Busy days can send your energy gauge to near zero. You concentrate on how you spend your time, and the push and pull your create is exhausting.
You can “balance the books” with this GenuLines look at both sides of the equation.
Energy Management vs. Time Management
You’ve likely heard the old adage, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” You manage your time without paying attention to your energy management.
And now you’re running a sprint rather than pacing like a marathoner.
Research tells us that productivity and success have more to do with how you manage your energy. And they have less to do with time management.
At Work
In your work life you often try to do the things that give you more time.
Eating healthy, staying fit, spending time with your children and connecting with others all can suffer..
These take time and you do have to schedule some of your pursuits.
Have you considered whether you have the energy for those pursuits?
Trying to adhere to certain times to manage everything can leave you exhausted.
You’re not able to relax and enjoy yourself when you’ve “scheduled the time” for it.
Be The “Boss”
The alternative to managing your time is good energy management. This works when you take time to recover from those lengthy sprints.
You’re able to finish the marathon with ease rather than anguish.
Here are some tips for effective energy management.
Write It Down
Make a list of what makes you feel refreshed, more creative and lifts your mood. It’ll help remind you about the benefits of these uplifting activities.
For example, watching a great series or show you’re following on television. Or sipping a cup of tea and listening to music.
These can ramp up your energy levels.
Do your best to take longer breaks. Don’t stick to a time table when it comes to stepping up your energy level.
Have fun with whatever you’re doing. And reward yourself for every goal reached.
Pressed For Time
Do you have lots of projects and it seems you’ll never finish them to be able to relax and enjoy yourself? Break those projects down into parts.
Reward yourself after you complete each one. This beats waiting until you finish the entire project.
Recovery Stops
While you’re on a long sprint, you may feel the need to stop and renew your spirits and your energy. Do it!
You’ll feel so much more like completing the marathon and you’ll be happier at the finish. Managing your energy is a much more effective way to move through life.
Your inner energy thermostat doesn’t pay any attention to the time table you’ve created. Know this and, make it the most important factor in the marathon called life.
Ever think about how negativity might be hurting you at work? It can weigh you down in a big way.
But GenuLines reminds you that this bad energy can be re-worked with you as the winner!
How Negativity Affects Your Job
When you have a negative mindset, it’s going to affect every aspect of your life. Your energy impacts those around you.
So, if you bring a negative energy into the workplace, it’s going to have several repercussions.
We’re going to look at how negativity affects your job. You’ll also see how you can start to reduce your own negativity in the workplace.
Negativity’s Impact
There are a lot of ways negativity can impact your job. A negative mindset can affect your performance, work relationships, and wellbeing.
The trouble with negativity is that it attracts more negativity. So if you go into work with a negative attitude, it’s going to rub off on your colleagues too.
This will lead to a toxic workplace where nobody is happy and stress levels rise.
Performance
A negative outlook can also cause issues with performance. You may not apply for new opportunities as they open, forcing you to miss out on what could be a better job.
You’ll also notice your energy levels aren’t great, and the quality of your work will suffer.
These are some of the ways negativity can impact your job. So, how can you fix it?
Ways to become less negative at work
There are ways you can become a more positive person at work. But it might take quite a lot of effort to overcome your negative thinking.
The best ways to combat negativity at work include:
Identify the cause
Think of something you are thankful for
· Talk to your boss
Distance yourself from negative colleagues
Origins
Identifying the cause of your negativity is crucial. There could be lots of reasons why you have a more negative attitude at work.
You keep getting passed over for a promotion, or you’re bored with your current position. enables you to figure out the best ways to combat it. Identifying the cause enables you to figure out the best ways to combat it.
If you’re slipping into a negative mood, think of something you’re thankful for. After all, it’s difficult to remain negative when you are thinking of something positive.
You may also find it useful to talk to your boss if you haven’t already. If you are unhappy with something, let them know.
Ask them for a promotion, rather than waiting for one. You could also ask for further training opportunities and more responsibility.
A Little Separation
If you have colleagues who are negative, make sure you distance yourself from them. This can help you maintain your energy and your positivity.
