More Than WE Know

In yesterday’s post I touched on some of the symptoms of Spring Fever.

The first symptom was Restlessness and the second one was……hmmm?…..sorry, my mind wandered…. where was I?…oh yeah - Lack of Focus.

Spring Fever brings a disturbing inability to focus on the tasks in front of you.  You start working and then all of a sudden your mind starts to wander.

You think about what you were doing last night, what you will be doing tonight…. You remember the knitting project you started a year ago and try to remember where you put it….. You consider taking up the piano…… You wonder what your living room would look like if you painted the walls sky blue….. or what it would be like to move to an island with a stack of books and eat nothing but bananas and coconuts……

….and then you realize that 15 minutes have passed and you’ve gotten nothing done.

Before you know it your work day is gone and you really aren’t sure what you’ve accomplished.

So, what is a woman entrepreneur to do when plagued with an inability to focus?

Similar to my advice from yesterday - I say to give in to this symptom!!

Spring is a creative, optimistic time. It’s a time when the juices are flowing - the sap is running in the trees and the blood is stirring in your veins. While January may be the time when we set goals - Spring is the time when we dream dreams!!

So when you seem to be having trouble focusing on the task at hand - stop trying to force yourself - you’ll be miserable and the results will be disappointing.

Instead, realize that your creative self is trying to speak to you.    Instead of trying to silence those impulses - turn your focus fully on your daydreams and ask yourself - What do I want to do? Who do I want to be? What am I building with my business? How big and grand and glorious and amazing can it become?

Springtime daydreaming is different than the lazy dreams of summer. It can get you excited and restless - anxious to take on the world.  Channel that energy by keeping your body busy while your mind roams free.  You’ll be able to tap into your creativity for a longer period of time, and will be amazed at what you think of!!

• take a walk outside - the rythmic movement will free your mind to wander and the exercise will increase your energy
• engage in a repetitive task - knitting, crocheting, cooking, even housework - anything that keeps your hands busy while your mind runs free will help you sustain the moment

If you prefer quiet contemplation, try these approaches to tap into your creativity:

• Free-write in a journal. Now isn’t the time to worry about punctuation and grammar. Just let your thoughts flow.
• Create a collage.  Cut out pictures and words from magazines, old photos, postcards, advertisements, or fabric. Add illustrations, stencils, and paint. Create a visual representation of what you and your business are becoming.
• Listen to music. Follow your impulses - something loud and fast with a strong beat, something playful and jazzy, something soothing or haunting.  Let the music overtake you. What do you see, feel, imagine?
• Take a bath.  Add your favorite oil or bubbles. Light a few candles.  Close your eyes and see your life as it could be.

Don’t worry if none of this feels productive.  

If you actually give yourself some time to set aside your “to do” list and focus instead on your desires - you’ll be amazed at the things you think and the places your mind with take you. 

In fact, you may even find it’s the most productive time you spend all year long!!   

photo credit: Lin Pernille Photography

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