Motivation through Quick Wins
/So apparently it wasn’t the hedgie that was so important. Don’t get me wrong, the hedgie is important. Unless it’s an elephant day, or a Care Bear day, or an owl day. Basically, the animal of the day is important.
Not sure what I’m referring to? About a month ago Clara and I went on an adventure to get her birth certificate. We got ourselves ready, got in the car, grabbed the hedgie and set off to the public health agency. And yes, the adventure was long overdue seeing that at the time she was already 13 months old.
Raise your hand if you’ve got one or two unfished projects in your life.
Now leave your hand up if it’s more like five or six. Ten? Fifteen? Twenty-seven?
Okay, I know I’m not the only one with my hand still (figuratively) in the air.
And you know the worst part of all these unfinished projects? It’s actually not even the projects themselves, but the mental and emotional load that they bare. It’s oppressing, overwhelming, and, well, depressing. In fact, when I really think about it, I just want to take a nap.
Don’t get me wrong. There are moments in almost every single day when I’m ready to tackle the world. I’m ready to get up kick some boot-tay and take some names. But when it really comes down to it, actually starting (to finish) is the hardest part.
Why? Why is it so hard to (start) finish something that is already 73% done?
Seriously, though. I wish I were exaggerating when I tell you I have over sixty, yes, 60, partially written articles on my computer. Some of them are almost done. Some only need an intro or some proof-reading and a check on research. And some of them are still outlines. But still. Here I am, having not posted as regularly as I like, with SIXTY partially written articles.
Oh, and there’s the bag of wine corks in my basement that I’ve had for an embarrassing number of years (let’s just say, since before I met my husband). Before I met Rob my kitchen had a wine theme and I had so many projects I wanted to do with corks, and so I collected them from everyone and everywhere! I wanted to make a wreath, a small Christmas tree, coasters, and a breakfast tray. And I still do… I think.
And there’s the yarn scraps. Small bits of a variety of colors of yarn from old crocheting projects as well as a garbage bag full of small bits that I rescued from a stitching club throwing away. I was going to make a multi-colored blanket and just let the yarn mix and match in a muddle of colors.
Oh, and let’s not even start on the photo albums that date all the way back to high school.
Of course, there are also more of the “life” tasks that are on my list as well.
Research equipment for online group exercise classes
The Viome kit that has been sitting on my desk for about six months (Is it still good? Has the company changed so much that it will still give me the information I thought it would?)
Research, purchase, (arrange for) install a new patio door for the house (a sliding door would give us so much more room than the door we have now)
Clean the basement (there are legit boxes down there that haven’t been opened since I moved in almost four years ago…)
Organize the kitchen cabinets
Go through the “junk box” in the office
Clean the dishwasher
Clean the (laundry) washer unit
All the other items on the “house to-do” list (it’s a page and a half long…)
Read the (not gonna say how many) books that I own that have not been read
Oh, and there’s the EXTREMELY LARGE LIST of tasks that need to get done for The FRICKin Good Life
You know, tasks like that.
Luckily (luckily?) sometimes I follow my own advice and I’ve got most of these things out of my head and in a brain dump. As a reminder, a brain dump is when you literally grab paper and your favorite writing utensil (Pen? Pencil? Gel pen?) and start writing down everything in your head. And I mean everything. Every little thing you need to or want to do from finally finishing that photo album to cleaning the bathroom. You can find a bit more information in this article.
Okay, first step done. Now what?
Well, what I’d love to tell you to do is to organize your list. And here’s the thing, I will teach you how to do that soon. But one of the things I’ve realized with not only my clients but myself is that a “quick win” or two does a lot more to boost your motivation and perceived productivity.
So how do we get these quick wins?
Instead of looking at your massive brain dump and adding 14 things to your to-do list today, I want you to add three to five things to your to-do list for the week.
That’s right. I said week. Not day, but week. Because if we’re being honest, we all have days when we seem to be able to knock things out and days when we just can’t get anything done (there’s actually some science to that too, but that’s for another time). So instead of making yourself a massive list that will only sap your motivation when you most likely don’t make it halfway through, just pick up to five things.
Now that you have those three to five things, you can break them down into smaller tasks.
For example:
Maybe one of your items is to get some meals to a friend who recently had twins. While that’s only one item on your list, it’s really at least 10 different items.
Research recipes
Pick the recipes
Make a grocery list
Go grocery shopping
Put groceries “away”
Make meal(s)
Package meals
Create labels for how to reheat/defrost meals
Find a time to deliver meals
Deliver meals
No wonder to-do lists a mile long never get done! Most of the tasks on the list have more than one step which is why a “simple” task can seem overwhelming and a “short” to-do list can take all week (I’m on step 9 lady- those meals are coming!).
Keep it simple and short.
By starting each week with three to five tasks on your list, you are way more likely to start knocking out your massive to-do list in the long run. But you have to FOCUS on the tasks you chose for the week. Work on those tasks, and those tasks only.
Yes, other life tasks will pop up, and that’s understandable. In fact, that’s why you are only choosing three to five items off your master list.
Yes, there will be times when completing a task will be delayed because of something that is completely out of your control, but that’s when you work on one of your other weekly focus items.
Then, once all of the original to-do items are complete (All. Not 3 out of 5 or 4 out of 5, but all) choose your next handful of tasks. *Occasionally there will be rollover items on your list because of something that is out of your control (waiting for a response, needing help from someone in particular, or waiting for a delivery), but try to keep those items to a minimum to avoid having one task on your list in perpetuity.
So there you have it. Grab your brain dump and pick a few items. Get started by choosing a few items of the list. Don’t go crazy, just pick a few. The rest of the list will still be there (and it will be there getting even longer if you never finish anything).
I know the desire is to try and attack it all, but trust me. Give yourself a motivational boost by choosing and actually completing a few of the items. And give yourself time and grace to get to the rest.
I believe in you, you’ve got this.
(Oh, and p.s. my bracelet arrived)
