Try this simple 3x3 exercise for focus

Last week, I met a former client of mine for breakfast in the idyllic oceanside town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

As I drove to meet her, I marveled at the vast cerulean sky and sparkling water all around me, and made a mental note to return another day to explore it. (Yes, another plug for my tiny adopted state!)

Anyway, she quickly found me in the cafe and we caught up over coffee and tea, as it had been several months since we last spoke.

My client confessed that it had been a hard year, and that revenues were down dramatically in spite of all of the hard work she had put into her business.

She felt demoralized and overwhelmed.

Guess what? I have felt it too.

Let's face it: it's been a challenging year for just about all of us, as the social sector has faced unprecedented upheaval.

But this is also the exact time for us to step back and reevaluate what we are doing, especially if you're feeling burned out or down.

Try this simple 3x3 exercise:

Set aside 15-30 minutes.

Take out a sheet of paper and a pen, or open up a clean document, and answer these three questions with free-form answers:

1️⃣ What three things should you begin doing?

2️⃣ What three things should you continue doing?

3️⃣ What three things should you stop doing?

(Credit for these questions goes to Alex M.H. Smith.)

As you jot down your responses, note how you feel in your body with each one.

It's okay if you list lots of answers as you brainstorm, but weed your final list down to three in each question.

The goal is to focus your efforts as you aim towards the end of the year.

You don't need to spread yourself thin and do all of the things. There is no prize for depleting yourself.

In fact, I encourage you to zero in on the things that align with your joy and your natural strengths.

❓What would happen if you tried a few low-stakes experiments in the spirit of learning?

❓Which activities let you settle right into a happy zone where you look forward to getting to work?

❓If something feels heavy or burdensome, what would happen if you stopped doing it?

Give yourself the freedom and grace to focus, and let go of the things that no longer serve you.