Pick One Win!
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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
Pick One Win!
I love hearing about my client's big dreams and ambitious goals. I am often envious of their creativity and wide range of interests. For many of my clients this comes naturally and has been a key factor in them achieving great success.
On the flip side, it is also common for clients I work with to have over a 100 projects "in progress" at varying stages. While there is nothing inherently wrong about having various projects in progress at various stages, I often wonder if too many “in progress” projects causes additional anxiety and roadblocks that can easily be overcome.
Start by asking yourself:
What is the last project I completed?
Are there projects in progress, that have been in progress for over a year, and are still important to me?
How often do I buy all the supplies for a project, work on it once, and then forget about it?
How do I feel about the number of projects that I have "on my list"?
How do I prioritize all my projects?
How do I keep track of all my projects?
Having more open projects than you feel like you can achieve in a lifetime can be demoralizing and may be sapping all your energy.
Getting Started
First you pick the win. Then you build momentum.
This win can be directly related to a project that is stalled or it could be a really easy win that will help you build momentum and confidence in yourself.
In multiple studies, researchers have found that individuals who make their bed in the morning have a more productive day.
Why might this be true?
In my opinion, it has everything to do with starting your day with a win, building momentum, and feeling in control.
How does this look in my life?
I do my family’s laundry on Mondays and start it by 8:00AM.
It's not that I like Monday's or that I like doing laundry. It's that I like starting my week off with a win.
Mondays, more than any other day, are likely to go off course. By committing to doing laundry on Mondays, I know I have a win, even if the rest of the day's plans go out the window.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, I reserve 9:00AM to 10:30AM for a work project I value.
Tuesdays -- I make a plan for the week.
Wednesdays -- I write this newsletter.
Thursdays -- I work on a project that is important to Happy Spaces.
This allows me to start my day off strong and build momentum.
What WIN are you going to choose?
Below are some ideas:
Make your bed.
Do laundry.
Meditate for 1 minute.
Make a doctor's appointment.
Write for 12 minutes.
Read for 12 minutes.
Open all your mail, throw out or shred the envelopes and junk mail.
Deposit a check.
Pay a bill.
Schedule and commit to a 45 minute block on your calendar to work on the "Next Action" of a project that's important to you.
Remember - Just pick one and GO!
Additional Resources
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, recommends figuring out how you can implement the "one-minute' rule when starting a new habit. If you want to become a writer, pick a time each day where you are going to write for one-minute. While it's true you won't achieve a lot of writing in this time, you will make writing a regular part of your day and you will start to feel like a writer. This is a big win!
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.