Podcast appearances and mentions of monica packer

Do you struggle with creating habits that stick, thanks to the overwhelm, low energy, and little time you have every day? You're going to be so inspired by this conversation with Monica Packer. Monica is an expert in teaching habits differently, especially for busy women who think they are bad and making and keeping them. Tune in to hear why consistently doing a little is better than sporadically doing a lot, why trying on other peoples' habits doesn't work, and how to  create new habits… and a new life.  

SHINING WITH ADHD #199: Self-Care is Not Selfish! Small Shifts That Make a Big Difference The Childhood Collective5/28/2025SUMMARYIf you've ever rolled your eyes at the phrase “don't forget to take care of yourself,” this episode is for you. We're joined by Monica Packer from the About Progress podcast to talk about what self-care *really* looks like when you're raising neurodivergent kids. Monica helps us move beyond bubble baths and into daily practices that actually help us feel more grounded, connected, and calm. Whether you're deep in survival mode or just craving a little more peace, this conversation is full of empathy and doable steps to help you make progress toward your goals. MEET MONICA PACKERMonica Packer is a recovering perfectionist who uncovered the truest model to lasting growth: it's progress made practical. As a podcaster and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection. Monica's popular podcast, About Progress is a top-rated show with millions of downloads. She has served thousands of women online as a certified habits and identity coach. Monica is a mom of 5, former middle school teacher, sourdough obsessor, and beginning gardener. You can find more about Monica at aboutprogress.com.LINKS + RESOURCESEpisode #199 TranscriptAbout Progress WebsiteSticky Habit Rainstorm About Progress Instagram The Childhood Collective InstagramHave a question or want to share some thoughts? Shoot us an email at hello@thechildhoodcollective.comMentioned in this episode:Shining at SchoolShining at School is a video-based course that will teach you how to help your child with ADHD go from surviving to thriving at school for elementary and middle schoolers. On your own time. At your own pace. Use the code PODCAST for 10% off!Shining at School CourseHungryrootHungryroot offers “good-for-you groceries and simple recipes.” We have loved having one less thing to worry about when it comes to raising kids. For 40% off your first box, click the link below and use CHILDHOOD40 in all caps to get the discount.HungryrootBoard Games for Kids with ADHDBoard games are a natural way to help kids build their executive functioning and cooperation skills. When we polled the community about your favorite board games for kids with ADHD, you gave us hundreds of ideas! We narrowed them down to the games that got the most votes, and sorted them by age. Check out our top recommendations for board games for kids with ADHD, and let us know how it goes. Board Games for Kids with ADHD

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible MonicaPacker, host of the About Progress podcast, for a conversation that will shake up everything you thought you knew about perfectionism, productivity, and what it really means to move forward in life.Monica shares her powerful perspective on why perfectionism isn't about high standards—it's about fear. Together, we debunk the toxic myth that if something isn't perfect, it's not worth doing (or worse, that you're just being lazy). Spoiler alert: not doing something perfectly is NOT the same as failing.We dive into:

Monica Packer and Lauren Pace ✨ Why having the courage to try (and even fail) is the key to rediscovering yourself. ✨ How small, practical steps can help you break free from the all-or-nothing mindset. ✨ The one question you NEED to ask yourself: What do I really want? You can find more about Monica at aboutprogress.com and by listening to her podcast, About Progress. DO SOMETHING LIST: https://www.aboutprogress.com/dsl

So often when life gets complicated our healthy habits are the first thing to go out the window. So how do you stay consistent in the face of life's ups and downs? Listener Jessica was having this exact problem: “I've missed so much of my workout plan recently due to travel, having a new puppy, unexpected doctors appointments, the list goes on. I really do want to make this a priority and want to try again, maybe start over. Even though I know the program is less than 15 minutes a day, what mindset change do you think I need to make to be more consistent this time?” Let's give this one to the expert! Monica Packer is the host of the podcast “About Progress” and a coach to countless women that need help getting practical and realistic about their habits. In this quick episode, Monica will give you quick tips on how to maintain consistency even when life is anything but consistent! More Resources & Links Learn more from Monica Packer at www.aboutprogress.com Listen to Monica's extremely popular podcast About Progress Need help getting started! Get Megan's FREE 5-Day Jumpstart Tips guide! The Jumpstart 30 Program for Beginners Follow Megan on YouTube Follow Megan on Instagram Ask Megan your burning question here

Why do women have to do habits differently?  Well, today we are going to dig deeper into why we have to do more with less time and how traditional habit formation might not work for us with practical solutions and habit hacks from our friend, Monica Packer, of About ProgressWant to learn more about why our HEALTH habits in particular are challenging to stick with?  Go listen to my private podcast, ATOMIC HABITS FOR WOMEN!About Monica: Monica Packer is a normal mom and recovering perfectionist who uncovered the truest model to lasting growth: it's progress made practical. As a podcaster and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection. Monica is a mom of 5, former middle school teacher, sourdough obsessor, and beginning gardener. You can find more about Monica at aboutprogress.com***HABIT HACKS:-Get a free 7 day trial in the TRAINING FOR LIFE app!-Need 1:1 accountability for your habits?  Schedule a FREE DISCOVERY CALL to find out more!-CHECK OUT THE FREEBIE VAULT!: Access habit tools, self care checklist, ingredient meal tips, free workouts and more! JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY!LET'S CONNECT:Connect with Emily:@emilynichols22www.emily-nichols.com Get your free 7 day trial in my habit based fitness app, TRAINING FOR LIFE!

We are in the season of New Year's Resolutions. People everywhere are feeling motivated, setting goals and ready to make some real changes! But what happens in about a month when motivation is low and all those shiny, new resolutions start to feel impossible? Listener Becky has been there: “I always seem to hit a wall around the 4-week mark with my habits. Usually right around then, if I'm not seeing the results that I really wanted to see, discouragement kind of sets in and I lose my motivation. I can feel myself dwindling, using excuses and then finally not doing it anymore. How can I get past this discouragement and get myself to keep sticking with it?” Hmmm, sound familiar? This week I've asked Monica Packer, host of the podcast “About Progress”, to help us tackle the inevitable lack of motivation and moments of discouragement that can set in as we are working to establish new habits. If you've found yourself losing steam with your healthy habits, then this is the episode for you!

How many times have you decided to implement a new habit, only for a week later to have already “failed”? Well, let me let you in on a little secret…you're probably thinking about your habits all wrong. And I bet that when you feel like you've failed at your habits, you're thinking about that wrong, too. Meet Monica Packer, host of the podcast “About Progress”, and a coach to countless women that need help getting practical and realistic about their habits. Monica and I discuss the unique challenges women face in habit formation - it's not just you! - as well as the impact of invisible labor and the need for supportive habits. We'll dive into the importance of flexibility, the necessity of embracing failure, and the shift in mindset you need to foster personal growth and self-care. If you want to know why you struggle so much with consistency and sticking with your routines, and you find yourself constantly discouraged by how your habits look, this episode is for you! More Resources & Links Learn more from Monica Packer at www.aboutprogress.com Listen to Monica's extremely popular podcast About Progress Need help getting started! Get Megan's FREE 5-Day Jumpstart Tips guide! The Jumpstart 30 Program for Beginners Follow Megan on YouTube Follow Megan on Instagram

Let's talk about perfectionism. You know, that voice in your head that tells you, “If you can't do it perfectly, why bother doing it at all?” It's the same voice that has you procrastinating on that new habit or beating yourself up for falling short (again). Spoiler alert: that 'all or nothing' mindset is keeping you feeling stuck.In this episode, I'm joined by Monica Packer, an expert in creating sustainable systems for high-achieving women who feel like they're always falling short. With years of experience helping women shift from self-criticism to self-compassion, she's here to unpack why women must approach habits differently, how to reframe failure, and practical tools to create habits that stick—even when life feels overwhelming.Here's what you'll learn:The top 3 keys to creating consistent habits, even when you're busy or exhausted.The sneaky ways procrastination shows up in your life and keeps you stuck.The real reason you're struggling with habits (hint: it's not you!) and how to break the cycle of failure.If you've ever felt like habit-building is just another thing to check off an already-overwhelming list, this conversation will change the way you think about progress. Monica's tips will help you ditch the guilt, simplify your systems, and start creating habits that work for your real, messy, beautiful life.JOIN THE BURNOUT RECOVERY BLUEPRINT WAITLIST!MY BURNOUT RECOVERY STORY + $10 OFF HAPPY JUICEAPPLY FOR 1:1 COACHING WITH MICHELLE

Hey Winner, We often blame ourselves when we fall off track, thinking we just don't have the discipline or willpower to stick to a routine. But my guest today, Monica Packer, believes the problem isn't us—it's the methods we're using to build habits in the first place. Monica is a recovering perfectionist, mom of five, and the creator of About Progress, where she guides women to find sustainable growth by embracing progress over perfection. As a coach and podcast host, Monica helps women shift their mindset from rigid, all-or-nothing thinking to a more practical and compassionate approach to personal growth. She's here to share why traditional habit strategies don't work for most women—and what we can do instead to build habits that support us, not break us. I'm so excited for this conversation today, so let's get into it and discover how we can stop blaming ourselves and start making real, sustainable progress. Rooting for you ~ Gabe   LISTEN TO HEAR: Why failing at your habits isn't your fault How to shift from perfectionism to progress The power of flexibility in habit-building LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Monica's website: https://www.aboutprogress.com Connect with Monica on Instagram: https://instagram.com/aboutprogress CONNECT WITH ME: ➡️ Website: https://redhotmindset.com ➡️ Join the Red Hot Accountability Club: https://redhotmindset.com/rha/ ➡️ Free mini course: Craft Your Marketing Strategy Without Social Media: https://redhotmindset.com/marketing ➡️ Free workshop: 3 pillars to setting and crushing goals in a stress-less, no hustle way https://redhotmindset.com/goals/

We've all been there—caught in a cycle of self-doubt and fear of failure, wondering if we'll ever get to even start. But it doesn't have to be that way! When it comes to perfectionism, many of us picture the typical overachiever striving for unrealistic standards. But what if we told you there's a different side to this story? In this episode, Jen and Jill are joined by Monica Parker of About Progress to give us excellent and relatable insights about perfectionism.

