Step 4 of the Journey: Surviving a minor slump
The Year of Responsibility and Small Steps
Step 4, starting the ascent. Today has been a challenge to get going. I went to bed too late last night so I was a bit jaded this morning. It would be very easy at this point to let things slip and give up, thinking that I can’t maintain anything for very long, but this is a journey of very small steps, so I am determined to get back on track. Part of the trick to succeed is to realise that obstacles will arrive along the way and to expect them, plan how to deal with them, and then deal with them even though they slow you down or take you away from your path. After that, just keep on keeping on. So I accept that I’ve had a slight slump already (better to get it out of the way now) and I’m now getting back on track. My previous attitude was usually to abandon what I was doing, so this is actually a big step for me.
My plan for today was to get up, read, write, take my son to school, do my arm exercises (Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays), apply for 5 new jobs/contracts, prepare for a potential interview this week, pay some bills, and then work on the website for the new business I’m starting. I assigned times for those things in my diary for today — every evening I now plan the next day, and every Sunday I do a broad plan for the week. Well,when I say every evening and every Sunday, I mean I’ve done 4 evenings of daily planning and one Sunday of weekly planning, so it’s every evening and Sunday since I started this new journey. I woke up tired, but managed to read. The writing was a bit later than scheduled, but I did it. I took my son to school and then brought him straight back again. The school was closed — they don’t open till tomorrow. Guess who forgot to check! Oh well, it was a nice walk and I got to spend precious time with him. Those walks to school are magical and something I shall always cherish. After that, I had to readjust my day slightly as I had a little person in the house who I hadn’t anticipated. I’m finding that writing helps give me clarity of thought, which is an immediate performance booster. All in all, the day has passed less productively than desired, but I moved forwards and got the essentials done. I’m forming those habits nice and easily. The writing may be short and simple, but it’s happening. Get it done, then do it better. Once established I can build and expand.
Day 4, job done.