The Key To Managing Overwhelm In Business
A numbers nerd and accountant (CPA), Clare Wood (lead image) is not your average bean counter. As a money mentor, she uses her number power to help entrepreneurs transform their money mindsets by following her proven frameworks to create big, beautiful business profits. Wood’s new book Intentional Profit is out now. Here, Wood offers proven tips for when you’re feeling overwhelmed…
As a creative business owner, there are a lot of balls to juggle – social media, clients, invoicing, tax, the overspilling inbox, marketing, paying bills, managing team members and contractors… the list goes on! At times the overwhelm can feel suffocating, but the good news is, there are some strategies you can employ to help you get the busy-ness back under control to support you to grow your most successful business!. There are two elements you need to consider to get that pesky overwhelm back under control:
- The practical strategies to get the To Do list back under control
- The mindset around your “overwhelm” aka how you are perceiving it
Stop, step back and plan
If you feel like you are on a one-way track to burnoutsville, it can feel like you might just need to charge full steam ahead. But in fact, stepping back and looking at everything holistically is actually a fantastic way to work out what your priorities actually are.
Before doing this exercise, you should do a meditation and some deep breathing so you approach the process with a cool and calm head. Once you are feeling focussed and collected, the next step is to list out everything that there is to do. Go through all of your emails, actions, anything in your head, get it all down. It’s actually quite cathartic, having it all in one place. Once you have the list, the next step is to go through and Eliminate, Outsource or Action each item.
Eliminate means that when you look at your action items with a critical lens, you often realise… some of these things don’t need to be done at all. Or at least, right now. This might be as simple as scratching it off the list, or you may need to communicate to another party – such as a team member, client or collaboration partner that you are not able to commit to the activity at this point in time.
Outsource is delegating tasks on your list to someone else. Again when you review your list with a set of fresh eyes, you might recognise that several of the tasks can be done by other people and in fact don’t have to be done by you. In which case, allocate the task to the responsible party, and celebrate the fact that you have cleared more space in your diary.
Action is for small tasks that you have been procrastinating on. You will undoubtedly find a few items on the list that can be knocked over straight away in less than 15 minutes. In which case, bite the bullet and get it off the list straight away. Just take a few hours and knock them over. It feels great to have a sense of accomplishment by getting those quick wins.
Flip your thinking
Mindset also forms a big part of overwhelm. You might look at the overflowing inbox, and feel a bit anxious. How can you flip your thinking about it? Having a lot on your plate is probably a sign that your business is thriving or in a growth phase. Celebrate that!
And remember to be kind to yourself. Sometimes I just shift the thinking around the tasks on my To Do list. For example, yes, I’d love to reply to every single DM on Instagram, but with my current limitation on time and team, I unfortunately can’t do that at the moment. But I give myself grace, and will continue to work towards a higher level of responses on social media.
Mindset is just a different way of perceiving things, and can really help to reduce the suffocating feeling of overwhelm. Most business owners will experience overwhelm at some stage on their business journey. But with the right strategies and mindset in place, it can be a short lived bump in the road on your path to clarity and profit.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Clare WoodLatest News
X Defends Record On Removing Child Abuse Content As It Promises A Safer Environment For Advertisers
B&T warns this article references the murky & sordid world of online child abuse. Plus, the murky & sordid Elon Musk.
Thursday TV Ratings: Seven Just Beats Nine With The Chase Coming Out Top
Is there a study into the correlation between Thursday's diminished TV numbers & the increased sale of pub schnitzels?
Indie Agency Communicado Raids Thinkerbell For Its Two New Associate Creative Directors
Thinkerbell duo depart for rival agency Communicado. Leaving speeches were said to be convivial but restrained.
“Utterly Irresponsible!” Sportsbet Slammed For Near-$20m Marketing Blitz As Gambling Ban Approaches
Smokers have been picked on for 30 years, now it's time for the gamblers. And the drinkers should start getting nervous.
Casella Appoints Dig As Creative Agency On Yellow Tail Wine
There's three givens at B&T's Friday staff drinks - the Yellow Tail, the Cheezels and the incessant bickering.
Seven Prioritises The Matildas Over The News AND The AFL In Extraordinary Decision Ahead Of The Women’s World Cup Quarter Final
Scott and Charlene's wedding now under serious threat as Saturday's Matilda's game threatens to smash all TV records.
News Corp Earnings Down Across The Board Despite Jump In Subscribers
Rupert can't find a coin for his ALDI trolley as News Corp earnings drop calls for renewed round of belt tightening.
Despite The Outrage & The Bans, The Sports Bet Category Remains Adland’s Zaniest (See This!)
The Guardian may no longer be running sports bet advertising, but as you'll read here, B&T has far less morals & ethics.
Last Chance To Buy Tickets For This Year’s B&T Women In Media Awards!
B&T's not giving away too many secrets to the Women In Media Awards suffice to say two words - chocolate and fountain.
The Trade Desk, Magnite & LiveRamp Deliver Growth, PubMatic Flat In Q2 Earnings
B&T's calling this your Q2 earnings wrap. We even considered wheeling out "must read" to help it along a bit.
