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7 Posts tagged with the life tag Productivity tips from the Priority Pro

Clutter is the excess stuff in your life that takes up space on your table and countertops, in your closets, attics, basements, drawers, and filing cabinets, your hard drive, inbox and your to-do list. You expend energy moving it, rearranging it, cleaning around it, re-organizing it, and simply thinking about it. Clutter is a burden on your mind because you know it’s there and oftentimes you speak negatively to yourself because it’s there.

De-cluttering involves simplifying your home and office and surrounding yourself with only the things you love, need and want—eliminate everything else! Make a commitment to start eliminating clutter from your life and you'll see an immediate difference in the way you think and feel. Removing clutter allows for more space in your life, both in time and freedom. De-cluttering is an incredibly freeing experience because you're getting rid of all the things you don't need or want and don't have time for anyway.

Conquering clutter is an ongoing battle for most busy people. With life being so busy, piles accumulate, files seem to multiply, toys are overflowing from the toy box, and clothes are bursting from drawers and closets. Here are a few ideas to help you start eliminating clutter:

·   Sort through what you have and divide it into categories or piles.

·   Go through your (electronic and paper) files and discard old memos, reports, and articles that you've been saving “just in case.”

·   Make it a habit (for you and everyone else) to always put things back where they belong.

·   Do not bring junk mail into your home or office; get removed from as many mailing lists as possible. (Note: you can contact the American Direct Marketing Association, www.dmaconsumers.org/offmailinglist.html, to have them remove you from their lists for a nominal fee; you can contact the sender directly; and indicate that you don't want to be included on their mailing lists; or, you can indicate your preference for exclusion from future mailings when ordering a product/service, or filling out a warranty card, or making a donation)

·   Clip out and file the articles from magazines that interest you and recycle or discard the rest of the magazine.

·   Give away or sell unwanted toys and other items you (or your kids) are no longer interested in. (You know what they say about one person's trash being someone else's treasure!)

·   Load up a bag of clothes that don't fit, are out of style, or are just plain unflattering and take them to a local charity, shelter, or rummage sale.

·   Get rid of the little things, like clothes, furniture, and books, and it will be easier to get rid of the bigger things, such as an unfulfilling job or a relationship that really isn't right for you.

·   Assign a home to the things that remain.

·   Use bins, baskets or boxes and labels to store items and make them easily accessible.

·   If it seems like an overwhelming job to de-clutter, break it down into manageable parts. Do a room a day for a few days. Start with a hall closet. Start on the top shelf and do one shelf at a time so if you get interrupted and have to stop, you haven't made too big of a mess. Do a file drawer. Tackle your in-box. Just keep going one step at a time.

·   Once you've eliminated the clutter, prevent more from coming in.

You pay a high price for living with clutter in your life because it makes it hard for you to function at 100%; it keeps you stuck and keeps you busy looking for things rather than getting things done. Creating space contributes to feeling better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Once you cut clutter you will feel lighter, think more clearly, be more organized and have more energy. You'll feel like there's less on your plate!

Conquer clutter by spending a half-hour to an hour each day for a week (or weekend) just clearing out stuff you no longer want or need. If possible, enlist the help and support of your family and work colleagues in this goal. Start small with one shelf or one closet and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment as you begin creating space in your life. Gain momentum and keep it going by preventing yourself from getting overwhelmed or quitting before you experience the results. Then, move on to the next area until you've gone through every room and space in your home and at work. By eliminating things you no longer need, you will spend remarkably less time looking for things and you will have the opportunity to reach your full potential. By organizing your space you will free up your creative energy and channel it into your work. You cannot be effective when your desk is piled high with papers, when your filing cabinets are hard to manage, and when you cannot find what you need.

One of my favorite techniques for clearing physical clutter is to start with boxes labeled: sell, give away, throw away, recycle/reuse, and keep. Quickly go through a filing cabinet, closet, or drawer and place items in the appropriate boxes. If you're really uncertain and afraid of discarding—create another box labeled with the contents and date. If items are not used within a year from the date indicated, reconsider discarding at that time. It's essential to shift your attitude to "it's okay to throw away" in order to conquer clutter.

1 Comments Permalink Tags: balance, improvement, coach, clutter, organize, advice, de-clutter, busy, smarter, productivity, effectiveness, life, personal

A report released this week based on a survey of 5,000 US households conducted for The Conference Board by TNS reported that only 45 percent of those surveyed say that are satisfied with their job. This number is down from 61.1 percent in 1987, the first year the survey was conducted. Unfortunately, there has been a consistent downward trend for a couple of decades now.

