Rightsizing the Busyness Thunderdome

Welcome to September, otherwise known as the Busyness Thunderdome. There are approximately 1,269,348 things to do. Plus a fall festival. Which leads to today’s topic:

How to remain whole amidst distractions of life. Let’s rightsize the Busyness Thunderdome.

Current state

If you are like most women in the Sustainable Sue audience, the current state of life looks a little bit like this.

  • The school year is largely underway. At least enough that the newness has worn off and tears have been shed over homework. 
  • Halloween candy and costumes have been out for 2 months already.
  • Thanksgiving decorations and Christmas music are ready to bust through the door. 
  • There are even quiet whispers about New Years Eve plans and your 2024 word of the year. 

Resist the urge to throw up your hands and declare the year over mid-September. Take a deep breath. There are roughly 100 days left of the year – almost a third of the year left. 

This is not an essay about digging in and sprinting to the finish. It is about staying true to your desires to live a life you don’t need to escape when life gets chaotic and distracting. 

Life is made up of big and little things. The trick is to keep them the size you intend them to be. 

Don’t let the big things shrink and float off. 

Don’t let the little things swell into oversized monsters.

Here are 5 suggestions about adjustments you can make to rightsize your Busyness Thunderdome. 

Reprioritize.

You cannot do everything. And more importantly, your kids cannot do everything just because you want them to. Or you think they want to. If you can identify a pain point, I encourage you to start there – even if it means changing priorities. 

For example, you are a family that prioritizes honoring commitments. Yet Johnny cries every time he comes home from soccer games and practices. His coach yells at him for not doing things right, Johnny knows he is not good at soccer, and no one on his team talks to him because they all know each other from being on the team together last year. You have observed all of this to validate Johnny’s concern. Then you have the invisible load of Johnny’s stomach ache most of the day leading up to practice and games and his sadness for the half day after games and practice. You have choices. One of those choices is to reprioritize and let Johnny quit soccer. If your focus is exercise, maybe the deal is trading the soccer team for soccer in the park or back yard with the siblings. 

Removing one thing – even if it requires a priority shift – can help you rightsize the busyness. This is especially valuable when the busyness is not getting the intended result. 

Move.

I know, I hear it already, “I am living in a Busyness Thunderdome, and you want to ADD something?!” 

Stay with me, friends. 

This is not a big hairy exercise program or challenge. This is moving for 20 minutes. It could be a yoga channel on YouTube before anyone wakes up or a walk during that work Zoom where you only sit and listen anyway. What about riding the elliptical or stationary bike at the office gym during lunch. 

Low volume, lower intensity. This is not your exercise, this is moving for the sake of mental health. 

Be still.

Ah, the flip side to suggestion #2. If you though moving was hard, I bet you think being still is harder. I know I do. 

When a friend of mine was getting sober, she had such a hard time sitting still, her sponsor had her literally sit on her hands for 5 minutes. Monkey mind is a real thing. Our society rewards people – especially women – who are constantly in motion. 

It all serves you until it doesn’t. Rightsize the chaos by checking out for a few minutes each day. It does not have to be meditation, just be still. 

Delegate to the floor.

In the middle of a crazy busy season is not the time for the nice-to-have projects. The ceiling doesn’t HAVE to get painted the week leading up to the Fall Festival you are the chair person for. You don’t have to join the meal train during the week you are also volunteering at the church’s Brunswick stew sale. This is not the time to ask your spouse to pick up slack and delegate to her.  Its the time to cut it loose and delegate to the floor. If it is not a hell yes, it is a no.

Jot it down.

Sometimes there are no strategies that can help you in real time. You are blown, but just need to get through it. I have been there too so I know it feels terrible. My strategy for this is to have Today Burned Out Sue help create Future Sustainable Sue. We all have a time machine at our finger tips and it is your email. I will draft an email to myself to not sign up for an annual committee and schedule it to send around the time the email requesting volunteers goes out. I include ALL of my feelings (this is for my eyes only) so I can be reminded of how it feels to be this drained. 

Sustainable You Reflections

  1. How are you doing right now? No, like really – how are you?
  2. Look at your calendar for this week and next. List the things you are doing out of obligation (i.e., the things that are not a hell yes).
  3. Which of the above strategies might work for one of those obligations. 

If you are not ready to take action to rightsize yet, its ok. This exercise will help get you in the mindset to do it next time. 

Until next time remember to create productive results in a way that you can sustain and that sustain YOU. 

