What Changes Do You Need to Make You Understand How You Use Your Time?

Last week, we spoke about the value of your time and your action.  Whenever you are about to begin a task, stop and estimate how long the task will take then compare how long it actually took.  You can learn an incredible amount from this exercise.  So …

What did you notice and what did you learn?

What are you going to change as a result of what you learnt?

Have you started to make these changes?

If yes, congratulations on taking action.  If no, not yet ... why not, what is stopping you from improving?

Some additional questions to think about:

• How does your day start?
• Do you have enough time or do changes have to be made?
• When checking your emails does it go on too long?  Do you have enough time or do changes have to be made?
• Is your evening at home enjoyable, and do you have enough time or do changes have to be made?
• Do you enjoy your weekends or do changes have to be made?

Action

Evaluate every task, to gain a better understanding of how well you use your time.  If you didn’t do the time tracking last week, feel free to go to the website www.lifestylerefocus.com.au/free-resources to download the time tracking forms.  Think about one small change you could make that will support you on your journey to creating a better life.

Thank you and I look forward to sharing more tips, strategies and skills to support you to be more organised so that you too can create a better life.

“Be an inspiration to yourself and

you will be an inspiration to others.”

Do You Value Your Time?

Many of us underestimate the value of time and take it for granted because time just goes on and on.  We often say ‘we’ll do it tomorrow’ or ‘l’ll do that when I have time’.

What we don’t understand is that time is a valuable resource – it may actually be our most valuable resource.

You have the same amount of time each day as world leaders, such as The President and the Prime Minister, the same amount of time as successful entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Bill Gates.

Your education, social standing, financial status doesn’t make a difference to the amount of time you get – no matter what happens we all get exactly the same amount of time, 1,440 minutes a day.

Control of time is the key to being more efficient.  It is an important skill to develop so that we can accomplish more tasks than the average person each and every day.

• So, how do you spend your time?
• Does your day have a structure?
• Can that structure be improved?

The first step is to start measuring how long tasks take.

This will give you an indication whether you under or over schedule your day. The majority of us actually under estimate how long a task will take and that is why we often don’t get everything done we want to complete in a day.

Action

For the next week, whenever you are about to begin a task. Stop and estimate how long the task will take.

Then compare how long it actually took.

You can learn an incredible amount from this exercise.

Knowing how long even basic tasks such as getting ready of a morning may mean you now understand why you are always racing out the door a couple of minutes late.

It will allow you to more accurately estimate how much work you can complete in a day which in turn may change how you schedule your day.

You can do this is a notebook, on a scrap piece of paper or use the time tracking forms on the website www.lifestylerefocus.com.au/free-resources

Thank you and I look forward to sharing more tips, strategies and skills to support you to be more organised so that you too can create a better life.

“Be an inspiration to yourself and

you will be an inspiration to others.”

How Much Do You Get Out Of Your Life?

Wow – what a confronting question. I came across the following saying the other day that got me thinking.

“People do not live nowadays.

They get about 10 percent out of life.”

Isadora Duncan

How much do you get out of life? I understand there are things we have to do in life that we don’t always love, but how much of your life is made up of that?

This may be one of those questions that is just too hard to answer. So let’s flip the question. How much of your life do you love? What parts of it? We can break life into some categories and start there. Feel free to design your own categories; however, some suggestions to get you going include:

• Health
• Fitness
• Business / Career
• Community
• Personal Growth
• Relaxation
• Romance / Significant other
• Spiritual

I am hoping that this exercise makes you feel good about your life and not sad and pathetic. However, if you are feeling a bit exhausted by the evaluation, the benefit is it may motivate you to change.

Remember, it is the small things in life that bring us most of our happiness. This comes from the 80/20 rule or Pareto’s Principle. It is the small things that bring us joy and happiness. It can be a kiss from a child, a catch up with a friend, a bush walk on the weekend with the family. It is often the really small little things that we love. Those things we do that bring a smile to our face every time we think about it.

If you are finding that you do need to make some changes to your life then pick an area. For example, relaxation – and think about what you do that relaxes you. It may be spending time reading, going for a walk, having a bath, getting a massage, gardening (I know for some it is a wonderfully relaxing thing to do). Then plan that into your week. It can happen. You just have to make it happen.

Aristotle said:

"Happiness is the meaning

and the purpose of life,

the whole aim and end

of human existence.“

So what do you have to do to make happiness a key in your life? What do you need to do to get more from your life? Think about tomorrow. What small changes can you make to have a better life? Why a better life? Because this is it! This is the life you have. Where you are today in your life is about the decisions you have made and the actions you have taken.

