We all make mistakes. Some bigger than others, but what constantly shines as more important than the mistake, is how you handle it.

I’m roughly 60ish days into lifestyle design and somewhere in the last two weeks I’ve gotten completely stuck. I see now why everyone isn’t breaking free from work, creating new products, living their dreams and generating income. I think it’s because we’re victim to our habits and we get lost in managing this thing called life. It’s also challenging, but that’s really not it. It’s time to get unstuck. The “Elimination” stage of lifestyle design testing is one that takes some serious mental re-training. Looking into our dreams as realities is fun (stage 1), understanding misconceptions about being productive is eye opening (stage 1), but transforming how you operate takes work (stage 2). Sure, I’d like to skip ahead and just focus on income streams (of quality), but it just wouldn’t be worth it if all I end up doing is working more like most business owners.

So somehow I’ve managed to fall back into the illusion of multitasking, doing small repetitive tasks myself, and checking my e-mail and phone constantly. I’ve wasted time on useless information and generally fallen back into drone behavior. I know better, I wrote how to conquer these things, but life management creep is a sneaky bastard. All the sudden I was moving at a snails pace, but because it was comfortable, because I kept thinking I’d catch up, I stayed there.

Have you ever been caught in a rut…thinking you’ll get out as soon as you catch up, as soon this project is done, or you’ve saved “this” much money. I don’t blame you, we’ve been conditioned to be cogs in the system, but there’s a way out, and it starts in your mind where you can’t be stopped. Start (or restart) now, here’s what’s working for me.

Getting Unstuck

Take a breather…

It’s obviously apparent and needs no scientific research to see that operating at 100% for 2 hours is better than operating at %30 for 6. if you’ve lost your focus, you’re not working at capacity. Go do something you love and really allow your mind some freedom. Come back and zero in.

Perspective re-loading

Keep your vision clear…I want to look back fully on this project when i’m making X a month in passive income, living out my dreams, helping others, and thinking differently about life…and say…this…this is a chronicle of how I did it. a clear vision of your goal helps you see the next steps. Use a tool like mindmeister.com to map out where you are or go back to a book or writing that allows you to step outside yourself and see what’s going on. Perspective is everything, and when you have it, your path becomes clear. I mapped out the impact life design has had on me in mindmeister and reviewed this blog to get me back on track. I’ve regained my dreamlines, re-read my wrong assumptions about the world, and look forward with singular focus to the next stages of testing, err I mean freedom! (automating, outsourcing, and the fabled income generation)

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Efficiency re-training

Re-enter the world of efficiency, limited information, batching tasks, singular focus and 80/20ing the crap out of life (past post on processes here). These practices remind me of Pavlov’s dog. I can train myself to see a more efficient path, just like I’ve lazily trained myself to waste hours organizing blogs, opening 12 things at once, going to the store 3 times because I didn’t think the first time, or watching TV I don’t even like, etc. etc. Approach tasks with the mindset to build yourself out of the process, it forces you to think differently, and more importantly I’m realizing, starts to train an automating / outsourcing thought process. More on that later. Besides, it’s now proven, multitaskers get less done! (Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows) Practice makes an impact, set reminders, close your e-mail, go on a media fast. Do less and you’ll do more.

Moving Past Mistakes

If you’ve realized your moving slowly lately, try some of the tactics here. They don’t have to be for “designing your life”, the principles apply to fitness, relationships, work…living in general. Have some methods of your own? Do share.

Further reading I found to help along the way…

22 Inspiration Quotes to get you moving (read time 3 minute)

How to Stop Procrastinating and Start Living the Life You Want – you need to learn to minimize procrastination so you can work toward things that matter, things that directly relate to your goals. (read time 7 minutes)

A Brief Guide to World Domination – Probably the single most effective thing you can read if you are unmotivated and unproductive. (read time 1 hour)

Abolishing the Someday Mindset – “if you don’t set goals the end result is simple: you fail.” (read time 4 minutes)