Busy, Busy, Busy
Do you find time management to be a challenge? Does it seem you often have “too much on your plate?” Planning your day, your week, and your month might be the answer that gives you a sense of control over your time and your life.
Perhaps a little voice in your head has said:
• “Planning takes too much time.”
• “Life is too unpredictable.”
• “I’m never sure how much time it takes to do something.”
Consider that every minute that you spend planning will save you four to ten times that amount of time in execution. So at the end of each day, look back over your calendar (you do keep one, right?) and see if anything was unfinished that needs to be moved ahead, or if there is some new task that needs to be scheduled. Update the calendar. Then, as you begin the day, review your calendar and see if any email, phone messages, texts, etc. have come in that will require a bit of calendar shifting. Do the same at the end and beginning of the week and the month.
As you work with your calendar be aware of your priorities, not just at work, but in the other parts of your life. Make sure your schedule has time booked for relationships with the people and things that are most important to you and help you live a meaningful life.
Ten Tips to Keep Up During the Holiday Season
The days are getting shorter as we approach winter, and you might feel like there's just not enough time in the day to get everything done; especially during the holiday season. Is it possible to keep up? Or even get ahead? Here are some tips.
1. Look at the dates of the big holidays you celebrate. What do you typically do for each of them. Think about how long the preparations have taken in past years and schedule start dates for the tasks.
2. Do you have to do everything yourself? Consider what you can delegate and let others take care of those things.
3. Are the items on your list tasks "must do" or just "it would be nice to do." Focus on the must do items.
4. How much time can you free up to do the things that are actually important? Is watching television or hanging out on Facebook really necessary?
5. Plan each day every morning. Think about what tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
6. Learn to say no. It's okay to set limits.
7. Less is more. Think about what is enough and what might be more than necessary.
8. If things feel overwhelming just pick three things you will do that day and put your energy and time into doing them.
9. Give yourself credit for anything and everything you accomplish no matter how small.
10. Get plenty of rest no matter what.
Think of being the person who designs your life.
Need help? Contact me for a complimentary half hour phone coaching session before 11/30/14.
Group Coaching for People with ADHD and Other Non-Linear Thinkers
Have you considered ADHD coaching, but thought it’s too expensive? Or too inconvenient and time-consuming?
Here’s the solution—Group Coaching
• 6-weeks – the next session begins Tuesday evenings, October 21
• Each session = 90 min. sessions
• Group limited to 8-10 people
Total Fee: $150.00
Web special – 30 minute coaching session prior to the first session
Each group session will include discussion of a specific ADHD topic and explore strategies to manage the issue.
Contact me: Sydney Metrick to sign up
510 223 3882 Sydney@ArtfulCoaching.com www.ArtfulCoaching.com
And check out my new video series on YouTube
Addressing ADHD: A Whole Person Approach
Addressing ADHD: A Whole Person Approach--video series
• Are you someone who fears the clock? Does it seem like you don’t have enough time to do what needs doing?
• Is losing and forgetting and issue for you? How many times have you lost your keys? Cellphone? Umbrella? Mind?
• Are you terrible at delegating — whether to other people or to technology?
• Is procrastination an issue for you?
• When you do begin a task, are you likely to get sidetracked?
• Are you more likely to focus on your failures and overlooking your successes?
• Have you been criticized by others for your behaviors?
You may have Attention Deficit Disorder--ADHD. Coaching is one way to get the support you need to address your challenges. But there are others. Find out what other professionals have to offer in the Addressing ADHD video series on YouTube.
www.artfulcoaching.com/wp-admin/post-new.php
Synchronize Your Brain
Do you: have trouble prioritizing, show up late for appointments or miss them all together, find it hard to set boundaries, procrastinate, have to circle around work before starting? These issues and others are frequent challenges for those of us with ADHD.
Getting organized may be easier said than done. However, it is possible to make improvements in all of these areas. If you have attention deficit disorder it is a neurobiological condition. It's how your brain works (or doesn't).
So let's look at how to help your brain function optimally. That might include getting sufficient sleep. Develop a sleep/wake schedule and routine. Exercise is also good for your brain and your body. Your diet is how you feed both your body and your brain, so think about what you eat and what nutrients you're getting. Posture is important, too. Your brain and spinal cord are constantly communicating with the rest of your body. If you're out of alignment you have a road block in communications.
Stay tune for upcoming posts that will feature tips in all these areas and more!
Let me know some of your challenges so I can have my collaborative network of experts share ideas and advice.
Struggle with Keeping Track of Payment Due Dates? These 3 Easy Fixes will Change all of That!
