Off of the recliner and into action

Feeling lazy, a photo by beevek on Flickr.

The kids stood in line at the bus stop looking like zombies.  They stared into space, eyes glazed over - completely different from the usual scampering and throwing of the football while waiting for Mr. Marty to arrive.

What a convergence - the first day after New Year's day and a Monday.  A combination that virtually guarantees that everyone will have a case of the slows.

This will pass for the kids.  Once they are at school and the daily schedule commences they will be swept up into their routines.  They will pass out tonight closer to their usual bedtimes, and by tomorrow or the next day they will be back to normal.

You'll do the same with your workday - maybe.  But what if you are the one who has to impose the schedule?  What if you are the one who has to take the initiative to set the alarm a little bit earlier, or to get to your desk and return emails and calls?  Nobody else will be sweeping you along, and so it will be a matter of choice.  Choice is great, but it means that it's up to you if it's going to happen.

Inertia can be deadly to your business.  The sticky molasses (and yes, it's January in a cold state) that holds you in your current position will delay your positive results if you allow it to keep you under its control.  The longer you sit there the stickier it will get, and the harder it will be to extricate yourself from its grasp.  The hold will start to feel comfortable - until later when the comfort and easy feelings will be replaced with regret or even panic over lack of progress.

You might have to let your internal engines warm up a bit, but start something.  Take a step.  Perhaps you can start with an attractive activity, one that you enjoy doing, to get the juices flowing.  Then once your brain has fully geared up, look at your week and plan your activities.  

As you plan your week, consider the 2-3 key outcomes you want to accomplish, or steps toward that end, by the end of your workweek.  Allocate time for those activities in your calendar first, then move on to the others that aren't quite as high in priority or essential to your results and fill in.

Rest and recuperation provide critical fuel for performance.  It's important to spend some time in the recliner, or at the beach, or in the mountains, or hanging with friends and family.  If you master the art of getting back into the game quickly when the R & R is done, you will feel good about your accomplishment.  And that confidence will create an upward spiral of performance for you.