Although motivation is really nice to have, it doesn’t make or break you. One step to action is all that you really need… that is, one step to get started.
After that one step, the domino effect tends to take over, and before you know it the task is nearly over.
What Does One Step Even Mean?
Although one step is pretty self explanatory, it could also be misleading. This particular step is (not usually) alone, and does not typically finish the job. It’s simply the first domino in the row.
With the explanation out of the way, let’s talk about what this looks like.
In our email this week we are talking about practical steps to “light the fire” and get things done without motivation, because motivation (although nice) is not required. I’ve definitely been guilty of lack of progress because I “wasn’t in the mood” at that moment (or that day) but then the task gets overwhelming (I’m looking at you, dishes) and even less attainable to tackle in a reasonable amount of time.
Examples of Potential First Steps
In any given task, there is a “starting point”. With dishes, that could be turning on the hot water, or for a job, sitting in your car while it warms up. But there are so many other one step starting points for every day tasks that can help you accomplish your goals.
- Shower –> laying out clean clothes, or starting the hot water (lots of options!)
- Giving your toddler a bath –> “prep” the bath area by removing hazards or items you don’t want your toddler to grab (or get soaking wet, like the toilet paper)
- Making coffee (so you can have the energy to start your day) –> empty the old grounds from the coffee maker
- Working from home –> sip some coffee while reading a few emails to get in the groove, or hot tea and write out a basic plan for things to tackle that day
To go along with this concept, Money Where Your Mouth Is tackles the idea that you should produce a habit/result BEFORE investing into the goal/whatever it is you want to do… because sometimes you invest to “get started” and that equipment or whatever it might be sits and collects dust to eventually be resold for a lesser value than it started.
The General Idea
As you can probably see from the examples above, one step doesn’t mean you do one action and “WHA-BAM” you’re done. It means that you are tipping that first domino so that you can get “in the groove” so to speak and start the process of every domino tipping over until the task is complete.
Good luck! I’m off to tip some dominos.
PSST! How do you get “in the groove” with less appealing tasks? Let me know in the comments below!
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
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