What to Do When Doing Nothing is Not an Option

 

“Stop looking at the parking lot.”

That's a direct quote from Dave, my ski instructor. 

If you follow me on Instagram, then you already know that I recently learned how to downhill ski.

In my third lesson, it was time to graduate from shredding the gnar on the bunny slope to riding the lift and skiing for real. 

As I had always imagined it would be, the top was breathtaking. 

Miles and miles of pine trees. Sparkly snow. -15 degree air.

Oh, and some very steep terrain that I now had to avoid dying on. 

All jokes about my abject terror aside, Dave has been a phenomenal teacher. I feel (mostly) competent and (mostly) in control. 

But, as I took in the full picture of what was ahead, my monkey brain couldn't help but notice…

the twists…

and turns…

and slopes going every which way…

and the hill crests I couldn't quite see over. 

I started down confidently enough, though soon I was taking longer and longer pauses before sharper and sharper turns. I could feel my feet clenching and my edges clinging to the groomed snow like a cat up a tree. 

All of the strategies Dave had taught me for getting down wonky, steep slopes?

POOF. Evaporated in my anxiety. 

And that was when Dave had to give me a good talkin' to: 

I see what you're doing…

You're looking all the way down at the lodge.

You're wondering, “How the heck am I going to make it?"

I need you to stop looking at the parking lot.

I need you to focus on the 20 feet of terrain right in front of you.

He was not wrong. 

And that is how running a nonprofit must seem right now for you, yes?

  • You're moving at break neck speed, making 100 decisions a day.

  • You're adapting to the twists and turns the pandemic and other crises keep sending your way.

  • You're wondering, “How the heck am I going to make it?”

Professionally and personally.

My friend, there's no amount of downward dogs and bubble baths and cups of tea and afternoon naps to get you out of this. 

(Though you should definitely keep doing those things, if that's your jam.)

So, as a bit of a follow-up to that one time I suggested you Do Nothing, today I'm offering you What to Do When Doing Nothing is Not an Option.

Here are 4 tips to get you through these wonky, steep times.

  1. Put on your own oxygen mask first. If no one else has asked you today, then allow me: When did you last eat? In times of crisis, it's easy to set aside your own basic needs. But it's next to impossible to be effective at whatever it is you're doing if you're skimping on sleep, exercise, and eating. (Hanger, anybody?)

  2. Take it one day at time. And if one day at a time feels like a big ask, take it one hour at a time. As a strategic planner, I know I'm always telling you to keep your eye on the BIG vision and to trust the process. But sometimes you need to–you know–focus on the 20 feet of terrain right in front of you.

  3. Set your bar low. Like, really, really low. Lower…lower…lower. Keep goin'. There. You, O Crusher of Goals, O Getter of Things Done. You cannot do it all right now. You cannot do it well right now. Accept that.

  4. Speaking of which…PRIORITIZE. I don't know about you, but in moments of crisis or intense pressure, my brain goes in a zillion directions and I wind up spinning my tires. And that's when I call in my BFF, the Eisenhower Matrix. Are you familiar with her? It's a decision-making tool that helps you figure out what to do first, based on importance and urgency. Behold:

There are four buckets for all of your tasks:

  • Important, but Not Urgent

  • Important and Urgent

  • Not Important and Not Urgent

  • Not Important, but Urgent

In an ideal world, you're mostly working on the things that are Important/Not Urgent. Those are things that are moving you closer to achieving your goals, mission, and vision. 

Though as we're all painfully aware, this is not at all an ideal world. In times when the crisis becomes more acute, you're primarily working in the realm of Important/Urgent. You're doing the things that will keep all the people connected to your organization safe and supported. 

So…

  • Do the Important/Urgent things.

  • Defer the Important/Not Urgent things until you can catch your breath.

  • Delegate the Not Important/Urgent things.

  • Delete the Not Important/Not Urgent things.

 
Sarah AudetHow To