Did you make any new year’s resolutions at the start of this year? Are you still keeping them? While it’s commendable to make resolutions for things in your life you’d like to improve, leading your best life needs more than just good intentions — it needs a plan!
Patricia Sheffield is a certified wellness coach who specializes in helping people through times of change and teaching techniques to live the life they have always dreamed.
“Balancing work, home, family and friends can really be a struggle for people,” said Sheffield. “But we have only one life. I want to help people find the things that make them happy, and then make room for that in their life.”
Sheffield cites setting appropriate boundaries as a place where many need help as they look at how to balance their lives.
“People have many aspects to their life, and when something from one aspect creeps into another and takes away, it causes a boundary issue. Work is something that can sneak into other areas of life. Checking emails on your phone while having dinner with friends, pulling out your laptop after the kids have gone to bed instead of spending time with your spouse — these things could potentially cause trouble to other relationships and areas of your life,” said Sheffield.
Time isn’t the only boundary that can be examined and adjusted. It can include many areas such as mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and even material things.
Sheffield encourages people to make a plan as they consider what boundaries they’re going to set in order to make room in life for positive change.
“Saying no to things or people can feel unnatural and not ‘nice’ at first,” said Sheffield. “Many people have said to me that it feels like you’re going against human nature.”
If you’ve decided that this is the year you are going to live the life you’ve always wanted, Sheffield offers these tips:
- Balance your life. Recognize each separate area of your life that is important and deserves your time. Work, family, friends and a hobby will probably all be on the list.
- Set boundaries. Learn how to let each item in your balanced life have some of your time (but not all of it). Practice good time management skills that allow for the personal time you need to do the activities you enjoy.
- Plan for change. From weight loss to a dream job to world travel, your goals will be impossible if you don’t make plans and have a framework in place to meet them.
- Surround yourself with support. If the people around you don’t support your goals, you are less likely to succeed. Surround yourself with people who want to see you live your happiest life.
“Change can be hard and scary, but there is no reason to wait,” said Sheffield. “Make a plan and start to live the life you’ve always dreamed.”