Growing up, my mom frequently gave me concise advice: “Do nothing.” 

Mostly, I remember her giving it to me many times as a teenager dealing with high school drama, and—in short—what she meant was “take a beat.” 

Pause before you react. Wait. Gather your thoughts.  

Doing nothing didn’t mean doing nothing forever. It meant that when I did respond, my response would be deliberate, thoughtful, and conscious—rather than emotion-driven and thoughtless. 

It was good advice. (Not just for teenage drama but for any choices I would need to make in life.) 

Unfortunately, it was advice that I quickly forgot when I moved into my career. 

Early in my career, I plowed forward, my eyes firmly set on the carrot of the next shiny role or promotion before me, never stopping to consider if this was even what I wanted.  

But once I learned to slow down long enough to do nothing, everything changed. 

I quit endlessly checking boxes and started creating meaningful work. I stopped merely surviving from week to week and began making intentional moves from a rested place. 

Best of all, my life and career finally looked and felt the way I wanted it to, and I began to flourish.  

This is something you can do, too! Pursuing a heart-based career can seem impossible when you first begin, but it becomes ten times easier when you prioritize intention over speed and excellence over volume. 

Intention Over Speed 

I recently read Cal Newport’s book, Slow Productivity, which resonated with me. In the book, he advocates for a more sustainable and meaningful approach to work—something I have found to be the secret to avoiding burnout—versus moving quickly through tasks, or what we traditionally think of as “productivity.” For years, I have been putting these same ideas into action, and these are the steps that have helped me do it:

1. Prioritize Fewer Tasks

Slow down and be intentional about your work. When you give greater attention to the things that most align with your core values, intentions, and energy, you will always find that you achieve more sustainable and effective outcomes. 

It’s a slight shift that can make a big impact. Instead of merely checking boxes, you’ll begin taking steps that create meaningful, lasting results with your career.

2. Work at a Natural Pace

Energy flow varies from person to person. The time of the day when you are the most focused and the most energetic matters. Simply staying busy will never lead to meaningful, heart-based work. 

Instead of rushing into decisions, reacting out of urgency, or pushing through fatigue, try honoring your energy’s natural ebbs and flows. Create the space needed in your schedule to make thoughtful decisions and practice honest reflection. 

3. Adopt a Quality Mindset

The old “quality over quantity” adage applies to heart-based career planning. Prioritizing excellence over volume isn’t limited to fewer, more meaningful tasks on your to-do list; it also applies to your tools.

For instance, in his book, Cal recommends buying an expensive notebook, and, in my experience, I wholeheartedly agree. Beautiful, high-quality tools inspire beautiful work. When you get the right tool for yourself—regardless of the expense—you will instantly feel at the top of your game.

Intentional, Heart-Based Career Planning Is Within Reach

When your job and work align with who you are at the heart of everything (your values, strengths, energy, and desire for impact), intention and quality will always rise to the top. At Flourish Careers, helping you find that sweet spot is what I do best. 

If you’re fed up, exhausted, and contemplating a career change, we help you figure out which metaphorical seeds to plant and which metaphorical weeds to pull to help you find the place where you can flourish. Find the pathway that’s right for you. 

Check out the Fried to Flourishing Group Coaching Experience to learn more. 

Want More Career Wisdom? Keep Reading

+ How to Refresh & Realign Your Energy at Work
+ Discovering Purpose in Your Career Featuring Denise Wolf
+ Personal Branding in the Digital Age Featuring Paige Arnof-Fenn

Connect with Me

For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram @flourish.careers.

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