Don't Let Your Brain Outsmart You
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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
Don't Let Your Brain Outsmart You!
Let's be real! We all procrastinate. Yes, even me.
Sometimes we procrastinate because the task is boring.
Sometimes we simply don't know where to start and we feel overwhelmed.
Regardless of the reasoning, procrastination often leads to increased stress and anxiety.
So why do we do it?
Our brains are smart. They are trying to protect us. It's always easier to FEEL the here and now, verse the someday or one day.
What is your brain's go to form of procrastination?
I know mine is WORK. It's my brains way of tricking me into thinking I am doing something that is productive and helpful.
You may be thinking, what's so bad about getting work done?
Usually the WORK my brain chooses are things that have to happen, but are NOT IMPORTANT in the big scheme of things. Maybe it's paying a bill or checking my email or taking care of some other simple task on the to do list.
While I suppose it's better to be doing something than nothing, it's definitely not helping me accomplish what's important.
Getting Started
I would recommend taking a few moments to consider what forms of procrastination are your go to?
If you can recognize it, while it's happening, you can make a new plan.
If you are procrastinating because the project is boring, figure out a way to make it more interesting.
If you hate gathering your tax paperwork, can you invite your best friend over to hang out while you do it and then treat them to dinner after?
If you don't know where to start, set some time aside to make a list of all the steps you can think of. Make sure each step is a single action. This may be enough. However, if it's not, you will be able to clearly see where you are stuck and can add the action of who to reach out to, so that you have the information you need to move forward.
If you’ve made your list and truly don’t know where to start, pick one of the tasks on your list. Just start. Once the momentum is going, you may find that the rest just naturally flows.
The more we recognize that our brains really are smart, the better chance we have to be our best selves.
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.