Word-Of-the-Week #729: Recharge
July 26, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #729: Recharge
Recharge – what you need to revive your energy, stamina & enthusiasm.
We are full on into summer and the question is, “Have you planned a vacation?” You do know that it’s one of the best ways to recharge? How would it feel to be less anxious, more rested and in a better mood?
This week features the John DiScala, Inc. Union Tribune article, “Back to Reality: How to ease into your work routine after vacation.
“Taking a summer vacation is a great way to relax and recharge your batteries. Lounging on the beach, exploring a foreign city, or hiking in the mountains can put you in a new head space. But then your flight is taking off and you must return to the daily grind.
The good news is that studies show that three days after taking a vacation, travelers report feeling less anxious, more rested and in a better mood. These benefits typically linger for weeks after the trip, but coming back still is tough.
No one wants to think about emails and deadlines, putting together a budget or running a meeting after an amazing holiday. I know I don’t. However, it can’t be avoided, especially if you want to survive your first days back without having a mental burnout. That’s why I’ve created a list of tips that’ll make your transition back to work a little smoother.
- Don’t go back to work right after your vacation is over.
Everyone needs some time to get back into the groove of things. If you can, take a day or two to relax and recuperate before heading back into the office. Even if you need to tidy-up around the house or run errands, give yourself at least a few hours to chill.
I like to order-in or go for ice cream the day after I’ve come back from a long break. I’m having a treat while still slowly getting back into a groove. Focus on giving your mind time to adjust. If you don’t, you’ll have stress on top of fatigue to deal with when you return to work.
Is your team burned out and stressed out? Declare production bankruptcy. Give your employees a bailout. Pick a day that is going to be about catching up—not moving forward. It’s not a day to produce, create, or build anything. That may seem counterintuitive given the state of the economy and how challenging the business environment is, but it could be what people need to recharge their batteries. Here are 10 tips for a bailout plan for workers.
- Ease your way back into work.
Either the day before returning to work or the morning of returning to work, take some time to plan out your day. Make a to-do list with everything you know you need to do and prioritize what needs to be done. If you do this on the morning of your return, be sure to give yourself space to be alone with your thoughts.
Start with old tasks that you didn’t finish before you went on vacation. It’ll give you a sense of normality. You might be tempted to jump straight into new projects, but you’re going to crash and burn before lunch.
Focus on doing what you know how to do and what requires the least amount of time. Starting with small tasks can boost your confidence. Remember, you’re taking one step at a time.
- Bring a little piece of your vacation home with you.
Souvenirs are great personal mementos that can remind you that it’s okay to take a break and enjoy life. Recovering from fatigue can be as simple as reminiscing. In her book, “The Myths of Happiness”, UC Riverside psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky has found that reminiscing about a trip brings you immense pleasure.
It can be especially helpful if you can incorporate the senses such as smell. I personally like using diffusers with oils from different parts of the world. This allows all of your positive feelings about it to flow back into you. You can then transform that into energy to get you through your day.
This week’s focus is to recharge. How would it feel to have more energy, stamina, & enthusiasm? What if you made creating a vacation plan your goal? Plus adding enough time to allow you to ease back into work?
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Word-Of-the-Week #728: Focus & 14th WOW Anniversary!
July 19, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #728: Focus & 14th WOW Anniversary!
Focus – close attention and concentration.
Do you get overwhelmed when you think about achieving a goal? Do you have a tendency to avoid completing certain tasks? And what are the chances that Focus would be the 14th Anniversary WOW?
This week features the follow up to Marcel Schwantes, Inc. Union Tribune article, “Getting to the Goal: Here’s how achievers do it.”
- They recognize when they’re procrastinating.
We’ve all suffered from procrastination in one form or another. It’s important to figure out the reasons for your procrastination. Some people find a particular task or job aimed toward attaining a goal unpleasant, and that becomes the source of their avoidance. Here are three instant strategies to help you out:
Have clearly prioritized to-do lists, schedules, time frames for completing a task, and deadlines for goals to help counter procrastination.
Work back from your deadlines to know how long you need, and when to get started so you’re not late.
Focus on one task at a time. Contrary to popular belief, multitasking is actually counterproductive. Finally, like all well-organized people, make sure your work is broken down into manageable steps.
- They practice the 52 and 17 Rule.
When working toward your daily goal, try 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of rest–what is known as “interval training” in sports. Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness, co-authors of Peak Performance, found that adopting an interval-based approach to productivity isn’t just for gifted athletes. One study found that its most productive employees preferred a work routine where they spent, on average, 52 minutes engrossed in their work, took a 17-minute break, and then returned to their work. Retaining the highest level of productivity toward achieving your goals in a day is not working longer; it’s working smarter with frequent breaks.
- They listen to music for focus.
Music has been found to be a great way to maintain focus and stay productive for goal-attainment. The key is to experiment first, and find suitable music that helps you focus. A good tool to use is Focus at Will, which uses music scientifically driven to improve your concentration. Background noise also has also been proved to sharpen your focus. Try Coffitivity, a tool that emulates the ambient sounds of a cafe to boost your creativity and help you work better to get stuff done.
