Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Spinning
Growing up in the ’80s—the decade that brought us the power suit, the power breakfast and the power lunch, not to mention power shoulder pads—I glorified anxious, stressed-out people. I thought they were the achievers: pulling all-nighters, whirling around, getting stuff done…. Now, having whirled around and gone without sleep in fits of frantic anxiety-produced activity, and having frequently worked with clients who are anxious, I see how wrong I was and how inefficient all that spinning around really is.
When we’re anxious, we feel overwhelmed, and yet despite all that nervous energy, we can’t seem to make progress. Terms like, “spinning out of control” and “spinning my wheels” come to mind. We sense that we’re working hard, but not effectively. While anxiety gives me a rush of energy and my impulse is to do something—do anything—more often than not, the most effective thing is to stop and make a list. Sitting still and making a list can be calming—and it can help you focus. Once you have a list, you don’t need to worry that you’ll forget something, and you can take a deep breath and prioritize: Which things need to be done today? What can you do tomorrow, or next week? Which things can be accomplished in five minutes? What can you delegate with the least amount of explaining and instruction? Look for tasks or errands you can “bundle.” Can you go to the dry cleaners, the picture framers and the bank in the same trip? Schedule the piles or specific rooms to make manageable projects: Tackle the pile of papers on the kitchen counter after work today; get your desk under control tomorrow; clean up the kids’ rooms on Saturday.
Once you break things down into small chunks, even the most overwhelming tasks become achievable. So the next time you feel that spinning sensation, reel it in. Sit down, take a deep breath and make a list. Then you can start to chip away at it one five-minute task at a time.