In this episode of the Goals with Soul Summit, Habit and Identity Coach Monica Packer, dives into the power of flexible habit formation and how it can empower women to achieve their goals without sacrificing their well-being!Key Takeaways:Traditional habit formation methods often don't work for busy women.Consistency doesn't have to mean perfection.Flexible habit formation takes into account real-life interruptions and challenges.We start with a baseline version of your ideal habit and build from there.Prioritize the habits that support you most during challenging seasons.Monica encourages listeners to embrace flexibility and celebrate progress over perfection. She shares her personal experiences and offers practical advice on how to create sustainable habits that fit into your busy life. Join Monica and Kate for this insightful conversation and discover how to make lasting positive changes without feeling overwhelmed!Connect with Monica: WEBSITE | PODCAST | INSTAGRAMStruggling to choose a self-care habit that's right for YOU? Borrow from our Sticky Habit Rainstorm, a brainstorm done for you of supportive habits you can choose from to better care for and feel like your SELF on the regular.---Ready to ditch the overwhelm and create a life that truly lights you up? ✨Join the FREE Goals with Soul Summit, starting July 22nd, and discover how to: Stop overthinking and start taking inspired action Release perfectionism and embrace the messy beauty of growth Ditch the overwhelm and create a sustainable path towards your dreams Implement small, soulful habits that bring you joy and results Shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance and possibility Imagine feeling empowered, focused, and excited about your future. Imagine waking up each day with a clear vision and a plan to make your dreams a reality! That's what the Goals with Soul Summit is all about. And it's waiting for you, friend! Grab your free ticket today to reserve your spot and join a community of incredible women who are ready to make this year their best one yet!⚡ www.goalswithsoulsummit.com ⚡

I'm so excited to welcome Monica Packer back to the podcast! Monica is the amazing CEO and Founder of About Progress, a fantastic community dedicated to self-development and self-acceptance. She's also a habits expert! In this episode, you'll get practical tips that you can start using today to make sure your habits are truly supporting you and helping you create the life you want. Whether you're looking to break some bad habits or build some new, positive ones, this episode is just for you. Let's dive in!Find show notes at bicepsafterbabies.com/330Follow me on Instagram and Tiktok!Links:Monica's Instagram and WebsiteMonica's podcast, About Progress!bicepsafterbabies.com/insider

In this sneak peek of next week's Goals with Soul Summit, we're joined by summit speaker Monica Packer, host of the About Progress Podcast and Habit and Identity Coach, to discuss the power of flexible habit formation!Key Takeaways:Perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking can hinder goal achievement.Let's redefine consistency to embrace flexibility in your habits.Align your goals with your values and season of life.Embrace progress over perfection and celebrate small wins.Monica encourages listeners to overcome their fears and doubts and embrace the summit's supportive community. This summit is designed to help you create a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to goal setting! Join Kate and Monica in this empowering conversation and discover how to achieve your goals without sacrificing your well-being along the way.Join us for the FREE Goals with Soul Summit starting July 21st at www.goalswithsoulsummit.com!---Photonic is your all-in-one SPF 30 Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen and Moisturizer. Perfect for every skin type—oily, acne-prone, sensitive, and everything in between. Photonic—where sun protection meets skin perfection. Visit Blissoma.com to get yours now! ---Ready to ditch the overwhelm and create a life that truly lights you up? ✨Join the FREE Goals with Soul Summit, starting July 22nd, and discover how to: Stop overthinking and start taking inspired action Release perfectionism and embrace the messy beauty of growth Ditch the overwhelm and create a sustainable path towards your dreams Implement small, soulful habits that bring you joy and results Shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance and possibility Imagine feeling empowered, focused, and excited about your future. Imagine waking up each day with a clear vision and a plan to make your dreams a reality! That's what the Goals with Soul Summit is all about. And it's waiting for you, friend! Grab your free ticket today to reserve your spot and join a community of incredible women who are ready to make this year their best one yet!⚡ www.goalswithsoulsummit.com ⚡

Our guest Monica Packer is a normal mom and recovering perfectionist who uncovered the truest model to lasting growth: it's progress made practical. As a podcaster on the show About Progress and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection.Today we discuss… Where women go wrong when it comes to habitsThe difference between what you can do on a great day vs. a hard dayBuilding in flexibility when it comes to habitsHow to set a habit baseline and why this is so importantRedefining your definition of consistencyHacking your brain to make “blah” habits funThe ideal versus a small and simple version of your habitAllowing perfectionism to get in your way when it comes to habitsChanging they way you see yourself as you build you personal habitsFor the show notes and all the links mentioned in today's episode, head to secretsofsupermom.com/193.Stay connected!www.secretsofsupermom.comSecrets of Supermom on FacebookSecrets of Supermom on Instagram

ARE YOU FEELING STUCK? DO YOU LACK JOY? DOES EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT WHAT'S MEANT FOR YOU? DO YOU OFTEN ASK YOURSELF "WHO AM I?" Monica Packer, a former middle school teacher turned certified habits and identity coach, shares her journey of overcoming perfectionism and finding HER again. She discusses the importance of progress over perfection and the power of small steps in creating lasting change. She shares her personal experience of creating a list of things she wanted to try and giving herself permission to be mediocre at them. Through this process, she gained confidence and a deeper sense of identity. HER FREE TRAINING AND "LIFE-CHANGING" LIST YOU NEED TO DO NOW! Takeaways Progress over perfection is key to sustainable personal growth. Removing identity from outcomes allows for greater fulfillment and self-acceptance. Embracing imperfections and small steps leads to lasting change. Courage is needed to believe in a different way and take small actions towards growth. Take action and do something, even if it's not perfect. Give yourself permission to be mediocre and embrace small wins. Explore activities that align with your values and bring you joy. Embrace discomfort and stay open to possibilities. Follow Monica HERE Listen to her podcast HERE Her website HERE ----- Find all of our discount links and codes for brands like Kiwico, Factor Meals, Chomps and MORE HERE ----- If you're loving these episodes, please subscribe and leave a review! Let's Connect: @kaylafassio @tylerfiteclub @habitsyoulove www.habitsyoulove.com *Kayla and Tyler are not mental health professionals. Kayla, Tyler, and Habits You Love is not a substitute or meant to be intended to diagnose, treat, or make medical claims. All content is for informational purposes only backed by Kayla and Tyler's own research. This podcast is brought to you by Cloud10 and iHeart Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monica Packer is a normal mom and recovering perfectionist who uncovered the truest model to lasting growth: it's progress made practical. As a podcaster and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection. Monica is a mom of 5, former middle school teacher, sourdough obsessor, and beginning gardener. You can find more about Monica at aboutprogress.com. Follow us @theanxietychicks @health_anxiety @theanxietyhealer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I Pass the Mic to Monica Packer, host of About Progress podcast and creator of the Sticky Habits Intensive for women. Listen in as Monica shares why habits must be built differently if you're a woman, and some tips for getting started. Episode Sponsor: Green Chef!! Try GreenChef for 50% off plus 20% off your next month with code PRACTICALLY50 Find full show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Follow Miranda on Instagram @livefreemiranda and the show at @practically.happy.podcast Get one-on-one coaching with Miranda RIGHT HERE Pick up a copy of MY BOOK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if embracing imperfection could lead to your most authentic self? Join us as we sit down with Monica Packer, a mom of five and a recovering perfectionist, who takes us through her deeply personal journey from moving away from an all-or-nothing mindset, revealing the power of small steps and showing up authentically to life's challenges.We also explore practical tips for forming sustainable habits. Traditional habit formation often fails to resonate with women juggling invisible labor and unpredictable schedules. We challenge the notion that consistency means perfection and redefine it as doing your best most of the time. Check out Monica's podcast episode The #1 Reason Why Women MUST Do Habits DifferentlyAbout Progress podcast Instagram: @aboutprogressxoxo,RachelWhere to find me:Instagram: @heyrachelcoonsTikTok: @heyrachelcoonsWhat kind of grocery shopper are you? Take my free quiz Learn how to save hundreds on groceries! Join my FREE live training Check out my grocery savings guide