 

Similarly, the recession and its accompanying reorganizations, layoffs and corporate turns to outsourcing have been caustic to IT employee job satisfaction, as reported in a mid-2009 job satisfaction survey by the Corporate Executive Board, a Washington-based advisory firm. The firm surveys 150,000 workers each quarter, asking a battery of behavioral questions about their jobs. About 10,000 of those surveyed work in IT jobs, according to board officials. Job satisfaction has plummeted to its lowest levels in the ten years since this survey began.

 

In the past, prior to the Great Depression, people generally worked because they had to. Happiness was rarely considered or even necessary.  However, since the 90's, when the economy was good and people had more choices about their work, job satisfaction was important and even measured, sometimes annually, using tools such as employee satisfaction surveys administered by employers and independent outside firms.

 

Today, with unemployment at its highest, more hard-earning wages going toward health insurance and other benefits, minimal pay raises (if any), and a lean workforce people are making many concessions to stay employed. The bottom-line is ruling rather than the growth or satisfaction of employees. So, no wonder people reported feeling more dissatisfied with their work!

 

These figures are frightening! Employee dissatisfaction is costly to American companies because it results in multiple workplace ills, including declines in employee engagement, productivity and retention. As the economy starts heading in a more positive direction, many valuable employees will leave.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: job, smarter, security, working, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, stress, life, career

   We are sleep deprived as a Nation! When I polled a recent audience during a presentation about “Taming Stress in your Over-committed Life”, less than 60% indicated that they get 7-8 hours of sleep each evening. The remaining 40% reported getting significantly less!  One woman admitted to 2-3 hours of sleep each night on average.

So, what’s wrong with us?  Why don’t we get the sleep we need?Many people argue that they don’t need as much sleep as others.  Some defend their sleep patterns with the excuse of being “too busy”.


Here are some good sleep habits, I’ve adapted from a presentation I delivered for CIGNA Behavioral Healthcare that received rave reviews.  Incorporate them into your life as soon as possible!


  • Avoid caffeine within 6–8 hours of bedtime.


  • Avoid nicotine close to bedtime or during the night.


  • Refrain from using the bedroom for any activities other than sleep and sex.

 

  • Don’t drink alcoholic beverages within 2–4 hours before bedtime.  It may relax you and help you fall asleep but will result in a poorer quality of sleep, and more nighttime waking.

 

  • Abstain from eating large meals or greasy, spicy, or gas-producing foods too close to bedtime.  Select a light snack composed mainly of carbohydrates instead if you’re hungry because it can help promote more sound sleep.

 

  • Exercise regularly but don’t do it within 2 hours before bedtime.

 

  • Minimize light, noise, and extremes in temperature in the bedroom.

 

  • Establish relaxing pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath, reading, imagery, repetitious techniques (e.g., deep breathing, counting sheep), or progressive relaxation.

 

  • If you are unable to fall asleep within 15–20 minutes after lights out, leave the bedroom and do a non-stimulating activity such as those above.

 

  • Awaken at about the same time daily – a regular rising time is even more important than a regular bedtime.  In other words, don’t sleep in just because you can.

 

  • Go to bed only when you are sleepy – again, bedtime is less important than rising time.

 

  • Avoid napping late in the afternoon or evening.  If you choose to nap, do so early in the afternoon and limit it to 30 minutes or so.

 

  • Choose a time during the day to think about your worries or concerns and make plans for handling them, so that you can avoid dwelling on them in bed.

 

  • Sleeping pills are intended as a last resort and for short-term use only.  Sleeping pills have many side effects, and can cause drowsiness into the next day.  Their long-term use can actually lead to “rebound insomnia.”  If you have been using sleeping pills for more than a few months, consult with your doctor about how to stop them.


Here’s to a better night’s sleep!  Getting adequate sleep will help you function at your best by enhancing productivity, performance and your attitude towards life.

2 Comments Permalink Tags: advice, choices, improvement, personal, smarter, balance, life, work/life, busy, performance, time, effectiveness, productivity

Put in What Matters!

Posted by Natalie Gahrmann Dec 15, 2009

   

Inspiration for your SuperBusy day....

 

Last week I had the exciting opportunity to travel to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando,  FL to watch my daughter and her cheer team compete in the Pop Warner National Cheer Championships.  Her team had gone from a very weak start in August to coming from .002 points away from the first place team at the Eastern Regional competition.  No one would have anticipated that this squad of 33 girls from 5th through 8th grade would be competing at the National level.