By |2023-09-05T08:12:49-04:00September 19th, 2023|Mental Well-being|0 Comments
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Episode 33: Literary Life Lately – Fall 2023

It has been awhile since we have checked in on what’s happening in your literary life lately! Did you know reading books has been scientifically proven to lengthen the number of years you live? Talk about a sustainable way to live! If you or your loved one is a reluctant reader, you will get tips to address this so you too can live a longer life.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. Why readers live longer and what you can do to join the ranks.
  2. Fun, quirky books Susan completed since the last Literary Life Lately episode.
  3. Two books that were meh, plus one that you need to borrow or buy TODAY.

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

PS: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

By |2023-09-19T18:52:41-04:00September 18th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Episode 32: The Science of Creativity with Tresha Faye Heafner

If you have ever uttered the words,” I’m just not creative!” this episode about the science of creativity is for you. If you know you are a creative being but struggle for consistent time and inspiration to maximize that creativity, this episode is for you.

Tresha Faye Haefner is an award-winning author, creativity coach and speaker. One of the few people to hold a master’s degree in humanistic psychology, with a specialization in creativity studies, Tresha uses research-based methods to help others develop their most authentic creative abilities, both for the sake of artistic expression, and personal well-being. She often tells her classes that she began writing only so she could have the credentials to teach workshops to other innovative writers and poets. Tresha joins the Sustainable Productivity podcast to teach about the science of creativity.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. Why science and creativity DO mix.
  2. What bumpers and guidelines an award winning, published poet uses to regularly produce work.
  3. Hear Tresha explain how her online writing group is “a gym membership for her muse.”

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

  • Here is a link to a printable version of the “Walk, Don’t Run” poem by Rob Bell
  • Books Tresha mentioned in the episode, plus links to purchase while supporting the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

PS: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

By |2023-09-11T13:53:14-04:00September 11th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Time Accountant

Do you ever feel like you have a Time Accountant that you have to report to? A (probably imaginary) person who whips out a small notebook, licks a pencil tip and makes notes about everything you are doing? Or not doing? Or could be doing better or faster?

No?

Cool, me neither.

Apparently some people do. This essay is for them.

My first instinct is to kick that Time Accountant in the balls and make a run for it. But alas, a healthier and more Sustainably Productive step would be to reframe what you mean when you say, “I did nothing.”

No one says it better than Elsie Owens:

Now that you have a different way to describe it, maybe telling your Time Accountant that you spent 75 minutes recuperating instead of doing nothing will be easier. Maybe that Time Accountant is you and you need to give yourself permission to take a time out.

If you are feeling like you are running on am empty tank, it is time to recover. Consider this your permission slip.

Sustainable You Reflections

  1. Which of the 10 phrases in the above list seems to fit you the best?
  2. Look at your calendar for the next 2-4 weeks. Where can you fit in this recovery time.
  3. Block it off today.

Until next time remember to create productive results in a way that you can sustain and that work for you. 

By |2023-08-23T19:57:38-04:00September 5th, 2023|Mental Well-being|0 Comments
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Episode 31: Sustainable Sue Takes a Sabbatical

Recorded in segments over the course of her sabbatical, Susan explores the reason why sabbatical is important, what tends to derail good intentions, and talks about lessons learned during the two weeks she pretended she was retired.

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

By |2023-09-04T17:05:35-04:00September 4th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Nature Break!

Time for a nature break, gang! Every once in awhile you need to stop and smell the roses – or sunflower in this case. One day after work recently, I packed clippers, a bucket, Bixby and went out to the local sunflower farm. We even threw in dinner and our oldest came along with us. It was only 25 minutes from our house and we spent less than an hour at the farm. It was a perfect small adventure in the middle of a work week.

The farm is Dewberry Farm in Kernersville, NC in case you want to schedule a visit for YOUR nature break. They also have tulips in the spring.

Sustainable You Reflections

  1. Brainstorm small adventures that you could add to your weekly or monthly.
  2. Add a recurring appointment to your calendar to search social media, the newspaper or local blogs for events that might be of interest.

Until next time remember to create productive results in a way that you can sustain and that work for you. 

By |2023-08-15T10:12:18-04:00August 29th, 2023|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Episode 30: Managing Transitions

Everyone listening is likely in the beginning, middle or end of a transition – whether they acknowledge it or not. 

  • Think back to school – no matter how independent your kids are, transitioning to school from summer schedule is tough. 
  • Maybe you are going back to school yourself after a decade or so break.
  • Changing jobs or houses
  • Swapping hot weather to cold weather clothes
  • Moving from remote work to back in the office.

