I’m sitting here on a plush white couch, looking out at the ocean from the breathtaking open living room in the main house on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island.
I’m blessed to be at an incredible business mastermind event with Richard, hosted by my good friends Joe Polish and Yanik Silver.
All I can say is that my head is exploding with ideas and possibilities. My notebook is filling up and my mind and heart are being stretched in the most incredible ways.
Speaking of loads of ideas, do you ever feel like you have too many? Add to that the daily demands of running and managing your business AND the demands of living a full life- things like eating healthy, working out, keeping your relationship going and having fun. Sometimes, it can all feel a bit overwhelming!
Here’s something I want you to remember – inner chaos creates outer chaos.
When you’ve got a million and one things renting space in your head and your heart, it becomes really difficult to slow down, get clear and actually start getting things done.
In this video, I’m going to walk you through a powerful, 10 minute exercise to help you create total mental clarity and get you out of overwhelm right now.
Now if you haven’t fully done the exercises in the video, please go back and do them now. As you know, insight is nothing without immediate action. Then, leave a comment and let me know what you got out of this video. As always, if you found it useful, please share it with your friends.
Now give it a go and let’s have some fun with this!
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No time for a snazzy comment
Just want to say as always you freakin’ ROCK lady!!! Enjoy Necker, we want PICS! (I’ll be there one day!!) xox
Thanks Christine! Pics are coming
This is a fantastic exercise. It makes such a difference to get things out of the head and onto paper! Al in the head and it makes a gal crazy!!
one last thing – I also want to see some pics from Necker Island!
Awesome tips Marie. I’ve been doing “brain dumps” for several years now and I feel so good afterwords.
My question is this, what happens if you can’t pare down the list by eliminating or delegating? My list still seems to be so long with my to-do’s.
Great question Jenn. In this case, “can’t” is really “won’t.” The truth is sometimes we don’t want to eliminate anything, or, we don’t want to do the work needed to delegate (like find an intern; create fun win-win situations with family or friends who can help out, take out a small business loan, barter, etc.)
Another approach is simply to move some of your projects to later months in the year. Schedule them out. Get them off your current list so you don’t look at them everyday – especially if you’re not working on them right now.
Fantastic video Marie! A super useful tool for those anxious moments… thank you!
This is great Marie. I did the exercise and then when I had to cross out what I can’t control, there wasn’t anything there to cross off! It actually opened my eyes that everything I’m internally bitching about is actually totally within my grasp. I just need a better action plan (and motivation) to get it done. I did cross off some ‘meh’ things, which made me feel super good.
Thanks again for a wonderful exercise!
Wow … I agree with Melissa C. – it was a HUGE wake up call for me. This will definitely be a weekly practice for me.
BIG xoxoxoxo
Yep, me too! I realized everything on my list was stuff I’ve been putting off doing and not being motivated enough. All of it within my control. Definitely a wake up call for me. I realize too that the “stuff” I need to do that overwhelms me just shouldn’t and I need to do a few a day, or even a week and I’d be freeeeee!
It’s so empowering to feel things are under your control. Congrats
Doing stuff you love, and feeling free, ALSO rocks.
P.S. I’ve always wanted to know a chick named “candy” – so cool.
Love it! I didn’t realize my list would be soooo long at first. No wonder I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Thanks Marie, tonight will be better.
Love it! As always, great advice
Yup, yup
okay a bit off subject but love the shirt
And thanks for the lil’ exercise I have had too much things on my “to do” list lately and some I just realized are “meh” stuff.. now on to gettin’ some ACTION in there
Great post. I start most of my writing sessions following Julia Cameron’s “Morning Writing Pages” suggestion. It’s from her book The Artist’s Way (A book I highly recommend for writing inspiration). I just dump my current thoughts on three pages and does really free my mind to then go and focus on the task at hand.
What I really like and am encourage to put into practice with your “Creating Mental White Space” is the added steps eliminating items that are out of my control and then getting rid of the mehs. This is going to help take my Morning Writing Pages to the next level. I’m going to go back and look some of my these pages and see how many ideas/tasks/thoughts I keep hanging onto because I haven’t let them go. Ones that are just taking up residence in my thoughts and creating needless stress.
Thanks, Marie!
I like it!! ‘Nuff said x
Great video again and this came at the perfect time for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I do feel better. Looking at my list now – I have the same problem as Jenn. My list still seems to be still long with my to-do’s.
Enjoy Necker Island!
Read my response to Jenn above!
