Task Priority Management
So much to do, with so little time! How do you maintain control over your priorities, before they overwhelm and take control of you? A master juggler can only juggle for so long before fatigue sets in. Keeping those clubs in the air for a sustained period of time requires focus, coordination, and multitasking. Practice and patience are what the juggler employs to maintain the act of juggling. Either they stop juggling because distraction and pressure disrupt the process, and the clubs fall down, or they maintain appropriate pacing to come to a smooth and intentional halt when ready to stop. In effect, the juggler aims to be in control over the task at hand, and puts in the time, effort, and patience necessary to create an effective system. In a fast-paced, hectic city such as ours, many of us find ourselves running around from place to place, meeting to meeting (business, personal, and otherwise), often overwhelmed by the tasks we find ourselves juggling from day-to-day, but knowing we need to accomplish them. How do we get it all done with ease and control, before stress kicks in and causes us to throw our hands up in the air, completely giving up so that nothing gets done? Task priority management exercises can help you regain control over your sense of being overwhelmed, and are surefire ways to avoid physical, emotional, and mental burnout. We all know that prolonged stress is unhealthy, and nipping it in the bud early is a key preventive measure. Creating a map of your “life areas” (i.e. career, romance, family, friendship, hobbies, etc.) is an excellent starting point for identifying the themes in your life. Noting your strengths and weaknesses in each category can help empower you to begin using internal tools that you already possess, to help you prioritize the tasks that are before you. Be aware that your strengths and weaknesses often overlap, and are interchangeable at different times, and in different types of situations. Using a ranking/scaling system can also help you identify the level of importance of each category, in order to better guide you in determining what is most important at that particular time. Remember: foundation is key! Without setting the stage to build a stable system that works for you, the process won’t work effectively. Start small, and go from there. Set simple goals for yourself in an organized fashion. Biting off more than you can chew may only overwhelm you more. Do you, or someone you know, find it difficult to prioritize? Contact me for assistance about task priority management. I’d be happy to help! ...
Read MoreMoving Forward: Past to Present
One of my favorite phrases is “moving forward.” Life is constantly changing, and it is important for us to change with it, moving from past to present. There is no pause button on the passage of time, which leaves us little choice but to continue moving forward. We need to adjust to the ebbs and flows and inevitable changes that take place in our lives, as swimming against these currents can lead to frustration, distress, pain, and burnout. It’s easy for us to get stuck in the past, and to ruminate over the things we could have, should have, or would have done differently. We worry about this stuff. We all make mistakes, and we all have our faults. Although it’s important to look at our own self-defeating patterns and personal shortcomings, we simultaneously need to evolve by using our unique positive strengths, to move forward in our lives. Here are four helpful steps to help you accomplish this: 1) Accepting Reality: Whether an issue is resolved or not, some people can still feel stuck in that experience. Exploring all of your options and trying your very best, though, is sometimes all you can do. Accept that it may be time to move forward and let things go if circumstances aren’t working out the way you hoped. Accept that perhaps you’ve changed, or certain situations may not be working for you anymore. And that is truly okay. Remember, you are in control of your own life. 2) Recognizing Your Emotions: I often tell people that if they do not look at their “negative” emotions closely, they will consequently boil, simmer, and erupt like a volcano. Nobody wants that! Or their emotions will be “shelved” for a while, and their compartmentalized feelings will become so heavy on that shelf, that this system of support will eventually collapse. Nobody wants to break, and nobody wants to hurt, but we’ve all been there. It’s a part of the human condition, and it’s universally uncomfortable. Moving forward often requires you to practice mindfulness in paying attention to your emotions, while understanding your triggers as well as your responses to these emotions, so that you can better manage your feelings and learn how to deal with them proactively. 3) Seeking New Outlets: If we look back at our pasts, we’ll be thrilled and ecstatic and joyous about some things, and sad, disappointed, or upset about others. Continuing to expose yourself to new experiences and meeting new people can promote growth, well-being, and learning, which also helps you move forward. 4) Coping Routines: Establishing a coping routine for yourself will help you move forward, as opposed to staying stuck in the past. Coping mechanisms differ for each one of us, so what may work for a friend of yours may not work for you. Identifying healthy routines, activities, and behaviors can definitely help propel you forward. My final thought on moving forward? Be true to...
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