Why I get more done when I’m overwhelmed


Has it ever happened to you that you had a completely free day, and you thought you’d have plenty of time to check off loads of tasks from your to-do list… only to end up spinning your wheels all day long? Yeah, me neither… 😬

I realised that on days when my schedule is packed, I get way more done. Whereas when my day is wide open, I spend forever deciding what to do, I get easily distracted… and in the end, nothing (or almost nothing) gets done.

We actually need constraints.

I know, it sounds weird. We tend to think that more freedom is the key to happiness. But in reality, it’s hard to be efficient when we’re just drifting along.

For example, have you ever said, “I’ll work out this week when I have some time and energy”? How did that turn out...?

We need structure. Not a rigid schedule planned down to the hour, but a clear framework to guide our actions and lift the burden of constant decision-making.

Here’s what I suggest:

  1. Decide in advance what you want to accomplish by the end of the week (or next week if you’re reading this on a Saturday). Set a concrete and achievable goal.
  2. Write down your goal to reinforces your commitment. Write down what you will do and when.
  3. Tell someone about it. I even suggest replying to this email and telling me! A little encouragement can make a big difference when things get tough (and they will, life is messy) :)

Of course, life is unpredictable. If your plan falls apart, don’t panic: adjust it, don’t blame yourself. The important thing is to keep moving in the right direction.

So, what's the plan?

Om, peace 🧡

Clem

P.S.: Oh, and for the French speakers (or at least French understanders), I’ve (re)started sharing yoga videos on my YouTube channel! This week, I’m offering a little Lower Back Flexibility Flow, which helped one of my clients relieve her back pain :)

video preview

Clémence Dieryck

I'm a bilingual yoga teacher who helps people who sit a lot gain mobility, move without pain and reduce their stress.

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If it does not lead to more peace, it is not worth it. Use this simple framework next time you're not sure which way to go. Does it lead to more peace? If not, it's not in alignment. We put too much focus on more (productivity, money, social status, things to own), and not enough on what we're all surely longing for: peace. Life is only as complicated as we make it. Om, peace 🧡 Clem

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