Diary of An Isolated Director: Week Who Knows: Clearing Down & Out

Another couple of weeks have passed, and the lockdown has eased.

Businesses are being asked to prepare to open, and the parents are in two minds about sending their kids to school. It all seems a bit stressful at the moment whether you are a business owner, parent, employee or human.

Then on top of that, we have the powers that be showing how rules don't always extend to them, and vast acts of hatred, brutally and racism happening. 

It all seems very heavy at the moment. Knowing what to do, where to spread yourself and that overwhelm leads to inaction. Inaction in all walks of life is dangerous. 

"Learn to pause rather than staying mute" - Ragini Chowrasia

As I do regularly, I caught up with my counsellor, Rachael. She asked her usual questions 

• What am I doing to cope with/process it? 
• What do I need to keep me safe and mind healthy? 

When discussing this, it came clear that I am excellent at pausing and "clearing down". 

So I thought I would share what clearing down is, as it seems very appropriate to both personal and professional life.

Clearing Down

The act of clearing down is time someone takes to evaluate what is happening when life feels like it is getting out of control/too much or, they are not feeling themselves. 

It is when we pause, a list out (mentally or actually) everything that is going on. Then look at what we can clear down by sorting this list into:

• What don't I need to be doing (at all or right now)
• What can I do to stop [insert feeling]
• Can anything wait until tomorrow/another day
• What do I need to do to bring some joy to my day
• Who is draining my energy - can I stop that

Clearing Down as Business Owner

If you think about it - when lockdown started - businesses had to do this. 

• Where can we cut costs? 
• How can we secure our future? 
• What is a priority right now? 

Some of the answers to these questions are tough. As a business owner or manager, we are holding a mirror up to the business on the weekly. Some of the decisions being made are around putting expansion plans on hold, related to staffing, down-sizing offices, removing services or products that were loss leaders and more. There is a lot of clearing down happening.

What's the goal - to come out the other side of COVID with a business. And be in the best position we can be in to survive the recession ahead.

And we need to apply that to our personal lives too. 

Especially with the feelings that are heightened at present.

I have written blogs about taking a break from your devices. That is never more important now. But also learn to be ok with saying No. So quick ways to make you feel lighter could be:

• Say no to that next House Party/ Zoom Quiz if it doesn't bring you joy.
• Set up do not disturb on all devices to clock on at set times. 
• Get a work phone.
• Talk to someone if you have not been yourself for a long time. You are not alone there, and I am happy to give you Racheal's details if you are in the local area (Basingstoke - Reading)
• Mute, unfollow and unfriend anyone that makes you feel less than. In real life, as well as on social media.
• Be ruthless with your outgoings - don't be afraid to contact your utilities, the banks, HMRC etc. now and ask what they can do to support you before that offer stops.
• Allow yourself to grieve what you may have lost recently. That well deserved holiday, personal goals you were on the way to smashing, that wedding you could not have - there has been a lot of loss for everyone, and it is ok to be sad about that. But you have to process it as a loss (or a postponement) and let it go. 
• For those that have lost someone during this time. I hope you are ok and please do not be afraid to talk about it. Grief is normal. I talk about it a lot. The more we all do, the less taboo it is. Feel free to drop me a message if you want to talk.
• Clear down.
• Then rise up again.

With that all said. 

In-between all the clearing down I have managed to buy a home and just waiting for an exchange date. I am not over the last hurdle quite yet so please send some positive vibes if you have any to spare. Because of this, I possibly won't have a chance to clear down for the next three weeks - but I have had a good clear out.

Thanks for reading - keep safe.

Nat