So much of what I help people do is to feel more powerful – and to not just feel more powerful in how they respond to situations or navigate change but to actually BE more powerful. This comes from building more sovereignty – literally having more control over their internal responses and their external actions – and from being more and more centred in their Self.

One of the biggest power-suckers is stress and I want to talk about a typical cause of stress you can start dialling down straight away.

One of the most common sources of stress is having things going on in your day that you’re not in control of – such as your workload, timeframes, resources, other’s actions, etc. This is why people perform better at work when they have control over these things and can influence outcomes – which is an important note for employers. Does your team have control over their workflow and how they can best get things done?

But I digress…

The thing is, there will always be things we have no control over, but if you’re like most people there is a collection of stuff in your day that you can take more control of, and it can really change how you experience work and life. This is what I want to talk about here.

There is a collection of stuff in your day that you can take more control of, and it can really change how you experience work and life.

Take Control

Here are some typical opportunities to look out for to reign in and better channel your time and energy.

Check in with yourself –

> Do you clear email at certain points in the day, or are you in your Inbox off and on continuously? Doing it constantly is incredibly unproductive in most cases.

> Do you begin the day with a clear to-do list that’s focused around your most strategic or important activities? Or do you open your inbox to see what’s what first? Don’t let your inbox drive your day – it is often full of other peoples’ priorities. What are yours?

> Are you clear with your colleagues about your availability for certain meetings? Do you put recurring strategic appointments with yourself (eg. planning time, pilates class, etc – strategic because they are for your wellbeing on all levels!) into your electronic diary so they can’t be booked out?

> Do people know which day you work from home? Do you use your out of office and voicemail to let people know when you’re not available/will be available?

> How do you create space for yourself to do mental heavy lifting such as writing, creating, strategizing?

Claiming space for yourself

Creating space is a common conversation I have with my clients and it’s amazing how reticent we can be to put boundaries in with people and claim space and time for ourselves to be productive at work.

Just this week one of my long-standing clients asked me if he should be closing his office door sometimes. Hell yes!! And he already knew the answer to this because he knows my stance on these things. But he’s a nice guy and wants to be hyper available for people (more on that here). BUT. It comes at a cost – to your productivity and progress – and sometimes even your sanity.

We can start to go a little crazy when we feel like we’re doing a whole lot of things half-assed or if we’re in overwhelm most of the time. It’s a horrible feeling.

Give yourself the gift of time and space to let your brilliant brain do its best work by giving it ONE THING TO DO AT A TIME.

There, I can already hear the sighs of relief being breathed out all over the place right now. Yes, you have my full permission (and I pray that, more importantly, you grant yourself this permission) to do one thing at a time and do it brilliantly.

Taking control of your day is one of the core topics I cover in my Online Resilience Series – a seven-week online programme to help you get out of your old, stuck stress patterns and into more flow, ease and productivity – so you can feel good at work and even better at home.

Give yourself the gift of time and space to let your brilliant brain do its best work by giving it ONE THING TO DO AT A TIME.

When we’re in control of our day and our week, we do better, and when we do better we feel great.

Check out the programme here – it might just be a great next step for you – OR feel free to reach out for a free phone consult to talk about the best approach to help you make the changes you’re looking for.

Karen x

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