If you’re overwhelmed do this

I always knew when Megan, one of my senior producers, was overwhelmed – usually when she was juggling multiple shoots. She would suddenly stop tapping at her keyboard, and start piling everything from her desk onto the floor. The spray and wipe would come out, everything was spotlessly cleaned, and then the desk would be put back together again.

Only the necessary items made it through this process- the rest was dealt with or biffed, and I would hear a big breath out as she sat down and faced her work with a newfound sense of calm and order.

When you’re trying to organise photoshoots, corral your images for your website, tackle a treatment, or tick off all those marketing and admin tasks (let alone identify them!) things can get a bit overwhelming. To say the least.

In a 2022 survey conducted by the Association of Photographers (AOP) to its membership in UK, 61% of those surveyed identified as dyslexic and 34% believe they have another form of neurodiversity. This is no surprise to me- the statistics were even higher amongst the photographers I repped, and continue to work with. And now there are increasing ADHD diagnoses amongst creative communities (and beyond).

If you’re facing a feeling of overwhelm around the tasks that are necessary to your job, I’d like to invite you to pause.

Take a breath.

Declutter what you can from your desk, office or studio. This could involve removing absolutely everything, and only bringing back in what you need/ use.

Or take yourself off somewhere and give yourself some space to revisit your goals so you can better see what you need to eliminate. (That’s exactly what I’ve been doing this week).

I know it sounds easier said than done, especially if you have a neurospicy brain. But it’s a start, even though it can seem counter productive.

Did Megan have time to stop? Probably not, but I’d argue she couldn’t afford NOT to stop. Gathering her thoughts, eliminating clutter, creating space- not only on her desk but in her brain- were essential to her ability to stay on the ball. She was an excellent producer.

And don’t forget there are ways to get help if you can’t do it alone. That’s what producers, editors, consultants and assistants do!

We’re about to start the second quarter of the year, so it’s the perfect time for you to pause, eliminate and get clear on what’s important.

You’ve got this!