support looks like a mentor or coach. Sometimes it's a workout partner.
-:Sometimes it's simply someone who listens with an open mind.
-:Whatever form it takes, don't try to do life's most important project in isolation. And number five, Celebrate the milestones. Here's where some of us stumble. Yes, hello me.
-:Perhaps we only celebrate the big achievements like promotions or degrees or, er, book launches.
-:And maybe we don't even make a big deal about those. But think about any major project.
-:You celebrate the phases along the way to keep morale high. The same applies to you.
-:Did you stick to a routine you created this week?
-:Did you handle a tough situation with patience instead of frustration?
-:Did you drink more water or take more walks?
-:Celebrate it Acknowledging small wins creates a bit of momentum, and momentum will be what carries you forward when maybe
-:your motivation dips to finish where we started.
-:You are your most important project and this means getting clear on what you do and don't want so you know where to be headed.
-:Invest in your energy so you have the fuel to get there.
-:Track your progress so you stay aware and accountable.
-:Build support systems that work so you're not alone on your journey.
-:Celebrate milestones so you maintain the momentum.
-:It's worth knowing that the work you do on yourself will ripple outwards when you grow. Everyone around you benefits.
-:Your family, your colleagues, your friends, your community.
-:And so ask yourself, what is one step you can take today to move forward on the most important project of your life?
-:You thank you for listening in today.
-:Check out the Show Notes for Resources Ways to work with me I've hidden a secret podcast episode in the show notes.
-:Click on down there and find it.
-:Oh, and P S I believe in you.
