Big, super scary goals, like losing 20 pounds, reading your book every night instead of binge-watching The Blacklist, or switching careers, can feel overwhelming because they are life-changing!
The fear of these big goals can stop you from even starting. It’s something everyone experiences. I used to feel stuck too until I read “10 Minute Time Management: The Stress-Free Guide to Getting Stuff Done” by Ric Thompson. It’s a short read but packed with great tips for tackling long-term goals.
Start in 10-minute intervals. Just focus on 10-minute goals, or even just dedicate 5 minutes a day. Sound doable? Think of it in bite-sized pieces. You might have heard this before, but have you actually tried it?
Big projects often seem daunting and usually take longer than expected. Ric Thompson suggests estimating the time you think a project will take and then multiplying that by 1.5. So, not only are our goals scary, but they also take longer than we think. Fun, right?
That’s why the 10-minute rule is helpful. It allows you to chip away at a big goal piece by piece until it seems manageable. How many times have you put off cleaning your house because it seemed like it would take forever, but then once you started, an hour later it was done and didn’t seem so bad? Goals can be like that. Once you start, you realize it’s not as difficult as you thought. Ten minutes can turn into 30 minutes, and then an hour. The point is, 10-minute goals help you get started.
If you “only” have to work on something for 10 minutes, you’re more likely to jump in. Over the past 7 years with DIY Active, I’ve learned that getting started is usually the hardest part.
Once you get started, things tend to take care of themselves. Try the 10-minute goal rule on your next big project and see if it helps you start reaching your goals.
Remember, you can always reach out to us anytime. We’d love to hear about your goals and help you achieve them. Our goal is to help everyone find their True Health Happiness.