Habits for Purposeful Living Challenge: Week Six Recap
We’re sharing our habits for purposeful living challenge week six recap today.
Truth be told, when I started this Challenge, I convinced myself it was primarily to help my Mom reset.
Our family has gone through a lot in the last 18 months and her diagnosis in January and subsequent surgery in February became the proverbial breaking point.
Looking back, I can see that breaking point was a blessing in disguise.
But at the time, it felt like another rain cloud we just couldn’t seem to shake.
Desperate for an impactful change, our goal became simple.
To create a framework that allowed us to combine purposeful living with intentional energy so we could prioritize self care, compassion, healing, healthy habits and self-improvement in an empowered, authentic and sustainable way.
It sounds dramatic, but now that we’re celebrating 6 weeks since starting the Challenge, I don’t think we’ll ever be the same.
Here’s A Look at our Habits for Purposeful Living Challenge Week Six Recap…
Week Six: Goal
The goal of Week Six was to evaluate what worked well, and what did not work well, to celebrate the progress we’ve made so far and to decide how we can continue to embrace an elevated way of living moving forward.
What Habits Have Been the Most Life Giving or Life Changing?
Mom – Having a morning power hour, practicing an empowered mindset, and choosing 2-3 items from the weekly intentions menu.
CoCo – Starting and ending the day with a power hour that is fully focused on our morning and nightly routines, not checking emails, notifications or being on social media first thing, making time for simple pleasures and little luxuries during the week, and being more intentional with boundaries.
What Habits Did You Find the Most Challenging?
Mom – For me, meal planning was hard but it’s something I want to work on. Also, I have a hard time sleeping so I had a problem with my energy levels throughout the Challenge.
CoCo – I still don’t have a good handle on my workday because our schedule has changed so drastically.
Honoring my energy and productivity style is something I also found challenging to navigate and I’m still working on.
The majority of the content I create for the blog happens every day from 4 am to 930 am. So, it feels like I have 2 mornings.
If I don’t get a good night’s sleep, it affects that time block immensely.
Hopefully, by the time our schedule undergoes one last change next month, I’ll have figured out what works best.
What Was the Most Surprising Thing You Learned from the Challenge?
Mom – In the beginning I saw each habit as a stand alone habit. But as the Challenge progressed each week I saw how one layer adds to another to help build a firm and enduring foundation.
CoCo – How amazing this 6-week framework has been as a reset.
Granted, I don’t feel like I’ve gone through a complete “glow up” like some YouTube videos promise or that I’m living out a Nancy Myers movie like I thought would when we first started the Challenge.
But I can tell I’m becoming more of the person I want to be each day which is exciting.
Honestly, I wish we had done something like this sooner. It wouldn’t have changed our circumstances as far as the things we have gone through these past 18 months, but had we found a way to reset after each life changing event, we could have started building resiliency a lot sooner, which would have helped immensely.
What Resources or Items Did You Find the Most Helpful?
Mom – Watching YouTube videos and listening to self-development podcasts helped me stay motivated, sleep meditation podcasts helped me fall asleep and having a weekly menu helped to infuse each day with purpose.
CoCo – I loved finding simple ways to fill each day with significance from having fresh flowers in the house, to using a weighted vest on my daily walks, to going to events and restaurants I wouldn’t have normally gone to, to finding a signature scent, to reading new books and discovering new channels, to working on new techniques with my therapist and taking a different approach to wellness with my doctor, it’s all been a really beautiful experience.
What Podcast, Meditation, Video or Book Did You Enjoy Most?
Mom – Let them by Mel Robbins and The School of Self Image podcast.
CoCo – Kate Hutchins is a great follow for style inspiration, French Countryside Diary reminds me to slow down and appreciate the little things, Jillz Guerin gives big sister vibes with her self-development advice, Lavendaire also has lots lifestyle design content to explore, I love her affirmations. When I need a pick me up I listen to Thrive with Rossi. and Music Journey To ___________ feels like a midday vacation.
I look forward to Tonya Leigh’s The School of Self Image podcast each week and the book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, by Dr. Susan Jeffers was amazing.
What Were Your Favorite Memories from the Weekly Purposeful Living Menu?
Mom – I loved adding fresh flowers, music, candles, and pretty dishes to each day. It made my home feel warm and inviting. I also loved doing this Challenge with CoCo.
CoCo – Crossing things off our 6-week celebration bucket list, choosing flowers from the flower market, arranging bouquets from my late Granny’s heirloom irises I’ve kept growing, going to my first hockey game, having lunch at Restoration Hardware and tea at the tea room, finding a special piece of art and shopping for clothes I feel good in.
What Are You Most Proud of or Excited to Celebrate?
Mom – I’m proud we made a commitment to this Challenge and saw it through and I’m excited to celebrate my successes with CoCo.
CoCo – I’m proud we remained open to learning even when the lessons didn’t appear like we expected them to, and we how kept going even when parts of the Challenge became hard or inconvenient because our schedules were not our own.
I’m also proud of all the lightbulb moments and deep meaningful conversations we had along the way.
Being vulnerable is not always easy but it was so worth it during this Challenge.
What Do You Want to Continue Working on Moving Forward?
Mom – Meal planning, nourishing my body with healthy foods, practicing an empowered mindset and continuing to exercise.
CoCo – Continuing to bookend the day with a solid morning and evening routine, honoring my energy and productivity style, practicing an empowered mindset, and infusing each day with simple pleasures and little luxuries.
Thank you again to everyone who has supported these posts.
It means the world to us.
Truly, it’s been such a beautiful learning experience!
If you’ve missed any part of this series, you can catch up here:
- Habits for Purposeful Living
- Habits for Purposeful Living: Week 1 Recap
- Habits for Purposeful Living Challenge: Week 2 Recap
- Habits for Purposeful Living Challenge: Week 3 Recap
- Habits for Purposeful Living Challenge: Week 4 Recap
- Habits for Purposeful Living Challenge: Week 5 Recap
Many blessings,
CoCo
I love this! I know this was a great experience for both of you, but to have been able to do it together is priceless! You are such an inspiration!
So sweet of you to say, Susan, thank you. Challenges are so much easier to do together so I’m excited we were able to support each other. It made a huge difference. Big hugs, CoCo
Thanks for sharing this journey with us. You and your mom are so fortunate to have each other, and I’m glad the challenge was a positive experience for both of you! This challenge was great for helping me prioritize my daily routines and better plan meals! Thanks again for all the encouragement!