When you feel inspired, do you immediately take meaningful action?
If you’re on a journey of personal growth, whether through self-help, an event or even church–you’re bombarded with inspiration all the time.
We’re constantly fed information meant to uplift us, but it’s been pushed at us for so long that it’s now having the opposite effect. Instead of feeling better, we end up feeling worse because we don’t know how to transform these ideas into real action.
We can only take in so much about outfits, home design, organization, marriage, and parenting without taking action. Sure, it feels great to read something inspiring for a moment, but then comes the big letdown because it feels like the same old routine. I’m tired of it, and I know you are too.
Transform Inspiration Into Action
Feeling inspired isn’t just about feeling good. It’s about envisioning what our lives could look like when we put those inspiring ideas into action. It’s about seeing a future version of ourselves, a better version, that we haven’t yet become. We dream about what our relationships, our businesses, our homes could be, based on the ideas from that person, coach, book, or concept that caught our attention.
What’s truly frustrating isn’t that these dreams don’t come true; it’s wasting time consuming information and not acting on it. That, to me, is the real tragedy. We can’t afford to waste time because it’s the one thing we can’t get back. We can make more money, buy another house, but lost time is gone forever. Wasting it is a serious problem because we all have so much on our plates.
If you take time away from your family to attend an event or read a book and then do nothing with what you’ve learned, it feels like you’ll never achieve your goals. This leads to a negative spiral of thoughts about your abilities and self-worth. You continue to seek inspiration, but what I want for you is to take action.
For those of you out there who love to push the boundaries of your comfort zone and see what you’re capable of, this article is for you too. Let’s turn that inspiration into action and truly transform our lives!
Listen Below For The Entire Episode On The Systemize Your Life Podcast
Results Can Only Come If You Take Action
I got a heavy dose of inspiration this past week at a podcast summit. Cathy Heller’s “Her Turn to Podcast” was the highlight, and I decided to fly out and be a part of this amazing experience. My bestie Stefanie Gass was a speaker too, and there was so much value in those three days. It was a big effort to get out of the house, but I knew it would be worth it. I had never attended an event specifically for my business before.
At the summit, I learned so much about podcasting. I kept thinking, “Everything is going to change when I get home.” But only if I take action on what I learned. It’s the same when you read a book like James Clear’s “Atomic Habits.” Everyone gets something different out of it, but it only makes a difference if you act on it.
Four Tips to Quickly Implement Change After Feeling Inspired
Here are the four things I’m actively doing to make sure I put this inspiration into action. If I leave the nuggets I learned at the conference on a piece of paper and just add it to my to-do list, nothing is going to happen. I know from experience that if I look at that list three months from now, I won’t feel great. Then six months will pass, then a year, and it will be lost. Yes, I made connections and had great conversations, but if I don’t follow up, it will all be wasted.
I know what I’ve done in the past, and I know what I need to do now. You have to take action immediately. If you wait too long, the impact gets diluted.
Go listen to a podcast episode you love. Or read a personal development book that resonates with you. Or attend an event like I did. Just make sure you take action on what inspires you.
“If I leave the nuggets I learned at the conference on a piece of paper and just add it to my to-do list, nothing is going to happen. I know from experience that if I look at that list three months from now, I won’t feel great. Then six months will pass, then a year, and it will be lost. Yes, I made connections and had great conversations, but if I don’t follow up, it will all be wasted.”
Meaningful Action Tip #1: Take Notes
Pen to paper. There’s a reason why this is so powerful. At the summit, I saw people taking notes on their phones, and I knew they were missing out. There’s so much value in writing things down by hand. Take notes on the topic, the main points, and who’s speaking. Make a note of the things that resonate with you. Then, capture those instant thoughts that pop into your head.
For example, when I heard, “make a dream list of podcasts you want to be on and guests you want on your show,” it was a game-changer. Why hadn’t I done this before? I don’t know, but now I will. I’m going to make that list and make it happen.
When they said that, three names immediately came to mind, so I wrote them down. That’s how we connect to this information. When I’m talking about your family, your home, organizing, your fears, your dreams, setting up systems, or even your laundry room, and I mention specific bins, you’ll think of the bin you actually need, or the issue you’re facing with your kids, or a broken system. Write it down!
Don’t just copy every word I say; instead, write down what it makes you think about. This process is about you, not me. Capture what resonates with you and what you need to take action on.
Meaningful Action Tip #2: Take a Break From Your Old Patterns
This is a big one for me. I’m about to make huge, transformational shifts in my business, and that’s exactly what needs to happen in our homes too. I assume you’re reading this because you want to make radical changes in your home life. Stop running yourself ragged and start making more intentional time for the things you love. You have to break away from the rat race and take a moment to internalize and figure things out.
Does this mean you should skip washing the dishes for a day when you learn a new dishwashing system? Not necessarily. It means taking a break from the mindset of “I must do the dishes right now” and freeing yourself from feeling horrible whether they’re done or not. Release yourself from that gloomy cloud.
You need a change. What my business needed two years ago is not what it needs now. The same goes for your home. The schedule and laundry routines that worked for you two years ago might not be effective now. We’re in a new season, and something else will work better. Our seasons change constantly, especially with kids. So take a break and look at your current circumstances with fresh eyes.
Meaningful Action Tip #3: Make A Plan
This is how you quickly implement change. When you get new information, make a plan. Decide when you’re going to take action and what exactly you’re going to do. You don’t need to know all the details of how you’ll do it right away. And trust me, coming from someone who can get lost in the “how” forever before jumping in, the most crucial things are knowing what you’re doing and when you’re doing it.
Meaningful Action Tip #3: Share That Plan You Made
This is the most important tip: share what you took notes on, share your plan, share everything. Ask someone to follow up with you in a week. Without sharing, it’s too easy to hide and avoid accountability. I created a plan with my best friend, Stefanie, on the plane ride home. Then, I took a break and put some foundational things into the plan. Now, the time is right. You’ll know when it’s right for you to implement too. I highlighted my notes for what I’m going to start implementing in the next six months, and I will focus on that and make progress.
Now It’s Your Turn To Take Quick Action!
Now it’s your turn! Take quick action, implement those changes, and make things happen after feeling inspired. Then come back and share your progress with me in the Systemize Your Life facebook community!
When you feel that surge of inspiration, it’s time to take quick action! Don’t let the energy fade. Start implementing those ideas right away and make meaningful changes. It’s all about harnessing that motivation and turning it into tangible results. If you’re ready to transform your inspiration into action, join me in Systemize Your Biz. Together, we’ll create systems that streamline your business and home life, making everything run smoother and more efficiently. Let’s turn that inspiration into real, lasting change!
If you’re looking for more help to take motivated action, check out Transforming To-Do Lists: 8 Tasks To Eliminate For A Streamlined Life, Mastering Your Work Block With 4 Fail-Proof Tactics and 3 Essential Summer Organization Tips: Balancing Work And Family. Get inspired and let’s do something about it!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I effectively take notes during events or while reading?
Use pen and paper to take notes. Writing things down by hand helps you retain information better. Focus on the topic, main points, and speakers, but also jot down what personally resonates with you and any immediate thoughts that come to mind. Consider joining Systemize Your Biz and Systemize Your Life so you can turn those notes into plans and plans into a new way of life!
