Break the overwhelming busyness in your life by reassessing your Yes strategy.
As we prepare for 2021, I am beginning a new series called, The Success Mindset, a collection of tips that will address the little and big ways we can feel more successful in our lives.
The first topic is busyness. Busyness wreaks havoc on our health and happiness. It triggers the stress chemicals of the brain related to survival that exhaust our minds and bodies. The result is we are left depleted and feeling like we just can’t keep up with things. If you’ve recently said “yes” to something but then got stressed out trying to figure out where it will fit on the to-do list, it might be time to reassess your Yes Strategy so you can shift from busyness back to success.
In his book, Authentic Success, my coach and friend Dr. Robert Holden explains, “Everything has speeded up. We’re pursuing happiness, chasing success and speed dating faster than ever. We’re living and working at the speed of thought, and, yet, we have no time to think.” I’ve learned a lot from Robert over the years. Namely, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with your schedule it’s due to one thing and one thing only: you’ve given away too many of your yeses and now your calendar is running YOU.
Busyness
DOING MORE
LONG HOURS
EFFORT
URGENCY
ADRENALINE
SENIORITY
MIN. STANDARDS
SWEAT
VS
Success Mindsets & Behaviors
ADDING VALUE
PERFORMANCE
EFFECTIVENESS
IMPORTANCE
WISDOM
TALENT
IMAGINATION
INSPIRATION
Here are four questions that can help when you get stuck in the busyness loop:
1. Ask yourself, is this worth a YES?
2. Do a cost-benefit analysis
- Do the costs of YES outweigh the benefits of NO?
- Be honest, use discernment
3. Ask, what does my gut say?
- Lean into the pause
- Notice how you feel? On the spot? Bit of nerves?
4. Consider this: How does this map to my/our priorities?
Then, notice that everything on your calendar and todo list is there because you chose it to be. You have the power to operate with more and more intentionality. That’s leading with your head, heart, and gut instincts working together—the foundation of a success mindset.
