How To Move When You Don't Want To
We all get stuck.?
One of the things I have learned in all of my years of being an entrepreneur is that there are going to be times when enough happens in the business or your personal life (or both) that you just would rather sit on the couch than take on the world.?
And that's OK.?
The most important thing is dealing with those times when you have very little desire to do anything or feel completely overwhelmed by all of the things you are being told to do.
?If you're feeling that way right now or if you anticipate feeling that way in the future, I want to share three things I like to do in those times.?
1. Start with what you need right now- Only you know what you need at this moment and the most common thing I hear from folks who are having a hard time is "I don't have time" for myself. But the great thing about time is...
That we get to choose.
If you need a break, take it.
If you need a walk or a nap, take it.
I promise even if that thing you give yourself is only a few minutes, just the act of giving yourself what you need will help you get back on track.?
2. Choose ONE thing you want to do- It's no surprise that a lot lands on our to-do lists, but in the moments when it all feels like too much, thinking we're going to pound through it all is a fool's errand.
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It's ok in the hard moments to choose one thing to focus on because one thing on a list simply feels better than 10 or even 3.?
3. M.V.A.- This one has gotten me over a lot of humps in my life.
When I look at that one focus there are a ton of tasks that I could do involving that thing, but I like to go with the "Minimum viable Action"
What is the smallest thing I can do that will prove to my brain that I am moving forward instead of standing still?
Sometimes it's committing to as little as five minutes of work.
Sometimes it's simply sending one email.
The simpler the task, the more likely it happens.?
These three steps have taken me through some of the hardest times in my life and I hope that if you're going through something or if you have one of those days where it feels like nothing's moving it helps.?
Here's to your next M.V.A.?
Excelsior!?
P.S. Experiment- If this resonated with you, share one M.V.A. you've taken in hard times in the comments below. You may just give someone an idea of how to move forward simply by sharing and that's a true gift.
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6 个月Yes just take one some step in tbe right direction and you’d got progress and momentum in your side!
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6 个月My MVA when I'm prepping for workshops or speeches and I'm avoiding it: put on headphones, set a timer for 30 min, and just start drafting something. The draft filter keeps my recovering perfectionist out of the way so I can just get some thoughts down. Then it's always easier to take the next step after I draft for 30 min, even if it's the next day. To be clear, I never want to do it. Those feelings of resistance never go away. I just try to acknowledge the resistance, remember there a lots of people who don't feel like working today ?? and then gently get started.
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6 个月Really needed this perspective Michael, thank you! I have never been unmotivated and to even admit it to myself is shocking to me. But I feel much of the motivation was actually surviving life stuff crisis. I've actually entered a new phase, created my own business, done tons of learning in the self-marketing arena, made a big push for a good year and so I don't know if my expectations just need adjusting as I have never been here before. Crossed over the work for everyone else's dream to fulfill my own. Or maybe I'm really not good at this. I just had to take a break and now it's time to reassess and move again!! And not just harvesting the tomatoes! lol
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6 个月I was feeling a bit stuck today, Michael Roderick, until I read this. I've been going hard for 2 months and suddenly, I felt like everything has come to a complete halt. But I will use your MVA to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
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6 个月All so well said, Michael Roderick. Love the MVA concept, that is similar to what I like to call the NBT (Next Best Thing). It's all about doing just one little thing to gain some momentum. Then the other two tips are also powerful, because you're right, we are just fooling ourselves if we think we can pound out all the tasks that pile up. When you need a break, you KNOW it. Don't try to fight that in the name of productivity!