✨CONFIDENT MINDSET ACCELERATOR IS NOW AVAILABLE ✨In this episode Monica Packer dives into her story about leaving the need for perfectionism behind and learning to love and accept herself in the process. She explains how she started to focus on the journey of finding what brings her joy in the small mundane things and how she started to embrace her ambitious drive from a place of excitement and curiosity vs. shame and guilt of not being enough. In this episode we peel back the layers as to why women operate differently than men and how progress is truly the one and only goal and why perfectionism isn't. https://aboutprogress.com/https://www.instagram.com/aboutprogress/FREE resources to further support you on your self-development journey: DATE YOURSELF FIRST MASTERCLASS HERE 'Your Internal Glow-Up Guide 'FREEBIE ! Access HERE SUPPORT THE SHOW: Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review over on Apple Podcasts to help support the show! Share to your IG stories and follow along on Instagram @breanneburke for all the latest content For More Information Check Out My Website Below:www.breanneburke.comWays to Work With Me: Confident Mindset Accelerator (CMA) - 10 week course Intimate - 1:1 Mindset & Confidence Mentorship - 90 days

Today's episode is all about a topic that hits close to home for many of us: revenge bedtime procrastination

Welcome back to Voices of Your Village and today Monica Packer and I got to dive into how to create habits when you're drained and overwhelmed. For me, when it comes to habits, it can feel like, okay, I'm going to do this thing and then I go all in on something and then it feels really overwhelming and it doesn't continue. Or I look at it and I'm like, oh, that sounds great and I'm so spent or beyond my bandwidth that I cannot add another thing in. Even if my current system isn't working, that sometimes even accessing the bandwidth for change feels overwhelming and hard. I love that Monica has broken down specific steps, ways to form habits with little time, low support, limited energy, and how we can form supportive habits without being perfect at them. There was so much room in her approach for fluidity for it not to always look the same because we are in different seasons of life at different times and I love that it makes it feel accessible and achievable and really helps with the like perfection side to feel like okay don't have to be perfect at this for it to be helpful or effective. So without further ado, let's dive into how to create habits when you're drained and overwhelmed with Monica Packer. All right, folks, let's dive in. Connect with Monica: Instagram: instagram.com/aboutprogress Website: https://aboutprogress.com/ Sticky Habit course: aboutprogress.com/stickyhabitmethod Podcast: aboutprogress.com/podcast Connect with us: Instagram: Tiny Humans, Big Emotions (@seed.and.sew) Podcast page: Voices of Your Village Seed and Sew's Regulation Quiz: Take the Quiz Order Tiny Humans, Big Emotions now!  Music by: Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining me for her second appearance on the show is fellow podcaster, Monica Packer. This conversation is a continuation on the topic of bad habits: today we explore the roots of bad habits and the importance of understanding the underlying reasons for these behaviors. We also discuss the role of support in habit change, how identity influences our habits, practical tools for addressing numbing behaviors and so much more..------------------------------Links Discussed in This EpisodeOrder a Copy of Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with SimplicitySubstack: Minimalist Moms Podcast NEW EBOOK | Let's Simplify: Newborn + PostpartumPrevious Episode: EP255: Small Shifts (& a More Effective Approach) to Bad HabitsBook: Scarcity Brain by Michael EasterConnect with Monica:InstagramWebsiteEnjoy this Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With SimplicityQuestions? You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Thanks for listening! For more updates and episodes, visit the website. You may also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher.Checkout the Minimalist Moms Podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.If you enjoyed today's episode of the Minimalist Moms Podcast, then hit subscribe and share it with your friends!Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Our Sponsors:* Check out Homethreads and use my code minimalist for a great deal: www.homethreads.com* Check out Puro Air : https://getpuroair.com/* Check out Tecovas: https://www.tecovas.com/* Check out undefined and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: undefined* Visit armoire.style/MINIMALIST to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire today!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/minimalist-moms-podcast2093/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's episode, our guest Monica Packer, a leading expert in personal development, introduces her unique "progress model." Get ready for an eye-opening discussion on sustainable growth, breaking free from the "all or nothing lie," and leveraging your intuition to navigate your path to progress.

If you've been stuck on Exploring on the 5 Step Path from Surviving to Thriving, this week's episode is for you! Monica Packer shares how a Do Something List can be a powerful tool for exploring and discovering who you are and what you love. It's a practical push to find fulfillment in your everyday life. It is separate from a goals or resolutions list. It's more about exploration than competition.  Monica is also no stranger to struggles and survival seasons and you will hear how she has learned to navigate those seasons a little more gracefully and find peace with things looking differently when life gets hard. For Monica, the biggest lesson from the Do Something List is that the transformation lies in the process, not the outcome. It's not completing the list that brings fulfillment. It's in the trying that you rediscover who you are, be more of yourself, and experience the trickle-down effect that comes from that. Monica's Tips for a Do Something List Pick a timeframe that this list applies to (for example, the whole year or a season). Start with a lot of reflection on different parts of yourself that you want to bring back and things you want to try or are curious about. Finalize the list based on the things that are right for the season - not paying prices that are too high for the season you are in. It is a push to find time, but not to break you. Start small and in doable ways so you can gently stretch this part of yourself. You can take things off or add things to the list. Start with the funnest thing on your list that also seems doable or something that fits into what you are already doing (like trying new recipes). You don't need to complete your list! Monica never has in the last 8 years. You can get a step-by-step through and more ideas in this week's episode and dive deeper with Monica at: https://www.workinprogressacademy.co/dsl

Monica Packer is a recovering perfectionist and is sharing what she has discovered along her journey. Her big question is What if you're stuck but not lazy, what if you're actually a perfectionist? In this episode Monica and Sara will talk about perfectionism, and not just the stereotypical overachiever, but rather the spectrum, one that can be all-controlling and make you feel like you aren't making progress, then blame yourself, and so the cycle begins.   How many of us feel lost? Paralyzed by fear? Burdened by the obsession to be perfect but never seeming to measure up? Caught up in bad cycles that enable you to stay stagnate? Unsure of your own gifts? Many women feel lost in the cycles of perfectionism and procrastination. Sara is the biggest champion of getting women to overcome fear and grab life by the horns. And her guest today has the same desire to propel women into feeling good about what they do and how they live. Monica created her About Progress community and podcast that guides women to grow into living with purpose and connecting to their greater potential.  So, choose Progress over Perfection and Remember: Small wins build over time. And don't be too hard on yourself. Website: www.saraschultingkranz.com Social Media: IG: https://www.instagram.com/saraschultingkranz/             YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saraschultingkranz./about Sponsor: Go to www.saraschultingkranz.com and use the code Live Boldly at checkout to get the special price of $39 for programs offered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are thrilled to have Monica Packer with us in this episode as we chat all the things we THOUGHT we knew before we had kids. It was only a matter of time though before it became apparent just how little we knew. And boy, did our kids make that apparent. It's because of us that we have as much humility as we have ;)We're thrilled to have a special guest with us today, Monica from About Progress. She's not just a fellow parent but also a passionate advocate for progress, especially in the messy journey of parenting. Monica is known for her expertise in supporting women, helping them live with purpose, and connecting with their greater potential.If you haven't already, make sure to check out Monica's podcast, About Progress, and follow her on Instagram @aboutprogress. Trust us; she's a wealth of knowledge that you don't want to miss.Getting to Know Monica:We're diving right in! Monica, tell our listeners more about yourself and your mission. We know we can't do it justice, so we'd love to hear from you directly.Parenting Realities:Now, onto the real talk about parenting. A For Effort podcast aims to prevent unintentional birth control, but if you're on the fence about having kids, stick around—listen with open hearts and eyes. These real and raw insights from parents might just teach you something valuable.Listener Submissions:We asked our listeners to share what they thought they knew going into parenting but soon realized they knew nothing. Let's dive into some of these eye-opening submissions:Magical Recoveries: Kids complaining about stomach pain is a daily occurrence, but the magical recovery when they cuddle up with a parent is a true miracle.Fashion Expectations: Expectations of cute Janie and Jack outfits turned into the reality of the trendy, effortlessly disheveled looks.Dirty Dishes Dilemma: The struggle with dirty dishes multiplying faster than rabbits, and the challenge of stacking them like a game of Jenga.Co-Sleeping Confessions: From being against co-sleeping to just wanting to sleep – a candid revelation.Patience Tested: Parenthood as a crash course in patience, with a reminder to be gentle on oneself.Unexpected Affection for Kids: A surprising turn from not liking kids to realizing they're actually great, the essence of the A For Effort podcast.Parenting Multiple Personalities: Parenting multiple kids compared to solving a Rubik's Cube – an ever-evolving challenge.Freedom and the Little Sidekick: A reflection on the total lack of freedom with a little one always by your side.Breastfeeding Expectations: The assumption that breastfeeding would be natural versus the reality.Yelling and Parenthood: The unexpected realization of yelling despite hating it when parents yelled.Adult Growth: The revelation that adults do the most growing in the parenting journey.Sleep Struggles: The challenge of getting kids to sleep and the underestimation of its difficulty.Eating as a Living Thing: The misconception that kids instinctively eat to survive.Textbook vs. Parenting: The vast difference between textbook child development and the unpredictable reality of parenting.Poop-Centric Conversations: How much of the day and conversations revolve around another person's poop.Influence Over Behavior: The realization that having influence over children's behavior is more challenging than expected.Parenting Feast: The humorous realization that parenting is simply the practice of eating your words.Closing:And there you have it, folks! We hope you enjoyed these honest and relatable insights into the world of parenting. Before we wrap up, take a minute to rate, review, comment, and share your thoughts. We appreciate each one of you and look forward to connecting with you in the next episode. Be a friend to everyone! Bye!

