Because back when I spent a few days a week getting covered in paint and making a mess, I used to be quite good at drawing and painting. And now I’m not.

And the idea of creating something that’s not very good (or not as good as I know I’m capable of)?

No thank you.

That’s WAY too confronting and uncomfortable. So I’ll just leave the paints in the box, thank-you-very-much.

I just did a quick headcount, and realised I had to one-to-one conversations with fifteen humans last week, which for this introverted soul is unheard of!

Want to know how I juggled taking action on an exciting project and navigating a very full week without losing the plot or burning the candle at both ends?

Here’s a quick behind-the-scenes snapshot for you, so you can see that it doesn't have to be complicated - all it takes is a little planning…

Diary management. Sexy, eh?!

I know it’s not the most exciting of subjects, but get it wrong and it can lead to all kinds of kerfuffle.

For example…

Ever realised you didn’t allow yourself enough time for a thing, and then spent the rest of the day (week? month?) frantically trying to catch up with yourself?

"If you haven't had at least two breakdowns you're not working hard enough." Can you believe that a manager would think it's ok to say that to a member of their team?

My mind was well and truly boggled when Hannah Power shared that with me. You'll be relieved to know that neither of us subscribe to that completely ridiculous - and VERY damaging - way of thinking!

One thing I know about myself is that I like time to think. Whilst many of my business pals thrive on the unexpected and do their best work in response to whatever arises in the moment, I prefer space to mull things over, to process, problem-solve and form ideas slowly and thoughtfully.

So imagine how I felt when, in the middle of a podcast interview, the host asked me a question I’d never been asked before, and wasn’t entirely sure how to answer.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a lovely group of business owners about energy levels. I said, “I’m often tired in the afternoons, so I’ve created an appointment called ‘avoid calls’ and popped that in my calendar every day from 3-4pm.”

Then, quelle horreur, the very next day I heard someone on a podcast say: “If you dip in energy in the afternoons, book in some calls to give yourself a boost!”

For a tiny fraction of a second I panicked, thinking I’d messed up and got it wrong.

"This is not fluffy thinking 🦄 - this is seriously wise insight about knowing what you are trying to achieve and organising yourself with that in mind - rather than leaping around all over the place!"

Trisha Lewis shared those kind words after our conversation for her Make It Real podcast, a supportive, fun and ’real-talk’ companion for small business owners who want to build their business without feeling squashed by the shoulds.

Last week I shared my new, gentler definition of productivity. The one that freed me up to support people to get things done in a way that feels calm, kind and sustainable over the long-term (as opposed to the MORE MORE MORE FASTER FASTER FASTER vibe that can cause so much damage to our poor nervous systems if we stay in it for too long).

My new definition is all about letting go of busy work, focusing instead on the activities that are actually going to move the needle for you and your business.

When it comes to being productive, 'getting more done in less time' is – like the hokey cokey - what it’s all about. Right?

Erm. Well. No. Not really. At least not in my book.

Getting more done. More of what, exactly? All The Things?

In less time. Less than what? What if I can't go any faster?

It’s Friday morning and I’m utterly pooped!

Over the last 48 hours I’ve been struggling to get things done. Mornings at my desk have drifted by in a haze of mindless scrolling, email checking, looking to see how many people opened last week’s email… anything but what’s written on my list for the day.

Surprised to read that I have days like that too? Well, there’s a perfectly simple explanation …

What do you do when you have a brilliant strategy or idea that you’d love to bring to life? Do you plan it all out, or jump right in?

This topic came up during a virtual cuppa recently, when the person I was chatting with realised one of the reasons she was getting in a pickle was because she kept skipping the ‘middle bit’ of planning. She'd get excited, put everything on her to-do list and then try and get it all done before the end of the week. Needless to say, that often ended in frustration and overwhelm.

We had such a juicy conversation, and it got me thinking.

Growing a business is not all sunshine and lollipops. It can be hard, and even if you have a team to help, you still have to do things you don’t want to do from time to time.

You know the sorts of things. Things like dealing with the stacks of paper building up in your office, keeping on top of your accounts, putting together a privacy policy or chasing up late payments.

Those uninspiring, sometimes unpleasant tasks that have to be done but that we keep putting off because, let’s face it, there’s always something more fun to do instead.

Today I went on a writing retreat. As I settled into my space I knew what I wanted to create and was eager to get going. Notebook, pen, chocolate and teapigs at the ready.

It was a wonderful day, but what I had to show for it didn’t feel great at all.

Sometimes we put in the time and we do the work and we’re not entirely happy with the outcome.

When that happens to you, how do you respond?

To do good work we need space to ‘be’ as well as to ‘do’. And I know that pausing to take a breath is often easier said than done and might feel like an indulgence you can’t afford.

Back when I was a stressed-out, high-achieving, over-worked Team Leader if someone had told me to take regular breaks I’d have wanted to wallop them.

And yet…

They’d have been right. (And deep down I knew it.)

She’s exhausted. I can see it in her usually bright eyes. And when she begins to speak, my suspicion is confirmed.

Brow furrowed, she tells me about all the things she has to do. Her mind racing, her stomach in knots, the worry about how she’ll fit it all in weighs heavy on her shoulders. The thing Jessica’s most anxious about is a new workshop that she’s committed to delivering early next month.

“I don’t know what to do. I want to create something I feel inspired by, but right now I have no idea what that is.”

I see the problem right away.

Lovely as it was to wave goodbye to 2020, the enormity of what’s going on in the world hasn’t gone away. We’re all still navigating All Of The Everything that life keeps throwing at us.

If you’re finding it a struggle to get back into the swing of things, you’re not alone.

“Are you ok?” she asks at the end of our monthly catch-up call.

“Yes, I’m fine” I reply, too quickly. Surprised by the question. Flummoxed as to what I’d said to give her cause to ask it. I’m excited about what’s happening in my business. I’ve created a new Club and am having loads of amazing conversations with fabulous people. Why would she ask if I’m ok?

Back in June I spent five hours online with a group of inspiring entrepreneurs, business owners and conscious leaders. By the end of our day together something important had emerged. I just knew I needed to share, and I needed to do it NOW.

And then I made a mistake.

Does your to-do list feel overwhelming? If so, you’re not alone.

Yes, there are people out there who have a happy relationship with their to-do lists. But there are many, many others who find theirs completely exhausting and anxiety-inducing.

It’s no surprise that most people who connect with me and my work are in the ‘my to-do list is driving me nuts’ category.

Spring 2016 and I’m on an adventure (remember those?). The stress and anxiety have taken a hold physically - I can’t even walk to the local shops and back without needing to stop for a rest. But still, I’m on an adventure. It’s time to leave employment. What do I do next?