When I first heard that, I didn’t agree; however, upon reflection I realised I did agree I just didn’t want to acknowledge that it was true. The best part is thought once you get over yourself and realise that where you are in life now is really based on the decisions you have made and the actions you have taken, then the bonus is, all you have to do is make different decisions and take different actions!

Too simple? Not really. We just have to take action so that we are living life, a wonderful, magnificent life, worth living, worth bragging and boasting about and worth every minute of it. Let’s aim to get way more out of our life than 10%. What’s your target? 

Change – It’s Not Going to be Easy!

There are times in our lives when we want things to be different. It doesn’t matter what the difference is, we all have our own versions of what it is that we want to change.

Some changes are small and some of the changes are massive. The trouble is, change can sometimes be hard for us. It is about doing something new, that something may even be outside our comfort zone. For some, it may be eating better. For others, it may be exercise, it may be quitting smoking, or even taking some time for ourselves. Even though the change may be unique for each of us, the emotions, frustrations, hiccups can be experienced by us all. It is important to remember what Art Williams said:

"I'm not telling you it is going to be easy

I'm telling you it's going to be worth it“

Art Williams

When we want to make changes we are often breaking a past habit. It may be important to remember that many things we do are habits, so why not make them good habits.

There is another saying that I love by John McGrath which is:

Remember, there’s always going to be

some pain in life.

I choose the pain of discipline, to create a

balanced life that I love living, rather than the

pain of regret of a life half-lived.

Because I know that the pain of regret

is a hell of a lot greater.

It’s a fantastic saying, and so true, too. If you need to place this somewhere nearby to keep you motivated then do so. 

Make Life Easier – Be Clear on Your Values

The last few weeks we have focused on strategies to function at your best. They covered physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. This week, we are going to look at values. The reason is when we live a life that is aligned with our values, we are living a fulfilled life.

Values aren’t morals or principles. They are the essence of who you are—not who you think you should be. For example, some people feel having money is a value. Please be aware that money is not a value. The things that money may provide you such as free time, risk-taking, and being of service are values.

It is when we are aligned with our values, that we feel inner harmony, our choices are more easily made, and our actions are in agreement with our true self.

This is a quiz I found which allows you to see how well you are living in accord with your values.

1. I have spent time clarifying my values and can articulate them easily.
2. My values are my own. I have not simply adopted them from parents, teachers, friends or other outside influences.
3. I base my choice of occupation on my deepest values.
4. My values are in alignment with the company I work for (or own).
5. My associates and I regularly examine how we are living up to our values and mission.
6. I turn down money-making or status-building opportunities when they conflict with my values.
7. In resolving disputes at work, I look beneath the apparent problem to see if values are being dishonored, and then I seek ways to honor them.
8. Anyone looking at my life from the outside would see what I value.
9. I use my values as a guidepost for making decisions. I ask if a particular choice would bring me closer to—or further from—a core value.
10. When I feel upset, it’s almost always because my values are being trampled—either by me, someone else, or the situation.
11. I am not easily swayed by others’ opinions when they conflict with my values.
12.  To remain open and flexible, I am willing to re-examine my values to determine whether something is still true for me.
13. I find creative ways to honor all of my values—even when they conflict with one another.
14. My work values are in harmony with my personal and relationship values.
15. If I live according to my values, I will feel satisfied and successful throughout my life.

If you answered false more often than true, you may wish to clarify your deepest values and bring your life into greater alignment with them. Even if you answered true more than false, these questions provide a base by which you can ponder how you can improve living a value based life.

Take some time to think through these questions and don’t rush through them. Ponder and dig deep always looking for a better answer, a more considered answer, a truthful answer. Not the one you want to answer, but the answer you know is true and correct. If these questions were uncomfortable then don’t worry. Each week take one question, think of what you would love your answer to be and then start living that way. 

How to Increase Your Energy Levels - Emotionally

We have been focusing on energy levels the last few articles. Specifically the four levels of energy which are:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Mental
• Spiritual

Last week, we looked at the physical elements which include:

• Sleep – enough rest and relaxation for your body
• Nutrition – eating good healthy food regularly especially breakfast in the morning
• Water – ensuring your body stays hydrated
• Exercise – daily activity assists your body to perform at its best
• Breathing – take the time to breathe deeply

This week, we will focus on our emotions. Emotions strongly impact our productivity. Positive emotions include enjoyment, love, gratitude, hope, challenge, adventure and opportunity. Negative emotions are costly in that they take away our focus and ability to concentrate. When we’re filled with negative emotions we can be like a time bomb ready to ‘go off’ at any moment.

