Ooh, I’ve had a mixed week of thinking too much, doing too little, and avoiding anything that feels too much! In other words I’ve been procrastinating, living in my head, while I would have been better off connecting with my movement and bringing myself back into my body.
The problem with overthinking is that it can keep us stuck,
rather than taking conscious action, no matter how small, which will move us forward. So I am taking a look at Mind vs Body for this week’s Your Whole Self.
Procrastination often stops us starting something — that’s just what it does. But there is a power to just beginning, and recognising that when we do start we feel great. The problem being that the longer you leave something, the bigger
it becomes, because it lives in your head and your thoughts.
Before you know it a small task turns into a thing; a thing turns into something you keep thinking about; until it feels more complicated than it actually is. We can sometimes think procrastination is about laziness, but more often its about:
- not knowing where to start
- wanting things to be perfect
- feeling overwhelmed
- or simply having too many thoughts about
it.
So instead of beginning … we merely think about beginning.
Then the head starts to get busy, staying in our thoughts makes everything feel bigger — have you heard yourself say: I’ll do it later, I need more time, I’m not quite ready, What if I get it wrong?
And while all this is going on, nothing changes, we stay still, but mentally we are exhausted.
This happens to me a lot when I am thinking about different classes I want to offer on my timetable. I think about how I put the class together, I think about how will I teach this class, I think about all the alternatives and modifications it might need, I think about how I can make it successful and accessible for everyone — then I very often put it on the back burner… keep returning to it … thinking and thinking … its not quite the right time, I want it to be perfect before I offer
it … and guess what? I have a notebook full of ideas for classes which I am yet to teach.
However, the body has a different approach, it doesn’t overthink in the same way, it understands something much simpler. You don’t need the perfect plan to take the first step, you just need to begin, and this doesn’t have to be big. It might be starting with 5 minutes, doing the first small part of a task such as rolling out the mat, taking a breath and moving the body. Once you
start, something shifts because movement creates momentum, momentum drives us forward, and we start to feel what’s happening.
If we change from thinking to feeling this is where connection comes in and we bring awareness into the body — we move, we breathe, and as we notice how this feels, we start to move away from the busy mind and into the present moment.
Instead of — I should be doing this …
We shift to — I am doing this …
Even if it’s small, even if it’s imperfect.
Procrastination can quietly build stress, and things linger in the background taking up mental space, and this has the knock on effect with our overall wellbeing. So small steps can make a difference. Moving from thinking to feeling can help the mind to settle, and the body then feels more in control. Energy begins to change and confidence grows
as the action and the feeling starts to reduce overwhelm. This doesn’t mean everything is done, but something has started and everything has started to shift.
You will feel this happening in your Pilates class, as you roll out your mat, and just begin to move and feel the body working. Starting to connect with the breath, notice what is happening and things start to feel more manageable. The movement doesn’t need to be perfect, but you just need to begin and the body will meet
you there.
If we think about moving our bodies too much, the likelihood is that we won’t, if we stop thinking and start feeling the likelihood is that we will. If we think about any task too much the likelihood is that it won’t get done, but if we start to focus on the feeling, how we feel once we make a start, then things are more likely to happen. The thing is we might not feel ready to start, but the readiness doesn’t come first, taking action
does.
Focus on feeling this week … less on thinking — and I will meet you there.
Have a good week of feeling, moving, and looking good.
With love and support,
Jane xxx
