One of the most efficient “tools” I learned while making my way through coaching school was the act of dealing with Tolerations. Admit it. There are some things that we just “put up with.” Most of the time those things are minute – they would not take much effort if we would just take the time to deal with them. Yet, we prefer to let them sit while we do other things that are more interesting, more enjoyable, or that we consider more pressing.
The challenge with Tolerations is that the longer we ignore them, the worse they become. Mary Ann once gave me a magnet that simply states “A year from now, what will you wish you had done today?” While the probable thought behind this statement is goal setting, I interpret it as dealing with the little things, too.
Tolerations can be anything that sits in the back of your mind. It may be a stack of papers on your desk, a letter that needs to be written, a closet that needs to have clothes weeded out, a plant with dying leaves, a picture waiting to be hung, a phone call yet to be made, a spot on the carpet, a ….
You get the idea.
Take a moment to think about a few things that silently urge you to attend to them. You know you have some! What are they? And how do you move forward? Let me share a few of my strategies.
Make a game of it. Do you remember the 1950s television show “Beat the Clock?” Contestants were challenged to complete a task within a specified time frame to win prizes. The show actually began as a radio show in 1948 and was called Time’s A-Wastin’. Isn’t that what we are doing by procrastinating? Estimate the amount of time it will take to complete the task at hand; figure out some kind of reward for yourself if you complete the task within your given time; and begin. You may find challenging yourself to compete with the clock is a fun way to deal with your Toleration.
Solicit help. Sometimes it is more fun to work alongside a friend or family member. Talk to someone about what you need to accomplish. Ask the person if s/he has a task that s/he is putting off. Agree to help each other complete the respective tasks. In this way you are somewhat holding each other accountable while enjoying each other’s company AND completing your tasks.
List it. Personally, I am a list maker. Yep! Sometimes I enjoy checking things off my list so much, that I will add the task to my list if it doesn’t appear there, just so I can check it off! Crazy, I know. But often when I tell people I do this, they nod and admit they do it too! Check.
Deadlines – real or created. Nothing is more motivating for me to deal with things around the house than when I am hosting a dinner or event. Sometimes things must be completed before a certain date (taxes, for instance. Ugh). At other times you may just give yourself a deadline – get the car serviced before winter kicks in; or vacuum the baseboards before the pest control people come to spray.
Given these suggestions, you may have other strategies for motivating yourself to deal with those things that are eating at you. Regardless of the method you use, I would bet completing those tasks and eliminating your tolerations will give you a feeling of accomplishment and relief. Now, I have to go deal with a few things …
Silver Sage Sisters 