Long-term goals require persistence. Doing productive stuff when you actually do not feel like it is very challenging. Of course we all need breaks now and then, but when those days start adding up to be more than the days where you are actually making real progress then you need to be truthful with yourself.
How about you make a little tweak on your big fat goal process?
Instead of trying to do big chunks every day, resolve yourself to do something, anything, just ONE tiny little thing… which brings you closer to the finish line.
No matter how small a step forward, it is still a step. Doing nothing today or even taking a step backwards is worse. (Sometimes).
As you are tracking your progress, which of course you are are doing using PROOF, the daily pages are for both big chunks and little tiny steps. The days where you do not have a lot of time or energy can still be used productively.
For example, training for a marathon should involve movement every day but you do not need to do 21km runs every day for it to count. Cross training, weights and learning more about nutrition and doing recovery are all part of being real with yourself. You can also add in reading biographies, watching inspiring videos, doing research on the location of the race so that the voyage becomes more enticing.
Far too often, we believe that there is so much to do today, that we get over-whelmed and self-critical when it all does not get done. Yes you can take breaks but you also need to learn that smaller outputs are valuable too. If procrastination, self-doubt and laziness become days of no advance at all, then the guilt takes over. This just makes it worse. Create and keep momentum going in the right direction by thinking small is beautiful.
Resolve to take ONE step today. Do anything that matters no matter how small. Track it. Accept that today may not be the best training day ever, but allow yourself to do a little bit and be happy. It is OK to think small. You are moving forward and that is all that you have to do today.
Kelea Quinn 