You have probably heard of ‘Déjà vu’. It comes about when we encounter something new, but feel as if we’ve experienced it before. ‘Vuja de’, the psychologist Adam Grant argues, is the opposite. We face something familiar, but see it with a fresh perspective. And right now, as New South Wales and Victoria’s case numbers rise, as childcare is shut down, it feels like 2020 all over again, and then some.

While there are key differences (the Delta strain being one), the juggle we are facing is familiar. At Grace Papers, we’re hoping to adopt a little ‘Vuja de’ and find a fresh perspective. Not a perspective that demands we be our best selves and do it all. (We did that last time and failed!) But a perspective that understands our limitations.

We’re embracing the art of letting go.

Marie Kondo is a name we often mention, but it’s not because we enjoy folding our socks. We mention Marie Kondo because we love ruthless prioritisation, and Marie Kondo is the woman we use to explain how we can do just that at work. What we’re borrowing from Marie Kondo right now is the strategy of ruthless prioritisation at work and at home. We’re letting go of the small, low priority tasks that don’t spark joy. And then we’re making sure that we’re doing the things that bring us joy from an energy perspective, whether that’s talking to someone we love, connecting with an old friend, or cuddling our dog.

So, perhaps you could adopt a little ‘Vuja de’ this week and instead of doing better, let something go. And then use that time to do something that fills your heart. Letting go can be an act of self-preservation. With a little more space, there’s more room for the things that matter right now – the things that spark joy.