What changed in your life in March of 2020?
During the early parts of the pandemic, there was an emphasis on many positions around the world to do more, perform more, save the organization, and relearn how to produce results in a 100% virtual world…a completely different set of rules, skills, and standards!
Though there were many heroes and victors, the pace was not sustainable!
The pressure to succeed doubled virtually overnight and many ignored the “slow down” caution signs. This rat race frenzy led to the Great Resignation as Millennials, Gen X, Gen Z, and Boomers all collided and contemplated simultaneously their values, their purposes, and what they wanted to do with their time on earth.
With that, there is still a hustle undercurrent in this world that is driving more resignations. Over 48 million workers crossed the road to quit in 2021 to find the greener grass. Some have found it, while others are still searching. Whether or not the Great Resignation is due to burnout, toxic workplaces, or just a reevaluation of one’s purpose in life, the common denominator was found in the word FREEDOM.
Freedom was experienced in many ways:
– Freedom in time due to the reduction in commutes and travel.
– Freedom in time to take care of other matters of the home or life while working from home.
– Freedom in the ability to work from anywhere thanks to the advancement of technology.
This taste of liberty has left many salivating for more freedom and now evidence shows that the new normal will be in remote, hybrid, and independent contracting.
I predict the Great Resignation will continue as more workers continue to chase their freedoms and their dreams.
However, the “American Dream” is not the answer.
Success is not measured by accumulation and wealth. The chase of success often leads to a rush, hurry, and an overwhelming list of things to always accomplish. This is called the hustle culture.
Success is excess when following the “American Way!”
Here is a math problem for our self-inflicted traps:
Overcommitment + Overscheduling + Overachieving = Overwhelm!
When chasing success instead of impact, the outcome is empty calories instead of fulfillment.
An overwhelmed person is typically not a joyful person.
In addition, overwhelm prevents people from doing their best work. Details get missed, mistakes happen, and the end product is often below the status quo.
Don’t get me wrong, stress is not always bad, but living in a chronic state of frenzy is not a place where we can show up as our best selves for those that are around us. If you are looking for rythms to bring joy back to your life, click here to read the 22-step guide to a stress-free life.
Being busy is sadly a proud badge of honor!
How many times have you responded with “busy” to the question “how are you doing?” The busy work never goes away just like an inbox can never live with zero messages.
There is always a gravitational pull in our world order towards the idol of busy. Busy is the pursuit of more!
Protecting space, time, and margin for what matters is extremely difficult.
Family, friends, community, volunteering, parenting, and self-care are all daily commitments ON TOP of work…which can easily tip the best of us to a state of overwhelm.
The overwhelm can easily creep into our daily lives and derail us from being intentional.
However, what if I told you that in the midst of some of your most demanding work, you can still live your best life. You can hit the golf course, take mid-afternoon naps, grab a coffee with a friend, and go for long walks every day while also getting your work done? Can you imagine a life that you don’t need to take a vacation from?
Whatever that non-work fuel source is for you is possible. Living your life to the fullest doesn’t have to be reserved for the weekend or a sabbatical. There is hope and I’ve outlined some time reorganization models and rhythms that can be found here.
Beating overwhelm is to not avoid work.
It starts with working smarter, not harder. Beating overwhelm is having a purpose lens on the pursuit of success.
If you’re overwhelmed and chronically stressed by your busy life, here are 4 steps to try out in chronological order.
1. Assess Your Priorities.
Do what you were created to do!! Do what is actually in your job description. If you are an entrepreneur, work within your gifts and restructure how you approach the parts of the business that drains you. Only you can define your unique priorities, but the goal is to not live life on auto. Write down all that you do and then rate what’s most important to you and work your way to putting your time and energy into what matters most.
2. Know your Quota.
We all have limits, it’s what makes us mortals. 24 hours a day has been gifted to all of us. Take time to assess your capabilities and what you can reasonably get done in an average workweek. Complete a time audit and get familiar with your limitations on the demands of your time. It’s important to do this for your work life and your personal life, especially if you work from home.
3. Implement one (or all) of the “8 Rules to Be Less Busy”
Spend time upfront for clarity. Write out everything on your to-do list or outline it in your project management system like Asana. This takes time, but the goal is to get to the point of spending 80% of your work time on projects that are mission-critical priorities and moves the needle on results. The remaining 20% is deemed as the infamous “busy work” that must have another place to go other than monopolizing your to-do list.
- Meditate and Contemplate: God cares for all the details of our lives. Give your list to him and take the time to reflect on what to put your energy towards. If you aren’t faith-based, you can use this time to meditate.
- Delegate: This requires relinquishing control and trust. Think creatively outside the box on either hiring, sourcing an intern, or finding tangible busy work that your teenager can take off your hands. This works not only for work but also for chores in the home.
- Automate: Anything that you do routinely on a daily or weekly basis can be automated. It may be utilizing digital tools that send out prewritten newsletters, emails, or social posts to your constituents. You can automate yourself by batching your work… choosing certain hours or days each week to work on specific tasks.
- Eliminate: This is my favorite as this builds much space physically and mentally. Don’t be afraid to say no and remove unnecessary conversations, tasks, and meetings that don’t align with your daily professional or personal mission. Elimination may also take the form of eliminating distractions and going on airplane mode while you work.
- Advocate: If you are a full-time employee, use this technique to seek help. If you aren’t in the position to eliminate, delegate, or automate, this is where you should be vocal in asking for help.
- Negotiate: Sometimes, advocating for help may fall on dead ears. Your manager will say just find a way and move the timeline for you. If you’re in this position, diplomatically share all that has been assigned to you and ask management which of the tasks you should take priority on, and then negotiate a timeline for delivery that works best for the good of your organization.
- Truncate: This method, similar to negotiating is also in place for when elimination is not possible. This method is good for one of people’s top time sucks…MEETINGS. Take the time to evaluate your meeting calendar and start shortening, condensing, and merging meetings.
- Elevate: When all else fails and you’re drowning in despair, elevate your concerns to HR. If you are independent, then your elevation method may be best for a coach, mentor, or an outside party who can help you simplify your current chaos.
4. Map Out Your Weeks
The last step to beating overwhelm is to use your calendar. A calendar that has your to-do list on it is called a MAP. Anything that requires your attention deserves space on your calendar. Writing, working, meetings, cleaning, kids appointments, paying bills, exercise…you get the idea. Take time during a time block to organize your calendar at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance.
Leave margin and space in every single day because life does happen. Rest also needs to happen. A neighbor in need, a child that needs attention, the last minute work project…this will come up and our days should be scheduled in a rhythm that allows for flexibility.
If you’re currently caught in the busy trap of overwhelm and not seeing strides, you may be caught in the rat race. I would encourage you to pause to reassess your priorities, and your personal mission, and look to simplify and redesign your approach to life.
Success is not in materialism or achievements.
Success can be found in the satisfaction that you have stewarded your time and talent well doing what is most important and impactful.
