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Squiggly Careers
Spaciousness – How to manage your attention, not your time
Ep. 524
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In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the idea of spaciousness at work — a powerful alternative to constant busyness that’s less about managing time and more about managing attention. Borrowing brilliance from Megan Reitz and her research on spaciousness, they unpack why doing more isn’t always the answer, and how creating space can help you think better, feel calmer, and work more meaningfully.
Episode 524
🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster
🇺🇸 PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn
🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 What is spaciousness (and what it’s not)
03:40 Why spaciousness is about attention, not time
06:37 The four dimensions of spaciousness
08:35 From “doing mode” to spacious ways of working
13:08 How tech, meetings and metrics keep us busy
18:47 Why we self-sabotage spaciousness
19:30 The 45-minute focus experiment
21:00 Interconnection and mapping your work system
24:05 Letting go of “shoulds” at work
27:06 What you want to feel proud of this year
29:05 Staying curious and open (even when you’re sceptical)
31:13 Measuring learning instead of just outcomes
🎯 What You’ll Learn
- What spaciousness really means at work
- Why being busy can block curiosity and insight
- The four dimensions of spaciousness and how they show up
- Practical experiments to create more focus and clarity
📚 Resources Mentioned
Megan Reitz’s research on Spaciousness: https://www.meganreitz.com/spaciousness
#165 Setting Yourself Up For Success – How to speak up at work with Megan Reitz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozgO1R1IL3w
AI tools for summarising reports (Claude)
Episode on noticing: https://youtu.be/rid3L_XdePQ
For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com
More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:
📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/
🏃♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz
📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction
📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/
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