People always ask me where do I find the time and energy to do all the projects I do. How I manage raising twins, a whole house renovation, working full time and going back to school for my masters (No I’m not joking!).
Although I can’t credit myself for being consistent, I will say I try to be aware of the bursts of energy I do get. Those bursts of energy are where I maximize my productivity.
I’ll listen to pump-up music with my ear buds in and catch myself dancing and getting fired up. Music can give me a huge adrenaline rush. Anytime I’m just feeling good or a little more lively, THAT’s my chance to accomplish something such as getting on the elliptical.
But first, you have to REMOVE the intimidation.
Remove the expectation.
Remove the commitment-factor and just tell yourself to do 5 minutes. Skip the goals, the numbers, the workout plans. Just listen to your body and become aware of any time you get that burst of energy, excitement or joy and do something with it.
Then before you know it, 5 minutes becomes 10 minutes on the elliptical. Then you start to feel that 15 minute mark within reach. I’m usually feeling good about 9 minutes into a workout.
I can do this.
So I put that burst of energy into quick wins like that 15 minute elliptical work out or getting one basket of laundry folded, one small part of a project done.
Quick wins become contagious.
That’s how you gain momentum.
Quick wins keep the motivational river flowing and give you a low hanging fruit to reach for. Quick wins amplify my courage to do all the things I want to do.
I have to remind my husband that we don’t have the capacity to go all-or-nothing when doing home projects. Sometimes when we do get time to work on something, it’s just a few hours or half a day, not typically a whole day to ourselves. We are parents, after all.
So my motto is to go halfsies instead.
Do what you can with what time you do have. Sure I have a lot more unfinished projects this way, but it works for us. We still make ends meet!
I may not have a dedicated home gym, but I have a gym-corner at the edge of the kids’ toy mountain where I can hop on this elliptical at any moment I get that jolt of energy.
So this year, I want to capitalize on the quick wins to see how they compound thereafter. Like me on my elliptical pictured below, I told myself I’d only give it 5 minutes. I only burned 94 calories according to my smart watch, but that was 94 more Christmas calories burned than eaten today!
It was just enough of a feel good moment to remind myself that nobody moves mountains in a day.
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