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7 Posts tagged with the personal 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

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)

0 Comments Permalink Tags: change, advice, leadership, stress, productivity, management, energy, smarter, ipec, performance, effectiveness, personal

   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

The statistics on worry indicate that 87% of what we worry about never actually occurs or is so far out of our control that we really shouldn’t be worrying about it anyway! Worries may be over things that happened in your past which can never be changed, from irrational fears or concerns, or about things that may or may not happen in the future. man worrying.bmp

The problem is that with all the energy we put into worrying, worrying never affects the final outcome of a situation. Have you ever worried a problem away?? Not likely! However, by worrying we create an excessive negative impact on ourselves, physically, mentally, emotionally and even socially with symptoms ranging from headaches to high blood pressure or heart conditions. A worrier, with their negative feelings, often may experience some loneliness as others flee from them and their doom and gloom pessimistic thinking.

Worry can be paralyzing--it fills our life with unnecessary stress, anxiety and pressure. Worrying is a widely prevalent emotional problem yet we rarely recognize it and almost never talk about it. It infects our thoughts, our sense of well-being, and even our ability to take action; worry is so much a part of our thinking that we rarely notice when we are doing it, unless others point it out to us.

Pause right now and try to remember what's been on your mind today. What thoughts elevated your heart rate, raised the hair on the back of your neck or broke you out in a sweat? Are you worrying about finding a new job, your low bank account, your kid’s grades in school, your long to-do list, your health issues, or what your neighbors think of your barking dog or over-grown lawn? Whatever it is, let it go! Worrying is an absolute waste of your time and energy because all it really does is increase your stress and anxiety while bringing you down or keeping you stuck in a state of inaction.

Stopping the habitual pattern of worrying may be challenging, so instead focus first on restricting your worrying to that which you can do something about. Here are a few tips to help you limit your time and energy spent worrying:

1. Raise your Awareness
Begin becoming more consciously aware of when you are worrying. When you realize that you are worrying, relax by taking a deep breath in and then let it out slowly.

2. Stay Present
When you realize that you are worrying; ask yourself if what you are worrying about is related to today. For example, if you are worrying about a job, speech, a business meeting or a potential promotion, is that something that is going to happen today? If the answer is no, then do not allow yourself to worry about it. Stay focused in the here and now!

3. Do Something
If what you're worrying about is something that is happening today, then reframe your worry thoughts into planning thoughts so that you move into action. Instead of worried thinking like "I don’t know if I got the job," reframe that into a planning thought: "Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of getting the job?” If the answer is yes, do it. If you have already done everything there is to do, then there is nothing to worry about. Focus on action and next steps!

4. Prepare, Plan & Educate
When you discover yourself worrying about ongoing issues like a chronic health issues, financial challenges or a difficult relationship, replace worrying with planning and educating. Ask yourself powerful questions (e.g., “Is there something I can say or do right now to stop worrying about this?” or “How is worrying improving my situation?”) instead of staying stuck in the worrying rut, research, or seek professional help to improve your situation. Then, of course, follow up your planning with consistent action. Stay in control as much as you can so that you don’t feel powerless!

5. Control what you can
Although we worry about so much that is out of our control, what we can always control are our thoughts, feelings and actions. Understand that you can only control yourself and the choices you make, you cannot control others and you cannot control many situations. Recognize that you are capable and competent and certainly have the power to affect your own life to the extent it is possible to do so.

So, when you’re aware that you cannot control a situation, rather than worrying about it, simply let it go or take concerted steps to control what you can.

Focus on what you can impact and in the words of Bob McFarrin, sing or hum…”Don’t worry…be happy!”

Over time as you take worry off your plate, you’ll likely discover more positive and powerful thoughts filling your mind. The Priority Pro can help you worry less and take more action!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: advice;awareness, improvement, effectiveness, stress, alignment, personal, worry, smarter, balance

Ongoing professional and personal development is the most important thing you can do to improve your business or career.

 

 

If you want to stand-out as the best-of-the-best, you need to have laser-sharp focus. This will allow you to make purposeful and significant contributions and build higher potential for success.

 

Many business owners and managers have taken the time to create organizational mission statements. However, few have gone through this process on a more individual or personal level. If you are one of the many who have not created a personal mission statement, now is the time to do so!

