Setting Boundaries

We often say “yes” to some projects, tasks or meetings when we really should be saying no. 

It’s up to us as an individual to set our own boundaries. At times we say “yes” because:

• We want to help
• We don’t like being rude
• We don’t like conflict
• We worry if you say ‘no’ this time they may not ask you again
• We  feel you may be offending others
• We  feel someone might not like you

We often find it more difficult to say “no” to a request from an adult. That can be because we all like to help and contribute, and that should be important, but it needs to be balanced with our other urgent and important tasks.

When we’re clear on our priorities, it gives us the courage to say ‘no’ in a pleasant way.  The key is learning the right way to say ‘no’. Once I developed this skill, I realised it wasn’t difficult at all and other people are actually very understanding.

A number of statements and phrases that are worth using include:

• “I have a prior commitment”
• “I’m overextended right now.”
• “I can’t commit to this at the moment because of my other priorities”
• “Sorry, can’t. Let me know how it goes.”
• “I’m tempted, but I’ll have to pass.”
• “I don’t have experience with that.”
• “I would rather decline than do a mediocre job.”
• “I’d love to say yes, but I can’t.”
• “I’m honoured, but this is a busy time, and I won’t be able to fit it in.”
• “You’re good at that; you shouldn’t have any trouble finding someone to help.”
• “You know I’d never refuse you if I could help it. I’m swamped right now.”
• “Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.”
• “We’re overcommitted – perhaps you could hire a temp for that.”
• “I can’t do that, but I can suggest a few people who might be able to help you”
• “I’d love to help you with this. Which of my current projects should I delegate to another person in order to take this on?”

So next time someone asks you to help them take a moment before you answer.

Mahatma Gandhi said, "A 'No' uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or what’s worse, to avoid trouble."

Learning to say “no” is a very simple but effective time and stress and time management tool.  It’s important to remember than whenever you say “yes” to something, you’re effectively saying “no” to something else – it may be your free time, an extra twenty minutes sleep, exercising time or family time. These are real motivational factors to understand why you should be saying “no”.

Make it a new habit to stop and think before you automatically say “yes” to a request; at least this way you’re making a conscious decision and are fully aware that you’re giving up something else. 

Time Management - Delaying Tasks

We are all well aware that life is busy. At times it may feel like it’s far too busy for us to keep up. This means that we can put off tasks that should be done. Putting off tasks is not necessarily the same as procrastination. To put off a task is to know that you have to do it and continue to put it off.

The following are some tips to help you moved forward.

1. Identify the task that you are putting off and do the task. Don’t start or do anything else until you have done that task.
2. If the task is something that is too difficult, you don’t have the skills, or even too trivial then consider delegating or outsourcing.
3. At the beginning of each day most time management experts recommend that you number your tasks that you intend to do for the day. It is important that you then follow the numbers in numerical order. This keeps you moving and helps prevent putting off tasks.
4. You may be delaying the task because you have forgotten how to do the task. If it is something that you don’t do regularly this can occur. Therefore your next action may be to talk to someone who knows how to do it and find out how it is done [can I suggest that you write a system so you know how to do the task next time it comes about.]
5. Sometimes we put off the task because we are missing information. Therefore, you know what you have to do now. Identify what the information is that you need and find the information. The key here is to actually work out what the information is that you need. Don’t just write an action note of “get information”. That will not help at all. Write what the information is that you have to get. For example “get 2011 tax return to obtain the date taxation was submitted.”
6. Often we automatically do things because they are “on our list” however it is important to ask whether the task really needs to be done.  It’s frustrating to eventually complete a task only to discover that it didn't have to be done at all!
7. You may have tasks on your list that involves paying for something and you have to wait until you have money, put the task into a “future to-do” list. Don’t have the task hanging over your head and on “the list” when there is nothing you can do for now to get it done.
8. If you can't make yourself put the paperwork away then just buy the item. Complete the task on your list and move on.
9. Have a day or half a day a month that is known as “finish up day” or “completion day”. This is the day where you complete all the outstanding tasks that you haven’t got around to. It’s an amazing feeling when this occurs as it gives you a real sense of freedom.
10. The most brutal option is to just not do the task. If it was important then you would have done it by now! Face reality perhaps it’s just not that important!

