SLOWING DOWN TO REFOCUS
Fiona Campbell
There’s something about early September.
The holidays are winding down, the schools are back, and there’s a quiet shift in the air, a return to routine. For many business owners and professionals, it marks the start of “right, let’s get back to it.” But after the slower pace of summer, it can feel a bit like jumping onto a moving treadmill.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had some lovely conversations with clients and colleagues who’ve shared how hard it is to pick things back up after the holidays. It’s not that they’ve lost their motivation, but that, after a break, the ‘busy’ seems to flood back in fast.
And that’s where the line between working in the business and working on the business often gets blurred.
Working in the business is all the day-to-day stuff, replying to emails, client work, sorting out the never-ending admin.
Working on the business is stepping back, getting perspective, and asking the bigger questions: Where am I heading? What’s the bigger picture? Is this still what I want?
And here’s the thing: you can’t do both at once.
I was reminded of this myself recently while working on my book. I’d been trying to squeeze writing into the gaps between everything else, and the words just wouldn’t flow. I realised I wasn’t giving it enough space to breathe. So, I cleared some time, stepped back, and gave it my full attention. Once I did, everything started moving again, with more ease and a lot less stress.
That pause, that shift, works in business too.
One of my clients, a small business owner, came up with her own phrase for this: “A wee tea and thinking time.” She now sets aside half an hour a week, just to sit quietly with a cuppa and reflect. No laptop. No to-do list. Just space to hear herself think. She told me, “It’s become my favourite part of the week.”
So, if you’re feeling the September pressure starting to build, here are a few gentle ways to slow down and refocus:
- Create space to step back
Block out even 30 minutes just for you. Not for planning, not for catching up, just for reflecting. What feels good? What feels heavy? What would you love more of between now and the end of the year? - Notice where your energy is going
Ask yourself: What’s the one thing I could do this week that would make everything else feel easier or lighter? It’s a small question with a powerful ripple effect. - Give yourself permission to go gently
You don’t need to be firing on all cylinders the minute September starts. This is your business, your life, so let it move at your pace.
You’re not behind, you’re simply in transition. A wee tea and thinking time might be just the thing to help you reconnect with what matters most.
Fiona Campbell is an Executive and Business Coach, Corporate Trainer, and NLP Business Coach Trainer
www.theprofessionalgrowthcompany.com
fiona@theprofessionalgrowthcompany.com