In the coming weeks the weather will start to transition to cooler temps as we transition to fall. Labor Day in America is 1 week away from when this goes out and we all consider that the unofficial end to summer – also a transition. Let’s talk about how we can make these big and small transitions Sustainably Productive.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. More about Sustainable Sue’s personal and professional transitions.
  2. Why now is a time to change habits and routines.
  3. 5 tips for making the transition Sustainably Productive.

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

By |2023-08-28T08:51:35-04:00August 28th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Summer Pep Talk

Checking in with a quick summer pep talk this week. I am reading a book that talks about envy and jealousy – you know the light stuff first thing in the morning. Thinking about envy makes me realize how often I want what someone else has.

What I want you to know comes from my experience as a gardener. It is this: If the grass is greener on the other side, it means it is full of shit. 

Shit as fertilizer, and with the wind blowing the right way, you never know that is what makes it so attractive to look at. Not to mention that having that beautiful green grass is choking the life out of the natural world around it. 

This week is the Great Southeast Pollinator Census and I completed a training to participate. I learned so much about non-native grasses destroying the pollinators. 

Does that ever apply to your life? You try so hard to get what looks like the perfect life someone else is showing you. Then when you get it, you realize it stinks like shit and includes nothing that makes life as you know it sustainable. 

Let me close this mini summer pep talk with an inspirational message from The Rock that a friend sent me. Thanks, Jennifer!

By |2023-08-15T10:05:55-04:00August 22nd, 2023|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Episode 29: Imposter Syndrome and the Importance of Small Deaths

Let’s dig a little deeper today – imposter syndrome and the importance of small deaths. You know, the light stuff life is made of. Sometimes imposter syndrome shows up as that voice that says, “Who do you think you are?”

Or “Why do you think you are the right person for this?”

Sometimes it is condescending, “Stay in your lane, honey. Let the real writers/podcasters/creators do this.”

Susan explores the idea that imposter syndrome is feeding some fear that is keeping her stuck. Let’s shine a spotlight onto these imposter syndrome feelings – it might show us that this monster behind the curtain is really a tiny, shriveled nothing just trying to act tough. 

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. How fear is connected to imposter syndrome.
  2. Leveraging a corporate America problem solving strategy for a creative problem.
  3. Pep talks from an 18th century poet, an ancient Roman philosopher, and a modern day women’s basketball coach.

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Here is the list I work from each session of digital clean up. Not to mention… graph paper to do list for the win!

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

Note: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

By |2023-08-21T08:27:12-04:00August 21st, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Case Study: Environmental Productivity

Just in case you think I am knocking life out of the park, today will be a case study of environmental productivity. Or lack thereof.

Last month our oldest got an apartment of her own. Not a dorm room, not campus housing. The kind of place where you have to furnish it yourself. Which cause a mass exodus of furniture from our house. 

Which is absolutely ok and what we planned for. We raised our kids to become independent young adults. But this rite of passage has left left a hole in our environmental productivity. We are slowing puttering our way through this home makeover, but it has left my environmental surroundings unsettled. 

  • We moved beds around so I no longer have a bed in my office. Yay!
  • There is a closet I could podcast from, but there I no power in the closet. Boo. 
  • I now have more space for craft supplies and activities. Yay!
  • There is no budget for purchasing furniture to reorganize supplies and activities. Boo. 

I want to use what we have in our home to creatively furnish these repurposed spaces instead of buying new. I am less excited about the hassle of navigating used purchases from Facebook Marketplace or yard sales. 

So this is the current state of things – podcasting from the floor. 

I can make it about 5 minutes before my foot falls asleep and I have to pause the recording and change positions. My back hurts the whole time I am sitting here. I certainly won’t be able to have guests over to record with me on the floor. But I am not sure where I want what activities to happen so I am trying to be patient and let the solutions evolve. 

It reminds me of the story I shared in episode 24 of the Sustainable Productivity podcast about physical clutter. A university task force could not agree on where to put the sidewalks for a new construction project. Finally they decided to just wait to see where people walked and put sidewalks there. 

I am going to stop worrying about finding the perfect space for things or perfect things for the space and just live with what I have for now. Sometimes Sustainable Productivity is about accepting the current status.

Sustainable You Reflections

  1. Is there something in your environment that is making you uncomfortable?
  2. Do you feel uncomfortable NOT making a decision and just sitting with several options? Why do you think that is?

Until next time remember to create productive results in a way that you can sustain and that work for you. 

By |2023-08-06T11:11:32-04:00August 15th, 2023|Environmental Surroundings|0 Comments
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