The key is to look at all the tasks you have to do and question whether you really have to do them. Don’t just be someone who is busy. Be someone who is productive.

Get Business Tool

I have been blogging for a couple of years now and one of the things I could never do was add you tube videos or audio that I felt may be relevant to my blogging community. I have found the solution. It is software called JCopia.
It's not just for You Tube, you can also use it to download video and audio from flash players on internet sites like Google Video, MySpace, DailyMotion, Metacafe, Break, and other Blog sites of course. Where ever audio and video content is embedded.

Just play your media online and watch as JCopia saves any clip, music or movie to your computer. If you want it you can download and install from http://jiteco.com/download/jcopia/jcopia.exe

Or lLearn more what is included in JCopia 4.7.11466 on http://jiteco.com/jcopia.html

I know I don't normally do this but it was something that I had been trying to do for a while and could not find the answer. I figured if it was a problem I had maybe its a problem you may have.

Imagining only owning 100 things!

I read an article by Kristin Tillotson from the Star Tribune in Minneapolis where she wrote of a family that are really trying to live green, save money and be free.

Think about what is the minimum number of items you could live with and how different your life would be with only the minimum.

This Swindlehurt’s family is breaking tradition and really going against the grain of current society by getting rid of as much stuff as they can.

Simplifying their lives

Apparently there is a National movement in America of people who are simplifying their lives – and imagine the difference on your savings by eliminating as many possessions as you can and resisting buying anything else.

It is linked towards green living, The Swindlehurt’s who the article focused on said that “The 100 Things Challenge” was what started it all. This challenge dared people to keep only 100 things. It was launched by Dave Bruno three years ago. It has picked up a Facebook following and naturally a book deal.

The goal is to free you from the demands of consumerism, from being stuck on stuff. Imagine how different your life would be. No filing cabinet, no dresser, no incredible collection of DVD’s, no mismatched coffee cups. What would be the 100 things you would keep?

Living minimal like this has definite benefits beyond the reduced environmental footprint such as reduced cleaning time. Not being anchored to material possessions, the money saved the feeling of being more organised.

Times are changing

It is interesting to note that we tend to travel in a circle through our life and many years ago our grandparents or parents grew up in the depression with very little, until now-a-days when we have excess everywhere from our possessions to our weight. Many people are feeling overwhelmed by their possessions and are making a conscious choice to reduce and eliminate.

People are starting to feel different. Material possessions are not necessary to show how successful you have been. According to a study of the American Dream by MetLife Generation Y is more into making friends than amassing objects.

You don’t have to get down to 100 things but really take a look around and every day take some possessions out of your house. It is a real freedom. It opens up so many possibilities. What is the minimum you could live with?

About Us

LifeStyle Refocus is a Melbourne based professional organiser and lifestyle management consultancy. We are all about saving you TIME. We conduct workshops on ‘Managing your Time’, ‘Systemise Yourself to have a Productive Day,’ ‘DeClutter and Take Back Control’ and Mind Clutter.’ We work with individuals and businesses to help them create a better life.

For more information go to www.lifestylerefocus.com.au or contact Michele on 0437 311 802.

Managing your energy allows you to get more done

Last blog we discussed how exercise can help you be more productive. This week we are looking at our energy cycles again. During the day our bodies go through an energy cycle every 90 to 120 minutes. We should be scheduling our tasks around that body rhythm. That is we focus and concentrate on our work for 90 to 120 minutes then do less important work for a rest and recovery break. This type of work includes emails, some calls and perhaps even some meetings.

Our energy cycle is not just physical energy either. Other elements include our emotional energy and mental energy.

