It’s Complicated

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."

Confucius 

I have a tendency to overthink many things. Over time, I developed ways of sorting out the insanity in an attempt to move forward.

1. I am a maker of lists and a sticky note fanatic; and I’ll be honest, I enjoy checking items off my lists and tearing up sticky notes. I liken it to a momentary celebration of one less thing! Yay!
2. I am a researcher extroidinaire. When I am buying something, I have a tendency to research it to death until  I have collected so much information I am on overload. No celebration there.
3. I am an analytical thinker. When lists, sticky notes or research just doesn't cut it, I go into flowchart mode. My analytical mind is a buzz of if this, then that, until I figure out just what I need to do. This slows my mind and breaks things down into logical steps.

With all this overthinking, there is a point when I am just complicating the whole matter, even if I am merely trying to buy a new refrigerator. Over the years, I have gotten better at catching myself when I have reached the tipping point.

Either out loud, or in my head, I say, stop, enough, or give it a rest girl!

When I hear myself say this, I abruptly stop and let go. I see the moment for what it is ⎯insanity. In that moment, I refocus. Sometimes, I simply stop whatever it is I am doing in order to regroup at another time before I shutdown on the matter altogether. I’ve gotten rather good at shutting down when I am overwhelmed with how to move forward. The truth is, shutting down permits me to procrastinate. But, sooner or later I have to revisit whatever it was in the first place. When I do, I hear myself say, simplify, simplify, simplify. In other words, I allow myself to get out of my own way.

I think most of us have a tendency to complicate the matter, whatever it may be. We refuse to get out of our own way. Whether it's lists, sticky notes, research, flowcharts or whatever you do to sort out the insanity, it comes down to one word: simplify. Break the insanity and simplify. It is your choice, and is as simple as that.

Berry Good photo courtesy of D. Sharron Pruitt

July: I Intend to Try Something New

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

There are times in all our lives when we long to try something new and break the strains of routine. Perhaps it is as simple as a new hairstyle⎯especially when you have been wearing the same one since high school! Whether you are in a rut or just want to see what it’s like, whatever that something might be, this is the month to dream, explore and discover.

When vacationing in Hawaii, I would occasionally see a person standing on what looked like a surfboard, paddling their way along smooth water bays. It looked effortless and somehow seemed as if they were walking on water. Lately, I have noticed these stand-up “surfers” on lakes around my home. Watching them glide through the water looked like it might be akin to aquatic meditation.

This month, I intend to try something new by taking a stand up paddling (SUP) lesson. Perhaps I will really enjoy it and add it to my repertoire of “things I do.” On the other hand, I might find it really isn’t my cup of tea, but I will have thrown off the bowlines and given it a try. No longer will I want to know what it is like. No longer will I wonder if I could do it. This is the month!

When I wake each morning, I will remind myself of my intention. I will dream, explore and who knows what I’ll discover. Sail with me away from your safe harbor of procrastination. Don’t just dream it. Figure out how you can do it and go for it!

Photo courtesy of Nick Hewson

Using Momentum to Start Small

I’ve been evaluating my own procrastinating ways lately and have considered starting small as mentioned in the STOP Procrastinating post. As I work towards a “less-is-more” way of approaching life, I am slowly getting to those “things” I’ve been meaning to do⎯even if it takes years. My theme or word for the year has been momentum as mentioned in an earlier article. I consider this word from time to time when I feel the need to do more, do something else or when I just feel stuck. I basically ask myself, "Will this move me forward and bring momentum into my life?" By asking myself this question, momentum has brought me face to face with my procrastinating ways. It's time to start small...

Just exactly what is starting small?

• Starting small is a simple way of considering the whole tree.
• Starting small is simply considering your project as a seedling and growing with your seeding one branch at a time.
• Starting small is a simple approach to breaking down the bigger project.

One particular seedling of mine came to mind because it has been trying to plant itself for 6 years. I’ve had the fabric to make curtains for my guest room. I have even set it out where I can see it every day, only to put it away when spring rolls around⎯because after all, it is a winter project. It is funny how after awhile you just don’t see what is right in front of you.

I’m happy to report, after approximately 10 hours spread out over a few weeks, my curtains are done. I focused on one branch of the project at a time and allowed the momentum to carry me to the next branch. My curtains are now hanging in the window of my guest room and I feel a yippy-skippy dance coming on! I'm feeling momentum move me on to the next project...now I just need to continue to start small...

By the way, how are you doing with your word for the year? Perhaps it is time for you to catch the momentum of the year and start fresh. What seedling do you want to start with?
Copyright 2011 Michelle Clark

STOP Procrastinating⎯How to Start Small in 7 Liberating Steps

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”

 Thomas Jefferson

You do it, I do it and I would venture to guess even Thomas Jefferson did it⎯we all delay, put off, postpone, stall and defer⎯we are the great procrastinators. The more we think we have to do, the more we procrastinate. You may even manage to finally get to those “things” you have put off only to find more “things” waiting in the wings, so you can’t even feel good about those “things” you finally check off your list.

I was recently talking with Kay, who I know considers herself to be a first-class procrastinator. She is not proud of the fact but uses it quite often as an excuse to procrastinate even more. We were discussing her procrastinating ways and how she might go about changing her modus operandi. We decided she needed to start small. Here is what we came up with:

1. Prioritize⎯List all the things you have been procrastinating about.
2. Pick one thing close to the top of the list which might take less time than some of the other things on your list. When you start small you have more of a chance to succeed which allows the momentum of succeeding to carry you on to the next thing.
3. Make an appointment⎯set aside 15 minutes (keep in mind you are starting small here) to unload, organize or whatever it is you need or want to do and just do it! FYI, you might just get carried away and take more time…
4. Make another appointment⎯if you didn’t finish the "thing" with the first appointment, make another one, then another one until you are done.
5. Place a big check mark on your prioritized list. Now doesn’t that just feel good?
6. Celebrate the moment⎯bask in the glow one feels when finally getting to something they have been meaning to do⎯high-five yourself or do a yippy-skippy dance (my personal favorite)!
7. Return to your list⎯do you need to re-prioritize anything? Select another thing to focus on, make an appointment and keep on making appointments. It’s amazing how many things you can actually get done by just setting time aside here and there.

Kay knows she has a long way to go but has decided to take charge and set time aside. She knows starting small is probably the only way she will ever get her things done and change her procrastinating behavior. She knows it is up to her to make an appointment with herself. She wants to stop letting herself down and just do it!

Make it a point to schedule time for your prioritized things. After all, it is really a form of scheduling time for YOU. Knowing you have “things you need to do” can be stressful and only adds more stress. So start small and let the momentum carry you forward.

What are you going to do in order to start small and stop procrastinating?

© Copyright 2011 Michelle Clark