If You Give a Moose a Mindset.

I still struggle. I still have bad days…unproductive days. Days that are slogs where I don’t get done what I’d tasked myself with needing to. Things still pile up – the ebb and flow remains. And, the ebb and flow is made up of calm waves crashing in a relatively fixed rhythm on the shore, rather than the thrashing swell and quell of tidal waves.

I have great days, too. Days where I thrive.

Good or bad, light or heavy, I show up every day no matter what. I stay in the race. I walk when I can’t run and I rest but I don’t quit. I don’t always meet my original goals for the day or for the week.  But, some is better than none. I do what I can with what I have. Goals can be adjusted and their stepping stones on the path redistributed.

When I don’t complete all I’d set out to, I still get more done than if I didn’t show up at all.

One of the more helpful tools for reaping these rewards is to have a plan for my day (and week). Something like, “here are the 3 things I’m focused on that would make this a successful day/week”. In order to make that a reality rather than a wish, I’ve found time blocking to be incredibly beneficial. More on that in triage your to-do list.

I (and many others) only find this plan compelling if I know “why” I’m doing it. So, I use an “if, then” sequence to frame my mindset. 

“If I ___, then [insert benefit of doing the action here]”.

This works far, far better for me than thinking about my to-do list through the lens of “I have to”.

An example looks something like the following:

• If I protect my sleep, I will be able to get up early enough to start my days with the gym and with writing. 

• If I start my days with the gym and with writing, I will feel that I have achieved something.

• If I feel I have achieved something at the start of my day, I will feel energized going into my work day.

• If I feel energized for my work day, I will be more focused on accomplishing what I set out to.

• If I accomplish what I set out to, I will carry less stress.

• If I carry less stress, I will utilize my non-work time to meal-prep and cook more. 

• If I meal-prep and cook more, I will positively impact my health. 

• If I positively impact my health, I will sleep better.

Showing up is enough.

Perfect is the enemy of good. Some is better than none. Done is better than perfect.

talk soon.

Thank for being here. See you next time.

onward.

-dmac

Thanks for reading Unobstructed!

Have thoughts or questions?

Leave a comment—I’d love to hear from you.

If this post resonated, pass it to someone who’d enjoy it!