The other day a client was lamenting a bad habit she’d developed: Hitting the snooze button and rolling over for a few more minutes of sleep…and then hitting snooze for a few more minutes…and then snoozing again.
The result of this nearly hour-long snooze and roll?
She was still technically getting up “on time”—if on time meant not being late for work. But her mornings were rushed, with no time to spare beyond the basics and bare minimum of getting ready for work.
What used to be
She described a former morning routine of yoga stretches, inspirational reading, a few minutes of meditation, and checking in with her goals.
I used to have a morning routine about getting ready for the day mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It wasn’t just about getting dressed and running out the door.
In describing her former morning routine, my client’s entire tone of voice changed: She went from discouraged to hopeful. From disappointed in herself to re-connecting with a better version of herself.
Good habits gone bad
It was clear she’d both enjoyed and benefitted from starting her days in a slower, less slapdash way. Given this, I asked what caused her to drop her morning routine.
In that split second when the alarm went off, it seemed like what I wanted more was to just roll over and go back to sleep.
Short-term versus long-term
My client is describing that all-too-familiar contrast and conflict: Sacrifice versus Payoff. Or put another way: Sometimes we have to give up something to get something more.
For instance:
- Give up hitting the snooze button and rolling over. Gain an extra hour to devote to a nourishing morning routine.
- Give up a venti peppermint mocha frappuccino with whipped cream. Get one step closer to reclaiming your health.
- Give up comparing yourself to others. Gain confidence as you focus on your own progress.
- Give up time-wasting activities. Get time to work toward your goals that matter most.
The Big Yes
The big YES life you want—and deserve—to live is only possible if you say some small “nos”.
All the little “nos” add up to the bigger, better life you want for yourself.
- No, I don’t need to keep up with the Joneses.
- I’ll give up that resentment.
- No, I won’t spend beyond my means.
- I’ll let go of procrastinating on important projects.
What’s a short-term sacrifice you need to make in order to benefit from the longer-term payoff? What do you need to say “no” to in order to reap the rewards of a bigger “yes”?
