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What Does It Mean to Think Strategically?

January 3, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

I’ve always felt that improving how you think will go a long way toward improving what you think. The result is a marked improvement in your life.

As a new year begins, GenuLines offers a closer look at the thought process.

What Does It Mean to Think Strategically

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose” – Robert Byrne

Have you ever thought about what it means to think strategically? Does it mean to create strategies like in a war?

Is it a skill you are born with or something you learn? Strategic thinking seems like vague buzzwords.

The kind that CEOs toss around to sound important.

Learning

Actually, strategic thinking is a skill we can all learn. It’s how we plan, think, and ask questions to grow and learn while we work toward a goal.

It’s embracing what you were like when you were young child. When you asked questions like, “why?”

Thinking strategically grows out of a combination of knowledge, experiences, and your hunches. It’s about taking calculated and uncalculated risks that we hope will pay off in the future.

It’s about shifting your focus. You go from just doing things to thinking and planning what should be getting done.

Three Behaviors That Inspire Thinking

Strategically Switching your focus is easier said than done. To cultivate a mind of thinking strategically, these three behaviors can help.

Question why. Don’t accept doing a task a certain way because it’s the way it’s always been done.

Ask yourself why it’s done that way. Or if there’s a better way to do it.

Thinking strategically is about knowledge to help you make an informed decision. Asking questions and listening to others’ opinions is important.

It supplies you with the information you need to make a well-informed decision.

Observe everything

Spending every minute doing stuff and getting things done might seem productive.

But it doesn’t allow for you to think strategically about what you are doing.

Instead occasionally step back and observe what’s going on. Look for areas that could be more efficient. Who’s doing what and how much each activity is helping things move forward.

Look at the big picture. See the way the pieces fit together.

Reflect on your day

Think about what gave you energy or took it away.

Reflect on the activities that helped the organization move ahead. And the ones that wasted your time.

Reflection time each day allows you to ask yourself if you’re on the right path. Whether you develop solutions, and stay on track with your goals.

This is where inspiration and creativity have a chance to grow in a visible way.

Takeaway

When you focus on doing and making something happen by doing this and doing that, you’re working hard. But you’re not thinking strategically.

Of course, working and doing is necessary up to a point.

Instead stop focusing on just getting things done. Take a step back and set goals for what you want in the future and how you can help the organization win.

Thinking strategically is inspiring. You move away from going through the motions in a mindless way.

You don’t jump at the commands of others. Or you plan and observe and put ideas into motion.

And that takes you (and your team) to success.

JohnK 1-3-2022

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Overheard: “The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”

~Christopher Hitchens, Lettets to a Young Contrarian

Trouble Staying Focused? This Might Help

December 13, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Your focus needs to be laser-like. But for some reason it tends to wander. These few reminders from GenuLines will help keep you on the beam.

Trouble Staying Focused? This Might Help

We all have days when we’re struggling to stay focused on our work. One of the first things you should look at is distractions.

Various things and people can keep us from concentrating and getting work done. Let’s look at what shape and form these distractions may take and what you can do to lose them.

Then we’ll look at how you can get back to staying focused.

Physical Distractions

First the obvious. There can be all sorts of things that distract you in your office, or around your desk. This could be your phone blinking each time you get a new social media alert or email.

It could be your email program on your laptop notifying you of incoming messages. It could be your phone ringing, or that pile of files sitting on the corner of your desk that you know you need to deal with.

If you’re working at home it could also be that sink full of dirty dishes. Or the washing machine beeping to let you know it’s finished.

The key here is to realize that you’re in control of your work space. Turn your phone to silent and stick it in a drawer, or lay it upside down while you’re working.

Turn off the phone’s ringer, and either deal with the files now, or stick them in a drawer until you can take a look at them. Cut out the physical distractions as much as possible.

Then work on staying focused and getting your work done. The key here is also to make a conscious choice of when to deal with things that tend to interrupt you.

Distracting People

People who show up and distract you can be a little harder to deal with. You need to work with others.

You want to cultivate friendships. And there are times when you have to deal with a family situation, no matter how big a work deadline you have looming.

Setting expectations helps. So does making it clear that there are times when you need to shut your office door.

If you can set aside a time and make a schedule of sorts. Let people know when you must work without interruption.

At other times having an open door can help. This works well with co-workers, but also with family and friends.

Mental Distractions

Last but not least there are mental distractions. They can be the trickiest to keep at bay since there’s not a lot you can do to shut them out completely.

