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Alright, so there’s a lot of work. And probably, you’d like to succeed at delivering something outstanding. Which I would applaud. But are you getting in your own way of it?
Being in a state of relaxation doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re being careless about what you’re doing or supposed to be doing. You may assume that restlessness, in contrast, shows care. And often it does. But more likely than not, it just comes with stress and overwhelm. And while they can push you, they can also pull you back - or cause you to trip over your own feet.
Take a deep breath and slowly let it out. You got this. Instead, reevaluate.
What are your expectations?
You can aim as high as you wish. I’m not here to tell you to be “realistic”. Just as long as you can also make peace with hitting below it if it comes to be, it’ll be fine. Being ambitious isn’t torturous in itself. It is only the fear of not meeting your aspirations and not being prepared to fail that can mess you up and crush you. Or even worse, keep you reducing your expectations so you accomplish what you set out to but not deliver much or anything beyond it.
What are your standards?
You can take an honest look at the quality you are able to deliver and nudge yourself a bit above it with every new task or whenever you can afford to do that (having the required time, energy, resources). You can go from a 10 to a 100, but it might be more practical for you to allow yourself a more gradual improvement. That way, you won’t be crippled by perfectionism and end up putting off or forever holding onto it.
What are your approaches?
If you’re a mathematical and strategic genius, you could come up with systems and processes that make the most and the best of what you’ve got to deliver flawless results at a low cost and in a short amount of time. But maybe you’re not and that is fine. What you do then, is apply approaches that seem suitable and, through trial and error, optimize as you see fit while you keep going.
A useful trick that is worth emphasizing is to attempt what is called a Minimum Viable Product first. Once you have that, you can relax by knowing that at least something that is sufficient has been done and is in your hands. From there, you can put more into it with what you’ve got left. This is especially handy when you’re in days when you’re not and cannot give your best. But instead of letting it discourage or even paralyze you, you manage.
Furthermore, don’t overlook the convenience of organizational tools! Breaking down unclear goals into clear steps can free you from much stress and overwhelm.
CREDIT: AI-Generated Examples done on Leonardo.AI
