Posts Tagged ‘stress’

What are Your Big Rocks?

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Do you ever get to the end of the day and wonder where all the time went? Are you stressed because the most important items on your to-do list did not get finished? This week several clients told me they just did not have enough time to complete their projects so we talked about “Big Rocks.”

Stephen R. Covey’s book First Things First
tells the story of how you can make the most of your day by prioritizing your activities. Covey says you can categorize activities into four groups.

  • Urgent & Important
  • Urgent & Unimportant
  • Not urgent & Important
  • Not urgent & Unimportant

This video summarizes his ideas.

Effective time management can reduce stress and improve productivity. Here are four ideas to get the most from your day.

  1. Plan your day. Know what you want to accomplish and set your goals in writing.
  2. Focus on the urgent and important items first. Do not let yourself get distracted.
  3. Just say no! Turn down events and activities that do not add value to your life.
  4. Plan for fun. Set aside time in your schedule to recharge your batteries. Reserve time to go for a walk, take in a movie, dinner with friends or curl up with a good book.

If you do not plan your day, someone else will plan it for you. Achieve your goals by creating a daily plan then work your plan.

What time management techniques do you use?

Bookmark and Share

Stress and Holidays

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Year round, our lives are busy. Family events, work commitments and social activities lead to full calendars. In December, many of us add in yearend close out activities as well. As if this were not enough to do, the holiday season is upon us. Seasonal parties, family celebrations, religious ceremonies and gift shopping may be part of your month. With all the additional commitments on your plate, it is easy to let stress overcome you. Here are four ideas to reduce your stress during the holiday season. There is HOPE.

Have fun: Take time to enjoy the holiday season, family and friends. Make it a point to be in the moment. While you are at these events, stay focused on what is occurring in the room around you. Do not let your mind wander off to things you have on your to-do list.

Be open minded: Be open to new experiences and opportunities that arise. Some of my biggest opportunities occurred when things did not go as I originally anticipated. When things don’t go as planned, think about the new options now available before you. Imagine the benefits of trying something different.

Prioritize: With all the extra activities during December, you may feel overwhelmed. Admit that you cannot do everything and prioritize the most important items. Make a habit of identifying the most important things to do each day. Start with your number one priority each morning then focus your efforts until it is complete. Tackle your second item next.

Events: Holidays are networking opportunities. Catch up with friends and coworkers during parties. Send greeting cards to those you have not seen for a while and let them know what you have been up to. Call former coworkers and contacts to schedule coffee or lunch meetings to catch up.

Keep the magic in the holidays by taking control of your days and managing your stress. Know what is important for you to accomplish each month, week and day then make a plan to achieve your goals. Enjoy your holidays.

Bookmark and Share