Thoughts will pop into your head and do their best to distract you. It helps to keep a notepad nearby.

You can jot those thoughts down. Later you can go back and check on things after you’re done with your task.

For example, if you’re worried if your check cleared, make a note.

Then get back to work.

Check your online bank account during your break.

By writing it down, you don’t have to worry about remembering to do it.

JohnK 12-13-2021

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Overheard: “Focus does not mean saying yes, it means saying no”

~Steve Jobs

Why You Might Be Failing at Self-care

November 29, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Are you falling down in the area of self-care? If so you’ve got a lot of company.

Time for a gentle reminder from GenuLines

Why You Might Be Failing at Self-care

You might know how important self-care is to your well-being. But it isn’t always easy to work it into your daily routine.

Here, we’ll look at why you often fail at this.

And we’ll look at the things that are holding you back.

It’s often perceived as selfish

One of the main reasons people fail to take care of themselves is because they feel it’s selfish. It could be that you feel guilty when you take time to focus on yourself.

Or, you may worry about what other people think.

It’s a total myth that self-care is selfish. In fact, it can help you to be a better parent, friend, spouse, and relative.

The more you take care of yourself, the easier you’ll find it to take care of others.

You’ll also show your children how important this is. Teaching them to take care of their own needs is a crucial life skill.

One that’s going to help them to grow up to be happier adults.

It requires effort

There’s no getting away from the fact that self-care does take some level of effort in the beginning. When you aren’t used to making self-care a priority, you’re going to need to make quite a few changes to your routine.

Coming up with a self-care plan can feel like a chore, making it easy to put off. But there are ways to reduce the effort.

For example, focusing on one thing you want to improve at a time can help. Would you like to start working out more?

Scheduling time to exercise as soon as you wake up, for example, can be a great start. Or, if you’re looking to drink more water, focus on that goal first.

If you break down your self-care tasks, it makes them much easier, reducing a lot of the effort involved.

Different approaches work for different people

Every one of us is different, and we enjoy different things. You might find more feel-good in going for a run than you do in yoga or meditation.

So you would list running as a self-care task.

If you find one approach isn’t working, try something else. Your decision should be personal and fit your own needs.

These are some of the most common reasons people fail to take good care of themselves. It can be difficult overcoming the initial barriers.

But when you understand what and how important it is, you’ll find it much easier to stick to a self-care routine.

JohnK 11-29-2021

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Overheard: “When you say ‘yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself”

~Paolo Coehlo

Stop Worrying About What People Think

November 22, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Worrying isn’t good for much. Especially when you worry about what people think.

GenuLines wants to help you keep others’ opinions from getting to you.

Stop Worrying About What People Think

Do you find yourself always doubting your decisions? Are you fretting over other people’s reactions to your actions or opinions?

In this post, we’ll share some tips and tricks to help you stop worrying about what people think of you. Learn how to use constructive criticism to your advantage.

Then filter out any negative judgment.

This will leave you less anxious and less overwhelmed. As a result, you can stay more focused on yourself and the best ways to achieve your goals.

Let’s get started.

Are People’s Opinions Holding You Back?

Worrying about what others think and feel about you is a normal part of our DNA. We’re programmed to seek others’ approval.

Studies show there’s a reward center that’s activated when we’re given a compliment.

Even if you sense people’s recognition of your hard work, your brains fire up those same reward centers.

So acceptance brings a good feeling. Yet we won’t find acceptance from everyone every time.

Problems start when we start pivoting our lifestyles to fit people’s expectations. We give others power over our lives and how we should live it.

Thus, we lose out on experiencing genuine living.

Next

After that, things go downhill and start spiraling out of control. Being stuck in that mind frame can be destructive to you and those around you.

Going down this unproductive path, you’ll be leaving a path of destruction in your wake. It will affect your job, your relationships, and your self-esteem.

How Can I Stop Worrying About What People Think?

Do some serious soul searching. Do you feel that your reality has shifted? Have you started to believe in other people’s version of who you are as opposed to the real you?

Then, it’s time to step up and take some actionable steps. You owe it to yourself to share the real you with the world.

We rounded some simple, yet effective, ways to help you break this vicious cycle. Read on to learn more.

Focus on What’s Important

Has someone said something unkind about you? Instead of letting it fester, don’t let it go to your head.

Chances are, that person won’t recall what they said in about ten minutes. Plus, what they say reflects who they are as a person.

If you think about it, it actually has very little to do with you.

In other words, their perceptions of you come from them. And you’re not responsible for how they feel or what they think, neither can you change any of it.

