How to Push Forward When Life Gets in the Way
It's been an interesting year so far, full of excitement but also an array of distractions. I almost didn't finish this article because I'm currently moving apartment, but more on that later.
I’ve noticed that many people have set high expectations for themselves this year, both personally and professionally. Whether this newfound enthusiasm is because the COVID pandemic is now largely behind us, or because people are hoping to make up lost ground from the past three years is unclear, but either way, it’s great to see people enthusiastic about goal setting.
People, in my experience, are inherently optimistic, but that can impact our ability to balance ambition with personal care and preparing for the unexpected. Recently, I've been considering how to continue making solid progress regardless of life's many disruptions, whether that means moving apartment at short notice, losing a valued team member, or suffering an unfortunate redundancy.
Take care of yourself first.
In times of high stress, or after suffering a setback, it can be all too easy to fall into bad habits, take an extended break, or even give up completely. Disruptions like these can be difficult to overcome or can even lead to a perceived lack of control. But being able to adapt to unpredictable events in a positive way can put you in the best position to achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
When faced with an unpredictable situation, start by asking yourself how you would have tackled it if it had been part of your plan all along.
Make each decision based on what your future self would appreciate, but be honest with yourself. After being made redundant, do you go out every night, or do you stay home, update your LinkedIn profile, and reach out to recruiters? It’s easy to convince yourself that going for drinks is a great way to wind down and potentially network, but we all know the right decision if we take a step back.
Tip: Write down any plans or ideas as soon as you think of them, whether on paper, in an app, or a blank email. Keeping track of what you need to do as you think of it will declutter your brain and help you focus on your next steps forward. You’ll be surprised how few things are on the list.
Take action at least every other day.
Most disruptions can be perceived as projects, so break them down into a series of manageable tasks, and maintain forward momentum. If you get caught up with something else, or simply need a break, that’s fine, but it’s important to not let a day off become a week, month, or year without progress.
Tip: Double-down on your to-do list. Schedule what needs to get done and when, with time carved out to take care of the unforeseen distraction. This could mean re-contracting with people and setting new expectations and timelines.
Seek help from others.
When a new challenge arises out of the blue, it's easy to try and tackle it yourself, but we all know people we can reach out to. A common misconception I hear from mentees is that they don’t have a ‘direct’ connection with someone who can help. I say if you did, then this wouldn't be a challenge. Ask yourself, "Who do I know that can introduce me to someone who can help?" You’ll be surprised how few degrees of separation are involved.
Tip: Reach out via direct messages on LinkedIn and be specific about what you want to achieve. The more specific the better. I don’t recommend sending out a panicked post with a general request for help. Maintain control and take the time to reach out to specific individuals. They are more likely to read the message, and importantly, take action.
Find a balance.
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to look after yourself. While flat hunting recently, I found it tough not to double what I needed to achieve each day, which only results in late nights and loss of sleep. My wife and I could have easily wasted our evenings on planning sessions that were neither productive nor the break we needed. Instead, we drew up a list of urgent tasks that ensured we maintained forward momentum. Being hyper-efficient is definitely a struggle, and we’ve endured a few late nights, but by balancing the load the disruption to our lives was minimised.
Tip: Perception is important. Challenges can also present amazing opportunities, but it depends on how you look at them. Consider each challenge as an opportunity and list out the potential benefits. This might produce some new ideas or even help you adjust your high-level goals.
Maintain consistency.
Strategic thinking is difficult in high stress situations, or when you are easily distracted, and a solid plan can help you navigate unexpected issues as they arise. Leveraging a short-term view can make a big difference to helping you achieve your long-term goals.
If you’re faced with a disruption to your personal or professional goals –
Take care of yourself
Consider how you'd tackle the issue if you'd known about it beforehand
Take action at least every other day
Seek help from others
Maintain consistency
I hope this helps you navigate the challenges ahead and achieve your goals.
