You can’t run before you can walk. You can’t leap up a full flight of stairs, well, ever. But you certainly can’t take the stairs two or three at a time before you’ve mastered one.
I know, this is shockingly new information.
I so want to skip ahead and be farther along than I am – in so many areas of life. But as I’ve learned as a (fledgling) runner, acknowledging my limits and taking one small step at a time is the best way to move forward. Can you relate?
Continuing to read running training plans for marathoners experts and business ideas for those with six figure businesses doesn’t help me at all. Realistically acknowledging where I’m at today and taking the first baby step is the best way to avoid spinning wheels and actually make forward progress.
After all, if your goal is to run to a destination, it doesn’t matter how fast you can run in circles.
Practically speaking though, this can get difficult. Let’s explore the top 3 ways to focus, stay on track and move forward – at your skill level.
1. Tune out information above your skill level.
This includes unsubscribing from emails, filing advanced documents away for later*, and not signing up for training programs that you’re not ready for (I promise, no matter how exclusive the offer, you’ll be able to find the info again later…when you can actually implement it.).
*Use a strategic, consistent file structure, and you’ll be able to find saved information again exactly when you need it.
2. Implement what you are learning.
It’s so tempting to think that because you’ve read up so much on a topic that you’re an expert (ask me how I know!). The reality is that while you can know the idea of something inside and out, you don’t know the realities until you’ve walked through it yourself. Very rarely does any process always function at the ideal. Something will go wrong, or take longer than you thought, or crash right when you need it.
Commit to learning one new thing at a time, including practicing and implementing each step. If that’s launching a podcast, actually launch a podcast. If that’s trying a new image format, create images. You get the picture.
3. Take a deep breath and give yourself grace.
There’s no one ever harder on me than myself. When you get overwhelmed and discouraged (and you will, it’s part of life), take a step back, breath, and acknowledge what you have already accomplished. Hot Tip: This is a great one to make a regular part of your routine. Add acknowledging your accomplishments to your daily, weekly and monthly routines. Here’s an Evernote template to get you started.
This post is part of 31 Timesaving Tools, Tips & Templates, read the rest of the series here.
I’m interested in how you use this. I get the daily accomplishments, but for the weekly and yearly, do you note a bigger one or is it just a recap of the daily ones? Also, do you overwrite the most proud accomplishment or do you date them?
Great questions! I typically do a new note for each week week, and save them to a folder titled, “Goals & Priorities.” The current week’s note stays in my Inbox with a “Reminder” set so it stays pinned to the top of the folder. I also either create a separate monthly note or copy the monthly notes from week to week – I keep changing my mind on how I like it.
I’d highly recommend new notes per week, so that you have a record of what you’ve accomplished – it becomes a digital journal to look back on.