If you have ever been an athlete, whether currently or in the past, you probably understand the dedication it takes when biking, running, or swimming to achieve a result that enhances your performance. When we apply this same determination and effort to mental training for success, we uncover various additional elements that impact our ability to show up and perform at our highest level. Dr. Lauren Hodges talks about how altering this performance perspective, beginning with small steps, and fostering awareness can aid in stress management while helping us discover increased energy and purpose.
Cultivate your body, cultivate your mind
Hodges originated from a fitness-oriented background, and as she delved into the realm of corporate wellness, she discovered that a multitude of factors influences our capability to tap into various energy sources. We are complex beings; our thoughts, emotions, quality of sleep, nutrition, and pursuit of meaningful goals are integral to our success. Each element also interacts with the others. This insight was pivotal for Hodges and her clientele, empowering her to understand that cultivating positive habits and establishing healthy boundaries requires much more than merely training for a specific task. Hence, her approach transitioned from being reactive to becoming intentional and responsive.
Engage in small practices
So, how do we begin to dedicate ourselves to training our minds for success? By starting small—even dedicating just one day a week. Identify a time that already fits into your schedule and protect that time. Then, give yourself the opportunity to pause, allowing you to choose in the moment how best to utilize that time, whether that involves journaling, hydrating, meditating, or engaging in another activity.
By establishing that pause, you’ll start to feel attracted to the habit rather than pressured into it. You might even find the desire to incorporate an additional day or two as you experience the positive effects of rest and deliberate recovery—it truly enhances productivity! But first, you need to learn how to simply exist, not just act.
The significant reset
The pandemic prompted us to prioritize wellness as a central aspect of our success. Many individuals often refer to the Great Resignation as a significant outcome of our shared experiences during that time, as the pandemic encouraged us to seriously evaluate our lives and consider what we desired for the future.
During moments of stress or profound sadness, similar to what we experienced during the pandemic, it’s crucial to have a set of tools at your disposal—resources that can assist you in navigating through challenges. This equips you to face stressful situations confidently, knowing that you have developed your strategies for success.
Hodges emphasizes the importance of first recognizing the thought, emotion, and behavior patterns associated with negative stress so that we can act early, identify the tools that will assist in managing it, and lessen the likelihood of a mental health crisis.
Leverage social media positively
Your social media following can shape your values. Thus, follow individuals who motivate and inspire you—surround yourself with positivity. Hodges engages with profiles that uplift her, allowing her to observe what others are doing and test new approaches, be it exercising, maintaining a worry journal, or seeking therapy.
Conversely, she also aims to minimize distractions by avoiding accounts that do not align with her personal growth objectives.
How to redirect yourself effectively
Creating awareness of energy drains—factors that hinder your progress and disconnect you from your values and purpose—is essential. For Hodges, inadequate sleep and several competing priorities with overlapping deadlines are significant energy drains. By pausing after encountering these drains, she can identify them and develop an appropriate intervention.
In her approach, she employs a sleep tracker and maintains consistent morning and evening routines to regulate her sleep. Aware that multiple priorities can lead her to negative self-talk and feelings of impostor syndrome, she shifts her focus to engaging with supportive individuals and implementing delegation strategies when faced with stressors.
And remember…
This journey of growth is not a straightforward path or an all-or-nothing experience, but rather a continuous process. You may feel sidetracked for a portion of the week while also experiencing high levels of performance and achievement.
You are sufficient as you are, and you can achieve fulfillment even while being a work in progress—because it’s about the practice of simply existing.
