Be Intentional About Where You Do What
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Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
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PROJECT OF THE WEEK
As the summer comes to a close and students head back to college or get ready for their first day of school, there is - even for a little while - an excitement. It’s a new beginning. This year you’ll be completely organized. This year, you’ll get all your assignments done ahead of time. This year, you won’t stay up too late and miss your 8 a.m. class.
As the days and weeks go on though, we realize how hard it is to change ourselves. Add in extracurricular activities, friends, family obligations and life. It becomes hard to find motivation when your tank is empty.
It's much easier, however, to change your environment and you may be surprised at how impactful it can be.
Where you choose to work may give you the boost you need to get started or get over the finish line.
Getting Started
With students, we discuss which location is best for each subject and assignment.
Doing daily Spanish homework in your dorm room may be fine, but reading a textbook chapter from your History textbook may require a slightly less comfortable environment. We’ve all been guilty of dozing while reading about the French Revolution.
Doing chem homework in the study lounge may work, while the same student may benefit from working on their calc homework at office hours or at the Math Help Center, so that they have support when they get stuck.
I had a project that involved a lot of writing that I have been procrastinating for over 6 months. There was no real deadline and every time I sat down to do it, it just felt too hard. Or that I wasn't in the right headspace. Or I just plain didn’t want to.
Then, I decided to take my own advice. After getting my daughter off to camp, I packed up my laptop and went to a coffee shop. The first 20 minutes was hard and all I wanted to do was leave. Then I found my rhythm. I was able to finish 75% of the project that day and committed to coming back the next week.
Almost like magic, the project I both valued and dreaded was complete.
All it took was a change in my work environment and two vanilla lattes with oat milk.
Is there a task or project that you have been procrastinating or having a hard time focusing on?
What environment do you think would be best to try next?
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.