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Volume 2,
Issue 1 Focus
Your Genius What's
New? Also, very soon I will be making a special announcement - my first eBook is about to be released! An eBook is an "electronic" book. This means you download the book as a file, usually a "pdf," and either read it on your computer or print it out. The title of my eBook is "Reset Your Mindset in 7 Days," and the title is a great big hint to what it's all about. In the usual Renaissance Mind fashion, I have a lot of other irons in the fire too as we head into 2008. I am going to have to use my own best focusing skills to accomplish all of my big fat hairy goals for the year! I've been working a lot on time and project management over the past few months, so I think that I'm in good shape, and also, I'll have a lot of great new tools and information to share with you this year. Speaking of tools, I've added a new section to the newsletter. You may have noticed a link to "Cool Tool" in the Contents box - the Cool Tool might be a website, a worksheet, or another resource that I've found useful. If you have any ideas for "Cool Tools," I would love to hear your suggestions! I'm wordy today, aren't I? Enough rambling - let's get to the good stuff already. Wishing you a very blessed, prosperous, and joy-filled 2008! Warmly,
Multitasking: It's Like Eating Crackers and Whistling Ever heard the phrase, "Slow down to go faster"? There is actually a lot of truth in that statement. I was reading a book the other day and a sentence jumped out at me; While multitasking might seem like a time-saving device, most often it's like eating crackers while whistling - neither task works out quite right. The truth of that statement stopped me in my tracks. How many times a DAY do I myself multi-task? Ok, this is from a woman who can't eat anything without a book in front of her (I even have a special tool to hold my book open while I read), who always drives with an educational audio on, who cannot watch television without doing something else, too, and who exercises while studying index cards. But I choose my multi-tasking carefully, since it's been proven that multi-tasking reduces effectiveness in BOTH tasks being focused on. If I worked out and focused intently on just the muscles I was working, it would probably be more effective for strength-building. However, I'd die of boredom before my workout was complete, which would effectively negate all other health benefits received from working out! Therefore, I am not saying never do more than one thing at a time. However, I do encourage you to only do one important or high-priority task at a time. Especially regarding work. Many times I work with clients who have so much on their plate, they don't even know how to break off a task and focus on just one thing. Here's a simple technique I use to focus and maintain concentration. I have a daily to-do list going, as do many people I know. I review the list and choose my top 2 or 3 top priorities for that day - and then I write those, and ONLY those, on a blank sheet of paper or index card. I then put the rest of my to-do list out-of-sight. Now that I'm not in a panic about getting 138.5 things done in 24 hours, and I only see my 3 main priorities, it becomes so much easier for me to just complete them, one by one. And then I can simply choose my next 2 or 3 things to focus on, write them on the list, and get into action. So instead of eating crackers and whistling, I will whistle first... then eat the crackers. Then I can choose 3 more things to do!
In the main article today on multitasking, I used the following quote: While multitasking might seem like a time-saving device, most often it's like eating crackers while whistling - neither task works out quite right. That wonderful bit of advice is from a book on meditation for hyper-active people like me. It's called Meditation Express: Stress Relief in 60 Seconds Flat by Nancy L. Butler-Ross and Michael Suib. Very active and active-minded people often cringe at the mere mention of meditation. "What? You're saying do... NOTHING? For HOW long?" <audible gasp> Yet meditation has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to get centered and grounded and to actually develop focus and concentration. Have you ever felt scattered, anxious, and overwhelmed? Especially when there's a ton of things that need to get done, and limited time to get them done in. So you flit from one thing to another, making little progress on any of them and actually accomplishing nothing. That is the opposite of centered and grounded. Consistent meditation, even for just 5-10 minutes a day, will make a significant difference in scattered behavior. A cool side effect is that it will enhance your spiritual side, too. So even if you don't have twenty minutes or half an hour a day to chant and say "Om," check out Meditation Express and see what a difference ONE minute can make! With over 50 different one-minute-meditations, this book is sure to have a suggestion that suits you.
The cool tool this month is a free internet resource sure to intrigue all the other book addicts out there just like me. Bookmooch is a free website that allows you to swap books (or, "mooch" books - hence the name) with others. Basically, you join up, list books you'd like to swap with others all across the world (or limit your trades to your own country), and receive requested books from others. You earn "points" by sending books to others and by listing books you're willing to swap. And if you do check out Bookmooch, you can look me up - my secret online identiy is quiltin_maniac. (Which is also my identity at bibliophil.org for those of you in-the-know.)
Announcements - The Goals Funnel Teleclass If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else. But if you follow the guidelines of “The Goals Funnel,” not only will you know where you’re going – you’ll also get there a whole lot faster! This complimentary one-hour teleclass will help you set both long-term and short-term goals, and figure out what to do on a moment-by-moment basis. Class on Tuesday, Feb. 19 – audio file will be sent to all who sign up for the call. Sign up today for call details.
Feedback Welcome I'd love to hear what you think about today's issue of Focus Your Genius. Please send comments and feedback to TammyCook@RenaissanceMinds.com. Your comments may be posted in future newsletters or articles, unless you specifically request otherwise. Warmly, |
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