STOP being so LAZY!
Got your attention didn’t I?! Actually, I’m not great with those bold titles but this one certainly got me!
Last year, I started listening to Rob Dial, The Mindset Mentor on Spotify. I love the short and sweet, motivational talks which often set me up for the day. I listen to him while I’m putting my make-up on, making my breakfast or ‘pottering’ (which I seem to do a LOT).
I thought about why the title got me. It triggered something in me because although I’m not lazy, I’m certainly not productive all the time. Before I even listened to it, I knew he was going to give me some guidance on how to get my GOALS in order.
GOALS
You see, I think one of the things which stops many of us being successful is exactly this – not getting our goals in order. I know – it’s a huge topic and how do you even know what to aim for? That’ll be a blog for another day but once you well and truly know where you’re heading in your business then getting your goals in order is crucial.
I decided to use this blog to share Rob’s main points but apply them to the self-employed therapist. Sound good? I’ve also included snippets of how I apply each of these to my own life
HAVE A VISION
What do you want? Where do you want to be in a few months, 5 years, 10 years?
If your full-time business is hand’s-on therapy, here are some areas you could consider:
- How many clients do you want to treat weekly in the months and years to come?
- Do you want to remain completely hands-on? We need to be in great health for this
- Which modalities do you want to explore? Research training courses, costs and timing
- Are you willing to explore the online landscape? How can you share your skills online? Courses, consultations, group sessions, webinars and podcasts
Even if you don’t have the technical know-how right now, still put it out there as a possibility.
I’m aiming to create my first online course this year. I’m also exploring Ayurvedic Nutrition consultations both in person and online.
DEVELOP A SCHEDULE
Go through your entire schedule on a Sunday and map out your days. Schedule a maximum of 3 tasks per day. This will reduce mental overload.
As a therapist, your priority is your schedule of existing appointments, and everything fits in around that. I find that too many therapists pack in the appointments and don’t schedule time for other essential tasks. Let’s face it, the washing doesn’t happen by magic and a fairy doesn’t visit to make your treatment room spotlessly clean and inviting. In most cases, WE do these jobs ourselves so acknowledge the time it takes to do them. It’s essential if we’re going to avoid burnout. Here’s a short list of activities every therapist should be scheduling as part of her week:
- Social media planning
- Marketing
- Client follow up and feedback
- Stock take/ordering
- Washing/cleaning/replenishing
Be gentle with yourself. This is what we tell our clients, so we have to practise what we preach.
Personally, I only treat clients 2.5 days per week. I also run a training business, so my plate is full. I allow long gaps between clients to keep my own nervous system regulated and manage my energy. I can’t GIVE when I’m in a hurry, running late or dealing with unexpected situations that clients face daily.
WHAT’S YOUR INTENTION?
How do you want to wake up everyday? Decide how you want to feel. Some of us are wired to feel negative.
I’m a huge fan of doing SOMETHING every morning and every evening to be intentional, check in with myself and just pause and breathe. Somebody once said to me, before you meet anyone else, meet yourself. This stayed with me because for many years, I’d jump out of bed and rush into the day. That would set the tone for the rest of the day. Rushing around, always being behind and never in control of anything.
These elements of our day are very personal to us. We might only need 5 minutes, or we may need a whole routine. Remember, as women we are cyclical beings so it’s ok if this routine varies from week to week.
Here are my daily non negotiables:
- Prayer and meditation
- Movement (walking or yoga)
- Breathwork
- A tidy and organised desk and treatment room at the end of each day
ACTION
We are not born consistent – it’s an environment we must create. Be strict with your time and remove distractions
I always found that the beauty of being a therapist is that you get to dedicate a set amount of time to each client. No distractions, phone calls, scrolling or interruptions. This is probably why it’s such a satisfying job because it offers the same for the client. I’ve always appreciated and acknowledged that.
It’s the time outside the treatment room where the environment is also important. Being strict about having a set amount of time and a place to plan and work on your business. If you have a busy family life, taking yourself out for a coffee and completely away can be the best option.
SET ROUTINES
Believe it or not, routine creates freedom. Set routines around mindset, exercise, meditation, prayer and include morning, afternoon and evening activities.
When I got back into therapies in 2016, I originally did it to fit around caring for my parents. I didn’t realise I would need to become a tech expert, marketing professional, social media savvy and everything else that comes with it. It’s important to acknowledge the time it takes to master these activities. We have to be willing to continue to learn.
We’re definitely not lazy but often we’re busy fools. Or our business is doing so well with client bookings that we forget to take time to actually take stock, ponder, reassess, prioritise and make sure we’re still heading in the direction we wanted.
Like Rob Dial said at the beginning – HAVE A VISION. Keep reviewing that vision. Make sure it’s yours and it’s what you want. Let it be fulfilling, exciting and purposeful and revisit it regularly. Click Here to see more from Rob Dial.
Thank you for reading this months blog, STOP being so LAZY! If you would like more information about How to create Holistic Fusion please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Have a lovely day,
Sughra