Cnet has this wonderful piece about wasting time at the office. In fact, they've listed their top 10 time wasters. Meanwhile, The Scobleizer also has this insight on the new iPhone 3G which is prompting people to wait in line...for over a week. I want the new iPhone as badly as the next guy but come on now!
Podcast #2: Mini Review of Laura Stack's The Exhaustion Cure
Be sure to check out my second podcast which features a mini-review of Laura Stack's brand new book The Exhaustion Cure: Up Your Energy from Low to Go in 21 Days.
Four Easy Ways to Develop "Day Focus"
I once lived with a guy in college who would start every day with a mantra as he looked into the mirror. "I am going to have a good day," he would say over and over to himself. I soon realized that he was not into transcendental meditation but was simply trying to put a positive spin on an otherwise bleak part of his day. He was, I soon learned, the farthest thing from a morning person.
How else can you develop "Day Focus"? Day Focus is that ability to start and end every day with a clear sense of who you are and more importantly, what you want to get done in any given day. Here are some tips:
How else can you develop "Day Focus"? Day Focus is that ability to start and end every day with a clear sense of who you are and more importantly, what you want to get done in any given day. Here are some tips:
- Get up at a reasonable time. While I try to start my weekdays at around 5:15am, I think that a reasonable approach is best- not too early nor too late. Lounging is not usually a virtue in the productivity world.
- Get your important things done before you tucker out. If the 2 o'clock blues hit after lunch, get your stuff done before then.
- Do something physical. Walking around, working out, breathing. You get the point. Benedictan monks had it right when they coined the phrase "ora et labora" (pray and work).
- End your day with some 'buffer time'. Even great marathoners have a "cool down" period after a race. Take 15 minutes to relax, meditate and ease into your sleeping time.
How to Simulate Stress When Your Schedule Gets Soft
With the school year winding down educators and their students can be tempted to take it easier than usual. You can almost hear the "T-Minus" clock ticking in the background.
While less stress is generally a good thing, a high pressure schedule can turn to mush without some performance expectations along the way. You can either enjoy a low-stress, low output job or you can simulate stress in order to increase productivity.
Like a good flight simulator, simulated stress can actually enhance the quality of your work.
Simulations might include:
- Setting a deadline for a project that would otherwise be put off.
- Rewarding yourself for making a commitment and keeping it.
- Chopping up your work- I'll only work on this task for the next 40 minutes.
- Sticking to your routine.
- Pushing yourself to work 30 minutes earlier in the day or 30 minutes later.
- Taking on something new so that you don't get bored.
Whatever you decide to do, keep pushing yourself and listen to your gut. At the end of the day, you'll know if you did exemplary work or if that T-Minus clock got the best of you.
Birthdays & Time Management
Thursday Bram had this interesting post over at LifeHack about being "ruthless with your time management." Two of her suggestions included the importance of planning your day and ignoring irrelevancies. Yesterday I took her advice to heart and scheduled a day off.
During my day off, I spent time with the family, talked with friends on the phone and chatted with nephews about the latest video game that just hit the market. The less important details of life could wait and the cause of the day (the big 34) was enough to give everyone around me a boost.
For a great celebration of your birthday, try out these simple steps:
- Make it a fun day: plan events that you can share with others. A hike, a trip to the park or simply an adventure to find the greatest flavor of ice cream- all work well and cost very little.
- Let those around you know what is important to you. I'm not a huge cake fan so I let my wife know that I'm ok with other options. I also go over the day's schedule with the kids and get their input, planning things that they will enjoy as much as I will. Avoid the temptation of thinking that your family and friends will read your mind and get you the perfect gift. If you really want something or want to go somewhere, make it happen.
- Let your family know that you appreciate them: sure, birthdays are fun but folks are also glad when they are over. Let your family know that you are grateful for their kindness and whatever gifts you receive. Tell them that you had a great day and that they are special to you.
I've found that by making a big deal of my own birthday, it's created a template for other birthday celebrations in the family. My kids now know that their birthdays are just as important and the entire family gets to enjoy and join in on the fun.
3 Things I've Learned from the Pope's U.S. Visit
Pope Benedict XVI is quite a guy. Even for those who are not Catholic, his profile and presence speak volumes. I've learned the following:
- Just because you are 81 doesn't mean you can't make the most of your position. See Benedict's grueling itinerary below.
- Putting a problem on the table is always the best solution. Benedict met yesterday with victims of sexual abuse.
- Visits matter. While Benedict is only in the States for a few days, his speeches and initiatives will take months to digest.
From meeting with thousands of people to President Bush to victims of sexual abuse, Benedict has made the most of his visit to the U.S. Imagine the average 81 year old following this itinerary:
| Date | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
Apr. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | Andrews Air Force Base Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Maryland and is greeted by President and Mrs. Bush as well as church officials. During his visit to Washington, D.C., the pope will stay at the Vatican Embassy, on Massachusetts Avenue NW. |
Apr. 16 | 10:30 a.m. | White House Welcoming ceremony and private meeting with President Bush. This is only the second time a pontiff has visited the White House. John Paul II was the first. |
Apr. 16 | 5:30 p.m. | National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Prayer service and meeting with 350 U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. |
Apr. 17 | 9:30 a.m. | Nationals Park The pope offers Mass. This will be the first non-baseball event in the new park. |
Apr. 17 | 5:00 p.m. | Catholic University of America Address to the leaders of more than 200 Catholic colleges and superintendents from the 195 U.S. Catholic dioceses on the importance of Catholic education. |
Apr. 17 | 6:30 p.m. | Pope John Paul II Cultural Center Meeting with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and representatives from other religions. |
Apr. 18 | 9:45 a.m. | Kennedy International Airport Arrives in New York. During his visit, the pope will stay at the East 72nd Street residence of Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the papal nuncio to the United Nations. |
Apr. 18 | 10:45 a.m. | United Nations Gives address to the General Assembly, as did Pope Paul VI in 1965 and Pope John Paul II in 1979 and 1995. |
Apr. 18 | 5:00 p.m. | Park East Synagogue Meets with Jewish clergy. |
Apr. 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Church of St. Joseph Prayer service with leaders from other Christian denominations. |
Apr. 19 | 9:15 a.m. | St. Patrick's Cathedral Mass for priests, deacons and members of religious orders. |
Apr. 19 | 4:30 p.m. | St. Joseph's Seminary Meeting with young Catholics, including 50 with disabilities. |
Apr. 20 | 9:30 a.m. | Lower Manhattan Visit to ground zero. |
Apr. 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Yankee Stadium The pope offers Mass. The 200th anniversary of the Baltimore Archdiocese and the anniversaries of the Dioceses of Boston, New York, Louisville and Philadelphia will be celebrated. |
Apr. 20 | 8:00 p.m. | Kennedy International Airport departure |