Ready to get the stuff done that you are avoiding?

We all have those tasks that live perennially on our to do list, living in the back of our mind, wearing us down because we know we need to get it done.

It might be something little (and you can’t figure out why you don’t get ‘er done) OR it could be a step you want to take to bring your life to the next level (and it’s simply too scary to do it).

Regardless the size of the task, we keep putting it off for whatever reason. (Okay, I know the reason…it always comes down to fear some how, some way, but that’s for another post!)

So let’s talk about how to get ‘er done!

Technique for getting the stuff done you keep avoiding: Bookending

Bookending is a technique for helping us push through resistance to get ‘er done!

The essence of bookending is to do something before and after the action to help you complete the action.

Before the action, you will do things that get your energy and vibration up so the action is easier. Then afterward you do something that will replenish your energy.

Are you ready?

BEFORE WE BEGIN:

Before we dive in, you need to keep two things in mind:

1. Think of why you are doing it.

Really, the foundation of why we want to do anything always comes down to how we think we are going to feel when we have completed what we want to do.

So what is the feeling?

Get excited about that feeling — it will help pull you through!

2. How big is this task…for you?

Think about how long you have put it off and what it will represent when you are on the other side.

It doesn’t matter how stupidly little it would seem to others, what matters is what it is for you.

I once had a CEO of a large corporation hire me as a Life Coach to help him clean off his desk. Easy, right?

It took 6 months.

The clutter wasn’t just pieces of paper that needed filing, it was noise that kept him from having to be quiet with his thoughts which were consumed with worry over his marriage.

Keeping his desk cluttered kept him from having to look within and make some hard decisions.

While your avoidance may simply be a belief around time issues (the age-old “I don’t have enough time…”), there is quite often a deeper reason and it might take a bit more to prepare to take action. It’s okay to honor the amount of time you need!

I usually find that the longer you have put something off, the bigger the reason of avoidance.

Keeping this thought in mind, choose a date to take your action. It doesn’t matter when, it can be tomorrow or in 6 months, get it on your calendar! (You will be amazed how good it feels just to make space in your life to know it is going to get done.)

The “Before Bookend”:

Okay, the “before bookend” is for getting your energy up. You can think of this in one of two ways:

1. Getting your energy up to “fuel” your action:

It takes energy to take your action. Our brains are literally wired to maintain the status quo. If you have a history of procrastinating on this task, it will take a bit of acceleration to move.

To take ourselves onto another path, we need energy.

Think of how much more productive you are when you are well-rested, are eating well, well-hydrated, working out, etc.

You are fueled up!

2. Getting your vibration up so you feel good enough to take action.

Getting your vibration up will help you feel like you can do it, you deserve it, it’s easy.

If you aren’t familiar with what “vibration” or “frequency” is, think of it as how good you feel.

The better we feel, the more capable we are of doing hard things.

AND we can intentionally help ourselves feel better with specific actions.

Really, actions to work on both levels, increasing energy levels and raising your vibration, are the same, but I wanted to share two different perspectives for you.:-)

Yoga Session:

That said, here is the yoga session for you as well as essential oils I recommend.

More about Young Living.

Young Living Clarity: Think of it as clarity of purpose. (Also good for focus when you need to balance your checkbook! 🙂 )

Young Living Peppermint: Best burst of energy oil ever!

Let’s Plan Your “Before Bookend”:

Step one: How much time do you need?

Think of how much time you need to get ready. I have tasks that just take about 5 min to get pumped up and others that I need a day to get the vibe up or even a month or more.

Schedule in the time you need.

Actually write it in your calendar….yes, now.

I’ll wait….

Step two: Decide what to do.

Create a list. Yep, I mean it. List out what you will do to prepare for your action.

Ideas:  

• Use your essential oils (check the coaching video for ones I recommend. But know any pure, truly therapeutic oil will help!)
• Practice yoga (especially the series I share here – it’s specifically designed to help you feel bigger.)
• Go to bed early the night before
• Get up early for an inspirational morning time
• Exercise
• Get fresh air
• Read something inspirational
• Watch inspirational snippets of movies
• Talk to a friend
• Eat really great food
• Listen to “pump me up” music

Just before the action, enjoy the yoga series I shared with you.

If the action you need to take is really scary, do this series regularly for as long as you need to.

The bigger you feel, the easier the action will be.

The “After Bookend”:

After you complete your action, depending on how big of an action it was for you, one of two things will happen: 

1. You will be hyped up on adrenaline and feel amazing! Aaaannndddd that usually ends in a crash.

OR

2. You will be completely depleted — you went straight to the crash. 🙂 (I often feel like a washcloth that has been wrung out.)

Having a repletion plan of delicious activity in place before you begin will help you refill AND it will give you a reward for your action, too.

Again, be mindful of the action you are taking. The bigger the action, the more time it will take so alot for it in your schedule. 

I don’t take really big actions on days when I am teaching at night. I want to be sure I can be home and enjoying a cup of tea and a bath. (My fave fill ‘er ups!)

Post plan is similar to the initial plan, activities that make you feel good:

Ideas:

• Use your essential oils (in the video I share oils that make you feel big, not repletion oils. Any oil that helps you relax and soften will help here!)
• Practice yoga (especially relaxing and restorative poses)
• Exercise
• Get fresh air – I love going for a walk and breathing deeply.
• Cup of tea.
• A hot bath.

Whatever you choose, it needs to be what fills YOU up. Pay attention. Everyone is a bit different and what you THINK should fill you up, might not be what you really need.

Summary:

Life is about moving forward. While feeling stuck is often part of the process, we don’t have to let us slow us down.

Decide now you are moving forward with at least ONE thing on your list!

I can’t wait to hear what tasks you are taking action on!