Rushing (going faster than necessary) can lead to accidents, misunderstanding and problems. By thinking then proceeding at a good and steady pace we can reach our destination or project objective safely and productively. This takes continuous practice and the understanding of what the components of rushing actually are for us. There is physical rushing and mental rushing. Today we will focus on the causes of physical rushing. To prevent physical rushing, we first need to understand why it occurs.
When We Cause The Problem
Rushing occurs when:
- We haven’t preplanned our projects.
- We have more on our plate than we originally anticipated.
- We have lost track of time and have to catch up.
- We become ill or have an unexpected family emergency.
When Others Cause The Problem
We can also be in a rushed state because of other people. Some examples are:
- Others who have not fulfilled their part of the project
- Others who fail to show up ready or on time
- Others who become ill or have a family emergency
Other Causes of Rushing
We can also be rushing because:
- The supplies or material have not arrived. This could be due to weather, transportation issues or even paperwork delays.
- The supplies delivered are wrong or damaged.
- Something broke unexpectedly and now a delay has set in.
By understanding the causes of physical rushing, and being aware of the potential signals, we can develop strategies to prevent, avoid or timetable some “extra” time in our plan to account for these potential problems. By making adjustments to our initial timetable or along the way we can complete our projects safely.
This is a best of post of 2010.
The last week of August is often slow because of the impending Labor Day Weekend. This is a good time to review your productivity. Take a moment to look at your Task Distractors and your Mental Distractors. Can you make a plan to reduce or eliminate these for a few moments or several hours at a time?
Identify and Reduce your Task Distracters
- People stopping by
- Cell Phone
- Smart phone aps
- The physical mail
- Magazines, books, newspapers
- IPod, MP3 device or radio
Identify and Reduce your Mental Distracters
- People or situations renting “space” in your head
- Generating new ideas
- Tangential exploits
- Negative thinking
Have you thought about how it would be to have a “screen free day”. Since I have become the proud owner of an IPhone, I am finding this harder to do. I can even reduce myself to playing solitaire. There is always something fun and interesting to check out besides phone messages and texts. Now there is potential email, Words with Friends and when in a networked area, the whole world wide web to explore. We are becoming screen sucked (excuse my language but that is a word used by experts these days). Screen Sucked was introduced in the 2007 book CrazyBusy by Edward Halloway. Screens are pulling the life out of us. Halloway says – Held by a mysterious force, a person can sit long after the work has been done or the show he wanted to watch is over, absently glommed on to the screen, not especially enjoying what he is doing but not able to disconnect and turn off the machine.
What have you been doing to prevent excessive hours of screen time?
I have found using the timer apps (available on IPhones and smartphones) can help one be more aware of potential time breaks. I have been attempting to avoid morning screens. Now I have gone back to reading an actual newspaper or non fiction book in paper format. This helps me start my day in clearer form.
I’d love to hear more suggestions.
Many years ago, I defined three types of attitudes about one’s residential space – in my course Organized & Loving It, they are:
Home is Your Castle: You desire and have an immaculate home with a constant state of neatness. This is a life style which is only seldom achieved with lots of money and a 24 hour homemaker. You are constantly on the lookout for new “In Home Projects” (such as upgrading the carpet to hardwood floors or finding the perfect area rug).
Home is Just A Place to Hang Your Hat: This home is vacant most of the time. The occupants generally eat out or when they do eat in hardly ever spend more than 30 minutes in the kitchen. These homeowners have to think several minutes before they can tell you their carpet color. This home is generally without children.
Home is Where The Heart Is: This home operates on the philosophy that a home should have a lived in look. The carpets in this house have not been cleaned in a while, because the homeowners just haven’t had the time to think about it.
