Single-Tasking or Overcoming Overwhelm

When was the last time you focused on one task and completed it without interruption?

I'll bet  it was quite a while ago and I'm confident in my wager.  My confidence is because I speak with clients everyday in my coaching practice who are struggling with "I'm overwhelmed".

They are average people with jobs, kids, spouses, parents, friends who volunteer and get involved with their children's activities.  Their calendars are filled with due dates, to do lists, task lists, and appointments.  Some of their planned activities actually overlap leaving not even one second from the end of one activity to the start of the next!

Is that even humanly possible?  Is it healthy?  Does it leave time for just simply enjoying life?  NO!

A common result of too much overwhelm and busy-ness, is procrastination.  It all becomes too much and there doesn't seem to be enough time to do anything.

Overcoming overwhelm begins by adopting "single-tasking".  The fine art of doing one thing at a time.  The ability to delegate or forget about it.

Running around like a chicken with your head cut-off filling in the demands of "everyone" except you is not only unhealthy it is unproductive and not sustainable.

Tomorrow look at your mega huge calendar of things to get accomplished and pick one - just one.  Write it down - I will do/finish/meet with/visit/enjoy this one thing.  Do not take on any new projects or appointments.  Break down your task into steps and achieve each step individually and do a good job so you can smile at your success.  

I have become committed to the idea of single-tasking and the health benefits in choosing to back away from the dreaded multi-tasking.  

I would love to hear if you are a single or multi-tasker.

Dreaming, Planning and Doing

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”  Gloria Steinem

Just a few hours to go and I'm so excited! 

2014 is the year I set my dream in motion and make it my new, amazing reality!  My visualizations are popping with colour and sound and textures and motions.  They are a whirlwind of activity.

What am I up to you ask?

Living in a small, quaint village in France for 6 months every year.  I want to successfully rent a small cottage and write, relax, enjoy good food and learn every nuance of French language and culture.

My success will depend on planning through goal setting.

Let my journey begin!

What dream to you want to make reality through planning and doing?

Happy New Year, Susan

Life is like Coffee Movie - Inspiration for Happiness!

The message in this movie is wonderful and thought provoking.  Enjoy watching then grab a cup of coffee or tea or juice and focus on the richness and pleasure your drink brings you.  Use all your senses to explore your current cuppa and practice Living in the Present Moment.

Life is like Coffee Movie: Do you know people that just seem to be happier in general? Do you say to yourself, "I want to be more like them"? Often, the happiest people in the world don't have the best of everything...they just make the best of everything!

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It's time to realize your full potential and create lasting, sustainable positive change. Explore your potential and focus on your dynamic future....Life Coaching Works!

Take the first step to Living Your Life to the Fullest and

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For Your Health Choose A New Balanced Lifestyle

Choose Work/Life Balance

Finding your work/life balance is worth its weight in gold.  Working long hours, forgoing lunch, being tied to your smart phone 24/7, and getting home late are quickly becoming the norm for the majority of people.  Sadly, this is beyond unhealthy - causing stress, relationship breakdowns, illness, guilt and so-on.  In some cases in a workholic's personal dictionary "rest" and "relaxation" are synonymous with "irresponsibility" and "slacking".

When you continuously drive yourself to work, work, work, you will eventually begin to run on fumes and then you will get sick and then you will shut down completely!  All of this is preventable with a little balance.  Remember this:  No one looks back on their lives at age eighty and says, "Gee, I wish I'd spent less time with my family and friends and more time at the office."

Action Step - Spend at least 30 minutes outside in the fresh air during the work day.  It will rejuvenate you!  Set aside time in the evenings after work that is your "adventure time" and stick with it.  Once you have set your adventure time on the calender, do it.  Go for a walk, shopping, a play, or sit in a quiet space and read a book.  The activity you choose is less important then taking the time. 

Action Step - Summer is the perfect time to unplug from technology.  Leave your cell phone and tablet at home!  When you go to the beach, spend your time focused on enjoying the sand, water, family, friends, the book you're reading, just simply sitting in the breeze or playing with your kids.  When you're free of your technology baggage, you will be able to enjoy all the sights and sounds of your vacation..  Instead of waiting for the phone to ring (future), you'll be enjoying life in the present moment. 

Change the Channel

Just like on your TV when the picture is bringing you down, you can choose to change the channel and get a new picture.   Negative thoughts are accompanied by pictures of the things that are stopping you.  Focus on the negative image and visualize it turning black and white and getting smaller and smaller until it's a little dot.  Now pick up the dot and throw it over your shoulder so it's behind you.

What you think becomes your reality - the perfect reason to take control and Fire Your Negative Committee.

Imagine the possibilities when you free yourself from negative thoughts by choosing to focus on positive thoughts, choosing to visualize things going amazingly well, believing with absolute conviction that you will make it happen!

Where do You Live Everyday?

In the Past?  In the Future?  In the Present?

There is a famous quote that I love to share simply because it is the most valuable lesson you will teach yourself.

If you are feeling depressed, think very carefully about where you're living.  Are you mulling over the past?  Going over situations that occurred yesterday, a decade ago, last week?  Are you focused on how you were mistreated in some past relationship? Or some other "thing", "person", or "situation" that happened oh so long ago?

Be honest with yourself and really sit down and think about what you're thinking about.

Change happens when you realize that it's time to clear the clutter and release the dusty old things and make room for fresh new things.

Feeling sorry for yourself, angry toward others, guilty, or ashamed for getting the short end of the stick in the past will only continue to keep you from achieving happiness in the present and future.

How to clear the dusty clutter of the past:

The Past Isn't Going to Get Any Better:  That's right.  Recognize that you can't go back and change, fix, improve, or otherwise manage your past.  It's Over...It's Done and no amount of holding on to it, focusing on it, crying over it will change it.

Learn From the Past:  Look at your past and ask yourself - What Did I Learn?  How Do I Want To Apply The Lesson to My Present and Future?

Let It Go:  Hanging onto the past with angry and resentment and hurt feelings will do absolutely nothing to improve your present.  You are simply carrying a heavy ball and chain around your ankle everywhere you go.  Do you want to drag the chains of the past with you?

Choose Forgiveness:  Forgiveness is a conscious choice.  Forgive yourself and forgive those who have wronged you.  Forgiveness frees you to live your life, pursue your dreams, look forward with joy to the future, and enjoy every moment of the present!

It's easier to forgive others when you practice forgiving yourself.

As you reflect on your life, what could you forgive yourself for? 

When you have clarity on something that could be forgiven, say to yourself: 

I forgive myself for ________________     Then let it go. 

Next Post:  Living in the Future....Til next time Listen, Recognize, Learn and Forgive