Svaha: the time between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder
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Are you a workaholic?
Or maybe a responsibility junkie?
Perhaps you’re driven by adrenaline instead of inspiration?
Today’s society — especially with the recent economic situation — focuses on doing. “What did you do for me today?” is the unspoken question in offices around the world. It doesn’t matter that you completed something significant just last week: it’s now, today, this minute, that everyone’s focused on.
Meanwhile, companies that have laid off workers expect everyone who’s left to be grateful that they still have a job, and to pitch in and take on the work of those who aren’t there any more.
This is on top of a decade or more in which the corporate mantra has been, “Do more with less!” Yikes.
On the other hand, if you’re self-employed, you may be feeling as if (for once!) you’ve got more job security and options right now than your corporate friends and neighbors. And yet you still feel a huge drive to do, produce, complete things, start new projects, all with barely a moment to pause for breath. It’s true that being self-employed means just as many long hours as corporate work.
We know better, right? We all know better. We all know that time off is important, that if we stand up and walk away from our work for a few moments — or better yet, a few days — we’ll not only feel a whole lot better, but we’ll be able to focus better and will actually get more done in less time, with better quality.
Yeah. We even give that advice to our friends and co-workers.
But take it ourselves? Hah. Seldom, if ever.
There are two obvious root causes of this. One is fear, of course. In this economy, no one wants to be perceived as not doing enough. And we all have a sneaking suspicion that if we do more, we’ll be safe — we’ll keep our jobs, we’ll win new clients.
The other root is responsibility. After all, someone’s got to do it, right?
Well, maybe. And maybe not. And maybe not you!
Less really is more. More peace, more joy, more calm, more focus, and yes, more productivity.
So let’s take a look at some aspects of this question of responsibility, overwhelm, and how to actually do less.
Although those two apparent root causes (fear and responsibility) seem logical in many ways, the real reasons why you’ve so firmly applied your nose to the grindstone may be quite different.
One of my clients realized recently that doing was enabling her to feel noble instead of painfully ostracized by her co-workers. As long as she was focused on her work, she could view their chatting as irresponsible instead of feeling left out. While she certainly does have a full plate, responding every so often to the flow of office conversation would allow her to be more included — and might even elicit offers of help when she’s overwhelmed.
Another client felt uncertain in her new, more responsible position. She almost literally tied herself to her office chair, refusing to get up and move even when her body told her it wanted to stretch — and even when she knew that forcing herself to keep working meant the task would take twice as long.
What’s your reason for doing so much?
What can you let go of?
Okay, I heard that shriek of “Nothing!” Now that you’ve gotten that out of your system, take another look.
Something on that lengthy to-do list is droppable. You can let go of something.
If it really worries you, try a two-step process.
First, drop it ... and see if someone else picks it up.
Second, if no one does, restrain yourself from diving after it, and wait to see if anyone notices that it’s not being done.
You may be surprised.
It’s so, so easy to get caught in “But someone’s got to do it.” And maybe “someone” does. But why should that “someone” be you?
After being on the road for months and finally having a week or two at home, one client was feeling pressured to attend an important out-of-town meeting. She realized that not only did she not want to, she didn’t have to. As she said to me, “I’m the boss! So I sent one of my team, who was thrilled to be able to go!”
Maybe you really are the best person, and maybe you have the time and the inclination — in which case, by all means go for it.
But if not, stop. Stop and wait. And if everyone’s looking at you, say, “You know what, I’m not the best person for this. How about asking ...?”
This one is big and scary.
And liberating.
You’re the hyper-responsible type. You always over-perform. You do 200% of what’s necessary.
What would “enough” look like? Really just enough? The minimum possible?
Try it. I’m betting you’re the only one who will notice. And your noticing might take the form of a sense of amazing freedom.
“In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.” Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910, Russian author, essayist, dramatist, and educational reformer.
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