Small Steps Count (Even When You Feel Overwhelmed)

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve sat at my desk staring at a to-do list that feels impossible. The kind where every item seems to mock you, and you don’t even know where to start. So instead, you end up scrolling your phone or tidying your desk. Running a business while juggling kids, life admin, and everything else isn’t easy, especially when you’re neurodivergent and the overwhelm hits like a tidal wave. Some days, just getting out of bed feels like an achievement, never mind tackling the list.

Why I Created the Calm Back Method™

I didn’t set out to make another shiny framework. I built the Calm Back Method because I needed it. My brain is always buzzing, I’ve got a business I care deeply about, and a family I love and I was drowning in the noise. I didn’t need perfection. I needed calm, structure, and a way to reclaim my time and energy for both work and home.

Small Steps Really Do Count

The biggest reminder I’ve learnt (and re-learnt on repeat)? Small steps matter. You don’t have to clear the whole list in one go, that expectation is crushing. You don’t have to be “on” 24/7. Some days it’s sending one email you’ve been avoiding, finishing a half-done Canva post, or finally clearing a tiny corner of your desk. Each counts. Each is progress.

The Four Phases

The Calm Back Method has four phases:

• Clear the Noise — cut through overwhelm and distractions.

• Align Your Actions — focus on what matters most.

• Lighten the Load — simplify, delegate, and streamline.

• Make It Stick — build systems that last.

But it’s not about ticking them all off in a perfect order. It’s about meeting yourself where you are. Some days that looks like streamlining my Asana board, other days it’s closing 47 open tabs on my laptop. Both count.

For the Lucys Out There

If you’re anything like me or lets call her Lucy, the creative business owner trying to do it all while raising kids, keeping clients happy, and feeling guilty for not being “more organised” this is for you. You don’t need another colour-coded planner that leaves you feeling behind. You need something that flexes with real life. A way to:

• Keep clients happy without constant firefighting.

• Switch off without guilt (because downtime fuels creativity).

• Free up headspace so you can enjoy the creative side of your work again.

A Different Way of Doing Business

You’re not on your own in this. I built this space for women who want to grow without burnout. No hustle badges. No guilt when life gets messy. Just calm, creativity, and compassion for yourself with small steps that build something sustainable.

So if today all you manage is one small thing, let that be enough. It really is.

✨ Want to bring more calm into your business? Start with one small step today. Connect with me on Instagram @ivory_and_ink_, or book a free 20-minute call to see how the Calm Back Method can work for you.