 

It took discipline, commitment and dedication not only on the part of the girls but their parents, coaches and most of all, the instructors.  Unlike many of the teams competing at this level, we did not have professional choreographers but local HS seniors who wrote and taught the show, then tweaked it following each competition based on the judges’ feedback.

 

The girls worked together but most of all, to the (sometimes) frustration of the coaches and instructors, they had fun. One of the coaches, Coach Patty, always had an inspirational message. By the end of the season, each and every girl could quote the 2-3 she used most often. The one that stuck with me is “What you put into it is what you’ll get out of it.”

 

How often is this true in our lives as well? Sometimes we do things half-way or incomplete; often times we don’t put our heart into what we’re doing but instead go through the routine motions to complete the task-at-hand.  The cheerleaders were constantly being told to refinonthematt.jpge their movements, sharpen their jumps, hold their stunts and articulate more loudly and clearly.  Then, when they hit the competition floor each time, it all came together with precision and pride. Although they goofed off at practice, when it mattered they always pulled it together.  My saying from my competition days as a baton twirler was, “ Practice like you will perform”.  This was rarely taken to heart but when they did, it brought tears to our eyes.

 

In the end, when the announcer said, FIRST PLACE, the Hillsborough Dukes, we knew that what they put into it is what they got out of it. They gained friendships, skills, sportsmanship along the way to being National Champions. The focus was on performing at their absolute best and that’s what they did!

 

So, what will you focus on so that you can give it your all?  When you put your best effort into the task-at-hand, what rewards will you reap??

0 Comments Permalink Tags: champions, life, effectiveness, work/life, quotes, performance, inspiration, smarter, motivation

Defray Stress

Posted by Natalie Gahrmann Jul 27, 2009

 

Between work demands, caring for your family, and seeing to everyday matters and responsibilities there is little time left to take care of yourself. So, many SuperBusy people put off time for their own needs and desires. However, if you're a parent, you are a key influence on your child's development, so the amount of stress you are experiencing in your work, family and personal life has a direct impact on them.  If you are not a parent, taming your stress is important to your overall health and well-being as well as your relationships with others.  IHere's some tips to help defray the stress and help you consciously take better care of yourself.

 

 

1. Breathe deeply

Bring in the air through your nose, deep down into your belly and out through your mouth in a slow relaxed fashion at least two-three times to help re-focus, re-center and relax.

 

 

2. Take in Relaxing Smells

Aromatherapy oils, herbal teas or scented candles are all relaxing to the olfactory system.

 

 

3. Daydream, Meditate, and Connect with Nature

Visit places and experience them newly. Or, give your mind a mental break by simply imagining you are somewhere else and creating a visual image and experience in your mind of being there. Either way, fully connect with your surroundings by noticing sounds, smells and textures. Relax your spirit and body using soothing music and warm lights.

 

 

4. Avoid Overextending Yourself

Stop saying "yes" too often to requests of your time, money, energy or other resources. Say "no" to things and people as a way of honoring you. Allow yourself a chance to think about the request before accepting the invitation. Bow out later if the commitment is contributing too greatly to your stress.

 

 

5. Eat Healthy Foods

Choose foods and beverages that nourish your body and help it be at its best.

 

 

6. Participate in a hobby or sport

Create an outlet for relaxation that you truly enjoy doing. Use your creativity to write, sculpt, knit, paint, etc. Use physical activities or daily exercise rituals to help "blow off" steam both physically and mentally.

 

 

7. Lighten up

Smile, laugh and just be friendly to others. Friendliness goes far and helps you feel good about yourself. Humor lightens up tension. Notice how laughter is contagious, too. People are more naturally attracted to people who seem happy, positive, enthusiastic, and excited about life. Stop taking things so seriously all the time and lighten up a bit.

 

 

8. Enlist help from others

Learn to ask for and accept help (even when things are not done to your high standard level!) You will gain by delegating and allowing others to help, even when things don't turn out exactly as they would have if you completed the task yourself. Allow yourself to be nurtured by your friends and family.

 

 

9. Spend Quality Time with Your Loved Ones

Have fun and interact with your children. Be fully present with them. Truly listen to what they have to say and connect on a deeper level. Connect with friends, family, and your significant other in meaningful ways.  When quantity isn't an option, go for quality and make the best out of every moment you can be together, even if it's virtual!

