Get It Together, Weirdo

Anyone Else Hate One-Size-Fits-All?

• Sarah Bowser, That Weird Nerdy Mom

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What's up with this idea that one thing should work for absolutely everyone, whether it's clothes, recipes, or planners and productivity systems? We're all unique humans with unique brains. So why on earth would the same approach to anything work for everyone?

In this episode of Get It Together, Weirdo, Sarah critiques the widespread reliance on one-size-fits-all solutions that fail to accommodate individual differences. Trying to conform to a rigid system that doesn't fit your personal circumstances causes stress and frustration, and it's easy to feel like you're the problem. But really, that system just isn't the right fit for you.

Sarah highlights the value of self-awareness, experimentation, and aligning actions with core values to create effective, personalized systems that cater to your strengths and challenges. Embrace your individuality and find what best suits you!

What you’ll learn in this episode

  • That one-size-fits-all solutions are ineffective because they don’t address individual differences and needs.
  • The significance of self-awareness in identifying your strengths and challenges so that you can develop tailored approaches.
  • To experiment with various methods and strategies to discover what genuinely works for you.
  • The importance of aligning personalized systems with your core values and priorities to ensure they’re sustainable.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“There's nothing wrong with you. The problem is that these systems weren't built with your unique needs in mind.”

“When we let go of societal expectations and embrace who we truly are, we start to see things more clearly. We stop trying to fit into these pre-made molds and start creating our own.”

“Aligning your actions with your core values is crucial to reducing overwhelm and burnout. If your system is built on principles that don't resonate with you, you'll find it hard to stick to no matter how well-designed it is.”

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Welcome to Get It Together Weirdo, the podcast where we dive into ways to help you figure out how you can tackle your to-dos, keep track of your side quests, and manage your time in a way that works for your brain so you can focus on nerding out on the things that make you do a happy dance. I'm Sarah Bowser, your get your shit together coach and resident weirdo, here to guide you on your journey. So let's get it together, weirdo.

Hey there, my wonderfully weird friend. Welcome back to another episode of Get It Together Weirdo, where we throw out the cookie-cutter solutions and embrace what actually works for us. Today, I want to talk about something that drives me absolutely bonkers: the obsession with one-size-fits-all solutions. Seriously, what's up with this idea that one thing should work for absolutely everyone? Whether it's clothes, hats, templates, or even recipes, we're all unique humans with unique brains. So why on earth would the same approach work for everyone?

Let's face it, trying to fit ourselves into these one-size-fits-all boxes can be frustrating, especially when we're already overwhelmed with anxiety and guilt. So let's dive into the power of embracing your unique needs and finding personalized solutions that actually work for you.

So, what do I mean by one-size-fits-all solutions? I'm talking about those step-by-step systems, planners, and approaches that promise to organize your life, skyrocket your productivity, and even turn doing your laundry and vacuuming into a breeze, all with one magical formula or template. The problem is, they rarely, if ever, work for everyone. And when they don't work, it's easy to feel like you're the problem when really, that system just isn't the right fit for you.

Back at the start of the pandemic, I was struggling with a way of keeping up with all of the things now that work and home became combined. I had a two-year-old kiddo, I was pregnant with my son, and I was trying to be an auditor from home, which, side note, is not easy when you typically need to meet with people and review records. Plus, I was in the very beginning stages of starting my own business. There was a lot to keep track of.

I remember someone I used to follow as a business mentor during the pandemic recommended a day designer planner as the end-all-be-all of planners. And if you followed her system on how to set it up and use it, you were golden. Everyone in her groups and programs were raving about how it had changed their life. So, I went all in. I thought, This is it? This is the answer to all my scattered thoughts and chaotic to-do lists. I got the planner, a bunch of colorful pens so I could color code everything, and I filled out all of the initial pages and set up the first day's page to dive in full bore the next day.

But within a week, I was more stressed than ever. The specific structure this mentor taught didn't fit my brain at all. I felt suffocated by the endless lists and boxes I had to check off. And of course, I blamed myself. I thought, What's wrong with me that I can't make this work? Sound familiar? I'm pretty sure you've been there too.

These one-size-fits-all solutions can exacerbate anxiety and guilt, making us feel like failures when we don't match up to the solution creator's ideal user. But here's the truth: there's nothing wrong with you. The problem is that these systems weren't built with your unique needs in mind. In fact, no system is built with your unique needs in mind until you build the damn system.

