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How to Find More Time

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When we don’t manage our time, our time will manage us.  Many people use the word multi-tasking and are proud to say that they can do it.  However, research shows that as much as we would like to think that we can do it, our brains are only able to focus on one task at a time.  You can read about it here in the Harvard Business Review.  What is really happening when we are working on two tasks at once is that our brain is rapidly switching between the two and this will slow us down.

There are a couple of productivity strategies that I have found to be  valuable.  Time blocking can help you make more sense of your days and weeks.  I like to look at the week on Sunday and plan out the rest of the week intentionally.   This involves concentrating on only one main task for certain periods of the day.
Reserve your most productive time for your most important tasks. I am a morning person, so I reserve the morning hours for writing and planning tasks that require me to be the most focused.  Also, for that one thing that has been nagging me that I have been putting off, I tell myself to “just do it’ so I don’t have to think about it anymore.
Then I look at the days and see where the appointments are and also where I can fit in other tasks like business accounting, filing, marketing projects, and meetings.  Think about your meetings to see if they are truly necessary since they can be time wasters.
Some people like to designate certain days for the same activities each week so they don’t have to worry about getting them done.   Also, block some time for yourself for exercise, going out to do something fun, or just relaxing with your family.  It is more likely you will do it, if you feel you have time.
The 90 Day Year
Another productivity concept I want to discuss is something I read about called “The 90 Day Year” by Todd Herman.  Entrepreneurs and business people can especially relate because of all the projects and time constrictions they have.  I encourage you to try it for two weeks and see what happens.
We each have certain blocks of time to work each day.   You have started on Task A, but then you get a phone call and you switch to Task B on the second day.  Then someone called you for a different reason, you have a meeting, and you feel you need to work on Task C on the third day.  Task A is still waiting to be finished, and the distractions keep coming.
In this version of organizing your time, you would start with Task A and make it your primary focus of every block of time, with the others secondary, until you get it finished.  Then the confidence that you have received from completing that task will propel you on to the next.  At the end of a month you will look back and see the projects that you have completed instead of a varied amount of tasks that are in different parts of completion. I challenge you to try this and see if you accomplish more.
Managing your time brings more freedom to do what is most important to you.  Live each day with zest, spend time with the ones you love, and do great things that make a difference!
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Is School Out For You?

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     It is time for Graduation ceremonies.  It all starts in preschool, then high school, and for some, on to college.  Graduates get certificates from vocational programs and finish apprenticeships.  Congratulations if you have a graduate in your family this year!  While graduations are important milestones, it is so important to keep on learning after these events.
     Professionals keep reading in their fields to stay on the cutting edge of what is new.  It is hard to believe that some people decide that reading isn’t important after they leave school.  In today’s economy, it is more important than ever that we read books related to our work, for inspiration, and for knowledge about what is going on in the world.
     I love books far more than TV could ever offer.  I have loved them since I was a child.  When I study people who are achieving great things today, I find that they have a list of books that have been a part of their continuing education. We all know that no one cares more about your success than you.
     Beyond what you must read in your professional life, I want to encourage you to set a goal to enrich your life by going to the local library to check out books. Download books of inspiration from Kindle or purchase them from Amazon. Think about what you might want to contribute to this world that will make a difference.  You may come up with the next big idea!
     Here’s a book to get you thinking:
Originals – How Non-Conformists Move the World
by Adam Grant
  • Wharton’s top rated teacher for four straight years
  • One of the world’s twenty-five most influential management thinkers
  • One of the best business professors under forty.
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Five Ways to Have a Great Vacation

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You work hard!  There are always details to attend to, and so it is time for you to plan a vacation. Yes, do it.  Your inbox will wait, your clients can be rescheduled, but your family can’t.  Children grow up before you know it. It is time to make some memories. So here are 5 ways to have a great vacation.
  1. Take two vacations if you have children.  Split your time between focusing on the whole family together and then plan for a private rendezvous with your loved one so you can rejuvenate your relationship.
  2. Don’t have too many expectations, go with the flow, take pictures and just focus on being with the family.  If you didn’t get to see that famous landmark, does it really matter?
  3.  Have a family meeting.  Pick two or three destinations that you wouldn’t mind going to first, and then vote.  The kids will be happier if they have a say.
  4. Plan to be unplugged from the office as much as possible.  Let people know that you will be gone and designate who can handle what comes up.
  5. Be sure to actually take your vacation.  Many people cut back and don’t use all of their time.
Research shows that people actually are more productive if they take vacations.  Americans take significantly less vacations than other countries.  European countries generally give 20 days of vacation and it can go up to 30.  I was shocked, we have to work years to get that much time.
Planning is key.  You don’t have to go anywhere spectacular.  Maybe you would enjoy the atmosphere of a Bed and Breakfast in a small town.  Get out your calendar and schedule those vacations.  You will be so happy you did!
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Four Ways to Achieve the Power of Focus

Focus on the task at hand.
Busyness is not better.  Work less by working smarter not harder.  We have heard these expressions before.  But are we listening to the point that we need to focus?
If we seek to understand the power of laser focus, we will accomplish much more.  The term multitasking is very popular, but not a good way to use our energy.  Our brains are wired to do one thing at a time.
Stanford University research has concluded:
“Multitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully.”
Write down your plans.  A written plan helps give you clarity and propel you in the right direction.
Remove distractions.  Cell phones, email, people with questions are all important, but when you are trying to accomplish a task, they can be annoying.  So make a plan to deliberately check your email at certain times of the day, and then leave it alone.  Unless you are expecting a very important phone call, your cell phone will take messages until you can get done with the task at hand.
Establish a quiet zone time during the day when your staff knows you will not be available unless it is an emergency.
The extra time you gain to work on your most pressing projects will help your productivity and reduce your stress.  Keep focused and prosper!
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When Do You Get to Take a Break?

