As a solopreneur I have no doubt that you’ve probably read your share of productivity books.
The usual ones always come up: Getting Thing Done, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and Eat That Frog.
And if you enjoy reading the more modern ones then you might have read Essentialism, The ONE Thing, or Deep Work.
They give us a variety of ideas on how to work smart and be productive but you know what they don’t really talk about?
How to work with the cycles.
No I’m not talking about those cycles (although there are some good books out there about that as well), but with the cycles of the seasons, cycles of life and the moon cycles.
Our culture is very disconnected from nature. Our ancestors relied on nature for information, guidance and would work in harmony to cultivate the needs of the community.
Some farmers still consult the cycles of the moon to seed, cultivate and harvest their crops. And there is no doubt that most in the agricultural fields (even that green-thumb neighbor next door) are keenly in tune with the seasons and how the environment effects the flowers, crops and vegetation.
Today, we are so disconnected from the natural world. Our heads full of information, our eyes narrowed in on tiny screens, and the world – with all its beauty – is quickly passing us by.
As much as we have turned our backs on this notion, we are intimately tied to our environment, the world around us and the Universe.
If you don’t think so, recall how much the moon influences the water here on Earth and that some farmers still consult the moon cycles. Why? Because these cycles have a real influence not just a metaphorical one.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the moon is becoming a hot topic these days.
People are waking up to its influence and watching trends in their own lives.
It’s as though there is an awakening, probably more of a “remembering”, of how important La Lune is in our lives. And, how not only do we need to respect Earth we need to respect all the varied influences.
There are lessons and patterns that can be observed by watching the cycles.
If something that powerful and predictable has an influence on the Earth’s waters you’re telling me that as humans who are made up of over 60% water (the brain and heart is upwards of 73%) we’re not also somehow impacted? Hmmm…
Over the last few year I’ve been observing my own work cycles and mapping them against the moon cycles. I’ve been having fun observing when I had more energy and was more active in the day- to- day running of my business and when I was feeling the need to cancel appointments and just read for an afternoon.
There were definitely patterns that emerged.
I suggest doing a little observing yourself.
- Observe how productive you are or when you feel like taking the day off over the next month.
- Then compare these trends against the moon cycles (new, waxing, waning, full moon).
- Reflect on how productive you are in Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer?
- Obverse your personal cycles, your daily cycles and maybe even your life cycles (are you single, a new mom, going through a divorce, in your 20s, 40s, 60s – all these life stages and transitions also play a role).
Now imaging working WITH all these cycles.
Working when you feel fully energized?
Resting when you need (and desperately want) to rest.
It may just make the whole business of running your business much much smoother!
(Yes, there will be more on these cycles and how to work with them… so stay tuned!)
Image courtesy of Unsplash:
Marcus Dall Col
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