Do you struggle to “get organized,” and you’d like some encouragement from some members of our community? We have a treat for you today!
Our team member, Candice, recently posted “What would you say to a struggling STEPper?” Inside our Steps to Everyday Productivity community group. STEP is our signature program here at LearnDoBecome (more details linked at the bottom!), where we help you stop drowning in piles and build a seamless Command Central that holds all your projects, routines, tasks, goals, papers, messages, files, and more!
But sometimes it feels complicated. And sometimes our members get stuck. Whether you’re in our STEP program or participating in a variety of free resources here at LearnDoBecome, or simply using your own methods to get your life in order, here’s some awesome advice from five of our STEPpers who responded to Candice’s question with love, grace, and wisdom!
These suggestions are specific to the STEP program, but the principles can apply to other sources of instruction, as well!
From Carmen:
Progress, not perfection. Habit stacking. Watch the videos just to watch, not to act or do. This helped motivate me and helped me understand how everything ideally works. I then decided that “Emails to Zero” wasn’t a priority for me, so I skipped that step until much later. I took it slow, adopted a couple steps at a time. Worked on those and made them work for me. When life got in the way and I paused, when I was ready to get back to STEP, I never thought of it as starting over or failing. I was just picking up where I left off. Each time I “pick up where I left off,” I realize how far I have come and the habits that I have learned and have become automatic.
From Lindsey:
There will be periods where you will feel overwhelmed and can only get 1-2 things done. There are other periods where you feel totally dialed in. Then there are times where life takes over and you feel like you fall off the wagon. Take a breath, give yourself grace, and remember that the WHOLE process, including the feelings of overwhelm and failure, are all part of it, and the entire community goes through it. Try to work on just one element at a time. For me, when I feel like I’ve fallen back, I do a mind sweep, throw all my thoughts on Asana [my project management tool], move them to the Context-Based Next Actions List or projects (sometime in the future) and move on. I haven’t done a full Weekly Review in months because I feel so overwhelmed, but I try to do one more little thing at a time. I made a plan next weekend (after we return from vacation) to sit down with my husband and try to get back to zero emails (as an example). It’s all a process and the buggiest aha moment for me is to realize I don’t have to be completely through the program and firing on all cylinders in order to feel successful in STEP. Hang in there. We are all here as a family to help and lift each other up!
From Gwen:
It’s okay to take a day off and rest! It’s okay to be sad. A lot of us use staying busy, shopping, and collecting as a way of avoiding grief or difficult emotions. Going back through and cleaning out will likely be a journey through grief that has not been processed. Let yourself feel it. Let yourself cry. You are strong enough. Don’t be mean to yourself. Don’t let anyone else be mean to you either…even the voice in your head. [Referring to the STEP Mastery Facebook Group] Search the group for “STEP win” and take a moment to celebrate with others. We will be celebrating with you, too! Envision your success as a series of smaller wins, and celebrate them! Share what you’re struggling with in the group. Even the act of typing it out can be a help. But you’re sure to get a bunch of encouragement here.
From Christyle:
I know the feeling. I decided to start back over and do baby steps. [After an initial video she watched] I had more questions than answers so I just told myself tomorrow is another day. I will keep going and ask the community. Yes, I took some deep breaths and I can see my piles of paper slowing disappearing. I can tell you that I have a new perspective on projects. Its not the big scary projects that trip me up, it’s the little ones that I didn’t allocate time for and never saw them as projects. And they needed to get done!!! You will get there. Go for a walk or just breathe and come back to it.
From Ellen:
Deep Breaths! Look back at how far you’ve come (or if you’re just starting, what excited you and gave you hope in the original video promo?) and celebrate those successes! Stop and choose ONE LITTLE THING—focus on it. Take life and STEP one small thing at a time, then move on to the next. So much great advice in these comments. Don’t worry that what you’re choosing to do today isn’t the best decision or the first choice. Do what you can and accomplish just one thing–then celebrate your success. Then choose another small thing and repeat. I’d add: repeat aloud frequently “YOU can do it”—this focuses your brain on positives and helps you get into action.
Closing Thoughts:
I appreciate each of these STEPpers for being willing to share their support and guidance! I hope that as you come either into our free community or into our official programs, you’ll be able to feel the encouragement, hope, and energy that is available to you.
Getting organized is worth the effort. Building a Command Central and having a place to put everything that’s currently swirling around in your brain is going to be such a gift–to your present and future self…and all those you love.
It’s easy to “give up” and think that getting organized is possible for everyone else, but not for us. However, learning a predictable system that will help you to prioritize and assess what most deserves your attention at any given moment is going to bring so much relief!
Thrilled that you’re here–and so grateful for you!
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Steps to Everyday Productivity (STEP) Program
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I haven’t read all of the suggestions, but Carmen moved me. I haven’t been able to quite get started like I want but I have to be okay with it and Carmen helped me say to myself, “do what I can”. She helped me take a lot of tension out of my shoulers! (really) I will come back and read the rest on a day I don’t have as much other reading. . .
So happy to hear that!! Yes, this does not have to be done perfectly or all at once. You are HERE, and that is amazing!!