Welcome back to Aunty Treacle after the summer break!
This episode tackles a universal challenge: feeling constantly overwhelmed by work coming at you at pace, feeling reactive rather than proactive, and struggling to focus on what truly matters and makes an impact.
The Listener Question"Dear Aunty Treacle, I feel constantly overwhelmed as there is so much work coming at me at pace. As a result, I feel like I am constantly reacting and I don't feel like I am getting to the stuff that actually matters, makes a difference and makes an impact. Can you please help me get some control back and feel effective in my work?"Key Insights & StrategiesTake a Breath and Step BackThe Foundation: While feeling overwhelmed is normal, we must question how long we allow this to be "normal." The first step is recognizing when daily churn becomes ever-encroaching.
The Balcony vs. Dance Floor Approach (Andrew Barrett's insight):
- Remove yourself from the situation to gain perspective
- Like a chess grandmaster observing the board rather than just making the next move
- Brief pauses for reflection (alone or with colleagues) can reset clarity and priorities
- Sometimes doing something isn't the solution—it can reinforce the overwhelm cycle
Personal Foundations FirstBefore tackling organizational issues, address your individual resilience:
- Maintain energy-giving activities: Don't stop going to the gym, reading, or other activities that help you perform
- "An empty vessel serves no one": Prioritize self-care to have the resilience for difficult conversations
- Energy management: Protect your energy, especially before busy seasons
- Sleep, exercise, nutrition: These become critical during high-demand periods
The Art of Saying NoHell Yes or Hell No Framework (Derek Shivers):
- Instead of learning to say no, define what makes something a "yes"
- When you know your "yes" criteria, saying no becomes easier and less awkward
- Powerful reframe: "If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?"
Subtraction over Addition:- Focus on what to stop or pause, not just what to start
- Test approach: Don't do something for a month—if nobody notices, it's not a priority
- Pausing is less confrontational than stopping
Prioritization StrategiesThe Eisenhower Matrix & Beyond:- Map tasks on urgent vs. important axes
- Focus on high health and safety impact, low effort activities where possible
- Tools mentioned: PARA method, Eisenhower Matrix, Dichotomy of Control
Strategic Questioning:- What's the value? Is it actually making work safer or just making us feel better?
- What's the intended output and impact?
- If it doesn't fit within your organizational strategy, question why you're doing it
Don't Chase Every Email:- Some things resolve themselves if left alone
- Create space between stimulus and response
- Use rules to manage inbox (filter "for info" emails into folders)
Managing Perfectionism- "Perfect is the enemy of good": Don't let perfection get in the way of better
- "Done is better than perfect": Sometimes action and progress matter more than a perfect finished product
- Experiment, fail fast, iterate, learn, evolve
- Ask: "Is it good enough?" Then get it out and test it
Time and Energy ManagementTime Blocking Strategies:- Block thinking time in your calendar (others just see "meetings")
- Be proactive about...
