|
Learn 3 effective steps to refocus during moments of overwhelm for women in tech. Regain control of your productivity and well-being with these strategies.
Today, I was on a coaching call with one of my clients and there’s been a lot of change going on in her organization – layoffs, new projects, and an acquisition by a large company.
When we got on the call, I noticed she didn’t seem that energized, and something seemed a bit off.
There were several small things that had been bothering her. They were frustrating or disruptive, yet all of them could be dealt with.
She was still committed to this role for a number of valid reasons including that she really enjoys her team and sees the impact she’s making.
However, this was a lot of change to handle all at once, no matter how “manageable” each portion was.
When something big happens in our lives, like when a tragic event happens, we tend to give ourselves permission to feel our feelings and let things go.
But we can forget the impact that a lot of little things can have, especially for those of us who can be in our heads a lot… like engineers.
It can be death by 1000 paper cuts if you don’t give yourself time to process.
And so I suggested that at the end of the day she does a short routine to clear her mind and let things go.
👉 First, give yourself time and space to let these things go.
I want to make sure that we’re clear that letting things go doesn’t just mean trying to push them aside.
Letting go actually means giving yourself time to feel the feelings that are coming up from these things.
So pick a thing every day – or maybe you do it every other day if that feels better.
If there’s something that’s bugging you, even if it’s small, you sit and ask yourself:
“What feeling am I feeling? Where in my body am I feeling this?”
Then let yourself feel it.
Because feelings are energy passing through our body.
The only way to really let those feelings go and not just have them accumulate is by giving yourself time to process them by feeling them in your body.
👉 Second, think about why you’re actually happy to have this role at the end of each day. Write it down.
What if you reflect on every day, what is one reason you’re happy to have this role or proud of the work you do?
That could be having a really good conversation where you helped inspire somebody.
Or a project that went well.
So what is one thing that you could write down?
👉 Third, lean into self-care.
Especially when you’re going through a lot of change, you need to focus more on what your mind and body need from you to reset.
So what is your inner child saying that you need for yourself when you’re overworked?
For me, my inner child very much reminds me that I need to play.
So I look at that from a lens of, what is one place that I can play every day?
Another great reflection question is what is one thing I can do today that brings me joy?
Something that’s just for me.
Take your time, visualize having that conversation with your inner child saying, what does your inner child need from you?
How can you prioritize that on your to-do list along with the other things that need to get done?
When you create space for yourself, you are more effective in all areas of your life.
Cheering you on,
Jossie
|