Is the thought of looking at your bills and getting on top of your business payments overwhelming? Have you neglected looking at your statements? Are you so behind on bills that you don't even know where to start? Or when you do finally start you get side-tracked and completely forget to tackle your upcoming or missed payments?
Don't worry. You're not alone. Hundreds, if not thousands, of creative entrepreneurs have a hard time getting a handle on this side of their business.
The money side. The paperwork side. The so-called structured, linear, organized side.
For some it's because it's hella boring and they'd rather be doing anything else. But for others, it's because they haven't found a flow, routine or ritual that helps them complete these tasks while still honoring their artsy, non-linear qualities.
If you happen to be one of these people, possibly working with ADHD, be kind to yourself. Being an entrepreneur is the best personal development crash course you'll ever put yourself through. And if you plan on being an entrepreneur for life, plan on being in this course until the cows come home.
But, in order to remain being an entrepreneur and continue doing what you love, you have to put effort into finding a flow to pay your expenses that works for you and your habits.
If you know that you have a hard time remembering due dates, schedule 20 minutes to calendar all of them in your phone. And if you really want to master this, set the due date one week ahead of schedule in your phone.
If you'd rather pull your hair out than regularly track your expenses to make sure you haven't overdrawn your account, take 5 minutes to log in to your bank account and set up daily text alerts with your daily balance and every time an expense hits your account.
I'm a true believer in the power of automation so that we don't have to rely on sheer will to get things done.
Most of us fail when we rely on willpower. And that's ok. Because the moment we realize our shortcomings and stop beating ourselves up about it, is when we can design an environment that supports our success.
And if keeping tabs on your expenses has been a difficult area for you to master, here are three steps that will set you up for life-long success.
1. Write a list of all of the expenses to run your business on a sheet of paper. I like to use bright colored markers to make it fun.
2. Next to each item, write the due date.
3. Take out your phone and type in the expense one week before the due date. Set it up so that it alerts you monthly.
Of course, it goes without saying that you have to take the step and pay the expense when the alert pops up on your phone. Or if you know you won't do that, set it up for automatic payment. Done and done.
Wishing you financial success and happiness,
*Muah*
Miss Danetha
Your BFF- Helping You Keep the Money You Worked Your Tail Off to Get.
Learn more about managing your finances from Danetha at her site: www.MissDanetha.com
Planning Saves the Day
From taking a trip to making a cake from scratch, planning is important. The planning process is the same no matter what you apply it to.
First comes the Inspiration--"I think I'll bake a cake for an upcoming occasion."
Then Planning--"Looking in the recipe book I see I need flour, eggs, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, milk, oil and vanilla. I'll also need a two bowls and two nine inch round pans.
The Preparation step requires obtaining all the ingredients and supplies, setting them out with the recipe and getting yourself ready to bake.
The next step is to execute or mix the ingredients, pour them into the pans and bake for a specific time.
Evaluation follows. With a cake this means inserting a toothpick to see if the cake is baked through. The final evaluation is in the eating.
Forgetting to plan or prepare can result in failure or extremely creative last minute juggling. Sometimes the "saved by the seat of your pants" approach turns out well, but more often--not so much.
Five minutes planning can save lots of time in doing and bring about a far greater likelihood for success.
You "Get To" ...
It's difficult, tedious, takes too long. You're not sure where to start or what to do. Does that make the task sound appealing? Of course not. I frequently hear these complaints as reasons why people procrastinate. Yet, if you're like the people I'm referring to, you actually want the thing or things done.
So what's the solution? First, remove that negative association you have for what's likely to be a neutral task. Instead of focusing on the downside of the task what if you looked at the benefits? Think, "I get to..." rather than "I have to..." and notice the difference that makes.
The Secret to Getting Results
My clients always say they'd like more time, more money, better health, a more organized home or office. Who doesn't want their life to be better, anyway.
So here's the thing. To have improvement in any or all of the above areas you must make the commitment to do the daily work to get the result you say you want.
Motivational speaker Tony Robbins says, "“I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment and life’s greatest rewards (are) reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret.”
The secret is to expand your comfort zone. Make a commitment to yourself. Get clear about specifically what you want your life to look like, and accept that in order to have or do what you say you want you'll need determination and persistence...and maybe the support of a coach. That's what I'm here for.
Let's Look at Calendar and Task Solutions
Does your task list seem to get longer each day? Do some things take longer than expected? There are many reasons why just keeping a calendar may not be enough to keep you on track. Many of my clients and students find color coding helps simplify things. Keeping things simple makes sense, right?
