Grow Your Power: Conquer the Restless Saboteur
Welcome back to our "Grow Your Power" blog series, inspired by the evidence-based and science-backed Positive Intelligence framework from Shirzad Chamine. Today, we're shining a light on a common saboteur (negative thought pattern) that many of us wrestle with, especially in fast-paced work environments - the Restless saboteur. This elusive saboteur thrives on chaos and overcommitment, often leaving us feeling scattered, stressed, and unfulfillment. By helping you understand and address it, we aim to empower you with effective strategies for a more focused, productive, and balanced work life.
The Tricks of the Restless Saboteur
Restlessness is like being in a race with no finish line. It pushes us to juggle too many tasks, leading to burnout and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. Here's how it manifests:
An Overflowing Plate: Constantly adding more to your to-do list, feeling the pressure to multitask, and never feeling quite caught up. The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is real. It plays on our fears of missing opportunities, convincing us that saying 'no' could mean missing out on something crucial or letting someone down. This fear keeps us locked in a pattern of acceptance that surpasses our capacity.
A Cycle of Stress and Overwhelm: It convinces us that more tasks and constant busyness equate to productivity and success. This illusion keeps us trapped in a cycle of overcommitment, where the finish line keeps moving further away.
The Illusion of Productivity: Mistaking busyness for effectiveness, often at the cost of your well-being and deeper career aspirations.
Confronting the Chaos
First steps to regaining control involve acknowledging the chaos created by restlessness. Admitting that it's overwhelming is a sign of strength, not weakness. It's about observing those moments when you feel compelled to add just one more task to your already overflowing plate or when you find yourself multitasking to the point of exhaustion. Incorporating moments of pause throughout your day can reset your perspective, while focusing on your achievements rather than tasks left undone can shift your mindset and improve your well-being.
Strategies for a More Focused You
Prioritize and Protect: Identify your most critical tasks and guard your time fiercely. Say goodbye to the myth of productive multitasking and embrace more deep, focused work.
Pause to Reset: Incorporating short breaks into your day can help reset your mind and give you a clearer and calmer perspective.
Celebrate Small Wins: Each step forward, no matter the size, is progress. Recognize and celebrate these moments to build momentum.
Your Next Steps
Feeling overwhelmed by restlessness? Start by taking time to pause and consider how adopting these strategies could help you gain more calm, focus, and fulfillment in work and life. By understanding how the Restless saboteur operates and employing strategies to counteract its influence, you can start to break free from the cycle of overcommitment and stress. And remember, you're not alone on this journey.
At Repowered Leadership, we're committed to helping women grow their power and influence, equipping them with the skills and support to navigate and overcome both external barriers (gender stereotypes, biases, lack of opportunities, etc.) and internal barriers like the ones posed by saboteurs like restlessness. Join us on our mission of empowering women to thrive and advance in leadership by checking out our programs here and following along with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Together, let’s grow your power and shatter those barriers!
~ Megan
