Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s a Concept for Instant Clarity.

When asking people how they are, the most common response is – busy! With clients, this hecticness translates to having too much to do, and not enough time. Busy is a wonderful thing but can be overwhelming.  I find this is especially true  with entrepreneurs and executives, who are often high achievers. Their busyness stems from juggling numerous responsibilities, driven by their high expectations for themselves and their determination to keep pushing their work forward.

I recently learned a concept that has really helped with managing the busyness – 1 degree turns. 

This concept comes from a book by Martha Beck, The Way of Integrity. She explained that when a plane takes off, it has its destination in mind. However, all through the flight the pilot, or autopilot system, are course correcting the plane to keep it on track. These are small tweaks, just 1° turns. The 1 degree turns get the plane to the correct destination.  Likewise, if a plane would continuously take 1 degree turns off course, the destination would turn out to be completely different then planned. 

Since reading about this concept, I have used it quite a bit in my own work and life. Because I’m balancing many projects at once, I had in mind that I needed larger blocks of time to move them forward in significant amounts. Instead, I would schedule time to work on a project or issue, but it would get interrupted or taken by something else.  Another week would go by, and I would have several areas untouched – leaving me feeling frustrated.  

Since that time, I have applied 1 degree turns. What is my one degree I’m going to do this week? I look at each item in 20-minute blocks, rather than hours.  Now, my week is completed, and I notice that I have made some progress on each of my priorities. 

This concept has been adopted and applied by many of my clients as well.  

Here are some questions to help you organize your thoughts and boost productivity by thinking in 1 degree turns.  

• List all your projects or issues that are on your mind now that you need to either move forward or figure out the next step for moving forward.
• For each of these items, write down what is out of our control related to it.  Examples of this include the economy or someone else’s behavior.  This can often be a pain point that keeps us stuck.
• Next, brainstorm and determine what your best next step is for each of these items. Think in 1 degree turns – what is one thing you can do this week incrementally toward your outcome.

Determining your next steps can bring instant relief and focus.   For a longer-term project, determining future 1-degree turns can create a full plan.  

Planning your course and then keeping it on track in small ways can reap big rewards.  When your week is complete, look back and congratulate yourself on getting to the items you needed to and progressed.  Recognize where your 1 degree got you! 

This is you. Illuminated.