FOR THE LOVE OF LEADERSHIP ARCHIVE

Busy, Grateful, and a Little Overwhelmed? Same...

As I sat with my coffee and this week’s to-do list, I could feel a little fireball of anxiety building in my chest.

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My brain was off and running - thinking about how we would get it all done, on time, without dropping any balls.

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I almost forgot: The things on my to-do list are mostly things that I enjoy and that I chose with energy and enthusiasm.

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Yet, as soon as it feels "busy," somehow everything feels like a burden. My mind starts replaying the last thing or prepping for the next thing, and I forget to enjoy the thing I’m actually in.

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Maybe you can relate?

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I often hear my clients say things like:

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‼️ “I can’t stay focused in this meeting because there’s so much more on my plate!”

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‼️ “I’m dreading that call because I don’t have time to help them!”

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‼️ “I don’t even remember what I wrote in that email because I was thinking about a million other things.”

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A lot of this is about capacity - we really can only do so much. It’s important to continuously tune into what that means for you as a leader and to manage the workload where you can.

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But, some of it is also about presence - tuning into where you are, why it’s important/meaningful/worth it/whatever - and reconnecting to that moment over and over so you can embrace and enjoy it.

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I’m currently reading, A New Earth, by Eckert Tolle. The core message is that life happens in the present moment, so if we are not in the moment, we risk missing out.

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There’s a lot in that book that I’m still wrapping my head around, but here’s a kernel for us to consider: How can we stay present in the moment so we can find more moments of joy, fulfillment, and appreciation?

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With this top of mind, I’ve written “enjoy” at the bottom of my to-do list; I did a little journaling before Michael woke up; and I scheduled time in my calendar for the bigger tasks, so my brain can worry less about when they'll get done.

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I also took some time to throw Foxie’s favorite toy - in my mind, there are very few things more delightful than a cat who plays fetch.

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Now, if I could just convince my brain that it does not, in fact, need to wake me up at 3:00 in the morning to start working overtime, that would be great… 🤗

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If you (or a leader you know) are working to reduce stress, manage workload, or find a bit more fulfillment in your day to day, I’d love to connect and see if there’s any way I can help! You can schedule a time to chat here.