When we’re emotionally balanced, we can deal with mishaps, changes, challenges and difficult circumstances with a clear head, and we become less stressed. Take a moment every day to think of what you’re grateful for. It’s easy to find things that you’re grateful for - from having a house to live in, clothes to wear, food to eat, and clean water to drink. It’s often the most basic of items that we do take for granted, but if we didn’t have these; our lives would be incredibly different.

A study by the Gallup Organisation found that the productivity of an employee is greatly influenced based on his relationship with his direct superior. Gallup found that the key factors of productivity for employees include:

• Feeling cared for by a supervisor or someone at work
• Receiving recognition or praise
• Having someone at work encouraging their development.

Shawn Achor presents on the Happiness Advantage and comments that you could improve your productivity by 30% just by being happy. Wow – that’s a huge increase in productivity just through happiness. Shawn has discovered that happiness actually fuels success. If you can find a way for your brain to become positive our success rates will increase. As a result, work will become more productive, enjoyable and rewarding. By doing this we will be able to maximize our brains potential. This means that we aren’t waiting to be successful to be happy, we are happy we will be successful and we are happy in the present, this moment, not waiting for some unknown to make us happy.

I know this sounds bizarre because we have thought for so long that it is the other way around. However, there is research to back it up. Think of organizations like Google, Apple and Zippos’ that are massive internationally successful companies. They have a strong focus on their staff and allowing their staff to be comfortable, relaxed and happy at work. This focus then means the staff are engaged, their values are aligned with the company. It is a massive shift from so many of the serious companies that are so flat out that staff don’t even have time to chat and have a basic conversation. Let alone a laugh at work.

A study in 2006 by the Gallop poll organisation revealed that disengaged employees that are 21% of the workforce cost at that time the Australian economy over $32 billion dollars.

In the book “Delivering Happiness” by Tony Hsieh, he commented that “Studies have shown that engaged employees are more productive, and that the number of good friends and employee has at work is correlated with how engaged that employee is. In The Happiness Hypothesis, author Jonathan Haidt concludes that happiness doesn’t come primarily from within but rather from between. This is one of the reasons why we place so much emphasis on company culture at Zippos.”

We need to schedule time for activities that give us enjoyment and fulfillment as this delivers positive emotions both at work and external from work. What activities do you enjoy? I find that when I spend time gardening, I relax. It’s quiet time and I’ll find myself smiling for no reason in particular. It’s an activity that gives me time to recharge my batteries. Then when it is time to work I am ready to go. My body and mind have disengaged, relaxed, I am happy. What is it you need to do to bring positive emotions into the workplace? 

How to Increase Your Energy Levels - Physical

Last week’s article talked about functioning at your best and we identified the four categories that we need to spend some time on to be overall well balanced and support our energy levels. Our aim is to manage our energy so that we can manage our time better, be more productive, focused and reduce our stress. The quality of our energy is a reflection of our physical capacity.

The four levels of energy are:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Mental
• Spiritual

This week, we will focus on Physical Energy levels and what we can do to look after ourselves physically so we can be the best possible in all aeas of our life.

Physical

It’s important to look after ourselves to be at our most efficient and productive. Ways to do this for our physical body include:

• Sleep – enough rest and relaxation for your body
• Nutrition – eating good healthy food regularly especially breakfast in the morning
• Water – ensuring your body stays hydrated
• Exercise – daily activity assists your body to perform at its best
• Breathing – take the time to breathe deeply

Sleep

As individuals, we don’t give sleep the priority we should. Sleeping is one of the major ways for our minds and body to recover. Consider how you feel and function after a night when you didn’t get a ‘proper’ night’s sleep. It can affect your focus, concentration, energy, mood, memory, logic and even your reaction time.

We should go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each day for our body rhythms to be consistent. Know how much sleep you need to function at your best and ensure that becomes a priority.

The National Sleep Foundation reported that drowsy workers cost U.S. employers an estimated $18 billion annually in lost productivity. Research showed that too little sleep suppresses your immune function, which leads to increased infection and illnesses, creating more absenteeism. The quality of work, amount of work, and your concentration decline by 30% EACH when you’re sleepy.

Nutrition

We all know that the food we consume makes an incredible difference to our energy levels; a few tips include:

• Eat more fruit and vegetables [at least two servings of fruit and five of vegetables]
• Manage your portion size
• Eat less processed food
• Eat regular meals
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Limit the amount of snack food such as chips, lollies, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, and sausage rolls as they often contain excess salt, fat and sugar.

Include healthy snacks on your shopping list as this is where many of us get caught out. Perhaps keep dried fruit and nuts in your desk draw and store low-fat yoghurt in the fridge at work.

