For the first time in ages, you have a day without a pressing deadline.
No clients demanding you email them back right away.
Even the kids don’t have a surprise event this week.
Now that you finally have a minute to breathe, you’ll make good use of the day.
So you block your time with the work you should be doing.
But…instead of tackling that work, you reorganize your kitchen or scroll for three hours to get inspiration for a new hair style.
Your time-blocked calendar is now out the window.
Which means you’ve failed, have ADHD, and will never reach your potential!
Easy does it!
Here’s the thing.
It is OKAY to have downtime.
It is OKAY to not be working every minute of the day.
It is OKAY to take a break.
It’s just not okay when this behavior becomes the norm.
Here’s what I hear from clients all the time:
“I work great under a deadline. It’s when I don’t have a deadline that I flail and get nothing done.”
And I say: “Welcome to being human!”
Honestly, we are all mostly the same.
Most ambitious people are convinced that they’re the only ones who “waste” time when they’re not under pressure.
The truth is, it happens to most people, no matter how smart or driven they are.
So what can we do about it?
I have three simple strategies to help you finally move forward.
#1: Make Up Mini Deadlines: Decide to complete one step on a project each day or week. Not the whole project – but mini-deadlines that you’re committing to on specific, small steps.
#2: Create Peer Pressure: When you tell a team member, friend, or coach your time frame for completing work and promise to send them updates, (or even better, declare your goals publicly on IG or FB), you create accountability and make progress.
It is key to self-imposed deadlines.
Remember, we are least accountable to ourselves – but most accountable to other people.
#3: Reward or Penalize Yourself: Create a reward, like once you finish researching you get to have a caramel latte.
If rewards aren’t a powerful enough incentive, try a penalty. Like, if you don’t spend an hour on your proposal, you can’t watch your favorite show.
When you use these strategies along with other tweaks in your thinking and behavior, you’ll give yourself the break you need…while also finally moving.
You’ll start training your mind and body to get things done even when you’re not under pressure.
You’ll not only get more done with less stress, but you’ll FEEL more motivated by it.
Motivation feeds motivation.
Aren’t you ready to have more of it in your life?
Xo,
Mridu
P.S. Want to implement even more easy ways to get and stay motivated? Book a free strategy call with me here. I promise, there IS an easier way.
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