A 5-step plan to upgrade your life
Image: Annie Sprat
Spring is the perfect time to clear out old habits, take stock of what's working (and not working), and sweep in new visions and new action. When winter starts to fade and the days get longer, we naturally have more energy and what better way to spend it than creating more of what you want!
To take advantage and put that spring in your step to work for good, here is a simple, 5-step process that will help you to get clear on what needs upgrading and jumpstart some changes wherever it feels most impactful.
While it doesn't take long to work through the exercises, I prefer to set aside a dedicated quiet time to work through them, so that your answers can be reflective and not just a response to whatever's on your mind or your plate that day.
I encourage you to give yourself the time, download the Spring Clean Playbook, make a cup of coffee or tea and re-energize (or create) whatever is calling for attention in your life.
5-Step Spring Clean
First, take stock of the many areas of your life.
What's humming along and what feels stagnant? Where do you feel fulfilled and where not? I like to use the Priorities Wheel tool (there's one in the Playbook) for this because it provides a clear snapshot of what needs attention right now. The beauty of this tool, in my opinion, is not that you are aiming for a perfect or even score across the board, but that you can quickly identify areas for upgrade and acknowledge your successes and gratitude for what's working at the same time.
Choose one area to work on right now.
Ideally, you'll choose an area of significant impact, so that you can feel the results of your efforts right away. That might mean committing to improving your lowest scoring area or it might mean taking on an area that, when improved, will have a ripple impact on other areas of your life. Choosing one is choosing to focus, and focus gets results.
Evaluate that area of your life.
What's happening there? What's holding you back from feeling more fulfilled in this area of your life? What are you putting up with or making do with in this area? Be honest about what's going on for you and be sure to include an assessment of the things that you have control over. Once you know what's not working, turn your attention to how you'd like it to be instead. What would it mean for you to fully upgrade that area of your life? How would it feel? What might it require of you? Imagine a vision that excites and energizes you. Write it down.
Detox that area of your life.
This means it's time to let go of the situations, habits, obstacles, self-imposed roadblocks, self-talk, things you've been tolerating-- whatever you've identified that is standing between the status quo and feeling happier and more fulfilled in this area of your life. For each thing that you let go of, match it with an alternative action, habit, attitude, standard or anything else you can put in place that is more aligned with what you want. Letting go is one important part, but filling that new space with positive alternatives is equally important.
Set your priorities.
Now that you have a good sense of how you'd like this area of your life to be, what it will mean to you to upgrade it, and some ideas on how you can do that, it's time to prioritize. Trying to take on everything at once can be a recipe for overwhelm, leaving you starting and stopping but not getting where you want to go.
Choose your top 1-5 priorities and set up a system to support them. Most important, be sure to identify actions that you can take right away and habits you already have (or want to develop) that will support you.
That's it! Work the plan that you've just created throughout the spring, add to it as needed and check back in with yourself after a couple of months. Celebrate your progress. If you stick with it, there will be progress!
Keep going! Or, if you are satisfied with how far you've come, consider tackling another area that feels important to address. Happy Spring!
