Deadlines and Dirty Dishes – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

How to Manage Overwhelm and Maintain Productivity

Season 1 · Episode 3

lundi 5 mai 2025 • Duration 46:45

Ever feel like your to-do list is plotting against you? Like you’re treading water in your business and home life while the current just keeps getting stronger?

In this episode of Deadlines and Dirty Dishes, I share my honest experience of overwhelm, not just from work, but from the relentless overlap of solo parenting, school holidays, and managing client demands. I unpack the strategies I now rely on to protect my energy, structure my time, and navigate the chaos with more clarity and calm.

Whether you’re a freelancer, a parent, or running your own business (or all three at once), this episode offers both empathy and actionable support.

💡 What You’ll Learn

What overwhelm really looks like — and why it’s not a sign of failure
10 practical strategies that actually work when you feel stuck or overloaded
How to reset your mindset and momentum with simple, sustainable changes
Why breaks, boundaries, and planning ahead are non-negotiable tools for productivity
How systems and support help prevent burnout, not just relieve it

🧠 Key Themes

From reactive to proactive: managing energy, not just time
The emotional toll of doing everything yourself — and how to change that
Building business systems that align with your real life (including school holidays)
Finding clarity through reflection, delegation, and calm focus

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode

Want support implementing any of the strategies I talk about today?
Explore how working with a VA or OBM could support your business here:
👉 https://alisonquinnvirtualassistant.co.uk/services-va-vs-obm-proven-support-for-your-business/

🧭 What’s Next?
Still not sure what kind of support your business needs?
Take the VA or OBM Quiz and discover what to delegate first:
👉 https://alisonquinnvirtualassistant.co.uk/va-or-obm-quiz/

Thanks for tuning in to Deadlines and Dirty Dishes. If you loved what you heard, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, or share the episode with a fellow freelancer or founder.

Or visit my socials:

From Books to Business: How Bedtime Stories Transformed My Approach to Work and Support

Season 1 · Episode 2

samedi 3 mai 2025 • Duration 30:24

What can reading Room on the Broom with your child teach you about running a business? Quite a lot, actually.

In this episode of Deadlines and Dirty Dishes, I share the unexpected way bedtime stories with my daughter reshaped how I think about productivity, growth, and client relationships. From rediscovering my own love of reading to seeing the power of consistency and collaboration, this is the story of how something simple became deeply transformative.

Whether you're a parent, a business owner, or someone who’s juggling both, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the quiet rituals that build momentum and the partnerships that sustain it.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How bedtime reading sparked a deeper approach to personal and professional growth
The surprising parallels between parenting rituals and business systems
Why collaboration and shared purpose create the strongest VA/client relationships
How consistent support builds trust, momentum, and sustainability in business
The mindset shift that happens when you stop trying to do everything alone

🧠 Key Themes

Building connection through shared experiences
Letting go of control to make room for real growth
Reframing support as a strategic advantage, not a last resort
Creating business rituals that mirror life-giving habits

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode

Books that inspired this episode:
I Am Rebel, Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo, The Christmasaurus, Hetty Feather, Where the Crawdads Sing, Lessons in Chemistry, and Atmosphere
Want to explore how working with a VA or OBM could transform your business? https://alisonquinnvirtualassistant.co.uk/services-va-vs-obm-proven-support-for-your-business/

🤝 Final Thought

Reading with my daughter taught me that growth comes from showing up consistently, being present, and sharing the experience. That same principle applies to business support. You don’t have to do it all alone. When you stop trying, something magical happens.

Thanks for tuning in to Deadlines and Dirty Dishes. If you loved what you heard, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, or share the episode with a fellow freelancer or founder.

Or visit my socials:

Managing Work with Chronic Pain

Season 1 · Episode 1

vendredi 2 mai 2025 • Duration 29:46

In this episode, I share what it’s really like to run a business while living with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition I’ve managed for over two decades. From sleepless nights and brain fog to client meetings and content deadlines, this episode explores eight practical, tested strategies that have helped me balance long-term pain with sustainable productivity.

Whether you live with chronic pain, support someone who does, or simply want to build a more body-aware business, I hope you find something useful here.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How to structure your workday around pain patterns
Why hydration, nutrition and sleep are foundational to energy and focus
How to use movement, layering, and ergonomic tools to prevent flare-ups
The power of early intervention and listening to your body
Mindfulness tools that support both wellbeing and productivity

🔗 Further Reading and Resources Mentioned in the Episode

The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino
https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
NHS – 10 Ways to Ease Pain
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/pain/10-ways-to-ease-pain/
Breathworks Mindfulness Taster Session
https://www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/online-group-session
Sleep Foundation – Tips for Better Sleep with Chronic Pain
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/pain-and-sleep
Harvard Health – Foods That Fight Inflammation
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
Arthritis Foundation – Best Drinks for Arthritis
https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/nutrition/healthy-eating/best-drinks-for-arthritis

🤝 Final Thought

Managing pain and running a business isn’t about pushing through. It's about working with your body. Be patient with yourself. Celebrate the small wins. And remember, your productivity doesn’t define your value!

Thanks for tuning in to Deadlines and Dirty Dishes. If you loved what you heard, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, or share the episode with a fellow freelancer or founder.

Or visit my socials: