Most of our problems are not complex. They’re hard, sure -- that’s why they’re problems still -- but they’re not complex. I would be willing to bet that the crux of most of your problems can be gotten at with three simple steps (or fewer). The number is arbitrary, of course, but the point is that you’ve already got a pretty good thumb on the pulse of what needs to get done to solve a problem. You just haven’t done it yet, because that’s the hard part.
We all have nagging problems that continually weigh on us, and while any one of them alone may not be enough to greatly diminish our quality of life, when you add a few of them together and add some time under tension (read: putting them off for later), it turns into a considerable stressor that really takes a toll on your emotional and physical well-being.
That awkward tension left between you and a longtime friend after you had a political conversation that went too far? Set aside 20 minutes on your lunch break, call him up and say, “hey man, I still love ya.” Problem solved.
That terrible grinding noise you hear every time you touch the brakes in your car? Set the appointment now and bring it to the shop this weekend, or set aside a few hours on Saturday to do it yourself -- your problem’s only a few short hours from solved.
That ongoing project with a now fast-approaching deadline? The deadline’s not going to get any further away. Set aside a few hours of distraction-free work, go to the library or a coffee shop, shut off your phone, and get things started.
Your dwindling gym attendance? Pen it into your weekly gym schedule, have dinner already planned for your gym nights, and have your gym bag ready and in the car. All you have to do is show up and put in the hustle.
These ideas aren’t novel and these solutions aren’t special, and that’s the whole point. We don’t need novel or special, we need to do what we know needs to get done.
I’m not going to sit here and tell you that these things are going to be a cake walk. I’ve got a whole list of my own problems and challenges that need constant work, and they’re anything but easy. But I’m not going to pretend that you or I are dealing with the world’s hardest puzzles either. It’s tough out there, but we don’t need to make it any harder by carrying around the weight of coulds and shoulds and woulds with us day after day.
Write down the three (or two, or one!) steps that it will take to solve a problem you’re facing currently, and get it done this week. Make it happen!
- Preston Sprimont
Single leg DB RDL - 3x8/leg
Single arm DB row - 3x8/arm
4 rounds, 2 min AMRAP, 2 min rest
14 cal row
7 overhead squat (118/80)
AMRAP burpee over bar
Posted on 03/08/2017 at 12:00 AM
