Reframe! #17

3 things that made me think differently and why they matter.

1/ Notice

If you ever read Winnie the Pooh you might remember the story where Roo falls into the steam and is swept along bouncing from waterfall to waterfall. All the other characters are looking on anxiously. But the young Kangaroo is so self absorbed he keeps shouting out looking for attention and kudos.

“Look at me, look at me. I’m swimming, I’m swimming."

Whenever I see particular types of social media post it reminds me of this story.

• The 'we went on an away day' - so what.
• The 'look at our great product' - so what.
• The 'humbled to get this award' - so what.
• The 'walking up Kilimanjaro for charity' - so what.
• The 'got a promotion' - so what.

Notice the sheer number of humblebrags in your feeds. The posts that blend false modesty with boasts.

"Look at me I'm swimming."

As Ricky Gervais would say... "No, sod off I'm not interested mate."

2/ Do

With everything that’s been going on with my family home sale (all complete now), I noticed my energy was slumping mid‑afternoon.

That’s not surprising when you combine work with the emotional and logistical stress of selling a home. So this week I decided to take some mid‑afternoon naps instead of reaching for another coffee.

This isn’t the first time I’ve used power naps to manage my energy and emotional state, but I’d forgotten how useful they are, and how much more alert I feel afterwards. It’s definitely made me think differently about how I structure my day.

Here are the simple rules I’m following right now:

• Length: I put on some music and aim for a 10‑minute nap. Setting a 20‑minute timer gives me time to relax and drift off without overshooting; any longer and I start to feel groggy.
• Timing: For me, mid‑afternoon is just right, so I aim for 2:30 p.m. and usually have a cup of tea afterwards.
• Place: I’ve anchored napping to a particular armchair and a specific piece of relaxing music, so my brain now associates that spot and that sound with a quick reset.

I know this isn’t possible for everyone - especially if you have young children or work in an open office - but if that’s not you, it’s worth giving short naps a try and seeing how they affect your focus and productivity.

I've found this week a quick snooze really helped with my energy and focus.

Here’s the science behind power napping: Can a quick snooze help with energy and focus? The science behind power naps

3/ Question

When did you last let yourself be a beginner at something that matters?

Perhaps you've avoided building a new skill.
Or a new communication medium you've wanted to try.
I know it's easier to stay safe and observe from the sidelines.

But mastery demands we explore fresh ideas and fields, with a beginner's mind.

A few examples to stimulate your thinking:
“I’ve wanted to write for years, but I’m still ‘researching how to do it right’.”
“I admire TedX speakers, but I only present if I’m absolutely forced to.”
“I’m fascinated by product building, yet I’ve never shipped a thing of my own.”

Ask yourself:

Where do I protect my ego instead of investing in my future?

If you enjoyed this please give me a shout out on LinkedIn.

That's it until next week.


Clive