Jill Collins, Life & Wealth Strategist here…
Are you stuck at home? Bored or feeling lazy? Telling yourself you should be doing something productive.
You may be trying to adapt to working at home, which is a whole new experience. All the while, trying not to worry about what’s going on in the world, what’s happening with your stock portfolio and how you’re going to get paid if you can’t work right now.
So, you might decide to tackle some projects that you’ve been putting off at home. You’ve got those closets to clean out, giving the house a deep clean, whatever it may be.
But there is soooo much Netflix and soooo little time! We just stocked up on 14 days-worth of food and heck, there are things that I could be eating! And let’s not forget all of those cat videos our friends sent us and the coronavirus updates we have to read…not to mention the news 24/7!
Don’t beat yourself up if you are feeling out of sorts. We all are! You’re not alone. We are high achievers and want to make the most of our time. But how do we do it and where do we start?
I had an epiphany not long ago when I realized how I am not honoring my commitments to myself. I asked myself why I am so good at meeting my commitments with others, but I can’t even follow through on something I promise myself I will do, like waking up at a certain time, meditation (I do have the mat out and I am stepping over it all the time, does that count?), taking a shower first thing in the morning (so my day doesn’t get away from me and at 2pm, I’m still working in my home office in my PJs), etc.
It’s those things that I know I need and want to do that no one else knows about. When no one is looking and I promise myself I’ll do something, I don’t do it.
I realized I needed a tool to keep me on track. So, I started a daily contract with myself called “My Daily Contract”.
I knew it had to be simple. I’ve tried daily planners and using Alexa to remind me to do something, but it was background noise. I wasn’t following through. It’s quite simple and works like this:
It’s a 3×5 card (not 4×6 as that’s takes up too much real estate in my head). I needed something simple and not overwhelming.
I keep these little cards by my bedside. I put tomorrow’s date to start. Next, one thing I am going to do tomorrow. The one thing I really would feel good about having done. If you are where I was right after my husband died, it might be, “laundry”.
There is likely a ton of other stuff you would like to do, but this is just your little snapshot. Not the entire fancy day planner or scheduling app. The trick here is to keep it simple. And if you get more than that done, it’s icing on the cake!
Next put down what time you are going to wake up and when you are going to shower or whatever is most important to you. I find that if I shower first thing, I don’t get stuck starting my day only to struggle trying to find time later to fit it in. (maybe that’s just me)
Then I put a couple of other things that I usually avoid doing, like exercise, meditation or whatever is important to you that always seems to get brushed aside. I find the more I put on there, the more it seems daunting. This is not a planner, it’s a contract with yourself to follow through on daily things you are struggling with following through on. The goal here is to develop a routine so these things become as natural as brushing your teeth where you don’t even think about it.
I also put things on there that I make myself feel guilty for. Like taking an hour in the morning with my café and going through social media. I realized that I was kidding myself saying I wouldn’t do that anymore. Instead, I built time into my contract and put a specific time on it. No more guilt trips!
It’s actually a fun exercise. I take the card with me to the bathroom as I’m getting ready and check the time to make sure I am not going to be late for my café time in the kitchen. I tell myself, “ok, it’s almost 8:00, I have to be in the kitchen for my café in 10 minutes.” It’s just like any other appointment. I hold myself to it just like I would if I was getting ready to go to a meeting with someone.
And finally, there’s a space to write something I’m grateful for.
But there is one thing missing. It’s a contract, after all! So, sign it!
Now, are you ready for a challenge? Give yourself 30 days and see what you can incorporate into your daily routine without feeling bad about yourself for not fulfilling your commitment?
Let’s make a challenge together…are you in? If so, say YES and I’ll send you a copy of My Daily Contract!
