Do as I say, not as I do: 10 pieces of advice I dish out but don’t always take

What advice do you give but not follow?

You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be consistent. And no one knows this better than me – a coach who may, occasionally, sometimes give advice I don’t always follow to the letter.

The key is not perfection, but choosing the actions that move the needle the most. So here it is: my 'Do as I say, not as I do' list of advice I dish out but occasionally slip up on …

1. Minimise caffeine

"I’ll cut down tomorrow," I tell myself... right before grabbing yet another cup. I’m actually too embarrassed to tell you how many coffees I have each day! I do keep it to pre-2 pm though – usually - that’s good, right?

2. Don't look at your phone right before bed

Ah, the pre-bedtime scroll – it’s a trap! I know it’s not helpful, yet here I am, checking one last email or doomscrolling before turning in.

3. Exercise every day

I know this really makes a huge difference. Am I sedentary? No. Do I actually exercise daily? Also no. Let’s say my workout routine could use... a bit of flexibility.

4. Meditate every day

I get into a groove, feel zen for a few weeks, and then forget about meditation for months. Balance, right?

5. Practice gratitude

Yes, I know the power of a gratitude journal. No, I don’t write in one daily. But I’m thankful for that... occasionally.

6. Focus on what you can control and let go of the rest

Easy to say, harder to do when your mind loves to wander into "what ifs" and scenarios you have no control over.

7. Don't work when you're not working

I advise others to disconnect. Meanwhile, I’ll just sneak a peek at my inbox during dinner 🙈

8. Go to bed at a consistent time every night

"Tonight, I’ll be in bed by 10 pm." Except... the Netflix series I’m watching has other plans …

9. Eat nutritious, whole foods

I feel better the same day I go hard on healthy eating. I know it is critically important for health and wellbeing into the future. And I love pizza, burgers, pasta, cheese and hot chips. Not all at once, so that’s a plus?

10. Don't proofread your sent emails!

The classic waste of time and brainspace in a busy day. In fairness, I’m much better at this now than I was in my lawyer days.

The takeaway? Consistency over perfection! We all have areas we can improve on. The trick is to focus on the actions that will make the biggest difference for you.

Now, over to you – which advice do you give that you don’t always take?

And if you’d like some coaching support for changes you’d like to make, without the holier-than-thou vibes, let me know. I also have some great workshops on healthy work and life habits WITH self compassion!

Until next week, take care of yourself and others

Madeleine

I help accomplished professionals untangle difficult career questions so they can thrive in work and life.

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