We're a few weeks into the new year and maybe you are going strong with the habits you wanted to implement for 2024 – amazing, I love that for you! Orrr maybe your intended habits are still staring at you from your Peacefully Productive Planner® pages but haven't been put into action yet.If that's you, it's okay – I've got you! Well, our guest has you, because today I'm chatting with Monica Packer and her approach to habits is going to be refreshing for you to listen to. As a podcaster and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection – very Hustle Sanely-aligned!Monica and I are chatting about:~ The biggest obstacle that is keeping someone from showing up for their habits and what to do about it~ The 3 truths that will change how we do habits~ How to use habit stacking to make habits feel like they're part of your life and not just another thing on your to-do list| CONNECT WITH MONICA |Instagram: @aboutprogressWebsite:  http://www.aboutprogress.comIntensive: https://www.workinprogressacademy.co/sticky-habit-intensive

Ever felt stuck in the 'perfection trap'? If so, you're not alone, friend! In fact, the Harvard Business Review shares that their rates of perfectionism have increased by statistically significant amounts from 1989 to 2016. Which is why I'm thrilled to have Monica Packer, the woman behind About Progress, joining us today. She's not your average mom of 5—Monica's a pro at kicking perfection to the curb and embracing growth instead!In our chat, we're spilling the tea on perfectionism and that the sneaky fear of failing that keeps us from even starting. Monica's journey—from perfection paralysis to a making progress—is truly inspiring and will encourage you into action too!And my personal favorite thing we chatted about is Monica's 'do something list.' It's like your daily adventure guide, minus the pressure of hardcore goals. Plus, we'll talk about savoring the little things while chasing the big dreams—trust me, it's all about finding joy in the journey.Stick around for tips, laughs, and a sprinkle of inspiration from Monica . Let's dive in and break free from perfection together!Connect with Monica: @aboutprogress | About Progress Podcast | Do Something List FREE Training---✍ Take the Complimentary Self Care Auditwww.mskatehouse.com/audit

Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/services/workshops/ In this episode, Monica Packer, a self-recovering Perfectionist, talks about the benefits of not being one. You'll learn: The Perfection model relies on an all or nothing model. The Progression model relies on you doing something. How you'll feel liberated once you let go of perfectionism. We discuss: Your identity is not based upon your outcome./ How to overcome identity crisis. Benefits of non-perfectionism. Let go of control to gain more. Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/ About Progress Podcast: https://aboutprogress.com/podcast-archives/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/aboutprogress/ About Progress website:https://aboutprogress.com/  Free class for women on habit formation: https://workinprogressacademy.mykajabi.com/women-habits-class The Ultimate Negotiation Guide: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/guides/ultimate-negotiation-guide/ Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308/ref=pd_%5B%E2%80%A6%5Df0bc9774-7975-448b-bde1-094cab455adb&pd_rd_i=1637741308&psc=1 Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSW69L6ABTK&keywords=finding+confidence+in+conflict&qid=1667317257&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=finding+confidence+in+conflic%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/services/workshops/ In this episode, Monica Packer, a self-recovering Perfectionist, talks about the benefits of not being one. You'll learn: The Perfection model relies on an all or nothing model. The Progression model relies on you doing something. How you'll feel liberated once you let go of perfectionism. We discuss: Your identity is not based upon your outcome./ How to overcome identity crisis. Benefits of non-perfectionism. Let go of control to gain more. Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/ About Progress Podcast: https://aboutprogress.com/podcast-archives/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/aboutprogress/ About Progress website:https://aboutprogress.com/  Free class for women on habit formation: https://workinprogressacademy.mykajabi.com/women-habits-class The Ultimate Negotiation Guide: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/guides/ultimate-negotiation-guide/ Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308/ref=pd_%5B%E2%80%A6%5Df0bc9774-7975-448b-bde1-094cab455adb&pd_rd_i=1637741308&psc=1 Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSW69L6ABTK&keywords=finding+confidence+in+conflict&qid=1667317257&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=finding+confidence+in+conflic%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

In a society that places a premium on perfection, reshaping our personal and parenting goals to prioritize growth over perfectionism becomes a formidable task.   Here to help empower you to navigate the messy middle ground of parenthood, embrace the long game, and find beauty in the small wins is the founder of About Progress, Monica Packer. Monica is a mom of 5, podcaster, coach, and "recovering perfectionist" herself.   Monica's wisdom challenges the conventional all-or-nothing mindset, providing a breath of fresh air with her perspective on the beauty of imperfection and the cultivation of authentic connections. This enlightening and empowering conversation will help all parents seeking to break free from the shackles of perfectionism and usher in a new era of personal and parenting growth.     I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show! ✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren ✨ Send an email to sarah@drsarahbren.com ✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources 

It's time for a podcast swap! Monica Packer of About Progress joins Stacy to talk all about overcoming overwhelm. Monica tackles some practical tips and helps us figure out what really matters, what we can simplify, and what we can just let go. Hear the rest of the conversation over on Monica's podcast where Stacy helps us mentally cope with burnout and overwhelm. Find Monica: AboutProgress.com Instagram.com/aboutprogress Don't forget to subscribe to this channel and visit realeverything.com! If you haven't yet unlocked ad-free content, checkout patreon.com/thewholeview. Your subscription goes to support this show and gets you direct access to submit your questions! We also want to give a big thank you to this week's sponsors! Puori.com/WHOLEVIEW | Use code WHOLEVIEW to get 20% off sitewide Indeed.com/WHOLEVIEW | Get a $75 sponsored job credit Nesa's Hemp | Get 25% off your first order Beautycounter.com/StacyToth | Special holiday deals going on now through 12/10! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside this episode, my guest, Monica Packer, and I talk about the impact perfectionism can have on building a business and in life. Monica Packer is a normal mom and recovering perfectionist who uncovered the truest model to lasting growth: it's progress made practical. As a podcaster and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection.  Inside the episode, we talk about what perfectionism is really a replacement for, and we give tangible steps to help you stop allowing perfectionism to stop you from making progress. Ready to stand out in your niche and create your own signature framework?  Join my FREE workshop coming up on October 24th from 10-11 am PT/1-2ET to learn how.. You can register here: https://amanda-walker.com/framework  

  "You can have it all", we're told, as if it were the best prize ever. So we shoot for it and try to hold all the balls in the air and beat ourselves up when we discover that it's hard to live up to society's standards. Today, Monica and I talk about perfectionism in our parenting, how it affects our kids, how to identify unhealthy tendencies in our kids, and when they point out our mistakes. (Sometimes in very harsh ways).  Our approach to such struggles makes all the difference in our level of parenting happiness, and today's episode will help you pivot where you may not have even seen needs. xoxo To learn more about parenting your teen, visit me at heatherfrazier.com About my guest: My name is Monica Packer. I'm a recovering perfectionist, podcaster, and Progress Coach. I save women from themselves, by helping them ditch perfectionism, step into their gifts, and move towards real progress. Welcome to a community who knows life is about progress, not perfection!  To get Monica's free value exercise, click HERE You can also find Monica at her website and instagram @aboutprogress

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEEp 31 - Ask the Organizers Ep 30 - Advice from an ADHD Coach: Featuring Jen HansonEp 29 - ADHD Resources for Organization: Featuring Missi McKown of Clear Spaces Organizing Ep 28 - ADHD and Home Organization: Featuring Lisa WoodruffEp 4 Being Outspoken Ep 20: Fav household systems feat. Corey AdamsEp 40 - Home Organization With Children: Featuring Parenting Specialist Rachel BaileyAre we friends on social media yet? Whether your jam is Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest or Facebook - follow us @tidyrevival Embrace the clutter-busting revolution at The Club, where we support and cheer each other on in an inclusive space - low monthly price with no commitment!Unlock the secrets to lasting change and achieve your goals with The Sticky Habits Method by Monica Packer - click here to revolutionize your habits and transform your life!

