Hey there, all!
Just trying to get my act together over here, today. How about you?
I realized I needed a little reminder of why I have some goals and another reminder on how to achieve them. I wanted to share 3 little things that are really making an impact on my productivity. They are free, FREE, and easy. And we all have access to them.
1. Make a list of...days.
Yep. This crappy little piece of paper is my favorite thing to mark off each day. I wanted to begin Pilates/Barre exercises again at home. But, I would shrug it off. “Ugh, it takes too long…ugh, I’m so tired…ugh, there are so many other things I could be doing.”
I was right: there were so many other things I could be doing besides mentally complaining. So I made this little sheet with numbers representing 21 days – the number of days in a row that I wanted to get this Pilates practice up and running again. I posted it on the frig. I labeled it with what it was – see that “Mar-Pilates” so that neither myself nor the Bauble Husband would throw it away. And then, I tried.
And guess what – so far, it’s worked. I cannot wait to check off that number each day, and my waistline is starting to thank me. Plus, it helps me achieve something else throughout the day and begins my productivity on a high note. Easy.
2. Set a timer.
I get overwhelmed easily thinking about time, and I know my friends do as well. The time it takes to clean up after the kids, organize a drawer that you have been meaning to, or go through your piling up paperwork. The time it takes to get things done really debilitates me – particularly household chores or projects. It’s not a strong suit, but I am working on it.
One of the ways I have been working on it is to set a timer for me to work on an activity. That activity could be anything – from cleaning out a closet, to vacuuming, to organizing, dusting – WHATEVER. The not-so-fun-but-I-guess-freaking-necessary stuff.
I set a timer on my phone for a short period of time – no more than 30 minutes. I generally start at 15 minutes. Hit start, then GO!!! Now, my time is set and I know what I am doing for the next 15 minutes of my life without worrying about how I am not using my time. Suddenly, making work lunches and dusting as much of the house as I can is not so so overwhelming at all. It’s just seeing how much of it I can get done in the next 15 minutes.
I generally find that, not only have I accomplished a lot, but I set another timer for 15 minutes to see how much more I can do. I also know that I only have the next 15 minutes, so I work extra hard to GET. IT. DONE. Again, simple.
3. Find a little love.
I have tried to find a little more love for myself…meaning that I am not so hard on myself for not getting things done. I encourage you to do the same.
There are going to be really bad days – days when kids will be sick, spouses will be sick, flat tires will be had, events will fill up the schedules, etc. So, you have to know when to listen to your body and rest if you need it or cuddle up with whatever you want that makes you happy.
Ok, so I did not get all the cleaning done that I wanted to do…but I got to weirdly sit on the stairs with my husband, making jokes with him, and hear about how something at his job was crazy – and we laughed about the story together. THAT is something I will remember for a little while and it will probably make me smile again. And I’m GRATEFUL for that small moment. The gratitude and that laughter are two of the best things about that moment.
I won’t remember how I was struggling to carry all the garbage outside.
Let me know if you try any of these things…or what memories you’ve made instead 🙂
Bauble Babe
by.mc.jewelry 