Worry Less

What I've been learning and realizing with the help of Saurabh Mithal is the difference between Income Projects and Good Work Projects. Income projects exist in our lives for money and to take the stress off of the Good Work projects. As author Elizabeth Gilbert says in this sample clip of her Acumen workshop, Income projects (aka "jobs") are transactions — time for money.

Their presence in our lives does not present an "either/or" scenario. Instead, they offer an "and" scenario. Yes, they can easily take over and leave us without bandwidth for the Good Work projects. This is true. There is a way to deal with this, though. I have a new practice that has changed everything for me. It's focus sessions. 

I've learned to incorporate 90-minute focus sessions into my day and to be realistic about what I can accomplish in a day. While it may be challenging to cram 90-minute sessions into your schedule, I suspect you will find, like I did, that your schedule will survive and everything will be okay. Introduce just one 90-minute session into each day and see how it goes. I started with one session and now can have up to three sessions. Then I'm done. This is how I've added new momentum to my work. This is also how I've been able to set aside the small things that feel urgent and important at first, but really aren't.

How do I spend the remaining time of each day?

Doing the smaller things. Tasks not deserving of dedicated focus blocks. The things that won't propel my work forward or expand my worldview. Have chores or miscellaneous paperwork ever done this for you?

I've done plenty of time blocking over the years, but the habit never stuck. My new way of moving through the week is sticking. It could be because I'm downsizing in my personal life. Maybe it's because I'm fed up with myself and my habits. Who knows.

Doing less, works. 

Interestingly, it creates time to take on unique, very short-term projects. Punctuated projects that can expand your worldview and exercise your know-how. Think of these opportunities as rainbow sprinkles on top of a cupcake.

Imagine having a productive, creative, and generous existence where you create change while working with and learning from others. Isn't this why we made the leap to work independently?

What are you working on now?

How can we support you?

Let me know.