Hi there!
Yesterday you were asked to begin a small project to create order in your space. In all likelihood that project could not be completed in the time allotted. If it was, today you have an opportunity to get another area started. For most of us, we’re continuing what we started yesterday.
Why so much focus on order and organization? Because without it achieving goals, accountability and extreme achievement is just not possible; order and organization is essential for success.
Even for the most creative among us, there comes a time when ordering your creative output to produce a specific creation is required. To a point, most of us can produce and be creative in the midst of chaos. Then we need systems and order to produce at our highest and best level of output, consistently.
Today’s exercises: [# 1, 2 and 5 are recurring, to be done daily]
1) Spend at least 30 minutes on specific action steps connected to your goal. If you can invest more time, do so. You are working on the second benchmark – due to be completed by Wednesday June 1st
2) Do the daily forgiveness ritual to remain accountable. Doing this exercise daily will allow you to start each day with a clean slate and with all the energy, focus and lightness you need to achieve your goals at the highest level possible.
3) Spend a minimum of 30 minutes organizing and clearing out your workspace or desk. Use a timer or clock…see how much you can get done in 30 minutes
Some examples::
- open drawers and discard items you no longer need
- put all papers needing to be filed together in one place
- place books on shelves or in stacks where they belong
- all correspondence needing to be answered in one place, bills in one file, each project in its own folder or container
- supplies…organized and streamlined (we often have excess clogging the space)
- and put all items belonging elsewhere, where they belong…
4) Assess and plan the remainder of the project (if not complete) over the next 2-3 days. Allot chunks of time wherever possible in order to get your workspace organized. Instead of stopping to do the things you run into…which can/will take you off task (you will begin new tasks, forgetting about ORGANIZING the space) CREATE a pile with a list at top: “Things to do over the next X number of days.” Be very explicit with the action steps. The more detail the better. And STICK to the plan, getting them done by that date. [be sure to let your accountability partner know about this list]
5) Relaxation/imagination exercise – [additional information is here about why this is important]
A) Spend 15 minutes today in a relaxed – super relaxed and comfortable chair or position. Get your mind to be as empty as possible…using deep breathing as your tool.
► Deep diaphragmatic breathing is what you want. Filling your diaphragm as you to breathe in more oxygen will expand your stomach area; so with hand on tummy you should be able to tell instantly whether your breathing is deep enough. If your stomach expands (pushes out against your hand) you’re good, if your chest expands and/or your shoulder rises, you’re breathing shallow and will not gain the relaxing benefits of deep breathing
► Visualize your muscle groups from bottom to top, tightening and releasing a few times and then relaxing into a calm stillness.
B) In this relaxed position, after a few minutes of controlled deep breathing, sit peacefully for as long as you can up to about 15 minutes.
C) Then immediately following this relaxations session, venture into some imagination playtime.
► Allow your imagination to visualize your optimistic state of mind working for you as you see yourself producing more of what you intend to produce more of each day on this journey…writing, helping, sales, studying, researching, coaching, speaking, building, bonding…whatever your goal is, imagine your optimistic self in a state of blissful productivity. Keep this ‘movie’ in your mind going, filling in all the details you can inject and keeping it inspired, light and entertaining. See yourself taking the actual steps needed to achieve the specific daily goal you have for today. See yourself taking these steps again and again. Pause the movie a few times and insert a few deep breaths to be sure you remain relaxed.
► TODAY — add some scenes to your personal movie. Imagine yourself organizing and organized. Visualize the excitement and productivity you are experiencing as a result of being organized and in order…speak this and similar statements in your movie “There is no success without order!” 🙂
When you have completed these exercises, find a symbolic and meaningful way to celebrate. Completing daily exercises and activities in this 21-day program is a MAJOR accomplishment for otherwise busy and engaged people. So if you are getting these done, CELEBRATE! 🙂 Congratulate yourself and acknowledge how awesome it is to be in action, on a specific journey, accountable AND playing full out. THAT is HUGE!!
Sincere commitment followed by doing the actual work involved in reaching your goal is no small accomplishment in this world of ongoing distractions!
Wishing you an abundance of light, love and order,
P.S. This message is a part of the 21 Days of Action & Accountability – a free event. Day 1 was Thursday May 19th and previous preparation exercises can be found here.
Creating Habits that Help the World…