Taking Time

Some days, there seems to be just too many things to do.  We all have those days when juggling too many things can be disastrous.  I know, I have those days and find that, sometimes, I just need to take some time and regroup.

It's hard to think of taking a bit of downtime in the middle of a crazy day, but it does help.  Being able to escape from the chaos can really assist in getting a clearer head and refocusing.  I am not saying take hours, but sometimes even 5 or 10 minutes away from everything demanding your attention helps.  A walk around the office or a refresh of your glass of water can help.  If you can't get away, then just closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths can help clear your head and make the tasks a bit easier.

I know that life demands us to juggle several things at once, but managing how many items being juggled is what is important.  I, for one, have had a habit of trying to juggle too many things at once, resulting in a feeling of everything crashing down on me sometimes.  In some cases, writing down what needs to get done really helps.  Remembering to take the time to refocus also helps.

Setting time for yourself is extremely important to help deal with all the demands now-a-days.  To tackle the days when there are too many things to get done, remember "Take a deep breath and tackle one thing at a time."  Taking time to regroup and refocus is what we all need to do.

Finding the time

It is very important to find time to do things that you are passionate about. I know that we all have busy lives, but it's so important to remember that if you are passionate about something, you need to make the time for it.

I know that I love crafting, and I make sure that most days I at least spend 30 minutes doing a bit of crafting, be it knitting, crocheting or cross-stitch. Everyone has something they can do, even if it's curling up and reading for that time. Spending that quality time can make everything else seem so much easier because in so many ways it's a stress release.

Another thing that I am passionate about is writing, and it is something that I haven't spent enough time on lately, and I know that I need to change that. For so long I was writing a bit every day and then like most people I got busy doing other things and I let it slide. Now it's time to put my writing back on the calendar on a daily basis and know that it will really help me.

Always remember that if you are passionate about something, it's important to set some time aside at least weekly to make sure that you do it. Some of my thinking has changed over the last little while, and that was after a discussion with someone. This man made me realize that I am passionate about my writing, and I need to do more of it, and I think him for that.

A few words a day is what I need to do, and that is what I will do.

Communication

Nowadays, we all seem to have too many demands on our time.  It doesn't matter who you talk to, everyone says the same thing, "there isn't enough time to get everything done."  The computer was supposed to make life easier, but now with all the different ways to communicate, everyone wants their answer right away.

I know that we have had to set our mobile devices to automatically turn off at night and on in the morning, otherwise we would be woken up in the middle of the night by the notification of new messages.  Also, setting which accounts notify us of new messages has also made managing messages a little easier.  The other practice we have is if we are in meetings we are only notified when specific accounts get messages and this is done by setting our notification to silent mode, so it only vibrates.  Yes, we have more than one account that goes to our mobile device.

Being able to take some time away from constant contact can be so rewarding.  I think people understand that sometimes answers aren't going to be immediate no matter how hard they try.

Have you ever got a phone call from someone right after they have sent you can email?  Normally the call is a repeat of the email or a request for an answer immediately.  These normally are the emails that require some research before an answer can be given.

It is important to remember that one means of communication can fail, so if it is URGENT to communicate with someone, ensure you try to communicate with them in more than one method.  Emails sometimes don't get through due to technical issues same as texting or instant messages or the person is in an area with low or no reception.  So remember, if it's urgent, try multiple methods of communication.

So before I have everyone yelling, remember how we communicate before email and cell phones.  It did take a bit longer to get an answer, but we survived.

Make sure that you sometimes take a little bit of a break from being constantly reachable.  Everyone needs a break every once in a while, so respect others when they take a bit longer to reply to a message.  We don't know everyone's total schedule, so understand you aren't going to get immediate responses each time you send out some communication.


Modern communication has made things easier in a lot of ways because we can get the message anywhere, but remember we still need time to get other things done.  So maybe one day we won't be saying, "there isn't enough time to get everything done."  Until that time, understand the demands on everyone's time and remember you're not the only one asking for their attention.

A New Office

Today was the start of a new challenge for me, and one that I know that I am going to enjoy.  I have always tried to write wherever I am, but sometimes it is hard to focus when there are too many other things happening around me, including distractions.

As part of our business, we decided it was time to set up a small executive office and have a place to call our own, besides home.  Today we worked on getting everything set up, and now I am sitting at a desk in an office where I should be able to do more and more writing.

I am looking forward to seeing what I will be able to accomplish here in a nice, relaxing, and quiet environment.  I know the next couple of weeks aren't going to be as productive as I would like, but at least I know I have a place to go to when I need to escape home. 

I know that it is going to be different getting up some mornings and instead of heading into where I sit at home and do some of my work, I will get onto a bus and head into our office where I can focus on what needs to get done instead of what happens to get done that day.

Now to wrap up for today and see what lies ahead tomorrow.  I know that things are going to be different, but I must admit, having a clean desk is so nice.  Maybe now, instead of juggling too many things, I will be able to juggle less and accomplish more.

Sitting in a Muskoka Chair

Sitting and watching the world go by at a lower pace.  It is amazing that once you are in a small town everything seems to change, the pace is slower, the air is cleaner, and people take time to stop and say hello even to perfect strangers.

The chair I am sitting in is a "Muskoka chair" and there is something about these chairs that is so different.  Maybe it's most of them are made of wood, or maybe it's the chair seems to hug you and lets you relax.  An excellent spot to use a muskoka chair is where you can sit and watch life go on around you, but preferably facing a lake.

Sitting and overlooking a lake gives you the opportunity to slow down and even dream.  There is something about seeing a muskoka chair by the water, it is so welcoming and inviting.  Curl up in a muskoka chair and let your mind drift as it may, and enjoy the feeling.

My dream time in the chair is over for today, but I will return to one of these chairs soon.