017: The two ingredients that change everything.
They're uncomplicated, totally free, and can help us accomplish just about anything.
I’m going to keep it simple because these two concepts are simple and the internet (and humans) love to overcomplicate things. Why do we do this? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s our way of avoiding actual implementation. Intellectualization > action is relatively useless but it sure can make us feel better (for a little while at least).
Ok. Enough burying the lede. The two simple things I’m talking about are accountability and consistency. Here’s what they’ve looked like in practice for me lately…
When I wanted to start exercising again in early 2021 after a long break away from any sort of structured routine (an intentional choice I made to heal my very toxic relationship to exercise and my body in general), I would text a photo of my workout (a screenshot from my app or a sweaty selfie) to one of my best friends. There was no expectation that she would reply (though she often would), I just needed the accountability to get consistent with this practice again and it worked. Currently my Peloton app tells me that I’m on a 125 week streak. Intentional movement has become a consistent and joyful part of my daily life again and it is thanks - in no small part - to that accountability when I was just getting started again.
Earlier this week while spending time with another one of my best friends, another ‘accountability to create consistency’ solution inadvertently came into my life.
She’s a fellow creative pal and we were commiserating over our a similarly scatterbrained approaches to things that don’t need to be complicated like admin work and the making of our to-do lists, never mind the actual finishing our to-do lists. (Do we have ADHD? The internet might tell us yes, neither of us care to find out for sure, tysm).
She remarked that one day when she DID manage to make a to do list, she was able to check most things off of it. SAMEEEE!!! I basically shouted back at her.
We talked about how when we actually take the time to think through what we need to do and the relative order it makes sense to do it all in, we actually do the things instead of sitting in the paralysis of overwhelm, jumping from one thing to the next as our brains reminds us of each thing we’ve forgotten about until right that moment.
Is it a total nightmare to operate like this? Strong yes. We both hate it very much. And yet…
Offhandedly I told her about my approach when I started exercising again and said, “we should text each other a screenshot of our to-do lists for the next day every night before bed.”
It came out of my mouth in the same instant it came into my brain so I hadn’t really considered if this would feel too personal or invasive for her (or me for that matter). Immediately she said “omg can we please do that?” and for the past three days we have.
Three days is not long enough award us the title of ‘consistent’ just yet, but we’re laying the foundation. And let me tell you, it’s HELPING SO MUCH. It’s something that only takes a minute and makes my days infinitely easier but in all honesty, without the accountability factor, I am not that consistent with this practice. A fact I am only mildly ashamed to admit as a self employed person running a successful business.
So there it is - accountability + consistency. Two ingredients that can make a lot of magic. Simple but certainly not always easy.
AND NO. You do not - I REPEAT YOU DO NOT - need to pay for an online course to learn these things. Nor do you need a fancy time management software subscription that you may or may not ever learn how to actually use just because that Instagram ad keeps popping up telling you it will solve all of your problems and make sure you get your entire work day done in 6 minutes or less - so fast your boss will think you hired an executive assistant (I’m sorry what? Who would do this? Who would think this? The internet ads are out of hand y’all).
Maybe you just need to find a pal to text your to do list or sweaty post-workout selfie to. Maybe you just need to be accountable to yourself and print out a chart or calendar and give yourself a checkmark or a gold star as a visual reminder that you’re committing to consistency in one realm of your life or another.
Start small (my workouts at the beginning were quite literally 5 minutes long, sometimes they still are), be kind to yourself and let me know what magic you end up making ⚡️
IRL Things I Loved This Week
Eating coconut whip cream and strawberries in the long grass at 2pm on a Wednesday accompanied by only my journal and tarot deck.
This glorious piece of clothing that I plan to putter around my garden in all summer long. (I got it in Toasted Coconut in case you’re wondering).
Wandering the farm with my bff taking photos and chatting and hugging my favourite tree.
Having friends and parents who will let you rant when you need to who also know you’ll be just fine and remind you of that too.
TV in bed after a long day.
URL Things I Loved This Week
WHEEW this truth / question really has me THINKING AND FEELING and wondering the same damn thing.
This interview over on
especially this part.This because it is interesting and colourful (and I am getting SO SICK OF BEIGE).
This, which just arrived. I immediately tried it on and am happy to confirm that it is indeed WORTH THE INSTAGRAM ADS HYPE. If you need a new one for summer, look no further.
A quote I’m keeping close
Trust that you’re worthy of goodness.
Your blessings are not by accident.
Embrace them.Alex Elle | Source