You and I underperform. Where we underperform might be surprising. Listen closely to the following comments and see if you can detect the where:
- I’m running my life like a “whack-a-mole” game.
- I’m busy all day long and rarely feel like I get the most important things accomplished.
- I’m always putting out fires.
- The day seems to get away from me.
- I do things for others and leave my priorities untouched.
- I can’t seem to find the time to do what I truly want to do.
What’s the common denominator?
There are many patterns one could distill out of these bulleted statements. The pattern I’m pointing to is this:
Most of us underperform in taking consistent care of basic needs, the day-to-day minutiae, the sort of things that keep the wheels greased and the chickens fed.
This results in too much disorder, overwhelm, chaos and the disabling sense that life is slipping away. Even worse, while it slips away, we become more miserable. In short, we’re not thriving.
What to do?
This is when setting up routines and processes moves from mundane to brilliant. Efficiency is a thing! It’s a very good thing. Exploring ideas like the few I’ve listed below can actually move you from being frazzled to feeling accomplished.
Idea A—Take heed! A key word to start adding to your actions is consistency. Get more consistent at regulating the basic acts of life. Here are some ideas:
- Make your bed every day for three weeks.
- Journal for five minutes a day for the next ten days.
- Brush your teeth for 2 minutes at a time both morning and night.
- Do your laundry on the same day for three months.
Idea B—Set up routines to facilitate consistency. Here’s an example:
- Take 15 minutes to plan your menus once a week.
- Take 5 minutes to craft your grocery list from said menu plan and from taking inventory of your supplies at home.
- Shop using your list on a set day of the week.
- Repeat steps for two months.
When we consistently repeat a valuable activity, we can measure success. We can experience efficiency and self-efficacy. When we are unable to consistently repeat something, we underperform and create disorder for ourselves.
Here’s a wish for luck and strong resolve for anyone who is ready to experience a positive shift from disorder to consistency and success.