 

Here are five suggestions to help your write your personal mission statement:

 

1.  Reserve some uninterrupted time to think through and write your statement. Block out at least an hour or so away from the distractions of home and work to reflect on where you are and where you want to be. Determine how you would like to invest your time and energy in the context of work, family, friends and your community. Realize that the feeling of true success comes when you have a balanced lifestyle of success, family, friends, true happiness, personal health and fulfillment.

 

2.  Identify your main purpose in life. What do you believe your primary purpose on this earth is? How will you be able to achieve this based on how you live your life? How will you empower vision for yourself and others? (Note: your vision is what you SEE) What qualities or attributes do you admire in others and wish to embody in yourself? What principles can you learn from other successful people that could benefit you most in your work? Use a journal to record your answers to these questions as you explore and discover who you are and what’s most important to you. When you’re through with the process of questioning yourself, review your answers to observe patterns and priorities in your life. Seek out the essential elements of your life necessary to write your personal mission statement.

 

3.  Gather your thoughts and apply your action plan. What are five goals you are committed to achieving in your work in the next year? In the next five years? In the next ten years?  What specific actions do you need to take in the next year to achieve your one-year mission? your five-year mission? your ten-year mission? Now, take a close look at your action plan, primary purpose, empowering vision and the right principles. Begin to write out your personal mission statement and be sure to include family, friends and community as they apply to how you wish to live your life. Your personal mission statement should be succinct and clear.

 

4.   Once you’re created your draft version, continue working on your mission statement by seeking input from others who can help you refine your ideas.

 

5.    Use your mission statement as a tool to help guide you, your ongoing development and your key decisions in life and work. Keep it available and visible at all times.

 

Get professional help writing your statement. Contact Natalie Gahrmann!

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: performance, personal, alignment, productivitiy, productivity, balance

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

Clearing your Plate

Posted by Natalie Gahrmann May 27, 2009

 

Decision-making is a key role for any manager or leader. However fear of failure and lack of clarity may prohibit some from making timely decisions.

 

After helping so many coaching clients and audiences focus on their priorities, I needed to do the same.  I needed to take something important off my plate so that I have more time and energy for other more important items in my life.
I had committed to serving another year on the Board of my professional association but as the end of my current term approached I began feeling slightly burned out, frustrated and resentful. I've taught others that this is a possible indication that there's too much on their plate, so I recognized it pretty quickly!  Problem is, like most, I felt that I couldn't renege on my commitment.  However, I knew I needed to. So, this is what I did...

1. Get absolutely clear about the problem at its root cause. To do this I created some quiet time and space for myself for clear introspection. What I discovered is that I had over-committed to the organization at the expense of my business, family and myself.

 

2. Evaluate and assess the implications. I explored the implications of continuing as well as the possible consequences of not. Again, I got more clarity and increased my focus about what is most important to me. I did a bit of a cost-benefit analysis using time and energy as my highest cost factors and opportunity missed cost to assess time spent on volunteer work rather than on revenue producing business activities.

 

3. Test my decision. I wrote out my resignation letter on a notebook page and just left it overnight. In the morning, I checked in with myself and asked: Am I feeling a sense of relief or a sense of remorse?

 

4. Explore different perspectives. I looked at the problem through a couple of different perspectives. I weighed the pros and cons to me, the organization, and my family.

 

5. Re-test my decision. Still feeling a bit ambivalent about making the right decision for me and the organization, I typed my resignation letter and just left it again. And, again, I asked myself: Am I feeling a sense of relief or a sense of remorse? I was still feeling an incredible sense of relief at the impending decision to leave the Board and shift my energy to my top priorities in my work, personal and family life.

 

6. Commit to my choice. As difficult as it was, I knew that it was the right decision for me! With some reluctance, I hit the send button in my email that I typed out earlier. My note was brief. I did not choose to elaborate on the rationale of my decision because I know that it’s important to be succinct and to the point. In situations like this, when one chooses to say “no”, I’ve seen people coaxed into changing their mind because they’ve shared too much information and I’ve also seen people burn bridges with accusations, blame and finger-pointing. Being clear and concise will help you stand by your decision,as it helped me!

 

There is not just one way of making decisions but understanding and knowing what is most important to you will help guide your approach. For me, being professional, respectful, sensitive and firm were important criterion.

 

The one big lesson: It’s far better to communicate either in-person or by phone so that there’s a two-way dialogue. Sending an email created some confusion and disconnect that could have easily been avoided.

 

My mantra…stop me before I volunteer again!
0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: choices, leadership, work, work/life, decision-making, smarter, regroup, communication, personal, balance, effectiveness

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