How to Get UnStuck and Move Forward in 5 Easy Steps

Jan 15, 2018

Hello. My name is Robin and I am an over-thinker.

Analyzing until you're paralyzed. Have you been there? Obviously, I have. And for some reason, I keep going back, from time to time.

However, I have learned a few things over the last few years that have helped me visit less often, that paralyzing analyzation state. The trick, of course, is to get out of it and stay out of it, so that I accomplish the necessary and desired tasks that make up my life.

The new year is often a good time to sweep clean the old, and start with the new, keeping what works and changing what does not. I have a few resolutions this year, that I intend to keep. It might sound strange to say that I intend to keep them. Isn't that what resolution are for - to keep? To move forward with a new way, not intending to go back to the old way? Good question. Do we really make resolutions that we plan to keep? If so, speaking of plan, do we have a plan?

Failing to plan, is planning to fail. ~Benjamin Franklin

Down the rabbit trail I went. My apologies.

Back to my point, we go. I am an over thinker and over thinking causes a paralyzed state. In a paralyzed state, you can do nothing. You're frozen, blocked. Paralyzed. Can you relate?

In order to get out of this state, I taught myself to say something to give myself a jolt, a push, a little nudge forward. Sometimes this is all we need.

What do I say?

When I find myself overwhelmed, my mind going in too many directions, not knowing what to do next, or where to begin, I say, "Robin, just do the next thing.".

Yes, it is that simple, if you allow it to be. Do the next thing. Do it. It doesn't matter what it is, just do it. Do something. That one action will beget another action and so on. Before I know it, I are working on my tasks and getting them done. This method can work for you, too!

Don't know where to begin? Here are some tips:

Write down everything running through your mind, taking up your energy and causing you anxiety. Everything.
Create steps/tasks. For example, "Put the house in order" is too general. Use it as a category, then break it down into steps - dust, vacuum, sweep, mop, etc. or divide by rooms, whichever method works for you.
Start with the simplest, shortest task on the list. The quicker you complete even one small task, the sooner you start creating momentum. Once you get that momentum going, just keep moving on to the next thing.
Cross it off. Yes, it works. When you write the list and start crossing off completed tasks, it encourages you to keep going because you can see progress. Might sound silly, but it works.
Keep going. Once you have that ball rolling don't let it stop! It's much easier to keep in moving than to start from

On my list today, BLOG.

And that is what brings me here. The next thing. So much to do, so much to write about and I just don't know where to begin.

Here you have it. This is my next thing. A blog. The first blog of the year. A blog that shifts my direction, ever so slightly. Correction, my direction is not really changing, my scope is. I am widening the scope of my blog to include all of life and the journey, my journey towards better health.

I will blog about life. My life includes, family, friends, marriage, parenting, organizing, planning, coaching, a part-time job, church, my walk of faith, cooking, running, yoga, and much more, I'm sure. I hope you will find this blog helpful, in some ways, even if it just makes you laugh every now and then. Laughter is good medicine, you know.

I just have one favor to ask of you. If you do read it, you like it and/or you find it helpful, comment, like and/or share it! We're all in this together and if it helps you, it might help someone else.

Thanks! I'd love to hear from you as we walk, or run ;-), through 2018 together.

Doing the next thing,

Robin

P.S. I'd love for you to join me on Instagram and join our community on Facebook, for motivation and encouragement to live your healthy life!