The image above comes from Moz, and they even have a cool video that details how they use the system: http://moz.com/blog/project-management-tips-for-marketing-teams-whiteboard-friday
Now you may or may not be part of a team. Still a variation of this idea might be a great solution for you. Color code the different types of things you do each day and use post it notes to move around appointments and task that will take 30 minutes or more.
Remember to include the accomplishments column!
Two Steps Forward and One Step Back
Everyone wants changes to be quick and easy. We also want the positive changes to last. Creating change means creating new habits and routines. When we do that we are actually changing our brains, making new connections that, over time, will become comfortable.
The thing is, creating the changes requires a process that is often uncomfortable. Consider going to the orthodontist to get teeth straightened. I had to wear braces on my teeth for over a year, and go back regularly during that time to get the braces gradually and painfully tightened. Once my teeth were straight and beautiful I had a moment to rejoice before learning I'd have to wear a retainer for another year or more just to make sure my newly ordered teeth didn't begin to drift back to the way they'd been for years.
When you set a goal to develop a new habit give yourself time to succeed. We sometimes forget, or don't work with the new behavior long enough for it to stick. If you "mess up" that doesn't mean you need to give up.
Mike Macedonio, President of the Referral Institute, uses the metaphor of bicycling uphill. Once you have momentum, stopping at an intersection means starting up again feels like starting from scratch.
People with attention deficit disorder benefit from developing routines. Impatience might make you feel like giving up too soon. Just remember, two steps forward and one step back, and keep on trekking.
Making Time for Fun
Guest blogger, professional organizer Dana Arkinzadeh shares some great ideas. Check it out.
Getting organized is all well-and-good, but there needs to be a reward for all your efforts. Remembering that the point of being organized is to have a rich life created with intention. Don’t forget to set aside time to enjoy that life you are creating! Should you delay your reward until all the work is done? We think not!
How do you make time for fun in your life? Do you always feel like you’re “taking care of business?” Try these tips to keep clutter at bay while leaving space and time for enjoyment.
Use a ten-minute timer to track your organizing sessions
Give yourself rewards for time spent “being productive”
Commit to a friend or colleague that you’ll limit the time you are working on your home improvement campaign
Schedule events, buy tickets, make dates – to create a balance of work and play
Block out a regular times each week to work your organizing projects
Make a game out of the organizing process. The FlyLady.net recommends a regular session of the 27-fling boogie. During this session you flit around the house, finding 27 things that can be jettisoned…put them aside in a box to bring to donation and then you’re done!
Structuring your organizing time can help you stay motivated and make progress you can see.
And, when you’re out, having fun, enjoying the view from the top of the Ferris wheel, you’ll get a perspective on your life that will enrich you.
What do you do to balance work and play in your life?
Dana Arkinzadeh, DMA Organizing helps people go from clutter to clarity. Her weekly blog is Notes From The Junk Drawer.
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time, not that long ago, in a land not that far away, lived a woman – or maybe it was a man – who was experiencing a deep sense of overwhelm. She (or was it he?) had said “yes” too many times, to too many things and her dwelling felt crowded and confused. She often missed appointments, had unfinished projects, and no time for things she felt were important. One morning, she looked around and realized something had to change. She just couldn’t live that way any longer.
The woman recognized that if she knew what to do she would have already done it. Finding the right help would be crucial. She sought a guide to take her through the dark forest of doubt, confusion, and shame and lead her to a life of balance, order, and ease.
Suddenly out of the mist (or was it Yelp?) appeared two qualified and genial women. They introduced themselves as Sydney and Dana – a dynamic duo committed to guiding people to reclaim their time and space. First they helped her define her vision for her home and life. Dana worked with her to banish the clutter and create systems and homes for her necessities and treasures. Sydney supported her in conquering her calendar. She learned to identify and commit to priorities, and have home maintenance be one part of a regular routine.
With Sydney’s and Dana’s help she had taken a journey that had at first seemed terrifying. Her fears had been unfounded. With their skill and unconditional support she’d had a light through the dark forest. She fulfilled the purpose her journey, developed a different sense of herself, and came to realize that she is a very capable person who could design her life. She also trusts the allies will always be there to bolster her should doubts or challenges arise.
Sydney Metrick, PhD
Sydney provides unwavering support, enthusiastic encouragement, and practical tools and resources for people with ADHD and other non-linear thinkers. She works with clients to target their most challenging areas, helping them develop strategies and habits that get results.
http://www.ArtfulCoaching.com 510 223 3882, Sydney@ArtfulCoaching.com
Dana Arkinzadeh, DMA Organizing
Dana helps people go from clutter to clarity. She creates organizing solutions to fit an individual’s unique lifestyle and personality. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers.
http://www.dmaorganizing.com, 510-206-4812, mailto:info@dmaorganizing.com