There are times we run into a roadblock when working on something important. We think “I can’t move on unless I solve this problem”. It’s something you would have experienced during high school or university. During an exam, a question you’re unsure of may arise. Rather than chew up the clock and waste valuable time trying to solve it, you move on to the next and hope to come back to it later with a fresh set of eyes.
Now translate this problem into previous roadblocks you’ve encountered. Have you attempted to solve the problem to the point of frustration, or would you move on and solve it later? It’s often the case when we try to resolve something before moving on, we stall our momentum. The battle becomes trying to regain our focus rather than letting doubt creep in and give. That’s when skipping tasks become a viable option. I’ve found myself in this position as I worked through the process of self-editing my first book. As I read over my work, I was getting caught up in creating the perfect title. I had to remind myself that the title will come later and to trust reading over my work. Clarity won out as I thought of a title that fit after coming back to the problem I encountered.
Momentum is the ultimate form of clarity
If you want to excel in anything in life, whether it’s writing a book, starting a business, or climbing the corporate ladder, momentum is everything. We all know what it feels like to get excited about something new. But where we fall short is allowing doubt to creep in once confronted with a challenging task. Most people give up on their goal for two reasons: 1) It’s easy. And 2) Their efforts don’t work for them. All it takes is to have one or two bad days in a row before giving it all away. If you stop for too long, it becomes much harder to reclaim the valuable efforts you previously applied. When you struggle, you spend a significant amount of energy than you would in moments of control.
Be strategic in skipping tasks
We limit ourselves in both time and energy. To continue making progress, it’s important to be aware of what might derail your momentum. For example, you might try to start a business, but make significantly fancy dinners each evening or stay up too late. The amount of energy you spend on these tasks can compromise the time consumed on your goals. Of course, there are daily demands that’s required of us. But if you can be strategic in how you approach your tasks that complement your time and energy, you allow yourself much valuable space to continue momentum and make advancements in what you seek to achieve.
The best way to improve is to become flexible in adapting to what comes your way. There will be days which bring overwhelm and doubt, but the key is to expect it so you can overcome it as quickly as possible. When struggle arrives, ask yourself: is this something I have to do?