It's no secret that change is hard. Making changes to our lifestyle, diet, or daily routine can be daunting, and often times we feel like we're fighting an uphill battle. But it's important to remember that making changes is a process and one that requires patience and perseverance. In this blog post, we will explore some tips for effectively managing change so that you can stay on track and continue making progress towards your goals.

What is maintenance?

Maintenance is the act of keeping something in good condition by regularly checking it and doing small repairs. It includes things that we do every day such as brushing our teeth, washing dishes after dinner each night, or emptying out trash cans when they're full.

Maintenance also encompasses larger tasks like mowing the lawn once a month or cleaning gutters every six months to prevent clogs from forming.

Maintenance is often overlooked as an important part of change management because it may seem boring or tedious compared with the excitement that comes from starting something new, but without proper maintenance, those changes will not last long term. It's like buying a car: if you don't take care of it by changing the oil regularly and replacing worn parts, then eventually it will break down completely (and possibly even before its time).

How do you maintain change?

Maintenance is a process that involves regular attention. It can be as simple or complex depending on what needs to be maintained in order to achieve your goals – for example: if one of your goals is to eat healthier, then you might maintain your change by checking in with how you're feeling after each meal and making adjustments as needed. On the other hand, if one of your goals is to save money, then maintaining that change may require a more detailed plan including setting budget limits and tracking spending over time.

The important thing is that you find what works best for you and stick to it. There isn't necessarily one right way to do things – everyone is different and will have their own preferences and methods for staying on track. What's most important is that you find something that works for YOU and makes it easy to keep moving forward.

How do you determine where to go next?

Once you've established a routine for maintaining your changes, it's important to set some goals for where you want to go next. This could involve revisiting your original goals and determining what steps you need to take in order to achieve them, or it could be something completely new that you've never tried before.

The key is to keep things fresh and exciting so that you don't get stuck in a rut. It can be helpful to switch up your routine every once in a while or try out a different approach to reaching your goals. If you've been working on losing weight for example, maybe try incorporating more strength training into your workout regime or swapping out unhealthy foods for healthier alternatives. Or if you're struggling with getting organized, maybe try keeping a journal of your daily tasks and commitments.

We can't do everything at once. We have to prioritize and maintain what we can in the present moment. If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of the changes that need to be made, focus on one thing first before moving on to another project or task – otherwise it's easy for things to get out of hand quickly! This also goes back to why maintenance is so important as well because without proper care then nothing will last long term either (and this includes health). So take some time each day just for yourself–whether it be meditation, reading a book, taking a walk outside–whatever makes YOU feel most alive!

The biggest thing I have seen as a therapist is that clients come back during maintenance telling me about how they notice themselves slipping back into old routines. When I explore this with them, I notice a common denominator across clients... The first thing to go when life threw them curveballs is their self-care.

Dropping self-care practices is the biggest warning sign to us that we are drifting away from ourselves and our healing.

When we start to neglect our self-care, it is usually a sign that something else is going on. It could be that we are feeling overwhelmed and don't know how to ask for help, or maybe we're dealing with some unresolved trauma that we haven't taken the time to address yet. Or it could simply mean that we're just too busy and stressed out from everyday life.

But whatever the reason may be, it's important to pay attention if we start to see a drop in our usual self-care practices because it's usually a sign that something bigger is happening behind the scenes. And if left unchecked, those negative feelings and emotions can eventually lead us down a path of regression.

I place such a high priority on encouraging clients to NOTICE. Notice their thoughts, notice what they are feeling, and noticing how those interact with their stories and behaviours.

The more we can be present enough to notice our stories, the more we are able to change them.

So...what do maintaining changes come down to?

Everyday Mindfulness.

Self-awareness.

Notice when you are slipping away from your routine and what might be causing it.

Be gentle with yourself and don't beat yourself up if you fall off track – just pick yourself back up and keep moving forward!

The most important thing is to never give up on yourself. You are capable of so much more than you think! 🙂

Maintaining personal changes can seem daunting at times, but it's not impossible. It's all about finding a method that works for you and sticking to it! And if things start to get tough, don't be afraid to ask for help from friends or family members. We're all in this together 😊👍🏼