All the information you have learned about habits in the past is only making you feel like a failure. Want to know why? Today's guest, Monica Packer, is here to tell you all about it. Monica Packer is passionate about teaching practical-but-deep transformation. As a top-rated podcaster and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection in their identity, habits, and fulfillment. Monica is a former middle school teacher, a forever Oprah fangirl, a perpetual cookie dough maker, and a hiker. She and her husband are parents to 5 children, who are learning to like hiking, too. You can find more about Monica at aboutprogress.com and by listening to her podcast, About Progress. Transform your habits with Monica by clicking here!  https://www.workinprogressacademy.co/a/2147524280/dMzgcGFS  Use code JESS for 20% for the month of July 2023Follow Monica on Instagram instagram.com/aboutprogress aboutprogress.comListen to the About Progress Podcast. -------Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!--You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts

In today's episode, Monica Packer and I give three takeaways about how you can dig into your past and heal from any lingering heartaches that you might have from your childhood, even if you had a really beautiful childhood like I did. For full show notes, including the three takeaways, go to https://3in30podcast.com/299-Let-Go-of-your-Past *** Episode sponsors: Declutter Your Motherhood: An audio course, which helps overwhelmed mothers to simplify their mom-life so they have room for more joy! BetterHelp: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Use the code 3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy! KiwiCo: Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/3IN30 *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this month's guest episode, Sarah chats with Monica Packer about habit formation, perfectionism, self-compassion, and more. Monica is the host of the About Progress podcast as well as a coach and mother of 5, from ages 3 months to 11! You can find Monica's work here: https://aboutprogress.com Thanks to Jenny Eversole from Style Space (https://stylespace.com) for connecting Monica + me! Episode Sponsors: Earth Breeze: Liquidless earth-friendly detergent sheets! Right now, listeners can subscribe to Earth Breeze and save 40%! Go to earthbreeze.com/plans to get started Green Chef: The #1 Meal Kit for eating well. Go to GreenChef.com/plans60 and use code plans60 to get 60% off plus free shipping King Jim Tepra Lite Label Maker: So easy, streamlined + fast. This will change how you feel about label makers! Check it out: https://kingjim.us/tepra-lite, or visit the King Jim shop on Amazon. Get In Touch: Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189 Do something IRL and learn about Best Laid Plans LIVE in South Florida: https://theshubox.com/blpa Sign up for my newsletter: https://theshubox.com/newsletter Leave me a review if you can (Apple Podcasts Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-laid-plans/id1525311647) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Life is about progress not perfectionism” is the motto of our guest in this relaxed episode of the Super Entrepreneurs Podcast. Perfectionism is often fear and underachievement in disguise; this is why Monica Packer dedicated a period of her life to solving this mindset problem.   By solving a personal problem and developing a system to overcome that problem, Monica Packer became super.   Who Is Monica Packer? Monica is a dynamic and inspiring Progress Coach who has made it her mission to help women overcome the destructive patterns of perfectionism and move towards a life of real progress. As a recovering perfectionist herself, Monica knows firsthand the toll that self-doubt, negative self-talk, and the constant pressure to be perfect can take on a person's mental and emotional well-being. Through her podcast and coaching services, Monica provides a safe and supportive space for women to explore their gifts, confront their fears, and take meaningful steps towards the life they truly desire. How is Monica Packer Super?   Love of learning new stuff constantly and her determination are Monica Packer's innermost superpowers. Her strong faith in her inner strength to overcome self-imposed obstacles that spring from fear is another superpower that gives Monica Packer the mindset for success that she has.   Shahid Durrani's Key Insight: Shahid Durrani's key insight from this episode is the importance of realizing that changing your mindset is simple. However, that doesn't make it easy. Simple things are often the hardest to do because we approach them from the wrong place.   This is why mentorship from people who are more advanced on the path to success is such a vital thing to seek. Remember that the journey to success is not a race; it's more like an adventure where everyone collaborates.   Chapter Stamps:   00:00 Introductions: It's important to pronounce names correctly 01:57 Monica Packer's “About Progress” Podcast and other endeavors 03:17 Shahid Explains childhood paradigms and how they develop 05:10 Perfectionism is a coping mechanism 07:20 lust for results prevents good outcomes 10:07 Simple, but not easy (Miracle Equation by Hal Elrod) 14:00 Carl Jung's secret to mindset change 19:32 Love/faith, not fear 25:33 Family should be the ultimate focus 28:13 Super Entrepreneurs Podcast is about love 31:32 The knowing/doing gap (even mentors need mentors) 33:33 Monica Packer's Superpower: two-fold power 35:10 Final words: Monica's podcast is a must-listen     Pullout Quotes: "We don't even allow that flow, the nature, the flow of nature to work through us because we're creating all these barriers and blockages." “When our heart is poured into our business and our work, it's really easy to get wrapped up in the outcomes.” “Disappointment is a huge part of the journey that we're on as business owners.” “It's more than the goal we are reaching. It's who we are becoming along the way.” “A shift in your mindset is a shift in results.” “Don't misplace your sense of worth.” “If you want your business to succeed in the long-run, you gotta navigate from love.” “Your identity is separate from your outcome.”   Socials: About Progress: https://aboutprogress.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboutprogress/?hl=en

In this episode, Monica Packer shares her personal struggles with traditional habit formation methods and introduces her approach, the Sticky Habits Method, which is designed for real women with real lives. Throughout the episode, Monica provides practical tips for overcoming common obstacles such as lack of motivation and self-doubt, emphasizing the importance of starting small and celebrating progress. She also encourages listeners to approach habit formation with self-compassion and to remember that progress is not always linear. If you're struggling to create habits that stick, Monica's approach will inspire and empower you to take action toward your goals.LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODELearn more with Monica's free class - The #1 Reason Why Women MUST Do Habits DifferentlyAbout Progress PodcastWant to revolutionize your habit-formation process? Check out Monica's 21-day course - Sticky Habit Method >>>Use Code CARLY for 20% off (special offer valid 4/24-4/26)

In this episode, I discuss with Monica Packer the importance of expanding ourselves and how constricting this process and taking refuge in stasis, limits not only our peace with ourselves, but also our ability to whole-heartedly love our partner.

Monica Packer is a recovering perfectionist, podcaster and progress coach. She is also the founder and facilitator of a community called About Progress. About Progress is a community made up of people who want to work on their self-development AND self acceptance. Through her community, Monica guides women to grow into living with purpose and connecting to their greater potential.On this episode of Be The Good Podcast Monica shares with us her own personal journey away from perfectionism and into the practice of embracing the "mess of progress".Be sure to follow @aboutprogress on Instagram and visit https://aboutprogress.com to learn more!

Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/services/workshops/ In this episode, Monica Packer, a self-recovering Perfectionist, talks about the benefits of not being one. You'll learn: The Perfection model relies on an all or nothing model. The Progression model relies on you doing something. How you'll feel liberated once you let go of perfectionism. We discuss: Your identity is not based upon your outcome./ How to overcome identity crisis. Benefits of non-perfectionism. Let go of control to gain more. Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/ About Progress Podcast: https://aboutprogress.com/podcast-archives/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/aboutprogress/ About Progress website:https://aboutprogress.com/  Free class for women on habit formation: https://workinprogressacademy.mykajabi.com/women-habits-class The Ultimate Negotiation Guide: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/guides/ultimate-negotiation-guide/ Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308/ref=pd_%5B%E2%80%A6%5Df0bc9774-7975-448b-bde1-094cab455adb&pd_rd_i=1637741308&psc=1 Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSW69L6ABTK&keywords=finding+confidence+in+conflict&qid=1667317257&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=finding+confidence+in+conflic%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Monica Packer is passionate about teaching practical-but-deep transformation. As a podcaster and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection. Monica is a former middle school teacher, a forever Oprah fangirl, a perpetual cookie dough maker, and an ambitious walker (the last one is a joke . . . sort of). She is also the Shameless Mom to 4 awesome kiddos, with a 5th on the way!  This is Monica's second time on the show and I just love how we were able to dig deep so quickly. This is a juicy conversation that you might want to listen to more than once. Prepare to take some notes!  Listen in to hear Monica share: The most important thing for women to know about progress and personal growth The lie that women fall for over and over again The uncomfortable truth that growth is supposed to be slow The magic of time and compassion and how to use compassion to give yourself permission in hard moments and seasons The very specific process she uses to help women work toward any goal How to reconcile that your identity is formed by behavior and habits  How men miss the mark when talking about women and their habits What successful consistency actually (surprisingly) looks like for women Links mentioned: Connect with Monica: https://aboutprogress.com/ Past SMA interview with Sara and Monica: Prioritizing Progress Over Perfection Monica's Podcast: About Progress Get Monica's Habit Class: aboutprogess.com/habitclass Monica on IG Thank you to our sponsors this month: Full-Time VA: Check out this free training on how to be a virtual assistant that makes full-time income with part-time hours: thefulltimeva.com/Shameless. Owner Amanda Rush Holmes is also including a bonus free guide for SMA listeners - The VA Kickstarter Workbook! Ritual: Ritual's Essential for Women 18+ is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Ritual is offering my listeners 10% off during your first 3 months. Visit ritual.com/shameless to start Ritual or add Essential for Women 18+ to your subscription today.  Rothys: For stylish, comfortable, sustainably made shoes, shop Rothy's. Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/SHAMELESSMOM.  StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast!: Need another podcast in your parenting podcast library, check out StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast! wherever you listen to the SMA.  Thrive Market: Get groceries and household essentials delivered right to your door. Join Thrive Market today and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Go to thrivemarket.com/shameless.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like your habits are more like a ball and chain? Do they restrict you, keep you confined, or keep you from growing in the ways you really need to? If so, it's time to recognize that you may need a different approach. Here to discuss flexible goal setting is host of the About Progress podcast, Monica Packer. On this episode, you'll hear how Monica overcame a perfectionist mindset through flexibility and consistency - realizing that the two don't compete with one another, rather they make each other possible. Monica's approach to successful habit formation has allowed her to continually pursue goals while adapting to the various seasons of life: habits can be successful by doing your best, most of the time, over time. -------------------------------Links Discussed in This EpisodeBonus Episodes Available on Patreon (Starting 1/13/23) Order a Copy of Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with SimplicityShow Notes for EP255: Enjoy this Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my recent book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With SimplicityQuestions? You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Thanks for listening! For more updates and episodes, visit the website. You may also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher.Checkout the Minimalist Moms Podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.If you enjoyed today's episode of the Minimalist Moms Podcast, then hit subscribe and share it with your friends!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/minimalist-moms-podcast2093/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

