What is your battle plan when you already feel beaten?
My current situation...sitting in the sunny corridor outside the Intensive Care Unit of my father’s hospital room. It’s been rather touch and go the last couple of days. I am afraid that we are entering enter a new season for him and not quite sure I’m ready to deal with that. But, as his POA, it is exactly my responsibility to deal with that.
How in the world does one go about planning her week when facing a life or death decision for her parents?! Not to mention the litany of day to day woes currently spinning like the wall of a hurricane around me.
Sounds dramatic, I know, but this morning that is exactly how I felt. Like I had been whipped around really fast and tossed against a wall. Raise your hand if you have ever felt like that. How in the world am I supposed to make a strategic plan for myself, when I can’t even feel my face?
The challenge we face here is...how do we maintain our forward momentum during a time of crisis? We can not continue to allow emotions to take over our sense of productivity. Talk about pressing pause on your progress...we do it all of the time!
So, what IS the plan when you feel like life has already kicked your butt?
Keep it simple. Now is not the time to launch a new project or take on a new responsibility, now is the time to rely on the disciplines you have already developed. These are what will sustain you during this difficult time.
Stay flexible. Stuff is gonna happen that throws a wrench in your personal system. In the words of Elsa, “Let it Go”, give yourself some grace to adjust to the priority(s) at hand.
Be present. This one always gets me...my head moves faster than I could ever dream. I’m generally like seven moves ahead at any given moment. Being intentional about focusing in on whatever you are doing in the moment will allow you to not only be successful at whatever is directly in front of you (conversations included), it may even provide a temporary (yet productive) distraction for whatever is troubling you in the moment. Trust me, it’s worth the practice.
Stay connected. It’s okay to let people in on your mess...how else are we supposed to get past the initial, “I’m good. You good” phase? You might be amazed at just how much people actually WANT to be there for you during your time of need.
Take care of yourself. You can not be good to anybody or anything, if you are first not good to yourself. Example: If you treat your body like crap, it might break down on just when you need it the most.
Find something to do. It is easy during times like these to distract ourselves with unhealthy coping mechanisms (self-medicating, if you will). Make up your mind today to find a healthy crutch like exercise or painting or candle-making (just think of the Christmas gifts you could make). These days, when my mind is full, I take off walking the fields outside.
Need more suggestions? Here is a neat article I found on Staying Productive During a Time of Crisis.
How do YOU stay motivated during a time of personal crisis? Comment below, we’d love to hear your ideas! Be sure to watch the attached video to see how I’ll be executing the Big 3 in my life this week.