How to Find Joy in a Busy Season

Part of building a long-term career that feels manageable is recognizing when we’re in our busy seasons and intentionally building in rest so that we don’t burn out.
As we add responsibilities, we must subtract elsewhere.

As someone who is ultra goal oriented, I struggle to rest during my busy seasons. For a long time, I was so focused on chasing “what’s next” that I forgot to be present in the current season.

I find it hard to just go for dinner, or a movie, or even sit on a beach when I’m building something I absolutely love. This is as true for me now as a founder as it was when I was an intrapreneur launching a venture inside a big company.

As my kids are growing up, I noticed that the version of me they see most is the busy workaholic who is always on a schedule.

They rarely see a mom who is having fun (for real).  They get genuinely shocked when they see a version of me who is still very much a fun girl (buried deep inside).

I want them to see a mom who actually has fun on her days off and doesn’t have to force herself to.

Recently, changes in my personal life have helped to reset my perspective and deliver a much-needed reminder: It’s okay to rest in this season of building, without knowing what comes next.

I’m learning to be as passionate about my moments of joy as I am about my big dreams and relentless career goals.

I have discovered that I know very little about how to enjoy myself unless I’m “working.”
When did I become that person who couldn’t rest? Have decades gone by through getting married, having kids, buying homes - without slowing down enough to enjoy simply being human?

To counter my triple-A workaholic tendencies, I started scheduling mini vacations which at first felt unfamiliar and even uncomfortable, but once I committed to them, turned out to be incredibly refreshing.

We go on mini weekend trips to discover small towns in Ontario and discover cute spots to dine at with the kiddos.  These are super budget and founder-life friendly (Wifi is a must.)

And, I’ve surrounded myself with a community that mirrors my values, goals, and interests.

I absolutely love our network. The women in the Executiv community are totally my tribe. Ultra talented go-getters that are good humans who genuinely want to do great things in the world.

For me its not “just work.” Our virtual hangouts, meetups, and even LIVE coaching sessions feel like play: purposeful, energizing, and restorative all at once.

Here are three questions to consider for finding more ‘joy’ as you move through your current busy season:

1.     What genuinely brings me joy right now, and have I made space for it this week?
2.     Where can I create small moments of delight, ease, or play, even in the middle of a packed schedule?
3.     What parts of my current work or life feel energizing and how can I lean into them more intentionally?

Don’t let a busy season make you miss the beauty of this season. I’m learning to find more of it myself.

Joy really does show up when we make space for it.

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“Self-care is the most underrated leadership skill.”

Joy Donnell