We've all been there.
Extreme excitement-- READY for change. But then we find ourselves one week into a new program, and we've already lost steam.
We may find excuses not to move forward, we may stop trusting ourselves that the idea was a good one, or it's possible we plain old got distracted.
Then, one day, you remember that incredible thought and wonder whatever happened to it. I envision a dusty shelf in a dimly lit room with spiderwebs lingering. Let's talk through some ways to revive those ideas that have strayed into the graveyard of lost intentions. [insert spooky music here]
One: Get organized
When you're overwhelmed and not seeing things clearly, it's easy to feel like your feet are in the mud. Try a brain dump of all the things you'd like to accomplish; that way, they aren't taking up space. Think about a computer or your phone when you leave a bunch of apps running in the background. It can bog down the whole system. A brain dump can give you a quick reboot. Ya know, unplug, wait 10 seconds, and plug back in.
Two: Celebrate small wins
When was the last time you high-fived yourself in the mirror, patted yourself on the back, or ordered the wine you like, just because? When we only focus on the overarching intention, we forget to see the footings we laid along the way. We know from psychology studies that celebrating wins can positively impact our performance. So go on, toast to that IG post you sent into the world today.
Three: One step at a time
You know that brain dump you completed-- You can use that as your guide. You could rank your items in priority of "Fire: Immediate Attention" to "When I Get To It" or "Most Impactful" to "Least Impactful." Play with how you label things to add a little joy to the project. And you don't have to pick the hardest intention to tackle first (aka, eating the frog) if what you really need is momentum. [link to an IG post about eating the frog] Remember those small wins you just agreed to celebrate? Checking something off the list will give you the perfect opportunity to whoop it up!
Four: Take breaks
When I try to push through something that isn't coming naturally, I often increase my anxiety instead of finding a solution. My heart starts racing, and my mind wanders further down the path of "what-ifs." So I get up and go for a little walk. My body is trying to tell me that I need separation, not to push harder. That separation gives us space to come up with something new; this is why we always get our best ideas in the shower (or right when we're trying to fall asleep).
Five: Find buddies
There is nothing like finding your crew to cheer you along, help you brainstorm, and keep you focused. Some people like to call it an accountability buddy; others like to call it a mastermind group; others like to call it a roast (jk, that's never happened when I've shown up with my peeps). Whatever name you give this concept, it has been proven that when you have regular meetings with someone who holds you accountable, you are 95% more likely to succeed in meeting that intention. Damn! That's a giant leap from a 10% success rate of folks who have an idea and don't know where to go with it.
One thing that has made a difference is to break intentions/goals down into granular pieces. For example, I had a goal of getting this blog post written. Sure, it seems like one small goal, but when I break it down into granular pieces:
Brainstorm topics to cover
Create outline
Write draft
Edit piece with Grammarly
Create images in Canva
Transfer all blog pieces into my website blog (Wix)
Write image alt text
Publish blog
That way, I know where I am in the process and what still needs to be done, and I get the dopamine hit of completing a piece of the puzzle.
Best of luck, and don't forget to dust off bookshelf intentions every once in a while-- some amazing ideas are waiting for their resurrection.
Here's to you,
Melissa Mittelstaedt
Money Coach | Accredited Financial Counselor®