January 3rd, 2022
by Jim LaDoux
by Jim LaDoux
By Jim LaDoux
How would your day change if you scheduled your day around short bursts of focused energy?
What if you set aside 5 minutes to:
- Review track your weight, brew coffee and list your top 3 goals?
- Listen to your voice mail and/or read your text messages?
- Rebound, walk or row to increase your energy?
- Review your monthly and yearly goals?
- Send an email to a friend or family member?
- Review your bank transactions and/or a pay a bill?
- Set out clothing and items needed for the next day?
- Sort and reformat your online photos?
- Read and briefly reflect on today's Daily Text?
- Place an affirming note in your son's lunch bag?
- Create a Facebook or Instagram post?
What if you set aside 15 minutes to:
- Sort all emails in your inbox?
- Walk on a treadmill or use your rowing machine?
- Read a chapter in a book?
- Write in your gratitude journal?
- Record a 3-minute Youtube video clip?
What if you set aside 30 minutes to:
- Write a blog posting?
- Coach a colleague on their next steps in ministry?
- Watch an 30 minute lecture from The Great Courses?
- Remove unneeded items from a bedroom closet?
Apply "sprinter tasks" to all projects
You can apply sprints to anything you want to accomplish. I’ve had days where I planned to exercise but was just not feeling it. But now I commit to at least five minutes. Same with meditating, or even completing tasks I often don’t want to do — answering emails, grading papers, and so on. Five minute tasks often lead to 15 - 30 minute activities.
Three reasons why sprinter tasks work
- They're concrete, action-orieinted, and specific: Research shows that the more distinct the habit we’re trying to create, the more likely we are to stick to it. For example, “I will walk for five minutes every morning right after I brew my coffee” is better than “I will get more exercise.”
- They'll realistic and easy to fulfill: It's hard to view a five-minute commitment as overwhelming. Small, easy-to-hit goals is a results in people reaching their larger ones. Once we start a 5 minute task, we usually work beyond the five minutes. They often become 15-minute and 30-minute sprints.
- Achieving short-term wins builds enthusiasm toward taking the next steps. People like to feel like they're moving forward. They like to mark and celebrate progress. There's some exhilerating about observing the wins and milestones that took place throughout the day.
Give it a try. Take 5 minutes to find out if it works for you!
QUESTIONS | APPLICATIONS
- Which sprinter tasks are already embedded into your life?
- Which tasks would you like to "try on" in the future?
Jim LaDoux
RECENT
Stories That Stick
December 11th, 2024
Share your generosity stories
December 7th, 2024
10 tips for becoming a storytelling Church
November 7th, 2024
The Relational Pastor
October 16th, 2024
Improve your emotional intelligence with a plan
October 8th, 2024
Leading Faithful Innovation
September 25th, 2024
A Spirituality of Living
May 15th, 2024
APR - 50 focused coaching questions
May 2nd, 2024
The Innovative Church
April 24th, 2024
Teams That Thrive
April 17th, 2024
Everything Isn't Terrible
April 9th, 2024
6 shifts churches need to navigate
April 3rd, 2024
Onboard new members and leaders
March 27th, 2024
The Elevation Approach
March 26th, 2024
The Art of Gathering
March 13th, 2024
The Art of Noticing (Part 2)
March 12th, 2024
Managing Leadership Anxiety
March 11th, 2024
Facilitate short, stand-up meetings
March 10th, 2024
Use scripts to help people share stories
March 6th, 2024
Deepen friendships and engagement
February 28th, 2024
ARCHIVE
2024
January
February
March
April
September
2023
July
August
September
October
November
2022
January
Take time to assess your lifeUse sprints to move fasterMeasure what mattersAsk your friends WATER questionsQuestions to ask your teamIs your church is stuck?4 questions to ask faith mentorsDevelop active listening skills2 ways to make better decisionsMy 5 daily questionsHelping people changeCreate daily Sabbath momentsReframe your futureReframe your church's future
February
Write better emailsA blueprint for forming faithCreate safe space for clientsBecoming a virtual organization5 barriers to extending hospitalityDevelop your coaching presence5 phrases to use when coachingCreate ministry road mapsHelp clients ask better questionsIndicators of spiritual maturity10 Giving metrics to review annually
CATEGORIES
TAGS
International Coaching Federation
Sabbath
assessments
books
change
churches
coaching skills
coaching
communication
conflict
culture
discipleship
engagement
evaluation
faith practices
friendships
generosity
giving
goals
governance
growth
guests
habits
hospitality
leadership
learning
lifestyle
listening
meetings
mentoring
milestones
norms
onboarding
planning
policies
prayers
questions
reinvention
skills
spiritual growth
spiritual practices
staffing
systems
teams
thriving
trends
vibrant faith
vision
visitors
vitality
volunteering
welcoming
No Comments