| Who thinks they lead busy lives? Who feels | | | | things that have to get done, actually get done. Have |
| overwhelmed by the demands on their time? I would | | | | you noticed that? And the things that really aren't that |
| say most of you said "me". The sensational advances | | | | important, or aren't important enough that you HAVE |
| in technology make communication and everything else | | | | to do them TODAY, either don't get done because |
| in our lives, so much more efficient. The problem is, we | | | | they weren't that important after all, or they get done |
| think we have to do absolutely EVERYTHING and it all | | | | when the time is right. To put ourselves under such |
| has to be done TODAY! The fact is, it doesn't. | | | | absurd pressure that we give ourselves nervous |
| Remember the good old days when we only had snail | | | | breakdowns and other severe health problems as a |
| mail? Now I'm showing my age. You received a letter | | | | result, is just ridiculous. |
| by post and in due course, you answered it. Even if | | | | Make time for the gym or your favorite physical |
| you received several a day, this task was do-able. | | | | activity, for partners and family, for your friends and |
| Nowadays with email, we are swamped with bundles | | | | colleagues, your hobbies and interests, your social life, |
| of e-books, e-courses, newsletters, personal and | | | | and you'll find yourself so much more productive when |
| business letters, jokes, cartoons, uplifting stories & | | | | you are at work because you have valued you. You |
| photos and so on. The input into our lives is | | | | are not just a cog in a wheel or a number on a |
| astronomical. Because we still hold onto the notion of | | | | paysheet; you are a vital member of a team. As such, |
| reading or at least glancing over everything, and | | | | you are no good to God nor man if you are |
| responding to everything as soon as possible, it all | | | | exhausted or playing the role of the martyr. You just |
| takes on an urgency that is unreasonable. The | | | | become resentful. No-one expects you to go above |
| telephone is the same. If it rings, I HAVE to answer it, | | | | and beyond the call of duty so stop putting that |
| NOW! No you don't. Turn it off when you need a | | | | pressure on yourself. It doesn't make you a better |
| break and let the answer-phone do it for you - that's | | | | person. I'm not suggesting you don't give 100% at work |
| its job. Make sure your message is recorded when | | | | and in all that you do. Quite the contrary. What I am |
| you are feeling up-beat, not exhausted and fed-up as it | | | | suggesting is that you don't neglect yourself in the |
| will show in your tone of voice. Even in a school or | | | | process. Oscar Wilde said "All things in moderation, |
| nursery centre you can put the answer-phone on | | | | including moderation." He was right. There are times |
| when appropriate for whatever reason, including taking | | | | when you need to pull out all the stops to get a project |
| a five-minute sanity break. You will deal with the call | | | | completed and there are times when it's appropriate to |
| much more effectively when you call back because | | | | do absolutely nothing. For the rest of the time, think |
| you'll be in a better frame of mind. | | | | balance. |
| My husband took the day off work last week to | | | | When I finished my workout last week and went to |
| attend to private business. As I mostly work from | | | | the caf?or breakfast (my occasional treat), my |
| home I organize my day to suit myself, so I chose to | | | | husband was there enjoying a coffee and reading the |
| go to the gym first thing in the morning. I told him I was | | | | paper. His mood was much more relaxed and positive. |
| stopping at the caf?or breakfast after my workout | | | | He'd ridden his bike over to the caf?o he'd got some |
| and suggested he join me. He grunted at me that he'd | | | | bonus exercise, had got to read the paper and have a |
| already had breakfast. When I suggested he join me | | | | break, and had had the opportunity to spend some |
| for coffee and a muffin he grumbled that he didn't | | | | quality time with me which wouldn't have happened |
| have time to have a break. Does this sound like you | | | | had we stayed at home. At home you notice all the |
| too? In a bad mood, not valuing yourself enough to | | | | "stuff" that has to be done so there's no time to talk |
| even stop for half an hour to have a coffee? I told him | | | | about bigger picture issues. What's more important, the |
| that if I waited until I had done everything on my "to do" | | | | "stuff" or you? The "stuff" will always be there. You |
| list before I went out the door, had a meal or went to | | | | won't. |
| bed, I'd never leave the house, never eat and never | | | | Take time out, get some balance in your life and |
| sleep. Instead I recognize that my "to do" list is always | | | | review your values. Top of the list should be you. |
| unachievable, that is, for any one human being to | | | | Value yourself and you'll find everything gets done that |
| possibly achieve in any given day, so I take that | | | | needs to be done - maybe not by you - learn to |
| monkey off my back. I prioritise. If I can achieve the | | | | delegate. You'll be much happier which, in turn, will |
| most important or urgent thing on the list, or maybe | | | | make everyone around you happier, more productive |
| two or three things, then that's a huge win for the day. | | | | and more co-operative. |
| It's an interesting phenomenon that somehow all the | | | | |