Hi Marie,
This was such a great post. I got the major things I need to do on paper and out of my head. I had a hard time sleeping last night as well. Sweet dreams tonight
Thanks!
I loved doing this exercise – especially the “meh”s – very fun crossing those puppies off the list.
Have fun with your meeting!
Awesome, that was exactly what I needed! I love this kind of ‘workshops’ that make it possible to implement the Tuesday inspiration immediately! Give us more of this stuff!!
Great topic…close to my heart and the subject of an upcoming personal challenge in March where people can come along for a ride. I am constantly doing this exercise with all my to dos and ideas and reminders!
Love it! Great Video!
i’m really glad for the gift of this exercise but after doing the brain dump for 9 minutes and coming up with three pages of items / worries, i only was able to cross one thing out. i am actually just truly overwhelmed by things that are both within my control and can’t be disregarded with a “meh”. any advice?
Hi there! First of all, great job on completing the exercise (many people watch this kind of thing, but take zero action so they get zero results.)
Please read the response to Jenn above. You likely need to schedule out your tasks and projects on the calendar, and then remember that you can’t do everything all at once!
Keep us posted.
Good stuff, Marie! My list is still kind of long, but the exercise was great! I think I could do this with my daily to do lists as well. My only issue is there are some things I really should do, even thought hey are “meh”–for example, exercise or balancing my checkbook. What is your take on those items?
Great question Liz! I’d suggest two things:
1. Make exercise fun by choosing activity you enjoy (dance, sports, etc.)
2. On money: the more respect your wealth and treat it with care, the more you’ll create. Make it an enjoyable experience. Play some music. Get organized. Bless all the things that you pay for as you write your checks and keep your finances in order.
Do you perform better with social accountability? Make a bi-weekly or monthly money date with a friend. Choose a set amount of time to get your money handled and check in with your friend as soon as you’re complete. Make a game out of it and I’m sure it will go from “meh” to “magical” in no time.
oooh, crossing those things off feels realyl really good!
I’m so glad to learn another simple yet powerful exercise from you, Marie! I had a hard time identifying my “meh’s” — mostly because I felt guilty about it. Like I should care more about those things. It’s eye opening, though, when I’m really honest to myself, to find out what I really care about.
Thanks for yet another great video, Marie!
Cleared the mental clutter brillantly. Love the ‘MEH’ attitude!
Loooove the exercise, Marie!
I had nothing on my list that was out of my control, and for a second worried that I’d done it wrong! It was a great exercise. Now i have a great list of things that will rock my world, and other than the dishes, will be a lot of fun.
EA
Hi Marie!
Oooh, I loved this exercise when we did it in RHH Virtual last month, and it’s one I know I’ll come back to again and again! It’s a GREAT way to filter out all of those “shoulds” and other stuff that doesn’t really belong in my head.
And I agree with the other gals who mentioned PICS from Necker Island!!!!
awesome stuff, lady! slightly discouraged cuz much of my brain dump list remains–it’s not meh and I have control over the items. it’s time–i need more time! i don’t watch tv, etc. so the typical places that time *hides* are not tripping me up. my client/work load, is, however, and that’s a big issue for me. my biz model has to change–and soon! The brain dump was so good for me, though. i needed that.
funny you mention obligation and shoulds. well, not funny ha-ha, but you know what i mean. i am writing a piece on SHOULD and just published a piece that deals with obligation called Toxic Waste Management for Jack Move magazine. check it out if you have a moment: http://jackmovemag.com/2011/01/22/toxic-waste-management/
you SO make me smile–keep bringing the good stuff!
xoxo,
shanna
Hey Shanna! I can relate…we’d all love some more time
My suggestion is to get **super honest** with yourself about what’s MOST important. What on that list will give you the most bang for the buck spiritually, financially, emotionally?
Prioritize those projects first. Then relax and remember that the real key here is to create and enjoy the process.
xo
M
your life rules.
will watch video when not on an equinox computer.
i get very overwhelmed very easily sometimes… what an AMAZING – SIMPLE – little exercise to do – just writing it down creates so much more room in my head
LOVE IT! enjoy the island… still getting snow in New England 
dana
Uhhhh. Well, this didn’t exactly help me. You see, Marie, everything that I’m thinking about now, everything that is overwhelm for me is about my business. Things I need to do, that are all totally in my control. I just need 24 hours in the day to get them done.
Thankfully, I just got off of a 4 month stretch in which I literally needed 36 hours in every day–I was doing 2 biz coaching stints (for me) and 1 personal coaching plus intaking info and also outputting info.
