How to Keep Moving When the World is On Hold

I don’t know about you, but some days it feels to me like Amazon delivery people are the only ones in the world that are still hustling. It’s November, nine months since the virus hit, and people are writing to me like someone pulled the plugs on their lives. Worse, now we’re even more frozen-scared in anticipation of the second wave. But there’s LOTS you can do to move yourself forward and still stay okay. MORE than okay. Vital!

Believe You Can

Have faith in your ability to progress. Work with what you’ve got, which is often more than you think. Keep your mind open so you can recognize opportunities that may not be here forever. If you BELIEVE that you can achieve anything you want, then you’ll succeed. Get out of neutral. Up your game. Elevate your expectations of yourself. You got this! 

Don’t Wait

You may not be able to control a virus, but you certainly have control over YOU. Stop holding your breath until this is over. Stop waiting for other people to hold up the All Clear sign for you. There’s so much you can do right now! Safely! If it’s possible for you to think, then it’s possible for you to accomplish. Make up your own mind; it belongs to you. Years ago I worked with seniors in a nursing home on end-of-life issues; their biggest life regrets were always what they did not do, and never what they did. 

Decide What’s Best For You

Turn off the news. Read no more than 30 minutes a day of information that is pertinent to you, from reliable sources. Stay away from hyperbole and any source that tries to scare you. They’re just making a buck off of your fear. You alone know what your health risks are, and those of your family. So use your head, show respect, and keep moving forward. 

Think Creative

Just spending a quiet hour thinking about things that you could do now that are interesting is a great way to spend your time. It doesn’t have to be profitable. It doesn’t even have to be any good! Order some acrylics and give painting a shot. (I picked up calligraphy again and I still suck at it.) Go online and study a second language. (Quel damage). Learn about something that you always wanted to know but never had the time to understand before. If you’re REALLY lucky, you may even have too much time. That will not always be the case! 

Keep Picking Your Targets

If you’re in a position where you really can’t be with other people right now and are at risk for serious health problems, then sit down and start setting goals for what you are going to do when the treatment or vaccine is available. Set multiple goals. Set goals within goals. Why bother to aim if you don’t have a target? Expand your possibilities and make them ready to go. Make as much as you can actionable. Write stuff down right now! 

Design Your Plan 

You won’t get far if you don’t figure out how you’re going to get there first. Some people design one step at a time and that works for them. I reverse engineer everything and work backwards. (What can I say? I’m left-handed.) And remember that goals, and plans without deadlines, even flexible ones, are nothing but dreams or mere wishful thinking. Plans give you clarity. Deadlines set expectations. A little pressure won’t hurt you! 

So stop thinking about what you can’t do, and start thinking about the thousands of things that you CAN do. Right now, while you have the chance! You can’t get this time back again. Keep moving yourself forward, every precious hour. If you remain stuck, it will take you a lot longer to get back in the game later. Simple laws of inertia. 

Grab A Pen This Very Second

Don’t just click out of this document without first grabbing a piece of paper, NOW!, and writing down two goals you have, what six steps you’re going to take to get yourself there, and when you’re going to get each step done. I guarantee you that if you do this for yourself, you’re going to feel better immediately. 

Write to me to let me know what your target is. I’m pumped for you!