We all have that thing on any given day. It simmers away at the back of your mind. It's something that you want to put time into, but haven't got to yet. It's an idea you can't unhook yourself from. A “sticky” challenge or problem.
Sometimes it's simple and small.
A book you've been wishing you could jump into, writing that blog post you meant to get to, or starting the chores that have been driving you crazy all week.
Sometimes it's huge and intimidating.
Changing jobs. Feeling happier and more alive day to day. Sharing your truth with someone and not knowing how it will pan out.
It feels like an end of summer thing, to have a lot of these things piling up. In my mind, I‘m used to navigating around stacks of these things that I dream up for myself as shoulds, wants and (God forbid!) musts. I'm used to knowing that I will never get them done, and filing them in Pinterest and Evernote for future reference if they're really tempting. But lately I've decided to change my approach.
I've started a habit of starting small.
- Instead of blogging from start to finish, I'll write for 15 – 20 minutes and then come back to continue another day.
- Instead of cleaning my whole house, I'll de-clutter part of one room for 15 minutes and continue the next day.
- Instead of setting aside a whole day to work on my personal creative projects, I'll wake up earlier and give them a half hour.
- Instead of putting aside 3 hours once a month to talk shop with my business partner, we check in throughout the week.
It's not revolutionary, but it feels like a superpower! After two weeks, my house is cleaner that it's been in months, I'm writing again, I'm creating things for myself for the sheer fun of it, and the things that have been burning a hole in my piece of mind are things I can feel accomplished about.
Sounds good, right?
Click to tweet it: Today I give myself permission to start small & remember that I'm not behind. Not now, not ever!
Whatever that thing is for you, I have a dare for you today:
① Take a small step & celebrate it.
Take the first impossibly small step toward that thing that you can think of. Making a list could be a good place to start – but just writing the list, not even doing anything on it. Set a timer for 15 minutes, do what you can, and then stop.
Stopping is hard, but it's a powerful practice in letting a little be enough.
The magic is in the repetition. Do this little bit every day, or every other day, will make your accomplishments stack up in fabulous ways.
② Remind yourself that you're doing great, and you are not behind.
No matter where you think you should be, that idea is just your imagination. You are only exactly where you are, and with tiny repeated effort you will move mountains!
You are not behind. And while we're at it you are also not too old, or too young, or too fat, or too thin, or too late, or too early, or too anything. You are putting one foot in front of the other, and you are doing great.
You are not behind. You are incredible, you are building momentum and you are going to surprise yourself.
What do you think – challenge accepted?
What are you going to tackle with your new small superpower?
Image: The Motivated Type
LAST UPDATED ON: September 5th, 2014
CATEGORY: All Business & Blogging Posts
I’m saving this post to re-read as many times as it takes to get it through my head!! I’m such an all or nothing person to the point that if I can’t do something 100%, I won’t even bother to try, and in turn, end up accomplishing nothing! I have a few big things I’m working on (a big furniture re-do project for my bedroom, losing weight and changing my body, getting my apartment clean and super organized, and preparing for the upcoming holidays) and it can all feel so overwhelming at times. But this really helps to re-motivate me. Thanks so much for sharing!
I think with the slow change from summer into the faster approaching fall, and the new moon cycle falling right there with it, I’ve been feeling so ungrounded and just general melancholy. I put off reading this post until today and I’m thankful I did! One thing I am practicing with my yoga is to learn to savor the journey and take to heart that “attempting a pose (or attempting anything really) is still full benefit”. Whether we “fail” or get into the mindset of “I should/n’t” should ultimately have no impact on what we have or are doing no matter the size of the step. It is so challenging to remember that the process and the attempt is what is the most beneficial, rather than being at the end result. For me, taking small steps is such a wonderful reminder and practice in savoring the process. I always admire your inspiration.
Oh My Goodness! A HIMYM reference! Challenge accepted and things are going to be legend-wait for it-dary!
Thanks for this post. I’ve been repeating it to myself but hearing it from someone else, that it’s not just me with this problem, is greatly encouraging and motivating.
At the start of my teaching year, when I wake up on this first Saturday morning and before my eyes are open, I FEEL BEHIND, this is a hugely helpful reminder. Thank you!! I read this for a reason!
Yes yes yes! So many good things in my life have snowballed from one small, “why not try?” start, and more often than not the things I’ve psyched myself out about are far less difficult than I built them up to be in my head. People are often so much more capable than they think!
Soooo true. I feel I’ve only truly started living this this year. I’m putting a ton more effort into my theme shop. I’m thinking about creating a new blog or overhauling the old one. I’ve made the first steps to patch up broken relationships. Step by step I’ve been healing my relationship with money and have seen my income grow as a result. I’ve joined the local Judo club. So many small changes have happened recently and the journey is simply amazing. Thank you for this beautiful reminder, it is so full of truth. Baby steps are so often the best way to go about making big changes. One after the other.
Thanks for sharing this! As a work at home mom of two I feel like I never have time to finish ANYTHING – sometimes I feel too overwhelmed to even start! Thanks for the reminder that it’s okay to start small – I’m building momentum and I will surprise myself :)
Dear Kyla,
What a week I’ve had! Huge issues at work to tackle which have felt at times like mountains.
Your email came through perfectly timed to remind me to breathe and take some pressure off myself.
Thank you so much, I just wanted you to know there was someone out here, all the way in the UK who really, really appreciated you’re little reminder and how much more human I feel now I’ve read it.
I hope you’re well and look forward to your next post. You’re doing great too.
Loads of love and laughter,
Jane
I have started to approach blogging the same way – jotting down ideas, starting drafts, and giving myself room to breathe so that I don’t rush a post. It’s been great!