Things To Thing About, November 26th, 2018

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Things To Thing About, November 26th, 2018

Celebrate the small victories.

Happy Monday, or whatever Monday you choose.

However you feel about Thanksgiving, it’s over. Hopefully, you were able to enjoy time with your family or just enjoyed a day off. If you had to work, I hope you were able to find some modicum of fulfillment. What were the highlights of the prior week? Perhaps you were able to wrap up a project successfully. Maybe you tried a new stuffing recipe, and it was a hit. I did not overeat and had a wonderful time with my family. It is important to celebrate the small victories and build on them. Take a moment to reflect on how far you have come and then decide where you would like to go next.
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What’s going on at home base? What is in your environment that has helped you to get this far? Perhaps it is a clear workspace, or healthy snacks, or a comfy chair. Your environment can play a big part in your productivity.

But, and there is always a but – your intentions are not lining up with your actions. What’s the saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions? Are you finding it challenging to manifest your thoughts into actions? What is the disconnect between your will and your outcomes? Perhaps you are focusing on the wrong things. It is easy to get distracted by busy work. What is in your physical world that is impacting your outcomes? What is no longer serving you? What do you need to change? If you find yourself getting distracted, what is causing the distraction? Are you trying to answer email or texts when you need to be in the zone? I did an experiment months ago where I completely shut down emails while working on my reports. I was able to accomplish my morning reports eighteen minutes faster. Removing or changing your environment is an excellent way to set yourself up for success.

Clearing out the clutter can also extend to your mind. Sometimes, I spend quite a bit of time reviewing my mental to-do list, instead of just doing it. We feel as if we are doing something productive because it is related to what we need to accomplish, but it is procrastination. Is your woolgathering getting you closer to your goals? “Sometimes, I need to do nothing to process my thoughts. That is when I get my best ideas.” I get it. Everyone works differently. How many of those “best ideas” have you put into action? Perhaps you can build in scheduled downtime to your day or use it as a reward after you have tackled some of your to-do lists. Last week we spoke about checking in with yourself. What is going on? Where is your head at? Be honest and kind to yourself. If you are having trouble being objective, reach out to a trusted friend, colleague, or professional.

What’s next? Ensure that your physical surroundings are helping and not harming you. Do you have the resources you need to accomplish your goals? Resources could be financial, or it could be getting enough sleep or physical activity. When the pitcher is empty, you are unable to water anything. Make sure your physical, mental, and spiritual gas tanks are full. After the celebration, we have to remember to take stock and replenish the supplies. Think about the big picture. What do you need not only to get to the next goal but also for the after party?