So, why waste your time fretting over something you have no control over?

Instead, channel that energy into something productive. You can learn a new skill, take up a class, or pick up an old hobby.

Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you enjoy.

Some things more worthy of your time

Spend quality time with friends and family

Smile at the barista serving your coffee or hold the door for someone

Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you

Volunteer at a local shelter or food bank

Take a walk through the park

Have dinner at that restaurant you’ve been dying to try

Highlight Your Accomplishments

We’ve all been through difficult times in our lives; some more than others. At the same time, we’ve all accomplished one thing or another.

It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose or elaborate. But it does have to mean something to you.

Like filing your taxes on time or making home-cooked meals for an entire week. Be proud of yourself and all the hard work you put in.

You can even write down these accomplishments and hang them up on your fridge or vanity mirror. Then every time you catch a glimpse of one of your achievements, say to yourself, “I did that!”

Say it over and over until your subconscious takes it in.

Uplifting Talk

Another way to boost your confidence is to practice saying encouraging statements. These will help build up your self-esteem and improve the way you view yourself.

Here are a few statements to get you inspired:

My self-confidence is on the rise.

I’m worthy of all good things.

I can’t control what happens, but I can control my reaction to them.

My ideas are great.

I’m blessed and appreciative of everyone and everything in my life.

Train Yourself to See the Positive

Our brains see the negative. They’re wired that way.

We complain, we blame others, and we dwell. This has to stop!

You can train your thoughts to be more positive. And you can do it in a healthy, productive way.

As a result, you become less anxious and more resilient.

Take an honest look at your weaknesses or flaws

We all have them.

Some are better at acknowledging and improving them than others. Why can’t that be you?

Write down a list of five things that bother you about yourself. Then, set some realistic goals to change them and reward yourself each time you reach one of your set goals.

Make sure you start small and work at your own pace. The point is to feel good about yourself, not overwhelm or burden you.

That kind of defeats the purpose.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques are becoming popular because people are realizing the importance of self-care. These techniques aim at reducing stress levels and improving your health.

They also teach you the value of savoring the present.

When you focus on your today, you stop worrying about what happened in the past or what might happen in the future. These techniques can also help you stop worrying about what people think about you.

The great thing about them is that you can do them anywhere. Whenever you start to worry, remind yourself that you could be overreacting.

It’s likely that your colleagues aren’t judging you in the harsh way you think they are.

Take a few deep breaths and focus on anything around you: your coffee mug, a cloud, and your nails. Anything that can steer your thoughts to the present moment will do the trick!

Then, lo and behold, you’ll notice that your pulse is slowing down and so is your heart rate. Your anxiety will start to recede and you’ll realize you don’t care about what people think as much anymore.

JohnK 11-22-2021

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Overheard: “If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying.”

~Dale Carnegie

Why Mental Focus Is Crucial For Success

October 18, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Focus can become a casualty during times like these we’re living in. Important things can fall through the cracks.

So with that said GenuLines reminds you that focus is key to getting the results you want in life.

Why Mental Focus Is Crucial For Success

Mental focus is one of the most important skills when it comes to success in any area of your life. To focus means to concentrate on a particular task or problem for a period of time.

It’s something you can get better at with practice. For now, let’s look at exactly why mental focus is crucial for success and how it can help you get things done.

Focus Keeps Distractions At Bay

Distractions are all around us. You sit down at your desk and end up checking email.

You browse through Facebook. Or you get lost on YouTube watching video after video.

We get distracted by new projects. Or things that need to be taken care of around the house or the office, and of course by family members and coworkers.

With all these distractions it’s a wonder we get anything done. There’s always something else that demands our attention, or a fun new project we’d rather be working on.

This is where your focus can make a huge difference and help you get things done. Focus is like a pair of blinders.

It helps you concentrate on the task at hand until it’s done.

Focus Keeps You From Making Mistakes

You make fewer mistakes when you’re not always distracted. You give full attention to whatever you’re working on.

The mistakes come when you’re not engaged and immersed in the task you’re working on.

To turn this around, concentrate on your work. If you do make mistakes you’re more likely to catch and fix them.

The end result is a better quality product, no matter what you’re working on.

Focus Helps You Get More Done Faster

Have you ever worked on a tight deadline? Let’s say you have to finish a report or write a blog post before you can head out to lunch to meet a friend.

You become dialed in (thanks to that looming deadline). Now tasks that would usually take you half a day you’re doing in 30 minutes.

Best of all, the end result is often better than your usual work. Now you’re focused and are getting into the flow.

