January is done. How was it for you?
Mine was busy… but not in the purposeful, well-planned way I’d imagined. I had an unexpected (and very welcome) surge of new client work. The downside? All my carefully laid plans, including sending this newsletter every 7–14 days, quietly fell apart.
I told myself the schedule would keep me accountable. Instead, it made me feel guilty when client work quite rightly took priority. So here we are, three weeks later.
The irony is not lost on me that I’m much better at helping clients stay focused and consistent than I am at doing it for myself.
Last Monday, during my weekly content writing session with Jill (60 minutes of focused, camera-on, microphone-off writing), I said I’d draft this newsletter. My brain felt cluttered and overwhelmed, but I got a rough outline down. Progress, not perfection.
After that, I went for my scheduled run. I nearly skipped it because I “had too much to do.” But I’ve learned something important: if it’s not in the diary, it doesn’t happen. I rarely miss runs because they’re scheduled, I often meet someone, and I’m accountable to a coach. Structure beats motivation every time.
While running, I listened to a podcast with Mel Robbins and Laura Vanderkam on time control. One idea stood out, which was simple, practical, and completely in our control:
Plan your week on a Friday afternoon.
Not Sunday. Not Monday morning. Friday.
Why Friday?:
- People are still working, so you can send emails or book meetings
- Fewer meetings tend to happen late Friday
- You head into the weekend with a clear plan
- Monday starts calmer and more focused
The suggestion was to plan in three categories. Mine are:
- Work
- Family
- Me
I tried it last week, and this Monday has felt noticeably more organised and less overwhelming. Small change, big difference.
This links back to Stephen Covey’s Circles of Concern, Influence and Control. When things feel messy, it helps to separate:
- what you can’t control
- what you can influence
- what you can directly control
At the bottom of the newsletter, you will find a basic template to list a few things that are in each circle for you right now.
Then take one small action in that last circle.
If you’re thinking about your career or your LinkedIn presence, what’s one small, controllable step you could take this week? Update a headline? Reach out to one contact? Draft a post?
Small moves count.
This newsletter is for anyone feeling a bit stuck in their career, business, or LinkedIn presence. Students, professionals, leaders and business owners. If someone comes to mind, please forward it on.
See you next time,
Sarah
