The weekly perspective
One question to ask yourself
Am I overwhelmed or am I overloaded?
This is important. Often when we feel overloaded, we need to reassess our commitments, boundaries and to-do lists and ultimately, reduce our loads. When we're overwhelmed, we may need to think less, but actually do more. Knowing what you're experiencing means you can move through it. Too often I hear the word 'overwhelmed' and a resultant decision to back off from things, when in reality, that just adds to the feeling of overwhelm by stopping you from progressing through it.
Journal on this - am I truly overloaded or am I overwhelmed? Do I need to do more or less? Do I need to think more or less?
Something to consider
Maybe you're staying busy to avoid your own mind.
HAHAHAHA. You're welcome happy Monday. Keeping your diary rammed, watching 5 entire episodes of love is blind back to back, constantly replying to messages and emails, eating when you're not hungry - ever wondered why you're doing this? Aside from the lie you tell yourself that you have to, ever considered why you just have to be busier than everyone else? Or maybe you like to be busier than everyone else. Maybe you're afraid of what comes up when you stop. You fear the stories in your head. The potential for sadness. The opportunity to reflect on things. Maybe...
One thing I'd tell my younger self.
Everything gets done in the end - worrying about it only makes it less enjoyable.
Everything you've needed to do in your life, you've done. Those few exceptions to this rule that you didn't quite manage, didn't kill you. Yet you're here, on a Monday morning, stressing about your to-do list and how much you've got to do to be where you need to be. Aren't you tired? What if, instead of worrying about what needs to be done, you just did the things? Made a conscious choice to remind yourself, that things always get done in the end? You'll work harder at things you enjoy or find peace in. This is your one opportunity to live this day, do you really want to waste it worrying about things you're already acting to change?
One thing to try this week
Stop multitasking.
You're not multitasking you're multiswitching - diverting your brain from different things very quickly. It's very inefficient and energy consuming and really, another way to confirm your 'busy' narrative. Notice where you're trying to multitask and showing up with low effort to multiple things. There are some low energy tasks that are made for multitasking - listening to your podcast whilst emptying the dishwasher; doing low energy admin whilst cooking dinner. These make sense. But apparently, shifting between tasks can cost as much as 40% of your productive time (no science to cite but I read this number a few times and it confirms my bias). I dont know about you but I don't have the time to lose.
This week, find more uninterrupted time. Hide your phone. Open your emails only at given times through the day. Notice your moments of media 'multitasking' and commit to doing one thing at one time. Then, notice how it impacts your productivity, mood and day.
A few things to tell you...
I took a week off work. No one died. But I also have nothing else to give you this week. The millennial in me is screaming to apologise. The self-aware 30 something knows better and is refusing. Thanks for your patience lots to come next week.
One more thing...
Please share your favourite stuff.
I'm really trying to have a more positive impact this year (it's where this Monday email spawned from). If there's something you really relate to or know someone who'd benefit from something in this email, please share it and pay it forward. Words are magical, and if I've learned anything from writing these emails to you for years, you never know when someone needs to hear the exact thing you've got to say.
