Muscle memory (or, how to hit your content goals)

Here’s a little reframe to keep in mind as you’re planning + prepping content.

Because if you commit to your marketing-related goals, just for today, little by little progress adds up…

I swear I was going to die.

It’d been about a year since I’d last done Cassey Ho’s PIIT28 workout program and I’d had the bright idea to spice up my exercise routine and start doing the program again.

It’s not like I hadn’t exercised in ages. I had been. It’s just that I’d been doing different kinds of exercise – more walking and pilates, mixed with a bit of dance.

Nothing like the high intensity interval training PIIT28 is based on. (Ha! Not even close.)

The first day focused on abs, and let’s just say that I don’t think I even HAD abs anymore at the point. (Or at least, that’s what my screaming abdomen said as I worked my way through each pain-inducing move.) Getting out of bed the next day was fun (to say the least). And when the 24-hour post-exercise mark hit? Oooh boy. “Painful” doesn’t do it justice.

Here’s the thing: when you haven’t exercised in ages (or done that particular kind of exercise in a while) and your fitness decreases, it’s really hard to get back into the swing of things.

(Hello, understatement of the year.)

It goes a little like this…

You do a workout. It hurts. OH DOES IT HURT. But it also feels good to be moving again.

You do another workout. More hurt.

By this stage, you’re shocked by how much your muscles have weakened (WHY HAVE YOU BETRAYED ME? WHAT ABOUT MUSCLE MEMORY?!), and you’re not sure that you can stick with it.

And sure. It’s easy to give up at this point. But if you commit to it, just for today, little by little progress adds up.

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear refers to this little by little approach as the ice cube analogy.

Every day, you slowly increase the thermostat by a degree. Every day, the ice cube is still ice. It looks like the temperature change is having little to no effect. You increase the temperature again. The ice is still ice.

Until one day it’s not.

You’ve reached the tipping point, and suddenly, your annoyingly persistent ice cube melts into water.

The problem is that most people give up before that metaphorical, long-awaited melting point is reached.

The same is true for your muscles (and, we’re getting there I promise… your content too).

Each day, you’re a little less sore. You’re a little stronger. A little faster. You’re even enjoying yourself more.

And before too long, you can complete that hardcore workout and STILL have a smile on your face as you’re doing yet another round of burpees.

Did you catch the key though? You have to commit to it… “just for today”.

I heard about this “just for today” practice of developing habits a few years back and it’s come in handy ever since. Because it’s easy to look at the seemingly endless road of pain, suffering, non-melty ice cubes and how much things SUCK… until you finally get to your result.

It’s easy to get caught up in how looong it’s going to take, and falter right at the start before you even begin.

“But what if you commit to it - just for today? What if you focus on making progress over the next 24 hours? Forget about tomorrow and the next day. And the day after that. Just focus on today. ”

So tell me… (yep, now we’re getting content-specific! 😉)

How has your content been over the past 12 months? Quarter? Month? Have you achieved those goals you set?

— Did you blog consistently?

— Pre-schedule your social media?

— Start that podcast or YouTube Show or whatever it was you had planned?

Or did you get caught up in the seemingly impossible task of writing 52 blog posts? Or posting on 3 social media channels for 365 days? (Or whatever other standard you set?)

Instead, what if you blogged, posted on Instagram, or recorded a podcast episode, just for today?

Forget about tomorrow and focus on NOW.

Can you do it - just for today?

Something that comes up during interviews and masterclasses I do is people noting how much content I create. (I’ve even heard the phrase “content machine” tossed around a few times.) And the question is always: how do you do it!?

Now you have my “secret”: as much as I can, I focus on being consistent with my content, just for today.

And like that killer workout or that ice cube that won’t melt, eventually, things stopped being so hard.

The more days that I had under my belt, the easier things became. The stronger the habit became.

I’m not saying that it’s always sunflowers, rainbows and unicorns. Not even close.

I still get writer’s block.

I doubt myself.

I miss a day. (Or a week.)

But for the most part, it *is* easier because that content creation habit has been built.

And, unlike my abs (traitors), content creation DOES have muscle memory. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. And you can even take a break from content creation without it ruining your habit. (In fact, a break can often make you stronger.)

So whenever you’re planning + prepping content or setting new marketing-related goals, I invite you to take this “just for today” reframe with you.

Remember it when you’re planning goals that seems impossible. When you start to doubt yourself. Remember it when you’re trying to break that habit of blogging on the day it’s due to be published.

Just. For. Today.

And when tomorrow comes? You say it to yourself, again – just for today. One day at a time. Little by little. And you get stronger, faster, better.

Muscle memory attained.

And that blinking cursor won’t stand a chance.

Want to add more simplicity and fun to your business by doing content your way? Check out my planners and workbooks and say hello to content that’s simple, fun and actually does something for you.