When we step into a larger space in our lives - through promotion, a life transition, a new direction - it often brings a lot more stuff with it.

More responsibilities, more scope, more things to manage and fit in, more people or meetings or learning or challenge.

So how do we make it all fit?

This is one of my favourite post-it notes.

I remind myself of it - a lot!

I share it with others in coaching sessions - a lot!

It’s a multi-tasker, a practical life lesson in so many areas.

Does it feel like you have too many things to do?

An overwhelming to do list?

With not enough time in the day to get it done?

When we step into a larger space - in our work or life - it can feel as though there’s a lot more to do, all at once.

It can be hard to work out what we need to hold onto, and what we can let go of.

Especially if we’ve been praised and rewarded for being someone who gets a lot of stuff done.

I love a good declutter - of clothes, books, anything really.

The feeling of sorting out and creating order is super satisfying.

So, imagine my joy at being able to do the same thing with people’s to do lists in a coaching session!

Specifically, the type of list of things that aren’t getting done.

The things that feel too big to tick off easily, so they lurk at the bottom, and often get carried over from week to week.

The things that you know you ‘should’ get to, but can’t seem to get into action on.

And the longer they lurk, the harder it feels to get started.

In a yoga class recently, I realised that I couldn’t switch my quads on - “lift at the kneecaps” was something my brain simply couldn’t connect with my body to create.

In some ways it wasn’t a surprise. I’ve been intentionally focusing on other parts for the last few months - my core, my balance, my strength in different places.

All brilliant and needed at the time, and now I need to pay a little more attention to the parts I have forgotten about.

This can be true in our life as well as with our body. At certain points we can be focused on a particular part of it - our work, our health, our past, our future.

When our dog finds the right kind of stick in the park he feels epic.

It doesn’t always happen.

He explores lots of options and decides yes or no in the moment - which to sniff, which to test out, which to drop and which to keep.

In a recent coaching session with the brilliant Sue Belton, I realised that my to do list had lost its way.

It was no longer a summary of the key actions to take to move forward.

It had turned into a long list of things I could do, a faffing-around-the-edges list.

It wasn’t useful any more.

It used to be. But I’ve spent the last 18 months working through it, and also added a lot of useful structures and systems in place (hello scheduling!).

I still have things I want to focus my attention on, but so much more of what I do has a consistent rhythm.

I’m keeping things moving rather than starting from scratch.

It feels VERY weird. And quite uncomfortable too.