So things are a log more relaxed for me. But still, I got a 1 and 1/4 page list of things that are overwhelming me and not ONE can be removed for the reasons you mention–out of my control or meh.
So what’s a girl to do?
Hey Jan,
I hear ya. Most of us have felt the exact the same about all we want to get done in our business.
First, take an honest look at possible time sucks. Email checking and responding throughout the day, T.V., social media, and internet surfing are great places search for extra hours each day.
Next, prioritize your list and start mapping out your 1 + 1/4 page tasks in your calendar.
What’s overwhelming may be that you want to get this all done within 30 days.
What if you changed your perspective and planned everything out over the next 12 to 18 months?
Marie, I loved the original exercise, but I had some similar issues as Jan, so I really appreciated these follow-up instructions. Thank you!
…and now for another kind of brain dump:
I’m grateful I’m at a point in my life where not much stresses me anymore–IF everything is moving along normally–but I do have an ongoing buttload of items on my to-do list. Some are pie-in-the-sky goals which don’t really have a set due date and some are legit tasks to propel me onto my next step (classes toward my master’s degree, etc.) which are static.
I’ve gotten great at being realistic in spreading everything out and scheduling priorities in my calendar, but, every so often, I hit a week where EVERYTHING just piles up and I completely freak out: I can’t move anything anymore than I already have, I’ve already whittled away what’s nice vs necessary, I’ve got deadlines and school exams coming up on the same day and then, at the same time, some family or other emergency comes in and throws everything off, so I end up with, like, 64 hours of stuff that “needs” to get done in one day.
So, what’s probably best is that, when this kind of situation happens, I’ll be sure to refer to this post/video; but, should I also just admit to myself that, on occasion, stuff might just pile up and I might have to sacrifice a day of fun or night of sleep to revamp and clean up the poop storm until I can get back on track? I think my biggest problem is that I get bummed that I couldn’t keep up with everything in the first place or “control” the emergencies that might have come up and thrown off my nifty list that was so clean and organized to begin with…
How do you or others here handle those kinds of crazy weeks/days?
Brilliant Marie! Many thanks!
Lovely, thank you so much. I love meeh (however you spell it) I am adding that to my brain dump list for sure. Thanks for some more white space.
I loved this… I use something similar when I’m overwhelmed and the great thing about doing this exercise is that you get rid of the brain fuzz and get to go to bed at night with a relaxed and empty head and you just sleep like a log.
I think it may be very efficient if you follow all the steps! Thanks for a new method of clearig up!
I like the ‘meh’ part..lol.. it’s so true we often do things which we are not really interested to do but still do it for whatever silly reasons. Meh meh meh !
Awesome video! Thank you!!
I ended up not having a lot of lines, but realizing that most things on my list were things I really wanted to do and that they were mostly things that were in my control. I just need to schedule them out over a few days rather than feel like I need to do them all, uhm, yesterday. Yeah, that’s not helpful.
Thanks for helping me realize that!
Would love to hear more about how you prioritize things on your list.
Thanks again Marie xoxo
Great simple-but-helpful video; especially love how the info is conveyed. And LOVE that outfit – absolutely adorable top!!
Awww… I can BREATHE! So much on plate, so many thoughts lately! THANK YOU my dear for this beautiful exercise, was definitely needed at this moment! (Love when the universe delivers!) Appreciate you!!!
Loved the video! Are you in my head? How did you know I was feeling overwhelmed? lol. Awesome vid, keep them coming!
Thanks for posting this! It’s a great idea. I actually have an account with penzu.com for journaling so I was able to just delete the ‘uncontrollable’ and the ‘meh’.
I will be ding this daily to keep on track!
Wow. I did not realize that I needed permission to cross off the “meh” items. I’ll be honest and say I didn’t do the exercise yet, but am planning to right after my next call in a couple minutes. Very specific people popped into my head though that have been wanting to schedule calls or meetings. I realize that I need to listen to my gut more when dealing with prospects. There are people I know right away are not a right fit or will be more work than they’re worth and yet I go through the motions anyways. Not a good use of my time and I am not the right fit for them. Thanks for another AMAZING video! xo
Love it. So simple to do – it is just taking the time to do. A friend mentioned the other day not to worry about those things out of my control. Those items are now Off the List! Thanks as always!
omg i have some much meh! thanks for bringing that to my attention
jill
Love it! Thanks. My favorite part is the “Meh.”
