Every Friday I post a “here’s the thing” blog. “Here’s the thing” is something my mum (and many other wise people) like to say when they’re about to make a good point. Hopefully these posts are also good points.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the last few weeks. Even before Christmas and before the January resolutions mania kicked in, I was craving (and finding) ways to go slowly.
In the last year, I’ve moved house twice, left a job, started a business, bought a flat, and started a big, lovely relationship. You can probably understand that I might need a little less doing.
But I don’t think going slowly is just for the aftermath of lots of big things happening.
When you’re running a business and doing everything yourself, there are always endless things you could add to your to-do list. It’s not like we can’t all reel off 20 things we could do today. And there’s also endless opportunity to worry that you’re not keeping up with what’s expected of you, with what others are doing. Thanks, Facebook for that “gift”.
But as I mentioned on my social media last week, science says we’re more likely to overestimate what we can do in the short term and underestimate what we can achieve in the long term. This one thing has changed the way I work more than any other.
Basically, I under-sell myself on what I can do in the long term. And as if to prove it, I give myself way too much to handle in the short term and then “fail”. Can you relate to that?
So, now, a different mindset: my life is a marathon, not a sprint. Ditto for my business.
I’m not here for the short term, just to make a quick fortune and then retire. I’m here to build a job that will keep me passionate, enthusiastic and excited for, well, the rest of my life.
So here’s the thing:
Go slowly.
Those resolutions that might be feeling hard or boring or overwhelming? Don’t sweat it. If you gave yourself more than, say, three things to do in January, your expectations were skewed. Cut it back. Give more to February and March. They’re perfectly great months to do things. This isn’t procrastination, this is marathon planning.
Overwhelmed by the day’s to-do list before you’ve even started? Just focus on three things. You don’t need to look further ahead than that.
Need extra sleep? Give yourself time to lie in tomorrow. And Sunday. And possibly Monday. Your brain and your body and your work will thank you for it.
Worried that slowing down will actually result in never getting anything done? Then let me tell you that it’ll actually mean you get more done and feel better about it in the long term. And isn’t that what we all want?
PS If you need support in prioritising your precious energy, or are feeling a little lost, a January review might be just the thing for you. I still have a couple of spaces left for these special £50 sessions. Email me to book a call.
PPS There are also still spaces available for my Small Creative Business Retreat on 20-22 March. A whole weekend of going slowly and getting a whole load of great work done…