Cinema Chain Spoofs Classic Movies In Wonderfully Funny Work To Entice People Back Into Theatres
Call it the Barbenheimer effect, but cinema's suddenly cool again. Yet, absolutely no uptick whatsoever for drive-ins.
Mediabrands Launches Internship Program For Aspiring Media Professionals
Mediabrands are on the lookout for young, enthusiastic go-getters for its internship program. But then, aren't we all?
Nike Celebrates The Matildas & Young Aussie Female Athletes In New Work By Conscious Minds
In what can be best described as a rare treat, it's a localised Nike ad. Kinda like finding the milk's not out of date.
Why Your CX Technology Should Focus On Connections
This expert opines it's not about your newfangled tech stacks, it's about your customers. Even the ones you detest.
WPP & Optimizely Partner To Bring Informed Digital Experiences To Brands & Consumers
Often think WPP's a 'canary in the coal mine' for industry trends? Well, avoid the black lung reading this latest.
Dylan Alcott & Hnry Team Up To Relieve Aussie Sole Traders Of Scary Tax Admin
Can the effervescent Dylan Alcott make tax admin even remotely interesting? Watch as he gives his best shot here.
D&AD Shift With Google Sydney Announce Class Of 2023
Need to poach some hot young agency talent? Poach away here, but just don't rat on B&T for the heads up.
Digital Media Agency Bench Rebrands To The Digital Disruption Agency
You could say Bench has been benched, as agency rebrands to the Digital Disruption Agency.
Seven Appoints Indie Creative Agency Emotive To Reshape Broadcaster’s Brand
Seven planning a brand zjoosh and spring clean. Although the offical corporate red and the number 7 is off limits.
Elon Musk Says The ABC Prefers “Censorship-Friendly” Social Media
It appears the ABC's found a new enemy in Elon Musk. However, News Corp remains entrenched at the top of the enemy list.
Wednesday TV Ratings: The Chase Just Beats The Block To Entertainment Win
Nine wins Wednesday night. However, Seven tells rival you'll get that and more come Saturday's Matilda's match.
B&T’s Best Of The Best Technologists, Presented By Finecast, Part Of GroupM Nexus
Somewhat ironically, this top 10 technologists list wasn't written with any help from ChatGPT or AI whatsoever!
Former Woman’s Day Editor Fiona Connolly Appointed Head of News’ Lifestyle Network
You could say ink runs in the veins of women's magazine veteran Fiona Connolly. And sponge cake recipes.
X Adds Brand Safety Tools In Bid To Bring Back Ad Dollars
Elon back contemplating the colonisation of Mars after finding this whole Twitter thing one huge headache.
ACMA Rules Kyle Sandilands’ Monkeypox Comments Breached Decency Rules And Were Offensive To Gay Men
Watchdog rules Kyle offended gay men. Punishment includes listening to Barbra Streisand & Céline Dion CDs on repeat.
Ozzy Osborne Bites Off More Than He Can Chew With Banned PlayStation Ad
Ozzy Osborne continuing to surprise. No more so than the fact that he's actually still alive and kicking.
Swisse Wellness Wheels In the Celebs To Stop Late Night Doom Scrollers
Is your sleep routine two Quaaludes and a swig from the sherry bottle? There's tips here for a more blissful night.
“All Good Things Must Come To An End, Well This One Barely Got started!” Jerker Fagerström Quits Thinkerbell After Eight Months
Thinkerbell fridge sans all smörgåstårta & pickled herring as Jerker Fagerström heads for the utgång (exits).
Footballing God Cristiano Ronaldo Bumbles His Way through New Work For Fan App Zuju
This ad proves Cristiano Ronaldo is just one of the guys. Just a filthy rich one of the guys, that is.
Samsung Ads’ Marj Hetherton On Why CTV Is The Most Exciting Area Of Advertising
Samsung Ads' Marj Hetherton says CTV is the most exciting area of advertising. That and nine-hour client lunches.
CommBank Matildas REMOVES Tim Tam TikTok Following B&T Story
If Tim Tam's marketing team wants to send B&T some freebies for this free press we'll take any flavour but mint or dark.
Tinder’s New Global Campaign Says Online Dating Need Not Be An Unrivalled Hell
If there were truth in advertising, these spots would feature a drunk bloke with poor hygiene who lives with his mother.
ADMA Adds New Speakers For Upcoming Global Forum
ADMA confirms speaker line-up for upcoming Global Forum. Also, 300 arancini balls locked-in for the networking drinks.
IMAA Census Predicts Growth In BVOD/CTV, Digital Video And Podcasts
The IMAA census is like a finger on the pulse of Australia's adland. And we all need a solid finger now and then.
Prestige Brands Targets Gen Z With Racy Billie Eilish Perfume Ad Via Spark Foundry
Billie Eilish the latest celeb to release a fragrance. Meanwhile, B&T still waiting on an Angus Young eau de toilette.
The Australian Women’s Weekly Celebrates Its 90th Birthday
The Weekly celebrates its 90 birthday. B&T believes the first-ever copy is still in our GP's reception.