...and 5 tips to hop back on.
Happy late Sunday, Design Peeps!
In this week’s newsletter we are talking about:
🤷♀️ Why do we get off track?
😤 Is it really that bad to get off track?
🔦 How can you get back on track?
Last week there was no Design Rationale newsletter (oooooooh!).
The week before I had asked in a poll at the bottom, to get more insights into what my readers (you guys) wanted to read next.
The overwhelming majority (really appreciate my two most engaged readers) chose the topic of Color Psychology. It’s an interesting topic, and I am passionate about it; I look forward to writing it.
However, life happens, and we get off track, and realize waaaay too late, that we missed a deadline.
But… why do we?
🤷♀️ Why do we get off track?
Getting off track is a common experience, but why does it happen? Several factors contribute to this deviation:
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This can be due to a lack of immediate rewards, fading interest, or overwhelming challenges.For instance: I love writing this newsletter. It’s relatively new, so I still have motivation, because I want it to grow. However, there are some challenges associated with it:
- Potential lack of time, since writing is not my primary job.
- Lack of immediate rewards: clearly growing a newsletter takes time, and newsletters are less likely to go viral… so the chances of rapid growth are rather slim for now.
- For instance: I make plans for all the things I am going to do over the weekend, because I love getting personal projects done when I have more then a few hours available. But then my babysitter gets sick, and I can’t actually get much done.This doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the time with my children… I just means I get off track because my original expectations are not met.
- Fear of Failure or Success: Paradoxically, fear can derail us. The fear of failure may stop us from taking necessary steps forward. On the flipside, the fear of success can intimidate us with its potential changes and responsibilities.
- We can often see this in people who are successful with a certain strategy, and suddenly they stop that strategy and shift to something else. Sometimes this might be due to burn out, when they can’t actually keep it up, but some other times, this is due to fear or succeeding any further.
😤 Is it really that bad to get off track?
It might not come as a surprise that getting off track has negative effects on us. Ourbrains are wired to complete tasks and achieve goals and milestones, so unmet objectives can trigger feelings of unrest, stress and anxiety.
Allowing those feelings to take over would only snowball into a much larger problem like burn out. However, analyzing your situation may lead to a few positive outcomes.
- Brain Plasticity and Learning: Facing unexpected challenges and adapting to new situations can enhance our brain's plasticity. This adaptability fosters learning and growth, as well as resilience when facing adversity and blocks.
- For instance: I might consider making this newsletter bi-weekly, rather than weekly. This way I can actually produce more quality content, and work on my upcoming course!
Understanding these impacts helps us reframe our experience of getting off track, viewing it as a potential avenue for growth and learning rather than a mere setback.
🔦 How can you get back on track?
Finding your way back requires strategy and self-compassion. Here are some tips:
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Reassess Your Goals: Reflect on your original goals. Are they still relevant and meaningful to you? If not, it might be time to set new, more aligned objectives.Sometimes this is very painful, and feels like failure. Believe me. Sometimes this is very painful, and feels like failure. Believe me. In a practical example, I might think about whether or not this newsletter is worth it to me, since I am struggling with keeping up. The answer is yes, it is.
- Break it Down: Overwhelm often leads to inaction. Break your goals into smaller, manageable tasks to regain a sense of control and progress. I’d suggest some type of task management tool. I use Clickup, but there are tons of other tools out there that are just as valid.
- Seek Support: Don't hesitate to seek support from friends or family. A good conversation in which you are honest with yourself can do wonders for mental clarity.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. This boosts morale and motivation. I managed to write this week’s newsletter, and feel a lot better knowing that I can keep up with a bi-weekly schedule.
- Though the Design Rationale issues are not incredibly research heavy, they do require some time. I have to consider making the content a bit shorter, if I can't manage to make it as in-depth as I would want it to be.
If you are not already subscribed to Design Rationale, I'd love to have you. See you in two weeks, with a nice breakdown of Color Psychology.
Cheers!
-D.
