25 Apr 2023
![Juliet Firstbrook](https://ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/kaleid/blog/headers/Juliet_Focusing_Blog_Post_header_image.png?AWSAccessKeyId=DO00UL3TJBUP8L3LQH2N&Signature=bekiLDQGE5GbpiclB2Mf8tDul2E%3D&Expires=1725761422)
Do you ever sign up enthusiastically for things, like courses or classes you know you really need, but then fail to find time to do them? 🤔
I have about six on the go at the moment.
Some I’ve actually started and others I can’t even remember who did them or how to access them!
They’re just on my list of things to do, which constantly overwhelms me.
My fiancé sat me down this week and went through my TO DO list with me.
He asked me questions like,
➡️ “What are the consequences of not doing this?”
➡️ “Can you delegate that to someone else?”
He was SO helpful and my list reduced to such an extent that I could see it all on one page. I can’t tell you how much that reduced my stress. 🥰
My biggest challenges in my work and life right now are: focusing on one task, and not feeling overwhelmed.
I am constantly distracted and adding extra tasks and jobs to lists.
Does this resonate with you?
I don’t think it’s a personal flaw in any of us.
I think it’s how things are these days.
😩 So much to do.
😩 So much to learn.
😩 So much to watch.
I long for a simple life!
For my birthday this weekend, I’ve asked for a day at home doing nothing. I can’t tell you how excited I am about that.
Anyway, I’ll tell you what I do about it so maybe that will help you too. 🤞
For focus, I have a sign on my wall that says:
💜 ONE TASK AT A TIME.
💜 STAY PRESENT.
💜 FOCUS.
If I find myself being distracted, I pull myself back to the task in hand and say,
‼️“Finish this FIRST!”
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I do one of two things, depending on how much time I want to spend calming myself.
I either lie on my yoga mat and do 5-5-5-5 breath work, which takes about five minutes. ✋
Or, I sit on our super-comfy IKEA chair, set my timer to 30, 45 or 60 minutes and I meditate. No apps, just focusing on my breath or the sounds around me.
I know you don’t have time to meditate. Who does? But we never ‘find time’ to meditate. We just choose to do it instead of something else that’s not quite as important for our health.
So, if you’re feeling stressed out and you can’t focus, try some breath work or meditation.
We can work on it together.
Love and joy,
Juliet. 🙏💜