If they see you with a more positive outlook, it will also help them to develop one too.
As you can see, there are several ways you can address your negativity in the workplace. Identifying the root cause is key to finding the solution.
If negative is the default way you roll, work on developing a more positive mindset. But remember, this will take time so don’t expect results overnight.
You put your best energy into all you do, at least that’s your intention. But sometimes your energy tank level drops to “empty.”
You need to re-fuel, and GenuLines has some ideas to keep you on the go.
4 Easy Ways to Maintain Your Energy
You started the day ready to take on the world. From the moment you got out of bed, you’ve been thinking about all the things you’re going to get done today.
You can’t wait to get started! Then it all falls apart.
By the end of the day, you’re grumpy and out of sorts. The day somehow derailed.
Now here you are, feeling like you didn’t do half the things you wanted to today. What happened?
Well, sometimes it’s true that life does get in the way. The car won’t start, or the dog gets loose, and you spend half the morning chasing him around the neighborhood.
Life gets in the way. More often than not, though, you likely did what most people do: you crashed and burned.
You ran out of energy. So, how do you maintain your energy levels even on the toughest of days?
Check-in With Yourself
First of all, you need to be paying more attention to your body. Catch yourself right when your energy begins to waver.
You might be able to stave off a massive crash later on. When you’re lagging, it’s because you need something small, like a drink of water.
Or a little activity. Or even a small snack.
These are quick and easy fixes that only take a minute. Ignore them, though, and you’re liable to lose hours of your day before you know it.
Engage in a Routine (or Two)
We tend to burn out because we’re scrambling to sort out our day and find the things we need. If you have a morning routine, for example, you’ll have everything near at hand right when you need it.
Getting out of the door will take half the energy, giving you reserves for where you need it most.
Ask yourself what parts of your day you can streamline. Set up a routine and make sure to follow through with those routines as often as possible.
Become More Intentional
Too often, our day becomes filled with little nonsense tasks which take up energy and time. What is it you need to do?
What actions will leave the biggest impact on the day?
Put your energy where it counts most by being more intentional in what you’re doing. Remember, you don’t have to be the one to do everything.
Delegate the non-essential items to keep yourself focused on what matters.
Get to Bed!
While a bedtime routine is a great start, pay more attention to your sleep. Create a sleep environment that is free from noise and distraction.
Make sure your room is at an optimal temperature, and yes, if need be, invest in a better mattress or new pillows.
Getting a good night’s sleep will keep you more energetic throughout the day.
Challenging times demand that you maintain a state of peak energy. But that peak condition can wear down in ways you’re not aware of.
Today GenuLines looks at ways you might be squandering your energy.
Are You Wasting Your Energy on Meaningless Things?
When you get too caught up in the things you don’t like, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals and the path to achieving them. When you begin to indulge in your anger, you feel worse each day.
You end up fueling all the wrong emotions.
Let’s say you wake up in the morning angry and disheartened over things you don’t like. You’ll live much of your life in a negative energy mindset.
And that’s bad for your mental and physical health.
Staying in a constant state of anger or sadness is bad for your health in many ways. You might find yourself experiencing more frequent headaches, fatigue, and stomach problems.
These are all side effects of stress, which goes hand in hand with negative emotions.
Mentally, you’ll be more irritable and upset, which can affect your loved ones, too.
What’s more, you won’t have the focus you need to work on your dreams.
If you dread seeing a certain coworker each day change your thinking. Be grateful that you have a stable job.
Focus on the things that you love and the things that you need to do.
Complaining about your coworkers is useless, and it only causes you issues, not them. Instead of complaining about things that’ are wrong, focus your efforts on fixing what you can fix.
Energy Re-direction
Put your attention on the things that you enjoy. Spending your energy working on things that you want and enjoy cuts into your stress.
You wake up feeling energized and excited to start your day.
Doesn’t that beat dreading another useless day of getting nothing done?
Get on a good sleep schedule if you’re not already on one so that you can spend more time doing the things that you love. You’ll find that your mind is more at ease and you feel much healthier.
