My salmon fishing buddies and I are now anxiously awaiting the start of the 2013 fly-fishing quest for atlantic salmon, here in Eastern Canada. The big day is June 1, only 93 days away (but who is really counting!). What are you so passionate about, that you get excited about counting down the days? A vacation? Wedding? Business trip? Start of major league baseball?
Whatever the case, we must all be careful of wishing our lives away. I did this about 10 years ago. Being over-excited about the upcoming salmon fishing season, I put all of my extra energy outside of work into planning, planning and planning for the salmon season of a lifetime. The result was not so good: I neglected my health, was stressed out (due to not enough self-care), suffered depression in the months that followed and it was my worst year ever (many rivers also closed due to low water levels). Anticipation is a great motivator, but do not lose sight of day to day living for the sake of something that may never come to pass.
After that experience, I woke up and realized that the time will come soon enough; there is no need to wish life away so fast. Secondly, health is number one and everything must be in balance (even our hobbies, passions and life motivators need to be kept in check). Sometimes we can put soooooo much energy and effort in and as a result, tip the stress scale to the negative point of no return. Lastly, because of that experience, I studied work-life balance in a major way. We can not be experts without going through the pain, struggles and tribulations on our own...no matter how many letters we place after our names. And of course, with every set back, comes an opportunity. What unpredictable situations have you learned life-lessons from?
Let the countdown begin ... but let life unfold as it should. There is no rushing mother nature, or time, anyway.
pmw
Wednesday 27 February 2013
Sunday 10 February 2013
To Do Lists often Don't!
Time management and life management are quite a challenge these days. Though I believe in making lists, especially while goal setting, if I had to make these daily for the tasks I need to accomplish, I would spend more time making lists than actually living. Let's see, what I would have to write down daily/weekly: exercise/gym, read 15-30 mins of inspiration, work 8:30-4:30 (with a whole lot of appointments in there!), work on my business in the evenings, write blogs and articles to be published, tie some flies (each night), toastmasters, cleaning, grocery store, email responses, facebook and social media posts (self promotion is necessary), balance bizness books, ebay sales (flyfishing and books), stretch daily and go to chirporactor appointments, visit my nephew/family/friends weekly...and the list goes on. Not only that, but I do not have kids and I do not watch tv...and I did not include any speaking engagements! Time management and to do lists are OK but if you want a real focus on a new life habit, call it Life Management.
Here are a few ideas for a new system:
1. Everything in balance, as much as possible (to much list making can be hazardous to your health!)
2. Major in majors - get rid of TV; only put your top 3-5 daily things that you MUST do on a list.
3. Focus on your BIG end results and what you want.
4. Think of WHY you want the results you want (new career, new house, better relationship...). Purpose is a powerful motivator and the engine that will drive you to achieve and feel fulfilled.
5. Think daily, of your big life goals and dreams (visualize these when you wake up and when you go to bed) and why you want them: what will they really do for you and "your world"? Use reasons and purpose as a major motivator to drive you forward to attract and catch what you want.
When you focus daily on the majors and why you want them, the small daily actions will take care of themselves, list or no list. Go fishing now, with a new approach: less list making, but with more major items and stronger reasons of why you want what you want. Add an emotional daily touch to your thinking and watch what your new approach will catch.
pmw
Here are a few ideas for a new system:
1. Everything in balance, as much as possible (to much list making can be hazardous to your health!)
2. Major in majors - get rid of TV; only put your top 3-5 daily things that you MUST do on a list.
3. Focus on your BIG end results and what you want.
4. Think of WHY you want the results you want (new career, new house, better relationship...). Purpose is a powerful motivator and the engine that will drive you to achieve and feel fulfilled.
5. Think daily, of your big life goals and dreams (visualize these when you wake up and when you go to bed) and why you want them: what will they really do for you and "your world"? Use reasons and purpose as a major motivator to drive you forward to attract and catch what you want.
When you focus daily on the majors and why you want them, the small daily actions will take care of themselves, list or no list. Go fishing now, with a new approach: less list making, but with more major items and stronger reasons of why you want what you want. Add an emotional daily touch to your thinking and watch what your new approach will catch.
pmw
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)