I am a super-duper procrastinator. I was planning on writing this many hours ago, however, I watched some youtube, had some food, did some laundry, replied to emails, basically anything to feel like I was being productive but really I was just avoiding the feeling of not really knowing what to write.
Consistency vs Intensity
People think I do a lot. I have Straightface, I work another job full time, I also write on my personal blog, lukemcmeekenruscoe.com I go to the gym, I read, I write movie reviews, but I always feel like I am not doing enough.
The thing is, none of them is huge amounts of effort, they are, however, lots of little bits of effort.
I go to the gym for my mental health and so I am not a horrible person. A nice little benefit is that it keeps me in shape. But I can't get in shape by kicking my arse in one session and then taking 4 weeks off. It is the multiple sessions every week for years that count.
I recently looked back at the blog posts I have written for Straightface, there are way more than I remember writing. If you write every few weeks, then over time you have lots of posts.
The challenge in life I find is not the one Hollywood created acts of love like running to the airport before the love of your life leaves, it is can to you turn up every day and do the little things, the small bricks that build your life.
They aren't glamourous or cool or sexy, but you don't get from point A to point B without taking hundreds of seemingly tiny steps.
These steps can be building a relationship with others, but they also count for building yourself.
Routine
To help with that consistency you need to develop a routine, or as James Clear talks about in his book Atomic Habits, you can read my review here, he describes it as systems.
Before I go to bed, I pack my bag for the gym so it is easy to go to the gym when it is dark and cold outside.
To avoid eating badly, I don't buy highly processed sugary foods at home. It is basically just meat and fruit.
I know when I feel bad I don't shave, so shaving is part of my self-care routine.
Whatever you want to do, try to create systems where you make it easier to do the good things and make it harder to do the unproductive things. It takes time, but it's about the small steps and being consistent in turning up for yourself.
Moment of Gratitude
I had a really challenging week emotionally. The challenge isn't avoiding the feelings and frustrations but sitting with them, trying to understand where they come from, what can I learn from them, how do I grow from this situation and then letting them pass through me.
I saw a great way to understand feelings, I am sorry I can't remember who said it, but they said - Don't say you are sad, because you are not sad, you are many things, say I am feeling sadness because that is exactly what is happening.
You are feeling sad or happy, scared or brave, but they are not you.
So its been a challenging week but I have been pleased that I still feel things and I am not an old heartless emotionless monster 😜 and two, I have developed the tools to handle myself better while I am feeling sad.
Shave well, be awesome, turn up, one day at a time, one step at a time, one action at a time, you got this.
Luke