 

 

10. Get Romantic

Stimulate your body's release of endorphins by reading a romance novel, or better yet, curl up with your spouse/significant other or make love.

 

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: balance, stress, super, parents, mother, life, busy, work/life, solutions, personal, renewal, manage, working, father, effectiveness, quality

Every adult I know seems to have infinite level of responsibilities within their life.  If you are feeling overwhelmed and pulled in multiple directions between work, home, family or other commitments, it's time to adopt a creative way to delegate some of the tasks that you've outgrown or that consistently drain your energy.  And, when your immediate response to the idea of delegating is, "it will take too much time to show someone else how to do it"; or, "it's just easier and quicker to do it myself"; or, the ever popular, "no one else will do it as good as me", then it's critical to re-evaluate your standards.  It's not necessarily about lowering your standards, but finding ways to lower your expectations so that you can free up your energy.

 

Often the perfectionist attitude will prevent you from delegating.  Simply remember that the quality of your life is far more important than achieving a perfect result.  The time you spend training someone else to do the task will be time well spent in the long run.  Keep things in perspective and don't make them bigger than they are!  Rarely is a mistake life threatening, uncorrectable or catastrophic.  So, trust the people you delegate tasks to to bring their best selves to the tasks they are completing.  Give them the training, instructions, responsibility and tools to adequately perform the tasks.  Keep the lines of communication between the two of you open.

 

Eliminating things from your life is a means to reduce stress, enhance your mood, and create space for new opportunities and experiences.  A truly fulfilling life has more to do with what you remove from your life than what you add to it.  If you are committed to succeeding in both your personal and professional life, then it's important for you to begin transferring tasks to others to perform.  When you do this effectively, you'll end up freeing up your emotional and physical energy and be able to pursue the things that are truly your priorities.

 

Wondering where to begin?  Start by creating a list of the top priorities right now in your life. Then, either let go of the things that prevent you from honoring them, or delegate those things to someone else.  Remember, next time you want to add something to your life, determine what you can remove first.  Then, develop tactics to delegate or eliminate those things that no longer serve your priorities.  Doing so will help you clear the path towards what you really want in your life.  Your inability or unwillingness to delegate may ultimately become an obstacle to a better quality of life and to your ultimate personal and professional success.

2 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: decision-making, performance, management, work/life, congruent, balance, improvement, smarter, choices, effectiveness, life, productivitiy, time

I have studied work-life balance for well over a decade and conclude that the key reason why there’s still a gap for employers, business owners, and employees despite millions being spent in programs is because these opportunities are mostly all externally-focused. Thus, work-life balance as we’ve known for years has been primarily focused on programs, services, benefits, and the like while neglecting that true balance is internally-driven. The symptoms often associated with unbalance include overwhelm, burnout, stress and other mental, physiological and emotional issues. Yet the programs, although helpful, don’t fully address the problem.

Work-Life Balance redefined.jpg

Balance is derived from a sense of harmony, peace and alignment. One who works 90 hours a week could actually be more balanced than someone who doesn’t even work at all. Balance is about knowing what you’re doing and why you’re doing it and feeling that sense of control over your life. When you’ve usurped power of your life to someone or something, it’s that powerlessness that causes feeling of imbalance.

 

Some of the more popular programs including childcare, elder care, concierge services, health and wellness benefits, flextime, telecommuting, and job share help ease the burden of working long hours while managing a life outside work. They also allow for working longer hours. Yet true work-life balance is about being aligned, making the right choices for you.

My studies have revealed that it’s not just about work-life balance, time management, stress management, or increasing productivity but all these things combined to help each individual overcome what I call Obsessive Distraction Disorder (or O.D.D. for short!). Distractions increase when you’re not aligned with what’s most important to you! By targeting what matters most, decisions are based on top priorities---what’s most important to you!

 

The typical work-life program offerings help create more time and sanity. However, time spent unwisely is still time lost; time that can never be recaptured! Unlike other resources, time is not a renewable resource. Therefore, it’s highly important to recognize what’s most important in all aspects of your life and realign around those things. Be crystal clear about your values, integrity, needs, purpose and priorities.

 

Remember the old adage…it’s not about working harder, but working smarter. In this case, think more broadly, work is a part of your life that serves a specific purpose, so LIVE SMARTER, not harder! Make wise choices aligned with what matters most to you!

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: alignment, effectiveness, work-life, work/life, harmony, peace, time, work, sanity, balance, congruent, life, research

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