Now I am not saying there are right or wrong attitudes. One’s attitudes towards one’s living space are usually determined by one’s career, family situation and sometimes the actual phase in one’s life. If you watched the movie Up in The Air, you would undoubtedly say that George Clooney’s character had a home space that could be described as Home is Just a Place to Hang your Hat. Where as Bree Van De Kamp on Desperate Housewives, has a house that could be defined by some as a Home is Your Castle. Sheldon Cooper’s apartment on The Big Bang Theory might actually be a good representation on Home is Where the Heart Is. The rundown apartment is the center of many individual’s universe. This is where Sheldon’s neighbor, colleagues and housemate hang out for a substantial part of their week. It is not perfect, but it is almost functional. Well, despite not having a functional table for group dining.
Take some time to think and reflect about your own space and those residences you enter from time to time. It is an interesting perspective. Understanding one’s attitude towards one’s space can be the beginning of big changes.
Check out this related post on Attitudes towards One’s Work Space.
This is a best of post from 2010.
Winter is the time for reading. Well, anytime is really a good time to read. I have just finished the first four books of the Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin. I am also trying to finish Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, and I also have Guy The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki on my pile.
There are some bloggers who write on books, these I enjoy reviewing for potential books.
A Work in Progress
Stuck in A Book
I’ve just joined Goodreads, a site that is the largest site for readers and book recommendations in the world. Goodreads has more than 7,000,000 members who have added more than 240,000,000 books to their shelves. Goodreads is a home for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike. Goodreads users recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they’ve read and would like to read, find their next favorite book, form book clubs and much more. Goodreads was launched in January 2007.
You might enjoy my earlier post Summer Reading and The Joys of Rereading.
Kudos means a praising remark. We all like to be appreciated and acknowledged for our work or contributions. Let’s spend some time exploring kudos.
Why Give Kudos
There are a few reasons to give kudos. First, we all like to be acknowledged and appreciated. Second, appreciating someone’s work or efforts can sometimes be the catalyst to develop or deepen a new or existing personal or work relationship. Third, kudos are sometimes the sustaining embers in people’s lives.
How to Give Kudos
Kudos can be verbal or written. Kudos can be physically given as in a handwritten note, card or with a small token gift. Kudos can also be given via an email or on a blog posting can be made from time to time.
It is nice to receive kudos. Kudos can be put up on a bulletin board or display shelf. Verbal kudos can be transformed to penned lines and inserted into an appreciation journal.
Appreciating the Giver of the Kudos
It is polite to acknowledge the sender for their sentiments or gifts, either by verbalizing your appreciation or by sending an acknowledging note.
Making Kudos part of Your Routine
Take time to routinely reflect and send appropriate kudos to those around you. Kudos giving can be a nice break in a full or busy week. Kudos giving makes us look outside of ourselves, which can be helpful when we are too inward thinking.
Who can you give kudos to in your life?
This is a best of post from Terry’s Thinking 2009.
Gratitude is something we can practice all year-long. You can be grateful for people, places and things.
Gratitude can be given to those who we work with, live with, play with or chance encounter. Gratitude does not have to cost a thing. But it can be also given in the form of a note, email or token gift. I am grateful for my family, friends, clients and colleagues. I am also grateful for the friendly staff at my local supermarket who brighten my day.
Places or Event Gratitude
If you have ever experienced joy in a specific location or at an event, you can be grateful just in the experience. Sometimes there are people to thank, other times it is just the connection of circumstances that can make you grateful for experiencing the moment. I am grateful for starry clear nights, my home, and recent family trip to Wyoming and the impromptu tailgate we had at a windy intersection.
Things or Object Gratitude
Some people make a list of the top objects or things that make them happy. For me it is my comfortable chair, my atomic clock, my latest fiction book I am reading in the evening.
Take some time to think about who, what and where you are grateful. It is a great exercise to finish the year. It may also be a great exercise to discuss with your clients.
Filed under Books to Read, Business Marketing Strategies, Caregiving, Client Management Strategies, Creativity, Knowledge, Philosophy, Productivity, Technology, Thinking, Time