And things seem to come together with almost no effort.

JohnK 10-18-2021

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Overheard: “If you want to live a long life, focus on making contributions.”

~Hans Selye

You CAN Reverse Brain Fog

May 10, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Brain fog leaves you feeling out of it. And you would really love to “snap out of it.”

Well, you can do something about it, and GenuLines has some points to jog your brain in that direction.

You CAN Reverse Brain Fog

We’ve all experienced mental fog. You feel like your brain is made of cloud puffs instead of brain matter. Its symptoms include:

• Difficulty concentrating

• Diminished memory

• Finding it hard to focus

• Poor communication skills

• Low motivation

• You’re easily distracted

Brain fog is a result of any type of imbalance in the control center of the brain. This control center is ,known as the hypothalamus.

This imbalance can be a result of inflammation. Or free radicals.

Or any type of stress brought on by several factors, such as:

• Multi-tasking

• Exhaustion

• Anxiety

• PTSD

• Imbalanced hormones

• Infections

• Not getting enough sun exposure

• Substance abuse

Mental fog is a natural result of our busy, nonstop lifestyles,. But it shouldn’t happen over and over.

If it does these simple changes can stop it from happening and repeating..

• Eat right

It’s amazing how much power our food has over us. Processed foods, foods high in saturated fats and gluten all have a negative effect on your brain.

In fact a study linked gluten sensitivity to low concentration and poor focus.

Also, not getting enough water into your system can lead to brain freeze.

• Take your vitamins

If your diet lacks antioxidants you can start looking for vitamins, such as D and B complex. Or minerals, such as calcium, zinc and magnesium.

Then look for supplements that work along with your diet. These will provide you with more of the nourishment you’re lacking.

• Get better sleep

We all sleep, but it’s the quality of our sleep that can either make us or break us. High quality sleep improves brain function on a whole.

While it’s ideal to get the full 8 hours each night, some people need only 6 for optimal effectiveness. Find what works best for you.

Then regulate your sleep. Set up a relaxing bedtime routine and a comfortable sleeping area.

• Work out

When you exercise, you send fresh, oxygenated blood to your entire body, mainly your brain. This boosts its cognitive functions and diminishes brain fog.

Studies have shown exercise can improve learning and study skills. Plus it can optimize concentration and memory skills.

• Find a hobby

Even in the busiest of weeks there are ways to work fun, relaxing activities into your schedule. The first step is to carve out some “me” time and stop thinking it’s selfish, as many of us do.

The second step is to find something you enjoy doing just to chill out. It could be meditating by yourself in a quiet room.

Or a class or club where you to meet new people. The final step is to decompress and enjoy.

Brain fog is completely reversible. You need to do the work and find out what works for you.

Each one of us is unique, so it may be a bit challenging at first to find that perfect fit. But you’ll be glad you put in the effort once you regain clarity and be able to perform at your best.

JohnK 5-10-2021

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Overheard: “Purple haze is in my brain/ Lately things don’t seem the same”

~Jimi Hendrix

Are You Setting the Right Goals for Yourself?

January 4, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

The New Year is a great time to set new goals. And GenuLines wants you to make sure those new goals are the right goals.

(You can listen to this article by clicking here)

Are You Setting the Right Goals for Yourself?

There is a lot more to goal setting than just picking a goal and moving forward. Yes, this is important.

But it’s also important to make sure that you’re setting the right goals at the right time. These questions will help you head in the right direction:

Are You Setting Specific and Realistic Goals?

It takes a little research to ensure that a goal is realistic. If you’re not sure if something is actually achievable then you haven’t done enough research.

Once you know that the goal is realistic you need to give it a clear description. This will let you work backward to make a schedule of action you’ll need to succeed.

Are Your Goals Multifaceted?

Focusing on only one part of your life is a bad idea. To feel successful people make goals for all areas of their lives.

Say you have a wonderful business and career but your personal life suffers. No matter how successful you are, you won’t feel successful.

Make sure your goals include something from each aspect of your life.

Does Your Scheduling Show Real Need?

For instance, you want to exercise 30 minutes per day. But setting aside only 30 minutes isn’t going to be realistic.

You’ll probably need to set aside an hour. This will cover getting ready as well as cooling down or getting cleaned up to go back to work.

Are You Learning from Failure?

You might feel like giving up when setting goals and schedules. You put your plan into effect but you notice there are things you’ve forgotten to take into account.

Don’t quit. Learn from the failure and change the schedule to be more realistic.

