Welcome to MyPath

Change is inevitable – after all, nothing really stays the same.  But in today’s challenging times, it seems like we’re on “uncertainty” overload, never knowing what will happen from one moment to the next. Here today, gone tomorrow – or, at the least, very different tomorrow.

Uncertainty bring stress and confusion, and while most of us would be quick to say that we want less stress and more certainty in our lives, what we really want is less of a stress reaction to what life is throwing our way.

We can’t choose what happens to us – but we can choose our responses to the situations we encounter.  Let’s take a look at five different responses that people have to stressful situations. As you read through these five responses, you may want to think of a recent stressful event or news that you may have received, and see what your reaction to that event can teach you about how you habitually respond.  You may have one type of response at work, and another at home, or you may react differently depending on who else is involved.

The first, and unfortunately all too common response to stressful events is to suffer and be a victim to it. People who respond this way don’t take action. Things happen TO them – and though they may complain and be generally miserable about it, they don’t take any steps to do anything. They allow life to control them, instead of the other way around. This way of responding is certainly not recommended, and eventually, it will take its toll on one’s physical and mental health.

The second type of response is to accept it the situation, and to get some perspective on it.  Someone with this response may say “so what,” or perhaps get some perspective on the situation by asking if it will it matter in a year – or a week – or even in a day.

The third way to respond is to actually take steps to change the situation – taking action to bring it to resolution (or at least move toward resolution). This is a very powerful response, and one that many effective leaders employ.

The fourth way to respond is to avoid the situation. People responding this way make a decision not to get involved in a situation that they don’t see as concerning them, or upon which they can’t make an impact. For example, someone may choose not to get involved in a dispute going on within their office if it doesn’t directly involve them.

The fifth and final way that people generally respond to stress is to alter the experience of the situation. When we look at a situation differently, the experience itself changes. Changing perceptions is probably the most challenging of the responses, because we tend to be stuck in our own interpretations and assumptions about what’s happening, but it is also perhaps the most powerful of all.

It’s your world, and you can create it as you wish. Remember, what one person sees as stressful, another person barely notices, or sees as exciting and full of opportunity. How are you going to choose today?

(This was excerpted with permission from the E Factor Newsletter January 2009 - "Handling what life throws your way" © 2009 iPEC Coaching)

Make the Most of your Extra Hour

Many of you will be gaining an extra hour this week as we roll the clocks back an hour. Some say we're losing an hour but I think of it as gaining an hour (“Spring Ahead...Fall Behind!”)  Fortunately, I'll be on vacation so, in essence, I'll have an extra hour of rest & relaxation.  The extra hour comes while most of us are sleeping; many choose to therefore sleep in and enjoy extra snoozing.  However, with most of us usually pressed for time and dreaming of an extra hour in our lives, what will you do with your extra hour this weekend?  And, how can you consciously create at least an extra hour every day to better manage everything on your plate vying for your time and energy?

Here are 40 tips to help you gain more time each day.  Feel free to adapt them to best fit your unique situation. I hope you enjoy your extra hour this weekend and use these ideas to start gaining time every day to focus on your top priorities!

1.      Awaken earlier

2.      Get to work before everyone else to have some uninterrupted time

3.      Have periods of time blocked when you allow no interruptions

4.      Use barriers such as a closed door, headset, or something similar to provide a clearer boundary

5.      Get your toughest task out of the way first

6.      Work within your natural rhythm - work hardest when you're most mentally alert

7.      Restrict TV watching, Internet use, email and on-line social networking

8.      Put blocks on your email inbox

9.      Process email in batches instead of constantly interrupting your train of thought

10.  Stop allowing others to waste your time

11.  Avoid casual conversations while working

12.  Use your commuting time wisely to study, plan, listen to educational or motivational tapes, or catch up on calls (with your hands-free phone!)

13.  Keep everything better organized

14.  Use your lunch hour to catch up on things so that you have more time in the evening and on the weekend

15.  Delegate both authority and responsibility whenever possible; empower others!

16.  Spend less time on unimportant tasks (phone calls, emails, talking, etc.)

17.  Think things through prior to beginning a new project or task

18.  Before each task, ask yourself "Is this really necessary?"

19.  Get a better night's sleep

20.  Skip desserts or after-dinner cocktails

21.  Stop taking smoking breaks

22.  Use your wait time wisely

23.  Multipurpose by combining tasks that are done in the same area or closely related; avoid multitasking

24.  Be prompt for all of your appointments and insist others do the same for you

25.  Outsource work you don't do well by hiring specialists

26.  Read quicker

27.  Find or create shortcuts for repetitive tasks and processes; use templates

28.  Prepare your morning items the night before (clothes, briefcase, lunch boxes, cell phone, keys, etc.)

29.  Avoid interruptions and distractions

30.  Don't make a mountain out of a molehill - avoid making a big production out of small tasks

31.  Keep a list of contact details for all of your important contacts (doctor, lawyer, accountant, mechanic, bank, family members, neighbors, emergency services, school personnel, insurance brokers, etc.)