You’ll gain a sense of satisfaction by knowing that you’re taking control of your path. And that you’re living life on your terms,
Stress is a normal part of everyday life. Some level of stress is even healthy.
It can help you stay alert and function at your best. But you may have a tough time managing your stress.
Some stress disorders are hereditary. They can be due to imbalances of the chemicals used in mind/body communication.
The mind and body can disagree on what makes up a threat. This can be stressful, too.
Maybe you’ve survived an accident, combat, or something on the same level. You could have a hard time adapting to life outside of high-stress levels.
Whether it’s from personal concern or diagnosed disorder, stress shouldn’t control your life. But if it does there are actions you can take.
These tips can help supplement advice from a medical professional. Note that they’re not intended to be a substitute for professional help.
Talk To A Friend
A friend can help you remember that stress is not unusual or that it only affects you.
A study by the National Alliance on Mental Health looked at severe stress. Things like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
It found that more than 18 percent of American adults were affected. That’s close to one in five people.
Knowing the statistics may ease your mind about talking to a healthcare provider. And it may also help you to feel more comfortable talking to a friend or community member.
Casual talk might yield some advice on how to deal with stress. It can also give you an idea of how serious your condition might be- or not be.
Focus On Life Before Your Stress Problem
Stress can come on in a gradual way due to life changes. Or it can be sudden due to an incident or experience. Either way, you shouldn’t let it stop you from doing things you enjoy.
It’s natural for stress to make new things seem scary. But they can also have this effect on activities you’ve had in the past.
For example, the onset of stress may cause you to stay away from old friends. Or, a car accident may cause you to avoid driving, riding in, or even being around cars.
Remind yourself that outings and activities served you well in the past. Seeing them now in a different light doesn’t change the nature of the activity.
Ease Into Stressful Activities
Doctors often suggest that you ease yourself back into your routine.
Let’s look at the car accident case.
Getting behind the wheel too early could be dangerous for you and for others. And it could reinforce your problem rather than help it.
Instead, try a rideshare company or taxis. You might want to ride with friends and family for a while before getting behind the wheel again.
At first, it may even be helpful to read a book in the car instead of paying attention to traffic.
You’ve heard it a million times. If you’re unsatisfied with your job or any other professional situation it can get on your nerves.
Today the pursuit of happiness is deeply ingrained in us. We’re taught to expect a happy life and we’re encouraged to do whatever it takes to get it.
But, like everything else in life, happiness isn’t so simple.
What is happiness?
First of all, we tend to see happiness as what we can get from others and our environment. In other words, we’re happy when our material and emotional needs are fulfilled.
Take Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This is a generalized ranking of people’s needs as they apply to happiness.
It starts with basic biological needs like food and shelter. Then it moves up to things like self-development and creativity.
Sounds good, but it’s possible to give attention to some of those needs at the expense of others.
For example, say you have a job that covers your basic needs for food, shelter, and security. It could be getting in the way of your need for creativity, flexibility, and freedom.
On top of that, we tend to think of happiness as static, as something you either have or don’t. But this isn’t the case. Instead, happiness is fluid and fleeting.
So, is the pursuit of happiness an illusion?
No. Instead, to find that happiness, you first want to redefine it.
Do that by making it broader. It’s not only about the nice feeling you get when your needs are met.
Or when you receive something pleasant from someone else. It’s also about what you can give to others, and how that gives you a purpose and a connection to your community.
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl tells us that giving helps you to reaffirm your very humanity. It makes you forget yourself, and give yourself to the person in front of you.
And you don’t have to change your routine to switch the focus from your own thoughts and needs to someone else’s.
There are a few simple things you can do to start giving more:
Listen
See every conversation as a chance to connect with a person. So, instead of just waiting for your turn to speak, pay attention to every word the other person is saying.
Notice the tone of their voice and their body language. And don’t forget to ask questions.
Build things for others
Can you knit, make origami figures, or draw? Make something and give it away. Never expect anything in return.
Volunteer
Take five minutes to think of what’s important for you. What are your values?
Is there a cause you’d like to champion? Do you have time or skills to give away to that cause?
