Routines help us to stay focused on moving our businesses forward when feelings of overwhelm and anxiety come.
I don’t know about you, but I am usually feeling ready and excited to take on a new year. But that go-getter attitude just isn’t there for me this year and it’s been challenging to stay focused. I find myself still working through finalizing my goals and business plans for the year, on top of ramping up with client work and keeping my business moving forward.
Maybe it’s because as a mom to two young kids, life is already busy trying to balance everything, and due to different circumstances, I have been unable to get away for my quarterly weekend planning time. Possibly, it’s because we are entering year two of this global pandemic and the end doesn’t seem in sight. I know many people are feeling tired and ‘over’ all things covid related. Or perhaps, it’s because it feels hard to plan for the future when life is so unpredictable right now.
It is so easy to get wrapped up in all of these ‘things’, to become overwhelmed and allow the anxiousness to take over. (This article I wrote at the beginning of the pandemic still holds true today: 5 Tips To Help Your Business Survive And Thrive In A Crisis.)
Today, I would like to share with you some of my tips for staying focused when you are feeling these emotions close in, or “pandemic fatigue” in different facets of your life.
Stay Focused With These 7 Tips
1. Permission to Reset
Sometimes, the first thing that we need to do is to allow ourselves to reset. Yes, we are still in January and have only begun the first quarter. However, if you are already feeling overwhelmed with your yearly or quarterly plans (or lack thereof), then give yourself permission to hit that reset button and start fresh from today. You don’t have to wait until the second quarter is here. It’s okay to acknowledge that you need to reset and start fresh. Reset your week, or even your day, and move forward not holding onto the past.
2. Take Time to Journal
This is a practice that I would like to work on, but I do find beneficial when I take the time to sit and write down all the thoughts running through my mind. This process of putting pen to paper allows me to brain dump everything in my mind, opens up space for the most important items to remember, and gives me the confidence to know that I’m not forgetting anything. Sometimes the things I write down are not important or don’t require any action, and other times they get added to my to-do list to work on later.
3. Morning Routine
I have started to take the first 15-20 minutes of my workday to write out my to-do list for the day, including the top three things that I absolutely have to accomplish (and they may not always be work-related). I also spend a few minutes meditating on some verses from the Bible. Following a morning routine helps me to focus my mind and set my thoughts on the tasks at hand. Remember that it’s okay for the routines in your day-to-day life to change as the seasons of your life change.
“Your rituals will hold you when your willpower gives way.” ~ Mary Welch
4. Block Time to Work on Your Business
I truly believe that the only way that you will be able to consistently work on your business is to schedule the time into your calendar, and to keep those boundaries. Just like you schedule meetings with clients (and wouldn’t dare to just not show up), you may need to schedule time with yourself. Whether that is setting aside a specific day each week or blocking off a full day or weekend every couple of months, find a time that works for you to keep time and time again.
5. Surround Yourself with a Support Network
As human beings, we are not meant to live life all alone, and that includes entrepreneurs and small business owners. Find yourself an accountability partner, a business coach, and/or a group coaching program. These can support you in your business growth and hold you accountable as you move toward those quarterly and yearly goals. Having a support network that you can lean on during those challenging times can make all the difference in moving through them quicker and coming out stronger.
6. Remember Your Why
When we are overwhelmed, tired, or experiencing any of the negative emotions that can come with running your own business, it’s important to remind ourselves of the ‘big why’. Why you started your business. Why you help your clients. The ‘why’ behind your goals and plans for the year. This reminder helps us refocus and keep moving forward.
7. Move Your Body
It’s amazing how sometimes we just need to remind ourselves to stand up, take a break and move our bodies to help clear our mind. When we walk away from our desks and give ourselves permission to do something different that we enjoy or clear our minds, we can come back to our work refreshed and with more creativity.
There you have it – seven tips to help you stay focused, move forward and do your best. And remember, your best is what’s best for you, for your mental health, and for your family. It isn’t what you see your colleagues, competitors, or fellow entrepreneurs doing.
If doing your best means adapting and shifting your direction for 2022, that’s okay. Give yourself permission not only to reset but to do your best!
Are you feeling this “pandemic fatigue”? If so, what tips do you implement in your business to stay focused? Please comment below and let me know what works for you.
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