Working With Power
The online newsletter dedicated to helping you integrate feminine and masculine power for sustainable success with ease.

In this issue:
Getting More Done: 2 pages
Approximate reading time: 8 minutes

Talk About Relaxing! When we stepped foot into the amazing Lavendar Luvies store, we immediately felt better.  That’s what happens when you have a store that specializes in everything Lavender!  Gina Jordan, owner of Lavendar Luvies carries only the best quality lavender and has amazing products from the signature “Luvie” (a lavender-stuffed bunny to calm little ones) to delicious chocolates and teas to amazing body products.  You can’t go wrong with any gift (for yourself or others) from Lavender Luvies.  Trust us on this one…we’ve had to pace ourselves there more than once.  You can check out Gina’s goodies at www.lavenderluvies.com

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed with all the things to do that you sometimes just want crawl under a blanket?  Well that is me (Sara) today!  Here I am so dang tired because I’m coming off an intense month of work, I still have a huge list of things to get done. To top it off, my dear business partner (and often my lifeline to sanity) Michele has left for three weeks for a fabulous trip to Chile (you can read about her adventure at http://reallychile.blogspot.com).

So here I am alone in my house teetering on the edge of the burnout abyss. 

How do we get ourselves in these positions of overwhelm and burnout?  Is it just that we take on too much?  Or can’t say no?  Or have something to prove?  On a day when our gremlins have us by the throats, that is what we tell ourselves. But really…that’s just not true.  Personally, Michelle, Amanda and I LOVE taking on a lot...and so do our clients.  Most of the go-getter women we work with wouldn’t want it any other way.  So where do we go off track between taking on big things and getting it all done without losing our minds?

We got another big clue yesterday, when a dear colleague called us in a tizzy. She was having a meltdown over all of the things she had to juggle, between caring for her two small children; taking care of the house and the dog; serving existing clients; and responding to incoming requests for projects with new clients. She was staggering under the pressure of these competing demands, and beating herself up for not meeting expectations in all of her roles.

When you are trying to get so many things done, the big question is this: Whose expectations are you trying to meet?

Stop for a moment and think about the areas of your life and work where you feel the most pressure to get things done. Ask yourself: am I the primary person who set the standard for perfection? Does anyone else care as much as I do? Is there really anyone else watching me like a hawk, or is it just me driving myself crazy? Will there truly be any significant impact on anyone if I don’t get everything done perfectly in the next ten minutes?

When we get into overwhelm it’s because we’ve lost sight of some key points about getting things done.  It’s not about taking on less; it’s about taking it on in a way that’s sustainable. 
When we are under the gun, that is the time when we are most likely to fall back on bad habits. We cordon ourselves off, hunker down, and isolate ourselves. We focus on the seeming mountain of work before us, while being unable to focus on one single task and finish it. We contract energetically, feeling small and hard and prickly. How on earth can we expect to get more done in a state like that?

In our Practices for Integrating section below, we show you some counter-logical tools that you need especially when you have too much to do. Believe us – these will open a new pathway for you to get it all done without the struggle, and still leave space in your life for yourself and your family!

PRACTICES FOR GETTING MORE DONE

The following practices have helped us and our clients get more done, with less struggle. E-mail us. E-mail us and let us know your experiences with them.

The feminine paradox of productivity is that self-care is more productive than discipline. We get more done when we put our own well-being FIRST rather than "toughing it out" to produce, and hoping our reward comes later.

Re-Connect! You simply cannot be at your best when you are isolated. When you are under pressure, taking a few minutes to connect with yourself or with friends and family will replenish you and put your “to-do list” back in perspective. Even better, there may be miracles of support right under your nose – but you’ll never find them if you don’t stop to look.

Re-energize your body: Three deep breaths. Twelve ounces of water. A whiff of an inspiring essential oil. A cup of tea in a beautiful mug. One luscious piece of high-end chocolate. A ten-minute walk. A healthy snack. You can’t afford not to! Your body is the vehicle through which you do your work. Re-energizing it will give you the fuel you need to continue.

Relax your mind: Have you ever struggled with an impossible feat for days, only to have someone else take a quick look and suggest a simple shortcut? When we are under pressure to get more done, our minds go on overdrive. When your mind is racing, you are blind to new ideas and options for easier ways to accomplish what you need. Step back for a moment. Try a few minutes of yoga, or a short meditation. Go outside and close your eyes, breathe, listen to every sound. Watch your favorite sketch from Saturday Night Live!

Fill your heart:  There is a reason you are doing all this. Remember? We know that your true motivation is about what you want for yourself, your family, your life. Remind yourself of the heart-centered place where your work comes from! Pet your dog, tickle your child, look at a picture you have on your desk. Read some old greeting cards from friends and family. Listen to a favorite song.

These tips can help you idle down your engine, so that you can proceed more gently and effectively. AND they really are just the tip of the iceberg.

To deeply experience a shift in how you get it all done; and to re-energize your body, relax your mind, fill your heart, and inspire your spirit, consider coming to our May Retreat. In addition, we’ll be talking about productivity at our next Success with Ease breakfast. In the meantime, remember: when there is much to be done, the answer lies in stopping and discovering the easier path.

Until next time,
Here’s to your integrated power!

Blessings,
Sara and Amanda

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