Procaffeinating (n.) the tendency to not start anything until you’ve had a cup of coffee.
I am going to challenge you to procaffeinate every day for the next 30 days, and as a result I believe you will be far more productive, making progress on the things you need and want to do in your work life, your home life, for others and for yourself.
In the time it takes to have that coffee - and decaf options are just as effective – you can take a quiet moment to set an intention for the day to help start your morning unflustered and in control. This is about deliberately not starting anything until you have given thought to your day. There is usually never enough time to do everything, but there is time to sharpen your mind and focus on being on top of your most important responsibilities.
I have found that there are two broad approaches to how people set about their days.
On the one hand we can bolt out of the starting blocks with our head down, sprinting though the day without pausing to even catch our breath. This approach can often end up being a false start because most people tend to take on way too much and when we do this our
“focus is scattered, we dilute our energy and wind up feeling overwhelmed, spinning around and not making any meaningful progress.’
Marie Forleo, Life coach, motivational speaker and author
And on the other hand we can feel so overloaded with tasks and obligations that we stall before we have even begun, with a major reason for procrastination and lack of motivation being
“vagueness, confusion and fuzzy-mindedness about what you are trying to do and in what order and for what reason.”
Eat that Frog! by Brian Tracey
“Get crystal clear”
The morning is a critical time that can set the tone for the entire day and the idea of this challenge is to not start anything until you’ve spent the time it takes to have a hot drink in quiet contemplation and envisioning your day ahead.
The best way to set yourself up for this moment, to enable you to start your day unflustered and in control, is to plan what you need to accomplish before you go to sleep the day before.
There are many ways to plan effectively, but one key question to ask yourself is ‘Which?’. Which tasks are most important for you to complete and which activities are most valuable?
Asking yourself this question leads you to simplifying the items you’re focusing on, meaning you get clarity on your priorities, and your tasks and activities are then done better, more quickly and more efficiently. This naturally increases your feelings of success and wellbeing.
I have found that as life changes and demands increase, we need new inspiring ways to keep our minds clear, our plans on track and our time flexible. I’d love to hear how you got on with the challenge!
Enjoy!
If you no longer want to feel overwhelmed, confused and disorganised, working with a coach is a great way to gain clarity and direction.
Contact me and we can have an informal chat about how I can support you to feel in control, not overstretched and to find time for all the things you love in life. Email or mobile 07919 051414.
