Avoid the hemmed-in feeling

If there’s one thing that makes me feel overwhelmed and tired, it’s the sense I’m going to be struggling to get the day’s work done. In my view, few feelings contribute so negatively to our ability to work effectively.

This weekend, the sense spilled over to my home life and maybe that’s why I resisted it so strongly and pushed through to find a solution.

As is often the case, the means of escape from the problem was actually quite simple.

Without boring you too much with my domestic arrangements, let’s just say that I typically have a number of things to accomplish on a Saturday in the interests of total family harmony.

Most weekends these involve a trip to the supermarket, a small portfolio of sport/recreation activities with my son and, if I’ve been good, a lingering espresso in a café somewhere.

In the lead up to this Saturday I was feeling stressed. A couple of extra events had been added to the schedule and I became convinced I wasn’t going to get it all done.

The biggest loser looked set to be the weekly shop. That in turn made Jane a tad uncomfortable, as we were entertaining on Sunday and ingredients were needed.

The solution was to totally let go of the pressure. I just refused to accept it. I decided to look at the day optimistically, rather than with a cynical eye.

By consciously removing the feeling of being hemmed-in, I found the flow of the day eased greatly. Energy that could have been bound up in pessimism was released and guess what happened? Efficiency improved hugely.

To my surprise and delight, the day ran smoothly and I was able to get everything done. I did the shopping, meandered smoothly through the extras and even enjoyed a celebratory Portugese tart with my coffee. Happy days!

What are your experiences in such situations? Do you have tips to share? Let us know via a comment.

Until next week.

Love your work,

Robert Gerrish is Flying Solo’s managing director and founder and works as a business coach, professional speaker, business commentator and consultant. He’s the co-author of Flying Solo – How to go it alone in business.

Published 06 February 07
Email this item
Print this item

20 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 4 | Next» View all»

I often partake in firmly wedging my head in the sand when things get too much.
Contrary to popular belief, world does not fall apart.
Adam from Adelaide
I totally agree with you Robert about how you view your day.
The bible says''how a man (or women) thinks so is he ''
In other words it is from your thoughts that you action arises.
It takes will power to change your thinking from the positive to the negative.
If you start off by being grateful for small things in your day in no time your feeling happier and more positive.
Is it a habit this society has gotten into ''just grizzling''
our media certainly brings up the negative.
ie be thankful that you are able to work --many do not have that priveledge. Carole McIntosh from Barrington NSW
Thank you for your weekly wisdom - it always makes me feel great. My day went a lot like yours on Saturday by chance. It is empowering to remember we can be the managing director of our own attitudes and feelings. It takes effort, but the way we experience our day all starts with how we approach it.
Keep up your great work! Chelsea McLean from Gold Coast QLD
Thank you for these insights over the the years as I felt I was the only one.
I have been in business for 12 years (SOHO) and I now turn off the mobile at 5pm on Friday and turn it back on at 8am Monday. The same with the computer. No calls no e-mails and guess what. Nothing happened, the world did not stop , business did not dry up and my life and well being went up 100%. Tom Crossan from Canberra ACT
Go Tom! Excellent. You obviously have a life and a business. We can all learn from you.
I have deadlines in my business but I have let go of the feeling that the world will fall apart if they are not met precisely. Frankly, the majority of the world is not focussed on the date of publication of my magazine so if it appears a few days late in a quarter, all is still good. That has taken a huge pressure off. (Different I know if it was a weekly publication. Daily? What a madhouse existence that would be.) Bev Ryan from Brisbane
I succumbed to online shopping ages ago Robert. That took just one more thing out of the equasion for me - the shopping now comes to me and stuff like meat, fruit & veg I can pick up when I want, whenever I pick up my mail from the post office (daily if I want - but usually a couple of times a week). So I never have to be finding a parking spot, pushing a trolley and so on.
Seriously though, we do need to evaluate things from time to time and stop and work out why we're feeling that way, and what can change it. For me I've worked at decreasing the hours in the office so I can spend more family and home time - outside of that room in my home! Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary from Melbourne

20 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 4 | Next» View all»

Add Your comments

Preview comment

Name

Website *

Town / city and country

Email (never sold, displayed or given away)

* This will link your name to your site. So please avoid self promotion elsewhere! We delete spam, disrespectful or off-topic comments.