I really need to do this with starting this business. I have so many things I think need to be done NOW!!YESTERDAY !!! or LAST WEDNESDAY!!!! I’ve learned a few things over the past two weeks. First I expect way to much of myself, and 2nd there are only 24 hours in a day and I need some time for me. I believe that this may help cull the list a bit.
Great exercise Marie! Nothing on this list is out of my control, but I was able to make a huge to-do list of 54 items that I can now work with to prioritize and schedule! A bit “overwhelming”! lol Now I’m able to chunk business vs. personal and “scheduling my life” was on my to-do list anyways, so this has set me into action for the next step! Thanks! And BTW, my inbox is flooding with emails these days…I’ve been unsubscribing from many lists and sometimes just deleting emails, but I always open the Tuesday Q&A from you! xoxo
Hey Dimple! Thanks for your feedback and so glad you got value from this. And of course, I’m thrilled you look forward to Tuesdays
We look forward to sending them out!
meh. another piece of great content, thanks marie! BTW-love the gray backdrop!
If i liked it???? I LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV IT!!!! I did it at once and it was like a fresh breeeeeeeeeeze in my heart & head. Thank you so much!
I realised that some of my overwhelm is that I’m subscribed to so many freakin’ lists and get so many e-newsletters that I don’t read. I already filter them into a folder (so they don’t go through my inbox), but I feel heavy trawling through all that STUFF, opinions and other ideas. I feel totally overwhelmed and it makes me feel uncertain about my business. I’m going to do a HUGE unsubscribe sweep.
BTW Marie – I ALWAYS read your emails – they have great value and make me smile.
Love love LOVED this!! YOU, Ms. Marie are a goddess of modern times. Thank you for All that you do for us. I stumbled upon your book a few months ago, looked you up, and was instantly “in love” with you (in a girl crush/I-wanna-be-like-Marie sort of way) and am SO thankful for your postings, exercises, Q&A’s and well…Everything!!! Thank you SO much for being you.
Dear Marie,
Your vids are great and very helpfull! I work in Germany in the english section of a bookshop and discovered your website after reading your wonderful book – and next time I trim the window with self-help stuff, it will be there definitely!
Will the book be translated and published in Germany any time soon? ‘Cause I have some dear friends to whom it could definitely help a lot. Sorry for any language mistakes, I tried my best…;-))
Take care!
I like it ;-D
Thank you once again for knowing exactly what to say! Marie you truly help me keep my sanity
When I looked back at my list I couldn’t believe how many items where crossed out. I’ve been filling my brain with so much garbage and I know that’s what causes me to get off track.
I am putting “Creating Mental Whitespace” time in my calendar to make sure I keep overwhelm at a minimum!
Hey Marie, thnaks for helping me FEEL I am by the ocean. I checked out Necker Island. Wow!
Love it Marie!
I do a in depth version of this exercise in my Power & Accomplishment course and it’s the exercise that I get the most positive feedback on. It’s really quite freeing because it gets us focused on what’s actually important to us and what inspires us. When you focus on the important “to-do’s” and the things that inspire you, you will reach your goals and the level of success you desire much faster.
Thanks Marie! I stuck with you the whole time and the exercise actually worked. I’ve got it! Thanks so much
It is 2AM in California and I am tossing and turning and unable to turn my brain off as it churns, counting down the hours until I have to wake up. Six hours, five hours….four hours. Yikes! I pulled out my computer and decided to catch up on Q&A Tuesday and what do I see? The perfect solution! I have my journal in my lap and am ready to write….and then hopefully get some shut eye. Thank you Marie!!
This is awesome! And totally calming. Thank you!
Taking the “power” out of the word is a good start. Instead of OVERwhelmed why not be just “whelmed”. Let’s get our power back by choosing words that help us stay in control.
Peace.
Marie,
Just watched your video, ” Creating Mental White Space.” Great ideas. I got rid of two yucky thing on my list. All the others appear to be “Obligations.”
However,there was one on the list (spelled), Money, Money, Money. I could have crossed it of, except, I do need money.
Mary.
Hey Marie!
What business mastermind event was it? I would love to find out more as I am working on started my own branded venture capital conglomerate organisation and would love to be involved in anything related.
xoxo,
Rachel
This is the best site for anybody who desires to find out about this subject. You notice so much its almost onerous to argue with you (not that I truly would want…HaHa). You undoubtedly put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply nice!
Hey Marie.
