Instead of joining “challenges” – create your own to get things done

You can find plenty of 7, 14, 21 day challenges out there. They are great. They help to build healthy habits. They can be fun, they help you know yourself better. The problem is when they are not focused exactly on activities you need to reach your goals: Your day is already full. You have the clarity what needs to be done. So instead of joining other people challenges, create your own.

Hold on. Why create the “challenge” if you already know what needs to be done?

What’s in the way of getting things done?

Where do I start… Many people struggle with distractions. Getting things done consists, at minimum of 1. managing and creating time 2. creating a strategy 3. overcoming inner blocks.

If I don’t pay attention I will get nothing [important] done in a year. I’ll work a lot, I will get a ton done, but not what I need to get done.

I realized it this year: in the beginning I joined a 14 day challenge and on day 2nd I already fell off the wagon. That was a good thing. Why waste time and energy for things that are not on my agenda?

Here is what I did instead

INSTEAD, I created my own 14 day challenge: it consists of 3 things I need and want to do: one thing I have to do to live a life of no regrets, one I need to do for my business, and one I need to do to share what I know.

What am I learning from my 14 day challenge

1. It allows me to focus easier on what matters to me
2. Be diligent
3. Realize how long things take [this helps to set realistic expectations of myself and feel better in the end, mainly if I really can’t do everything in one day because there is other work to do]
4. Notice where the time goes and “harness it”
5. Notice how I waste time
6. Realize how much can be done when I’m focused
7. It allows me to invest my energy vs spend my energy
8. Pinpoint exactly what are my weak areas, and do something about it.
9. A definite deadline helps me to stay on task, avoid compromises.

Focusing on what matters to you will have exponential effects

One of the things on the list is “at the end of life, if I don’t do this, it will be my biggest regret”  Which simply is: make more art. [one drawing a day] Creative expression. There is no other reason for it, except- I have to do it. I am not planning to save the world with it, I don’t need to sell it. I just have to do it. And as I’m keeping the promise I made to myself I start feeling the effect of this commitment: I no longer have the fear of dying with this regret. It’s done! I just have to continue. And if for some reason I will stop I know what I need to do. I don’t need to wait for the moment I’m dying to see if I did ok.

It’s better than a goal.

When I set annual goals I often don’t do time budgeting, I don’t create a strategy. I think I have time and somehow it will get done. I am kidding myself.

In addition to the 14 day challenge I also set a 6 day and 6 week deadline for other projects. I’m going to alternate. It’s already scheduled for the whole year, to allow me to FOCUS on one thing at a time. When I set short term goals, in a form of challenges I keep myself accountable. The deadline is just around the corner not 11 months from now.

Do you have desire to do something that is in the back of your mind, waiting for you to have time, resources, confidence, strategy? What do you really want to do, what is calling you? Creating your 7-21 day challenge or however long it needs to be, is a great way of starting fulfilling your goals, way of empowering yourself, way of discovery what do you need to do and who do you need to become to have this in your life.

How would you feel if you kept the promises you made to yourself?