Singing American Robins trumpet the arrival of Spring. Although snowbirds migrate north from warmer climates, winter residents emerge from their quiet, protective flocks. However, they all join together in Spring to feather their nests and start their chirping families. Watch this YouTube video to observe how one of these resilient birds springs back to life after a cold, dreary winter to complete the challenging project of building a nest.
Video Mix by Roger Bindl
Sometimes actions speak louder than words. We all can learn many valuable lessons from watching this robin build its nest, especially how to ease the stress of pursuing a difficult, time-consuming project.
Plan carefully.
Choose the right time to start and perform work projects. Consider factors such as the season, time of day, weather, time frame, and other work demands. Although our feathered friend instinctively knows when to start building a nest, we humans may need to consider our options more carefully.
Select the right materials.
Heed the GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) principle. It usually pays to spend a bit more on quality materials that will last for the long haul. Notice how the Robin carefully selects his nesting materials.
Start the Project!
This may seem painfully obvious, but procrastination often hinders the best of intentions. To minimize putting off your project, break down the tasks into bite-sized chunks then organize your work by setting tools, garbage containers, comfortable chairs, and work benches in a safe space near the worksite. Then resolve to pursue a given task for five minutes, if you need to stop then, do so. Try again later. In time you will find the motivation to work for longer stretches.
Work at a quiet, easy pace.
This YouTube video demonstrates this beautifully. The bird is in no hurry.
Take breaks as needed.
Just be careful not to allow the procrastination demon to overwhelm you. If you are not in the best physical shape, take care not to overstrain yourself physically. That could set you back days, weeks, or months.
Complete the project.
This may seem obvious too. However, many projects have remained half-completed because the steps were not followed. Visualize your end product daily to keep you on track.
After your project is completed, congratulate yourself and have a little celebration. You may want to take pictures. Best of luck with your Spring cleaning and Spring projects.
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