I know when I find myself in overwhelm it’s because there is so much information swirling around in my head. One of the ways I’ve found to deal with this overload is to grab a stack of “Dump Cards” (2X2 square stickies) a pen or permanent marker and a poster board. Start writing down everything that’s swirling around in your head, these can be tasks or things to do or ideas you have. Write down one thing or idea on each Dump Card. Once you have everything written on your Dump Cards start laying them out on the poster board. As you lay them out categories or groups will likely start to immerge. Create a category card for each category and place them along the top of the poster board. Next arrange the cards under the category card. As you look review the tasks or ideas, pull off the ones know you’re not going to do. Put the date someplace on the board. If you still have time you can arrange them in some type of timeline or priority. Finally hang it someplace where you can see it, as you accomplish items either put a big X on them or take them off the board. Notice how much calmer you feel, because all this stuff is out of your head.
After a couple of weeks review the board and decide that there are still things you’re working on or that you’ve decided you’re not going to work on.
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Jane Lovas is a heart-centered Business Therapist, helping overwhelmed CEOs and Leaders regain their clarity of purpose, let go of ambiguity and uncertainty, and focus on their true goals and objectives. Being a CEO is a lonely job; it helps enormously to have a sounding board; someone who’s there to toss around ideas with you; someone with no personal agenda to sway you in a certain direction; someone who will listen as you sort through all the ideas and concerns swirling around in your head; someone who can quickly help you make sense of the chaos so you can move forward with confidence.
Jane is also one of the co-authors of Seen and Sustained: Best Practices in Communication that Increase the Visibility of Small and Diverse Businesses.
Additional information is available at www.lovasconsulting.com. Contact Jane by email jlovas@lovasconsulting.com or by telephone at 703.594.6028.