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if you give a moose a mindset.

Picture of Derek MacDonald

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.

onward.

-dm