Minimum Viable Nothing

Part Three: What do we do when even the smallest steps feel like they are too big to tackle?

Welcome to the (unplanned but honestly should’ve been expected) Part 3 to my ‘Minimum Viable’ series. Life has a way of reminding me that even the smallest, carefully crafted routines (yes, even those designed using a really low-stakes framework) aren’t always sustainable. And in the spirit of being honest and integral, I couldn’t ignore this reality—so here we are.

It’s the reality that what felt minimum and viable a month ago when I started writing what turned into Part 1 (where I discuss the need for such a framework), or a week ago when I published Part 2 (which dove into the actual framework) can sometimes, and all of a sudden, start to feel too big. Dammit.

Minimum Viable Bullshit

A pile of dishes in the sink, a play area scattered with toys, a once-empty dining room table that has somehow erupted with piles, and a wrist brace adorning my right arm are all staring back at me, daring me to try to fit this reality into any sort of framework.

I really thought that I had cracked the code! I thought I could streamline my life and hit peak productivity.

But here I am, staring at a dining room table that got to where it was because it’s been more than a few days since I’ve stuck to my ‘15-minute daily tidy’ MVR. Was my minimum ever actually minimum enough, or have I been fooling myself into thinking I could hack my way towards getting it all done?

Minimum Viable Everything

Have you ever set a goal that felt achievable, only to realize later that even the bare minimum felt too much? We’re at the end of January now, which means the thrill and novelty of a new year is wearing off and any rest and relaxation I experienced during the holiday break has mostly evaporated from my being. The routines I set using the MVR framework seemed awesome and minimum (and viable) then, but what happens when reality sets in, the novelty wears off, and I’m back to being tired and moving through a bit of a slog?