I used to love the first week of January.
Back when I was overwhelmed all the time, before I left my corporate job and became a coach, I loved to plan. Every new year, I'd sit down and dream about the months ahead and how this year was going to be different.
This year would be lighter. Easier. There would be more space for fun and more time with the people I love.
And year after year, the same thing happened. Nothing changed. I kept working, kept chasing the next promotion, and kept running on empty.
Maybe you're telling yourself the same story right now. "This was just a busy year. Next year I'll have more time."
Just because the calendar changes doesn't mean anything in your life changes, unless you make it so.
What finally changed things wasn't a better plan. It was learning to change the way I thought and to do less, on purpose, with tools like B-Minus Work.
In nine years of coaching hundreds of women, I've watched women start every January with a great plan and drop it by February.
On January 1st, you'll want to do it differently. You'll want to meet your goals and stop feeling overwhelmed.
But it's really hard to do that if you've never done it before, and it's even harder to do it alone. Without anything new in place, by February the planner is in a drawer and you're answering email at 11pm again.
What helps is a group of women who want the same thing you do, and a structure that keeps you going when the first week of January fades. That's what The Overwhelm to Calm Club is for. Every month you plan something realistic, get coached on it, and do it alongside other women who are doing the same.
Picture next December: your calendar has room, you finished what you planned, and you said no without guilt.
The club opens Friday, November 27, and Black Friday weekend is the only time you'll get the lowest price it will ever have. Stay tuned and join the waitlist here if you want to be the first in line.
PS Lauren was in my group this year, and here's what she said: "This was the first time in many years that I accomplished every goal I set out to achieve. I think a big part of that was choosing just two goals that I really wanted to focus on (and they weren't small ones!). Having only two allowed me to stay focused without getting easily distracted or overwhelmed. This group was also incredibly helpful in giving me the opportunity to stop each month, assess my progress, and stay on track."
HOT OFF THE PRESS
“You don't have to make yourself constantly available to everyone to be a good employee, colleague, business owner or parent.”
You know you need uninterrupted time, but the moment someone approaches your desk, you feel guilty saying no. You don't want to seem unhelpful, difficult or like you're not a team player. So you give away another 20 minutes, even though deep down you know you've already got too much on your plate.
By lunchtime, you've helped three colleagues, answered approximately 47 messages, and somehow managed to make everyone else's day more productive.
Except your own.
The important project? Still sitting there.
The to-do list? Barely touched.
And you? Wondering how on earth you've been working all morning and still feel so far behind.
Here's something I've come to realize: Being helpful doesn't mean being available every second of the day. Your time and attention are valuable. And when you constantly give them away, the work that actually moves you forward is often the work that gets left behind.
If you're tired of spending your entire day answering everyone else's questions while your own priorities keep getting pushed aside, it's time to stop letting every interruption steal your attention and leave you feeling overwhelmed. Listen now and discover how to protect your time without feeling like the bad guy.
Check out episode 304 here: https://tinyurl.com/OWWPod.
“Your family doesn't need a Hollywood production to have a wonderful holiday.”
We have so much to think about during the holidays.
Who's getting what for Christmas? What size does everyone wear? Who's hosting dinner? What needs wrapping? What needs organizing?
When your brain is already juggling a million things, it's easy to spend money simply because it's the quickest way to get another thing ticked off your list.
The trouble is, when we don't make intentional decisions about our money beforehand, we're left making spending decisions in the moment.
And those decisions are usually influenced by whatever is in front of us. A sale, a new trend, a last-minute gift idea or that little voice saying, "Go on, it's Christmas!" Everything around you is constantly giving you another reason to spend.
That's why, in this week's episode of Overwhelmed Working Woman, I'm joined by Jen Smith from the Frugal Friends Podcast to talk about being more intentional with your money over the holidays.
If you’re already starting to feel the pressure, now is the time to make a plan based on your values, and remind yourself that you can have a joyful holiday without breaking the bank.
Listen to episode 305 here: https://tinyurl.com/OWWPod!
WORK WITH ME
1:1 Coaching Spot Open 📅
It's (somehow) mid-November and time to start thinking about next year. Want it to be your best one yet? Set up a free one-hour discovery session with me and let's make it happen!
