How to pick a direction when you're overwhelmed
+ why sometimes you need to zoom out to find clarity
I've been freelancing part time for a couple of years but got furloughed then laid off so now I'm trying to make it work full-time. Lately I've been feeling really overwhelmed and would love your input. I feel like there is so much I could be doing that I struggle to identify what I SHOULD be doing and then beat myself up if I spend too much time trolling job ads or networking in Facebook BINDERS groups or TKTKTK. Bottom line is, I have a good idea of 27 different ways to get more work and I dabble in all of them because I'm really not sure what to do next and any given thing can feel like something I need to do now. A friend recently pointed out that I spend so much time overanalyzing my next move and I guess I feel like, if I had more clarity I could do more things and get more work and leave the burdened feeling behind and I would love that, but I don't know how.
I am a big list person. I have dedicated quarterly Trello boards I use to organize my goals and track progress; a planner I've custom made so it lets me organize my weeks and months, jot notes, and make end-of-month reviews; and daily to-do lists helping me juggle work deadlines, creative deadlines, and home life.
These lists help me get organized, stay organized, and avoid missing out on opportunities.
So spoiler alert: I'm going to have you make a list.
One specific list to declutter your brain and pull the plug on all the existential angst behind your questions so you can get the clarity you seek and spend more time working mindfully rather than getting caught up like you are now.
Take ten minutes, twenty minutes, however long you need and make a list of projects on tap/activities you could or should do/freelance hustle activities.
Then dump out anything and everything that comes to mind.
My big project lists are usually a mix of deadlines, emails I need to send checking in about upcoming work, grants or contests I want to apply for, home repair projects (my house is 180 years old so there are always several of these!), work/creative obligations, and long-term projects (I haven't forgotten about you, book proposal!).
I usually look at the month I'm in and the following month when making these lists, but I've made seasonal ones (like summer projects) or short-term specific ones for what I want to get done before a planned trip, in the era when we all planned and actually took trips. Pan out as far as you want or really just focus on what could be done this month or even this week.
I recently shared a photo of my most recent “projects on tap” list on Instagram, so if you want a visual interpretation of my advice, check it out.
Sure, making the list doesn't move anything closer to done. But it does allow you to visualize your obligations and sometimes see that
1) you don't have as much to do as you THINK you do once your brain isn't buzzing along in a frenzy about how behind you are
2) often deadlines are flexible so if you need to shift focus, something can go to the back burner
3) some of the stuff on your list is no longer aligned with the direction you're headed so can be dropped guilt-free
4) some of the items on your list can be worked through in an incremental approach, allowing you to actually move the project forward with 10 minutes here or there....or even 10 minutes once a week. I’m guessing #4 might be the case for you, where you can allocate a weekly 30-60 minutes to check in on BINDERS without feeling like you’re missing out.
Once you've made the list, you do have to make a decision. There are tons of decision making metrics to use, but what I most often default to when the answer isn't a simple deadline-based accountability issue is to ask myself what is most important to me, and then choose 2-3 projects to tackle that week that align with what is of maximal importance to me. Then once you’ve done those items, pick out 2-3 more.
Maximal impact is another variation I sometimes use that could be beneficial to you: rather than what you want to do the most, what will most move the needle for you this week.
Get your q’s answered
I’ll be back in your inbox in two weeks with tips on the business of writing but in the meantime, if you’ve got a question like this and want my take, email lindsey.danis[at]gmail.com.
Thanks for reading, sharing, and trusting me with your advice. We're building a better world together.
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