There are a lot of things “they” say.
It doesn’t matter where you start as long as you take the first step.
It’s a process.
Do your best.
There are dozens if not hundreds of vague and mildly motivating sayings. Some I actually like. But I have a problem. HOW am I turning these vague ideas and concepts into results?
Now I’ve posted before about my current-ish planner setup (here’s a link), but things as always are changing. I have not missed one deadline or appointment since setting things up as they are now. That’s a win. It’s real easy for me to answer the question “are you available….” because the one book has everyone’s appointments and schedules in it, and is easy for me to use.
I’ve also come to really like my business planner though I am using it to about 50% of where I should be and could be.
But. Not to sound greedy… I want *MORE*. I want to figure out how to get myself exercising every day and not talking myself out of it half the time. I want to get myself ahead of deadlines and I want a better overall workflow to my day. I’m writing this post days before it will go live which is good. It’s a small step. But I want so many more steps and I have one burning question:
How do I take ideas & plans and make them actually happen?
The simple answer is of course to “just do it”… but the reality of everyday life isn’t always so simple. How do we motivate ourselves without a team of professionals shadowing and optimizing us taking the guess work out of it each day? I’m talking about life in general here, but also about crafting in particular. I have 10 minutes a day to give to my scrapbooks (another story – coming soonish!), and I need to get more of my ideas out of my notebooks and into reality.
I don’t have an answer… yet.
As of today I’m starting a challenge. I’m going to look for expert advise and try it their way for just ONE week applied overall to my life and see what things stick and what things won’t work at all. What helps and what hurts. A grand life-wide experiment.
Life is short, and each day does matter, so I truly want to make the most of it and I want to share with you things that work. If you’ve got people who are great at organizing or life in general or have your own ideas to add – let me know. The weekly recap will be done via YouTube in a ‘live from the studio’ video series, and once every few weeks I’ll recap ideas here that work.
Because what is the point of learning if we don’t share the success with our friends?!
Have a great week.
Here is my “expert” advice: break it into steps and schedule it. IT’s hard to figure out how you’re going to create an online class, for example, but if you break it into steps, it’s doable. Schedule thinking/planning time once a week and Write it all down. Then schedule each bit: 30 minutes one day to write an outline, 30 minutes another day to research supplies, etc. Work backward from your deadline and give yourself a few days’ Cushion, in case something comes up that keeps you from finishing on time.
Good luck and enjoy the process!
As far as the question of how to make yourself do something a/k/a make a new habit, Gretchen Rubin has written a book called Better Than Before (about habit formation) and also has a quiz that her not-yet-out next book will be about — the Four Tendencies. This is relevant, I swear. You take the quiz and figure out if you’re an Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, or rebel. Then she has ideas about how each “tendency” is best motivated. I’m an obliger, which means I’m accountable to other people, but have a hard time meeting my own expectations. *sigh* So, for an obliger to do better at something, like fitting in exercise, you figure out a way to make yourself accountable to someone besides just yourself. So, make an appointment to walk with a friend, for example. I listen to Gretchen’s podcast and apparently i’ve sampled the Koolaid. đŸ™‚
I recently read a book called switch that talked about this very thing. There were a ton of really good ideas. Check it out!
I recently finished reading “Loving my actual life” in which the author did a 9 month experiment in making different parts of her life work better or more efficiently each month. There were a lot of good take aways. I anxiously await your thoughts on the things you try out.
Hi, Just wanted to let everyone know if your looking for the new 28 Liliac lane products, scrapbooking.com finally got some NEW ones in and they are SO BEAUTIFUL, I love the Sew crafty and the Rose garden and the Pirates life. Go check them out before they are gone. Thanks.
I second Laura’s advice on Gretchen Ruben’s book – she also has a podcast!