“It seems I don’t have enough time to do everything!” It’s a common refrain I hear from my clients. Truth be told, I’ve muttered it several times to myself as well! In a world where information, resources, and tools are available at your fingertips, walking that fine line between being productive and burning out can be challenging.
A friend of mine I spoke to told me that she was struggling to decide whether to accept a new opportunity in her business and that “I’m not sure I have the psychic bandwidth right now to really take on that!” I loved that phrase, because our brains work like computers. Let me share some good computer maintenance strategies that we can apply that can help us be clearer, more productive, and less overwhelmed.
Step 1. “Defragment your brain” regularly
I loved the phrase “Defragment your brain” that I heard from the innovator and thought leader, Andrea Lee. He points out that most of us are more used to cleaning the lint drawer of our dryers than removing the “lint” that accumulates in our minds.
The word “defragment” comes from the process of defragmentation that computers regularly undergo as a means of freeing up unused space in their memory. Over time, data is stored on the computer in ways that are not efficient, and many gaps appear between files. Data becomes fragmented, slowing down your computer’s speed.
Advice: Reserve regular times to “defragment your brain.” Beyond an annual year-end review, I recommend reserving at least once a quarter for large defrag / review sessions, as well as shorter monthly sessions to keep you on track. Block your next defragmentation session on your calendar before the end of today.
Step 2. What do I do “No”?
We all know that when you run too many programs on your computer, speed slows it down. To get back to maximum efficiency, you need to find those unnecessary programs and turn them off.
A great question I learned from Andrea is “What do I do ‘No’?” Even with the world’s best time management, organization, and prioritization systems, we can’t do everything, at least not all at the same time. If you say yes to everything, you end up spreading your energy and focus. Not only are you expanding, but you won’t be able to create the results you want.
Advice: To help defragment your brain, ask yourself what you need to say “No” to. What is on your plate that you know in your heart is not your highest priority or an expression of your life purpose? If you feel a lukewarm response, that really means “No” or “No, not now.”
Step 3. Know when to call technical support
Einstein was absolutely right when he said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If you persistently find yourself in a pattern of procrastination, indecision, or overwhelming, you may have contracted a mind virus at some point down the line! Somewhere in your subconscious programming there is a subroutine running in the background that needs to be removed or simply updated to support the next larger version of you. Instead of continuing on your own, you can often save time, money, and heartache by calling in a coach or someone with specialized experience who can help you break the pattern. This way you will get clarity, confidence and results much faster!
Advice: Notice if you feel stuck in a loop where your productivity seems to regularly decline. If Steps 1 and 2 are not producing results, seek the support of another person for perspective and guidance. Working with a coach, finding a responsible partner, or joining a group of masterminds are great ways to overcome stubborn and persistent productivity and focus on droughts!