Hold That Thought
Helping overwhelmed creatives, innovators, and leaders turn overthinking into expert thinking…and action! Three useful things every Thursday to gain clarity, get more done, and feel great about it.
You have 3% of the year remaining…
Would you like to go into low power mode? Neon battery by alien185 from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about taking extra care as we wind down the year. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Choose your difficulty level for ending the year well: easy, intentional, or intensive? Includes my Wheel of Life worksheet, just updated this morning! “Wintering is not about completely withdrawing or giving up. It’s about finding the right balance...
What it means to be done
Stay focused, we're nearly there Photo by MikeMareen from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about the expectations we set — for ourselves and others. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Taking an uncharitable read (and what it really says about us) — by me on Medium What would it mean to be "done" for the day? — by Oliver Burkeman in The Imperfectionist The glorification driving us to chase perfect conditions — by Sheril Mathews on Substack...
Push or Pull?
Don't wait until you're in the water. Swimmers by Sergio Souza from Pexels This week I've been thinking about closings and openings. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: I don’t have one single niche, but I do tend to help a lot of people change careers. If that’s something you’ve thought about, you’re going to want to see this chart: Which corner is your career stuck in? As we start to close out the year and embrace opening a new one, the Year...
A slightly more charitable read
When it's hard to be generous… Small dog jumping over a low hurdle, by woodsilver from Pixabay. This week I've been thinking about generosity. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: (This edition is longer than usual — I loathe making you spend time reading things from your inbox, but this week's article is still a WIP; see #3.) “The point isn't to try to be more generous than you currently are. It's to notice the moments when you naturally and...
From high-tech to high-touch
“To awaken the senses is, ultimately, to reconnect with the soul of the world.” — Marie Dollé in Reclaiming our Senses Glowing mushrooms on bark with fireflies in forest, by Shaiith from Getty Images Last week I was thinking about embodied cognition — the relationship between thinking and the body. This week I'm taking that even further afield and exploring thinking and the wider environment. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: “By embracing digital...
This is not working / This is perfection
Overthinking hips don't lie X-ray of a human hip joint by rcphotostock. Outrun filter added by me in Canva Pro. This week I've been thinking about overthinking and its impact on us. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Three days after the 2024 US election and four days before I was meant deliver a workshop in Manchester, I stepped out my front door and partially dislocated my hip “She suggests focusing on the contact between your feet with the floor,...
You can't fully sink in quicksand
Retreat is not defeat You can't drown in quicksand. Photo by Kim, at Crosby beach. This week I've been thinking about how to keep my heavy head held high, dealing with the distractions of the wider world, and focusing on doing the work. Here's three things that might help you turn overthinking into expert thinking, too: “The next time you catch your internal self-doubt as a response to external noise, remember the story of the little koala” — Michael Thompson “Silence is not only golden. It...
Fall back
…to basics. Halloween background by anilakkus from Getty Images Signature. This week I've been thinking about how to do the basic stuff. Specifically, helpful things we might have missed. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: How to write a task – a short one by me How to be concise – a longer one by Wes Kao How to manage your time – a great list of tips by Lenny Rachitsky Extra thoughts… This week's links are super practical. Except I suppose for this...
Goals are boring and overrated
Do quests instead! Winning at the early game. Photo by author. This week I've been thinking about ditching my goals. Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking: “You expect a quest to take you into a new and unfamiliar landscape. You expect there to be puzzles, surprises, perils, and curious encounters. A bridge you counted on will be out. You’ll meet an interesting stranger on the path. You’ll hear wolves howling at night. This is all part of the fun....
Glimmers and reflections
Following the little bits of light A glimmer in the dark. Photo by Rostyslav Savchyn on Unsplash This week I've been thinking about glimmers and reflections. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: What is your top takeaway from this? It's the question I always ask at the end of sessions. I started asking myself this question and compiled all the insights. From why people overthink, how they get unstuck, not knowing the end of the story, and much more —...
Helping overwhelmed creatives, innovators, and leaders turn overthinking into expert thinking…and action! Three useful things every Thursday to gain clarity, get more done, and feel great about it.