I’m getting ready to leave on a trip and it never fails to amazing me how many things I can cram into a week to get ready to leave. What if I worked like this all the time? Why is it only the deadline of vacation that causes me to be this efficient?
Then I remind myself that I know what the reward is for this work. The reward is getting to be fully present on the trip without worrying about things left undone. When the goal is clear and present, the work gets EASIER.
When the goal or reward moves or is vague, there is less energy behind it because it is elusive and evasive.
If I put you in plank and didn’t tell you when you were coming out, how would you feel?
If I put you in plank pose and said you can hold it for 3 or 5 breaths, would you take the 5? You would probably do the 5 because you know you can do it and then be done. CHECK.
The house gets cleaner when we know company is coming at 5pm. CHECK.
Short term tasks can be really rewarding in small short bursts. But it’s those short bursts that tell us we have the capacity to be more efficient when we need to be.
Case in point: I wrote my letter in 5 minutes. It usually takes an hour. Check!
See you in 2 weeks!
~Carmen