Focus For Fall
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Routines can go by the wayside in the summer as we enjoy the longer days, outdoor activities, travel, special events, and adventures. Settling back into school, sport, and work can be a challenge. You may find it hard to get motivated, may feel extra fatigue, or may not be performing at the level you are used to.
Here are 5 ways to regain your focus for fall:
1. More time for rest and recovery
Any time we go through a change in our routine, it can take our body a bit of time to adjust. The quality of your sleep may be impacted if you are trying to shift to an earlier bed and wake time. You may find you need more recharge, rest, and recovery than usual through this transition.
2. Plan ahead
Take a look at how much you are putting into your schedule and what you are saying yes to. Allow for ample time to get from place to place, think about mealtimes, packing or picking up food, and staying hydrated. Set yourself up for success by knowing what you need to perform at your best.
3. Identify your priorities
Identifying what is most important to you and where you want to spend your time, energy, and money can help with decision making and having a sense of purpose. If you feel like you are just trying to survive and get through each day, identifying your core values and what you want more of in your life can help with choices, boundary setting, and motivation.
4. Approach procrastination with curiosity
If you find yourself avoiding tasks and making commitments, try looking at procrastination for the valuable information it can reveal. Instead of criticizing yourself for being lazy, be curious about what the reasons behind your resistance may be. Sometimes there may be a misalignment with your values. Other times, you may feel like you do not have all the information or what you need to complete the task.
5. Show yourself some grace
As you adjust into a new routine, you may not be meeting the expectations you have for yourself. You may not be performing at the level you hoped or that you were performing previously. You may feel like others are bouncing back faster than you are. Listen to your body and view mistakes as a sign you are learning new skills. Treat yourself with the same grace and compassion you would show a friend.
Tonia Anderson is a Registered Psychologist (RPsych), former elite athlete and coach of high-performance teams specializing in health and performance psychology. With over 25 years in peak performance, she has worked with junior, amateur, and professional athletes competing at local, provincial, national, and international levels including World Championships, Olympic Trials, Pan-Am Games, and more. Tonia brings the experience as a parent of top-level athlete who has represented Alberta and Canada on multiple occasions. Tonia works with youth, parents, business executives, emerging leaders, first responders and individuals wanting to achieve their sport, career, and life goals.
Book a free consultation to learn more about focus and other high performance factors at https://toniaandersonpsychology.janeapp.com or email tonia@toniaandersonpsycholocolgy.ca to get started.