Do you have a minimally viable plan?

It’s been a tough week at Chez Munder, friends. TOUGH. On all fronts. Usually, I can squeak by when life needs my attention. Maybe my emotions are out of whack, but I’m totally crushing my word count. Or, maybe my writing is lagging, but I’m rocking the home responsibilities. This week was an all-around ass kicker and I’m mentally, emotionally, and physically beat.

Did you notice I broke my chain on 2021 Tuesday blog posts? Yeah, sometimes there’s just too much real life in my real life.

Thankfully, I have a minimally viable plan (MVP) for most areas of life and responsibility when things kick up and they are a saver. Some people may call these Plan B, but I resonate with the word image painted by the words minimally viable. What image do these two words paint for you? 

My MVP is more than a Plan B.  It’s a small, itemized list of 2-3 tiny (sometimes infinitesimal) tasks that, if I can’t manage anything else in my day but check those 2-3 items off, I’ll call the day a win. My MVP removes any emotion from the task and it feels easy, even when nothing else in my life does.

Maybe I didn’t do my weekly housecleaning, but there are no dishes in the sink, and we have clean underwear for the next day. Maybe I can’t get my planned exercise in today, but I took a 15-minute walk out in the fresh air. Maybe I couldn’t face calling my family, but I sent a cheerful text. I won’t lie, friends. Some days my MVP is simply getting out of bed and getting dressed.

These plans weren't developed overnight and I've adjusted them repeatedly. In many ways the content of my MVP doesn't matter. What's important is they reflect the current priorities in my life.

This week helped me realize I need to adjust my writing MVP. I’m at a tough part in my edits, I’m waiting for the story to thread itself together, and I'm avoiding my keyboard. This is a sure sign my MVP for writing is too large. Too scary. Not minimally viable.

So, I’m scaling my writing plan back a few notches. It’s frustrating, because I’ve set some large writing goals this year and I’m disappointed to find myself behind, even while leaving (I thought) a nice chunk of margin. But small progress done consistently will build the mindset and discipline I’m going to need to reach them.

How’s your March going? Do you have a minimally viable plan for when life gives you a poke hello or you feel mentally and emotionally exhausted? What’s the one thing you do in a day that helps you feel satisfied?

Since I’m still running behind this week, here’s my minimally viable workout for today. Nick always makes me smile, and does anyone else think he looks like Joseph Michael, The Scrivener Coach or is it just me?

I dare you to walk 15 minutes with Nick and not feel better afterward.

For anyone interested in more of the philosophy and practicality behind my planning and how I narrowed my priorities, I'll remind you there's a fresh round of Sarra Cannon's HB90 Method starting March 14th. Please consider using my affiliate link and remember, once you purchase the course you have lifetime access and each new quarter is an opportunity to refine your process.