One Thing at a Time: Slow January, Clearer Practice
- Jan 16
- 3 min read
January has a strange pressure to it.
Even if we know the “fresh start” messaging is unrealistic, it still creeps in. The idea that everything should begin again on the 1st, that we should overhaul our routines, our health, our habits, our entire lives… in the middle of winter.
And if we don’t keep up with those expectations? We blame ourselves.
But what’s interesting (and uncomfortable) is how familiar that pattern is in social work.
Because many of us have been in situations where plans, whether formal plans or informal expectations, become unachievable. Too many tasks. Too much change. Too little time. And then families are set up to fail.
The stakes for families are far higher than a missed resolution, and that’s exactly why it matters that we keep returning to realism.
The phrase I’m taking into 2026
My phrase for the year is:
One thing at a time.
I chose it because I wear a lot of hats. I run the Social Work Collective Academy, deliver training, supervise, consult, record this podcast, and I’m also raising and home-educating my children. I love variety, but I noticed something last year:
I was switching between tasks constantly.
Even outside of work, it’s easy to do three things at once; scrolling while listening, answering messages while half-watching something, filling the washing machine while trying to be present with the kids.
Our attention is fragmented. Our nervous systems are tired. And social work is already intense without us layering constant multitasking on top.
So “one thing at a time” is my anchor. Not as a productivity slogan, but as a way of protecting attention, lowering overwhelm, and practising more intentionally.
What I’ve been reading (and why it’s influencing my training)
I also share what I’ve been reading recently both fiction and non-fiction and how it’s shaping the way I think about learning, attention, and calm.
Books that have influenced me lately include:
The Learning Game (Anna Lorena Fabrega)
The Source (Dr Tara Swart)
plus a few others I’ve starting this month, including new work by Lisa Cherry and Harry Ferguson
The idea I keep coming back to is skills don’t embed when we’re overwhelmed.
Which brings me to the most exciting update…
A brand new addition inside The Social Work Collective Academy
The Social Work Collective Academy has always been built on the framework:
calm → competence → confidence
But this month I wanted to strengthen the “calm” pillar in a way that’s usable in real life. Not just something we talk about, but something you can reach for in the moments that matter.
So the Practice Pause Library is now live inside the Academy.
Practice Pauses are short, guided pauses designed specifically for social work. Not generic mindfulness, but intentional support for moments like:
before a home visit (grounding and containment)
when everything feels overwhelming (including an activating, movement-based pause)
after a heightened situation (decompression and release)
They range from 3 to 8 minutes because in social work, time is limited and support must be realistic to be used.
They’re designed to sit alongside best practice, helping you:
slow things down enough to think clearly
make safer decisions
and move forward without carrying everything alone
Five small things that can help in January
At the end of the episode, I share five realistic ways to create space when January feels heavy including:
clearing one small space
using a timer to reduce procrastination
bringing light into your environment
taking a Practice Pause
and choosing one thing at a time, intentionally (even for five minutes)
Because sometimes the most helpful shift isn’t “do more”.
It’s: do one thing properly.
If you want to listen, the episode is live now
One Thing at a Time (and the new Practice Pause Library)
And if you’re ready to go deeper, the Practice Pause Library is available inside The Social Work Collective Academy with training, resources, and live learning opportunities included as part of membership.
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