My goal for 2015 is to become more efficient. And I’ve been reading about two trains of thought…the first method: grouping similar tasks together, and creating a new daily routine of ‘blocks’ of activities. For example, reading emails, concept development, designing. The second method: become better at switching from one task to another, thus becoming more mentally agile and efficient. What does Louise recommend?
Anita
Ambleside, Tasmania, Australia
Thank you for your question Anita and a brilliant one at that.
Asking a question is also a great contribution to enriching the Blissful Way community as others can benefit from the question and answer too.
Rather than give an opinion on which of these options you mention to choose, it is more important to address the process of how you choose the best option for you.
“Efficient” is an interesting word and certainly apt for the information and behaviour that you are considering, given that you most likely want to achieve working with speed and economy. On this note I suggest the following:
- The importance of also keeping in mind your values i.e. time, health and whatever your specific values are so that whatever approach you take, you can match and keep in alignment with what’s important to you.
- If you value time, then consider which of the options ultimately frees up your time overall?
- Be mindful of your resources. With the demands on business and life in today’s world, it is easy to become resource challenged. Again resources are time, money, health etc. How would each option impact on your resources?
Reading about two trains of thought…etc” There is a myriad of schools of thought on this one and equally as many books written. I am a big fan of Dr John Medina’s “Brain Rules”- 12 Principles for surviving and thriving at work, home and school. I highly recommend it to you as he debunks a lot of the myths of multi-tasking and other methods of organizing our life and business. John’s information will also be great for you with your international speaking career. You can find a more detailed review here http://www.blissfulway.com/my-bookshelf/
Sometimes in today’s world, with information overload it easy to not take action as we are so busy reading about and considering all our options. With this in mind, if these two options (and there are many more) appeal most I would start by taking action now, as indecision can cause more stress than making a decision and changing your mind later.
I would suggest the following:
- Decide on one of the two options and allocate a two week period to trial it.
- At the end of each day diarise, in very simple bullet points in two different lists. a) benefits b) what didn’t work for you overall Keep it really simple Anita
- Repeat this process for the second option
- At the end of the four week period go over the two lists and then evaluate benefits Vs what didn’t work.
- The option with the most benefits is the option I would suggest you proceed with for now
Here’s an important take-out for you to remember. There are proven facts about how our brain works, including gender differences, how we learn and how behaviour becomes a pattern. Having said that we are all different in terms of how we organize information and experience in our neurology so what works for one may not work for you or me. We all have our differences and preferences. For example, making endless to do list doesn’t work for me although I do make some short lists. Fortunately I am blessed with a great capacity to visualize and I can hold a lot of detail and the big picture in my mind and easily recall information in pictures.
How do you eat a piece of cake Anita? Do you eat the cake first and then the icing or do you see the icing as the best bit and save it til last as some kind of treat or reward? What has this to do with “Becoming more efficient?” Either way you will eat the whole piece of cake, it’s a matter of your preference and how you like your cake?
Let me know how you go and if I can be of service in any other way.
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What do women want?
Calin
Devonport, Tasmania, Australia
Hello Calin and thank you for showing an interest in “What women want?” I suspect you are a great gift to the women in your life.
Before I get down to the business of answering your question, I need to have a caveat on my entire answer as I would never assume to think that I could answer your question on behalf of all women, as like men, not all women are the same or want the same from life. And I certainly do not want to upset the sisterhood.
This is a question that gets into the risky territory of gross generalizations. Firstly we need to define “women” means. The dictionary defines women/woman as an adult female however that becomes tricky in itself as an “adult” is defined and governed by laws in varying countries. I know that when I was in my 20’s I thought I was a woman and now that I am considerably more mature I realize that I was still very much a girl. What you want as a female/woman in your twenties may be very different to what you want in 30’s, 40’s 50’s and beyond.
Men and Women are different, doh! We know that, as the gender chromosomes are different for a start. Let’s face it women have two X chromosomes so we automatically have more of the X Factor. Apologies could not resist that one. Apparently women are more genetically complex, hence your question I suspect. There is also a structural and biochemical difference between the male and female brain and the genders respond differently to acute stress. Women tend to remember emotional detail while men tend to get the overall gist of things. Aha, light bulb moment with “What do women want?
Men can have a tendency to want to “fix” things for us women, while women can often simply want to be heard when they are upset or need to vent. Another generalization, I know.
Here’s 7 tips to help you do some detective work
- There is a difference between a need an a want although sometimes the lines get very blurred and then the “women” in question may get confused about how they would like you to respond, act or behave etc.
- Like men, a woman’s need will generally be tied to a value i.e. The behaviour of giving compliments maybe tied to the value of “Acknowledgement”
- The most simple way to find out what a women want is to ask the specific women in your life i.e If your wife is feeling upset about something rather than try to fix it ask her “Is there anything specifically I can do to help you at the moment”
- Invite the significant women in your life to catch up for a meal/coffee/walk or an activity with you that does not involve alcohol or other mood changing substances. Don’t ask them all to the same catch up and go for Skype if geography prevents a face-to-face. Once you have caught up on general news open a dialogue along these lines; “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the wonderful women in my life and what they might really want out of life and from me as a friend, mentor, father, etc. “ I wanted to ask you if there is anything specifically that I can do better or differently in our relationship (friendship etc)? Then WAIT. Don’t be surprised if you get a strange or concerned look as they might wonder if you are OK or what you’ve been smoking if this seems out of character. They may also need time to think about the question however you will have got the ball rolling.
- Look out for non-verbal cues i.e. body language as you probably know sometimes when a women says yes, her body language maybe saying no. Look for patterns in physiology when it comes to how a women (and men) communicate and that can give you so much more than simply words.
- When giving a women gifts or something of material value do it randomly as well as special occasions and I would suggest not giving flowers etc after a heated discussion or to “win her over” as this can be seen as a form of emotional blackmail.
- When it comes to the women you interact with on a professional basis then I would go with some safety nets; ask them if it’s OK to call them by the first name and let them know how you would like to be addressed i.e. by your title or by your first name. Find out what their values are as this can be helpful in knowing what they will want from a professional relationship. You could also simply ask them “What they want” in relationship to specific situations or outcomes.
Remember deep down, male or female at the very least we most likely need “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” met along with respect, love, connection and our own personal dreams fulfilled.
Thanks again Calin, and I will be looking forward to getting feedback from you.