Got catalysts?? Set Up for Success
Something I consistently discuss in my Path of Action groups as well as with my 1:1 clients to set themselves up for success is the importance of putting routines and actions in place. I never had a specific word for it until my friend, colleague, and client Paula Sacco called them catalysts. It’s a term she learned from her positive psychology community, and I think it perfectly represents those routines and actions. Why? Because it’s a positivity accelerator, not just another productivity hack.
You can’t be productive if you don’t have the positive mindset to get things done. Long, challenging work days can leave you depleted and you need to have things that balance out your energy.
What does “catalyst” mean?
A catalyst is an activator or stimulus that causes something to happen.
The recent trend of putting a pack of Mentos candy into a 2-liter bottle of Coke so that a surge of soda bubbles and foam erupt from the bottle is an excellent example of a chemical catalyst.
On a personal level, having five boys was definitely the catalyst to me needing and purchasing a second refrigerator.
But those aren’t necessarily the type of catalysts we are referring to here.
To Paula, a Positive Psychology Coach, catalysts are actions you take part in regularly to increase the positive emotions that help us achieve our goals.
What Catalysts Should I Implement?
First, there’s no “shoulding” on yourself here. Everyone’s best catalysts will be different, depending on how you respond to them. Here are some examples of catalysts that can enhance your energy each day.
In the morning:
Exercise, yoga, meditation, journaling, reading, or sitting and drinking that first cup of coffee for the day.
During your work day:
• Celebrate your wins.
• Change positions - use a standing desk or sit on an exercise ball.
• Report to an accountability partner or coach.
• Taking breaks after working a certain amount of time.
• Sitting or going for a walk outside daily to get some fresh air.
• Change your environment and work at a coffee shop for a few hours.
• Set boundaries around when you will read email or scroll through social media.
• Honor your work schedule. Maybe you don’t schedule calls on Mondays or you take Fridays off.
Things you can do for yourself:
Walk or have lunch with a friend, go to the gym or an exercise class, get a pedicure or a facial, take a writing class.
If you struggle to choose the right catalysts for you, start to track how you feel during the day. When do you run out of energy or lose focus? What helps bring you back? Do some days start off better than others?
Once you are aware of when you experience these slumps, you can explore what helps you feel refreshed.
Maybe it’s spending time in nature, or a check-in call with a parent, child, or friend. You can try a quick trip through the drive-thru for your favorite coffee or tea, or simply drinking a full glass of cold water.
You can also pay attention to when your energy is at its highest. Are you listening to music? Is it after a healthy snack? Or maybe you stopped to stretch for ten minutes?
Once you realize what your positive catalysts are, you can utilize them at those times during the day when you need a physical or emotional boost.
If you’re ready to set realistic goals, get clear on the actions it will take to achieve them, and learn the best way to execute those actions, schedule a call with me. I’ll be happy to help you narrow down the catalysts that will help you succeed in your business!
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today