How many times have you determined you want to create a new habit, only to have your plans, dreams, and goals crash and burn within the first week? If this is you, please hit play on this episode! Meg is starting off the new year with a FANTASTIC conversation with Monica Packer of the super popular podcast About Progress. Monica is here to assure us that there is nothing wrong with you, we just need to have a new understanding around how we can create lasting changes in our lives in some very awesome ways. You do NOT want to miss this one! Join our Patreon community! When you become a supporter of Sorta Awesome on Patreon, you get access to fun things like the romance reading challenge and our monthly book club! We would love to have you!!! Go to patreon.com/sortaawesome to become a Super Star Awesome! There's still time to join for our next book club discussion on January 14th! We'll be discussing Bonnie Garmus's novel Lessons in Chemistry. We would love to have you! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Grove: Go to grove.com/AWESOME and get a free starter set worth up to fifty dollars with your first order *Babbel: Get 55% off your subscription when you go to BABBEL.com/awesome SHOW NOTES: Shark Steam and Scrub mop SAIE Beauty lip blur Sign up for Monica's (FREE!) habit class About Progress website MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME: Ep. 422: All the Awesome of 2022 (a group show!) Ep. 369: Compassionate advice for the new year with Rev. Mary Lee Downey Ep. 273: A MUST-LISTEN to heal from 2020 for an awesome 2021 Ep. 162: Self-care, self-comfort, what's healthy, what's not You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Find Monica at the About Progress website and on Instagram! Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don't forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter! This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission from the seller at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How are your New Year's resolutions going?  If you've ever struggled to make and KEEP your goals, this episode is for you! We're chatting with Monica Packer of About Progress to figure out the step-by-step way you can rock your goals in 2023.  To connect with Monica you can find her at the following links:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboutprogress/ Free Habit Class: https://bit.ly/3Vu2h6l   Get our 365-day New Testament daily devotional book: https://amzn.to/3BTEQfA (affiliate link) Get your free copy of the simplified New Testament outline here: https://kristenwalkersmith.com/new-testament-simplified/  And grab Cali's scripture study guide here: https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Discount code: OMSS Or for a physical copy:  https://amzn.to/3YGCFWJ (affiliate link)   Music courtesy of bensound.com