- They don’t multitask.
There’s a myth out there that to be successful means to act with warp-speed urgency and do as many things as possible at the same time. Actually, the most successful people are very patient and avoid juggling many things. In fact, research says multitasking is a myth and can be damaging to our brains. You end up splitting your focus over many tasks, losing focus, lowering the quality of your work and taking longer to hit your goals. The 8 percent of people who nail down their goals are smart enough to work on several smaller chunks to complete a big goal. But they do it by knocking one down then moving on to the next one.
When I started back in 2004 I never knew how long I would keep writing these. But I knew I wanted to be a better writer so I got some help – and like anything – the more you practice the easier it gets. It just takes some close attention & concentration!
This week’s all about having focus. How would it feel to work smarter and not harder? Do you have a clearly prioritized to-do list? Are you able to work on one task at a time? Do you make time to take frequent breaks?
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Word-Of-the-Week #727: Achievers
July 12, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #727: Achievers
Achievers – one’s successful in accomplishing their goals.
Did you know that only 8 percent of people actually achieve their goals? Do you write down your goals? How specific and challenging are they?
This week features Marcel Schwantes, Inc. Union Tribune article, “Getting to the Goal: Here’s how achievers do it.”
“According to the University of Scranton, a whopping 92 percent of people who set New Year’s goals never actually achieve them. You can count me in that group. Failing to meet goals is pretty frustrating and can set you back.
That leaves 8 percent of us in a very elite category of goal-achievers. What do they do differently that 92 percent of us are missing out on? Most of the time, it comes down to simple habits to keep us accountable.
- They begin with the end in mind.
When setting goals, you have to know where you’re headed. When writing down your goals, make sure that you understand the path to your final destination. After all, a goal without a clear roadmap is just a pipe dream. Once you have your goal on paper, write out what you’ll need to get there. These are your subgoals and the resources that you will need to support you along the way.
- They build a support system around them.
High performers and productive people don’t do it alone. They understand that they can achieve more and do it quicker with the help of a mentor, coach, or adviser (or advisory team). If you wanted to get better at tennis, you would probably hire an instructor who would help you improve your serve or backhand volley. Setting and meeting larger goals is no different. Look for allies and build a network of experts who care about your success and keep you heading toward your goals. Meet with them regularly, seek their wisdom, ask for advice, and listen carefully.
- They set specific and challenging goals.
Research by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham found that when people followed these two principles (specific and challenging goals), it led to higher performance 90 percent of the time. For example, if your goal is to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year, it may be challenging, but it’s too vague and not specific enough. Try this instead: “During the month of July, I will lose five pounds by reducing sugar, breads, and soda. I will also walk briskly for 20 minutes daily.” When you have that much clarity around your goal, your chances of hitting the mark increase dramatically.”
And I was taught to use present tense. So on July 1st I would say, “I briskly walk everyday for 20 minutes and I lost 5 pounds because I cut back on sugar, bread & soda.”
This week’s all about being an achiever. Do you have a clear roadmap for accomplishing your goal? Do you have a support system of mentors or advisers to help you? Is your goal challenging and have you made it clear and specific?
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Word-Of-the-Week #726: Portentous
July 5, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #726: Portentous
Portentous – full of unspecifiable significance; exciting wonder and awe.
When was the last time you experienced exciting wonder and awe? Could you enjoy something that was full of unspecifiable significance?
I am hoping you had a FUN 4th of July and are taking time to enjoy summer! This week’s word was inspired by our 3 week road trip we took in May.
We drove 3675 miles through Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, & Colorado. And we definitely overdosed on Vitamin N. Do you remember the WOW when I posed this question, “Are you suffering from nature deficit disorder?”
“Our increasingly urban lifestyles are denying us the benefits of the great outdoors, says bestselling author Richard Louv. His book “Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life” is all about tempting us back outside. He focuses on 500 ways people can boost their engagement with nature.”
Well I don’t have to be tempted. I LOVE being in nature! And this trip was all about seeing places that I had never seen before but always wanted to. After spending a week in Northern Arizona and Southeast Utah we headed up to Jackson Hole. On the way we stopped in Jensen, UT to see Dinosaur National Monument. Did you know that all of the dinosaurs that are on display in our museums came from Dinosaur National Park? It covers over 200,000 acres in Utah & Colorado. It was truly “awesome” to be able to see and touch the bones in the quarry.
- We started our 4 day Grand Teton & Yellowstone Safari with a full rainbow…
…that I saw as an omen of what was to come.
- Then at the end of our trip in Mesmerizing Monument Valley…
…we got a full moon rising over the desert…
…and felt the Ancestral spirits…
…with the chanting and meditative music.
- It was beyond beautiful…
…& spectacular to say the least!
This week’s focus is finding exciting wonder and awe. The only side effects of overdosing on Vitamin N are taking your breath away and possible gasping. It’s really FUN…trust me! Where do you want to go? What do you want to see that could create a portentous experience for you?
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And you can see more trip pixs or our daily trip highlights here.