Here at MNTR, we believe in rituals over resolutions. Resolutions are well-intentioned dreams that rarely seem to stick long-term. Rituals, however, are the routines and daily habits that quietly shape the course of our lives.
Everyone has rituals, intentional ones or not.
Your most important rituals are how you start and end the day. With just a little bit of forethought, you can create routines that serve your personal or professional goals. Here are five ways to elevate your rituals 2019.
1. Give yourself an early win.
What is one thing you can do for yourself every single morning, without exception?
A lot of resolutions fail because we think that we’re failing. Our business isn’t growing fast enough, so we stop meeting with a business coach. We have a few days of indulgent eating, so we just stop going to the gym altogether. Our human brains love positive reinforcement, so if you want a ritual to stick, you need to guarantee a win. Start with something simple and achievable… like making the bed.
2. Don’t let your calendar dictate your ritual.
Rituals are powerful because they’re consistent. Life happens and schedules change, but the rituals you’ve committed to shouldn’t. Sometimes this means waking up earlier or going to bed later. Whatever you need to do to get it done, do it.
3. Reinforce the positive.
Your mindset matters. Use your rituals as a time to practice gratitude and positivity. Remember, your rituals aren’t punishment, they’re a gift (that you get to choose!).
The next time you find yourself thinking “I do not want to workout today, . wWhy did I sign up for this class? It’s going to be awful.”… Ccheck your mindset and remember “I am so lucky that I can afford a gym membership. I am so grateful that I have a mobile body that can exercise. I’m so thankful for this time that I can dedicate to my health.”
4. How do you want to feel?
Ask yourself, “hHow do I want to feel when this ritual is over?” If you want to feel energized after your morning routine—and reading books makes you sleepy—then it doesn’t matter how many business experts talk about the power of reading in the morning… it’s not for you! Instead, add in something that gives you a burst of energy and save the reading for your nightly ritual.
5. Schedule think-time.
You need to have time to process your thoughts each day. Maybe it’s prayer time, or meditation, or journaling. Whatever it the format is, you need a few minutes each day to gather your thoughts and make decisions.
Once you have your 2019 goals in place, find a way to work them into a daily ritual. We promise that if you do, this will be the year they finally stick.