There’s a moment that happens to me most winters — usually on a gray Tuesday afternoon — when I realize I’m technically working … but nothing feels solid.
I’m at my desk. The dog is curled up nearby, snoring like he’s been working a double shift. My coffee has gone cold. I’ve answered emails, tweaked a document, maybe reorganized a folder or two (you know, “productive” things).
And yet, underneath all of it, there’s a quiet unease.
Not panic. Not failure. Just that subtle, slippery feeling of being unmoored.
If you’ve felt that lately, I want you to hear this clearly:
It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you or your business.
And it usually doesn’t mean you need more effort or more stucture.
You need one steady anchor.
Not a new plan. Not a big goal. And not a total overhaul.
Just one thing you can come back to when the week starts wobbling.
Earlier this month, we talked about orientation in relation to understanding where you are in your business right now and finding your “Resume Point.”
This week is different. This is about choosing what you’ll stand on once you know where you are.
Why January So Often Feels Unsteady (Even When You’re Doing Fine)
By the time we reach late January, the external noise quiets down … but the internal pressure often sneaks in.
The fresh-start crowd has moved on. The inbox is full again. Life has resumed its normal interruptions. And suddenly, there’s this unspoken question hovering in the background:
“Shouldn’t I feel more on track by now?”
For work-from-home women entrepreneurs — especially those of us with years of experience under our belts — January isn’t about motivation. It’s about orientation.
You’re not trying to prove you can work hard. You’ve already proven that, time and time again.
You’re trying to feel steady inside your business again.
That’s where anchoring comes in.
What an Anchor Is (and What It Definitely Is Not)
Let’s get one thing straight before your brain tries to turn this into homework.
An anchor is not:
- A project to finish
- A goal to hit
- A system overhaul
- A promise to “do better next week”
An anchor isn’t the next thing on your to-do list — even a familiar one. It’s the reference point you use to decide which tasks actually matter.
An anchor isn’t the next thing on your to-do list. It’s the reference point that helps you decide which tasks actually matter.
An anchor is:
- One stabilizing element you can return to
- Something familiar and reliable
- A reminder of how you work best when things feel scattered
Think of it like baking bread.
When you bake often enough, you stop obsessing over recipes. You rely on a few constants — the bowl you always use, the feel of the dough, the rhythm of kneading. Those anchors keep you grounded even when you try something new.
Your business works the same way.
The Real Reason “More Structure” Often Backfires
Here’s something I see over and over with smart, capable women entrepreneurs:
When things feel wobbly, the instinct is to add structure.
More planning. More systems. Maybe more rules for yourself. (Sound familiar?)
But structure without stability just creates pressure.
Anchors work differently. They don’t box you in — they hold you steady.
Instead of asking, “What should I be doing this month?”
Anchoring asks, “What can I rely on when I don’t know what to do next?”
Structure asks you to perform. Anchors ask you to return.
Structure asks you to perform. Anchors ask you to return.
That shift alone can lower stress dramatically.
Three Types of Anchors That Actually Work
You only need one. Not all three. Not a perfect one. Just the one that feels steady right now.
1. A System You Trust
This might be:
- Your client workflow
- Your content process
- Your weekly planning habit
Not because it’s flawless — but because it’s familiar.
When your brain is tired, familiarity equals safety.
2. A Rhythm You Protect
For some women, the anchor isn’t what they do — it’s when.
For example, this might look like a protected work block, a consistent start-of-day routine, or a weekly reset ritual.
Like walking the dog at the same time every day — it signals, “We know what we’re doing here.”
3. A Focus You Return To
This is especially powerful if your work spans multiple offers or responsibilities.
One core focus answers the question: “If nothing else gets done today, what still makes this a good workday?”
That’s not lowering the bar. That’s defining productive enough.
Why One Anchor Is More Powerful Than Five Goals
Goals pull you forward.
Anchors hold you in place.
And when life is already full — family needs, energy fluctuations, real-world interruptions — holding steady is what allows forward motion later.
