57 | The Less I Do The More I Get Done: Finding Rest As We Work

Text Monique directly! Share thoughts, feels or feedback!

Are you feeling overwhelmed and overworked? In our latest episode, Monique explores the transformative power of rest and how it can revolutionize your productivity.

Drawing inspiration from a recent gathering of high-achieving Black women, she addresses the overwhelming exhaustion that often accompanies leadership roles, motherhood, and societal pressures. Monique also introduces seven actionable steps to help us combat overwhelm and create meaningful space in our lives. From fostering community support to establishing clear priorities and making time visible, she provides a roadmap for reclaiming control over our schedules.

Tune in now to discover how rest can be your greatest ally in achieving your goals!

GEMS DROPPED

"We ​point ​to ​time ​management ​just ​because ​it ​is a ​buzz ​phrase for when things start to feel out of whack, when your focus is too scattered and spread. You look back over a day or a month and think: I was busy and ​I ​know ​I ​got ​some ​things ​done, but what just happened? And ​why ​do ​I ​feel ​like ​nothing ​is ​getting ​done although ​I'm ​doing ​all ​of ​the ​things? What ​this ​actually ​ends ​up ​boiling ​down ​to ​is ​less ​about ​time ​management and ​more ​about ​the ​courage ​to ​actually ​stop ​everything. An ​aggressive ​stop can feel impossible. It can feel indulgent.”

"With growth comes breaking. When something new is born, something else has to die. ​And ​taking ​account ​of ​that ​and ​anticipating ​it ​ahead ​of ​time, ​before ​you're ​too ​broken ​to ​pull ​yourself ​back ​together. ​That's a ​tough ​practice."

“For ​my women ​of ​color ​and ​moms, ​the ​courage ​​to ​stop ​everything ​feels ​like ​we're ​taking ​something ​away ​from ​someone ​else. ​To ​stop ​for ​ourselves ​feels ​like ​theft. ​To rest can feel spoiled, privileged, or entitled—but that belief is cultural conditioning. We’ve been trained to demonize the part of us that wants to rest, that needs a break. If you're not producing, then who are you? What are you worth? That lie holds us back. What ​I've ​discovered is the less I do, the more I get done. And ​I ​want ​to ​offer ​that ​to ​you ​today. ​The ​less ​you ​do,  ​the ​more ​you ​can ​get ​done. ​”

“Stopping for yourself is not selfish—it’s strategy. Build a practice that includes rest, not as a reward, but as part of the process."

“​When ​we ​give ​ourselves ​away, ​we ​give ​our ​energy ​and ​our ​time ​away ​for ​other ​people ​to ​control, ​for ​other ​people ​to ​tell ​us ​what ​we ​can ​and ​should ​do ​with ​our ​time ​and ​our ​energy. There's a ​cost. And ​you're ​probably ​suffering ​that ​cost ​if ​this ​is ​the ​existence ​that ​you're ​in ​right ​now ​where ​you're ​not ​creating ​aggressive ​space ​for ​yourself.”

“Whether ​you ​work ​for ​yourself ​or ​you ​work ​for ​someone ​else, ​​it's ​incredibly ​important ​to ​create ​sacred ​space ​for ​yourself and ​to ​do ​so ​as ​aggressively ​as ​you ​possibly ​can ​​and ​to ​hold ​it ​​firm. ​Do ​not ​let ​others ​in. Not ​only ​can ​you ​not ​let ​other ​people ​onto ​your ​calendar, ​you ​can't ​let ​your ​little ​productivity ​self ​in ​either. Focus ​on ​what ​you ​need ​and ​what ​those ​priorities ​are ​and ​let ​it ​flow.”

STAY IN TOUCH

Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [e-mail].