Since posting part 1 of the “How to Prioritise” blog a couple of months ago, I have enjoyed hearing from people who took the time to tell me that they found the tips useful in reference to helping them balance their responsibilities / tasks. This series of posts is designed to help you feel more control, get past ‘overwhelm’ and ultimately – give you the tools to help you answer the question “what did I achieve this year” with your head held high. You can check out “How to Prioritise: Tools, tricks and tips for busy professionals” (Part 1) here… and check out a few more suggestions below: Embrace Mind Maps – Part 1 of this blog mentions making a written task list, however it’s worth bearing in mind that sometimes thinking in a linear fashion doesn’t necessarily channel the information you need for that list you are looking to create. By (literally) spreading out your thinking through creating a mind map – your thoughts sometimes flow more freely. Once you’ve done this, you can then categorise or order the varying things on your list – to help you prioritise. Set deadlines – In the same way that you had deadlines at school, set deadlines against the items on your to do list. This works on a variety of levels. On a straightforward level, it gives you the opportunity to think through the range of tasks in your life and means that you have clear dates to work towards. Do you have a big project deadline at work? Do you have a birthday or anniversary card to send? Are...
I don’t know about you, but at the moment – I am happily accepting ‘inspiration’ from wherever it comes. It is mid-April (we’re in the second quarter of 2013 already!) and for those of us in the UK and Europe and even much of the US – it has been a long winter with sun and warmth being but a distant dream. The season of spring – the season that represents new beginnings is only now beginning to grace us with its presence. Not sure whether this is the case for you, but sunshine has always been a source of energy and inspiration for me and with so many conversations focused around meteorological matters at the moment, I thought you may appreciate a quick run-down of 5 things which may inspire you, rain or shine. Inspiration for the purpose of this blog post is anything which makes you smile, energise you, motivate you, generate new ideas or confidence in yourself and more. Have a read, let me know what you think of these inspiration activators and please share some of your own. #1: Connect with loved ones Stepping away from social media for a while to have a face to face or even a phone connection with a loved one can be really energising. Don’t get me wrong – I am a HUGE fan of social media for forming and maintaining connections but it is the face to face time, phone conversations, Skype calls etc. that are at the heart of true connection. This week, take 10 minutes to make a phone call to someone you’ve been meaning to...
As much as some of us try to resist succumbing to a commercially driven day of ‘love’, it can sometimes be hard to resist getting swept up in the hype. A few years before meeting my gorgeous husband, I had one of my most enjoyable Valentines evenings ever. Sounds harsh but this wasn’t with another man (not one I was romantically interested in anyway) but was with a group of – at the time – single work colleagues and we had a great rebellious, ‘anti-Valentine’s day’ dinner. It was much fun – but admittedly, still a nod (in our own way) to what is a commercially driven occasion. The way I see it though is that taking a moment to think about something you love isn’t a bad thing (unless V day is the one and only day that love is recognised… Then that is bad) – so, whether in a loved up relationship or not, why not recognise other things you love. Like your job for example. Tenuous? Maybe… But work with me here: 3 reasons to love your job this Valentine’s week: 1. It is aligned with your values and beliefs This is a biggie. If the job you are doing/career path you are pursuing doesn’t align with your values and beliefs, it is likely that you’ll never love what you do. Values represent what is important to you – they reflect your authentic self. Do you value kindness? Helping the community? Fun? Adventure? If you are in a role that resonates with your values, that’s a great reason to love your job. If you’re not…then do something...
Do you remember having discussions about how hard it was to believe 2012 was already coming to an end. “Where did the year go?” “2012 whizzed by… How did that happen?” “It seemed like only yesterday that”… etc. You remember those conversations? They happened over office Christmas meals, seasonal drinks with your friends and festive meals with your families. Yet, here we are at the end of January already… Suggesting that 2013 may have the same Usain Bolt-esque speed that we experienced last year. Whether or not you officially set yourself some resolutions / goals within the first month of the year, chances are, you at least paused to think about what you wanted 2013 to bring. How is that going for you? Here we are, past the alleged Blue Monday (3rd Monday in January – deemed to be a common day for giving up on new years resolutions), and on the cusp of the second month of the year. Even if you aren’t a structured resolution or goal setter, I bet you still don’t want the year to pass by without feeling like you’ve moved (edged, even) closer to your aspirations in some way. Whether its leaps and bounds or the slow but steady approach, don’t let 2013 come to an end with only fireworks to make you say ooh and aaah. My wish for you is that some of that incredulity is saved for your own special achievements this year. Whether that’s earning a promotion, finding a new job, getting onto the dating scene, improving your health and fitness, going on a trip you’ve always dreamed of...
It may be the case that the long hours you work don’t allow for much TV time (I can relate), but via my husband, I’ve become absorbed in a programme on UK TV channel Watch – Dynamo: Magician Impossible. For those of you based in the UK, you may have also watched in awe while the Bradford-born magician enthralled stars such as Natalie Imbruglia, Trey Songs, Rio Ferdinand, Travis Barker and regular punters… as he disappeared under a solid glass wall, turned plastic butterflies into real ones, stopped his own pulse, inserted a coin into a block of ice (while in his hands), walked on water and more. So how does he do it?! I must admit… I have NO idea. None. I’ve always been a sceptic where magic is concerned but this guy genuinely seems to have a gift. … and while it may not be in as jaw-dropping a way… you do too. Think about it. You’re not [necessarily!] a master of illusion but you’ve had instances where you’ve managed to achieve something you may have once considered impossible. You know someone who surpassed every expectation… and created their own kind of magic by defying the odds to be successful. Before you moved onto your current challenge… you may have had doubts about your ability to complete the last one… but you did. Dynamo is phenomenal. Certainly beyond my understanding… and while I know there must be some kind of inexplicable ‘trick’ / way of creating the illusion – it doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of the spectacle he creates. We can embrace the impossible on...
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