The Power of Pause: Crafting Calm in a Hectic World

Join Cheryl Paris in this energising episode of ABGW, where we explore practical strategies to reset amidst the chaos of a busy work life. With the pressures of back-to-back meetings and relentless schedules, it’s easy to lose sight of ourselves. But fear not! Cheryl shares her insights on how to create micro rituals that seamlessly fit into your day, allowing you to take charge of your state without the need for miraculous solutions.

Discover the concept of 'stacking'—simple techniques designed to be completed in under three minutes. From widening your frame as your calendar pings to anchoring your meetings with a single, powerful word—steady, clear, or focused—these small adjustments can lead to significant changes in your mindset and interactions.

Cheryl reminds us that you only need one willing participant to start shifting the energy around you. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Every small step you take is a move towards a more balanced future. Trust the process; progress is progress, no matter how slow.

As we wrap up, take a moment to reflect on your next meeting. What state will you present? What word will you choose? Let’s make every interaction count!

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Chapters

• 0:43 Welcome And Purpose
• 1:11 Design For Busy Workdays
• 2:40 Anchors And Habit Stacking
• 3:34 A 60-Second Meeting Reset
• 5:06 Start Small And Seek Support

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:23

This is ABGW. Amazing, brilliant, gorgeous, wonderful. Five minutes to reset work stress with me, Cheryl Paris. We keep it human, practical, and a little wiry, but take what helps and leave the rest. Yes, you're right. You won't remember everything complicated when your diary looks like Tetris. So let's build state into what you're already doing. I remember I was speaking to one of my friends, and she was telling me it was a Tuesday morning. She had 11 meetings, all stacked up. I think it was after a bank holiday as well. She said she was losing herself between them. And I remember thinking to myself, okay, what does this say? Because the fix doesn't have to be a miracle. It can be I don't know, stacking. Um she said, you know, she was trying to reset things, the door bell go in, calendar chimes, you know, and the moment that she touched the chair. And I remember saying to her, okay, well let's let's just step back from this. Um maybe each cue means something different, and maybe what we need to do is just rather than look at extra time, just be better at sequencing things. Now the thing is, as you know, habits often fail when they're not fixed down, when they just sort of float around, and they succeed when we attach what I believe are anchors to them, so you can't miss them. Because everyone's busy and that's default now. So designing for busy is the point, and setting up maybe some micro rituals that take less than three minutes are actually the ones that survive inside real work. So this is what I would call stacking, and it's like between 30 and 60 seconds long, and I'll just give you a few examples. So this one is as the calendar pops or pings, imagine that you're widening the frame an inch, notice your breathing that you already have, and lengthen the outbreath, sense the chair, notice what's taking more of your weight in the chair, choose one word steady if a meeting runs hot, clear if it runs messy, hear yourself open with, quick check. What's the one decision we need by the end of this? Go at the right pace at the right distance for you, and maybe add one word pre-title to your next three calendar invites. Steady, let's do quarter three risk assessments, clear. Are we doing an operational handover? It's your private cue. The thing is, it's all about taking charge of your state. What state are you gonna be presenting when you're next dealing with yourself, your team and individuals? Okay, next up. My place is too cynical. Nobody will join in with me. Good. You only need one nervous system to start. Now, if you feel unsafe or overwhelmed, please don't white knuckle it. Speak to your GP or your organization support or a qualified professional like myself. Because every step you take, no matter how small, is a step towards a brighter, more balanced future. Trust in your journey and remember, progress is progress no matter the pace. Bye for now.