Here at NSS, we do 7 day projects. Simply put, we take one task or behavior and focus solely on that for 7 straight days. This does several things, the first of which is adding a time frame. Many people don’t like to be put under the pressure of a deadline, but let’s face it, it’s effective.
If you know that a project must be done in 7 days, you’re much more likely to complete it in those 7 days than if you were given no deadline, or if you were given 7 weeks to complete a task and you procrastinate until the last 7 days with it hanging over your head the whole time. Second, it narrows your focus to doing one thing well. How many people do you know who have a goal list like this: get thin, make a million dollars, travel the world, run a marathon, invent something, write a book, and spend more time with the kids?
Ok, I know that sounds a little ridiculous, and you’re probably thinking I wrote all those things to be obnoxious and get a laugh. But what happens if we break those down to one thing at a time?
-Get thin: Many of you already have made huge strides toward your fitness goals. You know that with dedication and hard work, this is completely within reach.
-Make a million dollars: Again, with a liftime of hard work, entirely possible. If you want it bad enough, it can happen. Some of you already know this, too.
-Travel the world: Once you focus and make your million, this one is easy. Probably can’t do it at the same time, though. That’s the point of breaking it down in the first place!
-Run a marathon: Many of you have done this several times over.
-Invent something: If you want it bad enough, you’ll do what it takes and focus until it happens. Very possible.
-Write a book: It could be about how you made a million dollars inventing the next evolution of the Garmin, and used it to run marathons all over the world after losing 150 lbs.
-Spend more time with the kids: Just do it.
My point is, if someone laid that list in front of you and said that those were their goals, you would probably be skeptical (that’s being kind). However, if you break it down, though challenging, those things are all possible with the right amount of desire and focus.
So back to 7 day projects: Another big benefit is that once the week is up, and you’ve completed the task, it gives you a tangible success. What do you do with that? WRITE IT DOWN. Track your successes. I read a great article this morning about lists. We live in a to-do list world. What we really need is a done list, something that shows concrete accomplishment and logs the milestones in our journey of achievment. What’s more motivating, seeing all the dirty dishes in the sink, or knowing that last week you fixed the car yourself, got commended for a good job at work, and completed all your training sessions for the week. Either way, the dishes aren’t done, but focusing on the positive makes it that much easier to do the little things that need doing. So start making your done list TODAY!
7 Day Project? Keep being awesome.
One of my projects this week is something I’m NOT going to do for 7 days. Here it is: NO FACEBOOK…..gaaaaaasp…..In all reality, I don’t do any more with Facbook than put up pictures of my daughter and talk training with buddies, but I’ve noticed a steady increase in how habitual it is. It’s the first thing I check in the morning, and the last at night. Sad. This week, I won’t touch it. I can’t wait. If it changes my life, the TV goes next. I’ve got a new baby girl at home; why should I even be looking at Facebook?? My family is much more deserving of my time, and it’s waaaaay more fun to hang out with them. In the mean time, that just gives me more time to focus on what really needs doing at home and at work. I would encourage you to try this with me.
Here are some interesting statistics I found: last June, 2011, the average time spent on Facebook per day by mobile users was 33 minutes. That’s 200 hrs. per year. If you were training here at NSS 3 times a week for an hour, you still would only amass 156 hrs. That means on average, even some of the most dedicated trainees would spend more time on Facebook then they would working out in a year’s time. That doesn’t factor in how much time is spent in front of the TV, the computer at work, or videogames. Hmmmm….These statistics don’t give much weight to the “I don’t have time to work out” argument.
Unplug. Get outside. Do something physical.
So my challenge to you is to pick a 7 day project. Maybe it’s the “No Facebook” challenge, or maybe it’s something awesome like writing the first chapter of your spy novel. I don’t care how big or small, just write it down and do it. One thing, 7 days, and then put it on your done list. All the how-to is there, the question is, do you have the will-to??
