In the quest to create our optimal lives, it is usually not that challenging to come up with a Plan A. Whether we’re out to get organized, lose weight, reduce debt or whatever our goal, with the help of a little guidance, a clear plan takes shape. Plan A is born.
The problem with Plan As is that while they are clear and almost guaranteed to work, they are often difficult to stick with. You begin with great enthusiasm and discipline, but as the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, Plan A begins to feel heavy and onerous and not so doable anymore. Your steely resolve meets the reality of life – grumpy bosses, sick children, tight deadlines, poor sleep, and…..well, you know the drill.
If Plan A is all you have and it just went out the window, what do you do? Your goals are still important to you and giving up feels easy, but wrong. A solid Plan B (and C if necessary!) to your rescue!
The truth is, if we want to be successful in creating the lives we desire, we need plans that recognize that we are not always at our best. We don’t always have the bandwidth necessary to adhere to our ideal plan, but that does not mean we need to abandon our goals.
So what might this look like?
If your Plan A for a healthier diet looks like this –
- Bring lunch from home 5 days/week
- No fried foods
- No sodas or diet sodas
- A dessert only on Friday
And due to any of the aforementioned conditions this isn’t doable anymore, Plan B might look like this –
- Bring lunch from home M – W
- 1 fried food per week
- 1 diet soda 2x per week
- Small dessert 2x per week
Or perhaps your Plan A for organizing your home looks like this –
- Go through & sort mail daily
- Pay bills Saturday
- Spend 1 hour weekly cleaning closets
- Clean out car weekly
When life gets hectic, to allow for that but still move forward, Plan B might link like this –
- Go through & sort mail Saturday
- Pay bills Saturday
- Spend 30 minutes on closets (or other trouble areas) weekly
- Clean out car monthly
Plan Bs allow us to keep making progress, but at a pace we can live with.
When you step away from the binary mentality that you are either ON plan or OFF plan, it is still possible to make progress toward your goal, but with an amended strategy that is easier to be consistent with.
When things are going smoothly again, for sure, return to Plan A! The transition will be easier if you haven’t backslid to where you were at the outset. An added benefit of following a Plan B or C is that you’re not carrying tons of guilt for abandoning your goals. Your momentum hasn’t been lost, just slowed a bit as you needed a break, but now are ready to step up your game.
So have you given yourself the gift of a Plan B? If not, I invite you to explore what that might look like, and how downshifting on strategy is often the best way to move toward the life you desire.
And if you would like support in creating a solid Plan B or any other aspect of creating the life you desire, please schedule a free 30 minute call to explore how our working together could be just the boost you need!
