A colleague sent me a gift recently. She sent me a timer. She did not have to explain what it was for, because I know her strategy. She is about getting big things done by making them do-able.
That is such an important key. When we are facing something that feels overwhelming, when we are staring up at a mountain, it may feel intimidating to even think about getting started. We can feel so overwhelmed simply thinking about how big the mountain is that we never even begin to climb.
Last year I ran a marathon for the first time. Here is what I know. If I had stood at the starting line thinking about how I was going to be running for the next 26.2 miles I might not have started. I certainly would have panicked. I started the race by moving forward. I took some steps and then I took some more. I looked for the mile marker that told me I had run the first mile. I ran from mile marker to mile marker and I did not let myself think much farther ahead then that.
Today I had to work through some difficult and rather uninspiring tasks. I will be honest. They were overwhelming and I have been avoiding them. I have been sitting here all day setting my timer for fifteen minutes at a time, taking a break with a more pleasant activity each time it goes off. It is only noon and my desk is almost clear. I am amazed at how much I have accomplished and I never would have really gotten started if I had not broken it down into small chunks.
I know that when you are facing an overwhelming project or decision or whatever your mountain is, those small fifteen minute chunks can seem like nothing. They can seem insubstantial and "not serious." Do not give into that thinking. It will sink you before you start.
My suggestion for you is to pick something you feel overwhelmed by or that you have been avoiding because you do not know where to begin. And then dig in, anywhere. Just start moving in a small, time limited way. Work through the first fifteen minutes. Just start. Give yourself permission not to do the whole thing or have the whole course charted out. Taking action feels better than feeling stuck.
Autor: Melissa McCreery, Ph.D.
Are you a smart, busy woman struggling with emotional eating, overeating,and balancing work and life? Claim your free psychologist-designed audio series: "5 simple steps to move beyond overwhelm with food and life" at http://TooMuchOnHerPlate.com. Just look for the yellow post-it note at the top of the page.
Melissa McCreery, PhD, ACC, is a Psychologist, ICF Certified Life Coach,emotional eating coach, and the founder of TooMuchOnHerPlate.com, a company dedicated to providing smart resources to busy women struggling with food, weight and overwhelm.
Added: November 10, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
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