ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What if the answer to feeling overwhelmed isn't to work harder, move faster or simply get more done?
In this episode of the Balanced Mind Podcast, Kim Searle and Richard Brewin explore the surprisingly powerful skill of pausing — especially when you're under pressure.
Using the analogy of getting stuck in quicksand, Richard explains why struggling harder can actually make a difficult situation worse. Sometimes the first thing we need to do is stop, look around, assess what's happening and decide what we actually need.
For accountants, bookkeepers and other professionals, this is particularly relevant when deadlines, client demands and regulatory pressures create the familiar feeling of being on a hamster wheel.
Kim and Richard explore:
• Why constantly "efforting" can keep us busy without actually moving us forward • The importance of stepping off the hamster wheel and evaluating what really matters
• Why "I don't have time" can sometimes be a consequence of previous decisions and commitments
• The difference between an instant decision and a considered decision
• Why saying "Let me get back to you" can be a powerful professional response
• How our habits of thought can keep us repeating the same patterns
• Why saying yes to work we cannot realistically complete isn't necessarily professional
• How challenging a deadline can reveal that something isn't actually as urgent as it first appeared
• Why taking a walk, making a coffee or simply stepping away can give your brain the space it needs to process
• The importance of addressing the causes of overload rather than continually managing its consequences
The big question running through the conversation is simple:
What might change if, instead of immediately asking "What do I need to do?", you paused and asked "What is actually needed here?"
Sometimes moving forward starts with stopping.
Listen in for a practical conversation about workload, boundaries, decision-making and giving yourself permission to think before you act.
