Girl Overboard - Get a life before it gets you

The article featured in Women's Fitness & Health Magazine

Louise feels lost. Not unhappy, just uninspired. Sick of her office job, she finds herself going through the motions day in, day out. Sound familiar? "This year has been pretty similar to last year," says Louise flatly. "I work really long hours and I am so exhausted at the end of the day. I don't have time for a relationship. I'm just not motivated to do much really, though I know I need to change."

Louise is clearly in a rut. And she is not alone. As renowned Sydney life coach, Dominic Mapstone, says, "It's quite common over the course of the year for us to slip into neutral and let life take over".

Dominic says that we need to have a vision of what we want from our lives, set out a plan to achieve our goals and then execute the plan - or face the fact that it is not going to happen and move on.

"Just dreaming of a better life is depressing in the long run because the dreams don't come true. It may sound harsh but the fact is, unless you are actively choosing to do something different this month compared to last, you aren't in charge of your life, it's in charge of you."

Dominic stresses the importance of manageable goal-setting that includes creative ways to move ahead with your finances, relationships, health and fitness. In short, you can live an exciting and truly happy existence if you are prepared to put a few changes in place.

Goals: Once you have established that you are prepared to do what it takes to point your life in the right direction, the first step is to set some goals.

Dominic suggests that you first make the big goals - to become ultra fit and healthy, to get the job you really want, to pay off your credit card and get together the deposit for a house, to have a successful relationship - then break them down into manageable steps and take it one month at a time.

First you need to free yourself from the emotional and environmental clutter that is holding you back. "Reflect on your experience of the last month and make a list of what you need to remove from your life, thoughts, feelings, habits and the physical clutter in your general environment," says Dominic. "This may take a full weekend and should be seen as a positive process not a destructive one."

Signal the end of this purging process by enjoying a positive reward like a bunch of flowers to display on the kitchen bench. This is a productive way to start every month on your front foot.

"Then brainstorm a list of things you want more of in your life. Pick three things from your list that are achievable within the month if you extend yourself. Call a friend and tell them what your goals are. This makes you accountable"

At the end of the month, ring up your friend and tell them of your successes. After a few months of repeating this process you will have developed a pattern that you can reuse to conduct ongoing life renovations throughout the year.

Added: this format is suggested for DIY type renovations in your life. If you need to make more significant changes, the type you would consult a master builder for - get a life coach!