An Easy Win?

Exploring resilience through the lens of essentialism...and my first AI-assisted blog post. I don't feel using AI was an 'easy win' to write a post, it took me just as long to edit as if I had dictated straight into Blogger, aside from a fancier word or phrase here and there. Feedback appreciated!

As part of a 2-day leadership course I'm  undertaking in December, I’ve started some pre-work with the 'easy win' of watching a video summary of the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. So far I've managed to listen to the overview of the book's first section: Explore.

McKeown breaks down 'Explore' into five key areas: Escape, Look, Play, Sleep, and Select. I think each of these contributes to building resilience as I personally connect with each of them when thinking about resilience in my own life and career.

The first thing that jumped out at me was how sleep is definitely the foundation of my resilience! When I’ve had a good night’s rest, I’m more able to bounce back from challenges. Without decent sleep, everything feels heavier—problems seem bigger, my patience runs thinner, and my focus narrows.

Escape, however, is where I struggle the most. In my daily life, carving out time to truly disconnect—to read, reflect, or simply be—is difficult even though I really try. It’s a work in progress, and one I’m becoming more conscious of as I explore what resilience really means for me.

Look(ing) is a concept I think I picked up during my early teaching days as an NQT: writing things down allows me to step back from immediate challenges and see them more clearly. I remember times when I faced difficult student dynamics, where behaviour was aggressive and I felt overwhelmed. Journaling helped me process those experiences, identify what I could control there and then, and show me what I needed to give to God!

Select is another area I find tricky. I often feel like I can do everything - because with God I can - Luke 1:37. I don’t think I have a true single specialism, and sometimes that makes it hard to prioritize. I’ve come to think however that not having a specialism is my strength. I’m adaptable, and while I may not be the best at any one thing, I’m capable across many areas which means it is harder to say 'no' and focus on what truly matters.

Play, oh my favourite thing to do! Thanks to my years at Serendipity and my Masters, I learned how important it is to experiment, to try new things, and to approach challenges with a sense of curiosity. I definitely think play keeps our minds agile and it’s a vital part of staying resilient, regardless of the medium you play with.

Reflecting on these five elements - Escape, Look, Play, Sleep, and Select - I have a clearer picture of how I build resilience and where I still have room to grow. I wonder what the next section of the book, Eliminate, will be about...eliminating what? It sounds a bit ominous!