CONTEXT
If you ask me, November has a reputation problem.
The holidays are approaching, year-end deadlines are piling up, and everyone is sprinting toward the finish line. The result? Burnout season.
Here's the thing: We treat our energy like it's infinite. We say yes to every project, every favor, every request that lands in our inbox. We pride ourselves on being helpful, productive, available.
But energy isn't infinite. It's your most valuable resource.
That's why I'm declaring this month "no-vember." A month dedicated to protecting your energy for the few things that truly matter.
5 minimalist habits to avoid burnout this month:
METHOD
1. Make no your default.
In the words of Derek Sivers, if it’s not a “hell yes,” it’s a no.
No to that extra project when your plate is full. No to that difficult client. No to overgiving and stretching yourself thin. No to what doesn’t align.
Every no this month declutters some space for the right yes.
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2. Create (and keep) boundaries.
If your work hours are 9am - 6pm, don’t answer that 8pm email. (It can probably wait until morning.)
Your boundaries teach people how to treat you. If you don't respect them, no one else will either.
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3. Understand what’s urgent vs. important.
Answering that ping on your phone? Might feel really urgent, but it can usually wait.
Spending quality time with your kids before bed? That’s important.
Important things contribute to your long-term mission, values, and goals. The trap? We spend all day reacting to urgent things and wonder why we feel unfulfilled.
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4. Prioritize rest.
Cutting 1 hour of sleep tonight might seem like gaining 1 hour to get stuff done…
But 1 less hour of sleep actually = 2+ fewer hours of productivity tomorrow.
A foggy brain moves slower, makes more mistakes, and comes up with less creative ideas.
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5. Enjoy single-tasking.
If I asked you what your priorities are right now, you could probably list them out. There are about ~5 of them, right?
But by definition, priority = 1 thing.
I love this quote from Greg McKeown: “The word priority came into the English language in the 1400s. It was singular… It stayed singular for the next five hundred years.”
Try this: Every morning, put your phone in Do Not Disturb mode for 1-2 hours and get your #1 most important thing done.
This is the magic of doing fewer things, better.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The people who finish the year strong? They're not the ones who said yes to everything. They're the ones who said no to almost everything—so they could show up fully for what actually mattered.
This November, give yourself permission to protect your peace. To be a little more unavailable. To rest without guilt. To do fewer things, better.
Enjoy your 𝘯𝘰-vember.
Your future self will thank you. 🍂
All my love,
Jade
P.S. An important part of doing “fewer, things better”? Choose to work on one rising tide that will lift all of your boats. For me, that rising tide was building my personal brand on LinkedIn. Everything became easier after that. Clients found me, so I didn’t have to waste time prospecting. Opportunities found me that I would never have been considered for in the past.
And honestly? I have a feeling it would bring you just as many opportunities. Our next Archimedes cohort starts December 1st. Are you in? Read all the reviews and apply here (it only takes 3 mins)
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