Be kind
Make it a purpose to be kind to others every single day. Believe it or not, little acts of kindness have a contagious effect.
Compliment someone. Notice if she did something with her hair.
Help him with his groceries. Offer to do some extra work to help out a colleague.
Become a mentor
We all started somewhere. We’ve all been lost, confused, and tired.
But you have answers and insights that can help someone who’s starting their journey.
By giving, you’re creating connections with those around you. Life stops being all about seeking satisfaction.
It takes on a deeper layer of commitment. Life is no longer all about you.
It’s about creating a positive effect on other people’s lives.
Take action that transcends your own search for satisfaction. You’ll find more meaning in life.
You’ll become part of a community. You’ll assert your humanity.
Our next scheduled guest on Chi For Yourself has lived with chronic pain since 2007.
Sarah Anne Schockley offers fellow pain sufferers a compassionate and supportive guide for living with pain that can be used alongside their ongoing medical or therapeutic healing programs.
Sarah Anne Shockley is the author of The Pain Companion: Everyday Wisdom for Living With and Moving Beyond Chronic Pain.
Be with us for Chi For Yourself on Thursday, July 26th at 4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com
As you age you may see that your memory is not as good as it used to be. This could affect your ability to learn and remember new things.
Some of these changes in memory can be due to lack of attention. For example, if you’re a working parent you may be on overwhelm.
You’re trying to remember who needs to go where and when. This is considered a normal memory problem.
There are biological reasons for memory loss, too. Over the years the brain changes.
The ability to process information and to react to it slows, as does the ability to multi-task. You can curb the process with a little more effort to learn and remember new things.
There are differences in normal and abnormal cognitive and biological changes. Abnormal changes can be the effects of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Here are some ways to tell normal forgetfulness from abnormal forgetfulness:
1. The passage of time –
The passing of time is often to blame for decreased memory in normal aging. If you don’t think about particular memories often, you might forget them.
A less important event might mean more chance of forgetting the details. This isn’t unusual.
The memories that you call upon more often tend to stay front of mind. Bottom line: if you don’t use those memories, you lose them.
Abnormal forgetfulness is the inability to recall recent events. Things like what you ate for breakfast or who visited you that day.
2. Stressful events –
If you’re trying to remember events from a time of stress in your life, it’s likely due to normal memory lapses. During times of stress, your brain has a harder time storing information.
3. Repetition –
If you tell your kids the same story over a couple of weeks it’s called simple forgetfulness. But if you tell them the same story during a short visit it may be more serious.
4. Date –
You might forget exact dates, but you have a general idea of the time of the month. This is common.
You would likely have the presence of mind to, say, check a newspaper for your answer. It’s a different story if you don’t even know what year it is.
5. Self-care abilities –
You may experience some forgetfulness now and then. But you still remember to wash and dress yourself.
You eat at your usual times. You go to the grocery store.
And you take your medications. You may need to use a pill box as a personal reminder but your memory is likely still within range for your age.
It’s a different story if you don’t remember how to do these tasks or even that they need to get done.
6. Familiarity –
Sometimes you get lost in unfamiliar locations, such as when you’re visiting a new area of your city. Usually not a big deal.
It’s another matter when you get lost in your neighborhood. Or if you don’t remember your own family members.
7. Frustration levels –
Talking about forgetfulness is not likely a trigger for anger. But a memory problem can cause angry outbursts to someone faced with questions.
They don’t want to be tested about dates, places, and more. They may even accuse you of stealing something that they lost and cannot locate.
The next scheduled Chi For Yourself is set for a couple of weeks from today. I won’t go into details. But, if you’re someone who suffers from constant pain you’ll want to listen in.
You’ll get the details in an upcoming GenuLines blog post. You can get those sent to you if you subscribe.
Put your email address in the box at the top of the page and get the updates.
Today we’ll look at motivation. If you’re not doing well in this department you might benefit from a shot of mindfulness.
Read on to learn more:
ARTICLE:
Do you struggle with low motivation? The stress and strain of a busy life can overwhelm you.
