‘Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.’ –Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
What is it about being away that stimulates us to make changes when we get home? After two weeks on the road, I have returned with a fire in my belly to get going and do all those things I’ve been meaning to do for ages. You know the ones. The items on the to-do list that seem to get carried over day after day, week after week, when really they won’t take all that long and if done, will make life a little easier.
How about you? Do you feel positive and keen to make changes in your life? Are you fired up and ready to address the issues and tasks you’ve been putting off? It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? Now all you need to do is to harness that feeling and turn it into action. It’s the starting that is the hardest thing to do. Get going! The feeling of achievement is brilliant, I promise!
What are you aiming to achieve? Have you a clear objective? It’s all very well having tasks to do, but are they things that you really need to do to help you move forward? Re-assess your list and decide whether those items that have been slipping are actually of use to you and your future aims. If not, either ditch them or delegate them. Take one item from your list and schedule time to do it today. On completion, schedule in another, and then another, until the list has been completed. Those items that can be broken down into more manageable chunks should be, so that they don’t seem so daunting. Think about why you’ve been putting them off. Hey, if you don’t deal with them now, they’ll continue to hang over you, making you stressed and irritable. Getting them done will take a weight off your mind and improve your mood and stress levels.
Taking action every day is one of those things that becomes habitual, as is doing nothing. The more you do, the more you will be able to do. Your confidence will increase and you will be able to focus on what it is you need to achieve, rather than those things that are hanging around waiting for you to complete. Finishing those tasks will free up not only your time, but the brain cells that have been clogged up worrying about them!
I’m not proposing that you do everything in one day (though you may find that once you get started you will be able to whizz through your list rapidly), but that you schedule time to do something off your list each day. This may be part of a larger task, if you have broken it down. Is there another way to approach the tasks? Sometimes the best way is not the most obvious. Get creative and have some fun while you’re clearing the decks!
If you were going to get something such as a financial reward for completing the task, then perhaps you would have already completed it. So my assumption (forgive me if I am wrong here) is that these tasks are ones that have some other incentive, such as being able to find everything you need to do your job, because you have finally sorted out your filing system and work space. What pain are you suffering through not addressing that list? Do you really want to continue that way? Surely pleasure and ease are more attractive? Get clearing those decks!
Kate Harper is based in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Check out her website
She works with people who are fed up with moaning about their lives and have decided to do something about it. If that is you, please take a look at Kate’s website. Her special interest is in promoting Wellbeing through coaching. She is happy to work with people from any part of the world.
“The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult.” Madame Marie du Deffand
Take your first step today and contact Kate.
