Sometimes our goals can feel too big, overwhelming, impossible. Like too much work. So I ask you today to think of your goal (lose weight, eat better, declutter, be more confident, whatever it is) and think of one small thing you can do today that would bring you a little closer to that goal. What 5-minute action steps can you take today (or right now) to change your life?
The amazing Tama Kieves calls them 5-minute quantum shifts. How can anything meaningful happen in 5 minutes? Well, it’s not just about what happens in those 5 minutes. It’s about taking action, moving forward. And who knows what you might trigger in just 5 minutes here and there. It may indeed lead to something bigger, a transformation.
Let’s use weight loss as an example. Say you want to lose 20 pounds- and your reasons for wanting to lose that weight are solid. You want to be healthier and stronger, you want to be proactive with your health, you want to stay healthy as you get older, you want to be able to keep up with your kids, set a good example, feel better in your clothes. That’s a goal that can feel overwhelming. Your mind might start doing math, thinking about how long it will take. It can feel like a lot of work.
Some days you will probably feel fired up and inspired. But some days you will probably feel something between “it’s never going to happen” and “why bother.”
So this little trick is a good strategy. It prompts you to take action, but it doesn’t make you feel overwhelmed…
What 5-minute thing can you do right now to get you closer to your goal? Closer to what you want?
Want to get healthier? Eat a salad. Have an apple for a snack. Drink a glass of water. Don’t think about your meal plan for the next month or how you’re going to navigate birthday cakes and barbecues. Just eat something healthy. (See this post for more ideas.)
Is exercising every day a goal? Go take a 5-minute walk. Stretch in your chair. Don’t think about how you’re going to make time for it, should you join the gym, when would be a good time to start, or ugh- I hate exercising. Just move for 5 minutes.
Feel like you need to be more social? Send a text to someone you haven’t talked to and lay the groundwork for getting together. Send a few texts. Make a phone call if you’re feeling frisky. You don’t have to join a club or strike up an awkward conversation on the playground (though those will work too!). Just take a small action on being more social.
Want to get more organized? Spend 5 minutes cleaning out the junk drawer or going through medicines in the medicine cabinet and throwing out the ones that are expired. Don’t look at the jammed-pack closet or google storage solutions. Just set a timer for 5 minutes and throw some shit out.
Do you dream of writing a book? Set a timer for 5 minutes and write. It doesn’t have to be “the book,” it can just be 5 minutes of freewriting to get your creative juices flowing.
Are you looking to make a career change? Spend 5 minutes on your resume. Email some friends and ask for some ideas. Look up job listings and see what’s out there. Don’t get bogged down with questions. Just take a small action step.
Want to lessen stress and anxiety? Try a free meditation app and search for a 5-minute meditation. Read a personal development book. Start a gratitude journal. Small action steps each day can make a big difference!
Just take 5 minutes…
Whatever your goal is, you can find 5 minutes today (maybe even right now) to do something that will get you closer to that goal.
Sometimes taking action is the hardest step. But it doesn’t have to be a huge thing; it can be a 5-minute thing. That one small act might be what you need to get you going.
What 5-minute thing will you do today? I’d love to hear from you! Comment here, email me at mary@stayathomefit.com or find me on Facebook or Instagram.
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