Feature Fridays- Little Efforts
Sometimes when I get a bit overwhelmed or VERY busy, it's difficult for me to end the day feeling like I was 'successful'. I always like to be an 'overachiever' (...yes I'm definitely THAT person) and list out many things that I want to get done today and maybe only get through half of my list (which leaves me feeling pretty disappointed in myself and not even remembering all the things that I DID get done). I recently read this article on Hungry Runner Girl's blog about a reader who looks at the things that did go well in the day and call them as 'little efforts'. It basically gets down to realizing that even though not everything you wanted to get done got done, you tried multiple times throughout the day and that's all that really matters right?
It's never so much about failing, but I believe it's failing to even try that really counts! I've also started to make a list each week of 'ideal' things that I want to get done (and also started giving myself monthly goals that relate to my yearly goals and help me reach them). That way, while maybe I only get one thing done today I won't be disappointed because there is always tomorrow!
I've found these things to really help me lately when I've been insanely busy teaching skiing, working full-time, training and running a bunch, fundraising, coordinating my skaters lesson schedules and goals, and choreographing two ice show programs all within the past 4 weeks! Fundraising a large amount of money also takes up A LOT of time and EFFORT and it most certainly is NOT easy. I'm definitely not complaining because I love to stay busy and have brought on all these things onto myself, but that still doesn't make it any easier to manage it all (...at times). It's also difficult fundraising when my support system is mainly myself! I don't have a family close-by to rely on, so a lot of the times it's a solo-effort to reach out to others and ask for their help (and be OK with getting turned down AND also being strong enough to go back and ask again later on).
When I break down my weekly and monthly goals into the question: What can I do TODAY that will help me get to where I want to be TOMORROW, NEXT MONTH, and/or NEXT YEAR? It seems much more manageable. I know that everything that is going on my life at this moment will eventually subside and things will calm down, so for now I just take it one day at a time and one small 'effort' at a time. I'm no super-woman and can only accomplish so much in a 24-hour period :) .
How do you manage to get it all done?
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Happy Friday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned of relaxing, watching the Olympics, getting outdoors, doing something you love, and spending time with someone (or something...hey cats & dogs are included!) you love! I unfortunately will be teaching skiing at the mountain tonight, all day tomorrow & sunday, and teaching at the rink Sunday evening, but I am hopeful that I will still find time to do something I LOVE with those that I enjoy spending time with : )