Let's shift gears a minute and talk about embracing your individuality. Recognizing that everyone's journey is different is a huge first step in figuring out what works for you. It's all about self-awareness, understanding your own strengths, your own challenges, and your own ways of thinking. Because what works for you, or your best friend, or your coworker, or that influencer on Instagram might not work for you. And that's perfectly okay.

When we let go of societal expectations and embrace who we truly are, we start to see things more clearly. We stop trying to fit into these pre-made molds and start creating our own. It's about learning to say, Hey, this is who I am. This is how my brain works, and that's perfectly fine. I don't need to change my needs.

So how can you customize your approach? Because once you've accepted that one size fits all doesn't work, it's time to find what does work. Personalization is key when it comes to time management and getting your shit together. So let's go over a few practical tips to help you get started.

First, you want to identify your needs and preferences. What do you struggle with the most? What tools or methods have felt helpful to you in the past? Start making a list of your preferences, no matter how quirky or unconventional they may seem.

Then, you want to look at adapting existing strategies. Do you have a course or a template that you once bought that kind of worked, but kind of didn't? Take the pieces from those systems that you like and mash them together to create your own unique approach. Maybe you like the visual appeal of a bullet journal but need the flexibility of a digital calendar. Great! There are so many ways where you can just mix those up and mash them together, or you can create new strategies altogether.

If nothing seems to work, don't be afraid to invent your own system. Sometimes, what works best is something completely off the wall that only makes sense to you. And that's perfectly fine. You're allowed to recreate the wheel. The key is to stay flexible and open to change. You're not married to any one method. If something stops working, you are fully allowed to tweak it, adjust it, or scrap it entirely and start over. And don't be afraid to experiment. Seriously, try different methods, ideas, time management, and organizational philosophies. Maybe you experiment with time blocking one week, Pomodoro the next, and a totally free-form schedule the week after that.

The beauty of this approach is that it's all about discovery and finding what makes your brain feel good, what keeps you focused, and most importantly, what doesn't make you feel like you're losing your mind. There are so many people who have found success with some really unique approaches, like using video game leveling systems to track their daily progress or setting up rewards for themselves. Pavlov's dog, anyone? The point is, don't be afraid to think outside the box. What works for you is what's right.

Here's an important note to keep in mind, though. As you experiment and find what works, make sure you're honoring your core values. Aligning your actions with your core values is crucial to reducing overwhelm and burnout. If your system is built on principles that don't resonate with you, you'll find it hard to stick to, no matter how well-designed it is, and you may lose respect for yourself or become resentful of your needs in the process.

Take some time to reflect on your core values. What's really important to you? Is it family? Creativity? Personal growth? Freedom? Stability? Once you're clear on your values, you can build your personalized system around them. This way, every time you're faced with a decision or a new challenge or the need to change up the system because you've evolved in one way or another, you can check in with those values and ask yourself, Does this align with who I am and what I stand for?

For example, if one of your core values is creativity, but you're stuck in a rigid system that doesn't leave room for spontaneity or inspiration, you're going to feel trapped and frustrated. So maybe you create a more fluid structure that allows for bursts of creative time throughout your day or week. Or if stability and routine are what keep you grounded, then a more structured approach might be just what you need. It's all about finding that sweet spot where your actions and your values are hanging out and working in harmony.

So here's what I want you to take away from today's episode: There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to getting your shit together. And that's a good thing. It means you have the freedom to create something that's uniquely yours. Something that works for your brain, your life, and your values.

So take some time this week to reflect on what you've tried before, what worked, what didn't, and why. Then start experimenting with new ideas and approaches. Remember, it's all about finding what feels good for you.

And if you want to stay in the loop on new episodes, posts, and other tidbits I share, hop on my email list or join us for weekly co-working on Mondays. I'd love to have you in the community.

Thanks so much for listening today. You can find complete show notes, links to resources mentioned, as well as a link to our co-working community on our website, thatweirdnerdymom.com. Be sure to leave a rating or review and check me out on Instagram @thatweirdnerdymom. Feel free to shoot me a DM. I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time, my wonderful weirdo. You've got this. Bring out your weird.