Hello,
We’re at Day 2 on our 21-day journey and if you’re not having fun yet some adjustments need to be made! 🙂
Yes, I know this is serious business and from the feedback I’ve gotten on what folks are accomplishing – There is SERIOUS work being done. I get that.
I also know that in order for you to get the most out of this experience, you have to enjoy it. You have to look forward to the activities on your action plan. Each morning, you want to jump up with enthusiasm to get to those action steps because you are also having a ton of fun.
So…how do you add the fun factor? I KNOW this may be a whole lot more challenging than it sounds and it’s easy for me to simply share what is best. But honestly, if you don’t at least meet this challenge ( adding the fun factor) with a 100% commitment to making it happen, this 21-day journey won’t have the magnificent results that’s possible.
Think about how you can add the fun…perhaps some thoughts have already popped into your head… :-). The suggested activities below might also help to trigger your creativity.
Moving forward each day we will have 3 repeating activities: 1) action steps for your specific goal 2) relaxation & imagining 3) accountability action step.
Today’s suggested activities:
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 first benchmark – due to be completed by Wednesday May 25th
2) Keep an activity-time log in your journal
3) Spend 15 extra minutes on organizing your work space
4) On a scale of 1 – 10, how how responsible have you been with this program – doing exercises, being accountable to self and partner, writing plans/goals and taking action daily? Write your answer in your journal and be sure to date the entry. Make adjustments as needed to achieve the results you seek.
5) The fun factor …. ♣☺♥☼♫☼♠ ☼☻…. What can you add to your action plan that takes it to a fun place? Even if you are in a situation that is seriously serious, you are still able to lighten your inner place with how you think about it and the scripts you run in your own head. Here’s a short list of possibilities…see if anything resonates:
a) Take it outside – have meetings in the park, relax on the grass, sit in your yard, terrace or fire escape [ahhh…brings back memories there for me – I’m a Brooklyn {NY} girl you know :-)]
b) Play ♫♫ music ♫♫ as you work
c) Start a joke file and tell yourself a joke every hour [do include funny and/or inspiring stories]
d) Take breaks – and do something fun like tickle a young person
e) Play fetch/chase/pull-tug with your dog, or watch the birds and answer them when they call, or brush/pet the animal of your choice
f) Take a dance break – play music that MAKES you move
g) Have lunch with a friend – just because
h) Place a reminder to smile – nice big sign/smiley face or something near your work space
i) Treat yourself to a massage and take a friend [GREAT idea Chris Kelly and Joyce Van Den Berg – accountability partners on this journey]
j) Look over your action plan and in a different color ink, write in some fun ideas that are easy to add
6) Relaxation/imagination exercise – edited description from yesterday’s message…[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 and fun 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, fun 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 fun details to your movie. See yourself actually laughing out loud and smiling deep within.
Have tons of fun today…and for the rest of this journey. You’ll be so glad you made the extra effort to add the lightness and keep the enthusiasm. Magnificent results are what you should expect! 🙂
Wishing you an abundance of productivity, fun and laughter,
♥~
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Albert Einstein
P.S. This post is a part of the 21 Days of Action & Accountability – a free event. You can still join is if you move fast! 🙂 Day 1 was Thursday May 19th and previous preparation exercises can be found here.