Ah, Saturday mornings! A time for lounging about in PJs, drinking endless cups of coffee, and relishing in the fact that you have nothing to do.
Unless you live in my house. Here, things work a little differently.
Regardless of the day of the week, I’m up before the sun rises. Don’t mistake this early and persistently regular wake time as a badge of honour—it’s not. It’s a necessity. My kiddo is up by 6am and I need a few minutes of quiet time and a wee cup of coffee to organize my mind before he’s bursting from his bed and unleashing a stream of energetic chatter.
But getting up early also helps me get things done, whether it’s getting through my weekday work priorities or my weekend chores.
This is in sharp contrast to how I used to operate. The truth is, I used to be a master procrastinator. I’d feel compelled to lean into procrastination when I was feeling a whole lot of internal resistance about a project or task that I knew I needed to do, but I didn’t really want to do.
Unfortunately, by avoiding that thing I was just adding fuel to my stress response and my mind would go into overdrive. I’d feel worse because I hadn’t tackled what needed to be done and instead, I’d wasted hours and precious energy avoiding it—and yet it still needed to be done. The task, project, or chore was always on my mind and the angst and internal frustration built and built, leaving me anxious and miserable.
I used to sink repeatedly into this cycle of despair. But when I became a coach, something shifted.
I recognized that procrastination was an absolute joy killer. I began to understand that putting down time before the doing was a faulty system because I could never fully relax until my mental to-do list was done.
I was also introduced to the tools to overcome internal resistance, push through procrastination, and become an action taker. Thankfully, I’m now a pro at just doing “the things”, with zero expectation that I’ll need to rely on motivation or willpower.
It’s incredibly freeing.
That’s why I’m excited to share my simple three-step system for getting more done…even when you don’t want to. It goes like this:
Step 1: Create a to-do list
To-do lists work for many reasons. In general, what gets written down, gets done. Writing things down creates simplicity for your brain, while also developing a system of accountability and reward.
When you put things on paper, all you need to do is systematically work your way through the list. You don’t need to use additional mental energy sorting through priorities in your head or trying not to forget what to do next.
A to-do list also allows you to break big projects into small steps, so that you’re less overwhelmed. Then, you also have a way to account for your progress and your brain will LOVE the simple act of checking things off as you go. Don’t underestimate the pleasure you’ll get from this.
Step 2: Use the concept of the five-minute action
I sometimes joke that my day is a series of five-minute actions strung together. The best way to beat stress and overwhelm that lead to avoidance and procrastination is to tell your brain how little time it will take to do a specific task.
Vacuuming the gravel covered front entrance? That’ll take five minutes.
Folding a load of laundry? Also, only five minutes.
Throwing chicken into the oven? That can be done in three!
We sometimes build the things we need to get done into big overwhelming jobs that feel daunting and difficult. And then we avoid. In reality, everything can be broken down into a series of short actions that feel unintimidating and achievable.
For example, food prep, cleaning the house, or that big work project can all be broken into a list of small steps. Each step can then be completed in just a handful of minutes.
When you approach your to-do list in this way, you can move through things quickly, which rewards your brain and helps bust through the urge to avoid or procrastinate. The positive feedback loop will be in overdrive because getting stuff done will feel so good that your brain will want to be rewarded further by getting more done!
Step 3: A body in motion stays in motion
I always keep in mind what I learned in high school physics: a body in motion stays in motion; a body at rest stays at rest. The way I interpret the theory might not be exactly as Sir Isaac Newton intended it, but it works for me.
I keep reminding myself as I go through my list that doing one small thing will cascade into a bunch of things, whether I’m moving about my house or sitting at my computer. On the flip side, lounging on the couch to watch tv, read, scroll my phone, or take a nap will be a time suck that will only lead to more lethargy and avoidance of the tasks that still need to be done. A lack of motion is the enemy in this instance. Just keep moving and doing.
Put into practice this simple system and dive into your to-do list without hesitation so that you can enjoy the downtime you deserve. Getting your tasks, chores, or projects tackled first will clear your mind, leaving you light, free, and filled with a sense of purpose and accomplishment so you can truly relax and be present. Isn’t that how we all want to feel?!
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