Never miss twice

Having a three day weekend is one of life’s greatest gifts am I right? After a crazy week at work, having President’s Day off was just what I needed.

I could sleep in AND have extra time to write!

The day started out great; I did my laundry, made coffee and sat at my laptop. I ended up writing a TON! Some major editing needed to be done, but that’s usually how the process goes. Write a bunch, then edit back. I told myself I’d edit sometime after my gym session.

But you know how it goes when you don’t have a real plan. When I got home, this is pretty much how the rest of my day went.

“I should probably cook those veggies so they don’t go back…hm I still need to order oven mits and cutting boards, maybe even slippers…While I’m at it I should probably change the address on those online accounts. Gotta make sure I put that laundry away…gotta clean up before my brother comes over to help with my furniture…oh yeah going for a walk with my friend today.”

Long story short, I missed my first Monday of Courtesy Clips.

Initially, I panicked. “I can’t believe I slipped up…How am I supposed to be a writer or a blogger if I can’t post when I’m supposed to....I should have planned better…How did I let this happen even on my day off..etc.” And to some degree, these are valid concerns.

But then I reminded myself that as long as I still post on Thursday, I was fine. Missing one day doesn’t mean I’ve failed as a writer or a content creator. It also inspired a completely new topic for this post.

You know the saying fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me? The same idea applies.

Unless you’re superman or superwoman, you’re bound to slip up on your goals or your schedule occasionally.

Even the productivity gurus and entrepreneurs of the world know that sometimes you miss a day. Your morning or afternoon won’t always go as planned. Maybe you’re on vacation or an emergency comes up. That’s life! The reality? Those single mishaps aren’t a big deal. What’s more important is how you bounce back.

Being a little behind isn’t detrimental, but throwing in the towel is. Have you ever caught yourself snowballing? “Well I missed today’s workout, I’ll just try again Monday, or maybe not…I didn’t get to finish cleaning the garage today, I guess I’ll put off my spring cleaning…I didn’t work on my Etsy shop page, maybe I’ll work on it next week, maybe I’m not meant to have a side hustle anyway.”

Try to recognize this negative thought process before you get carried away. Think about it, your success isn’t defined by one day of work, so it can’t be defined by missing one day either. If you choose to pick yourself up, accept that life happens and take try again tomorrow, you can still maintain momentum and make progress.

That’s why you never miss twice.

Why do you think the best fitness coaches say it’s okay to have a cheat meal? Why do you think it’s so important to have rest days and take time off from work? Because your success is not bound to the one moment you do (or don’t do) something. It’s tied to what you consistently do over time. Don’t fret if you’re reading this and you didn’t get through your entire to do list or stick to your writing schedule like me. Instead of dramatizing the situation and thinking you’ve failed, remember you’re human. It’s all good. You got this. Pick it up again tomorrow and it’ll feel like you never missed in the first place. But missing a second time? You could be starting a pattern.

Whatever you do, don’t snowball, and don’t talk yourself out of it; “Well I guess I’m not meant to get in shape if I couldn’t even get to the gym today.”

You know in your gut that’s not true. That’s a way to trick yourself into thinking quitting is the right move. You’re fooling yourself into thinking you’re meant to be in the same position as you are right now, even if you aren’t thrilled about it.

Missed a workout today? Pick your gym time for tomorrow. Couldn’t read ten pages today? Read them first thing tomorrow. Didn’t get your shed cleaned out? Start tomorrow afternoon. Plan to do it in chunks over three days to feel less overwhelmed. That’s why going after the life you want comes to fruition with small actions over time.

Missing once is a mistake, but missing twice is a choice. Missing twice is the slippery slope to snowballing. Missing three times? Now it sounds like you’ve given up. Quit the habit of giving up quick! Don’t be so hard on yourself! It’s hard enough to deal with slipping up. It feels worse when you waste time judging yourself for it!

What are your favorite ways to get back on track with your schedule?

Related Reading:

It’s Not About Big Leaps, It’s About Small Steps
The Truth About Your Quarantine Routines