Planting The Seeds
Merriam-Webster describes “planting seeds” as a metaphor to mean: to create a situation in which (something) is likely or certain to happen or develop.
Creating a situation
If Merriam-Webster says we need to “plant a seed" or create a situation in which (something) is likely to happen or develop, let’s determine what 3 of those situations could be to get you moving towards your goals in wellness, today.
We spend a lot of time creating situations for everyone around us that leads to (something) happening. At work, we hustle to meet deadlines, to get to the office on time, to complete that task, to send that email. How do we make that happen? Schedules!
We get our kids to all of their sports, make sure they have all of the equipment. If they have a birthday party, we jump through hoops to get all things accomplished (sometimes for weeks) just to see a smile on their face.
In a relationship or marriage, we devote parts of our life to considering the person we share everything with. If they have an event, if they need help with a task, supporting conversations. Whatever the call, we try our hardest to make space for them in any way we can.
The point is, behind all of these other aspects of life, we get it done. We make it happen. So what is it that propels us in almost every aspect of our life to make sure we create a situation in which something is likely to happen or develop? Let’s dive in:
#1 - Schedule it!
Almost all of the things we accomplish at work, with family events, childrens’ sports and activites… its in the schedule. Almost every client I work with that struggles to meet their goals is not putting it in the schedule. It took me YEARS to figure out that I had to put it in the schedule book, in my phone and on the “Mom” calendar on the fridge. I left my gym/exercise time open to chance for too many years. Almost always, something came up to interfere or I would get carried away with other tasks. Once I set my exercise time as a priority at 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, no one asked questions. It was there, on the calendar like everything else and I just got ready at 5:45pm and went on my way.
So this is a seed. Plant it a month in advance and put it on the schedule. Don’t move it unless it’s absolutely necessary. Think of it like a job. It might not be making you money like a job but it’s a damn good savings plan towards your wellness. But don’t stop here. We don’t just put in our schedules at work or at home ‘deadline’ and leave it at that. We have to be clear about WHAT it is that we need to accomplish. This leads to the next thing you can do:
#2 - Be specific!
You would never enter your child’s hockey game in the schedule as “hockey game” on a Saturday at 10am without knowing where you’re going and who your team is playing. At work, you wouldn’t put ‘deadline’ in the calendar for a Thursday at 3pm without descripting what the deadline was for. Let’s get as specific with our health, wellness and fitness goals in order to see the same level of success as we do in other scheduled areas of life.
Choose the days you want to exercise, right now…do it. Grab your phone or your schedule and plant a seed. Pick 3 days in this moment that are clear in your schedule and pencil it in. Pick a time, choose an exercise description. For me it’s “gym” because in my phone I have a program ready to roll. Gym at 6pm, 4 days a week. PERIOD!
Now that you’ve chosen your days and added in a descriptor for those days, commit to it - like you would for your boss, your child or a dinner date with your boo. I know things come up, but you be the judge as to what is a justifiable cause to withdraw from the wellness bank. Moving your body (in whatever way you choose) is good for the body but also for the mind and soul. Keep the date and don’t be late. The seed is planted and after a couple of days, the routine will take root. Keep watering the crop and “let it grow, let it growwwwww” <- insert Frozen song here. It’s late and I’m giddy, so bear with me.
Just as with sports/activities and work, the schedules ebb and flow with seasons. When a specific sport is done, the schedule changes, until another starts and so does another new routine. When things are slow at work, there are less deadlines and more flexibility. There will also be days where your head is spinning and you don’t even know how you’re going to pee or eat lunch in order to meet deadlines. This brings me to the third and final thing you can do to plant seeds that grow:
#3 - Change with the seasons!
Let’s say, September has come. Routine is flowing but schedules are amped up. We always think we are going to get in a flow when the fall rolls around since we’ve been free birds all summer. The problem is, it’s a busy season. As the holidays draw near, something else is added to the ‘to-do’ list every day. This is where we need to stop giving up and start re-arranging. Again, I bring us back to a work situation. You don’t just quit your job when busy season arrives and you also don’t quit when it seems like there’s nothing much to do. You show up. You ask for help if things are overwhelming in order to make it happen and get it done. If it’s slow, you fill the time. It’s all just a matter of moving things around in the time being in order to make it work. We would never abandon the schedule.
In children’s sports… I keep referring to kids because that is my point of reference. Maybe you have your own sports and activities on the schedule, maybe you volunteer. It’s all the same. We make room for it, you get the idea. Anyway, in my children’s sports and activities, there is never a dull moment. Some days you get a message the day of a hockey game saying it’s still a go, even though there is a blistering snowstorm outside and the winter tires aren’t even on yet. Regardless, you pack everyone up, screaming toddler in tow and make your way 2 hours out of town for said hockey game. The logic!
So, my point is, sometimes things pop up that make it difficult to get to where you said you were gonna be. Stop erasing your appointment at the wellness bank for small inconveniences when you bend backwards and inside out for everything else on your schedule. If it’s a busy month, choose different days. Look ahead week to week or at the month and get the ‘appointments’ in there. This is how we make the lifestyle change. Little seeds that take root. Sometimes we’ve gotta re-pot them to let them flourish. Don’t let the seed squander. Commit to your wellness and start with these 3 actions today.
Don’t stop here:
Use these 3 tips in any way you need to. Maybe it’s cooking a healthy, wholesome meal 3 nights a week. Getting to the grocery store, having a food prep night. If it’s family time you need for your emotional wellness, put a couple nights on the calendar, be specific and commit to rearranging that ‘appointment’ come hell or high water. It doesn’t have to be exercise. Health and wellness comes in many forms to deposit into the health and wellness bank. Spend more time planting so there’s always a constant harvest.
What’s next?
Check back next Monday November 25, 2024 for the ‘Moving the Needle’ blog post.
You will find my workshop ROOTED (to be released in January 2025) by clicking it’s underlined title. We will expand on the ideas shared here in great depth. We expect this to be a 1-2 hour experience with many goal setting take-aways. Check back in January when the content of the course will be added. Exact Date TBD.
Thanks for reading. I look forward to sharing for many years to come.
With Love and Light,
Mandy Hunter
*Disclaimer: I am not an english major and I likely passed high-school english class with a 70 percent, at best. I am a neurodivergent woman who has big ideas and terrible punctuation skills. I own it and I’m not upset. I hope to bring something to the table, either way.