Therefore to work at our peak productivity some of the ways to look after ourselves includes:

Physical energy

§  Sleep
§  Nutrition
§  Hydration
§  Exercise
§  Recovery

Emotional energy

§  Positive relationships
§  Do not worry about what you cannot change
§  Enjoyment
§  Recovery

Mental energy

§  Positive thoughts
§  Personal development
§  Recovery

So make small changes over time to look after your body on a physical, emotion and mental level.

 
By doing this you will certainly become more productive and get more done in less time which allows you time to do the things that you really want to do not just what you have to do.

About Us
LifeStyle Refocus is a Melbourne based professional organiser and lifestyle management consultancy. We are all about saving you TIME. We conduct workshops on ‘Managing your Time’, ‘Systemise Yourself to have a Productive Day,’ ‘DeClutter and Take Back Control’ and Mind Clutter.’ We work with individuals and businesses to help them create a better life.

For more information go to www.lifestylerefocus.com.au or contact Michele on 0437 311 802.

Exercise and Increase Your Productivity

Many of us are aware that during the night we have a rhythm to our sleep – light sleep, deep sleep . . .  however did you know that during the day our bodies also have a rhythm?

Take note as to how you work during the day, once you commence work do you find you can get going but later in the day between 2.30 to 3.30 you start to feel sluggish. Well that is your body rhythm telling you that it is fatiguing.

It is during this period of time when you are start to lose concentration and you will know because of the signs and signals your body gives you such as fidgeting, self-distraction, hunger, thirst, looking for easy distractions, not doing the work you really should be doing. Why not take a walk! Just 10 minutes can make all the difference.

After your walk you can come back to work and you will be ready to go again. Rather than persisting and not really being productive taking a break will allow you to come back refreshed and “on” task. This will increase your focus and concentration. If you had not got up and walked away from the desk then you will continue to work slower, make more mistakes, and procrastinate on decisions because you are not clear. So go for a walk and increase your productivity. You will notice the difference.

About Us
LifeStyle Refocus is a Melbourne based professional organiser and lifestyle management consultancy. We are all about saving you TIME. We conduct workshops on ‘Managing your Time’, ‘Systemise Yourself to have a Productive Day,’ ‘DeClutter and Take Back Control’ and Mind Clutter.’ We work with individuals and businesses to help them create a better life.

For more information go to www.lifestylerefocus.com.au or contact Michele on 0437 311 802.

Developing and Establishing Good Habits

To make changes in our life we need to change some of our habits and routines. This means replacing our existing habits and routines with more positive habits and routines. When the going gets tough it is our habits that get us through. So what are the areas of your life that you need to tweak and change?

Do you realise that how you live your life is actually based on decisions you have made? Wow that may be a little bit confrontational really. It is much easier to look for someone else to blame for the areas of our life that are frustrating us or not satisfying us.


So once you have identified an area to change then we need to make the changes part of our daily routine. When it becomes a habit it is easy and natural for us to do. Think about your morning routine – if you are leaving the house late each day is it because you stay in bed and hit the snooze button? If this is the case you have to change that habit and replace it with a more positive habit. Like getting up on the first buzz or only hitting the snooze button once.

It really is the little changes which add up to bigger improvements in your life.

The idea is that these new habits become embedded into your subconscious mind and you do not have to think about it. It becomes automatic.

So don’t tell yourself that you will start tomorrow – start today – start now. You may even want to write it out as a new habit. Tackle one new habit a week – that will be 52 improvements in your life this year! Wow that’s progress.

So what habit are you going to change today?

About Us

LifeStyle Refocus is a Melbourne based professional organiser and lifestyle management consultancy. We are all about saving you TIME. We conduct workshops on ‘Managing your Time’, ‘Systemise Yourself to have a Productive Day,’ ‘DeClutter and Take Back Control’ and Mind Clutter.’ We work with individuals and businesses to help them create a better life.