This exercise was soooo helpful! Being a teenager and trying to find out my future career options can be difficult at times. And I have to admit I sometimes overthink things (not a very positive affermation) but this exercise definitely helped me.
I managed to find out what I can’t control and can control in my life and resulting from this I have a clearer view of my future goals and a clearer mind. YAY! you are such an insperational person!
thankyou for your words of wisdom. x
I may incorporate something like this with my clients, Marie. It’s brilliant! Thanks for re-viving it and tweeting it from the archives
Marie, THANK YOU so much for this video workshop. I find that there are just so many things that I ‘want’ to accomplish and never ever get around to. I just completed the exercise except I went on for . . . maybe 20 minutes. Writing, scribbing, jotting down thoughts, words, feelings . . . let’s just say I wrote on both sides of an 8 x 11 sheet of paper.
Fortunately, the majority of these thoughts were striked through and all I need to do now is work on tackling these relevant actions.
Thank you again and I am so glad to be a part of this community.
xo
Sharon
Ok I cheated, I didn’t pause the first time I watched the video. But this week has been so crazy that I watched it again, paused and crossed lots of lines.
Thank you for this!
Thanks for this exercise. I think the next time I’ll try a wall and sticky notes. I’ll pull off the things out of my control and the “mehs” and literally see the white space.
Well this was IMMENSELY helpful
thats a clever idea Jovana!
I have to laugh at myself because this is about the third time I have watched this video! I frequently suffer from what mentor Lissa Rankin calls “overwhelm paralysis”…I literally put too much on my plate constantly, more than can be done in any given day, expect myself to “do everything perfectly & RIGHT NOW!” (even though I know that’s rather ridiculous), then get upset/made/beat myself up when I can’t perform to a ridiculous standard that NO ONE could! (have to laugh at myself here!!!)
I found that I couldn’t even write for the full 10 minutes, I think I got 6 – 8 minutes in and I was “empty”, which is funny because all those tasks and to dos crammed into my head seems like SO MUCH MORE than it looks like on paper. I also found I wasn’t as worried about things I couldn’t control or even meh things (I had all business stuff…eg signs of procrastination… and only 1 meh thing). But it took a serious mental load off and I feel “clearer” and more able to get through what I can today / schedule things for later!
Thanks Marie – love your vids & posts!
I just started out my online business, selling ipad cases and just went live. A lot of things are really going on my mind: creating real and loyal subscribers, maintaining and adding a few touches to my website, and making sales! This really helped me layout my day-to-day activities and prioritize. Thanks Marie!
GENIUS!!! I started out feeling like ‘ I totally don’t even need to do step one’ (haha) then did steps 2 and 3 TWICE and now I feel as if a freakin mountain has been lifted from my shoulders! LOVE YOU!!!!
Marie – you are the bee’s knees. I’m falling in love with your brain! Thank you.
Love Love Loved this Workshop – thanks for sending us this our way!
Thank you Marie for your ‘reminders’.
Love your work.
T
Thanks soooo much for this awesome exercise, you’ve really helped me make some creative space. I know how I need to spend my time now and what I’ve been wasting my energy thinking about. Spend about 10 minutes you said, I needed 45(!), there was so much to do clutter! Your video articles are always amazing, thanks again for helping me loads!
OK one question, the things left that are not scratched out, THOSE are the things that are the priority? If so…..that exercise just left me with 3 things out of the 25 I had on my list, that need my immediate attention……OMG!!! Lot’s of MEH…..which means why am I doing it? I called those people and politely declined. THANK YOU FOR THIS!
This is way beyond awesome!!!
Good exerise to confirm my list is whittled down to the important bare bones. Thank you.
Thanks Marie, I did cross 3 off my list leaving 19 things to do, I am so fed up of dragging this around like a dead body, great exercise, now know that I need to kick this in to touch over the weekend and will keep going until everything is done or actioned! Thanks
Hi Marie,
I saw you on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday and I’ve been a fan ever since! Quick question: how do you make your daily schedule? Is there technology that you use, like an app or online calendar system? I’m looking for recommendations to help organize myself.
Thanks for all that you do! Great videos!
Thanks, Marie, for this useful exercise. I feel as if I have lots of things that I would love to cross off the list, but that I HAVE to do. It’s probably a problem that is fairly common for those of us who are working in one job, while trying to build our own business. Sometimes the responsibilities of our job leave little time and energy to devote to our true passion (our growing business). What happens when the “meh” stuff must get done and we feel as if we are drowning in “meh”?