When Planning is More Fun Than Doing (and what to do about it)
Episode 058: Show Notes
For today’s episode, we are going to have some therapy. We are going to get real today. So kick up your feet, lay down, get a glass of wine, get some coffee, sit on the sofa, whatever it is that you want to do, because today we are talking about that feeling of intense overwhelm. You know, that anxious feeling of looking at what you have to do and avoiding it with all your might. We dive into the different ways that we like to avoid things, like being afraid of the big fat failure, or being afraid of success. Often this kind of overwhelm and avoidance leads to a whole lot of planning, but a little less doing. You can even go as far as saying that planning is more fun than actually doing.
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We have been hearing from a lot of you lately that this is a really big piece of why you sometimes just cannot seem to move forward in your business. So we thought we would give our two cents on the matter and let you know how we used to think about these exact same things in our business, plus some of the ways that we avoid these feelings and what we do differently today. Perhaps you just like to get organized as a way of covering up the fact that you are not getting any work done. Oftentimes we tend to love the process of getting everything in a row more than actually doing the work itself. If that sounds like you, then this episode is a must-listen. So sit back, and find out exactly how to get back on the productive track.
The Distracting Tasks That Led Us Astray
Sometimes we can get so totally wrapped up in little organizational tasks that seem important, but are in fact just distracting us from getting any work done at all. For Abbie, this was a way of masking her insecurities and her true desire of not wanting to do things. She would procrastinate with planning, and more planning, organizing and buying cute stationery and pens. For Emylee, she would avoid that feeling of overwhelm by just not doing anything at all. She would plan enough to know what was on her to-do list, and then find a way to justify not doing the work. This all stemmed from the belief that she would not be able to do a good job, so there was no point in trying in the first place.
The Whole World Will Not Crash and Burn
For a lot of our people, this kind of avoidance is not necessarily because they do not like doing the work, but because they are so afraid of missing a piece, or making a mistake at one of the steps. But the fact of the matter is that you are the only one who gets to decide if you forgot a step, or if you missed a piece. Your business is not going to fall apart if you missed a step, or screwed up on a piece. Do what you can to correct it, make a note of it, and take action to fix it. Whether it’s a spelling mistake on Instagram or a missing link in an email newsletter, know that your audience is going to give you some grace or look past the small mishaps because after all, we are all human in the end.
Show Up, and Do the Work
Showing up in your business can make a huge difference. You need to have ideas to keep your business moving forward, but you have to be implementing them too. You have to be doing the work and you have to be moving forward. You can’t be over-analyzing every little thing you do, every day, or your are going to wear yourself out. This is when focusing on one thing at a time seriously comes into play. Stepping up to the plate is not always what we are taught to do, and sometimes we are scared of what comes next. However, the fact remains that ideas are great to have in your business, but in the end, it is the actual results that count the most. So keep in mind that showing up is only halfway there, and actually doing the work is absolutely key!
Avoiding the Big Bad Breakdown
One of the biggest ways to ensure that your mind does not get wrapped up in trying to analyze every little detail, is to focus on one thing at a time. You simply cannot master every single social media platform in your business, or master the experience, your blog, and everything else you are busy with at the same time. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you have to value your time. If you don’t value what your time is worth, then neither will your clients. However, do not let yourself work so hard that you forget to take care of yourself. The health of your body and your mind is so vastly important, and practicing self-care and placing importance where it is needed is so crucial to your overall well-being.
Dealing With Gi-Freaking-Normous Tasks
Oftentimes those big, pesky tasks that show up on your to-do list can cause a major spin in the city itself. When it comes to bigger tasks the key is to break them down into smaller milestones that you can aim for each day. Not focusing on the task as a whole radically reduces your anxiety and gives you a better chance to take everything one day a time. Each task that you complete will add to the overall progress towards the bigger task at hand, and by slowly getting through the list one step at a time you’ll be much less likely to end up completely overwhelmed or just not doing the task at all.
Quote This
You can make any strategy work for your business if you give it intention.
Highlights
Find out more about the simple tasks that caused us to procrastinate and get less done. [0:03:35.1]
Understand how to get into the mindset of knowing that if you mess up, you will not crash and burn. [0:06:05.6]
Learn more about what it takes to not only show up, but to actually do the work. [0:10:18.2]
Discover how to balance wanting to master it all, and avoiding the inevitable burnout. [0:13:18.8]
Find out how to break up big tasks into smaller, more manageable groups. [0:27:35.9]
#TalkStrategyToMe [0:41:34.4]
Focus on giving yourself small milestones to reach.
Pick one productivity pack and work on it for at least a week.
Step away and give yourself a cut-off time from work.
When you’ve made a process or plan, stick to it for a good amount of time.
ON TODAY’S SHOW
Abagail & Emylee
The Strategy Hour Podcast
We help overwhelmed and creative entrepreneurs break down their Oprah-sized dreams to create a functioning command center to tame the chaos of their business. Basically, we think you’re totally bomb diggity, we’re about to uplevel the shiz out of your business.
KEY TOPICS
Overcoming procrastination to get more done, Changing your mindset on failure, Showing up in your business, Strategies to avoid a big breakdown, Taking on really big tasks or projects