Welcome back, everybody. I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled to have you here again, finishing out the year so strong. In this episode, we planned perfectly for this week because my guess is that you're starting to make New Year's resolutions or make New Year's goals, and we wanted to talk, myself and the amazing guests that we have this week, about how you can change your habits in the most compassionate and effective way..  We have back this week with us Monica Packer. She's been on the show before. To be honest, she's like a warm hug to me. I just feel like it's just sitting down and having a chat with a dear long friend, like an old friend. I love speaking with Monica. She's just got such deep wisdom to her. And so, today, we got together and talked about how to change your habits compassionately and effectively. Because when people set resolutions or New Year's goals, they're just talking about creating new habits, like how can I create new habits in my life? How can I make a change in my life? And sometimes, we tend to do that in a very aggressive, critical way. And so, we wanted to sit down and talk about how we can do that in a compassionate, effective way. Kimberley: Okay. Welcome, Monica. I'm so happy to have you here.  Monica: Oh, it really is a joy. I just love everything you do and who you are, more importantly. So, I'm excited to be here again. HOW TO CHANGE YOUR HABITS  Kimberley: Thank you. Thank you. Okay, so you and I were chatting, and I love this idea of preparing for the hard day, but particularly emphasizing how to change your habits that prepare you for your dark day or your hard day. Tell me a little about why that is so important to you or even how you've implemented this in your life. Monica: When I think back on my history with habit formation, it was clouded for a long time with these all-or-nothing models that taught me to have good habits, they needed to look this way, and it needed to be formed in this way. It needed to be consistent in this way. And a big part of that was not only were we supposed to have an ideal, we were supposed to start with the ideal. You just decide what the habit is and then you do it for 28 days, or whatever number we all have in our heads. You get to that magical number and it's a habit. And that never worked for me. And so, for a really long time-- well, it worked for me when I was the type A, very overachieving perfectionist. But that came at a big cost in my life. And we talked about that I think in our past interview we did together. And that cost was not one I was willing to make for a long time. I wasn't willing to sacrifice my mental and physical and spiritual health and my relationships anymore to be so performing.  And so, because of that, I thought that was the only way to, one, progress in your life and have goals, but also trickle down to habits. I just thought I can do the habits that are required of me for my work and for my family, home management kind of things. But for myself, that was a different story because I thought, no, these are the habits I want, and they're so beautiful and amazing and would be so helpful in my life. But in order to get there, I can't do what that requires. I can't, so I just didn't.  But then when I got back into habit formation a few years ago, which was not a plan of mine, but it just happened naturally as I was really working on identity and fulfillment in my life, I realized those two areas had to be supported with habits to just even give me the time and the energy to carve out what I needed to for those two areas of my life. And as part of that, I had to figure out habits in a new way.  I know this is a really long answer to your question, but the nutshell version of this is that a lot of us, if not all of us, are set up to fail with habit formation in the way that we've been taught since we were little kids. I mean, even that number thing I said alone, like how many days does it take to form a habit – we all have a number because we've been taught a number. But that number is not realistic for most people, especially if you're in a caretaking role or in any kind of position or season of life where you have to be more reactive in nature to your responsibilities. Every day is different. Every season is different too. There's that kind of flexibility that makes it so you have to do habits differently.  And so, what I've learned over the past few years is that, instead of starting with an ideal version of a habit, and that being “This is my habit,” those are only ideal. Those are only possible for those best of days kind of days. When you get really good sleep, your routine is really set. It's more predictable. And that didn't work for me, didn't work for most of the women I work with. I work with primarily women. So, instead, what we want to do is both start with what I call a baseline habit and always have that be the foundational habit we come back to on our worst of days.  The baseline habit to me is, the ideal is the highline. We definitely want to have the ideal in mind, like this is what I want ultimately. But the baseline is your foundational way to get there. It's the form of the habit that you can do on your worst of day, when you're really tired, when you're going through a depressive episode, when a kid feels really sick during the night, whatever it is. And having that baseline version isn't you lazying or-- what's the word? It's not you being lazy, it's not yourself saying, “Oh, I'm just going to get my permission to not do the habit.” It's no. This is my best-of-day version today on this worst-of-day. This is the best I can do on this day. And because I have this version of it, not only am I able to create a habit faster, like I don't have to wait for a perfect 28 days, I also have something to always fall back onto on those days where I'm not having an ideal day. And that gives me the consistency I need to not only have that habit and what it's going to provide for me, but also have the foundation to build on, so it gets higher and higher. And boy, I don't even know how long I just talked HOW SOCIETY IMPACT OUR HABIT FORMATION  Kimberley: No, no, no, no. I have lots of questions. So, what does this look like? I love this idea – the baseline habit first. Let's go way back. So, I think you're referring to-- and let's talk about what society tells us habits should look like. Now, I don't actually have this correct, I think, but I think there's a really famous book about habits that's like one of the top Amazon selling that says, is it 60 days? What is the book actually saying? Monica: Well, I've read every book and habit formation, so I'm trying to think of which one it is. They probably say 21, 28, or 100 days. Sometimes they say more than that. But yes. Kimberley: Okay. So, listeners have probably read one or more of those as well, which is cool. So, let's just acknowledge that that's being said as the standard, but would you agree that that's the standard for maybe people who don't have a mental illness or people who have a kid who's suffering? Would we agree that that's for those incredibly lucky people or privileged people, or what would we say? Monica: That was exactly the word I was going to use. It is a great standard and it's a privileged standard. And it doesn't even have to be about demographics. We can look at privileges that way in terms of gender, socioeconomic and race, and all of that. Those are all factors of course. But I would just even think about, if you've read those books and you learned so much like I did years ago, and then you tried to implement them and then you failed, whether it's sooner or later, then you qualify. You qualify as, that doesn't work for me Now, consistency does still matter and we can talk about that, but it's also not in the way we've been taught. So, there are seeds of truth that can apply to everyone in these methods that we've learned from and that have been so popular the past few years, but not so broadly prescribed to the general population. It's not fair. It's just, that's the biggest place I actually start when I talk about habit formation, is helping people understand you're not bad at habit formation, you're not broken, these methods are broken for you. Kimberley: Okay. So, that's really helpful. And I'll tell a story about that. I actually want to hear examples for you. I like this. I'm a pretty highly functioning person personally, but I think what's-- but I also have a chronic illness. And by default, I think I'm actually doing what you're talking about, but you can actually correct me maybe. I'm actually here to learn here. I'm definitely loving it. So, I have the things I want to get done on the days I don't feel well and that looks a whole lot different to the things that I expect myself to get done on the days where I do feel well. The base, you called it a baseline habit. It's more about expectations, I think maybe. My expectations on when the days I don't feel well are like the basics. Is that what you talk about? Is that what you're meaning when you say baseline? HABITS SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE  Monica: So, let's break this down just a little bit. One, starting with the idea that habits should be supportive. That's their purpose. They're not balls and chains to our lives. They shouldn't be about the prescriptions. Kimberley: It's not a checklist. Monica: The checklist, no. That's the shift I can see you've already made, is these habits are there to support me. They're to support me on my best of days and my worst of days. So, with that first breakdown, then baselines come in to any to-me supportive habit, personally supportive habit, whether that's exercise, meditation, journaling, even getting up early, deep breathing, stretching, whatever those are to you. These grounding stabilizing habits, having those baseline versions is what helps you have the consistency you need to show up on those days where your expectations need to match your reality better. Kimberley: Right. Well, that's the point, isn't it? Okay, so let's talk about they have to be attached to the reality. So, what does that look like? Okay. We'll call them-- well, how will we say it? “Hard days” and “easy days” or how will we-- Monica: I always say “best of days” and “worst of days,” but that's really extreme language and I always preach against extremes, so maybe I shouldn't be using that. But whatever you're comfortable with. Kimberley: Hard days and not hard days. Let's do that.  Monica: That sounds great. Because it doesn't have to be like, you can only do the baseline if it's the worst day ever. It's just less-than-ideal day.  Kimberley: Okay. So, what does that look like?  Monica: Okay. So, let me give you a real-life example of a seasonal shift where my reality shifted, had to shift my expectations and the way I was showing up to the supportive habits. And this is more of a personal example. This summer, I was really sick with morning sickness, like really, really, really sick. And it went on for four months straight. And I'm still sick, but I'm better, way better. But during that time, I was still able to keep up my supportive habits, my most important ones, of exercise, of meditation, of journaling for my children, and of reading. But those supportive habits looked way different than my spring version of them before I got pregnant and my fall version now where I'm feeling better. I'll take one of those examples.  My exercise was I used to go for an hour-long walk and then do a strength training exercise video or something like that. It just turned into-- my baseline version of that was 20 minutes of slowly walking around my block. I didn't even go far in case I needed to go home sooner. But that still was supportive enough for me to have the time alone that I needed to be able to show up to other things.  Another example of this is, journaling for me typically looks like I have this journal for my kids that takes just a few minutes, and then I have a journal for myself that also just usually takes about five minutes. I decided journaling for myself could wait. So, I only had the two-minute version of journaling. And that still meant I would journal throughout all that time. And now what's great about having those baselines is once the fall came around and I began to feel better, I was able to pick up my habits more in ways that match my reality.  So, baselines, like I said, they are our less of ideal, less than ideal versions of the habits that can-- they give you the flexibility you need day to day, but season to season. So, as part of that, an important thing for women and men who are listening to know-- sorry, I'm used to talking to women, so I apologize for that. But an important thing to know is that your baselines can grow.  Now my baselines even are different than the summer. They're just a little bit more time intense or energy intensive than they were. Your highs get higher and your lows get higher too. Your baselines even grow. So, the less-than-ideal versions can grow too, and they have. Kimberley: That's awesome. And it's funny as you're talking about that I'm thinking of my patients. If we can keep the black-and-white view of it, like you either do it perfectly or you don't do it, there's often this shift. It's like, “Oh no, Kimberley, I did really great. I did all my exposures this week,” or “I didn't do any of my exposures this week. It's been a ‘hard week.'” But then there can be a shift to, “Oh, I had such a hard day, so instead of doing all my exposures, I just did six minutes.” And I think that's what you're saying in terms of it being a baseline habit of like, they gave themselves permission for it to not be perfect so that even on their “worst day,” they were still able to get in that treatment that they know is going to help them for that supportive work. Is that what you would think of it as? Monica: Mm-hmm. And I have a daughter who has generalized anxiety disorder. She's on the spectrum as well. So, we have a lot of different things we need to keep up on in order for her to feel supported in her life. And even for her, we have baseline versions of these things. So, that way, in a day where she's really struggling, we still have a way for her to feel supported without that all-or-nothing model, just taking off the table altogether. Kimberley: Right. So, what kind of shifts would one have to make to create a baseline habit plan? Would we call it a “baseline habit plan”?  Monica: Oh, yes. Kimberley: Is this an intentional plan? Tell me. SMALL, INTENTIONAL HABIT CHANGES Monica: So, first, you need to start with some small, internal habit changes, and that's something we alluded to. Just pay attention to what your own habit story is. How did you grow up thinking habits should be formed? How do you currently think they should be formed? How do you view your capacity to form habits? And how are all of those things actually connected to you being taught habits in ways that actually are not right for you and that's okay? Having that internal shift to one own, “Oh, I've been following the wrong model. So, I'm not broken and I'm capable of forming habits.” And also, the second shift there is just the supportive one. That's the shift. It's not about the shoulds and prescriptions.  