Getting things done is done in the mind
Eighty percent of your capacity to get sh#t done is in the mind, 20 percent is skill, organization and know-how. So, that’s why to get up, get dressed and show up to smashing your success starts with tweaking that mental attitude to taking on the day. The mind is so incredibly powerful and therefore so are you — right now.
From my own personal journey and from studying and working with literally hundreds of leaders globally, I have found some mental exercises key to getting traction in life, work and business. Your success is through developing your mental capacity to smash the glass ceilings that are holding you back and get things done.
#1. Be Present
It’s all good to plan. It’s all good to learn from past mistakes. But when you are constantly putting yourself mentally in the future, or you are mentally living in past traumas or past glories to the extent that you are not living in the now, you are setting yourself up to fail. Both living in the future and past can freeze and numb you. You need to be a) nimble, b) quick, and c) take action. You can only be that by … being present to today.
Your action: Ask yourself in the morning, ‘What is one thing I can do to move my ______ (business, initiative, work, whatever goal) forward today?’ Did you get that? One thing. Just today. That means chewing off what you can mentally handle.
#2. Trust the Process
Did you notice the second part to the above question — the asking? You are asking for help. First, in so doing, you are opening to possibilities that may not be evident to you immediately. Trust that they’ll come. And, they will come. Second, you mentally allow yourself to not need to figure it all out by trusting that there is a process and you are one element to that process — a co-creator.
Your action: Look for the answers as the day unfolds. Be open to possibilities and expect guidance, solutions, answers, insights … and act on them.
# 3. Sweep House
Sweeping is about clearing: mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Your mind is directly connected to all areas of your being and life. When you’re sitting in a cluttered office, that scene — with it’s stagnant energy, fills your mind with mental noise. When you’re physically tired, hungry or less fit, your mind goes on strike. Dealing with emotional pain? Feeling spiritually low?
Your action: Take on the day with sweeping house, even if a little (including the body that houses your mind/brain). Open space for your mind to start ticking. Seek help if you need. The key is to raise your energetic vibe by acknowledging and working with what is holding you back.
# 4. Take Time Out
Following on from sweeping house, it will be key to maintain breathing space. Numerous scientific studies show that diversions from a task can dramatically improve your ability to focus on that task for a prolonged period.
A big one for me is shifting gears by playing, chatting or whatever comes up with my kids. I get back to my day’s objectives after exercising a different part of my brain. So, I’m ready to not only keep going but perhaps even see a different path or way to getting it done. I gain fresh and critical perspective.
Your action: Take time out. Schedule it if you have to. But make taking time out to breathe, sleep, get sun, play, get grounded and work other parts of the brain a priority.
# 5. Just Do It
I know, it’s cliche. But in that saying is so much. It’s a mental attitude of overcoming the mind chatter and naysayers by determining to just doing it, regardless. Does it matter to you? Will it matter to those you care for? Your business, organization, having the impact you desire? If it’s a YES …
Take action: Just. do. it! Don’t wait half an hour. Not even five minutes. The moment you get inspiration, an idea, thought, whatever it is that emerges for you in your day, do one tiny thing asap in the direction of its fulfillment.
References
Atsunori Ariga andAlejandro Lleras. ‘Brief and rare mental ‘breaks’ keep you focused: Deactivation and reactivation of task goals preempt vigilance decrements,’ Cognition, 2011; DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2010.12.007
Originally published at medium.com