Whilst listening to a podcast a while ago, the guest said the phrase, "No action is too small', and this just really stuck with me. I can't remember what the podcast was, but the guest was a doctor that was basically saying that we need to be more compassionate with ourselves, and that any tiny change in our lives can start to add up over time. I think it was about diet and health in general that was being covered, but that phrase has been really helping me since then in lots of different ways.
When I'm busier or feeling a bit overwhelmed, it can be very easy for me to look at anything and go, "Urgh" and decide to look at it later. And unsurprisingly most of the time that same email or project hasn't magically been done or gotten better afterwards! When I say to myself 'no action is too small', it helps me to start the ball rolling and on the tougher days, I might celebrate the fact that I processed three items from my Filofax in-box section... and that was good enough. I'm also aware that I need to rest, so I'm not using this just to push myself to do more though.
Whilst I thought previously that I was good at breaking a project down, I've now realised that I might need to take a smaller action to either keep the momentum going and/or for those times when I have less energy or am busier. Instead of 'go big or go home', this feels like maybe 'what teeny-tiny step can I take whilst I finish my cup of tea?' I have the book Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, so I think it's time that I re-read that again (not an affiliate link and just sharing as a satisfied customer).
Are you good at breaking projects down, or have come across something helpful like this recently that you'd like to share?
And as always on Fridays, please feel free to discuss anything organiser related. I hope that you have a great weekend.
Baby Steps
ReplyDeleteI'm a long time true believer in breaking projects down. Because I tend to procrastinate, it's very easy to look at something big and say, "Not today, Satan." But if I break it down into a nice list of small tasks (using my trusty Filofax), it suddenly looks much more doable.
ReplyDeleteIf you're juggling multiple large projects, which is the case in my job, it also makes it easier to keep all those projects on schedule, and critical pieces are less likely to be overlooked.
I’m reminded of a poem called “The Mountain” by Laura Ding-Edwards that captures the spirit of being kind to yourself every now and then.
ReplyDeleteOn a difficult day my planner is a comfort because I can push things on by a day or so in the knowledge that they aren’t forgotten.
"It is not enough to take steps which may someday lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step likewise.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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