Our physical, mental, and emotional health has been challenged over the past three years. We have had change thrown at us from every direction. From the shift in where we work to our kids being in and out of the classroom to family members getting sick and managing the day-to-day busyness of our lives. For many of us, the summer of 2022 felt like the first time we were free to engage in our favourite activities with our favourite people. We were making up for lost time.
As we shift gears into winter, it can be a time of hibernation for some, and others are in full-on dance or hockey mom mode. It can be easy to lose ourselves as we keep up with what everyone else wants from us. It can be easy to fall into a routine which creates our comfort zone.
Your comfort zone doesn’t often equal your happy place. Your comfort zone is a place, a feeling, a set of activities you have done so often that you don’t have to think too much about them. It’s not to say that you still aren’t busy each week, but even within the busyness, you are comfortable.
When you are in your comfort zone, it’s like part or all of your life is on autopilot. And sometimes, we need to hit the auto-pilot switch because we don’t have the capacity for more thinking or more doing. But when we stay on autopilot for too long, life starts to happen to us. Weeks, months and even years can pass us by.
Does your comfort zone make you smile? If it does, then practice being present and enjoy every moment. But if your comfort zone doesn’t make you smile, it’s time to give yourself permission to look at where you are today and explore what’s possible tomorrow.
I’m not suggesting you start making massive changes tomorrow. Change is hard, and when you have a comfy comfort zone to fall back to, you must invest the time in understanding what matters most to you, how you want to feel each day when you wake up and how you want to show up for yourself and your family.
Creating space for this type of reflection can be one of the hardest things to do because it means setting aside time for yourself. If you are setting aside time for yourself, it means you are saying no to something someone else is asking of you. It’s ok to say Yes to yourself. You are not being selfish, and you deserve the same happiness you want for your family.
As you start saying yes to ‘me time,’ it can be helpful to let your partner and children know what you are doing. If you are someone that says yes to everything, hearing the word no or not right now will represent a change for your family. Helping your family understand why this change is important to you will help them make the necessary adjustments to support you.
Reflecting looks different for each of us. Some women are drawn to journaling or gardening, while others walk in nature or take a solo drive and listen to their favourite music. It might feel uncomfortable if you haven’t tried creating space for yourself. Give yourself some grace as you start this new and essential practice.
Please reach out if I can help you explore your possibilities and design your next chapter.
Strategic Workplace Change Consultant & Leadership Coach
Lisa Blanchet Coaching & Consulting
416.258.3727 | www.lisablanchet.ca