Our families are very important. Taking care of them along with our other responsibilities seems to make the days move faster all the time. Is it possible to slow down our lives? It seems to me that people are so overscheduled today that they don’t have time to think.  Stress comes from every direction.
Both thinking and playing are essential for our lives. My dad once told me that I should take at least 15 minutes a day to do absolutely nothing. We all need to take a little time to unwind with our thoughts, consider our dreams, and acknowledge our accomplishments to ourselves.
If you think you have no time to do anything else in your busy schedule, try doing something you love for just 15 minutes a day…it will make a big difference.

tea-381235_1280Make a Difference in 15 Minutes

Here are some suggestions to get you started:
*Sit in solitude and think about your dreams.
*Write to decompress or be creative.
*Walk or run to get your body moving.
*Talk to a friend or family member you haven’t seen in a long time or who would like to keep in touch with.
*Pray or meditate
*Dance, yes, turn on the music in your house and dance!
*Paint or sketch a picture
*Use your camera to capture some great pictures.
*Play a musical instrument
*Sing
*Read a favorite or new book
*Take a shower
How many other ways can you use 15 minutes to decompress? Please write to me. I would love to hear them.

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Resolutions or Strategic Planning?

Planning for 2016

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      Now is the time to make plans for 2016.  You may have been thinking of resolutions you could make.  Resolutions usually start with good intentions, then many seem to fade away as the year moves on leaving people feeling discouraged. That is no way to start a new year.
     Instead, how about making some goals that you can work on with a specific end in mind.  Writing down your goals will get you started in the right direction and you will be more likely to achieve them.  In order to jump-start your planning write down your most important goals regarding family, health, finances, self-improvement, relationships, and career and put a date by which you would like to complete them.  Then write down one thing you could do this week to move you closer to those goals.  Also, take a minute to feel what it would be like to complete your goals.
     It will be so beneficial for you to take some time for yourself and decide what is important for you in the coming year.  Everything from closets to relationships need to be scrutinized to make way for new and better uses of space and time.  Once you have everything in order, you will be surprised what amazing ideas come to you and how much time you have to pursue what’s new.  I recommend The Queen’s Journal that I have written to help you organize your days, give you inspiration, and write down your accomplishments.
     In addition to writing down your goals, think about little daily choices you can make like drinking a glass of water when you get up in the morning, taking breaks throughout the day to get away from that computer, and spending a few minutes of undivided time with a loved one.
     Before you know it, you will have developed some positive changes without the stress of thinking you have failed with your new year resolutions once again.
     May God bless you with happiness, health, and prosperity in the new year!

 

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Ahhh…Time for Stress Relief

Holiday excitement, good or bad, can cause our stress levels to rise.  When my children were small,
I use to tell them to take off their shoes and let their feet say, “Ahhh”.
Shopping, cooking, children home from school, errands, work, long rides with children, celebrations, relatives…all of this may have a compounding effect on us without taking a little time for ourselves to…breathe!
Please take some time to get a massage, go outdoors for some fresh air, or do whatever it is that makes
you calmer.  I wish you holidays full of joy and wonder and that you will have some time to decompress.
Here is a list of 10 more ways to deal with stress. (Click on the image for larger view.)
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Let’s Make Some Memories

We are the architects of the memories by which people will remember us.

-Michael Hyatt

It seems like I just sent out the last newsletter and I keep running into people who can’t believe how fast October has gone. Poof! As we are moving full force into November and turning our clocks back this weekend, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. I love Thanksgiving.

This great time to celebrate gives families time to be together and even the store owners are beginning to think that we should take some time to spend away from the fray and get outside. One of my daughters works for REI and so I was delighted to see that no employees of their stores will be working the day after Thanksgiving.

As our families are running in many different directions, it is nice to gather them and just take time
to BE with them. I am not only thankful for my family but for you, my loyal friends, who receive this newsletter each month. I pray that you will all be safe, happy, and blessed as we begin this holiday season.

Let’s start making memories with some Fudge Brownie Cheesecake, it is so worth a few choice bites, if you can stop!

Fudge Brownie Cheesecake

Fudge Brownie Cheesecake

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When Do You Take Time to Play?

Must go to the gym…how many minutes till I’m done?..gee, this not much fun, but I have to do it…wonder if I can fit it in today…is this workout really necessary?  Fitness is necessary to live a healthy and successful life.
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What if we reframe our thinking to include fitness as the way that we play?  I love to go for walks.
As soon as someone tells me that I need to have 10,000 steps today, I am terribly resistant.  I do not want to think that I have to strap on a counter to find out if I am hitting my goal, because that takes all of the fun out of it for me.  I have many things to do, and I just want to take a break from everything.
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Walking is my way to play.  I look at the beautiful scenery. I stop when I want.  I do some of my most productive thinking when I go for a walk.  I view it as a pleasurable activity.  So please, go out and play your way!