The way I eat at restaurants has become almost a joke in my family.

I get super hungry beforehand (gotta save my appetite!) so by the time we sit down at the place I’m ready to eat silverware.

Then I’ll scarf chips and appetizers while I wait, so I’m halfway to a food coma by the time my gigantic meal arrives and I can barely do it justice (sorry, salad!).

When I’m super hungry, I consistently overestimate how much food I need to feel full.

Because the reality is that when you really need something — whether it’s food, or even things like rest or support — it’s natural to assume that you need a gigantic amount of that thing to feel better.

But most of the time, what you really need is SOME of that thing, relatively quickly.

Like chips and appetizers, instead of the gigantic meal.

For example, if you’re feeling overwhelmed juggling work, your partner, and baby care, you might fantasize about enjoying two weeks of rest by yourself in Maui.

And I get it, that does sound nice! — but most of us can’t escape to Maui at the drop of a hat.

So are you supposed to just feel tired and overwhelmed until you can treat yourself to that island getaway?

Heck no!

But it’s easy to get fixated on the dream getaway, like it’s the ONLY thing that will satisfy your need.

So sometimes I help my clients brainstorm more convenient ways to meet their needs.

To catch up on rest, you could join an afternoon yoga session, or book an Airbnb for the night.

Your need might feel gigantic, but there can still be dozens of ways to meet that need without having to wait weeks and months (or longer) for the perfect opportunity.

So I invite you to consider, what’s your most pressing need right now?

And what would be a quick and convenient way to meet that need — the chips and appetizer equivalent — that you can do today or tomorrow?

Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.

-Matt

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for my free workshop this Thursday on how to get your partner to throw the trash. (That’s also one small change that can make a big difference in how you feel about your relationship!)