The Key to Reclaiming Your Time and Energy as an Interior Designer

You know that feeling when you're super busy – running around, answering emails, jumping from project to project, dealing with one client after the other – and yet, somehow, it feels like you're not really getting anything done? You end your day exhausted, but that nagging sense of overwhelm lingers. That’s what a lack of clarity does to us.

When you're unclear on what needs to be done or how to do it, you spin your wheels. You work hard, but you don’t move forward. So, let’s talk about gaining clarity and how it can transform your workflow and your mindset.

The Three Questions to Gain Clarity

1. What am I unclear about?
   This is the foundational question. Clarity begins with identifying what feels fuzzy or confusing. Are you unsure about a project's scope? Is a client's budget unclear? Are you confused about your own priorities? Often, a lack of clarity comes from avoiding decisions or tasks that feel overwhelming. Take a moment to ask yourself: What am I avoiding? These are usually the things causing mental clutter and unnecessary stress. Recognizing these areas is the first step toward resolving them.

2. Who has the information I need to gain clarity?
   Gaining clarity often requires outside input. Think about who can provide the missing piece of the puzzle. Is it your client? Your accountant? Your team? Maybe you need feedback from a trusted colleague or mentor. Sometimes, just knowing who to ask can cut through the noise and get you closer to the answers you need.

3. With clear information, what is my next action?
   Clarity is only useful if it leads to action. Once you know what needs to happen, break it down into manageable steps. What’s the first small task you can complete to move forward? Action builds momentum, and clarity makes that action more focused and intentional.

Write down your answers. Once you identify these areas of uncertainty, do something about them.

• Maybe you need to have a conversation with your client about project scope.

• Maybe you need to schedule a meeting with your team.

• Maybe you need to follow up with your accountant.

• Maybe you just need to decide if something is truly worth your time.

Why Clarity Matters

“Clarity is the new Currency”

Clarity isn't just about getting things done. It’s about feeling in control of your time, your energy, and your direction. It’s about ending each day knowing that, even if you didn’t check off every item on your to-do list, you moved forward on what truly matters.

When you gain clarity, everything else falls into place:

• That overwhelm? It starts to fade.

• That frustration? It turns into focused energy.

• That feeling of being stuck? It transforms into forward momentum.

Clarity gives you the power to work smarter, not harder. It helps you prioritize and focus on what will move your business forward.

Getting clear on what needs to happen first and why transforms stress into productive stress – the kind that pushes you forward rather than paralyzes you. The stress doesn’t disappear completely, but it becomes manageable. It becomes a tool, not a burden.

Weekly Clarity Check-Ins

Here’s a challenge for you: Make clarity a weekly habit.

• Every Monday morning: Ask yourself what you lack clarity on. Write it down. Spend time getting clear, whether that means having conversations, making decisions, or breaking things down into smaller steps.

• Every Wednesday afternoon: Check in again. Look at what’s still fuzzy. Make it your priority to clarify those areas before the week ends.

By doing this, you’ll start each week with a sense of purpose and end it with a sense of progress.