32.  Create routines for you and your family

33.  Set a reasonable deadline for each task

34.  Use a checklist for routine or recurring tasks

35.  Post due dates and expiration dates in your planner or on your calendar

36.  Hold regular meetings with your direct reports and your boss

37.  Plan time buffers in your schedule

38.  Stop procrastinating - eliminate the urgent from your to do list

39.  Address issues before they balloon into big problems

40.  Improve your mental arithmetic

I know it's tough to break bad habits. However, it is necessary to make sacrifices so that you can be more successful at personally and professionally. Experiment with the ideas above, feel free to add your own, but to avoid overwhelm, try just one tip at a time and practice it until it becomes a natural part of your daily routine.

The Top 10 Tips for Utilizing Time More Efficiently

By Natalie Gahrmann, Work & Life Success Coach/Professional Speaker/Author

Time is a priceless treasure. Treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. You cannot make six minutes out of five just because you managed your time effectively. Each day you are given the gift of a new day, 24 hours. Utilize it the best way possible and don't let it slip through your fingers. You cannot ever replace lost time. You can't buy time or save time; you can only spend time…once it's spent it's gone!

1.      Prioritize

              Determine what's truly important to you. Schedule those items and activities first and then schedule everything else around it to the extent you can (noting some things are scheduled at precise times and there is less flexibility). Don't cancel the important (not urgent) activities for any reason.

2.     Plan

              Planning is a crucial skill when you want to accomplish something. However, it's often the first thing forgotten when things get hectic and busy. Planning magnifies time by providing direction and enhancing productivity. Life is simpler and easier when planned out.

3.      Delegate

              Anything you're doing that could be handled by someone else could be delegated. If you look at your time in terms of dollars you can compute how much your time is actually worth. Then, you may be more willing to delegate the more routine tasks, chores, etc. and free your time and energy for your top priorities and high-level work.

4.      Set Goals (Have Strong Intentions/a Vision/Direction)

Establish specific goals on a daily basis to help you decide what you want to achieve with your time and to set targets that will lead you to achieving them more regularly. Setting goals may be very effective at raising your self-confidence by focusing on progress. In addition to having increased performance levels, goals will keep you more highly motivated.

5.      Structure Your Day

As individuals, we all have peak performance times. Learn when it's your best time for greatest productivity, quiet thinking, exercise, etc. and arrange your day accordingly to maximize your personal advantage. Each person has an 'ideal' work style that operates as a function of who they are, their body and personality type. Begin to understand and honor that style in you and you'll be more effective as a result.

6.     Value Your Time

If you demonstrate by your words, actions and commitments that your time is important to you, others will recognize how you value your time and will show more respect of it. On the other hand, if you don't value your time, don't expect anyone else to. By valuing your time, you are in essence valuing your self. One important thing to remember is that the only way others will respect your time is if YOU respect your time.

7.     Replicate Yourself

No, you cannot actually duplicate yourself or add more arms and legs but the fact is, you can find someone who is just as good as you in a given task. You can also automate or systematize some of your routine tasks. Replication is about increasing your results without expending more time and energy.

8.     Get Organized

Have a place for everything both in your office and in your home; it pays off in less wasted time searching for something you just can't seem to find. Over the years, studies have shown that people working with a messy desk or work area spend an average 1.5 hours per day looking for or being distracted by things (at just minutes at a time!) In addition, create a (centralized) list of what you want to get done. Manage the activities and projects you can control; clearly distinguish between what is and is not actionable. You can also group activities that can be done simultaneously or on the same trip out. The key is to focus on about 6 activities you wish to accomplish at the start of each day and to keep your list manageable.

9.     Become Fully Focused in the Moment

By focusing on what you are doing you permit yourself to get absorbed in the activity, be more relaxed and increase your creativity. Fact is, when you allow yourself to become totally focused on what you are doing at the moment, a freer flowing momentum occurs and you actually get the job done faster and easier. Be deliberate in how you use your time. Make the present perfect rather than splitting your attention.

10.  Eliminate Time Wasters

Yes, we all have them in our life---interruptions, distractions, poor planning, ineffective behaviors and attitudes, over-commitment, etc. Rather than letting time control you, take control of your time and your life by incorporating some of the tips listed above. Take personal responsibility for creating stronger boundaries and communicating them to your colleagues, bosses, significant others and family.

Get more tips and strategies at http://www.nrgcoaching.com!

When you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed out STOP!  Take a breather.  Most people tend to push harder to get more done. The result is that they increase their stress and jeopardize the quality of their work or relationships.  So, an approach I use often with my coaching clients and my audiences is to pause, take a slow deep breadth in from the nose and all the way down to the diaphragm and then blow it out your mouth.  This releases pent up energy and allows you to briefly slow things down and reflect on the moment.

Get in the habit of deep breathing so that it comes naturally as a stress-relieving technique and isn't overlooked or forgotten because your just too busy.

Another way of reminding yourself about taking control and feeling less overwhelmed is to use what I call 'anchoring'.  In the center of my palm I hold my energy, confidence, poise, and power and I have this with me all the time.  To reach it, I simply have to close my hand and connect with it!  Usually, I close my eyes too then breathe deeply and emerge ready to tackle what lies ahead of me!  Others use a piece of jewelry or other object they always have with them to help them get grounded.  They focus on this object as a physical reminder to stop and take the time to breathe deeply.

Just STOP and RELAX in the moment...you'll be glad you did! I’ll BLOG another time about how this technique has helped me as a parent. It’s pretty powerful yet simplistic stuff!