Now the external shifts is, I mean, that's where we could break down. I could talk to you for an hour and a half about that, but you mentioned a plan, and that is what I help people do, is you do need a plan. And what that looks like is actually way simpler than maybe Pinterest would show you about a habit plan. You start with casting a vision of an ideal habit that matches a need you have. So, you can think more generally first like, what's the supportive habit I need? I need to wind down at night, so what does that look like for me? And you cast a vision of what could that entail. And then what you do is you take that version and you make sure, one, it's supportive. So, it's not about a should. You make sure it's really small. So, it needs to be-- well, we talked about the baseline version of that, but small is like broken down. So, not a full routine yet. We're just starting with the first step. Simple is your baseline version. That's like, what is the simplest version of even the small habit that I can start with?  MEDITATION HABITS  For an example, meditation habits, maybe you have a whole nighttime routine ideally that you would like and you know what that looks like. But you're going to start small with just the habit of meditation at night. And then from there, you're going to start by making it simple, and that means what's the baseline version of that? The easiest version of this habit is one deep breath. That's my baseline for meditation. And that actually was one of my habits during the summer. I still meditated all summer, but it was usually just a deep breath or 10 at night as I was falling asleep and just trying to clear my mind.  So, we have supportive, small, simple. And the last thing here is specific, and specific means you don't just say, “I'm going to have this new habit and I'm starting it tomorrow.” That's not specific. You need to have it tied to an already existing habit and form what I call a when-then pairing. So, get clear about, okay, what already happens at nighttime that I can attach this new habit to? And they might be things-- actually, not even might. Most of the time, the existing habits are things you don't know are habits because they are habits. Kimberley: Like brushing your teeth.  Monica: Yes. Dress in the bathroom, brushing your teeth, getting ready for bed. Or mine at night, honestly, a lot is just starting the dishwasher. Who knew? Oh, that's a habit. I do that every night. So, it's something like identifying what's an existing habit around that time and attaching that supportive, small, simple habit to. That's your habit plan. Kimberley: Interesting. So, for those who-- let's say, I'm going to offer the listeners. Let's say, most of the people who listen, their goal is to face a fear. That's my crowd. That's my people. We face our fears.  Monica: Love it.  Kimberley: So, let's say we're trying to increase our ability to face a fear every day. So, what you're saying is, find a habit you already do and attach it to the time in which you do that. So, let's say if your goal is to do an exposure – that's often the biggest form of facing fear – in order to get it to be a daily thing that you're consistent with, you would find a time of the day that you would be already doing something. Often I'll say, as you drive to work, you could do it while you're driving to work. Is that what you're saying? Monica: Yeah. You're nailing this. Exactly. Kimberley: Okay. What if you don't want to do the habit, but you know you should because it's supportive? Monica: So, this is going to-- you just did the biggest disclaimer there. If you truly love the result and the result is what you need in your life, shoulds can still be chosen. We don't have to totally take shoulds off the table. And there's a lot of that kind of talk, I think, out in the personal development world like, “No shoulds.” But honestly, I don't feel like doing a lot of the things I need to do most days responsibility-wise. They are shoulds. But they are chosen because of the results or because of the benefit or what I know my responsibilities need me to do.  Shoulds can be chosen. So, if you've deeply truly chosen the should, which is the first step, then you have to get clear about your baseline. And ask yourself, is this actually a baseline? Because it needs to be so small and simple that you can do it even when you don't want to. That's how small and simple it needs to be. And once you do that, you get the momentum, which is a whole other topic. And you might organically be like, “Oh, I can do another deep breath, or I can spend another minute on this exposure,” and ride that wave if you feel like it. Kimberley: Right. And so, what I would offer to people if I'm going off of your example is, on your baseline day, on your hottest day, you could purposely have a thought you don't want to have, and that's it. That could be your baseline. Or another would be, let's say there's something you avoid. You could just do it for one minute, be around that thing you avoid for one minute. Is that what we're looking for? Like one minute?  Monica: Exactly.  Kimberley: Good. Baby steps. Monica: Yes. And don't underestimate the power of these baselines. One of the biggest powers is momentum that I mentioned, but the other biggest one that honestly to me might even be more weighty than the momentum is the confidence. It's the identity shift and how you view your capacity to form habits, and your capacity to follow through with the things you say you're going to do for yourself. Kimberley: Right. Isn't that such a big piece of it? Like how many times have I-- let's say a client has panic disorder and getting on the elevator is so painful because they're so afraid of having a panic attack on an elevator, for example. And they're standing at the doors and they're saying, “I can't. I just can't do it.” That's that confidence piece, right? Because we know we can. We could actually argue like, “No, you just take one foot and you put your foot on the elevator and then you put the other foot on the elevator and you're in the elevator.” I think that that's an interesting piece. And I talk a lot about motivation, but what you are bringing to the table, and correct me if I'm wrong, is there are many ways in which we could get motivation and momentum and confidence, but habits is another way. Monica: Yes. And for me, these baseline versions are, go to a bigger picture concept that I teach in my community of creating momentum instead of waiting for motivation. And it's just physics. It really is just using physics here. But like you said, it's the confidence piece. It's the identity piece of being someone who can face fears, of someone who can show up for themselves, even on the hard days, on all these levels that we've talked about. It really helps. The identity piece too is really important. CHANGING HABITS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS  Kimberley: Right. Okay. So, you're having a hard day. You originally, when we were chatting, were talking about the dark days. We call them a dark day, a hard day, the worst day and all the things. On the days where that's the hardest of days, the darkest of days, we usually have a lot of thoughts about our capacity to do hard things on the dark day. I know we touched on this, but what is the mindset shift to allowing yourself to be in a baseline day? I'll give you a personal example. When I have POTS, when I've massively relapsed, the day before I could walk three miles, no problem. And on my relapse days, I am lucky if I can get around the block. Lucky. That is lucky. And so, what needs to happen there to give ourselves permission to-- because I've actually been the person who goes, “Nope, I refuse this to be a bad day. I am going for that damn three-mile walk,” and then all hell gets broken. It's horrible. There's consequences to be paid for pushing myself. So, is there a piece here about the permission? That's the main last piece I want to ask. Monica: Oh yes. This alone takes a tremendous amount of courage. People, they think, “Oh, what? Habit probation takes courage?” Yeah, it does, especially if you're doing it differently than the way that you've been taught. And this is where I would go back to something about proving yourself wrong. Doing something in a different way as a way to bolster your confidence and also your know-how, but to say like, “Maybe I can just try to see, I can just prove my old self wrong here. Does this still help? Is it still a way to show myself I care about myself?” on your really bad days where you're recovering. Is this stretch still giving to your body? Is it still saying “I see you” and “I love you and I'm trying to help you and I know you're trying to help me”? Maybe you can't even do that block, but you can do a sense salutation or sorry, that's the movement I keep doing over here, like what is she doing? That's the movement I keep doing.  What I would help people do who are stuck in that all-or-nothing mindset, it's so hard to let go of. Believe me, I know. Adopt the mindset of curiosity of what would it look like to try this out? Can I prove myself wrong? And I would also get a little logical and look back on your past and say, “Overall, how has this all-or-nothing model served me? Has it helped me more or hurt me?” For the high majority of people, high majority, it hurts more than helps.  Pay attention to the price you have paid in the past for the all and just acknowledge it takes real strength to do this. That's one thing-- I had a client say this years ago. She said it takes the greatest of courage to do the smallest of things. And that's where I would end. Just dare to have that courage to try the smallest of things and to try them again and again and again and see over time. You've got to give yourself that time to see how it can prove yourself wrong overall. And that these small ways we invest in ourselves, not only add up, but they count in the moment too. CREATING A HABIT PLAN  Kimberley: Right. So beautiful. I have one more tactical question before I let you go. So, would you have people have a breakdown of all the steps to create a habit plan? Meaning, let's say the goal is to get-- a lot of people here are working at developing a good exposure plan. Let's say we're goaling towards 30 minutes a day. Would you say, “Okay, on the dark hard days, we do two minutes. So, that's reserved for the dark hard days. And then from there, we're going to work at two minutes, three minutes, four minutes, five minutes, six minutes. And then by the end of the month, we want to be at nine minutes.”? Would you break it down like that or is that actually the opposite of the plan here that you're trying to go for in terms of a supportive plan? Monica: So, the bigger question I believe you're asking is, how do we build, do it strategically or what does that look like? I would say that depends on what the habit is and the purpose of the habit. So, if this is more of like a therapy-based habit that you've been working on with clients, I would say it might be helpful to have that game plan. Perhaps not based on a certain time, but more about how consistently they're able to perform the baseline version, and from there have the foundation they need to build.  In general, though, for most habits, it goes two ways. You can either maximize or add. You can do longer amounts of the habit or more intensity, that's maximizing, or you can add. That means you add another step to the bigger routine you want. And I find that can go two directions. One, strategically, you can think like, okay, this is my game plan. Maybe I don't have an exact deadline, like in two weeks. It's more organic feeling. It's more intuitive. I feel strong enough. I feel like I'm in momentum. I feel like I have the structure I need to add or to maximize. But yeah, it still can be done strategically. But most of the time, it just happens organically. You just are able to-- that baseline rises, like we talked about. And as a baseline rises, that means you tend to have more like normal days in between days where you can do a step or two above naturally and organically.  So, that depends. But ultimately, I think, have trust in yourself to know what you need for a specific habit. Do I need this to be strategic or am I okay to do this more intuitively and organically? But no matter what, starting with the ideal in mind is what gives you the target that you are headed towards. Kimberley: Right. And that you can, any day, even if you're on your way up to the strategic plan, you can rely on your base plan if needed. That's your backup. Monica: Always, always. And even over time, as your baselines rise, you still have that under baseline you can always fall back to. If seasons change, your life change, circumstances change, your health changes, those are always there for you. Kimberley: Right. Love it. All right. Tell us where we can hear more about you. Monica: Well, I am a podcaster on About Progress. We're a personal development show. We don't just talk about habits there. We talk about a lot of things. And I'd love for them to come and listen. And I do have a course on habit formation and it's for women. I know there are men listening here, but it's primarily for those who identify as women because of the bigger thing I have to teach about why habits spell in particular for women. So, it's called the Sticky Habit Method, and they can go check that out at aboutprogress.com/stickyhabitmethod. And it says sticky habit because you form habits that stick. Kimberley: Nice. I love it. Oh my gosh, it's so wonderful to have you. Like I said, your episode about perfectionism that we've done is a really high-rated episode. If you want to go back and listen to that, that would be cool too. Yeah, absolutely.  Monica: That's really the heart of all my work, including habit formation. Who knew I would even get into habits, but we're here. Kimberley: I love it. I love it. Thank you so much for coming on. I've loved listening. I've been the student today as well, so that was awesome.  Monica: I love that. Thank you. Kimberley: My pleasure. Thank you so much. LINKS:  PODCAST http://aboutprogress.com/podcast STICKY HABIT METHOD https://www.workinprogressacademy.co/sticky-habit-method FREE HABIT CLASS FOR WOMEN https://workinprogressacademy.mykajabi.com/women-habits-class

ANNOUNCEMENT: Our Flecks of Gold Journals are going to be a seasonal offering only.  If you want to change your perspective on motherhood in 2023, order your own beautiful, linen bound, Flecks of Gold Journal today by going to 3in30podcast.com/flecksofgold. This journal won't be for sale again for almost a year, so hurry and grab one of the last copies that we have in stock! *** Stop overthinking and start doing! In this episode, Monica Packer, a busy mom of four and host of the podcast About Progress, teaches us how.  For full show notes, including the three takeaways, go to https://3in30podcast.com/267-stop-procrastinating  Episode sponsors: Flecks of Gold Journal: Use code 3in30 for 10% off BetterHelp: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Use the code 3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy! ***