Top 10 Strategies to Get Beyond Avoidance
/How Do You Get From Avoidance to Action?
This is the third in a series of blog posts about avoiding. I’ll give a quick summary of the other two, but please read the full post if you haven’t already.
Mountain, Molehill, or Puddle – It’s all a matter of perspective
We often make something bigger than it really is; making it less likely to happen. We see it as too big to take on, we don’t have time for it now, we’re not sure where to start, and so on. When I decided I was no longer going to think that way about sending out a regular newsletter and blogging consistently, I needed a shift in perspective. With the help of a few friends I was able to “Commit to one thing at a time and finish it to completion.” Voila! I’ve sent out my first newsletter in three years and I didn’t magically have extra hours in my schedule to do it – I just decided to prioritize it.
Avoiding the BIG Things – what are you doing instead?
Becoming aware of what you are doing instead if that Big Thing helps you to reframe and conquer it. I broke down 5 categories of the things we do instead of finally accomplishing those tasks, projects, conversations, or even life-long dreams. Perhaps these sound familiar to you: Easy Wins, Distractions, The Predictable, The Mundane, or The Right Channel, Wrong Task. I hope you’ve identified your biggest default categories. Awareness is the first step to change.
Now I’d like to share a few strategies that will help you get into action.
1. Know exactly what you are avoiding and decide WHY you are avoiding it – the real reason, not the rationalized version. Typically, you’ll see these characteristics:
· There are many, unclear steps
· It takes unpredictable amounts of time
· It’s something you hate to do
· It requires making a big decision
· You haven’t committed to doing it (maybe it’s someone else’s Big Thing)
· It feels beyond your reach because fear or some other limiting belief shows up in a strong way
2. Know your goal – what outcome are you seeking? What is the one main thing you are committing to?
3. Determine the baby steps to make this goal happen. This might be the hardest to determine and you may need a little help. Spend the most time getting really clear here and you’ll see the rest fall into place. Here’s a hint - some baby steps are actually habits you want to develop that will help in many areas of your life; organization, prioritizing, starting with the hardest task each day, and working in time bursts with built-in breaks. What habits will support your goals?
More on this topic in a future post.
4. Create some boundaries around your steps. For example:
* If you are working on work/life balance or improving your health, you might want to determine specific working hours as well as establishing a clear morning and evening routine. Keep a time log to track your progress for at least a week or two to help you develop the habit. If you’ve been getting to bed at 1 am and now you’ve moved yourself closer to 11:30 pm you are making progress!
* For a work project, set time on your calendar, let people know your are unavailable during that time, and give yourself a non-food reward when you finish your time block.
5. Create a very short list of to-dos and identify the one main thing you want to do today that is not easy, predictable, mundane or a distraction. We all know you’ll accomplish more than a short list, but this is focusing your priorities for the day. As Brian Tracy would say, “Eat the Frog!” Do the hard thing first. Start with the first step – whatever that is, commit to it, and do it.
6. PLAN to be successful. 10-15 minutes a day can really set you up for success. Use your calendar and a journal or notebook at the beginning and/or end of the day to identify what you want to accomplish each day or week or month. Many clients have gained traction by ending each day with a short list of where to start tomorrow. It’s like putting your clothes out the night before a big meeting. You don’t waste time making decisions!
7. Be sure to include breaks and time off. Whether it is taking a walk with your family, reading a book, doing meditation/yoga/exercise, or creating downtime doing your favorite hobby, we all need a way to unwind. If you want to do it, it’s up to you to make the time for it.
8. Find your WHY for this project/task/commitment and keep reminding yourself what it will be like to achieve it!
9. Commit to someone else that you will do it.
10. Celebrate your initiative, no matter how small - you got it started!!
I know it might be easy for me to sit here and offer advice or strategies. The tough part is to act on them. I wish for you two things: to take the time to decide what you want, and smooth sailing once you commit to them! Please share your goals and baby steps in the comment section!