As a working mom, you’re juggling a lot—career, home, family, personal time (hopefully!). There’s one thing that’s crucial to keeping it all going: delegation. But, let’s be real—delegating doesn’t always feel as easy as it sounds. There are moments when you hand something off to someone else, but it’s like that task is still glued to your brain. How do you truly let go and trust the process?
Well, I’ve got a trick for you that’s simple, easy, and might sound a little crazy—but it works every time.
The Delegation Struggle is Real
You’ve been through the steps of delegation: you’ve chosen the right person for the task, you’ve communicated the goals and deadlines, and you’ve set up a check-in plan. You even remind yourself that this is something you can trust others with, and you’ve done the work to get it off your plate.
Yet, despite all of that, your brain still circles back to it. Is everything going according to plan? Did I miss something? What if they forget to update me?
Sound familiar? You’ve already taken the proper steps, but the mental tug of wanting to keep control can be hard to shake.
The Simple Trick: Write It Down
Here’s where my trick comes in—write it down on a post-it. Yes, you heard me right. Grab a sticky note, jot down the task that you’ve delegated, and fold it up. The act of writing it down helps to clear that mental space. It’s almost like getting it out of your brain and onto paper allows you to release that nagging feeling that you still have it in your mind.
Now, here’s the important part: fold it up and set it aside. Out of sight, out of mind—literally. You’ve already done the work to delegate, so now this simple, physical act of removing it from your mental space can help you actually let go.
Write down on a postit what you delegated, fold it up, and let it go.
Why This Works
The key is in the act of physically writing and folding. When you write down the task, it’s like you’re creating an external reminder for yourself. It’s not lost in your head anymore. You’ve set it aside, and the mental weight is released. Your brain gets the message that you’ve done your part, and now it’s time to trust the process.
It may sound simple, but that little act of transferring your thoughts from your head to a tangible object like a post-it note makes all the difference. It’s a mini ceremony of release that signals to your brain: This is taken care of.
What to Do If You’re Still Feeling Anxious
If the worry continues to creep in, here’s what I recommend: take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you’ve already put the wheels in motion. Trust that the other person has their role in this and will follow through. The more you practice this, the easier it gets.
If that anxiety about delegation persists, it might be time to take a step back and examine how you can delegate more effectively in the future. And no, I’m not talking about the same old advice. I’m talking about the “7Ds of Delegation” and how understanding this unique framework can transform the way you delegate—and, most importantly, the way you let go.
Closing Thoughts
Delegation doesn’t have to be a source of stress. By using this simple post-it trick, you can give yourself permission to let go of the things you’ve handed off, knowing you’ve done your part. Now, you can focus on what really matters—growing your career, enjoying time with your family, and living your life with a little more freedom.
Remember, you don’t have to do it all alone—and now, you’ve got a tool to help you let go when you need to.
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