This is why the Business Anchor Sheet works so well in January. It doesn’t ask you to imagine an ideal future version of your business. It orients you to the one you’re already standing in.
Anchors don’t help you become someone new. They help you stay connected to who already showed up.
This isn’t something you revisit or optimize — it’s something you choose once and keep visible.
It reminds you:
- What’s already working
- What’s already supporting you
- What kind of productivity actually fits this season
That’s confidence-building work — not busywork.
How to Choose Your Anchor (Without Overthinking It)
If you’re tempted to pick something aspirational as your anchor, I invite you to pause for a moment and remember this:
Anchors aren’t about who you want to be. They’re about who you already are on your most grounded days.
Ask yourself:
- What do I naturally return to when I’m overwhelmed?
- What part of my business feels familiar instead of fragile?
- What helps me exhale when I sit down to work?
Your anchor should feel like slipping on an old sweater — not lacing up new running shoes.
What Happens When You Actually Use Your Anchor
This is the quiet magic part.
When you consciously return to your anchor, the following happens:
- Decision fatigue eases
- Productivity becomes steadier
- Confidence rebuilds without pep talks
- You stop second-guessing your pace
You don’t feel “behind” as often — because you know where you stand.
That steadiness is what carries you into February’s rhythms and March’s forward motion. The anchor isn’t forever. It’s for now.
And now matters.
A Note for the Woman Thinking “This Feels Too Simple”
Of course it does.
Simplicity often feels suspicious when we’ve been taught that growth requires effort and complexity.
But confidence grows faster with kindness — and with things that actually work in real life.
You don’t need to earn steadiness. You don’t need permission to go slower. And you don’t need a new version of yourself (although you may need to reconnect with Business-You, as we discussed in this earlier article).
You just need a steady place to stand.
See, January was never meant to make you faster. It was meant to make you steadier.
January was never meant to make you faster. It was meant to make you steadier.
So if this month helped you feel less scattered — even slightly — it did its job.
Your Action Step This Week
Set aside 10 quiet minutes (that’s it).
On a blank page — or using the Business Anchor Sheet if you have access — answer these three prompts:
- What’s already holding my business steady right now?
- What feels most familiar and reliable in my work?
- If I chose one anchor for the rest of this month, what would it be?
Write it down. Keep it visible. And when the week starts to wobble, come back to it.
That’s not quitting.
That’s anchoring.
And you deserve that steadiness.
As January comes to a close, the goal isn’t to add more — it’s to repeat what feels steady.
From this place of anchored steadiness, you’ll be ready next month to strengthen the rhythms that already support you in sustaining your momentum. We won’t need to go searching for motivation or creating discipline.
Because when you know what anchors you, consistency stops feeling like effort — and starts feeling like trust.
When you know what anchors you, consistency stops feeling like effort — and starts feeling like trust.
And that’s the kind of momentum that lasts.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’re an Insider or VIP, you already have access to this month’s Business Anchor Sheet — along with the full archive of past Mini Power Tools designed to support grounded, sustainable productivity.
If you’re not, you’re warmly invited to upgrade when it feels supportive. These tools aren’t about doing more — they’re about helping you feel steadier while doing what already matters.
You don’t need a fresh start.
You’re already in motion.
And you’ve got this. 💛
FAQs
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about choosing an anchor that makes your workweek feel steadier …
Choosing an anchor means identifying one steady system, rhythm, or focus you can return to when work feels scattered. It’s not a goal or project — it’s a stabilizer that helps you work from confidence instead of pressure.
January often feels unsteady because routines and rhythms are still re-forming. For experienced entrepreneurs, productivity returns through orientation and familiarity — not effort or motivation.
No. A goal pulls you forward, while an anchor holds you steady. Anchors help you decide what’s “enough” so you don’t overextend or second-guess yourself.
Just one. Choosing a single anchor reduces decision fatigue and creates clarity. More than one often reintroduces pressure instead of stability.
Yes. Anchors are seasonal. The right anchor now may not be the right one later — and that’s exactly how they’re meant to work.