A couple posts ago I celebrated getting a new role, and this edition I’m celebrating getting an episode of The Mental Wealth Show out before year-end.
Four months. That’s how long it took me to find the space, energy, and focus to make it happen. Hitting publish felt like a big step forward after going audio AWOL.
Boom Shakalaka!
What I was up against
The shame spiral of not publishing for so long (again).
Overwhelm knowing I’d spend the first 20-30 minutes “warming up” with stumbles and restarts instead of accepting that’s part of how I get into a rhythm.
Negative self-talk when I sat down to record a couple other times and couldn’t generate any momentum.
Frustration that something I used to do weekly for years was now so difficult, and that I was feeling a full stress response despite trying to relax.
How I Actually Got It Done
1. Created a content accountability group. I put out a call on social and a few folks responded. We’re formally getting started in the new year, but I'm already leveraging our virtual space for motivation. There aren’t any consequences for slow or no progress, but knowing I need to report in gives me that extra nudge. It also feels good to report back confirming I did what I said I would. Yay dopamine.
2. Rebuilt from scratch. I threw out everything I did before — including software and workflows I used for years — and started from scratch with my executive dysfunction in mind. This meant evaluating and learning new tools (two things I love). In the process, I discovered solutions to some of my biggest content production problems.
3. Spread the work over weeks. I found out the hard way that finishing an outline doesn’t mean I’m ready to record. I needed a few days to sit with the content and let it marinate. So I gave myself a week to outline, then a week to familiarize, record, and edit, then a few more days to publish and begin creating social content.
4. Started recording video. I’m practicing on camera now while the stakes are low. It’s uncomfortable, but that’s the point. I’m getting the awkward reps in before it really matters. It’s also my way to document the process of building something sustainable.
I have a long way to go toward consistency, but this was a strong first stride. And that’s what getting this episode done was all about.
R
