Checking-in On Change

This month I’ve focused on taking action towards the changes I seek. Many of you have done the same. As we’re half way through the month, this is a good point to stop and give ourselves a Change Check-up. A great question that ADHD coach, Cameron Gott asks is, “Where are we now?”

Locating where you are in the change process is important. Are you struggling to match actions with the changes you want? Or, are you able to make new choices each day to facilitate the changes that you desire? Perhaps you are experiencing a mix of struggles and successes. Sometimes we want habits or situations to alter, but we find it challenging to take the action steps, however small, to bring about those changes.

In the Readiness for Change fact sheet I created for the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, I wrote about the five phases of change: Initial Rumblings, Identifying Possibilities, Reaching Out, Beyond Talking and Life Jolts. These stages aren’t necessarily linear. We shift back and forth between the phases and can even straddle two simultaneously. For a detailed description, the ICD fact sheet is available as a free download.

Sometimes we need to pause and reassess where we are and how we’re doing. For example, I spent December and January setting goals and determining which changes I wanted to make for the coming year. When February arrived, I began setting some of those goals in motion by taking baby steps forward. Now I’m evaluating how I’m doing. Many of the changes I seek are in the works. Some have shorter time frames to accomplish, while others might take a full year or longer.

Each of us face challenges. For me, the most difficult ones seem to be integrating exercise into my schedule and cutting down on the sweets. Experience tells me that when I exercise more and eat fewer sweets, I feel healthier and stronger. As it turns out, getting out for that brisk walk or saying “no” to the very tempting cupcake or bar of chocolate is apparently not so easy.

I know that it’s difficult to make multiple changes at once. I haven’t given up on my fitness and health goals. They just may need to be postponed while I work on the other areas I’ve chosen to focus on.

Make time for your Change Check-up. Where are you now? Are you experiencing challenges or celebrating successes? I’d love to hear from you.