Slugfest 2005
April 11, 2005 12:17

Last week I had an amazing time at the beach. It was dubbed "Slugfest 2005," because the sole agenda was to lie around and relax like a slug. And I did!
My "activities" consisted of sleeping nine hours every night, lying on the couch, reading, afternoon naps, a little TV, and many walks on the beautiful, nearly empty beaches with my dog, Emma. I did take a day trip to Cape Hatteras (I climbed the lighthouse) and Okracoke Island, but mainly I was a slug.

I really shocked myself, in a positive way.

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File Folder Madness - Time Management Tips #349
April 15, 2005 12:07

Yesterday I spoke with someone who had gotten totally inspired by the book Getting Things Done by Dave Allen. It's a cool book - I listened to the audio version several years back. In the spirit of time management and getting organized, my friend had taken Dave's suggestion of getting a mini label maker and creating files for absolutely everything. In a short period of time, her office was transformed. Co-workers commented that she must not have much to do, because her office was so clean!

Back when I listened to the program, I did the same thing. I like gadgets as much as the next person, and rather quickyl came to relish my Brother labelmaker. Since my handwriting is pretty messy, seeing every single file with a neatly printed label was a little thrill. And more importantly, it helped me get in the habit of creating files to keep the paper tiger at bay. I don't see myself as an over-the-top neat freak, but I am crystal clear on the energy released by having an organized space.

Send me your tips to share!

Have a great weekend,
Anne

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Waves & Waterfalls / Time Management Tips #299
April 18, 2005 11:34

I hiked with some friends this weekend to a gorgeous waterfall - Triple Falls - here in
the Southern Appalachians. (See how this relates to time management skills!) I was once again
amazed at the beauty of waterfalls and intrigued with how they are at the same time
every changing and changeless.

When I was at the beach a couple of weeks ago, I found the same thing with the waves -
no wave comes in exactly the same as another, yet they keep coming in, forever.

Isn't this the same with our lives? We experience again now the brilliance of spring,
the cycle comes round once again, as it does ceaselessly. And yet, this spring
is in some ways unique from all others, at least because I am different from last year
and so my perceptions and experience of it are different.

So we experience the endless repetition of daily tasks, chores, routines, and yet each day
brings new insights, unique experiences, new people into our lives.

Let's not get lost in either one - because life is both changeless and ever changing.

There's nothing new under the sun, and at the same time, every moment is sparkling new.
This is the brilliant paradox of life.

Enjoy it!
Anne

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Ahhh Sweet Sleep / Time Management Tips #677
April 20, 2005 09:38

I woke up this morning at 8:58, just in time ot get to work on time,
since my office is just down the hall. That was a total of almost 11 hours of sleep.
Since I woke up at 5:30 a.m. the night before, I was definitely due some extra.

This is in my top ten of time management tips: get enough sleep!! Whatever that is for
you. Sometimes, we wake up early and can't get back to sleep, or we have an occasional demand from work that requires very late hours (like my clients who are accountants - they burned a lot of midnight oil last week).

But overall, we need our sleep, so we can make the most of each minute we have,
and squeeze all the creativity, joy, and challenge out of each day we are lucky to
be alive.

Sleep does not steal our time. It lets us maximize the time that is ours by nature's right
and gift.

Sweet dreams,
Anne

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The Car Wouldn't Start / Time Management Tips #123
April 22, 2005 16:14

I admit that I hate that click, click, click sound when I turn the car key and nothing happens. Perhaps you know the feeling. Last night, our wonderful neighbors jumped our car and we went to the auto parts place which hooked up the car and said it was not a time management problem but the alternator.

Today, however, our awesome mechanic today diagnosed it as the battery and, with our new battery, we are good to go, rescheduling hassles notwithstanding.

This happens often to us, doesn't it? Our plans get interrupted by things both small and large, from irritating to crises. Good time managers takes this into consideration: we cultivate an attitude of flexibility (after a little minor cursing). We see the truth in what John Lennon (I think it was) said, "Life is what happens to us when we're busy making plans."

Plans are good, and we have to be prepared for the unexpected. Like the click, click, click when you turn the key.

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The Shoemaker Has No Shoes - Time Management Tips #237
April 29, 2005 07:47

Remember the shoemaker who had no shoes? Or was it his kids who had no shoes? In either case, so it goes with me this week regarding time. The time manager expert with "no time." It's not actually that my time management skills were out the window. It's just been one of those particularly packed weeks that we all have.

Coordinating a seminar, taking the speaker out to dinner, 22 coaching calls, a class, website changes - the point is simply, we all have weeks like this. I keep myself sane by knowing that next week has more room in the schedule, I will get caught up. All will be well.

Meanwhile, I take a moment to enjoy the tiny leaves beginning to unfurl on the little maple tree we planted in our front yard last fall.

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