Water

We should be drinking at least eight glasses of water a day or eating food that’s high in water content. This will maintain hydration in our body.

The trick is to tie drinking water to a routine activity. For example, if you go on a morning walk take a water bottle. Before your morning cup of tea, drink a glass of water. Have another glass of water at lunch and another glass of water at afternoon teatime. Carry a water bottle in the car and every time you stop at traffic lights, have a drink. You can pick any activity as long as it’s something you do at least five days a week.

Exercise

Many of us want to spend more time exercising, but we can’t find the time. The key here is to change our thinking. Rather than trying to find time to exercise, what we need to do is invest time in exercise that will give us more energy.

The following statistics are from ‘The Power of Full Engagement’ by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. They reported the link between exercise exposure and performance.

• DuPont reported a 47.5% reduction in absenteeism over a six-year period for participants in a corporate fitness program.
• A study in the journal ergonomics concluded that fit workers committed 27% fewer errors on tasks involving concentration and short-term memory as compared to un-fit workers.
• In a study of eighty executives over a nine-month period, those who worked out regularly improved their fitness by 22% and demonstrated a 70% improvement in their ability to make complex decisions as compared with non-exercisers.
• The Canadian Life Assurance Company found that 63% of participants in a fitness program reported being more physically relaxed, less tired and more patient during the workday. Some 47% reported being more alert, having better rapport with supervisors and co-workers, and experiencing a higher level of enjoyment at work.

Breathing

Breathing is a tool to deeply relax and increase energy. Try this breathing technique:

• Breath in – count to three,
• Breath out to a count of six,
• Do this three times.

It quiets the body, mind and emotions. Deep, smooth and rhythmic breathing is known to be a source of energy; it increases alertness, focus and relaxation. If you’re having a mid-project lull, perhaps a few deep breaths is all that you need to do to get your focus back on track.

If you start working on one of these areas each week in no time you will have developed some amazing new positive habits to boost your energy levels.

Functioning at Your Best

All of us have a “prime time” in the day; it’s that time when you feel good, focused, and productive. For some, it’s early morning, while for others, it’s later in the day or evening. The idea is to understand the time you function at your best and schedule your daily routine around  your energy cycles.

An energy cycle is how your body functions throughout the day. You need to take note of when you feel good, when you feel tired, or you are just chugging along going through the motions. Not really achieving anything but looking like you are working.

Tracking your energy cycle comes from asking questions such as, are you an early bird or a night owl? Early birds get up and are ready to go as soon as they wake. Night owl’s find they’re slower to get up of a morning and get going but busy themselves with work of an evening.  For others, it is in between these two scenarios. The time you feel you work better, is the time to schedule the work that requires the most concentration, focus and creativity. Leave the less demanding work such as reading mail, emails, and phone calls until your energy has dropped.

Energy Management not Time Management

Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz in their book ‘The Power of Full Engagement’ wrote, “The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. It’s our most precious resource. The more we take responsibility for the energy we bring to the world, the more empowered and productive we become.”

“Energy, not time, is our most precious resource"

Loehr and Schwartz

What we need to do is manage our energy so that we can manage our time better, be more productive, focused, and reduce our stress. The quality of our energy is a reflection of our physical capacity.

The four levels of energy are:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Mental
• Spiritual

Physical energy – when your physical cycle is low, you may tire easily and be susceptible to illness. When your physical energy is high, you feel better and can accomplish more.

Emotional energy – this affects our mental stability, sensitivity, moods and emotions. When it’s low, we may be moody, bad tempered and irritable. When it’s good, we’re more likely to be cheerful, happy and sensuous.

Mental [Intellectual] energy – this is our ability to learn, memorise and analyse; our logic is sharp, our decision making and concentration is at its best. When it’s low, we may display poor judgement, find it hard to concentrate and have difficulty remembering things. When it’s high, we solve problems quickly, have a good memory and think effectively.

Spiritual energy – this doesn’t mean spiritual  in the ‘religious’ sense but in the connection to our values and to a purpose beyond our own self-interest. When it’s low, we can have a lack of drive. Spiritual energy is sustained by balancing a commitment to others with sufficient self-care.

If we’re balanced in all of these areas, we have the capacity to function at our best. That’s a fantastic way to be living life.

When we’re planning our week, we need to make sure we include “positive habits” to manage our energy in the four areas.

 “Enthusiasm finds the opportunities

and energy makes the most of them”

Henry S. Haskins

In future articles, we will provide more information on what you can do to look after your energy levels so that you can function at the best levels for you.