Truth time...I have a love/hate relationship with motivation 😓

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for inspiring and motivating others. It’s part of my brand after all and most of my own success has been - at least in part - inspired or motivated by advice in the books I’ve read, tips others have shared and strategies that I know have worked for others - and felt right for me as well.

But there were plenty of times when the “felt right” part just wasn't there.  And when it wasn't there -  I had ZERO motivation to keep going.   Which is exactly how I started to figure out which strategies were actually worth following - and which ones I needed to toss like yesterday's garbage. All that trial and error taught me that motivation doesn't come from blindly following routines that seem to work for other (seemingly successful) people.

In fact, the few times I did try to force myself into someone else’s “perfect routine”, I ended up in burnout. And in one instance, I triggered a storm of autoimmune issues which took years to manage.

Maybe that’s why I’m so hyper-sensitive to some of the tips that I see about what it takes to “succeed” and how to maximize your time and increasing productivity through a “one size fits all”, rigid and uncompromising routine.

And while I agree that we we all have the same number of hours in each day, the way we can best use them - without ending up overwhelmed or in full on burnout - is often influenced by more than just our thoughts, willpower, or determination. Yes those can play a role in whether we are part of the 5 am club or night owls - but so can our genetics, chronotype, stress levels and even our hormone levels.

That’s why an early wake-up may be ideal for some people while completely decreasing productivity - and in some cases -adversely impacting the health of other people.

So if you want to maximize productivity and long term success, choose a routine that works for YOU - not your favorite author, guru or social media influencer. Find one that you can actually stick with and that leaves you feeling good, both physically and emotionally.

At the end of the day we all know that you can’t fit a square peg in a round hole. And yet that’s exactly what most people try to do when it comes to themselves.

Give yourself some grace and space to figure out what works best for you. Start with the basics When are you most productive? When do you do your best thinking? When do you feel most energetic? Are you a morning person or night person? Do you need more than 7 hours sleep or less than 7 hours to feel and perform your best? The answers to those questions should form the foundation for your daily schedule and routine.

If you’re not sure of the answers try using a tracker (Oura ring is my favorite) to help you figure it out if you’re not sure. Or ask for help. There are plenty of people and resources out there that can help you figure out what works best for your body. As an aside, I highly recommend my own performance coach and mentor Angela Foster. She is truly a magician when it comes to maximizing productivity and performance without sacrificing your health (and sanity).

Success isn’t a one-size-fits all process and there’s no one schedule that works for everybody. We’re unique beings with unique, multifaceted needs and abilities. And to make the most of your abilities, you have to be willing to meet your needs.

And there’s no better day to start than today.

Xoxo,
Afsheen

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