Overwhelmed? Locate & Clear the Log Jam

Often times, when trying to create new goals/habits for ourselves, we have to begin the process by removing things that make it harder for us to move forward smoothly. Sometimes we have to start by locating & dealing with the log jams upstream that are wreaking havoc on the flow of things downstream, where we’re wanting to go.

Example:

Goal: Make a healthier breakfast so you have more energy and feel fuller throughout your morning. (And have less cravings for unhealthy foods later)

Identify What’s Causing the Log Jam: Your mornings are jam packed, the kitchen is a mess, and you don’t have any food at home. This has resulted in drive-thru breakfast or skipping food altogether & downing several cups of coffee. You’re energy is dragging by 10:00am & you’re starving by lunchtime. You need a quick lunch so you just grab fast food, which doessn’t offer much in terms of nutrients and you’re dragging and hangry by dinner time. You feel crappy.

Work Backwards to Clear the Log Jams:

1. Issue: You have nothing to eat.

   1. Look up a few different quick, higher protein breakfast options that you like: eggs, plain greek yogurt, cottage cheese, homemade protein shake recipe. Have a variety so you don’t get bored of the same thing each day.

   2. Go grocery shopping or set up a delivery order so these items are stocked at home. You can even set it to recur weekly so you’re set.

2. Issue: Not enough time for breakfast

   1. Lay out your work clothes & clean the kitchen the night before so it’s faster/easier to make a quick breakfast in the morning.

   2. Get all the ingredients together - or go ahead and make it - the night before.

   3. Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier so you can make breakfast (and don’t hit snooze).

3. Issue: You’re too exhausted at night to do any of the prep.

   1. This is easier said than done, especially if you have kids, but try not to over-schedule yourself during the week so your evenings are calm enough to take care of yourself. If you’re constantly running yourself ragged, you’ll never have the brain space you need to set up a new routine.

   2. It’s ok to eat dinner leftovers for breakfast. Dinner usually consists of higher protein items and veggies - which actually work great for giving you enough energy for your day and not overloading you with sugar.

Take time to work the process:

If you’ve been having trouble executing on a new goal, try blocking off 30 minutes for yourself to actually go through this process:

1. Evaluate the goal.

2. Identify the log jams blocking your way.

3. Brainstorm solutions & break them down into smaller steps.

4. Create a new routine that flows easier & see if that helps.

5. Give yourself time to build the habits… and also work out the kinks. New things may pop up & throw off your plan. It’s ok to re-work the routine as many times as you need to in order to find what works best for you.

   Have grace with yourself:

   If you feel crappy about not being able to start your new goal, don’t. It takes time & energy (& sometimes other resources) to deal with log jams. And the more logs in your way, the longer it takes to clear them.

   Ask for help.

   If you don’t live alone, ask for help from your partner/roommate/kids. Let them know what your trying to accomplish, why it’s important to you, and what you need from them. They may even have ideas you haven’t throught of yet.

   If you need professional help, this is exactly the kind of thing we help our clients with every day. Book a 30 minute consult with us and let us take some of the load off.

Have patience. Don’t give up.

You’ve got this.