You might find that in practice you have to rewrite all your goals and your schedule. This is natural.

Failure feels like a negative. But the truth is if you don’t fail sometimes you’re not going to learn much and it’s likely your goals are too easy.

Do Your Goals Represent Your Needs and Wants?

A lot of people set goals that represent what someone else wants instead of what they want. This can cause a lot of bad feelings and resentment.

And it can derail the best-laid plans.

As you set your goals for your life, ask yourself if they’re what you want for yourself or what someone else wants for you. Ask yourself if you’re okay with any goal you make being for someone else before you embark on your journey.

Are You Checking in Often to Stay on Track?

To-do lists pale in comparison to a well laid out calendar of tasks and activities that get you from point “A” to point “B”. Make sure that you look at your schedule often.

Make note of when you succeed in sticking to your schedule and when you don’t. Noticing a pattern of activity can help in improving your schedule.

And it can help you stay realistic about whether you’re sticking to the plan.

Do Your Goals Have Positive Focus?

Try writing down a goal and then changing the words to sound more positive to see if it isn’t more motivating. For instance, “losing weight” seems like a good target.

But for some people, it might signify deprivation. Instead, frame the goal as “improving my BMI by 10 points” or “improving my cholesterol by 10 percent.”

Do You Have Too Many Goals Set at One Time?

Just as setting too few goals can be a problem, so can setting too many. Instead, pick one personal goal, and one other type of goal to focus on until you reach them.

Later you can add more as time goes on. You don’t need to do everything today.

Slow and steady wins the race is a good motto to hang on to.

Setting the right goals for yourself takes some thought and consideration. Don’t try to set them all in one day.

It’s better to set some goals in different stages and in different areas of your life. And give a lot of thought to why you’re setting the goals in the first place.

JohnK 1-4-2021

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Overheard: “What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart desire, you can achieve”

~Norman Vincent Peale

Foods That Help Your Brain Focus Better

December 14, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Your brain isn’t something you usually consider when you think about holiday meals. So GenuLines gives you some things to think about before you dig in with family and friends.

(You can listen to this article by clicking here)

Foods That Help Your Brain Focus Better

Unnecessary distractions can slow down your day. Regardless of what you do for a living or the hobbies and pastimes you enjoy.

Improving your ability to concentrate on the task at hand could give you a big advantage.

A healthy diet is a solid way to improve most aspects of life in general. There are lots of healthy dietary choices that can improve cognitive functions.

Here we’ll look at a few of the many dietary options that help you focus on whatever it is that is important to you.

Salmon

To improve focus you need good brain function.

This is why foods that contain high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, are a great option.

Omega-3 actually improves the amount of oxygen available to the brain. And it increases new information retention.

Foods Rich In Vitamin D

Research tends to find that a LACK of vitamin D leads to greater levels of cognitive impairment. This is especially true in older folks.

Exactly how this happens is uncertain. But a recent study in the journal, Trends in Neuroscience, gives us clues.

A sort of netting surrounds healthy neurons in the brain. These nets work like supportive structures.

They help maintain the connections between various neurons. This allows them to continue to relay information via synaptic pathways.

The researchers felt that low vitamin D could make these nets more vulnerable. The result could be degradation by certain enzymes.

And this could result in various cognitive deficiencies such as focus and concentration.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient herb used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Users say this dietary supplement helps focus and information retention.

And there’s been a resurgence in its popularity.

The thinking is that Ginko boosts blood and oxygen flow. This logic is often applied to other areas of the body, such as skeletal muscles.

Green Tea

Caffeine is a very popular go-to when it comes to focusing and being able to concentrate. But a roller coaster ride comes with ingesting large amounts of caffeine.

The result is a mental crash at the end of the ride. Green tea does in fact contain caffeine.

But it possesses another chemical that’s great at mitigating this crash.

Most forms of green tea contain L-theanine. This allows a slower release of caffeine into the bloodstream.

The result is a sustained sense of focus and concentration. And without the unwanted comedown.

Works Cited

9 brain foods that will improve your focus and concentration. (2018, April 27). Retrieved from https://alifeofproductivity.com/9-brain-foods-that-will-boost-your-ability-to-focus/

Rodriguez, B. D. (n.d.). ADHD Diet: Foods to Help You Focus – ADHD Center – Everyday Health. Retrieved from https://www.everydayhealth.com/add-adhd-pictures/what-to-eat-in-an-adhd-diet.aspx

Vitamin D and brain health: New mechanism may explain link. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324541

JohnK 12-14-2020

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