One of my favourite coaching questions is, “What’s the smallest thing you could do to move this forward?” Often, we get overwhelmed by what feel like insurmountable goals, leading to procrastination. However, breaking our goals down into micro steps can be transformational.

As a professional organiser and coach, I see a lot of overlap between the two roles. Frequently, I work with clients who are overwhelmed by the clutter in their homes or the number of clothes jammed into their wardrobes. They can never find anything, leading to stress and overwhelm. The same is true of the goals we set for ourselves—getting fit, reducing screen time, eating healthier—or the changes we want to make in our lives—getting promoted, being more organised, acting more calmly. We know what we need to do, but the thought of it is so overwhelming that instead, we do nothing.

I’m a huge advocate of what I call the “three steps forward approach”: small, incremental momentum towards your ultimate goal, however small. I’ve recently formally launched my business, although it’s been in the pipeline for over three years. Often, I am so overwhelmed with how much I need to do that my first instinct is to avoid it. What’s really worked is focusing on taking three actions every day that progress me forward. Some days, all I do is send three emails, which takes under 15 minutes, but it’s all about the forward motion. Similarly, if your wardrobe is overflowing with clothes, go to it now and pick out three items you know you won’t wear, are too small, or are past their best. If you do this every day, by the end of the week, you will have 21 items to take to a charity shop.

Why not try it? Ask yourself:

  • What is the goal I am trying to achieve?
  • What are all the actions I could take to move this forward? (Take your time and write down everything you can think of, however tiny and simple.)

 

Start small. Pick the three easiest things to do, that you know you can do and that won’t take much time. For example, if you want to get healthier, you might put a glass of water by your bed and drink it as soon as you wake up. If you want to get promoted, you might spend five minutes on your commute reading an industry article. If you want to be less stressed with your kids in the morning, you might get up five minutes earlier or get the bags ready the night before.

It’s just three small steps. Try it and if you feel you need support to navigate changes don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This article was written by  Hannah Harrison a Career Coach and one of our partner coaches who empowers women to feel more in control of their life and career, to build systems and habits to help them think and work smarter and reach their potential. You can get in touch via her profile page.

June 1, 2024