This is an exercise tip I picked up years ago. Hey! Maybe I should do a series of exercise steps like I did for Thin Tips for Success?
Are you a procrastinator?
Can you think of a jillion excuses not to be in your studio today? (Besides the fact that it's SATURDAY and maybe you should get out and look at daffodils....)
Do you find yourself unable to block out that three hours you know you need to put into your next project?
Does it seem like there's always something else you need to take care of before you settle down to work?
Have you tried micro steps lately?
I read this in one of my books awhile back, and will give it full credit as soon as I can figure out which one.
The problem was a woman who needed to start exercising regularly, but wasn't.
She knew intellectually she should. She just couldn't seem to find the time to do it. She and her trainer would create wonderful plans and programs and schedules. But when push came to shove, there was always a great excuse not to do it.
Exasperated, the trainer suggested they back up and start over. "Maybe this is too top-loaded for you", she said. "Let's try to break this down into more manageable steps. This week, don't even think about exercising."
"Just put on your work-out clothes."
That's it. The client was not to do anything more. Just put on her sweats.
The next week, the advisor asked how it had gone.
"Great!" said the client. "I worked out three times last week!"
Turns out that itty bitty step was manageable. Extremely manageable. Something so innocuous, the woman couldn't even come up with a good excuse for not doing it.
So she put on her sweats.
But then, she found herself thinking, "I'm all ready to go--why not work out?" So she did.
Making time for exercise was just too daunting. Getting READY to exercise was not. And that little step was all she needed to get herself in the right mindset.
I'm pretty faithful about getting to kickboxing regularly, though I rarely actually feel like going. I use this technique and it works for me.
Try this the next time you feel studio-phobia.
Forget all the "I should's".... "I should get that new catalog put together." "I should get those next orders ready to ship." "I should design my new lines for next season."
Instead, just decide you'll take a few minutes to get out the CDs of new images. Or you'll just grab the boxes you need for the shipment. Or get pencil and paper out and ready to go.
You may find those tiny little tasks are all you need to find yourself in the work zone once more.
For Bonnie--with thanks for all her help yesterday on my new booth design!
