Hi friends~
Monday Monday…
This was a truly beautiful day, after a deluge of rain and thunderstorms here on the Jersey Shore, it was a perfectly clear, sunny, mild, day with low humidity. I was trying to focus on being in the moment, writing this while enjoying the view from my front porch at the vegetable garden, and waving to neighbors strolling by.
The early virtual ROW+STRENGTH session was great, so I should have been feeling settled in and focused..
The Weight of the Calendar
But when I took a detour from writing and looked at the number of upcoming coaching sessions, community events, emails, meetings, and commitments packed into the next couple of weeks – not to mention the regular life stuff like shopping, cleaning, laundry, and coordinating visits with the kids – suddenly it felt like time was accelerating at warp speed, along with an impending sense that summer is slipping away.
I had a flashback of when the kids were around, the sense that summer was coming to a close trying to frantically squeeze in in every fun summer activity before the waning days of August. I especially hated it when the older kids left for college. Of course trying to do everything is an exercise in futility – and it only served to make me sad that I couldn’t do it – I had do some serious self talk back then, and slow down to focus on each sweet, fleeting moment with the kids as they happened.
Of course right now there’s still plenty of summer left. I will resist falling prey to that seasonal negativity, but it’s still not easy.
The Brain “Freeze”
And there’s this…trying to do all of the fun things, or trying to tackle a huge to-do list, the weighty anchor of task paralysis can take over.
Getting stuck under a load of stuff, whether work or fun, perceived, self-imposed, or by design can be a real motivation killer.
By definition: “Task paralysis is a neurological “freeze” response where an overwhelming workload or complex task triggers executive dysfunction. Instead of prioritizing or starting, your brain shuts down, leading to inaction. It’s a genuine struggle with task initiation and dopamine regulation.”
Thawing the Freeze
So, how to thaw out the brain?
Have you stared at a to-do list and felt physically unable to take the first step?
For me, the antidote is focusing on immediate, controllable actions. Sometimes it’s a workout, or it can be a pause to take a walk, or go for a head-clearing zip around on my bike. It can be a nap! Puttering in the garden helps too – a task yes, but truly therapeutic, and a bonus is that it’s also productive!
This cardio and strength session got my gears turning this morning:
- Cardio: 6 rounds of 30-second rowing sprints with 2 minutes of rest in between.
- Strength: A few rounds of kettlebell swings, cleans, and push-presses.
The short burst of intensity in this workout helped to clear the mental fog – at least briefly. After cleaning up the equipment and making an instagram video, I focused on only one thing on my list: the weekly blog, which is a part of my pre-set weekly routine – a mental workout, and a brain stretch, an exercise in discipline and commitment that I’m determined to stick with.
There was still plenty on the to-do list, but I took a break and rode my bike to the beach for a relaxing hour. As lovely as it is to live a half-mile from the ocean – why is is so hard to kick my ass out the door? I was so glad I did!
Be Kind to Your Mind
The feeling that I’ve been productive always makes me feel good at the end of the day. But the goal isn’t to be a productivity machine; the goal is to accomplish what I can without getting completely swamped, and above all, to be kind to myself in the process. The list will still be there tomorrow, but a beautiful, clear summer afternoon might not be.
I’d love to know whether you sometimes feel task paralysis, your strategies to stay motivated, and how you’re kind to yourself (you deserve it!).
X
Polli
