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How many times have you been prompted by your phones, computers, cars, tablets, TVs, wifi routers, etc., to initiate a software update? Without a thought, we click “OK,” and trust the powers that be to remove outdated content, fix bugs, optimize our user experience, and incorporate more efficient strategies to achieve goals. We do these updates to prevent security issues and improve compatibility and program features, keep our technology running smoothly and protect our data from security breaches. Why wouldn’t we do the same for our minds and our bodies? Periodic reboots are crucial for the growth and change that lead us toward our most authentic and fulfilling lives.
Imagine this, your physical body is your personal hardware, and your mind and interconnected organs and neuropathways make up the software known as the human operating system. This includes the mind, emotions, physical and mental wellness, and general health. We can optimize and maintain our hardware by taking good care of our bodies through exercise, healthy eating, good hygiene, and other positive habits.
Now comes the trickier part. We also have the ability to update our software by ensuring our mental wellness is being managed. This includes addressing items such as personal safety, unresolved issues, unclear boundaries, personal goals in life, strengthening or addressing fractured/fracturing relationships, and overall wellness. Often, we try to work on these things alone, but research shows that to ensure success and commitment, our software updates are most effective with clear strategies and accountability, and the best place for growth and change happens within a community and with leadership from an expert.
The new year is often a time for setting new goals and a perfect time to commit to updating our personal software, but the truth is that any time is a great time to begin.
Updating ourselves, or our personal software can be a valuable and essential process for improving our lives. We reflect on what we love about our lives, identify areas we want to change, and set goals and accountability checkpoints to achieve those changes. To get started, write out a list of what you want to work on and then focus on no more than three of the items. Start with a realistic list, and keep it short. Once you get those goals rolling, you’ll get a feel for whether you’re ready to add to your list as you begin to complete your list successfully.
Here are a few additional tips to help you set and achieve your goals:
Determine what is most important to you, set realistic goals, and write them down. Goals must have a tangible benefit, an expected outcome, and be in areas in your life where you want to grow. Use the SMART goal model (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to set goals. For example: “My goal is to improve my time management and organization with schoolwork. I will write down info for every class each day in my calendar (even if I have no work, I’ll write, “no work,”) and I’ll show it to someone (a parent, a sibling, send a photo of the page to a friend) twice a week. My end goal is to complete and turn in at least 90% of my assignments for the next six weeks on time, without leaving any big assignments to the last minute.”
Make a plan. Now with clear goals in mind, develop a step-by-step plan to accomplish your goals. Keep obstacles in mind so that you can incorporate steps to overcome them. For example, in addition to writing assignments and having accountability, I will add in all of my sports practices, games, and social plans so that I can divide tasks up and give myself a lighter workload on sports days.
Set a timeline. Goals should have a timeline target with a start and stop date. Setting a stop date will keep you on track and motivated to complete your goal.
Commit and block time. With your goals defined and a plan to achieve them – ACT! It is imperative that you take action if you want to achieve your goals. Make sure you are consistently working toward your goal, block the time on your calendar, even if it’s a few minutes a day, and treat it as an essential event that you will not miss.
Get an accountability partner. Think about who you have in your life that you could trust to hold you accountable. This could be a coach, a mentor, a friend, or anyone you truly care about. Establish regular check-ins and accountability metrics. For example, with the agenda example, perhaps you have a parent track your agenda completion each Thursday.
Now you’re ready to put these new tools to work! It’s time to implement your plan and prepare for your personal software update. Don’t get hung up on choosing the perfect objectives. Your goals are relevant to where you are right now - your current situation. Future updates will reflect where you will be at that time. You will forever be evolving and constantly setting new intentions for your life. The beginning is the hardest part, and the more you practice, the more this process will become second nature.
Be kind to yourself. Life happens, and sometimes we don’t achieve the outcomes that we expect. Often, when we fix one thing, we break something else. We have to be prepared for emergency “bug fixes.” With intention, authenticity, and honesty, each personal software update moves us forward in a purposeful and healthy direction, making us more robust, more confident, and mentally well. Now is the time to live life with meaning and purpose, with connection and satisfaction, and most importantly, with an abundance of joy.
Overall, while it might feel uncomfortable or difficult at first, the process of updating ourselves is an important and rewarding process that puts us on a path toward more authentic and fulfilling lives. There is no time better than now to begin your personal reboot and work toward becoming your best self.
For more information on how small changes can make a big difference over time, contact us at info@vesselwellness.com. For more information about Vessel Wellness, visit our webpage at: www.vesselwellness.com or call us at 855-967-8775.