Falling Through the Cracks - Part 1 As we approach August, many of us in the northern hemisphere gear up for vacation. In the last week, I've talked with six people that are stressed about vacation. Below, Pat has some great tips on having alleviating the stress. In fact, she wrote this near the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin where the PGA will be in a few weeks! After her tips on getting ready, check out my thoughts on a proactive reentry. Hope your vacation is great, you deserve one! --Linda Fayerweather, Editor
Vacation - Don't Take Stress With You!
We're quickly approaching the biggest vacation month of the year; not sure about you, but I am looking forward to some well-deserved time away. We are taking our three young grandchildren on a trip to Mackinac, MI and I am so looking forward to it. The trick, however, is to manage those important days and hours prior to vacation, without totally stressing out with thoughts such as, "If I get all my work done, then I can go enjoy myself."
Unfortunately, with that approach, we usually find ourselves working long and hard right up until we leave. This actually triggers the fight or flight response in our body, releasing cortisol, and creating stress. If this is compounded by skipping self-care routines, like exercise or meditation, in an attempt to fit all the work in, we could end up carrying the stress into our vacation. You may have noticed that it takes time to clear stress-related chemicals from our system, which explains why for many of us it's the third day of vacation before we seem to feel relaxed.
Instead of falling into this common trap, there are a few things we can do:
1. Intend - make a decision that you want to have a calm, stress free week prior to vacation. Consciously pay attention to yourself and how you are feeling and if you notice stress, take actions to release it.
2. Delegate - vacation is an excellent opportunity to pass some tasks to your employees or possibly hire a virtual assistant. Be sure to delegate the tasks several days in advance of your departure to give them time to ask questions.
3. Prioritize - do this two weeks in advance of your vacation, so you know what projects and actions must be completed prior to vacation. Create a list of what absolutely can't wait until you return and make a plan for completing these actions. Schedule the other projects/tasks onto your calendar for after vacation.
4. Wrap up - dedicate the last day before vacation to wrap up loose ends, meet with anyone you've delegated actions to, set up your voice mail and email Out of Office Reply and leave yourself a note detailing where you got to on unfinished business, what tasks you postponed, what will need immediate attention when you return and anything else you might worry about while on vacation. Check out Linda's tips below for reentry.
It's much easier to relax and have a great vacation when we consciously manage the week leading up to our time off. Have a good time!
Copyright 2010 Pat Altvater
Transforming Bodies and Minds
http://www.outsmartweight.com/
http://www.momsoutsmartingobesity.com/
http://www.choosesuccessbook.com/
419-344-6613
Falling Through the Cracks - Part 2
Whenever I hear "falling through the cracks" or a variation of that, I'm sent back to the hot summers of my youth and the Central Park Pool where swimming was ten cents, the water was cold, and the changing/shower room had a floor that was wooden decking material over a cavernous space 20 feet below.
Whoa be the person that dropped their ice cream money or special belonging down there as it required a written request for its retrieval and, I was told when I lost my quarter "How will we know it is your quarter? Do you know the date on it?" I never got the quarter back. . .
Keeping your plan from falling through the cracks during vacation is a good way to practice using some productivity ideas. Here is my plan to stay on track:
1. Identify the strategic next action (SNA). When I am going to be gone for more than a few days, before leaving, I look at my upcoming work and then ask "when I return, what is the next strategic action I need to do on this project or task AND does it support my desired outcomes (goals)." I usually schedule the first half day back as SNA calls/email . And I actually use that category on my calendar and block the space.
2. Book it on your calendar before you leave. Controlling your calendar after time away from the office does require some proactive thinking. In my last job where I had a staff, I'd usually suggested we have a staff meeting at lunch on my first day back - "bring your thoughts, questions and ideas and we will all catch up". That did two things - kept them out of my office in the AM and gave me the opportunity to let everyone know what my agenda for the future was and get them to recommit to their projects.
3. Before leaving, review your plan completely. Make sure each goal or objective is being attended to upon your return. If a goal or objective is not being cared for it will likely fall through the cracks and you may find yourself having to requisition future time to retrieve it - time you may not have available then.
Both David Allen's Getting This Done (GTD) and Sally McGhee's Take Back Your Life! use Strategic Next Actions to stay on track. This may be too "heavy" for your beach reading, but they are great refreshers for staying on top of your life!
A little proactive planning will lead to a smooth reentry and the decompression from your vacation will last longer!
Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather
Is what you are doing right now helping you achieve your goals? If not. . . stop doing that!
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
Just Like Them - Workshop in Maumee OH
Date: Thursday, July 28, 2010
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Danberry Real Estate Briarfield Conference Room
Street: 3555 Briarfield Blvd. Maumee, OHsoc
Description
Marketing has changed dramatically in the last few years and if you are confused... you are not alone. Join Maumee Chamber of Commerce members Todd Pillars of SendOutCards and Linda Fayerweather of Changing Lanes, LLC as they help you wade through the mountains of media to find what works best for your business.
You will learn:
- Easy techniques you can start using tomorrow
- How to laser target your efforts
- What tried and true marketing still works
- What social networking is and why do it
- Why local networking events are crucial and how to maximize your efforts
- Handouts to maximize your education
And LOTS of time for Questions
Stop guessing and Start making sense of the New World (Wide Web) Order!
Who Should attend?
- Business Owners
- Sole Proprietors
- Partners (get a group rate)
- Business Decision Makers
Register at http://justlikethem.eventbrite.com/
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