The most basic tasks seem difficult.
The downward spiral of low motivation can seem like an impossible cycle to break. Productivity and accomplishment look like unattainable goals when you lose your spark.
There’s a simple tool you may not have considered before that can get you back on track, and that’s meditation. You can gain a lot of good things through your practice.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of meditation for motivation.
Strengthened Focus and Concentration
Focus and concentration are essential elements of motivation. If you can’t get your mind to center on the things you need to do, your motivation will also go out the window.
Meditation involves focus and concentration. You’ll be engaging in focusing your attention in some way.
Increased Happiness
We all get down now and again. But staying in the “happy zone” pays dividends.
Happy people tend to have more energy and higher self-confidence. Motivation increases happiness by stimulating the release of the brain’s “happiness hormones.”
When you’re feeling more positive, you’re likely to have more internal desire to get things done.
Less Stress
Meditation allows the brain to slow down as it receives sensory input. This leads to a more relaxed feeling
This relaxation and improved processing leads to reduced feelings of stress and overwhelm. With less stress comes a feeling of more control, which then fuels your motivation.
Positive Thinking
One of the biggest killers of motivation is negative thinking.
Pessimism can come from many sources. These include depression, poor habits or general life difficulties.
Meditation “rewires” brain patterns to naturally trigger more positive ones. The result is the “reset” you need to be more motivated.
Clarified Goals and Purpose
Taking time each day for meditation gives you loads of personal insight. This self-reflection can be the fuel for reassessing what’s really important in your life.
When you have a better picture of your priorities, your goals and life’s purpose become clearer. Knowing where you want to go kicks your motivation into high-gear.
You feel a greater urgency to take the steps necessary on the path to your dreams.
The benefits of meditation for increased motivation are many. And there are many different types of meditation.
You can begin to research on your own or find a skilled teacher who can help you develop a practice that works for you. What’s most important is that you get started.
And be consistent in your meditation practice. You’ll see more effective results.
The energy uptick will help you tackle your to-do list and go after the life goals that matter.
We’ve all come across people with strong personalities.
But what exactly does this mean?
It’s difficult to find one definition of a “strong personality.” Urban Dictionary online defines it as “an aggressive person; a difficult person.”
Others use the following descriptive terms: intimidating, overbearing, impatient, intolerant, controlling, bullying behavior.
You want to deal with these strong personalities without punishing your confidence level.
Fortunately, there are ways to do this. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
1. Get to know the person underneath –
You can’t over-emphasize this point. Getting beneath a person’s tough exterior can help you understand why that person is the way he/she is.
Family of origin for example.
You may be dealing with an oldest child. One who came from alcoholic parents, and had to raise three brothers and sisters.
Ways to get to know the person include engaging him/her in conversation. At the start, it may be a sincere compliment about a new hairstyle or a new coat, or asking how his/her weekend was.
You want to stay on that person’s good side, and you can do this by being likable and friendly. In turn, you’re also likely to pick up on traits about the person that you like.
2. Don’t take it personally –
Strong personalities tend to be direct and they don’t mince words. If you learn to shrug off the way something is said to you, you’ll do well.
3. Stay calm –
People with strong personalities are up to the challenge of arguing their point. So it’s better not to go there.
Stand your ground, but don’t let it get to the point of an argument.
4. Use humor –
Let’s say someone is barking orders at you even though you have a good relationship with them. (as explained in tip #1 above). Consider using humor.
You could say, “Sure, I can do that, but I expect you to buy me a coffee when we go for break.” In this way, you’re acknowledging a request, but you’re showing that you’re not taking it to heart.
5. You have valuable ideas too –
Often people with strong personalities are testing you. They don’t like to see weakness in others as much as they don’t like it in themselves.
Keep your confidence up by speaking clearly and with conviction, but do it kindly. Don’t be a wishy-washy type of person who can’t make a decision.
If you can’t come to an agreement on something, don’t walk away exasperated. Instead, leave room for discussion later.
It may go nowhere later too. But at least you keep your self-respect and the knowledge that you can deal with all kinds of people.